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Redwall #10
The Long Patrol
The Redwall series is soon to be a Netflix original movie!
The adventures of Redwall continue, as Jacques' masterful storytelling leads readers through one of the greatest battles yet.
The murderous Rapscallion army is on the move. Dealt a humiliating defeat by Lady Cregga Rose Eyes, the Badger Lady of Salamandastron, who still pursues them, the Rapscallions are heading inland to take an even greater the peaceful Abbey of Redwall. The elite fighting unit of hares, the Long Patrol, is called out to draw them off. At the forefront is the young hare Tammo, the lead sword in one of the most ferocious battles Redwall has ever faced.
Perfect for fans of T. A. Barron’s Merlin saga, John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series, and J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series.
“[Jacques is] a masterful storyteller . . . As in the other Redwall books, the combination of an absorbing plot, robust characterization, and detailed description make the novel a page-turner.”— The Horn Book
The adventures of Redwall continue, as Jacques' masterful storytelling leads readers through one of the greatest battles yet.
The murderous Rapscallion army is on the move. Dealt a humiliating defeat by Lady Cregga Rose Eyes, the Badger Lady of Salamandastron, who still pursues them, the Rapscallions are heading inland to take an even greater the peaceful Abbey of Redwall. The elite fighting unit of hares, the Long Patrol, is called out to draw them off. At the forefront is the young hare Tammo, the lead sword in one of the most ferocious battles Redwall has ever faced.
Perfect for fans of T. A. Barron’s Merlin saga, John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series, and J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series.
“[Jacques is] a masterful storyteller . . . As in the other Redwall books, the combination of an absorbing plot, robust characterization, and detailed description make the novel a page-turner.”— The Horn Book
368 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 1997
About the author
Brian Jacques
201 books4,144 followers Brian Jacques (pronounced 'jakes') was born in Liverpool, England on June 15th, 1939. Along with forty percent of the population of Liverpool, his ancestral roots are in Ireland, County Cork to be exact.
Brian grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks, where he attended St. John's School, an inner city school featuring a playground on its roof. At the age of ten, his very first day at St. John's foreshadowed his future career as an author; given an assignment to write a story about animals, he wrote a short story about a bird who cleaned a crocodile's teeth. Brian's teacher could not, and would not believe that a ten year old could write so well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then that he realized he had a talent for it.
He wrote Redwall for the children at the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in Liverpool, where as a truck driver, he delivered milk. Because of the nature of his first audience, he made his style of writing as descriptive as possible, painting pictures with words so that the schoolchildren could see them in their imaginations. He remained a patron of the school until his death.
Brian lived in Liverpool, where his two grown sons, Marc, a carpenter and bricklayer, and David, a professor of Art and a muralist, still reside. David Jacques' work can be seen in Children's hospitals, soccer stadiums, and trade union offices as far away as Germany, Mexico, and Chile (not to mention Brian's photo featured in most of his books).
Brian also ran a weekly radio show on BBC Radio Merseyside, until October 2006, where he shared his comedy and wit, and played his favourites from the world of opera - he was a veritable expert on The Three Tenors.
When he was wasn't writing, Brian enjoyed walking his dog 'Teddy', a white West Highland Terrier, and completing crossword puzzles. When he found time he read the works of Mario Puzo, Damon Runyon, Richard Condon, Larry McMurty, and P.G. Wodehouse. He was also known to cook an impressive version of his favourite dish, spaghetti and meatballs.
Sadly, Brian passed away on the 5th February 2011.
Brian grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks, where he attended St. John's School, an inner city school featuring a playground on its roof. At the age of ten, his very first day at St. John's foreshadowed his future career as an author; given an assignment to write a story about animals, he wrote a short story about a bird who cleaned a crocodile's teeth. Brian's teacher could not, and would not believe that a ten year old could write so well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then that he realized he had a talent for it.
He wrote Redwall for the children at the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in Liverpool, where as a truck driver, he delivered milk. Because of the nature of his first audience, he made his style of writing as descriptive as possible, painting pictures with words so that the schoolchildren could see them in their imaginations. He remained a patron of the school until his death.
Brian lived in Liverpool, where his two grown sons, Marc, a carpenter and bricklayer, and David, a professor of Art and a muralist, still reside. David Jacques' work can be seen in Children's hospitals, soccer stadiums, and trade union offices as far away as Germany, Mexico, and Chile (not to mention Brian's photo featured in most of his books).
Brian also ran a weekly radio show on BBC Radio Merseyside, until October 2006, where he shared his comedy and wit, and played his favourites from the world of opera - he was a veritable expert on The Three Tenors.
When he was wasn't writing, Brian enjoyed walking his dog 'Teddy', a white West Highland Terrier, and completing crossword puzzles. When he found time he read the works of Mario Puzo, Damon Runyon, Richard Condon, Larry McMurty, and P.G. Wodehouse. He was also known to cook an impressive version of his favourite dish, spaghetti and meatballs.
Sadly, Brian passed away on the 5th February 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
September 2, 2019
His exciting tales of Redwall have been enjoyed by millions of chidren of all ages. I am now 60 years old and love all his characters from the warrior mice to the wonderfully gregarious hares. Sure! the heroes always win through in the end, but what they have to endure, en route to the final victory leaves you mentally exhausted and chewing your nails down to the elbows! The variety of animals who make up the 'goodies' (or Redwallers), means that their ability to deal with the diverse threats from the 'baddies', is unbeatable - in the end, anyway!
Brian Jacques books are quite simply fantastic escapism. So much more than all todays plethora of electronic gadgets put together. He will be sadly missed.
Brian Jacques books are quite simply fantastic escapism. So much more than all todays plethora of electronic gadgets put together. He will be sadly missed.
February 23, 2024
*jiving tearfully to the marching songs in the audiobook until further notice*
July 10, 2019
Another fantastic addition to the Redwall library, this book had everything I love about Mr. Jacques’ world. There was a dastardly villain, lots of sword fights, adventure aplenty and, of course, brilliant descriptions of the amazing food in Mossflower Wood! I also noticed a maturing of the various characters. There was a fair amount of sadness in this story, but lots of wisdom to balance it. I can’t recommend this series enough; any time of year and any kind of weather, losing yourself in these books is well worth the effort!
April 22, 2013
I was reading some of the reviews previous to mine, and find it interesting that adults are complaining that the redwall books follow a formula/theme and are predictable. that they all have the same premise- a horde threatens the serenity of redwall abbey. to which I have to say this: duh. these books were. written. for. kids. they deal with difficult subjects, war, death, honor, grief, injury, etc, in a manner that young kids can grasp and understand. of course they're simplistic. you want complicated? read war and peace. I first read these books when I was around 8. look at them with an 8 year old's eyes. not an adult's eyes.
December 1, 2016
As a self-confessed Redwall nut it's probably not a good idea for me to review this book. But I'm going to anyway.
I loved it. Bad is bad and good is good and there's very little messing about in the middle. You know that the goodies will win in the end, of course they will, although how they get there will be endlessly entertaining and inventive.
Brian Jacques certainly knows how to write a hero....
I loved it. Bad is bad and good is good and there's very little messing about in the middle. You know that the goodies will win in the end, of course they will, although how they get there will be endlessly entertaining and inventive.
Brian Jacques certainly knows how to write a hero....
March 25, 2023
5 stars. Again, a long-delayed review causing large memory gaps. But I do remember I loved this!!
The Long Patrol definitely won my respect through the Redwall books, and I loved seeing them in the spotlight here. THEY ARE SO BRITISH AND IT’S SO FUN. Despite the fact that I wasn’t a fan of Tammo (I did not like how his mother helped him run away against his father’s wishes, although I got their point and so did the father) he ended up growing on me. I always have a soft spot for the sweet warriors. ;P I did wish I could see more of Cregga and I didn’t become as fond of her as I usual become of the badgers, but I enjoyed seeing her storyline wrap in with the story. Over at Redwall, I loved seeing everyone from The Pearls of Lutra and some new folks! Like the owls. ;P AND ARVEN!! And by the way I loved the throwbacks to Kotir! And the Raspcallions were the usual good ol’ baddies you wanted to whip.
And that’s all I remember, but I look forwards to reading this again. XD
*updated review + content list to come upon reread*
The Long Patrol definitely won my respect through the Redwall books, and I loved seeing them in the spotlight here. THEY ARE SO BRITISH AND IT’S SO FUN. Despite the fact that I wasn’t a fan of Tammo (I did not like how his mother helped him run away against his father’s wishes, although I got their point and so did the father) he ended up growing on me. I always have a soft spot for the sweet warriors. ;P I did wish I could see more of Cregga and I didn’t become as fond of her as I usual become of the badgers, but I enjoyed seeing her storyline wrap in with the story. Over at Redwall, I loved seeing everyone from The Pearls of Lutra and some new folks! Like the owls. ;P AND ARVEN!! And by the way I loved the throwbacks to Kotir! And the Raspcallions were the usual good ol’ baddies you wanted to whip.
And that’s all I remember, but I look forwards to reading this again. XD
*updated review + content list to come upon reread*
August 28, 2019
Definitely a solid read in the Redwall series, with Brian Jacques's usual attention to detail when it comes to food and fighting. You'll like this if you're a Hare fan. I will say that a few parts did drag on, but it's still overall a pretty great book especially if you're a fan of the series.
October 5, 2023
I think the main issue is it didn’t really seem to have much of a cohesive plot.
June 3, 2021
I liked this one a bit more than some of the others in this series. All in all, what a fun way to start the summer by reading a favorite from when the kids were young.
May 18, 2023
This book!!!
I'm not sure if it's my favorite Redwall book, but it's certainly up there. Absolutely loved this one, from learning about the Long Patrol to the discovery of the ruins of Kotir from Mossflower to the epic battle climax! I especially loved what happens at the end of the battle, and the themes of the dawn bringing hope and of finally coming home. This book has my heart.
I'm not sure if it's my favorite Redwall book, but it's certainly up there. Absolutely loved this one, from learning about the Long Patrol to the discovery of the ruins of Kotir from Mossflower to the epic battle climax! I especially loved what happens at the end of the battle, and the themes of the dawn bringing hope and of finally coming home. This book has my heart.
November 23, 2009
This book deserves one star simply because by this point in the series (and in fact, by some time before), the books in the Redwall saga may as well be factory produced. Whereas most books in the Redwall series at least attempt to pull a new twist on the Redwall world (travels in new directions, unique heroes and villains, etc) 'The Long Patrol' merely tells another story, with the same character types, the same quests, the same villain aspects, etc.
Having said that, it should be noted that, to a degree, that's exactly what a children's series should do. I don't criticize every single Hardy Boys book for being unoriginal because in a way, the goal of a series is to let you read the same book over and over again while telling yourself that it's 'different this time'. Still, any repetition weakens a good foundation, and even as a child, by the time I got to this book in the series, all the fun had been soaked out.
Having said that, it should be noted that, to a degree, that's exactly what a children's series should do. I don't criticize every single Hardy Boys book for being unoriginal because in a way, the goal of a series is to let you read the same book over and over again while telling yourself that it's 'different this time'. Still, any repetition weakens a good foundation, and even as a child, by the time I got to this book in the series, all the fun had been soaked out.
February 14, 2022
"It was not as good as I remembered. I think Brian Jacques likes to glorify war a little too much. And while I don't mind big battles, it felt like in this book nobody would shut up about how there was going to be a big battle at the end, which detracted from the whole book leading up to it. Still, I did enjoy reading it and I think it's in the better half of the Redwall series."
May 27, 2020
This is one of the sadder Redwall books, IMO, but still very, very good. I do like getting to see the full Long Patrol in action and some different challenges than usual. Also, reoccurring characters are a delightful thing.
March 25, 2017
Quite good, I'm sure. There isn't much else to say about it, I'm afraid, for, seeing as all the Redwall books end up being more or less the same, I've already said everything by reviewing other books in the series.
January 9, 2015
This book is a very exciting adventure novel with both suspense and drama. The book starts at Camp Tussock where a young hare named Tamello (Tam for short) is trying to ease his wandering mind by acting as if he is fighting for the famed Long patrol. Tam is too young in his father's eyes to join the Long Patrol but his mother has other ideas. She enlists the help of her friend named Russa to help Tam journey to the Long Patrol. On the shores of the Southern Coast beaches are filled with war loving vermin. With the death of their leader a fight to the death is created by his two sons in order to see who the new leader is. Gormad Tunn is the new leader of the horde after he slays his own brother. He decides instead of going back to see in damaged ships the horde will march north and conquer the lands they cross.
The pair of Russa and Tam soon hook up with a small scout unit of the Long Patrol on search for the horde. They soon go to Redwall Abbey and learn of the horde's fast approach. Fearing the impending horde the small group of Abbey dwellers and the scout unit of the Long Patrol must find a way to contact the main group of the Long Patrol. While help is being sent to the defenders they mount a headquarters on a hill halfway between the abbey and the horde. When the battle begins it seems that the small group of fighters will be destroyed by the horde but the quick arrival of the Long Patrol soon proves to be the deciding factor of the battle. With the horde completely killed the members of the Abbey mourn the loss of fallen comrades while they have a victory feast. Tam finally joins the Long Patrol and fulfills his dream while sadly his friend Russa is killed.
Throughout the book you see Tam's character develop very quickly. It seems throughout each chapter Tam discovers something new about himself he previously had no idea about. He develops a sense of bravery and courage that are second to no one else. He also develops a feeling of pride that he did not have while living at Camp Tussock.
This book is a very solid four star book. It is perfect for anyone who likes books involving a hero and a villain. This book is good for both genders and is good for grades eight through twelve. It is also good for anyone who enjoys an exciting plot with very diverse characters. It is an exciting book full of drama and adventure.
The pair of Russa and Tam soon hook up with a small scout unit of the Long Patrol on search for the horde. They soon go to Redwall Abbey and learn of the horde's fast approach. Fearing the impending horde the small group of Abbey dwellers and the scout unit of the Long Patrol must find a way to contact the main group of the Long Patrol. While help is being sent to the defenders they mount a headquarters on a hill halfway between the abbey and the horde. When the battle begins it seems that the small group of fighters will be destroyed by the horde but the quick arrival of the Long Patrol soon proves to be the deciding factor of the battle. With the horde completely killed the members of the Abbey mourn the loss of fallen comrades while they have a victory feast. Tam finally joins the Long Patrol and fulfills his dream while sadly his friend Russa is killed.
Throughout the book you see Tam's character develop very quickly. It seems throughout each chapter Tam discovers something new about himself he previously had no idea about. He develops a sense of bravery and courage that are second to no one else. He also develops a feeling of pride that he did not have while living at Camp Tussock.
This book is a very solid four star book. It is perfect for anyone who likes books involving a hero and a villain. This book is good for both genders and is good for grades eight through twelve. It is also good for anyone who enjoys an exciting plot with very diverse characters. It is an exciting book full of drama and adventure.
March 2, 2018
Any readers of Redwall have been curious about the famed hares of the Long Patrol from early on. This next chapter in the series follows the adventures of Tammo, a young hare that longs to be a member of the Long Patrol hares of Salamandastron, just like his mother and father. A fiesty youngster, seemingly always in trouble, Tammo runs away to join the Long Patrol with the help of his mother, and her old friend, a nomadic squirrel, Russa Nodrey. Along the way, Russa teaches Tammo invaluable lessons. By chance, they encounter a small group of Long Patrol hares, who are scouting the land for vermin. Back at Redwall, a group of youngsters we met in "The Pearls of Lutra"--Tansy, Cracklyn and Arven--have grown into the elders of the Abbey. Abbess Tansy and her friends must figure out how to repair the south wall of the Abbey and discover the mysteries that lead to its collapse. Meanwhile, the evil Rapscallion leader, Damug Warfang and his army of merciless vermin, are wandering the countryside, on their way to Redwall Abbey to conquer it. The Redwall elders accept the help of Tammo and the Long Patrol hares to defend their beloved home. Thankfully, Lady Cregga Rose Eyes, the badger leader of Salamandastron and the remaining Long Patrol hares are also in pursuit of the Rapscallion army...I thought "The Pearls of Lutra" was one of the more sad adventures in this series, but "The Long Patrol" definitely had a more somber tone as well. But as always, Jacques talent of creating a spellbinding tale of friendship, bravery, adventure and growth did not disappoint.
September 6, 2019
Timeless fantasy & absolutely emotionally cathartic. Cried at least 5x reading this book and was full of the milk of human kindness afterwards.
November 23, 2018
Someone at a party must've mistaken Brian Jacques for the author of Watership Down, and this blood orgy of zoological racial conflict was Brian's way of living down this perceived insult.
June 26, 2022
This book wasn’t bad, per sey, but it definitely didn’t engage me. Many of the characters could have been interesting but weren’t exactly developed. Lady Cregga Rose Eyes spends most of the book preparing for, and building this incredible rage for, a war that literally takes place over a couple pages at the end. Tammo is a complete newbie and has no experience, but almost magically morphs into the most fighter. Where was his training, the building up of his character? I didn’t feel much progressing them or any reason to enjoy their characters. The owl family (like most predatory birds in Redwall) felt like they were only discovered to provide convenient plot elements and prove that “predatory birds can be good too.” The back and forth bickering and backstabbery between the rats felt rehashed over and over. The character of “Rubbadub” was the worst I’ve ever heard of. A rabbit that just responds with “BOOM A BOOM BOOM B’BANG BOOM” every time you talk to it? I actually sighed every time it showed up.
The concept of Tsarmina’s castle being discovered because the tunnel to flood it was revealed was actually excellent, but I found it REALLY hard to believe there was anything left of the castle. It was destroyed by battle, then flooded, buried, and built over (I’m also not sure why they’d literally build the abby wall RIGHT THERE above a flood tunnel). Yet Tansy is going to explore it as if it’s a functional building? It seemed like the only reason it was there was to provide puzzles and riddles to reveal a treasure, which they ended up melting down into medals anyway, making this the second book in a row they’ve destroyed the treasure at the end for no real good reason. Odd choice.
In the end, it was far less childish with a great emphasis on war and fighting for the entire time, but the plot felt far too filled with events that didn’t actually progress anything. Rather, I felt like I showed up late, fell into a giant holding maneuver until it was done, and then had to leave before something interesting was going to happen with the new badger lord.
The concept of Tsarmina’s castle being discovered because the tunnel to flood it was revealed was actually excellent, but I found it REALLY hard to believe there was anything left of the castle. It was destroyed by battle, then flooded, buried, and built over (I’m also not sure why they’d literally build the abby wall RIGHT THERE above a flood tunnel). Yet Tansy is going to explore it as if it’s a functional building? It seemed like the only reason it was there was to provide puzzles and riddles to reveal a treasure, which they ended up melting down into medals anyway, making this the second book in a row they’ve destroyed the treasure at the end for no real good reason. Odd choice.
In the end, it was far less childish with a great emphasis on war and fighting for the entire time, but the plot felt far too filled with events that didn’t actually progress anything. Rather, I felt like I showed up late, fell into a giant holding maneuver until it was done, and then had to leave before something interesting was going to happen with the new badger lord.
December 8, 2021
My favorite entry of the series since early on, probably because it adjusts the formula juuuust enough to hit familiar but not identical notes. Genuine character stakes despite knowing that good will triumph over evil, and the best version yet of the cavalry showing up in the darkest hour. S'death on the wind.
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October 2, 2023
Another great Redwall tale. It's a story about growing up, defending your home, and the cost of war. While it isn't a big war, it's still enough to introduce kids to the concept.
Tammo was great, as was the Long Patrol. I wish Arven had more screentime. Tansey and Crakle were both fun to see as adults. Most excellent.
Tammo was great, as was the Long Patrol. I wish Arven had more screentime. Tansey and Crakle were both fun to see as adults. Most excellent.
July 30, 2022
Book is a solid 4; the audiobook is an undeniable 5.
September 7, 2022
This one is now one of my favorites in the series.
February 25, 2024
compare lady cregga rose eyes to lady wildstripe.......
July 4, 2024
As a child, I was disappointed that this book wasn’t about silly hares strutting around saying, “Wot!”, and scoffing massive amounts of food. Now as an adult, I’m glad that wasn’t the case. Instead we get an elite fighting force that can mobilize at a moment’s notice. This one has a slow start, but eventually explodes into battle. There were some touching scenes of sacrifice, and the importance of defending the helpless is a theme throughout.
January 10, 2019
Normally, the Redwall books I prefer are the ones where the various storylines are clearly linked together. Long Patrol fits this mould perfectly which makes for an enjoyable read.
There is plenty to like about this book. For a start, the threat to Redwall is extremely real; the south wall is collapsing and there are 1000 Rapscallions heading their way. This gives a sense of urgency to the book that is lacking from some of the others in the canon (Taggerung, Mariel, ect.). Russa Nodrey is a brilliant character and her mentoring of Tammo is interesting although most of it happens off page (not actually described in the book).
Damug Warfang is also an interesting villain; unlike most Redwall villains, he's not a fierce fighter and instead seeks to outwit his enemies. In fact, I'd argue (slightly controversially, I admit) that he's a better general than Major Habile Sinastra. Sinastra, who whilst being extremely brave and very likeable, does not really seem to have a strategy to beat the Rapscallions; all his efforts seem to go into getting them into an open battle, and then hoping for the best. Damug on the other hand, manages to avoid the fire log, get his troops onto the hill and surround his enemy, thereby effectively utilizing his superior numbers. Incidentally, this is one of the very few (if not the only) Redwall book to have a full scale battle in it; most of the others revolve either arround skirmishes or sieges. This adds another interesting element to this book which we have not seen before in the others.
Finally, we get to see the disadvantages of being afflicted with bloodwrath. Although throughout the entire series, characters have been saying what a dreadfull affliction it is, I personally thought this a load of rubbish; sure, there are disadvantages (taking unnecessary risks, higher risk of injury) but that is surely outweighed by the advantages it gives (makes you virtually unbeatable, enables you to fight on when badly wounded, makes you harder to kill). However, Lady Cregga Rose eyes shows in this book the serious problems having a berserk leader can give you. Twice she runs off from her army in her mad haste to find the Rapscallions and at one point forces her Sgt. Major to resort to barring the way with his sword to allow him time to reconnoitre properly! Needless to say, I now see what the characters in the previous stories were driving at!
No book is perfect of course and this one is no exception. There are a few flaws in it. The first is Tammo. There is a lot to like about him; he's brave, enthusiastic and, best of all, doesn't spend most of the book eating like other Redwall hares (the whole hares love food thing is considerably toned down for this book, presumably because otherwise, with so many hares around, the whole book would have ended up being about food!). However, he's spoilt for me as a character because he's not given enough time to develop. At the start of the book, he's pretty wet behind the ears and then, suddenly, as soon as they reach Redwall he's being referred to as if he's an experienced warrior. It makes no sense. Presumably, Russa and the others have been teaching him as they go along but most of this is mentioned only in retrospect. I felt like the book should have been longer in order for Tammo to get trained up properly, albeit this would have made it huge.
The other annoyance is the side story of Tansy and her friends exploring Kotir. Why? It doesn't help to explain why the wall is subsiding because we know that already; it's the tunnel dug in Mossflower to flood Kotir that has unexpectedly opened up again. It doesn't do anything to defeat the Rapscallions. It doesn't even make sense. After all, Kotir was in a pretty bad state when Tsarmina ruled from there. It's badly damaged by Timballisto and his catapault and then flooded. Redwall Abbey is then built on top of it not long afterwards. How much of the castle was left after all that? Virtually nothing, surely. The only benefit I can see from the storyline is: (a) it provides the usual Redwall feature of a puzzle/riddles and (b) it succeeds in ranking up the tension for the reader who is anxious to get back to the battle and see what's happening.
Overall, this is a good book and a worthy addition to the Redwall canon. Considering it's for children, it's extremely well written, has a strong plot and is full of likeable characters. What more do you need?
There is plenty to like about this book. For a start, the threat to Redwall is extremely real; the south wall is collapsing and there are 1000 Rapscallions heading their way. This gives a sense of urgency to the book that is lacking from some of the others in the canon (Taggerung, Mariel, ect.). Russa Nodrey is a brilliant character and her mentoring of Tammo is interesting although most of it happens off page (not actually described in the book).
Damug Warfang is also an interesting villain; unlike most Redwall villains, he's not a fierce fighter and instead seeks to outwit his enemies. In fact, I'd argue (slightly controversially, I admit) that he's a better general than Major Habile Sinastra. Sinastra, who whilst being extremely brave and very likeable, does not really seem to have a strategy to beat the Rapscallions; all his efforts seem to go into getting them into an open battle, and then hoping for the best. Damug on the other hand, manages to avoid the fire log, get his troops onto the hill and surround his enemy, thereby effectively utilizing his superior numbers. Incidentally, this is one of the very few (if not the only) Redwall book to have a full scale battle in it; most of the others revolve either arround skirmishes or sieges. This adds another interesting element to this book which we have not seen before in the others.
Finally, we get to see the disadvantages of being afflicted with bloodwrath. Although throughout the entire series, characters have been saying what a dreadfull affliction it is, I personally thought this a load of rubbish; sure, there are disadvantages (taking unnecessary risks, higher risk of injury) but that is surely outweighed by the advantages it gives (makes you virtually unbeatable, enables you to fight on when badly wounded, makes you harder to kill). However, Lady Cregga Rose eyes shows in this book the serious problems having a berserk leader can give you. Twice she runs off from her army in her mad haste to find the Rapscallions and at one point forces her Sgt. Major to resort to barring the way with his sword to allow him time to reconnoitre properly! Needless to say, I now see what the characters in the previous stories were driving at!
No book is perfect of course and this one is no exception. There are a few flaws in it. The first is Tammo. There is a lot to like about him; he's brave, enthusiastic and, best of all, doesn't spend most of the book eating like other Redwall hares (the whole hares love food thing is considerably toned down for this book, presumably because otherwise, with so many hares around, the whole book would have ended up being about food!). However, he's spoilt for me as a character because he's not given enough time to develop. At the start of the book, he's pretty wet behind the ears and then, suddenly, as soon as they reach Redwall he's being referred to as if he's an experienced warrior. It makes no sense. Presumably, Russa and the others have been teaching him as they go along but most of this is mentioned only in retrospect. I felt like the book should have been longer in order for Tammo to get trained up properly, albeit this would have made it huge.
The other annoyance is the side story of Tansy and her friends exploring Kotir. Why? It doesn't help to explain why the wall is subsiding because we know that already; it's the tunnel dug in Mossflower to flood Kotir that has unexpectedly opened up again. It doesn't do anything to defeat the Rapscallions. It doesn't even make sense. After all, Kotir was in a pretty bad state when Tsarmina ruled from there. It's badly damaged by Timballisto and his catapault and then flooded. Redwall Abbey is then built on top of it not long afterwards. How much of the castle was left after all that? Virtually nothing, surely. The only benefit I can see from the storyline is: (a) it provides the usual Redwall feature of a puzzle/riddles and (b) it succeeds in ranking up the tension for the reader who is anxious to get back to the battle and see what's happening.
Overall, this is a good book and a worthy addition to the Redwall canon. Considering it's for children, it's extremely well written, has a strong plot and is full of likeable characters. What more do you need?
August 17, 2017
One of the darker entries into the Redwall canon, with loss of innocence a clear theme. Tammo dreams of joining the Long Patrol, an elite army of hares who fight for Salamandastron and its ruler Cregga Rose-Eyes. The reality of this mostly consists of his friends dying around him as they struggle to contain the oncoming might of Damug Warfang's army of Rapscallion rats, intent on taking Redwall Abbey. The last third of the book is more or less one long battle and it's beautifully written. The Abbey is not only under threat from invaders, but its foundations are finally crumbling into the swampy lake it was built on (whose good idea was that...Abbess Germaine I'm looking in your direction!). It's good to have a decent Abbey plot that isn't just 'solve the riddles to find the next Abbess,' plus there's plenty of Viola Bankvole action and Cracklyn/Tansy time as they pootle about underground looking for treasure #squadgoals. The book's main flaw is that with an unusually large cast many of the characters are a little sketchily drawn. Damug Warfang gets less page time than his soldiers, whether they're sneaky deserters or comic relief duo Sneezewort and Lousewort. The scenes where Tammo and his pals infiltrate the camp in disguise are suitably tense, but Damug is never really built up as a threat. Cregga comes across less as an intimidating leader and more of an entitled obsessive who spends most of the novel running her army into the ground and ignoring everyone else's safety, although admittedly she does survive to get better character development in sequels Marlfox and The Taggerung. Arven comes out the worst of the entire ensemble. Despite being Abbey Warrior he is never once seen doing anything heroic and only gets his sword out once, to play a cute trick on Pasque Valerian. Instead Arven spends most of his time getting others to do his dirty work for him; getting Skipper to rescue Sloey from the eel, letting Shad go treasure hunting under the Abbey and delegating battle control to Log-a-Log and Major Perigord. Mind you, considering how stupidly he used to act in Pearls of Lutra, I don't know why I'm surprised. Should have let Viola Bankvole be Abbey Warrior.
The novel is unstinting in its depiction of the harsh realities of war, with a brutal comeuppance for Cregga Rose-Eyes and fatalities all around. The ending is bittersweet and peppered with call-backs. Not a perfect Redwall read, but a damn good one.
The novel is unstinting in its depiction of the harsh realities of war, with a brutal comeuppance for Cregga Rose-Eyes and fatalities all around. The ending is bittersweet and peppered with call-backs. Not a perfect Redwall read, but a damn good one.
August 30, 2023
Thrilling story where Redwall is mortal danger. Tremendous acts of bravery and selflessness. Rabbits are heroes. Lots of death and destruction, which is true in all wars. Shows the terrible impact of evil leaders, particularly on a non-moral society.
May 29, 2019
Since the library is still not open yet until June 6, I read another book that was not in The Dark Artifices series. But I have managed to reserve Lord of Shadows, Queen of Air and Darkness, and The Red Scrolls of Magic. I wish that I read this book when I was younger, because I would've definitely liked it more if I did, but I love the imagery and the beautiful words of this book. Overall, this was a great read!
November 10, 2017
Jacques’s tales are full of colorful language, beautiful imagery of Mossflower Woods and the surrounding country — and Redwall Abbey’s legendary food — and lovable characters.
Jacques uses such very personal and localized character arcs to tell a much wider story. Within this single novel we are given references to other figures of Redwall lore, like Martin the Warrior, Matthias, Sunflash the Mace, and Lord Brocktree. To be reminded of these stories has only stoked my desire to revisit this world.
Some of the narrative descriptions and character flourishes can feel on-the-nose. But these are children’s stories meant to portray heroism, courage, and compassion.
Full review available here: https://redstringpapercuts.com/2017/0...
Jacques uses such very personal and localized character arcs to tell a much wider story. Within this single novel we are given references to other figures of Redwall lore, like Martin the Warrior, Matthias, Sunflash the Mace, and Lord Brocktree. To be reminded of these stories has only stoked my desire to revisit this world.
Some of the narrative descriptions and character flourishes can feel on-the-nose. But these are children’s stories meant to portray heroism, courage, and compassion.
Full review available here: https://redstringpapercuts.com/2017/0...
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