RangerKnights is the third book in The Book of Ruin series by W.G. Hladky and it treats extraordinarily complex and exciting themes — mystery, religion, slavery, friendship, royalty, and cultural diversity against a dystopian setting — while featuring characters that are sophisticated and memorable. In a post-apocalyptic world, mutilators wreak havoc on the people and unleash horror wherever they are and a dominant, mysterious group raids the neighborhoods and captures slaves. The Inquisitors and the skinweavers are other forces to deal with, each exerting their power ruthlessly. Against this backdrop, the Andatunisian emir sends his son, Prince Asem, to accompany the American RangerKnights on a dangerous mission that will take them to the mutilators’ lair, the ominous basilica, and the stronghold of the skinweavers. Can they restore order where everything seems broken and where dangers grow in unexpected ways?

RangerKnights is an action-packed story that takes readers through a dangerous adventure as they follow the characters on their mission. The story is skillfully written; the worldbuilding is impeccably good and it is easy to imagine the locales and to have strong mental pictures of places where the story takes place. The characters are real and well-developed, and I particularly liked the way the author builds the theme of friendship. Young Prince Asem quickly develops a liking for the RangerKnights and the connection he has with Lovell Weir is fascinating. In a world that is torn apart by conflicting interests and dangerous groups, each longing for more power and control, the reader witnesses cultural intercourse as a young man begins to appreciate the beauty of another culture. The conflict is well-handled, and it is developed at different levels, and the subplots are ingeniously written to heighten the suspense. W.G. Hladky’s prose is exquisite, the story original, and the characters unforgettable. The story is well-crafted for fans of science fiction and fantasy and anyone looking for an action-packed story that is suspenseful and entertaining.

RangerKnights is the third and final installment of The Book of Ruin series by author W. G. Hladky. Prince Asem of Andatunisia welcomes his older sister Princess Narzarin's return home after being rescued from the clutches of General al-Wahasha's captivity by the American RangerKnights. When Asem gets his hands on one half of the Book of Ruin, Master Rostami encourages him to find the other half. His search leads him to the home of the RangerKnights, high above the Transylvanian mountains, and to seek help from Senior Chief Lovell Weir and his team. A sci-fi novel set in a futuristic dystopia, RangerKnights is the perfect conclusion to the highly acclaimed Book of Ruin trilogy that should satisfy the appetites of readers who gorge themselves on sci-fi and dystopian novels.

Author W. G. Hladky has created an authentic and highly imaginative tale that takes the reader into a wild world of solar storms, floating castles, and stubborn princesses. RangerKnights is an action-packed blockbuster of a novel that moves at a blistering pace with plenty of 'aha' moments. All the characters felt likable, with Asem and Lovell being my favorite of the bunch. I especially liked Lovell and Narzarin's character arcs where their relationship starts off with growing mistrust and evolves to one of mutual respect and admiration. Even though it's the third book of the series, RangerKnights also works seamlessly as a standalone novel. I enjoyed it immensely and I would recommend it to readers who relish well-written sci-fi books with intricate plotting and worldbuilding.

RangerKnights: The Book of Ruin Series, Book 3 by W. G. Hladky immerses the reader in a future Earth which is both familiar and foreign, scoured by the relentless glare of an ever brightening sun powered by eons of conflagration. This is a world defined by The Flash, a cataclysm hurled by the sun to torch humanity and leave scattered vestiges of societies recovering under burning skies. Andatunisia is one such realm, and Prince Asem Farhad Hossein Farahani will become integral to his country’s future survival; this is his story. In pursuit of his goals, Asem will meet and form inseparable bonds with the RangerKnights, a society of Americans isolated within the Transylvanian Mountains after The Flash, which has long desired to reunite with their home country. Asem’s first assignment involves the recovery of the second Book of Ruin, and this task propels him and the RangerKnights into a series of incredible adventures; pulsating action and experiences that will forever change their lives and the fates of future empires.

W. G. Hladky’s RangerKnights: The Book of Ruin Series, Book 3 is vast in scope, casting an incredibly rich world into stark relief; the fierce sun, manipulated technology, foreign lands, and constructed lifeforms all leap from the pages with perceptual clarity. I found the personalities and relationships to be quite believable, unique, and strong enough to convey genuine empathy when tragedy or triumph ensued; the fate of Bethaline Agard was particularly moving for me. The relationship between Lovell and Nazanin was also quite interesting, with sufficient left unsaid to allow a number of questions to reside in the reader’s mind. RangerKnights is a wonderful read for those seeking exotic, futuristic adventures, who can accept that this distant world is very different from where we now stand.