After Hal and the Herons shocked everyone and won the Brotherband warrior competition, this former group of outcasts and misfits was given the honor of guarding Skandia's most sacred artifact for one night. But now the Andomal is missing and Hal and his friends have been disgraced. Their only choice is to strike out on their own, find the pirates who stole the Andomal, and return it to their country. But does this band of newly minted warriors stand any chance against fifty bloodthirsty pirates?

Brotherband Chronicles is a new companion series from the author of the popular Ranger's Apprentice series. Boys who enjoy adventure will not be disappointed by this tale that is full of pirate action, but at 432 pages, it is probably not the best choice for reluctant readers. While there are some familiar faces from the Ranger's Apprentice, this story focuses on a new hero, Hal, who is extremely bright, responsible, and insightful. He leads a motley crew of outcasts who prove that the whole is worth more than the sum of its parts. Teamwork, leadership, and loyalty are the predominant themes as these boys face each new obstacle. Sailing is also integral to the story, and key sailing terms are provided at the beginning of the book. There is lots of battle training, strategy, and actual battle scenes with casualties, but the dialogue lightens things up with much humorous banter between the boys and their adult mentor, Thorn. Halfway through the book, a strong female character is introduced. She helps the boys in battle and also attracts some romantic interest. Readers can't help but root for Hal and his team of underdogs, and will be eager for the next installment in the series as this one ends with the Herons setting off on a new adventure.
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