I've had this book on my shelf for years after picking it up for a dollar at an old bookstore. I didn’t actually read it until last summer, and that was a major mistake on my part. It was the perfect easy, comforting read after finishing A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin.
Brian Jacques does a great job, understated by no other way to say it: The Redwall series is well done.
Now that my daughter is reading at an ever-increasing rate, I think it’ll be on her radar soon. I’m really looking forward to sharing it with her. It’s a wonderful introduction to fantasy: well-told, not overly violent (very cartoonish in that regard), and full of heart.
The story follows the classic “unlikely hero on a voyage of self-discovery” trope. In this case, it’s a young mouse named Matthias instead of Luke Skywalker. There are even interesting parallels: the ghost of Martin the Warrior guiding Matthias is reminiscent of Obi-Wan. Instead of a galaxy far, far away, the setting is Redwall Abbey and its surrounding countryside, populated by mice, rats, badgers, birds, and other creatures, each with their own distinct perspectives.
Brian Jacques was incredibly prolific, writing 22 books in the main series plus several more set in the same world.
Right now I’m starting Mattimeo. If you haven’t read the Redwall series yet, I give it a strong thumbs up. This first book in particular gets 4 out of 5 stars from me.
(One quick note for new readers: the series jumps around in time. Check the wiki or publication order if you want to read chronologically.)
