Erak's Ransom is the seventh novel in the continuing Ranger's Apprentice series by Australian author John Flanagan.

In 2008, Flanagan won the Australian Publishers Association's Book of the Year for Older Children and the International Success Award for Erak's Ransom.

[1] I had almost completed writing Ranger's Apprentice Book 6: The Siege of Macindaw when I realized I had neglected an important period in Will and Halt's lives.

I realized that as Will approached the moment when he would become a Ranger in his own right, he would be troubled by the worry that he wasn't ready for the responsibility that this would entail.

Halt is making his own plans to fill the empty space that Will's imminent reassignment will leave in his life.

-John Flanagan Erak Starfollower becomes tired of paperwork after becoming the Oberjarl of Skandia during the events of Oakleaf Bearers.

In a small meeting with Ranger Will and the knight Horace, he reveals Erak's kidnapping, and also tells them that Erak thinks he was betrayed by a small congregant of Skandian dissenters located in Hallasholm who seek to depose him under the leadership of Toshak, a Jarl who was once a follower of the executed Slagor, the treacherous Skirl who previously sought to kill Cassandra.

Princess Cassandra begs her father, King Duncan, to supply the money for Erak's release.

As they travel, Cassandra and Will rekindle the friendship they somewhat lost in Oakleaf Bearers and Gilan offers Will advice as the young apprentice worries about how he will fare without Halt's guidance.

Once in Arrida, they learn from Arridi leader Seley el'then that Erak had been sent to Mararoc, a fort in the desert.

Erak kills Toshak, while Cassandra wounds Yusal in the head with her slingshot, permanently damaging his mind.