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percystjoan's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars - still pretty far down there in my redwall book ranking unfortunately :( i hate mattimeo the character just as much as i did when i was 10. however slagar is a really fantastic villain and i love his sense of aesthetics (and the whole malkariss cult is one of the creepiest groups in the whole series imo)
ishara's review against another edition
4.0
Best in the series so far in my opinion. :) Still riddled with deus ex machinas, but hey it's a children's book and I liked it.
twilliamson's review against another edition
5.0
If Mossflower opened the Redwall series to an expansive new lore, Mattimeo concretizes the developing series as truly epic. Taking the former heroes and champions of the first book and fastforwarding to their more mature, adult lives, the book explores a generational drama between old enemies and new hopes.
The majority of the book is focused on Matthias's quest to save his son, Mattimeo, but there's a whole lot more than just that singular quest. As Matthias trails an old Redwall villain, those left behind must contend with another set of villains who would take Redwall for themselves. The book thus pays some homage to the familiar fare of the first novel while still pushing forward to make an exciting journey exploring the dangers of revenge.
Mattimeo is shockingly dark, though, with some heavy themes including death, revenge, and slavery, and it does not pull its punches. The book is riddled with fresh anxieties and actual horrors, with one of the darkest tones in the whole series. Even so, its horrors feel exceptionally well-delivered and tie in with many of Jacques's common themes about heroism, sacrifice, and hope.
It's easy to call out the elements of Mattimeo that are most recycled from the previous two books, but Jacques still manages to keep the book feeling fresh and surprising, and the book has some of the most off-the-chain action in any of the series to date. If Redwall was the introduction to the world and Mossflower was the realization of how stories could be told in this world, Mattimeo feels like the culmination of Jacques's storytelling prowess, with high stakes, unique world-building, and ceaseless adventure.
The majority of the book is focused on Matthias's quest to save his son, Mattimeo, but there's a whole lot more than just that singular quest. As Matthias trails an old Redwall villain, those left behind must contend with another set of villains who would take Redwall for themselves. The book thus pays some homage to the familiar fare of the first novel while still pushing forward to make an exciting journey exploring the dangers of revenge.
Mattimeo is shockingly dark, though, with some heavy themes including death, revenge, and slavery, and it does not pull its punches. The book is riddled with fresh anxieties and actual horrors, with one of the darkest tones in the whole series. Even so, its horrors feel exceptionally well-delivered and tie in with many of Jacques's common themes about heroism, sacrifice, and hope.
It's easy to call out the elements of Mattimeo that are most recycled from the previous two books, but Jacques still manages to keep the book feeling fresh and surprising, and the book has some of the most off-the-chain action in any of the series to date. If Redwall was the introduction to the world and Mossflower was the realization of how stories could be told in this world, Mattimeo feels like the culmination of Jacques's storytelling prowess, with high stakes, unique world-building, and ceaseless adventure.
rikurins's review against another edition
4.0
I can't remember why I liked this book but for some reason this mouse MC really spoke to me.... I will rate this high for my childhood.
csmall73's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
churrocharizard's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0