The Caldera

By: John Flanagan

Narrated by: John Keating

The Herons take to the high seas to fend off pirates and rescue the heir to an empire in the newest adventure from John Flanagan, author of the worldwide bestselling Ranger's Apprentice!

Includes BONUS content--a brand-new Ranger's Apprentice short story featuring fan-favorites Will and Maddie!

In Hallasholm, Stig is contesting the annual Maktig competition to decide Skandia’s greatest warrior. But a late-night knock on the door brings someone Stig never expected to see again, along with a request the Herons are hard-pressed to refuse: a rescue mission of epic proportions.

Across the ocean, the southern city-state of Byzantos is plagued by a crew of pirates who’ve kidnapped the son of Empress Justina. Slipping out of Hallasholm under the cover of darkness, the brotherband sets sail to recover the boy from his kidnappers, heading south to the island of Santorillos where a near-impenetrable fortress stands atop a cliff, surrounded by a lagoon—a caldera—formed by the crater of a volcano.

In this explosive seventh book in the action-packed Brotherband Chronicles, the Herons battle pirates amid stormy seas as the fate of an empire rests on their shoulders.

Love this book!!!!!!

I love this book! It is so funny and I love that it has the small story at the end about Will and Maddie. As ever my favorite person is Thorn. Overall I think this is a great book.

When Olaf realized that Hal was the one that was in charge.

I like how Stig stood up for his mother even though he knew that his father was a jerk.

Enjoyed

I have fun with this series ... the crew are like old friends (although Lydia could be named Mary Sue instead, even she doesn’t really get on my nerves anymore). I also enjoy all the sailing info scattered throughout. The Brotherband books always keep me entertained.

My only real problem with the audio version is the narrator’s dialogue. He reads the prose pretty well, but when they start talking they all sound the same — I can usually pick out Hal and Ingvar, sometimes Thorn ... but even they start to sound alike after a while. Also, a good chunk of the dialogue is read in a weird kind of sing-song that doesn’t seem to have any bearing on the situation at hand. Don’t let that stop you, as this book is a fun one ... just be prepared ...

A short story

As always, John Keating does a great reading. This book fills in some back story and is interesting. It is shorter than usual and at the end there is another short story of Will and his apprentice.

Excellent book, excellent series!

Once again, Flanagan has written a fun, entertaining book for all to enjoy.
Anxiously awaiting his next book in either this or the Ranger’s Apprentice series.