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joanarcherknight's review
adventurous
mysterious
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
5.0
kt_amherst's review
1.0
The story of Veil the outcast didn't happen until past the halfway point of this book. Like, why? What was the point? His story is the synopsis for this book. This book was more about Sunflash vs. Swartt. Veil added nothing to this book since his story was basically just a "born evil" kind of story. He had no redeeming qualities even when he was a baby. I can see why this is one of the most disliked books of the Redwall series. It's gotten to the point that I skip reading all the songs and poems and descriptors of food. Made it a quicker read for a story that really just annoyed me.
lighthuis's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
willywonka3435's review against another edition
1.0
So as a kid, I loved the Redwall series, and I remember enjoying this book in particular, which made me decide to go back and reread it as an adult. And honestly, it's kind of appalling.
There are basically two plot threads -- Sunflash and Skarlath, attempting to defeat Swartt Sixclaw, and Veil Sixclaw, the abandoned son of Swartt who was raised by mouse Bryony at Redwall. Sunflash is likeable still, a Badger Lord who's fond of children, food, and poetry, as is Skarlath. Veil is arguably the most interesting character in the book and yet also the one who gets incredibly shortchanged.
As a kid, I didn't really pick up on this, but the Redwall books are incredibly black and white in terms of species division. The moles, hares, mice, squirrels, shrews, badgers, voles, hedgehogs, etc, they're all "goodbeasts." The rats, ferrets, stoats, foxes, snakes, etc are all "vermin." So this book -- where a ferret child is raised by a mouse -- is clearly trying to do a nature/nurture bit, right?
The poor ferret babe has a terrible life. His father neglects him, he's abandoned on the field of battle. He's rescued and brought to Redwall, where he is *literally named Evil* (Bella has a whole poem about Evil Veil -- two letters reversed, wow, very subtle). We don't see any of his youth, but it's hard to imagine that anyone treated him well, considering all of Redwall's songs and tales of horrible vermin, the fact that he is even referred to as vermin occasionally, and oh yeah, his name is Evil (oops, Veil).
Long story short, in the end, Veil chooses to sacrifice his life for Bryony's by throwing himself in front of a javelin for her. It's made clear that this is a conscious decision. Clearly redeeming his character, right? He obviously cared deeply about Bryony and probably could have been a better man if not for the terrible upbringing he received.
Of course, no one accepts this. Bryony ends his story by saying that she finally accepts that there is no good in Veil and believes that "he wouldn't have jumped in front if he really believed the javelin would be thrown."
Basically the entire moral of this story is "If you are the wrong species, you are irredeemable and forever evil." Which is just depressing and honestly, pretty fucked. I don't think I'll be rereading the rest of the series tbh.
There are basically two plot threads -- Sunflash and Skarlath, attempting to defeat Swartt Sixclaw, and Veil Sixclaw, the abandoned son of Swartt who was raised by mouse Bryony at Redwall. Sunflash is likeable still, a Badger Lord who's fond of children, food, and poetry, as is Skarlath. Veil is arguably the most interesting character in the book and yet also the one who gets incredibly shortchanged.
As a kid, I didn't really pick up on this, but the Redwall books are incredibly black and white in terms of species division. The moles, hares, mice, squirrels, shrews, badgers, voles, hedgehogs, etc, they're all "goodbeasts." The rats, ferrets, stoats, foxes, snakes, etc are all "vermin." So this book -- where a ferret child is raised by a mouse -- is clearly trying to do a nature/nurture bit, right?
The poor ferret babe has a terrible life. His father neglects him, he's abandoned on the field of battle. He's rescued and brought to Redwall, where he is *literally named Evil* (Bella has a whole poem about Evil Veil -- two letters reversed, wow, very subtle). We don't see any of his youth, but it's hard to imagine that anyone treated him well, considering all of Redwall's songs and tales of horrible vermin, the fact that he is even referred to as vermin occasionally, and oh yeah, his name is Evil (oops, Veil).
Long story short, in the end, Veil chooses to sacrifice his life for Bryony's by throwing himself in front of a javelin for her. It's made clear that this is a conscious decision. Clearly redeeming his character, right? He obviously cared deeply about Bryony and probably could have been a better man if not for the terrible upbringing he received.
Of course, no one accepts this. Bryony ends his story by saying that she finally accepts that there is no good in Veil and believes that "he wouldn't have jumped in front if he really believed the javelin would be thrown."
Basically the entire moral of this story is "If you are the wrong species, you are irredeemable and forever evil." Which is just depressing and honestly, pretty fucked. I don't think I'll be rereading the rest of the series tbh.
mickb's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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? Yes
4.0
annalisenak97's review
2.0
Gaaaaah. This is my least favorite of the Redwall books and always has been. Within the walls of the Abbey, there's no one to root for. Bryony the mouse is deeply annoying, Veil the ferret is characterized as evil by nature. Really the heart of this book is what I don't like, which asserts that bias and prejudice is a correct instinct that people should listen to, because evil is just part of some people's nature, and no matter what, they can't change, even with the help of good people. I'm writing a paper about anthropomorphism in children's literature as a vehicle for bias and prejudice, so you already KNOW I'm gonna tear this apart. The one redeeming factor is Sunflash the Mace, easily my favorite of the Badger Lords.
thepancreas11's review
2.0
When I think of what could have been, I'm just so disappointed. The idea of a ferret raised by Redwallers, the questions that inevitably asks, that is the sort of thing I would love to write about. But there's no nuance here. In the end, he's a bad ferret, and that's that. Even Bryony gives up on him. So...I guess personal growth is impossible then? Jacques makes it very clear that there is no argument: nature defines us; nurture is superfluous. He doesn't even try to make us second guess this, doesn't present any situation in which Veil can show some depth. He's a mindless, bloody heathen, and that is all he will ever be.
Speaking of superfluous things, Veil doesn't show up until about a third of the way through the story, and he doesn't make it to Redwall until halfway. We fast forward through just about all of his childhood, and the next thing you know, he's a master poisoner. He only meets his father with like forty pages to go, and at that point, the heat of battle makes their relationship basically non-existent. The book should have been called "Sunflash and Skarlath" because they are the main protagonists, they have the most complex characters, and their relationship is far superior to any other in this story.
Just compare this to Blaggut the searat from "The Bellmaker". Blaggut experiences real and tangible remorse for his life, for his actions, and his ignorance. His end is bittersweet and far more memorable than any other "vermin" character in the series to date because it has all the subtlety and depth that Veil's character lacks. This just feels like a huge wasted opportunity.
The one saving grace is Sunflash's pacifist gardener vibes. There were some moments--like when Bladders cries over a fallen comrade--when the book strayed dangerously close to making a statement. If only those moments had been given the full effort they deserved.
Speaking of superfluous things, Veil doesn't show up until about a third of the way through the story, and he doesn't make it to Redwall until halfway. We fast forward through just about all of his childhood, and the next thing you know, he's a master poisoner. He only meets his father with like forty pages to go, and at that point, the heat of battle makes their relationship basically non-existent. The book should have been called "Sunflash and Skarlath" because they are the main protagonists, they have the most complex characters, and their relationship is far superior to any other in this story.
Just compare this to Blaggut the searat from "The Bellmaker". Blaggut experiences real and tangible remorse for his life, for his actions, and his ignorance. His end is bittersweet and far more memorable than any other "vermin" character in the series to date because it has all the subtlety and depth that Veil's character lacks. This just feels like a huge wasted opportunity.
The one saving grace is Sunflash's pacifist gardener vibes. There were some moments--like when Bladders cries over a fallen comrade--when the book strayed dangerously close to making a statement. If only those moments had been given the full effort they deserved.
percystjoan's review
4.0
another redwall audiobook down! outcast of redwall remains one of my favorites from the series - it's an especially epic storyline with sunflash and swart's decades long rivalry, veil's exile from redwall, and bryony's quest to find him all meshing with NON. STOP. ACTION! some of my favorite lines were:
"you've lived the life of a coward, but you'll learn to die like a soldier!"
"he dealt a blow that sounded like a log hitting rotten fruit"
"oooh, ferret smashed to bits, head in one place paws in another, blood everywhere, hehehehehe!"
"no, please lord, mercy - [the sounds of a realistic death gurgle as a fox has her head crushed by a giant spiked mace]"
why are these marketed as children's books again????
"you've lived the life of a coward, but you'll learn to die like a soldier!"
"he dealt a blow that sounded like a log hitting rotten fruit"
"oooh, ferret smashed to bits, head in one place paws in another, blood everywhere, hehehehehe!"
"no, please lord, mercy - [the sounds of a realistic death gurgle as a fox has her head crushed by a giant spiked mace]"
why are these marketed as children's books again????