Redwall by Brian Jaqués is about a county of animals that live together in harmony. But when Cluny the Scourge, an evil rat only heard of in legends, comes to take over Redwall, the city of the mice, a brave young warrior steps up to save the day.

Ever since the passing of the great mouse warrior Martin, the forest has made a pact for Redwall to be a city of peace and wellbeing. This is so that any injured animal could come for aid, but in return Redwall could never be attacked: it was the unwritten law. However, Cluny the Scourge and his band of rats have tried to seize the opportunity of Redwall’s poor defense, and have made it their objective to break in and steal the valuables; starting with the mice’s precious Martin painting.

This is where Matthias comes in. As a young apprentice of Redwall, his duty is to obey Father Abbot at all times. The way of the mice is peaceful now, but Matthias longs to fight in an honorable war like Martin. When Cluny announces his threat, Matthias and his friend Methuselah try to find Martin’s long lost sword, shield, and belt. Cracking many clues, solving riddles, and an immense amount of courage Matthias is sent on a chase around the forest, hurrying to save his home before it’s too late.

Overall, I really liked the book. It had many unexpected plots, and the characters were well-thought out. It is a pretty thick book, so it took some time to read, but I really liked it. I would definitely recommend it to people who like animals but also adventure. There are 22 books in total in the Redwall series, and I would definitely keep reading them.

Brian Jacques’ Redwall series is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Lord Brocktree, by Brian Jacques, is part of his popular Redwall series. This was the thirteenth book published in the series and it would be the first book chronologically. It is a prequel to Redwall, a fantasy novel based in a world of human-like woodland creatures. The story revolves around Lord Brocktree, the son of Stonepaw, the great Badger Lord. Brocktree is on a quest to find Salamandastron, the mighty mountain of the Badger Lords, where his father Stonepaw lives. Along the way, he befriends many creatures, including a young haremaid called Dotti, and a clever otter known as Ruff. These friends will prove to be vital to Lord Brocktree’s success.

Unbeknownst to Brocktree, Stonepaw is under siege by the army of Ungatt Trunn, a villainous wildcat who serves as the main antagonist of the story. Age has been catching up quickly to Stonepaw and his hare companions, so they are not able to defend themselves as well as they could in the past. Because of his ailments, Stonepaw is increasingly worried about the safety of Salamandastron. Brocktree and his friends must help Stonepaw to reclaim the mountain, so that they can restore peace to the land.

I enjoyed this book very much. The setting is vast and the storyline is highly engaging. Like other Redwall books, the characters are interesting and memorable. However, this book has some downsides compared to other books in the series. There are a few sections that seem too slow-paced, and some of the characters seem to have been a little less developed than they could have been. Still, the story is quite exciting and action-packed for the most part. This was the first book in the Redwall series that I read, so I have a certain feeling of nostalgia for it. Now that I have read other books in the series, I have a bit less regard for this one, but I still think that it is very good. I would recommend it to almost anyone, but I think some of the other books in the Redwall series are even better.

Lord Brocktree by Brian Jacques is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Mossflower, by Brian Jacques, is part of his popular Redwall series. This was the second book published in the series and would be the third book chronologically. It is a prequel to Redwall, a fantasy novel based in a world of human-like woodland creatures. Martin, the great mouse warrior, is traveling to Mossflower Woods. The residents of Mossflower are living under the tyrannical reign of Verdauga, the wildcat. Martin is captured and brought to Kotir, Verdauga’s castle, where he is imprisoned. Soon afterward, Verdauga’s daughter Tsarmina poisons her father and claims that her brother Gingivere is the murderer. She then imprisons Gignivere and usurps the throne, becoming the main antagonist of the story.

During his stay in prison, Martin is joined by Gonff the mousethief, who had been caught stealing food from Kotir. Gonff tells Martin about the Council of Resistance in Mossflower, known as the “CORIM,” and their active rebellion against Tsarmina’s evil reign. With the help of the CORIM, Martin and Gonff eventually escape from prison. Martin embarks on a quest to find Boar the Fighter, a badger who is believed to be the only creature capable of challenging Tsarmina. Defeating Tsarmina is the only hope for freedom in Mossflower, and Martin is determined to conquer the evil queen.

Redwall is one of my favorite books, so I was eager to read this prequel. Mossflower does not disappoint.  This book is filled with action and adventure. The large cast of woodland creatures and vast geographical setting create an exciting atmosphere, which made this delightful to read. The main character is just a small mouse, yet I found his bravery and determination to be noble and inspiring. The story is thoroughly immersive and engaging, and very dramatic. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Mossflower by Brian Jacques is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.