The Battle For Skandia by John Flanagan

Just as spring approaches and Will and Evanlyn can finally escape Skandia, Evanlyn is carried off by mysterious horsemen. Will sets out after them, but one boy against six fierce Temujai warriors is impossible odds - even for a Ranger's apprentice. Halt and Horace arrive just in time. But there is no time to celebrate as Halt realises these Temujai are only the scouts for a massive invasion force. The four Araluens must work together with the Skandians to defeat the invaders - if the Oberjarl will accept their help.

The Battle for Skandia is a thrilling book about the "new" frozen lands of Skandia. John Flanagan does a great job of describing the war geared culture of their lands. He goes on to give a few of the "barbarians" friendly and admirable personalities. The reader is fully pulled into the story, willing the characters to stay alive as they flee for their lives. The battles scenes are really amazing, making the reader feel as if they were one of the characters themselves. There is little plot this book, but builds suspense up until the big battle. This book is very serious, but the author cleverly throws in some jokes to dissipate tension. It's a great book, with a great ending.

The end of this book marks a very definite pause in the action of the previous three. It completes the first full story arc, but of course paves the way for the next novels to come.