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semperlunaris's review against another edition
3.0
Otters, cats, and prophesies, oh my!
I did enjoy High Rhulain when I got it for Christmas as a child, listening to the audiobook and reading along, and while it does have its charms and follows a pretty generic set of plot points - it's just not as enjoyable as some of the other Redwall books...
If the otters were your favourite of the Redwall folk, you might have more enjoyment in this one.
If you do want to give it a go, definitely go for the audiobook as it's very well cast and the songs are fab!
I did enjoy High Rhulain when I got it for Christmas as a child, listening to the audiobook and reading along, and while it does have its charms and follows a pretty generic set of plot points - it's just not as enjoyable as some of the other Redwall books...
If the otters were your favourite of the Redwall folk, you might have more enjoyment in this one.
If you do want to give it a go, definitely go for the audiobook as it's very well cast and the songs are fab!
authoraugust's review against another edition
2.0
Sigh. Back in the day, the Redwall series was one of the reasons I started writing, particularly things with plot. I probably should have just let that sleeping dog slumber, especially since Jacques recently passed away, but in my quest to read all the books I own that I haven't yet, I had to pick up "High Rhulain." Wow. Character development? Nonexistent. Plot? Rushed and haphazard. Emotional content? Suffice to say that a few important characters get killed, and when they do, everyone takes maybe five minutes to grieve. I still think back with fond memories on many of Jacques's books, and I think if I were to read them again I might rediscover why I loved this series so much. But the newer entries continue to disappoint me, and I'm not looking forward to reading "Eulalia!".
asearle223's review against another edition
adventurous
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
5.0
percystjoan's review against another edition
4.0
on a brief break from my audiobook austen venture (only northanger abbey and mansfield park left!!) and in the meantime i've been taking it back to my childhood by listening to some of my favorite redwall books on audiobook. each one is narrated by brian jacques and a full cast, and let me tell you, they are an absolute DELIGHT to experience!! my only disappointment is that i can't seem to find the audio recording of marlfox anywhere (it seems to only have survived in select physical copies at various libraries, but none near me, unfortunately). however, high rhulain was nevertheless an excellent one to have in the background during work, chores, and hours of playing tears of the kingdom. despite being written for kids, it's well-written and gripping enough to hook readers of any age who enjoy a good epic fantasy. there's heroes, there's villains, there's horrific acts of war, there's feasts and songs (played and sung in-book), there's prophetic dreams, there's a map in the beginning...this is pure fantasy goodness at it's best. i would also highly recommend searching up the in-book illustrations for the characters, because oh my god they have so much personality. i love it. a solid story, and definitely up there in my personal ranking of the series! (although it's beaten by my favorites: [b:Marlfox|7999|Marlfox (Redwall, #11)|Brian Jacques|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1311702426l/7999._SY75_.jpg|1193896], [b:Outcast of Redwall|7998|Outcast of Redwall (Redwall, #8)|Brian Jacques|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1422350841l/7998._SY75_.jpg|1178237], [b:Pearls of Lutra|7980|Pearls of Lutra (Redwall, #9)|Brian Jacques|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388786457l/7980._SY75_.jpg|1889], and [b:Triss|8001|Triss (Redwall, #15)|Brian Jacques|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388786456l/8001._SY75_.jpg|1032790].)
bookish_b's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
meecespieces'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Death
bookycnidaria's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Slavery, and Violence
zenithharpink's review against another edition
3.0
Admittedly this book took me over a month to complete, but it wasn't entirely the book's fault. This is not my favorite in the series, which I feel I've been saying a lot lately. The riddle aspect of the book, a feature I generally enjoy, was not well-linked into the larger narrative, so it felt more like a distraction than a valuable plot point.
While I thought Tiria was a nice little otter, she wasn't given much opportunity to shine herself, instead deferring to others. The final battle royale was incredibly condensed and felt superficial and lackluster.
The relationships didn't shine as bright, the lore didn't provide the solid backbone I've come to expect, and food barely featured in this book (except to again remind us that hares have unquenchable appetites.
It sounds like I didn't like this book, and in the context of Redwall, I guess I didn't, but as a book it was entertaining if largely forgettable - hence the 3-star rating.
I recommend this to fans of Redwall, especially those who are committed to the series. It's not super critical to read these books in order, and this story can hold its own as a standalone.
While I thought Tiria was a nice little otter, she wasn't given much opportunity to shine herself, instead deferring to others. The final battle royale was incredibly condensed and felt superficial and lackluster.
The relationships didn't shine as bright, the lore didn't provide the solid backbone I've come to expect, and food barely featured in this book (except to again remind us that hares have unquenchable appetites.
It sounds like I didn't like this book, and in the context of Redwall, I guess I didn't, but as a book it was entertaining if largely forgettable - hence the 3-star rating.
I recommend this to fans of Redwall, especially those who are committed to the series. It's not super critical to read these books in order, and this story can hold its own as a standalone.
twigbanana's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
maple_'s review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0