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sunbr0ther's review against another edition
2.0
Oof. In my redwall re-read(/listen) this is currently a low-point. This book has major pacing and tone issues - one minute, children are being treated very cruelly by vicious slavers. The next minute, those slavers are bumbling around like dumb storm troopers. One minute, the heroic lead characters are in horrible danger. The next minute, we've cut back to redwall, where everyone is feasting and 100% acting like half their population is not in the middle of a war for their freedom.
Add in a good bit of a deus ex machina, monologuing bond-esque villains, and just generally not very likeable new characters while killing off some favorites from the first book, and this is definitely one of the weakest books in the series.
Also, the audible edition is definitely not worth it. While the voice acting is solid, the editing is hot garbage - scenes often have very little separation, so that at least once a chapter the listener is left completely confused because we've suddenly switched viewpoints with absolutely no break or warning.
Add in a good bit of a deus ex machina, monologuing bond-esque villains, and just generally not very likeable new characters while killing off some favorites from the first book, and this is definitely one of the weakest books in the series.
Also, the audible edition is definitely not worth it. While the voice acting is solid, the editing is hot garbage - scenes often have very little separation, so that at least once a chapter the listener is left completely confused because we've suddenly switched viewpoints with absolutely no break or warning.
beedavey89's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
adafrobinson's review against another edition
adventurous
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
The death toll in this one is INSANE.
celeste57's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
Mattimeo is the third installment in Brian Jacques’s Redwall series, and I can’t express to you how much fun I’ve been having as I revisit this series and world that meant so much to me as a child, alongside friends who are experiencing Mossflower and its inhabitants for the first time. This particular installment felt like it had a bit more going on than its predecessors, Mossflower and Redwall, while still holding true to the formulaic, but successfully so, format of the books. And it was filled with my three favorite elements of this series: little heroes facing incredible odds and succeeding anyway; heartwarming groups of these characters banding together to solve riddles or fight battles or fix what’s broken, or all of the above; and, of course, the mouth-watering descriptions of food.
This story ended up being a battle on multiple fronts, and I was pretty equally invested in all of them. The way Jacques would jump back and forth between said fronts so frequently within a single chapter was both engaging and jarring, which I found an odd but compelling mix. Our cast of characters in this installment felt a good deal larger than the casts of the two books preceding it, purely because of the multiple story arcs and settings. We have Mattimeo and the other Redwall youth who are kidnapped from the Abbey. We have Matthias the Warrior and the other parents and concerned parties who join forces along the way to free their children. We have those left at the Abbey, who suddenly find themselves facing invasion in the face of their warriors being gone. And then we have the various villainous groups on each of these different fronts. There was a lot to keep track of, considering the age group for whom these books are intended, but Jacques somehow ensured that everything was always easy to follow.
Something I really appreciated about this particular book is that we finally had a main villain with some canniness. Slagar the fox was a more intelligent and multifaceted villain than those in Mossflower or Redwall, though unfortunately he kind of fell apart at the end. But this is a series intended for children, so the evil have to be obviously evil and ultimately fallible. Something else I really appreciate about this series, and this installment in particular, is that even though this is intended for children and thus you have the security of knowing everything will turn out okay in the end, Jacques doesn’t believe in high stakes with no costs. There are character deaths here, and fairly significant ones. This adds tension to the trials of the main characters, because you’re never quite sure if they’re going to pull through or not, seeing as others have died along the way.
Overall, I have to say that Redwall as a whole is proving itself to have held up very well. Three books in, and all have been 4 stars so far. This has been an incredibly nostalgic journey so far for me, and I’m happy that TS and Eon seem to be enjoying themselves, as well. If you’re a fantasy fan looking for a story to share with the kids in your life, or simply looking for something clean and wholesome for yourself, I highly recommend the Redwall series.
This story ended up being a battle on multiple fronts, and I was pretty equally invested in all of them. The way Jacques would jump back and forth between said fronts so frequently within a single chapter was both engaging and jarring, which I found an odd but compelling mix. Our cast of characters in this installment felt a good deal larger than the casts of the two books preceding it, purely because of the multiple story arcs and settings. We have Mattimeo and the other Redwall youth who are kidnapped from the Abbey. We have Matthias the Warrior and the other parents and concerned parties who join forces along the way to free their children. We have those left at the Abbey, who suddenly find themselves facing invasion in the face of their warriors being gone. And then we have the various villainous groups on each of these different fronts. There was a lot to keep track of, considering the age group for whom these books are intended, but Jacques somehow ensured that everything was always easy to follow.
Something I really appreciated about this particular book is that we finally had a main villain with some canniness. Slagar the fox was a more intelligent and multifaceted villain than those in Mossflower or Redwall, though unfortunately he kind of fell apart at the end. But this is a series intended for children, so the evil have to be obviously evil and ultimately fallible. Something else I really appreciate about this series, and this installment in particular, is that even though this is intended for children and thus you have the security of knowing everything will turn out okay in the end, Jacques doesn’t believe in high stakes with no costs. There are character deaths here, and fairly significant ones. This adds tension to the trials of the main characters, because you’re never quite sure if they’re going to pull through or not, seeing as others have died along the way.
Overall, I have to say that Redwall as a whole is proving itself to have held up very well. Three books in, and all have been 4 stars so far. This has been an incredibly nostalgic journey so far for me, and I’m happy that TS and Eon seem to be enjoying themselves, as well. If you’re a fantasy fan looking for a story to share with the kids in your life, or simply looking for something clean and wholesome for yourself, I highly recommend the Redwall series.
lucasmiller's review against another edition
4.0
Read this one painfully slow at bedtime, but I'll be damned if I wasn't tearing up at the end. I think we might be done with Redwall books at bedtime for awhile at least, but I'll still read one every now and then.
_hart_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
magnaraz117's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
A great entry in the Redwall series, however Brian Jacques is still finding his footing. This entry still has some of the muddled world building and references from the original novel, and the series has not quite matured into the world that Jacques crafts with later entries.
As always Redwall Abbey is faced with threats, with action taking place both inside and outside of the walls, and lots of richly described locations not yet seen. Companionship is front and center, with camaraderie between old friends and new friends a mainstay-as always.
By far one of my favorite parts of the Redwall series arrives in full force in this entry, descriptions of food-whether it be quick on the march repast or full on feasting-many chapters will make your own tummy rumble!
Overall, a nice easy read that engages you emotionally, with stakes that are serious enough to grip you without any violence being over the top or graphic. Jacques' writing has not quite been perfected, but is still strong enough to carry his desired prose and descriptive language. Despite being a sequel to "Redwall" this would be a perfectly understandable stand alone entry for anyone looking to dip their toes into the vast world that is Redwall!
As always Redwall Abbey is faced with threats, with action taking place both inside and outside of the walls, and lots of richly described locations not yet seen. Companionship is front and center, with camaraderie between old friends and new friends a mainstay-as always.
By far one of my favorite parts of the Redwall series arrives in full force in this entry, descriptions of food-whether it be quick on the march repast or full on feasting-many chapters will make your own tummy rumble!
Overall, a nice easy read that engages you emotionally, with stakes that are serious enough to grip you without any violence being over the top or graphic. Jacques' writing has not quite been perfected, but is still strong enough to carry his desired prose and descriptive language. Despite being a sequel to "Redwall" this would be a perfectly understandable stand alone entry for anyone looking to dip their toes into the vast world that is Redwall!
bookbrig'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? No
4.25
I reread this so many times as a kid the spine of my book broke. It was a really satisfying reread, even if I am tackling these all out of order. There are lots of holds on them at the library, so I've just been reading as they come available.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping and Slavery
ladylondonderry's review against another edition
5.0
Third or fourth grade; that was when i read this. I'm also not afraid to admit that I may have had a crush on Mattimeo. That's the main explanation I give to why I remember this particular story so much better than I remember all the other older ones.
There's not really much to say, Jacques mastered the art of the children's novel; full of adventure, fights, and a comforting home to return to, his novels let young readers explore new worlds while knowing that safety is not too far behind.
There's not really much to say, Jacques mastered the art of the children's novel; full of adventure, fights, and a comforting home to return to, his novels let young readers explore new worlds while knowing that safety is not too far behind.