Ambush at Sorato

Will and Maddie are in Toscana on a diplomatic mission when word comes of a cavalry force crossing the northern body and marauding through the countryside.

At the behest of the emperor, the rangers head north to investigate. They discover that the invaders are a group of Temujai—a reconnaissance force searching for a place to penetrate and invade. So Will and Maddie must split up to gather forces and information in order to push the Temujai back once again.

As the Temujai move their forces ahead, cutting at the Toscan forces, Maddie and Will must step up and lead their allies to victory, despite the danger of one of their greatest enemies.  

Ambush at Sorato mainly focuses on Will, who advises the Toscan forces and travels to recruit Genovesan mercenaries to help fight the battle. As always, Will is an honorable leader who respects everyone despite their position. While traveling to meet the main fighting force, “Will had treated the shield bearers fairly and humanely, making sure they had comfortable quarters, good bedding, and nourishing food.” As in previous books, Will shows concern for others and is willing to step into battle when called upon.  

The story is told from the third person omniscient point of view, which allows the reader to understand the different leaders’ perspectives including the Temujai’s leader, Mat’zak. While this helps the readers understand multiple perspectives and see what each force thinks, the plot is choppy and often switches to another person’s perspective. While there are many different leaders, Maddie is not one of them. For most of the story, Maddie disappears into the background while Will organizes and plans the battle. Unfortunately, neither Will’s nor Maddie’s character changes or grows, which makes the story stagnate. 

Many characters, including the invading army, are familiar because they appeared in previous books. This, coupled with the lengthy travel to engage the enemy, slows the pacing and erases any suspense. The author introduced new, exciting elements to each book in previous installments of The Ranger’s Apprentice Series and The Royal Ranger Series. However, Ambush at Sorato relies on familiar characters and mundane situations, and while the story ends with a hint that another book will be written, readers may not be enthusiastic about continuing with Will and Maddie’s story. Readers looking for their next action-packed adventure should read the League of Archers Series by Eva Howard and No Good Deed by Kara Connolly. 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• The Temujai send forces into Toscan. The soldiers attack towns throughout. The Temujai “horsemen swept into the narrow streets between the houses, initially cutting down the inhabitants with a storm of arrows, then following up with their long, curved sabers. . . The invaders would ride up to the defenses, coming from two or three directions at once, and shower the defenders with plunging fire from their bows.” The Temujai killed everyone in the town before moving on to the next one. 
• The Temujai attack a walled town. At first, they shot arrows at the guards. “The man on the gatehouse threw up his arms and fell backward with a yell of pain as the heavy arrow slammed into him, punching through his leather armor and into his flesh. . . another defender on the wall spun around, clutching an arrow wound in his right arm and letting his javelin fall . . .” 
• Not realizing it was a trick, the town’s commander, Caligus, orders his men to attack the retreating Temujai. The Temujai surrounded the soldiers. “As they came within range, [the Temujai] began to shoot and several of his men dropped, arrows hitting their unguarded back.” 
• The Temujai began shooting arrows at the Toscan forces, who were trying to retreat. “There were few mortal wounds; the men’s armor and shields saw to that. But the wounds they did suffer—to legs and arms and any momentarily bared flesh—made men drop out of line. . . Those who did drop out were quickly finished off by the cruel sabers of the Temujai.” 
• Caligus tries to flee, but an arrow hits him. “Then he was face down in the dust, his blood staining the ground around him.” All of the Toscan soldiers die. 
• Maddie must evade two Temujai soldiers who are chasing her. During the chase, the soldiers shoot arrows at her, but they do not hit their mark. Maddie hides in a rock outcrop until the soldiers are closer. “As the leader of the two Temujai nocked an arrow, he heard a whizzing sound and a sickening thud. His companion threw his arms wide and was hurled backward out of his saddle, with a strangled grunt of pain.” It is unclear whether the soldier’s wound was fatal. 
• Maddie launches another stone, but this one hits the Temujai horse. “The horse reared and plunged, screaming in agony. . . The Temujai was nearly hurled from the saddle.” The next shot hit the Temujai’s upper left arm, breaking the big bone there and sending a flare of agony searing through the man.” The man crashes to the ground. 
• Peloni, a mercenary, was practicing shooting his crossbow with a peasant who would load his crossbow. Peloni angrily “launched a resounding slap at the other man’s face.”  
• Selethen, an Arridan leader in the military, leads a group of soldiers to attack the Temujai while they sleep. The soldiers set the tents on fire and then attacked. “As Selethen reached the command pavilion, the guards on duty there moved forward to bar his way. He hacked down at the nearest, who was trying to level a heavy spear at him. The man cried out and fell to the side.” 
• After the attack, the Temujai buried their dead. The men were “laid out in two rows, wrapped in their bedding, ready for burial. The wounded were being treated in the healers’ tents.” Fourteen men died, and twenty-three were wounded. 
• The Temujai go after Selethen and his soldiers. The Arridan soldiers continued to harass the Temujai who were trailing them. As the Temujai’s wagons were forging a river, the Arridans attacked. “As the running men were dispatched by the two lancers, Selethen’s blade knocked the driver’s sword to one side and continued on, smashing into his ribs. The Arridan commander jerked his sword free, and the cart driver doubled over and fell to the mud under the cart’s wheels.”  
• Selethen is captured during one of the raids. His hands are tied and attached to a horse’s pommel. When his captor started moving, “Selethen attempted to keep pace with the rapid movement but failed. The rawhide tugged painfully at his wrists, the long grass tangled between his riding boots, and he was jerked off his feet to crash heavily onto the grass.” Selethen is dragged behind the horse until the enemy reaches his camp. 
• After being captured, his captor hurts him before being taken to be interrogated. “The Temujai stepped in and hammered a fist into his solar plexus. The unexpected blow drove the air from his lungs with an explosive grunt. . .” Selethen falls, and “the Temujai’s boot caught him in the side, driving out what little air was left in his lungs.” The description of the beating is described over two pages.  
• While rescuing Selethen, Maddie shoots an arrow. “The shaft hit the sentry in the chest, the impact stopping him, then knocking him backward on his heels. The saver fell from his hands and he crashed full length on the grass with a muted groan of pain.” The Temujai give chase, and Maddie shoots arrows at them. “The first two Temujai tumbled from their saddles. . . Maddie’s third arrow transfixed [another soldier’s] left shoulder, the impact and sudden agony knocking him from his horse.” 
• Will lures the Temujai’s leader, Mat’zak, into a trap where he and his men are surrounded. “The javelins smashed down into the mass of [Temujai] riders, bring down horses and men . . .” The Temujai send a volley of arrows into the Toscan’s ranks, and several men are injured. 
• The Genovesans, paid mercenaries, help the Toscans. “From behind seventh-five shields, the crossbowmen emerged, leveled their weapons, and released, cutting swaths through the galloping horsemen. Mena and horses screamed in pain and fell, and the [enemy] calvary faltered as the crossbow bolts struck him.” The battle is described in several chapters, and over two hundred enemy men died or were wounded on the battlefield. 
• Will is angry at the Genovesans’ commander, Peloni. When Will complains about his bad behavior, Peloni challenges Will to a duel. During the duel, “Will shot him in the chest. There was a brief flash of agony. Peloni felt himself being flung backward by the force of the arrow, then he hit the grass, and everything went dark.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

• While spending the night in a town, Will is served wine. “Will poured himself a small glass and sipped carefully. The wine was surprisingly good. . . He limited himself to one glass. . .” 
• The second night, Will and his companion, Brasos, are given more wine. Will “limited himself to one glass. He noted that Brasos gulped his first glass down and hurried to refill it.” Will cautions Brasos about drinking too much, so Brasos drinks coffee instead. 
• The mercenaries drink wine with their meals. 

Language  

• None 

Supernatural 

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• None