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Redwall #19
Eulalia!
Lord Asheye of Salamandastron has a A new Badger Lord must take his place and reign over the legendary badger fortress. But who is this young warrior who shuns both armor and sword? And how is he to be found? Mad Maudie, a feisty haremaid of the Long Patrol, is just the one to track him down. Meanwhile, the unsuspecting future Badger Lord has been captured by a scurrilous group of Sea Raiders led by the infamous fox, Vizka Longtooth, who intends on conquering Redwall Abbey. It is up to our young hero to defend Redwall so that he may fulfill his destiny as leader of Salamandastron.
389 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
143 people are currently reading
6984 people want to read
About the author
Brian Jacques
260 books4,300 followers Brian Jacques (pronounced 'jakes') was born in Liverpool, England on June 15th, 1939. Along with forty percent of the population of Liverpool, his ancestral roots are in Ireland, County Cork to be exact.
Brian grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks, where he attended St. John's School, an inner city school featuring a playground on its roof. At the age of ten, his very first day at St. John's foreshadowed his future career as an author; given an assignment to write a story about animals, he wrote a short story about a bird who cleaned a crocodile's teeth. Brian's teacher could not, and would not believe that a ten year old could write so well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then that he realized he had a talent for it.
He wrote Redwall for the children at the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in Liverpool, where as a truck driver, he delivered milk. Because of the nature of his first audience, he made his style of writing as descriptive as possible, painting pictures with words so that the schoolchildren could see them in their imaginations. He remained a patron of the school until his death.
Brian lived in Liverpool, where his two grown sons, Marc, a carpenter and bricklayer, and David, a professor of Art and a muralist, still reside. David Jacques' work can be seen in Children's hospitals, soccer stadiums, and trade union offices as far away as Germany, Mexico, and Chile (not to mention Brian's photo featured in most of his books).
Brian also ran a weekly radio show on BBC Radio Merseyside, until October 2006, where he shared his comedy and wit, and played his favourites from the world of opera - he was a veritable expert on The Three Tenors.
When he was wasn't writing, Brian enjoyed walking his dog 'Teddy', a white West Highland Terrier, and completing crossword puzzles. When he found time he read the works of Mario Puzo, Damon Runyon, Richard Condon, Larry McMurty, and P.G. Wodehouse. He was also known to cook an impressive version of his favourite dish, spaghetti and meatballs.
Sadly, Brian passed away on the 5th February 2011.
Brian grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks, where he attended St. John's School, an inner city school featuring a playground on its roof. At the age of ten, his very first day at St. John's foreshadowed his future career as an author; given an assignment to write a story about animals, he wrote a short story about a bird who cleaned a crocodile's teeth. Brian's teacher could not, and would not believe that a ten year old could write so well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then that he realized he had a talent for it.
He wrote Redwall for the children at the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in Liverpool, where as a truck driver, he delivered milk. Because of the nature of his first audience, he made his style of writing as descriptive as possible, painting pictures with words so that the schoolchildren could see them in their imaginations. He remained a patron of the school until his death.
Brian lived in Liverpool, where his two grown sons, Marc, a carpenter and bricklayer, and David, a professor of Art and a muralist, still reside. David Jacques' work can be seen in Children's hospitals, soccer stadiums, and trade union offices as far away as Germany, Mexico, and Chile (not to mention Brian's photo featured in most of his books).
Brian also ran a weekly radio show on BBC Radio Merseyside, until October 2006, where he shared his comedy and wit, and played his favourites from the world of opera - he was a veritable expert on The Three Tenors.
When he was wasn't writing, Brian enjoyed walking his dog 'Teddy', a white West Highland Terrier, and completing crossword puzzles. When he found time he read the works of Mario Puzo, Damon Runyon, Richard Condon, Larry McMurty, and P.G. Wodehouse. He was also known to cook an impressive version of his favourite dish, spaghetti and meatballs.
Sadly, Brian passed away on the 5th February 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
July 2, 2011
Brian Jacques was one of the pillars of my childhood. I grew up with the Redwall series, pretty much literally; the full-cast production audiobooks were a constant on family road trip, and there were a lot of the books in my elementary school library. I now own nineteen of the books, plus three Tribes of Redwall booklets, the Map and Riddler, the official cookbook (and yes, I've made some of the famous feasting food; watershrimp and hotroot soup really is that good), two picture books, and the official Friend and Foe guide, which I suppose is now out of date. My dad used to have Lord Brocktree and Martin The Warrior... until I appropriated them. The jar in which my penny collection now lives has a red 'R' painted on the lid, because it used to be where I'd put all my money so that someday I could buy the official merchandise from the official website. I wanted a backpack like mad.
This is all to say that I will never, ever, ever rate a Redwall book less than four stars. I just can't. So even though yes, they're all very similar and yes, this one was plagued with run-on sentences that were really very distracting and yes, Salixa's introduction was not very graceful, I DO NOT CARE. It's a Redwall book. That's all it needs to be. I have other authors I turn to when I want new ideas or thought-provoking conflicts or deep characterization. This is my comfort food. This is where I turn when I want something simple, uncomplicated, with heroic good guys and dastardly villains, without any love triangles or paranormal nonsense, with more than its fair share of Fonetik Aksents (burr aye), with that undeniable Britishness that's just fabulous. No messages, no agendas, no politics. Redwall books never pretend to be something they're not, and I love them for it. Also, there's the fact that after so many years of listening to the audiobooks, I can hear Mr. Jacques' voice in my head when I read, and that makes me think that while he may be dead, he's never really gone, because he left us this beautiful legacy and I think I can safely say he changed my life.
So rest in peace, Brian Jacques, and know that you will always be remembered and loved by readers for generations to come. And thank you. Thank you so very much.
This is all to say that I will never, ever, ever rate a Redwall book less than four stars. I just can't. So even though yes, they're all very similar and yes, this one was plagued with run-on sentences that were really very distracting and yes, Salixa's introduction was not very graceful, I DO NOT CARE. It's a Redwall book. That's all it needs to be. I have other authors I turn to when I want new ideas or thought-provoking conflicts or deep characterization. This is my comfort food. This is where I turn when I want something simple, uncomplicated, with heroic good guys and dastardly villains, without any love triangles or paranormal nonsense, with more than its fair share of Fonetik Aksents (burr aye), with that undeniable Britishness that's just fabulous. No messages, no agendas, no politics. Redwall books never pretend to be something they're not, and I love them for it. Also, there's the fact that after so many years of listening to the audiobooks, I can hear Mr. Jacques' voice in my head when I read, and that makes me think that while he may be dead, he's never really gone, because he left us this beautiful legacy and I think I can safely say he changed my life.
So rest in peace, Brian Jacques, and know that you will always be remembered and loved by readers for generations to come. And thank you. Thank you so very much.
December 22, 2023
5 stars. Ayyy, this was a fun book. It felt similar to
Redwall
in a way, with the siege and the rats. The characters reminded me of
Loamhedge
too, because of Gorath. In fact, many of the characters reminded me of other Redwall characters, which gave this book a very comfy feel.
I liked Gorath. He reminded me of Lonna and... Russano, perhaps, or Urthwhyte? Anyways, he was an intriguing mixture of gentle farmer and Bloodwrath-stricken avenger. Lord Asheye I also liked, little as he appeared (reminded me of Boar); and Salixa was quite unique and sweet. Orkwil Prink was like a mixture of several old Redwall characters whom I can’t quite place, but I know I love them. He was such a fun character—such a rolly-polly, (over)confident, humorous little soul who always lands on his feet and redeems himself well. Vizka reminded me of Cluny crossed with Plugg. He was a villain to be feared, but somehow he was also a bit ridiculous. Maudie was fantastic! Haremaidens are scarce as MCs, and she was way better than Dotti. A right proper gal to be respected. Luglug was pretty awesome (his sacrifice reminded me of Log-a-Log’s in Mattimeo ) and Osbil’s storyline was SO good. Gruntan Kurdly was just despicable… Barbowla and his holt was awesome, though, and Rangval the Rogue was SUCH a fun rollicking Irish character (why are there so few of them?!). Finally, Daucus was a really, really great Abbot. (I love how much the Redwall books focus on side characters.)
Did I mention this book reminded me a lot of other Redwall books??
Plotwise, this was quite the rollercoaster. After Loamhedge I will never be quite certain the enemy doesn’t enter Redwall, so the siege was pretty anxiety-inducing, specially when everybody began to converge on the abbey. (Have I said before that I LOVE how Jacques wraps all the threads up and has them cross perfectly??) Losing Martin’s sword was also pretty terrifying. I lovedddd the riddle and search, as always, and there was the usual enjoyable up and down of capture, escape, hiding, attack, and epic showdown…
I loved it :)
I liked Gorath. He reminded me of Lonna and... Russano, perhaps, or Urthwhyte? Anyways, he was an intriguing mixture of gentle farmer and Bloodwrath-stricken avenger. Lord Asheye I also liked, little as he appeared (reminded me of Boar); and Salixa was quite unique and sweet. Orkwil Prink was like a mixture of several old Redwall characters whom I can’t quite place, but I know I love them. He was such a fun character—such a rolly-polly, (over)confident, humorous little soul who always lands on his feet and redeems himself well. Vizka reminded me of Cluny crossed with Plugg. He was a villain to be feared, but somehow he was also a bit ridiculous. Maudie was fantastic! Haremaidens are scarce as MCs, and she was way better than Dotti. A right proper gal to be respected. Luglug was pretty awesome (his sacrifice reminded me of Log-a-Log’s in Mattimeo ) and Osbil’s storyline was SO good. Gruntan Kurdly was just despicable… Barbowla and his holt was awesome, though, and Rangval the Rogue was SUCH a fun rollicking Irish character (why are there so few of them?!). Finally, Daucus was a really, really great Abbot. (I love how much the Redwall books focus on side characters.)
Did I mention this book reminded me a lot of other Redwall books??
Plotwise, this was quite the rollercoaster. After Loamhedge I will never be quite certain the enemy doesn’t enter Redwall, so the siege was pretty anxiety-inducing, specially when everybody began to converge on the abbey. (Have I said before that I LOVE how Jacques wraps all the threads up and has them cross perfectly??) Losing Martin’s sword was also pretty terrifying. I lovedddd the riddle and search, as always, and there was the usual enjoyable up and down of capture, escape, hiding, attack, and epic showdown…
I loved it :)
January 23, 2024
Highly enjoyable in this series. I loved Maudie and Rangval, and my favorite part was probably the song Salixa sings. The lyrics were so heartfelt and bittersweet!
The writing felt at times clumsy, which may have been due to the editor? Way too many commas and things that I don't remember being in the other books as much?
But otherwise, very enjoyable. An epic conclusion to the original series.
The writing felt at times clumsy, which may have been due to the editor? Way too many commas and things that I don't remember being in the other books as much?
But otherwise, very enjoyable. An epic conclusion to the original series.
May 3, 2017
This was most top-hole and first-rate, and all that. I enjoyed it to no end, until it ended, of course, and within the reasonable bounds of possible enjoyment.
July 2, 2020
Awesome! Epic tale! I have every single book in the Redwall series, all 22 books!!!!!And yes, that is how much of a book nerd I am!!!!! And all 22, I have read! And this one is no exception. But what is the best part of it all you may ask? The food descriptions! I am not a heavy eater mind you, but I get excited about food descriptions in a book! I want to be an author someday, and in the stories that I have created as stories to practice becoming an author with, in the past when I was younger, I used to type up pages full of nothing but food descriptions. Even now sometimes I can't help but add a super delicious food description here and there. So when I found this book had awesome food descriptions, I spent my time in the book frantically when I found the smallest food description folding the corner of the page over like some mad woman.
But yeah, best book ever!!!!!!!!! I recommend not only this book, but ever book in this series that I have read. And yes, all 22 of them. So hurry up and get moving or else you will be reading this series all day long!!!!!!!! Good reading!!!!!!!!!!!!
But yeah, best book ever!!!!!!!!! I recommend not only this book, but ever book in this series that I have read. And yes, all 22 of them. So hurry up and get moving or else you will be reading this series all day long!!!!!!!! Good reading!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 16, 2014
I'm normally very critical of the later books in Brian Jacques' Redwall franchise. The general consensus within the fandom is that things started to go downhill around Outcast of Redwall (for me it's nearer Marlfox, but whatever) but Eulalia! is actually very decent. This is mostly due to its excellent cast of characters. Maudie is a refreshing addition to the series, never veering too far into Mary Sue territory as so many of Jacques' female characters are wont to do. Instead she's a fierce fighter on her own terms, a champion boxer, an excellent chef and an all-round capable hare who doesn't need a warrior/redemption arc to become a well-rounded character. Gorath the Flame is a bland but likable badger, with full kudos points for visible scarring, and his journey to conquer the blood-wrath and win the heart of Salixa, is never less than engaging. Salixa herself is another well-written female, handy with a sling and highly intelligent, but surprisingly gentle for a badger character. The supporting cast are predictably eclectic and endearing. I'm fairly sure Daucus is the first Abbot to lead a charge against oncoming vermin, and he has a beard so that's a winning combination. I only wish we could have seen a little more of Orkwil. His banishment and thievery arc was over far too soon, which is a shame as he had a lovely Martin and Gonff style relationship brewing with Gorath. I was also certain, thanks to some heavy foreshadowing and his obsession with getting Martin's sword back, that he was going to become a Redwall Warrior, but nothing really happened about that.
On the villain front, Vizka Longtooth was vicious but not particularly charismatic. His anti-thesis Gruntan Kurdly was more fun, with his endless quest for eggs and subsequent death at the beak of a swan. And you have to hand it to his Brownrat horde, most of whom were cut from the Punch-Clock Villain cloth, that settling down to a peaceful life by a watermeadow seems a sweeter deal than invading the Abbey.
This leads me on to my main sticking point with the novel, which is the plot, or lack of one. Once Kurdly is out of the picture his horde just give up being evil, settle down and are forgotten about. Once Gorath has had his revenge on Vizka, everyone just sort of pops off to Salamandastron and the rest of the book is told in flash-back. I was hoping for an epic quest and what I got was a couple of woodland chaps bimbling about and then leaving. We barely spend any time in the Abbey itself, but nor do we actually see much of Salamandastron. The woodlands are not particularly scintillating and Gorath himself spends a lot of the book asleep. Still, it all rattles along at a nice pace, and there's something endlessly delightful about Jacques' world, it might be the October Ale, it might be the shrimp and hotroot soup, it may even be Ambrows Spiks Faymiss Kopachir but as an old fan of the series it was lovely to immerse myself in Mossflower woods yet again. And how nice to have a Redwall story where even the characters find the riddles fairly obvious; I don't think I'll ever quite get over Tiria in High Rhulain: "I saw an otter who looked exactly like me, but slightly older, like me in the future, who could that have possibly been?" It's not the best Redwall novel by a long shot, but it almost lets me forgive the abominations of Triss and Taggerung. Almost.
On the villain front, Vizka Longtooth was vicious but not particularly charismatic. His anti-thesis Gruntan Kurdly was more fun, with his endless quest for eggs and subsequent death at the beak of a swan. And you have to hand it to his Brownrat horde, most of whom were cut from the Punch-Clock Villain cloth, that settling down to a peaceful life by a watermeadow seems a sweeter deal than invading the Abbey.
This leads me on to my main sticking point with the novel, which is the plot, or lack of one. Once Kurdly is out of the picture his horde just give up being evil, settle down and are forgotten about. Once Gorath has had his revenge on Vizka, everyone just sort of pops off to Salamandastron and the rest of the book is told in flash-back. I was hoping for an epic quest and what I got was a couple of woodland chaps bimbling about and then leaving. We barely spend any time in the Abbey itself, but nor do we actually see much of Salamandastron. The woodlands are not particularly scintillating and Gorath himself spends a lot of the book asleep. Still, it all rattles along at a nice pace, and there's something endlessly delightful about Jacques' world, it might be the October Ale, it might be the shrimp and hotroot soup, it may even be Ambrows Spiks Faymiss Kopachir but as an old fan of the series it was lovely to immerse myself in Mossflower woods yet again. And how nice to have a Redwall story where even the characters find the riddles fairly obvious; I don't think I'll ever quite get over Tiria in High Rhulain: "I saw an otter who looked exactly like me, but slightly older, like me in the future, who could that have possibly been?" It's not the best Redwall novel by a long shot, but it almost lets me forgive the abominations of Triss and Taggerung. Almost.
July 25, 2010
***Mild Spoilers***
After so many Redwall books, even die-hard fans must admit they get a tiny bit predictable. However, this one did not turn out quite like I thought it would. The annoying little hedgehog banished for thieving does not have great adventures, become a hero and return victoriously to Redwall after his banishment ends, and some characters had different fates/demises than I had expected (though I should learn not to expect things from Jacques!). While I remain partial to some of the earlier books, this one is still great and original while still having typical Redwall themes.
After so many Redwall books, even die-hard fans must admit they get a tiny bit predictable. However, this one did not turn out quite like I thought it would. The annoying little hedgehog banished for thieving does not have great adventures, become a hero and return victoriously to Redwall after his banishment ends, and some characters had different fates/demises than I had expected (though I should learn not to expect things from Jacques!). While I remain partial to some of the earlier books, this one is still great and original while still having typical Redwall themes.
August 30, 2016
"Is not the light of day a wondrous thing? It banishes all fears and worries of the previous night."
—Eulalia!, P. 57
For the first time since Cregga Rose Eyes, the Badger Ruler of Salamandastron is blind in Eulalia!, victim of the ferocity of his own youthful Bloodwrath. Lord Asheye is an elderly badger now, wiser and more cautious than when he was young, living his final seasons at Salamandastron mountain with the Long Patrol of warrior hares to daily assist him. Yet Asheye knows there's a shakeup in the offing, as his prophetic dreams have recently indicated. Badger Rulers of yore have appeared to him in visions and made it clear that Lord Asheye should anticipate important changes, though he isn't entirely sure what to expect. The futures of Salamandastron, Redwall Abbey, and their citizens are entwined with the fates of three young vagabonds wandering the countryside: two of them expelled from home for conduct detrimental to the ordered society in which they live, and one who never had a permanent home, only temporary quarters to fill until the time came to seek a more secure abode in one of the two legendary places for well-intentioned Mossflower creatures, Redwall or Salamandastron. Lord Asheye senses his long, glorious life is near complete, but doesn't want to pass on until he's seen the next generation and knows Salamandastron is in good hands. Given the dreams he's having, however, does Lord Asheye have that long to remain among the living?
Gorath is an orphaned refugee badger in the country, farming under the tutelage of his grandparents. One day his makeshift family is attacked by Vizka Longtooth, a cruel, marauding golden fox whose vermin crew slay Gorath's grandparents and capture the younger badger, chaining him to the deck of their ship and withholding food and water. Gorath is wracked by fits of Bloodwrath powerful enough to wipe out Vizka and his crew in minutes, but the restraints prevent him from doing so. All the better for the orchestrations of fate, for Gorath would not likely survive battle with hordes of armed villains in his weakened condition, though he would take most or all of them with him to Hellgates. Far away, at Redwall, young hedgehog Orkwil Prink has worn out his welcome by habitually stealing from residents of the abbey. Despite his parents deserting him as a babe, Orkwil grew up a sneak thief like them, and his petty burglary is causing unrest in Redwall. The elders decide to banish the mischievous hedgehog, though only for a single season. Carrying a pack of modest rations on his back, and smoldering resentment within him toward the abbey's creatures, Orkwil hits the road and begins devising a plan for how to pass his season in exile. Mossflower Wood can be a treacherous place for young ones, though, with villains like Vizka Longtooth on the prowl. Before long Orkwil has fallen afoul of the vermin, locked up beside Gorath on the ship's deck, his future very much in doubt. But Orkwil is an expert thief, and Vizka may not have counted on the volatile mixture of his captives' talents. If they can break free of their bonds, Gorath's Bloodwrath should prove more than adequate to provide an escape route, but first he and Orkwil must find a way out of the manacles that hold them.
Meanwhile, a young haremaid of Salamandastron, pugnacious Mad Maudie (the Hon.) Mugsberry Thropple, is banished for her inability to get along with her Long Patrol comrades. Maudie is an excellent cook, leaps and bounds better than any other chef available to the hares of the mountain fortress, but her mercurial temper renders her a liability to the societal cohesiveness of the mountain, and Lord Asheye makes the difficult choice to send her away. Halfway relenting at the last second, Lord Asheye redirects Maudie's exile into a quest for Salamandastron's next Badger Ruler, telling her the characteristics to look for in accord with Lord Asheye's recent dreams. If she finds his fated successor, all will presumably be forgiven. So Maudie heads out on the trail to fill her role in Salamandastron history, knowing nothing about Gorath, Orkwil, or their fight for freedom from Vizka's bondage. But she won't stay ignorant long, for war with Vizka's lot is her destiny, flanked by Gorath, Orkwil, and their allies. And Vizka isn't the only enemy to reckon with: a gang of savage Brownrats under the command of humungous Gruntan Kurdly has taken to roaming Mossflower, making a deadly nuisance of themselves. As our trio of protagonists nears the safe haven of Redwall, they're certain to attract Gruntan's attention, and that's a grim crisis for the abbey dwellers. They must prepare not only for the onslaught of one army of vermin, but two: crazed rats, weasels, foxes, and other unsavories with no qualms about plundering and murdering the innocent. As the futures of Redwall and Salamandastron hang in the balance, a war commences unlike any in Mossflower history. Even if good ultimately triumphs, who will perish in the battle of virtue and vice?
I don't see Eulalia! as one of the better Redwall novels, but there are things to like. Gorath continues the heritage of fearsome badger warriors in a new way, as an untrained farmer rather than a master fighter. He has the strength to destroy any enemy, but not the combat experience, so he's somewhat handicapped against a weapon-master like Vizka Longtooth. The entire book seems to lead up to their final confrontation, but 'twill be no easy victory for Gorath. Physical strength isn't always a decisive advantage, as Tsarmina the wildcat learned untold seasons ago in her battle to the death with Martin the Warrior, a mouse. Another highlight of Eulalia! is some of the songs, particularly Asio Bardwing's charming owl ballad of romantic overture, on page seventy-eight. Aside from the wistful badger dirge of war, which plays a significant part in the story, Asio Bardwing's song is my favorite. All in all, it's a comfort that after eighteen full-length novels, there are still more new tales of Redwall and its endless struggle for peace-loving beasts to remain free and happy by staving off vermin who are willing to hurt anyone to establish their own comfort without having to work for it. Theirs is a self-defeating philosophy in the end, because if everyone backbites and betrays, who can remain unvictimized by the duplicity for long? This is the advantage the creatures of Redwall have over their enemies, and it's enough to win the war every time. Good triumphs not as a result of luck, but its superior nature. Virtuous beasts inevitably die in the battle, however, and that is the drama and gravity of the Redwall stories. Evil will be eradicated, but the cost can be devastating. Steep sacrifice is required for the free to stay that way.
"Let me wander here forever, through the glades
where once I played,
Long ago in carefree seasons, mid the noontide
sun and shade.
I will see again before me, all those smiling
friends I knew,
gone alas to memory's keeping, faithful comrades
good and true.
Oh, those days of youth and splendour, when we
dreamed of glorious war,
vows were made to keep forever, and return back
here once more.
Then the clouds began to gather, winter came,
we marched away,
singing songs of love and valour, off we went
into the fray.
Comes a warrior returning, to autumn's gold-clad trees,
where the leaves do fall like teardrops, on the
gently sighing breeze.
Casting sword and shield aside now, I stand
weary and forlorn,
In the silence of the woodlands, I will rest
until the dawn.
Let me sleep and dream forever, of the golden
days of yore,
and those friends who marched off with me,
who'll return alas no more."
—Eulalia!, P. 346
I hardly need mention Brian Jacques's facility with words to those who have read all nineteen volumes to this point. His use of language is silky, majestic, and magical, the sensuous artistry of an awesome creative mind. This element of the Redwall series remains undiminished from the early entries, even as Eulalia! and most later books pack less punch overall than the first eight. I love reading any Redwall adventure, and look forward to immersing myself in this wonderful world many more times. Eulalia! isn't Redwall, Mossflower, Mattimeo, Martin the Warrior, The Bellmaker, or Outcast of Redwall, but it's an entertaining story, and I'm grateful for it. Long live the Redwall saga.
"Redwall really is the place of my dreams. They say that there is always a welcome there for those who are good of heart, and true to their friends. Who knows, perhaps we'll meet there one sunny day?"
—Eulalia!, P. 389
—Eulalia!, P. 57
For the first time since Cregga Rose Eyes, the Badger Ruler of Salamandastron is blind in Eulalia!, victim of the ferocity of his own youthful Bloodwrath. Lord Asheye is an elderly badger now, wiser and more cautious than when he was young, living his final seasons at Salamandastron mountain with the Long Patrol of warrior hares to daily assist him. Yet Asheye knows there's a shakeup in the offing, as his prophetic dreams have recently indicated. Badger Rulers of yore have appeared to him in visions and made it clear that Lord Asheye should anticipate important changes, though he isn't entirely sure what to expect. The futures of Salamandastron, Redwall Abbey, and their citizens are entwined with the fates of three young vagabonds wandering the countryside: two of them expelled from home for conduct detrimental to the ordered society in which they live, and one who never had a permanent home, only temporary quarters to fill until the time came to seek a more secure abode in one of the two legendary places for well-intentioned Mossflower creatures, Redwall or Salamandastron. Lord Asheye senses his long, glorious life is near complete, but doesn't want to pass on until he's seen the next generation and knows Salamandastron is in good hands. Given the dreams he's having, however, does Lord Asheye have that long to remain among the living?
Gorath is an orphaned refugee badger in the country, farming under the tutelage of his grandparents. One day his makeshift family is attacked by Vizka Longtooth, a cruel, marauding golden fox whose vermin crew slay Gorath's grandparents and capture the younger badger, chaining him to the deck of their ship and withholding food and water. Gorath is wracked by fits of Bloodwrath powerful enough to wipe out Vizka and his crew in minutes, but the restraints prevent him from doing so. All the better for the orchestrations of fate, for Gorath would not likely survive battle with hordes of armed villains in his weakened condition, though he would take most or all of them with him to Hellgates. Far away, at Redwall, young hedgehog Orkwil Prink has worn out his welcome by habitually stealing from residents of the abbey. Despite his parents deserting him as a babe, Orkwil grew up a sneak thief like them, and his petty burglary is causing unrest in Redwall. The elders decide to banish the mischievous hedgehog, though only for a single season. Carrying a pack of modest rations on his back, and smoldering resentment within him toward the abbey's creatures, Orkwil hits the road and begins devising a plan for how to pass his season in exile. Mossflower Wood can be a treacherous place for young ones, though, with villains like Vizka Longtooth on the prowl. Before long Orkwil has fallen afoul of the vermin, locked up beside Gorath on the ship's deck, his future very much in doubt. But Orkwil is an expert thief, and Vizka may not have counted on the volatile mixture of his captives' talents. If they can break free of their bonds, Gorath's Bloodwrath should prove more than adequate to provide an escape route, but first he and Orkwil must find a way out of the manacles that hold them.
Meanwhile, a young haremaid of Salamandastron, pugnacious Mad Maudie (the Hon.) Mugsberry Thropple, is banished for her inability to get along with her Long Patrol comrades. Maudie is an excellent cook, leaps and bounds better than any other chef available to the hares of the mountain fortress, but her mercurial temper renders her a liability to the societal cohesiveness of the mountain, and Lord Asheye makes the difficult choice to send her away. Halfway relenting at the last second, Lord Asheye redirects Maudie's exile into a quest for Salamandastron's next Badger Ruler, telling her the characteristics to look for in accord with Lord Asheye's recent dreams. If she finds his fated successor, all will presumably be forgiven. So Maudie heads out on the trail to fill her role in Salamandastron history, knowing nothing about Gorath, Orkwil, or their fight for freedom from Vizka's bondage. But she won't stay ignorant long, for war with Vizka's lot is her destiny, flanked by Gorath, Orkwil, and their allies. And Vizka isn't the only enemy to reckon with: a gang of savage Brownrats under the command of humungous Gruntan Kurdly has taken to roaming Mossflower, making a deadly nuisance of themselves. As our trio of protagonists nears the safe haven of Redwall, they're certain to attract Gruntan's attention, and that's a grim crisis for the abbey dwellers. They must prepare not only for the onslaught of one army of vermin, but two: crazed rats, weasels, foxes, and other unsavories with no qualms about plundering and murdering the innocent. As the futures of Redwall and Salamandastron hang in the balance, a war commences unlike any in Mossflower history. Even if good ultimately triumphs, who will perish in the battle of virtue and vice?
I don't see Eulalia! as one of the better Redwall novels, but there are things to like. Gorath continues the heritage of fearsome badger warriors in a new way, as an untrained farmer rather than a master fighter. He has the strength to destroy any enemy, but not the combat experience, so he's somewhat handicapped against a weapon-master like Vizka Longtooth. The entire book seems to lead up to their final confrontation, but 'twill be no easy victory for Gorath. Physical strength isn't always a decisive advantage, as Tsarmina the wildcat learned untold seasons ago in her battle to the death with Martin the Warrior, a mouse. Another highlight of Eulalia! is some of the songs, particularly Asio Bardwing's charming owl ballad of romantic overture, on page seventy-eight. Aside from the wistful badger dirge of war, which plays a significant part in the story, Asio Bardwing's song is my favorite. All in all, it's a comfort that after eighteen full-length novels, there are still more new tales of Redwall and its endless struggle for peace-loving beasts to remain free and happy by staving off vermin who are willing to hurt anyone to establish their own comfort without having to work for it. Theirs is a self-defeating philosophy in the end, because if everyone backbites and betrays, who can remain unvictimized by the duplicity for long? This is the advantage the creatures of Redwall have over their enemies, and it's enough to win the war every time. Good triumphs not as a result of luck, but its superior nature. Virtuous beasts inevitably die in the battle, however, and that is the drama and gravity of the Redwall stories. Evil will be eradicated, but the cost can be devastating. Steep sacrifice is required for the free to stay that way.
"Let me wander here forever, through the glades
where once I played,
Long ago in carefree seasons, mid the noontide
sun and shade.
I will see again before me, all those smiling
friends I knew,
gone alas to memory's keeping, faithful comrades
good and true.
Oh, those days of youth and splendour, when we
dreamed of glorious war,
vows were made to keep forever, and return back
here once more.
Then the clouds began to gather, winter came,
we marched away,
singing songs of love and valour, off we went
into the fray.
Comes a warrior returning, to autumn's gold-clad trees,
where the leaves do fall like teardrops, on the
gently sighing breeze.
Casting sword and shield aside now, I stand
weary and forlorn,
In the silence of the woodlands, I will rest
until the dawn.
Let me sleep and dream forever, of the golden
days of yore,
and those friends who marched off with me,
who'll return alas no more."
—Eulalia!, P. 346
I hardly need mention Brian Jacques's facility with words to those who have read all nineteen volumes to this point. His use of language is silky, majestic, and magical, the sensuous artistry of an awesome creative mind. This element of the Redwall series remains undiminished from the early entries, even as Eulalia! and most later books pack less punch overall than the first eight. I love reading any Redwall adventure, and look forward to immersing myself in this wonderful world many more times. Eulalia! isn't Redwall, Mossflower, Mattimeo, Martin the Warrior, The Bellmaker, or Outcast of Redwall, but it's an entertaining story, and I'm grateful for it. Long live the Redwall saga.
"Redwall really is the place of my dreams. They say that there is always a welcome there for those who are good of heart, and true to their friends. Who knows, perhaps we'll meet there one sunny day?"
—Eulalia!, P. 389
October 16, 2021
These are fun "good always wins" children's chapter books. I'm nearing the end and the will need to choose another fun series to fill the time when I can't think what I want to read.
June 27, 2010
Not as epic as the earlier books. I found none of the villains threatening. Usually, a Redwall book has at least one bad guy who is either smart or so crazy that you don't know what s/he might do - one who seems like a real threat to the protagonists. Here, you had the moronic Brownrats and the none-too-bright sea raiders. There were no epic hordes of vermin, either, nor real battle scenes. Certainly they were nowhere close to conquering Redwall or Salamandastron. Also, the two named-good-guy deaths that did happen seemed really contrived to me.
Most of the good that this book DID have came from the world that Jacques built in the earlier books. I've always been a fan of the Long Patrol, the Guosim, and, of course, Redwall itself. It bothers me, though, how he likes to throw in new customs and act as if they're old. For example, the Bladechant of the Guosim in this book: a cool idea, but their claim that they always do this when their Log a Log is killed is simply false. Did Jacques ever reread Mattimeo? You know, the one where Log a Log dies in battle and is put on a logboat and sent downriver? With no Bladechants? My favorite parts of Jacques' worldbuilding are the ones that are consistent, like the use of "Eulalia" as a war cry by hares and badgers, or the feasts of Redwall. The Tabura was another problematic thing that: when he hears of the Tabura, Gorath goes "*Gasp* You mean Tabura, the famous badger legend?" while the reader is going "Wha?" These things would be really cool if Jacques established them and stayed consistent.
I also had problems with Orkwil's character in general. It's never explored why he steals from others besides that his parents always did, and he learns in about twenty-four hours on his own that stealing is wrong. He's referred to as a thief, yet he only actually steals something about once in the book. And when he's elected captain of the ship Eulalia - yes, I know you're trying to show how much he's grown up and all, but your ship has two otters and a troop of Guosim! This is a young hedgehog who can barely stand up on the deck! Don't make him captain!
The Gorath/Salixa bit was a little painful. I kind of like Salixa, but I think Jacques writes epic way better than he writes emotional. Also, I can't really forgive Salixa for the line she has near the end - something like "I think we've all learned a lot, don't you?" Gag.
To add insult to injury, I don't know whether Jacques changed copy editors or what, but the copy of this book that I read was riddled with errors, plain and simple. Mostly run-on sentences, but once he even mispelled Maudie's name.
It basically bummed me out to read a book this mediocre from an author who's written stuff I like as much as Mossflower and Mattimeo.
Most of the good that this book DID have came from the world that Jacques built in the earlier books. I've always been a fan of the Long Patrol, the Guosim, and, of course, Redwall itself. It bothers me, though, how he likes to throw in new customs and act as if they're old. For example, the Bladechant of the Guosim in this book: a cool idea, but their claim that they always do this when their Log a Log is killed is simply false. Did Jacques ever reread Mattimeo? You know, the one where Log a Log dies in battle and is put on a logboat and sent downriver? With no Bladechants? My favorite parts of Jacques' worldbuilding are the ones that are consistent, like the use of "Eulalia" as a war cry by hares and badgers, or the feasts of Redwall. The Tabura was another problematic thing that: when he hears of the Tabura, Gorath goes "*Gasp* You mean Tabura, the famous badger legend?" while the reader is going "Wha?" These things would be really cool if Jacques established them and stayed consistent.
I also had problems with Orkwil's character in general. It's never explored why he steals from others besides that his parents always did, and he learns in about twenty-four hours on his own that stealing is wrong. He's referred to as a thief, yet he only actually steals something about once in the book. And when he's elected captain of the ship Eulalia - yes, I know you're trying to show how much he's grown up and all, but your ship has two otters and a troop of Guosim! This is a young hedgehog who can barely stand up on the deck! Don't make him captain!
The Gorath/Salixa bit was a little painful. I kind of like Salixa, but I think Jacques writes epic way better than he writes emotional. Also, I can't really forgive Salixa for the line she has near the end - something like "I think we've all learned a lot, don't you?" Gag.
To add insult to injury, I don't know whether Jacques changed copy editors or what, but the copy of this book that I read was riddled with errors, plain and simple. Mostly run-on sentences, but once he even mispelled Maudie's name.
It basically bummed me out to read a book this mediocre from an author who's written stuff I like as much as Mossflower and Mattimeo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2008
Eulalia is another Redwall epic from Brian Jacques. The basic storyline is that Gorath, a badger, has been captured by a crew of Sea Raiders led by Vizka Longtooth who decides to try to capture Redwall Abbey. The Sea Raiders aren't the only ones trying to capture the famous Abbey - Gruntan Kurdly and his Brownrat crew are also attacking the Abbey - and the Sea Raiders. Meanwhile, Maudie, a Salamandastron fighting hare, is trying to find a badger to fulfill a prophecy of Salamandastron. All these characters and more come together to save Redwall Abbey from the claws of vermin.
December 29, 2019
A good book by a good author.
June 30, 2023
Eulalia was not a bad book. Compared to many others in the series, which I had issue with on many levels because of absurd events, terrible villains, abuse of Martin visions, way too much food or singing, or annoying characters, I will say that this one has none of those. However, that is kind of the issue with the entire book as a whole. It's lackluster across the board. It doesn't have anything good or bad in any respect. In fact, it almost carries a sad tone to it as I look back, as if none of the characters wanted to be there. Or perhaps Jacques was dealing with something personally and it bled into his writing. Not to mention, the prior book in the series went so far over the top, that I can't help but feel as if Jacques recieved backlash and toned this down so much that it really doesn't feel like it has much heart.
Throughout the book I didn't really root for the heroes, and the villains kind of got sidetracked and fought each other, and didn't actually meet any of their own objectives. Even what was supposed to be a homecoming for victorious characters as they finally made their way to salamandastron didn't really feel like it had much of a feel to it. In the end, I'd definitely rate this above quite a few other Redwall books, but that's not exactly saying much about the series as a whole.
Also, on a side note, I kind of expected this book to be the origin story for the word Eulalia, however Jacques has a history of book titles that serve no purpose, so I shouldn't be surprised. By the end, its origin wasn't referenced, nor does the story specifically use that word to any great effect. In fact, I can think of at least one other story, where someone cries that word and it saves everyone from being killed by calling in a hare army. I had to look Eulalia up, and it's simply a Viking war cry. Chronologically, the wiki says it's apparently uttered first by Boorab the fool? If I were the author, I would have made a neat tie in for this book, giving it serious impact, but apparently in-universe, it's nothing , which is a shame.
Throughout the book I didn't really root for the heroes, and the villains kind of got sidetracked and fought each other, and didn't actually meet any of their own objectives. Even what was supposed to be a homecoming for victorious characters as they finally made their way to salamandastron didn't really feel like it had much of a feel to it. In the end, I'd definitely rate this above quite a few other Redwall books, but that's not exactly saying much about the series as a whole.
Also, on a side note, I kind of expected this book to be the origin story for the word Eulalia, however Jacques has a history of book titles that serve no purpose, so I shouldn't be surprised. By the end, its origin wasn't referenced, nor does the story specifically use that word to any great effect. In fact, I can think of at least one other story, where someone cries that word and it saves everyone from being killed by calling in a hare army. I had to look Eulalia up, and it's simply a Viking war cry. Chronologically, the wiki says it's apparently uttered first by Boorab the fool? If I were the author, I would have made a neat tie in for this book, giving it serious impact, but apparently in-universe, it's nothing , which is a shame.
August 11, 2021
Gorath the badger is captured by evil pirates, his farm and home burned to the ground and all his kin slain. Maudie the hare maid has been sent from Salamandastron on a dangerous mission to find Gorath and bring him safely back to the Lord of the Badgers. Orkwil is a mischievous young hedgehog who has been cast out of Redwall for stealing. These three unlikely heroes team up to battle off a vermin horde and save Redwall Abbey!
I just adore all the Redwall books! What an absolute delight! This book has everything that I love about Redwall books. Ravenous hares, wise old badgers, adorable moles, fierce shrews, and of course brave warriors ready to defend all good beasts.
As with all Redwall books, I made sure to have a stash of snacks on hand since the characters are constantly eating the most delicious food. They have massive feasts and parties, but even a simple breakfast will make your mouth water with all the descriptions of pastries and fruit pies and cordials.
I was laughing and giggling at Maudie and all her banter with the shrews and otters. It's just wonderful, and gives so much depth to each culture that we encounter.
The action and pacing in this book are really excellent. The plot is always moving forward, but there are also scenes that take the time to show our characters grieving or resting or laughing together. It builds up the emotional components of the story, so that when you get to the big battles, we really care about what happens to the characters.
I just adore all the Redwall books! What an absolute delight! This book has everything that I love about Redwall books. Ravenous hares, wise old badgers, adorable moles, fierce shrews, and of course brave warriors ready to defend all good beasts.
As with all Redwall books, I made sure to have a stash of snacks on hand since the characters are constantly eating the most delicious food. They have massive feasts and parties, but even a simple breakfast will make your mouth water with all the descriptions of pastries and fruit pies and cordials.
I was laughing and giggling at Maudie and all her banter with the shrews and otters. It's just wonderful, and gives so much depth to each culture that we encounter.
The action and pacing in this book are really excellent. The plot is always moving forward, but there are also scenes that take the time to show our characters grieving or resting or laughing together. It builds up the emotional components of the story, so that when you get to the big battles, we really care about what happens to the characters.
July 1, 2018
A shaky 1.5*. The Kindle edition is full of comma splices. I'm not sure whether that's due to shoddy OCR or shoddy editing, but it is really noticeable. In the last third barely a paragraph goes by without at least one. Considering the publisher, that's just not acceptable.
The story itself is not great. The last handful of Redwall books are a mess plotwise and this one has the same problem with splitting up the narrative with too many storylines. There are two villain groups I couldn't keep straight and the protagonists get short shrift, too. Which is a shame, because this book introduces some nifty new lore and a critique of the Bloodwrath, the uncontrollable berserker rage that afflicts the badgers. Here, Gorath chooses not to succumb to the Bloodwrath, which is huge! Jacques goes out of his way to point out that the condition hurts friends as well as foes. (In other books it is treated as a force of nature, its destruction value-neutral except that it gets the job done, as it were. None of the characters encourage it but they don't go out of their way to get a badger to back off from it any more than they'd argue with a hurricane.) Unfortunately, the Tabura shows up in this book and nowhere else, but it's an excellent counter to the badger warrior stereotype and I wish Jacques had used the concept somewhere in the books following this one.
The story itself is not great. The last handful of Redwall books are a mess plotwise and this one has the same problem with splitting up the narrative with too many storylines. There are two villain groups I couldn't keep straight and the protagonists get short shrift, too. Which is a shame, because this book introduces some nifty new lore and a critique of the Bloodwrath, the uncontrollable berserker rage that afflicts the badgers. Here, Gorath chooses not to succumb to the Bloodwrath, which is huge! Jacques goes out of his way to point out that the condition hurts friends as well as foes. (In other books it is treated as a force of nature, its destruction value-neutral except that it gets the job done, as it were. None of the characters encourage it but they don't go out of their way to get a badger to back off from it any more than they'd argue with a hurricane.) Unfortunately, the Tabura shows up in this book and nowhere else, but it's an excellent counter to the badger warrior stereotype and I wish Jacques had used the concept somewhere in the books following this one.
February 16, 2024
Good. The series is losing some steam for me at this point, and my attention is being drawn more towards non-Redwall books. As a Redwall book though, it’s still good, and about what you’d expect if you’ve read other books in the series. There’s action and antics aplenty.
October 5, 2024
Super fun series, great for kids. Love the setting, the food descriptions, and the sweet, endearing characters.
February 17, 2025
Some of the best Redwall characters are found in this book. Also some great shrew action.
Read
February 25, 2013Eulalia! Is a marvelous book written by Brian Jacques. It is about a young badger named Gorath who is captured by Sea Raiders and sailed all the way to Mossflower country. There the captian of the ship, Vizka Longteeth, decides to invade Redwall Abbey after capturing a small hedgehog named Orkwill Prink who is from Redwall. Orkwill then helps Gorath escape from the ship and they go back to Redwall.
Meanwhile over in Salamandastron, Maudie Thropple is being sent out to find Gorath. She is sent by the Badger Lord Asheye to find Gorath so that he might succeed Asheye. On the way she meets up with the GOUSIM shrews and a Holt of otters. They all group together and travel to Redwall, but along the way they encounter a horde of Brownrats. They flee to the Abbey and help fight off the Brownrats. The Brownrats retreat and are met by the Sea Raiders and Vizka Longteeth, they band together in their attempt to take over Redwall. They fail miserably and in the end Gorath gets his revenge against Vizka, snapping his neck in half and throwing him into the River Moss. They then all sail back to Salamandastron where Gorath takes his place as rightful ruler.
Meanwhile over in Salamandastron, Maudie Thropple is being sent out to find Gorath. She is sent by the Badger Lord Asheye to find Gorath so that he might succeed Asheye. On the way she meets up with the GOUSIM shrews and a Holt of otters. They all group together and travel to Redwall, but along the way they encounter a horde of Brownrats. They flee to the Abbey and help fight off the Brownrats. The Brownrats retreat and are met by the Sea Raiders and Vizka Longteeth, they band together in their attempt to take over Redwall. They fail miserably and in the end Gorath gets his revenge against Vizka, snapping his neck in half and throwing him into the River Moss. They then all sail back to Salamandastron where Gorath takes his place as rightful ruler.
January 4, 2016
I thought this book was exciting. When I picked up the book I knew I would like it, but I didn't think I would like it as much as I did. I was completely caught up in the book! I chose the book because I had read other books by Brian Jaques. I totally recommend this book, especially if you liked reading, The Hobbit. It was exciting, adventurous, and filled with action. The main characters, a young hedgehog named Orkwil, and a young badger named Gunthor, get fought up in the action when an army of vermin and an army of huge rats, threatens to attack Redwall Abbey. Orkwil was banished from the Abbey for a season because he was a thief. Gunthor is captured by vermin after they burned his home. Orkwil is transformed from a thieving hedgehog into a noble warrior. Gunthor learns how to control his Bloodwrath ( a condition warrior badgers often have, they can't control their anger.) I enjoy Brian Jaques's books because they are interesting and I always get into the plot. I highly recommend!
December 13, 2015
And once again I find myself reading a Brian Jacques novel after a disappointing Dystopia novel. This one is one of the last books that Brian Jacques wrote and so I haven't read it as many times as some of the others. This one has a lot going for it. I LOVE Maudie the slightly crazed, very opinionated heroine. I find hares in generally very amusing in Jacques' books and Maudie has a pleasant balance of courage and humor. The villain for this one was a bit more forgettable than most but I did admire the fact that the villain did actually have some care and feeling for his brother. I enjoy the made up battle cry used throughought the books "Eulalia" but it did seem a bit forced in this one. Jacques used it at every available opportunity. Still it was an enjoyable book and can't say enough good things about the audiobooks with Jacques' narration.
January 20, 2016
Unfortunately, the least inspiring instalment of Brian Jacques considerable legacy.
In brief: there is never any true tension. No proper loss, no decent character arc for a loveable character. Gorath is a poor Sunflash, Orkwil Prink a very poor Gonff. There is no Martin, no Mariel, no Triss, no Matthias. Likewise, the villains are laughable hicks from sea and dale. Where are the Feragos and Clunys?
May update review on day when less disappointed.
In brief: there is never any true tension. No proper loss, no decent character arc for a loveable character. Gorath is a poor Sunflash, Orkwil Prink a very poor Gonff. There is no Martin, no Mariel, no Triss, no Matthias. Likewise, the villains are laughable hicks from sea and dale. Where are the Feragos and Clunys?
May update review on day when less disappointed.
January 1, 2021
Characters: A thief, a troublesome hare, and a strangely-marked badger go up against a scurvy fox and an egg-obsessed obese rat. Setting? Redwall. War cry? Eulalia!
What’s not to love?
What’s not to love?
November 19, 2008
This was my favorite book of the Redwall series. The characters were all unique and interesting. Gorath was a different character for a badger lord. It was nice to see a badger that could control the blood rath. I ended up reading this book in 2 days. I could not put it down.
January 24, 2011
Eulalia! is a awesome book (one of the best books I have read). It is filled with action-adventure. My favorite part was Orville getting kicked out of Redwall, because it was actually pretty funny.
You would like this book if you like adventure novels.
You would like this book if you like adventure novels.
Want to read
November 27, 2008Another Redwall book, another must-read.
December 11, 2013
Brian Jacques is so amazing! He can put sadness, pity, joy and anger and many other emotions into just one book! One of my best reads of the year.
January 28, 2021
This was definitely the best Redwall book I've read.
March 29, 2021
One of the more problematic of Redwall stories. A lot of use of "savage" and "primitive" for evil tribes of rats who wear face paint & feathers & chant. Not a great look.
December 20, 2024
I am struggling with wanting to rate this as 1 star. Reading this honestly kind of trashed a part of my childhood. I remember loving the Redwall books as a kid, but other than a bunch of feasts and some familiar locations, this is a pale shadow of how I remembered the story.
The characters have almost no arcs. Orkwil, the hedgehog, starts as a thief and then gets thrust into the middle of the sea raiders’ plot to attack Redwall, so he just becomes a good person. Never mind what he told people at the abbey about not being able to stop himself from stealing, that is resolved now.
Gorath, the badger, similarly starts out without much motivation, until his family is killed and he becomes fixated on revenge. Despite being a truly terrifying character most of the time he is present, Jacques makes it obvious to the reader that he is a hero and justified in his rage and bloodlust. He also meets a girl badger (the first he’s ever met that he isn’t related to) and immediately falls in love with her.
Maudie, the hare, is about the same. She was sent on a mission for apparently not being disciplined enough in her role with the Long Patrol. Despite that, she just shows up at the end and all is well because she found Gorath. Throughout the book, though, she is shown to be capable, smart, and loyal from the very beginning, so she isn’t growing into a better soldier, she just is a good soldier.
The dialogue is really difficult, and some of the narration, too. I remembered finding the moles’ speech patterns especially endearing in other books. Unfortunately this installment mostly has dialects from “vermin” (foxes, weasels, rats) that slides into a rough cockney sound, but the spellings are horrible to parse out. It could also be read as some Caribbean or similar type of speech patterns, which, when coupled with the art of the “brownrats” that shows them with loincloths, face paint, and bones tied in their hair, plus the constant description of them as “savages,” makes for, at best, a questionable choice. The narration became frustratingly repetitive, too. There was a character named Laggle who was a nurse with one faction, yet every time her name came up it was “the healer, Laggle” or something similarly unnecessary.
The dialogue was generally strangely structured. It didn’t flow well, like a conversation. Instead it read more like a series of exclamations and non sequiturs that turned most of the characters into caricatures.
The motivations of the villains even made no sense. At first, one horde is chasing a small group to steal their log boats, even as members of that horde keep dying. The other villains wanted to find an easier life at Redwall, yet the only approach they consider is one of violence.
Maybe I’ve got rose colored glasses trying to remember the other books. I know these are kids novels and they’ve always had this type of dialogue and the overly bold lines of good and evil usually based on animal species. I just remember Matthias going on an adventure in the first one to find a sword and save the abbey, meeting characters along the way and growing from a timid kid who didn’t know how to help to one of the greatest heroes Redwall had ever seen. I hope this was a fluke and not me misremembering so that when I finish the series I can enjoy myself a little more than this.
The characters have almost no arcs. Orkwil, the hedgehog, starts as a thief and then gets thrust into the middle of the sea raiders’ plot to attack Redwall, so he just becomes a good person. Never mind what he told people at the abbey about not being able to stop himself from stealing, that is resolved now.
Gorath, the badger, similarly starts out without much motivation, until his family is killed and he becomes fixated on revenge. Despite being a truly terrifying character most of the time he is present, Jacques makes it obvious to the reader that he is a hero and justified in his rage and bloodlust. He also meets a girl badger (the first he’s ever met that he isn’t related to) and immediately falls in love with her.
Maudie, the hare, is about the same. She was sent on a mission for apparently not being disciplined enough in her role with the Long Patrol. Despite that, she just shows up at the end and all is well because she found Gorath. Throughout the book, though, she is shown to be capable, smart, and loyal from the very beginning, so she isn’t growing into a better soldier, she just is a good soldier.
The dialogue is really difficult, and some of the narration, too. I remembered finding the moles’ speech patterns especially endearing in other books. Unfortunately this installment mostly has dialects from “vermin” (foxes, weasels, rats) that slides into a rough cockney sound, but the spellings are horrible to parse out. It could also be read as some Caribbean or similar type of speech patterns, which, when coupled with the art of the “brownrats” that shows them with loincloths, face paint, and bones tied in their hair, plus the constant description of them as “savages,” makes for, at best, a questionable choice. The narration became frustratingly repetitive, too. There was a character named Laggle who was a nurse with one faction, yet every time her name came up it was “the healer, Laggle” or something similarly unnecessary.
The dialogue was generally strangely structured. It didn’t flow well, like a conversation. Instead it read more like a series of exclamations and non sequiturs that turned most of the characters into caricatures.
The motivations of the villains even made no sense. At first, one horde is chasing a small group to steal their log boats, even as members of that horde keep dying. The other villains wanted to find an easier life at Redwall, yet the only approach they consider is one of violence.
Maybe I’ve got rose colored glasses trying to remember the other books. I know these are kids novels and they’ve always had this type of dialogue and the overly bold lines of good and evil usually based on animal species. I just remember Matthias going on an adventure in the first one to find a sword and save the abbey, meeting characters along the way and growing from a timid kid who didn’t know how to help to one of the greatest heroes Redwall had ever seen. I hope this was a fluke and not me misremembering so that when I finish the series I can enjoy myself a little more than this.
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