Review of "Redwall"

"Martin is some sort of angel; I'm the opposite."

     The first in a long series by Brian Jacques, Redwall tells the story of Matthias, a young mouse living in the peaceful abbey of Redwall, settled at the edge of Mossflower Wood. Matthias and his friends are preparing to celebrate the Summer of the Late Rose, complete with feasting and song to commemorate the peaceful year they have had. Unbeknownst to the peaceable gentlebeasts, a shadow looms on the horizon: Cluny the Scourge, the legendary one-eyed rat, and his band of cruel fighters are preparing to wage war on Redwall! With hardly so much as a memory of the last warrior they raised, the abbey appears to stand no chance against the invaders. It is up to Matthias to find the long-lost sword of Martin the Warrior and bring peace once again to Mossflower.

     With its straightforward humor and its cast of woodland animals, Redwall might appear to be a children's book, but it doesn't act like one. Jacques writes in such a way as to inspire excitement and wonder, or revulsion and terror, in every passage. From descriptions of delicious feasts to the haunted dreams of a rat, the writing style of Redwall fits the story perfectly. The background of each character, place, and tradition is well thought-out and well integrated, just as the complexity of the various cultures--otters, mice, badgers, squirrels, ferrets, foxes, and more--is distinctive and easily discernible.

     Matthias' story is an epic tale about friendship, self-worth, and acceptance. Over the course of the book he encounters countless situations that will test his resolve and shape his character. Even the small moments play a role in who our hero becomes and what he does with his life. The subplots are rich and interesting, full of charm and mystique. Even the visions Matthias and his comrades encounter feel realistic.

     The characters in Redwall are complex and relatable, so much so that one might almost forget they are animals if not for the habits and idiosyncrasies, distinct to each race, which pop up just often enough to remind readers of this fact. From Matthias, the klutzy young mouse, to Abbot Mortimer, the wizened leader of the abbey, to the great badger, Constance, the creatures that populate this book are well-rounded and well-written. There are occasions where they are wordy, especially near the beginning, but don't let that turn you away. The plot is worth it.

     Pacing is not an issue in this book. Epic battles are balanced out by feasts and games, and tension is released with as much ease as it is built. The mystery of where Martin the Warrior's sword lies, and the quest to find it, is full of riddles and action, lies and hard truths, subterfuge and theft. Cluny the Scourge truly is a terrible beast, and his followers are just as bloodthirsty. Although they don't often end up carrying out their threats, some of the things they say are quite gruesome. Since the inhabitants of Redwall are kindhearted woodland animals, rather than humans, the characters do not curse--however, there is violence and there are a few deaths. This is a war, after all.

     I would recommend this book to any reader interested in a fantasy story about kindness, justice, underdogs, and the battle of good versus evil. The world is captivating, the writing style immersive, and the characters charming. For all these reasons and more, I applaud Brian Jacques' Redwall on earning five full stars.