good good goodI think that this has been one of the best books in the series. I really like the Redwall books and I have nearly the whole series. I liked it because 1. Otters have been my favorite Redwall characters since the bellmaker (which was the first book I read where I liked Finbarr Galedeep the one who slays Foxwolf) 2.The fact that everyone is terrified of Tagg aka Denya and 3. Because this was an exiting story that I found really good.
There was however one bad thing for me, I do not know why Tagg had to get his tattoos and his special birthmark removed!
My faviourte book.Im not much of an intellectual when it comes to Reading books, I dont spend much of my time enjoying it, so this review comes from someone who probably dosent have much of an influential opinion.
I read the first page of this book at my school and thought.. hey this is actually alright so took it home to have a read, and it immersed me into the story straight away. Sawney raths persona is inspiring, he is a ruthless intelligent evil person, who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, which in this case is the taggerung.
He eventually finds the taggerung and slays taggerungs father. Sawney rath chooses to raise taggerung as his own, and although the taggerung is incredible agile and Strong, he chooses not to use his powers For wrong even though Sawney demands it.
I have not read any other book in the redwall series but, if any of the others are as brilliant as this one I will be picking it up any time soon.
A masterpiece.
Good, but not Redwall at its bestAs an avid Redwall fan for many years, I had awaited this upcoming novel with great excitement. I was not intially disappointed, this is definitely a decent read, but certainly not a Redwall classic.
There is a good storyline, a young otter named Deyna is abducted by the evil Juskarath clan, while fifteen seasons later he runs away to seek his home of Redwall where his sister and mother still dwell. This had the potential to be great, but was flawed from the start.
Deyna's sister Mhera, was a decent emough heroine, although the outcome of her plot was revealed far too early. Her old friend Gundil, despite being one of the best characters, was pushed to the side to make way for highly annoying newcomer, Fwirl. There is ample comic relief provided by Boorab and Nimbalo, and although there are slightly too many songs, most of them are good.
The big downfall in this novel was a lack of a decent villain. Sawney Rath is quickly killed to make way for Gruven Zann, who is simply laughably pitiable. Eefera and Vallug Bowbeast are nastly, but you can't decide which one to hate more. The final bad guy, Ruggan Bor, is prety evil, but doesn't get his comeuppance at the end. Russano the Wise makes a cameo appearance, but like Floburt, Egbert and many others, he could have done with more characterisation. There are quite a few adult themes covered in this novel, Poskra the alcoholic, Nimbalo is abused by his father, Deyna is abducted and there is romance and insanity. All in all, a good read, but not one of Jacques best, and if you are a newcomer to Redwall, I suggest you look elsewhere first.
had the potential to be so much better
I was very disappointed with this book. It sounded as if it was going to change the formula of the other redwall books, which was getting a bit repetitive, but really there wasnt much that changed. Tagg had the potential to be such a fun character, but then he turned out to be exactly the same as all the other heros of the books - down to the dialogue he uses. He grew up among a pack of vermin, but he has the speech and manners of an otter who grew up in Redwall! What is going on there?
Then there wasnt even a final battle, major bad guy that makes the rest of the redwall books good.
Possibly just me, but I was dissapointed.
WOW! Redwall's come to life again!
Apart from the original, I think this is the best Rewall book ever. Why? It's just so different! This time Brian Jacques has almost changed the monotonous old Redwall formula (i.e. Random guy gets a summoning from M the warrior to go on a quest, finds the route through riddles hidden in a song... etc). Rolicking adventure is replaced by an emotionally charged plot, with it's joys and sorrows, victories and defeats, and it's refreshingly new, nothing like the disappointing 'Lord Brocktree'. Being the latest book chronologically also has it's advantages, as this brings in a whole cast of new characters (as well as keeping two of the old). And the characters are just great! Sawney Rath, the adoptive father of Tagg who changes from almighty cheftain to old bodger, Nimbalo the harvestmouse, brought up by a cruel father and wanting to prove himself, Rukky the mysterious otter healer... they are all marvellously placed forward in the development of the story.
And there's more. This time Redwall itself is given a new, more organised feel. There's a dibbun choir, wallguards, music teacher... This time there's a badgerlord without bloodwrath, Russano the wise (yay!)... this time there's real friendship, hatred, romance... and, to the disappointment of some fans I guess, not much action (there's not even a main bad guy, and no final showdown)...
I just hope that other books will feature Deyna and his friends, Fwirl, Broogle and Rosabel, Mhera and Filorn, Old Hoarg, Boorab (he actually made me laugh out loud). They're simply amazing characters, and Brian Jacques has simply done an amazing job on this, his latest book...
Hide Reviews
Buy used for 
