Book 1, Outcasts:
I was pretty excited to read this new series by John Flanagan, Author of Ranger's Apprentice.
Outcasts didn't disappoint, it was everything a John Flanagan story should be.
It's not very deep, but there's still some good stuff going on with the MC being a half breed trying to find his place in their wild viking society.

I really thought the book dragged, though. Its spends most of the book in "brotherband training" which is really interesting but its the main plot, and there isn't really any kind of sub plot going on except, their desire to be the best at "brotherband training."
The inciting incident doesn't happen till the last 10 pages of the book, setting off the real story which should be quite good in the next book.
Which takes me to the last peeve the fact that is is really obvious that he stretched his story out to fit into a trilogy when he really didn't have enough story for 3 books.
I may be wrong about this (having not read the second and third books) but I'm pretty certain this is the case.

Still, Outcast's is a fun book with lots of good vikingness and good themes on brotherhood, and leadership.

So who else has read these books? Did you like them? What are your thoughts on John Flanagan? Do you like fantasy without elves, dwarves, magic, or any of the usual fantastic things you would find in a fantasy?

I also read the first one, I loved it.

I can sorta see what you mean about stretching the story, but I really enjoyed the detailed training (that's just a preference though, I can see why not everyone would like it that way), plus it helps build all the more for the next story!

I also just like to see his world in detail, and when he focuses the story on something like that, you get a good look at a part of it.

One thing, I am disappointed because in fantasy I really like to see different races and fantasy creatures, etc, and for the most part J. Flanagan's world seems to lack these.

Still, I cannot wait to read the next story!

A few words to sum up my impressions on John Flanagan's Brotherband series:

Funny, inventive, building upon backstory established in Book 10.... Or 11. I forgot. New and old character, delving into the Skandian side of things - Who are basically the second-main group in the Ranger's Apprentice series.