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A review by twilliamson
Salamandastron by Brian Jacques
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
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? No
5.0
Nothing can beat a good Redwall story, and Salamandastron may be one of the very best in the whole series. It's full of action, adventure, heartache, and warmth.
What makes this particular entry into the series so special, though, is its central theme about relationships between generations. Two parallel journeys are reflected through the book, centered on Urthstripe, Badger Lord of Salamandastron, and Mara, his ward, as well as the villainous Ferahgo the Assassin and his son, Klitch. The loving father-daughter dynamic of Urthstripe and Mara is juxtaposed beautifully with the hateful father-son dynamic of Ferahgo and Klitch. All the action of the book thus revolves around these characters, which turns into a fascinating tale of power and evil, with incredible action, adventure, and lovable characters to round out secondary themes and adventures all in their own right.
In all, Salamandastron feels like a proper epic all its own, a worthy successor to books as dynamic and enthralling as Mossflower and Mattimeo. It is very much its own story, while still neatly fitting into the existing lore and setting of the series, a near-perfect encapsulation of what Redwall is and what Redwall can be.
Of the first 5 novels of Redwall, this may even be the best one, depending on your personal taste for adventure. Although bloody and violent, the book has a rock-solid emotional core, with powerful storytelling capable of joy and sorrow. It's simply delectable.
What makes this particular entry into the series so special, though, is its central theme about relationships between generations. Two parallel journeys are reflected through the book, centered on Urthstripe, Badger Lord of Salamandastron, and Mara, his ward, as well as the villainous Ferahgo the Assassin and his son, Klitch. The loving father-daughter dynamic of Urthstripe and Mara is juxtaposed beautifully with the hateful father-son dynamic of Ferahgo and Klitch. All the action of the book thus revolves around these characters, which turns into a fascinating tale of power and evil, with incredible action, adventure, and lovable characters to round out secondary themes and adventures all in their own right.
In all, Salamandastron feels like a proper epic all its own, a worthy successor to books as dynamic and enthralling as Mossflower and Mattimeo. It is very much its own story, while still neatly fitting into the existing lore and setting of the series, a near-perfect encapsulation of what Redwall is and what Redwall can be.
Of the first 5 novels of Redwall, this may even be the best one, depending on your personal taste for adventure. Although bloody and violent, the book has a rock-solid emotional core, with powerful storytelling capable of joy and sorrow. It's simply delectable.