A review by the_student_of_story
Mattimeo by Brian Jacques

5.0

Everything I've ever read comes back to Mattimeo. It was the first "grown-up book without pictures" I read as a kid, so naturally, my review might be scaled upwards. However, I don't think that's the case here. This is probably the best Redwall book. It realizes the potential of the world, builds upon what is already established, and introduces more characters (with stronger arcs than "realizes his destiny or becomes a better warrior"). The A-Plot and B-Plot have grounded, dire stakes that propel the story forward at a snappy pace. Add all of that together and garnish it with the best villain in the entire series, and the result is a book that I'll always hold close to my heart.