Good descriptive read, but a little low on action.
Plot
Five years have passed since the last Ranger's Apprentice book, "The Battle for Skandia", where the Araluens and the Skandians made a peace treaty, and Will, now a full-fledged ranger, must help the lord of Macindaw with a sorcerer who was said to have cursed him with a mysterious illness.
Morality
You're led to believe that one of the characters is a good character when they really aren't. Another character appears to be bad when that person is really good. Other than that, good is good and evil is evil.
Spiritual Content
References to sorcery. Orman, the lord of Macindaw, reads books about black magic.
Violence
A subtle description of a wounded, abused dog. A few arrows are shot from Will's bow, many of them inflicting wounds on other people.
Drug and Alcohol Content
Characters drink ale and wine at taverns and around campfires, some rather excessively.
Sexual Content
A housekeeper tells a jongleur to "keep his hands to himself", and a reference is made to "pinching her ample backside". A local girl at a fief seems to have an interest in Will, and Alyss and Will modestly flirt.
Crude or Profane Language or Content
"Oh God", "D-mn", "H-ll" pepper the dialogue of numerous characters, and I think "b-st-rd" is used a few times as well.
Conclusion
This isn't your regular fantasy book, if you want to call it fantasy at all. A lot of times it focuses on rather political problems and less on action. If you want a rousing read, don't reach for "The Sorcerer of the North". Flanagan is a very good author, but this book is more talking than doing, though there are a few climatic moments.
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