This story begins where The Missing Prince (2020) left off. Will and Maddie, two Araluen rangers sent to Gallica to free Prince Giles, are captured and imprisoned in the castle of the same conniving baron who is holding the prince. But two rangers of their caliber can't be held for long, and when they escape, they intend to complete their mission by freeing the prince and escorting him safely home. Meanwhile, two dependable allies, Halt and Horace, travel to a nearby Gallican village to provide support as needed. Equally adept at writing action-adventure scenes and amusing his fans with well-loved characters and their banter, Flanagan shows his range in this well-paced story. From the Ranger's Apprentice series' Royal Ranger subset, one of the few featuring a young woman as part of a highly skilled espionage-adventure corps in a preindustrial setting, the narrative underscores the Araluens' courage, confidence, and trust in each other. While reading the previous novel isn't a prerequisite for enjoying this one, some familiarity with the series and its characters is highly recommended.