Eulalia! (Redwall) (Hardcover)
by Brian Jacques
ISBN: 0399242090

Price: USD 12.36
76 used & new available from USD 2.95

The Searat captain Vizka Longtooth captures a young badger, which he decides to tame. But Gorath (the badger) is angry at the rats for killing his grandparents, and he plans to escape as soon as he can. Meanwhile, badger lord Asheye has a dream, telling him that Salamandastron’s new badger ruler will be found defending Redwall Abbey. He sends out perilous hare Mad Maudie to find the badger and bring him back. If that wasn’t complicated enough, Redwall Abbey has also banished a young hedgehog thief, telling him not to come back for a whole season. The resulting tale does indeed end up making sense in true Redwall fashion.

Doing a review of a Redwall book is always a challenge. I have read all eighteen books before this one, and I already have a favorite picked out. That being said, Eulalia! certainly meets expectations. The characters are just as memorable as always, the story just as complicated, and the ending just as satisfying.

The Wind in the Willows (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
by Kenneth Grahame
ISBN: 0143039091

Price: USD 10.20
54 used & new available from USD 1.88

Mole, tired of spring cleaning, decides to leave his cozy little home and take a walk. His ramblings take him to The River, where he meets the Water Rat and the fun begins. Mole stays with Rat in his bank-side home and enjoys sharing the Rat’s love of boating. While staying there, Mole becomes friends with Otter, Mr. Badger, and Mr. Toad. Everything progresses nicely, until the Toad decides to try the wandering life of a gypsy and takes Mole and Rat along. In a highway accident, their lovely little cart is upset by a motorcar. The Mole and Rat are very annoyed, but Toad becomes infatuated with the speed and sound of motorcars and orders one of his own. Unfortunately, he disregards all rules. Badger, Rat, and Mole set out to help their friend over his dangerous driving habits, despite personal discomfort.

How to describe The Wind in the Willows? Sheer, wonderful bliss from beginning to end. There are so many adventures, so many thrills and joys. This is one of my favorite books. This is as good as it gets. (Unless you count Winnie-the-Pooh.) Don’t miss it! It’s perfect for children, young adults, and adults who are young or feel young. I have also enjoyed the audio book, read by Flo Gibson, on numerous occasions. I can close my eyes and hear whole parts of the book. A delightful story.

The Great Redwall Feast (Redwall) (Paperback)
by Brian Jacques
ISBN: 0698118766

Price: USD 6.99
57 used & new available from USD 1.94

“Oho!” you say. “Sarah finally gets to read Redwall books!” Not quite. This can serve as a hold-over picture book for younger readers who can’t read the Redwall Series yet. (Like me.) There’s another Redwall picture book called A Redwall Winter’s Tale. Older readers who can read the Redwall Series will probably enjoy these picture books, as well as younger readers. I didn’t have much trouble understanding the mole-talk. (Except once, and then I finally got it figured out.) And now, here is a delightful summary of The Great Redwall Feast!

The animals in Redwall are preparing a secret feast for the abbot. After the abbot wakes up from his nap, he goes with Constance, Foremole and Matthias on a Bobbatan Quest for a Weary Nod. Is the abbot turning old and silly?

Martin the Warrior (Redwall, Book 6) (Paperback)
by Brian Jacques
ISBN: 0441001866

Price: USD 7.99
390 used & new available from USD 0.10

The story of Martin’s childhood of slavery, and his struggles to free his fellow slaves from the tyrant stoat, Badrang. With the help of Laterose the mousemaid, Grumm the mole, the Rambling Rosehip Players led by the hare, Ballaw De Quincewold, and others, Martin begins an epic battle for freedom.

I must explain that I only gave this book four stars because it has several sad parts. However, it has plenty of action and plenty of funny characters. The pigmy shrews are absolutely hilarious, and of course, where there’s a hare, there will be laughter. A most enjoyable book.

Triss (Redwall, Book 15) (Paperback)
by Brian Jacques
ISBN: 0441010954

Price: USD 7.99
120 used & new available from USD 0.10

Riftgard has been taken over by the evil ferrets who have imprisoned and enslaved the woodlanders living there. Triss the squirrel, Welfo the hedgehog and Shogg the otter are secretly planning to escape. Simultaneously, the badger Lord Hightor’s son, Sagaxus and the hare Bescarum run off to seek adventure with the sea otter Kroova Wavedog. And to top it all off, Redwallers are on the trail of rediscovering Brockhall. This is wonderful story. A definite must-read.

This is absolutely one of my favorite Redwall books. I couldn’t tell you anymore in the review without giving things away. But please read it and find out how it ends! There’s plenty of humor. Bescarum, (affectionately called Scarum) has some hilarious songs that he sings. Which you can expect from practically any hare. Lots of duels and fighting. Some large adders and a bunch of free-booters. Please excuse me. I want to go read it now.

Salamandastron: A Novel of Redwall (Mass Market Paperback)
by Brian Jacques
ISBN: 0441000312

Price: USD 7.99
420 used & new available from USD 0.10

Mara, the young badger whom Lord Urthstripe adopted, is not content with her life at Salamandastron, the great badger mountain. So she runs away with her good friend, Pikkle Ffolger, an over-enthusiastic hare. Lord Urthstripe is grieved when he learns this, but even more so when the runaways return with two vermin, a ferret and a weasel, who, unbeknownst to Mara and Pikkle, are part of the great horde of the evil weasel, Feragho the Assassin! After scouting out the mountain fortress, the vermin return to their horde to report their discoveries and begin the march to conquer Salamandastron. While all this is going on, back at Redwall, the sword of Martin the Warrior is discovered and, shortly after, stolen. Arula the mole and Samkin the squirrel set off on a quest involving many adventures to regain the sword.

I love this book very much. (And, let’s be frank about it: I have a hard time reading it without crying.). It’s a wonderful tale of hope, strength, and sorrow, bound together by friendship.

Lord Brocktree (Redwall, Book 13) (Paperback)
by Brian Jacques
ISBN: 0441008720

Price: USD 7.99
234 used & new available from USD 0.10

Dorothea Duckfontein Dillworthy, or “Dotti,” as the hare maid prefers to be called, has had so many accidents that her family tells her to leave and go live at Salamandastron. On the way, she meets up with Lord Brocktree, the Badger Lord to be. Then an old hare from Salamandastron tells them that the current Badger Ruler, Lord Stonepaw is besieged by a gigantic hoard, led by a wildcat, Ungatt Trunn. Lord Brocktree, Dotti, Ruff the otter and a mole named Gurth set off to get help from King Bucko Bigbones.

This is another good one! All your favorite things about a Redwall book are here. Dotti is a hilarious character. You’ll love her antics! Great recovery from Legend of Luke. Going deep into the history of Salamandastron, Lord Brocktree is a definite winner.

Loamhedge (Redwall, Book 16) (Paperback)
by Brian Jacques
ISBN: 044101190X

Price: USD 7.99
74 used & new available from USD 0.10

Martha is a young hare living at Redwall with her brother Horty. While Horty is a normal hare, who likes adventure and eating better than anything else, Martha is mild mannered and cannot walk. When one of the mice living at Redwall uncovers a book telling about a cure at the ancient abbey of Loamhedge that could make Martha walk, Horty and two of his friends, as well as two older warriors who left Redwall long ago set out for Loamhedge. Will they find the cure?

Brian Jacques’ sixteenth Redwall book is one of the better ones. The only thing I don’t completely like about this one is the only Badger Lord who uses a bow as his main weapon. I don’t think that a heroic Badger Lord should stand on the sidelines shooting arrows! Other than that, the rest of the book is great. This story answers several of the questions that are raised in Mattimeo. What happened to Loamhedge after it was destroyed? Was there only one wearat?

Outcast of Redwall (Redwall, Book 8) (Mass Market Paperback)
by Brian Jacques
ISBN: 0441004164

Price: USD 7.99
278 used & new available from USD 0.10

Sunflash, a young badger, is held captive by the evil ferret Swart Sixclaw. Then a kestrel named Skarlath helps him to escape. The two of them decide to stay together and help good beasts everywhere who need help. Then Sunflash is bitten by adders. While others care for him, he has a dream of Salamandastron, the mountain of the badger lords. Sunflash wakes up, knowing where he must go. Meanwhile, Swart has had a son, who is abandoned during a battle and found by the Redwall mice. All the creatures at Redwall think that the young ferret, who they have named Veil, will be evil, but one young mouse, Bryony, believes in him. Will Veil become like his father, or will he become a good beast?

Outcast of Redwall is one of the sadder books, yet there are funny parts. Enjoyable, but you may feel yourself figuring out the ending before you get to it. Don’t give up! You may be surprised.

Mariel of Redwall (Redwall, Book 4) (Paperback)
by Brian Jacques
ISBN: 0441006949

Price: USD 7.99
134 used & new available from USD 0.10

Mariel is a mouse who was captured by an evil searat named Gabool, who throws her into the sea. She survives the waves, but can’t remember who she is. Eventually, Mariel remembers Gabool’s cruelty and decides to go back and make him pay for killing her father. Joined by Dandin the mouse, Tarquin the hare and Durry the hedgehog, Mariel sets off. However, all is not quiet back at Redwall, as a boatload of Gabool’s evil hoard wash up on the shores of Mossflower…

This book sets the stage for all the books to come in many ways:

• The Abbey babes are called Dibbuns for the first time
• The first Badger Lord to have dreams of the future
• Hares patrol Mossflower first in this book
• First (but definitely not the last!) time we have searats abroad on the sea

This is a must read for any Redwall fan. Also, don’t miss The Bellmaker, the sequel to Mariel of Redwall.