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kuhnja's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
When life gets tough the name of the game for me is comfort reads, usually from my childhood. My grandfather gifted me a copy of Redwall when I was maybe six years old for my birthday. He passed away about a year later. I still have my copy he gave me all those years ago, but the audiobook has to be my favorite way to relive those memories. The full cast recording with the author is such an amazing experience. It brings me back every time I listen to me lugging around my walkman with my checked out library tapes on so many family trips.
alanathehangry's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Liked it.
It was exactly what it advertised. Adorable. Whimsical. Black-and-white without much depth. But I so enjoyed these rodential adventures, every single side quest Matthias chose to do, the way Constance was an absolute BAMF, the feasts, and all the different creatures. It was simple. It was sweet. It was sometimes shockingly violent.
It was exactly what it advertised. Adorable. Whimsical. Black-and-white without much depth. But I so enjoyed these rodential adventures, every single side quest Matthias chose to do, the way Constance was an absolute BAMF, the feasts, and all the different creatures. It was simple. It was sweet. It was sometimes shockingly violent.
janeypuu's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
jndsouza's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
mecolem's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I can't believe I never read this as a kid! It was engaging and had a great cast of characters. I enjoyed the multiple plot points and how they all came together. I also really appreciated the full cast audiobook!
azahller's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
*I read this book as an adult. Since it is middle grade, I'm rating it as if I read it when I was in the target age range*
When the Redwall Abbey is threatened by the dreaded rat, Cluny the Scourge, and unlikely hero steps up. Matthias is a meek and bumbling mouse, but a riddle takes him on a grand quest to recover a sword of legend. The mice prepare to defend the Abbey with the help of the woodland creatures that neighbor their peaceful home.
I thought this book was really cute. I think that when I was first starting to read fantasy novels, this would've really been a hit for me. It has a wide cast of characters, a smidgeon of court politics, multiple riddles/prophesies, and a grand final battle. If your child seems to like this genre but is perhaps too young for the mature complicated epic fantasy classics, I feel like this is a fantastic intro book.
From time to time this book does get repetitive and I think I mostly felt that way because I'm quite older than the target demographic, so take that with a grain of salt. The characters are also a bit too clear cut for my liking - the good characters are just good and don't do bad things and the bad characters are just bad. Nobody exists in the in-between, which is okay but not my personal preference.
Overall I would recommend this book to young fantasy readers yearning for an epic adventure.
When the Redwall Abbey is threatened by the dreaded rat, Cluny the Scourge, and unlikely hero steps up. Matthias is a meek and bumbling mouse, but a riddle takes him on a grand quest to recover a sword of legend. The mice prepare to defend the Abbey with the help of the woodland creatures that neighbor their peaceful home.
I thought this book was really cute. I think that when I was first starting to read fantasy novels, this would've really been a hit for me. It has a wide cast of characters, a smidgeon of court politics, multiple riddles/prophesies, and a grand final battle. If your child seems to like this genre but is perhaps too young for the mature complicated epic fantasy classics, I feel like this is a fantastic intro book.
From time to time this book does get repetitive and I think I mostly felt that way because I'm quite older than the target demographic, so take that with a grain of salt. The characters are also a bit too clear cut for my liking - the good characters are just good and don't do bad things and the bad characters are just bad. Nobody exists in the in-between, which is okay but not my personal preference.
Overall I would recommend this book to young fantasy readers yearning for an epic adventure.
aleccjohnston's review against another edition
4.0
Redwall is a one of those fantasy series I felt almost obligated to begin reading, if only to keep from having missed out on a significant work in fantasy culture.
As is the case with many classic works I’ve added to my TBR, I was very excited to read this. I knew it would scratch a very specific itch that I had not previously tackled. I foresaw a very cute, wholesome, and quick tale with enough whimsy and heart to keep my spirits up through my next grimdark read. To nobody’s surprise(at least nobody who has read the book), that is precisely the case with Redwall.
I love the characters. Matthias, Cornflower, Constance, Basil Stag Hare, Jess the Squirrel and her son Silent Sam. Thinking about any one of them brings a smile to my face.
The story is empowering and fantastical and had me cheering inwardly for the brave souls of Redwall.
I love a hero’s journey, and this hero had me excited every step of the way for the twists and turns their journey took.
While there are a few minor complaints I have about the pacing and plotting, those are all far less relevant when you consider that this is meant to be a children’s and young adult fantasy series. I had to change my mindset a little ways in and remind myself what exactly I was reading and what I expected out of it. The good characters are meant to be good. The evil characters are meant to be evil. There’s a beauty in the simplicity of it. A beauty I haven’t experienced in a while throughout my reading of so many morally grey main characters.
I’m very happy I finally got around to reading this, and am mighty excited to see what else the series has to offer.
As is the case with many classic works I’ve added to my TBR, I was very excited to read this. I knew it would scratch a very specific itch that I had not previously tackled. I foresaw a very cute, wholesome, and quick tale with enough whimsy and heart to keep my spirits up through my next grimdark read. To nobody’s surprise(at least nobody who has read the book), that is precisely the case with Redwall.
I love the characters. Matthias, Cornflower, Constance, Basil Stag Hare, Jess the Squirrel and her son Silent Sam. Thinking about any one of them brings a smile to my face.
The story is empowering and fantastical and had me cheering inwardly for the brave souls of Redwall.
I love a hero’s journey, and this hero had me excited every step of the way for the twists and turns their journey took.
While there are a few minor complaints I have about the pacing and plotting, those are all far less relevant when you consider that this is meant to be a children’s and young adult fantasy series. I had to change my mindset a little ways in and remind myself what exactly I was reading and what I expected out of it. The good characters are meant to be good. The evil characters are meant to be evil. There’s a beauty in the simplicity of it. A beauty I haven’t experienced in a while throughout my reading of so many morally grey main characters.
I’m very happy I finally got around to reading this, and am mighty excited to see what else the series has to offer.
willa_reads_books's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
very fun middle grade fantasy novel. good story lines and i liked the different “cultures” of the different animals
jazperusual's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0