Just started reading The Ranger's Apprentice, by John Flanagan. The first chapters of Book 1 - The Ruins of Gorlan - show a significant amount of similarity to Raymond Feist's Magician. Having said this, I don't think it detracts from the book at all, because as we know, Magician was a masterpiece, so who wouldn't want to read something similar? Whilst only a short way into the book, I am really enjoying it and very much looking forward to reading the entire series. My son read these in his younger years and still gets them out to re-read them. That's a good sign! Gotta go... Book 1 is calling me!

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