Sigh. Back in the day, the Redwall series was one of the reasons I started writing, particularly things with plot. I probably should have just let that sleeping dog slumber, especially since Jacques recently passed away, but in my quest to read all the books I own that I haven't yet, I had to pick up "High Rhulain." Wow. Character development? Nonexistent. Plot? Rushed and haphazard. Emotional content? Suffice to say that a few important characters get killed, and when they do, everyone takes maybe five minutes to grieve. I still think back with fond memories on many of Jacques's books, and I think if I were to read them again I might rediscover why I loved this series so much. But the newer entries continue to disappoint me, and I'm not looking forward to reading "Eulalia!".

very fun read, was a bit to get head wrapped around dialog for some, but characters were fun and world building was good....

This is another Novel by Brian Jacques and they are always amazing, this one seemed less exciting then normal because of multiple story lines that seemed minimalistic in the grand of things. It's an amazing adventure book set in the locations of Redwall Abbey and the Green Isle. It starts with the combat of a wretched Warlord, Felis, and his battle with a hawk. And then transitions to the redwall abbey with Tiria who is supposed to be the main protagonist but doesn't do a lot and you don't grow a bond to her like you did with the characters in previous novels. Felis is the warlord of the Green Isle and hold the otters there as slaves, it's Tiria's mission to free them but she won't arrive 'till the end of the battle of which the long patrol will all the work in a fight they didn't even need to be a part of. My personal favorite character was a schizophrenic Hare who is the only character with a decent backstory and valiant acts of heroism. I still enjoyed the novel but was disappointed as Brian Jacques usually is much better then this. I can never stop reading his novels but the next one better be a more complete story then this one.

I had mixed feelings when reading this book. Portions of it did not feel as polished or as Redwall as other books in the series while other parts were very much Redwall. This book was very touching and I enjoyed it very much, especially the one hare who kept changing his identity. But it didn't strike me as much as other of the books did, hence why it's not 5 stars.

I finally finished! And it was so good! I love Tiria and her friends from the Abbey, and the birds are absolutely hilarious. All the characters are so well done that I couldn't help trying to read straight through. (I didn't though...) But anyway, it was very good, and I liked it a lot.

4.75

Amazing. Vivid descriptions about delicious food and fun characters. Everyone's otters or hares or badgers. Main characters are pretty sick. Inspiring and uplifting

I really hate giving these books low ratings. I adored the Redwall series when I was younger and I still get a good feeling when I think about the books or some of the characters. I refuse to believe that the disconnect now is just because I'm older. I've read tons of books where the intended audience is in a younger demographic, but I still end up enjoying the story.

The problem for me in this book was that I didn't really care about the characters. There was nothing really distinct about our main hero or the main villain. What set Tiria apart that made her a good choice for the High Rhulain? Nothing that I could see. She rescued the osprey from being tortured. Well... okay, but her friend who beat the rat nearly to the point of killing it was more distinct in that scene than her. The main villain was pretty standard and the side villains acted stupid or just didn't strike me as threatening.

I guess it comes down to the trap of a formula and tropes that I'm familiar with. The riddles, the song, and the good time adventure was all still there, but I guess I was hoping for something really new or different to shake things up. On a more personal complaint, I didn't really need to be told what Dibbuns were or what it meant to be the Foremole. Even those new to the series could understand from the context.

I want to keep looking in hopes that I will like at least one of these later books. At least I know I can always go back to the older books and see some cherished friends again.

This book has a solid premise, however it is muddled by having far too much stuff in it. It seems like Brian thought to himself, "oh I'll take everything that people think is unique about Redwall and amp it up." Now there are three large birds, and three main enemy groups (none of who are very dangerous), and four different plot lines, and Martin visions featured in many chapters, and 34 total poems and songs (in 34 chapters). It's far too much for any element to actually shine through, and several plot elements are almost forgotten, to the point that they almost serve no purpose at all. Even the feasting throughout the book is packed in ad nauseum, but showcases next to no food, aside from shrimp and hot root soup, and skilly and duff, which he's taken to tacking on to rabbits and otters as if it is their only meals outside Redwall.

There is, of course, a quest to find the queen's tiara, but it was shoehorned into the story, and didn't fit with anything in particular. It featured anagrams in particular, to the extent where it became bizarrely obsessed with them, yet also instantly solved each one, and ended it's hunt in a forgotten attic of Redwall that was apparently the size of a grand ballroom, and no one ever managed to go up there or mention it before. Also, I found it incredibly strange how a person's broken spear had a tiara smashed flat and somehow stuffed inside it. As far as hiding a valuable headpiece with a giant gemstone goes, that's a weird one. I can't think of a less respectable way of treating of royal crown than literally smashing it...

During the first "book," almost nothing gets accomplished at all, and by the end of it, the Reader has been beaten over the head repetitively with the concept that Tiria, the main character, is destined to be a ruler reborn for the otters. In fact, the readers are constantly reminded of different details, as if we've never heard of them before. The main character, who suffers from a horribly disfigured face, is described prominently throughout the book, yet within a few chapters of the end, the book still managed to remind me that his face was damaged by a bird, as if it was a new concept. Yeah, I picked up on that, thank you.

Unfortunately, due to the massive number of plot elements and characters, Tiria doesn't accomplish much of anything except doubt herself through the other two parts of the novel. She doesn't seem to serve any purpose at all, aside from a couple good sling shots, and people telling her that she's been a morale boost. She even goes out of the way to mention she doesn't do anything except stand there, and another character says, well you do it very well. I guess she must have, because everyone won the battle in the end...

I liked the concept of this lowly otter being reborn as a ruler to come back and rescue her people from slavery, but it just didn't come to fruition. Unfortunately, there are far worse books in the redwall universe than this one.

Better than most. The hares are almost enjoyable this time.

The most memorable story from when I was a kid. I looooved this adventure so much. Tira is such a strong main character, in the same vein as Triss. Plus Brian Jacques' otters are just the best ❤

I think this is my favorite Redwall book in quite a while! An epic plot, good characters, lots of action--and, of course, many beautiful descriptions of food.