A review by jpv0
Mattimeo by Brian Jacques

5.0

Sometimes the gift of an inquisitive nature to the young can be greater than that of the wisdom which comes of age.

[b:Mattimeo|201342|Mattimeo (Redwall, #3)|Brian Jacques|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388194271l/201342._SY75_.jpg|1178215] is back to the 'modern' days of [b:Redwall|7996|Redwall (Redwall, #1)|Brian Jacques|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327877368l/7996._SY75_.jpg|486980], this time around starting Matthias once again, but also his son Mattimeo in a split storyline.

In one plot, you have Slagar the Cruel (a fox we may just have seen before) kidnapping a number of Redwall children and running off to sell them into slavery. Matthias and company follow and adventures ensue. Of course they're successful in the end, but really in these books, it's all about how they get there.

Weapons may be carried by creatures who are evil, dishonest, violent or lazy. The true warrior is good, gentle and honest. His bravery comes from within himself; he learns to conquer his own fears and misdeeds.

What was fascinating to me is while this is all going on, there is a second plot: the attack of Redwall by a number of birdly foes. And Matthias isn't around to save the day! It's fascinating to see a number of the less 'warriorlike' critters step up to save the day. Well worth the read just for the contrast between the two.

“The seer crow was outraged. "Mangiz does not forget an insult, hedgepig."

Ambrose smiled cheekily. "Good, then here's a few more for you to remember, you pot-bellied, cross-eyed, feather-bottomed excuse for a duck.”

Of course all throughout, you have the magical worldbuilding Jacques excels at--woodland animals somehow acting simultaneously like people and like the animals we know they are. There are always problems of scale and logistics, but if you just sort of ignore them? Wonderfully fun.

Overall, it's a great book, especially in audiobook form. It's kind of hilarious to hear how the various readers deal with the voices and accents of different critters.