compare lady cregga rose eyes to lady wildstripe.......

This book wasn’t bad, per sey, but it definitely didn’t engage me. Many of the characters could have been interesting but weren’t exactly developed. Lady Cregga Rose Eyes spends most of the book preparing for, and building this incredible rage for, a war that literally takes place over a couple pages at the end. Tammo is a complete newbie and has no experience, but almost magically morphs into the most fighter. Where was his training, the building up of his character? I didn’t feel much progressing them or any reason to enjoy their characters. The owl family (like most predatory birds in Redwall) felt like they were only discovered to provide convenient plot elements and prove that “predatory birds can be good too.” The back and forth bickering and backstabbery between the rats felt rehashed over and over. The character of “Rubbadub” was the worst I’ve ever heard of. A rabbit that just responds with “BOOM A BOOM BOOM B’BANG BOOM” every time you talk to it? I actually sighed every time it showed up.

The concept of Tsarmina’s castle being discovered because the tunnel to flood it was revealed was actually excellent, but I found it REALLY hard to believe there was anything left of the castle. It was destroyed by battle, then flooded, buried, and built over (I’m also not sure why they’d literally build the abby wall RIGHT THERE above a flood tunnel). Yet Tansy is going to explore it as if it’s a functional building? It seemed like the only reason it was there was to provide puzzles and riddles to reveal a treasure, which they ended up melting down into medals anyway, making this the second book in a row they’ve destroyed the treasure at the end for no real good reason. Odd choice.

In the end, it was far less childish with a great emphasis on war and fighting for the entire time, but the plot felt far too filled with events that didn’t actually progress anything. Rather, I felt like I showed up late, fell into a giant holding maneuver until it was done, and then had to leave before something interesting was going to happen with the new badger lord.

As a self-confessed Redwall nut it's probably not a good idea for me to review this book. But I'm going to anyway.

I loved it. Bad is bad and good is good and there's very little messing about in the middle. You know that the goodies will win in the end, of course they will, although how they get there will be endlessly entertaining and inventive.

Brian Jacques certainly knows how to write a hero....

This is definitely, if not the best of the series, certainly one of the best. There's humour, there's wonderful moments...but also one of the darkest battles in any of these books.

It's going to be interesting from here on out though, we're getting into the books I haven't read quite as many times.

I was reading some of the reviews previous to mine, and find it interesting that adults are complaining that the redwall books follow a formula/theme and are predictable. that they all have the same premise- a horde threatens the serenity of redwall abbey. to which I have to say this: duh. these books were. written. for. kids. they deal with difficult subjects, war, death, honor, grief, injury, etc, in a manner that young kids can grasp and understand. of course they're simplistic. you want complicated? read war and peace. I first read these books when I was around 8. look at them with an 8 year old's eyes. not an adult's eyes.

This book!!!

I'm not sure if it's my favorite Redwall book, but it's certainly up there. Absolutely loved this one, from learning about the Long Patrol to the discovery of the ruins of Kotir from Mossflower to the epic battle climax! I especially loved what happens at the end of the battle, and the themes of the dawn bringing hope and of finally coming home. This book has my heart.

As always, so fun and enjoyable.

"EULALIAAA! 'S'DEATH ON THE WIND! EULALIAAA!"

As far as militaristic traditions and form go, the goodbeasts of the world of Redwall are largely reactive, with most creatures like the denizens of Redwall Abbey, the Guosim and the assorted residents of Mossflower woods leading largely peaceful lives and taking up arms only when provoked or threatened. The only glaring exception, IMO at least, are the "perilous hares" of the Long Patrol, headquartered at Salamandastron. And yet we rarely see anything of them, except the acts they perform in service to the Badger Lords. That being said, it's truly enjoyable to see 'The Long Patrol' do full justice to this oft-sidelined force of swashbucklers. Eschewing the familiar characters of many past books, this is a tale of young blood, eager to step into the shoes of those that have come before and take charge. 'The Long Patrol' is a story of valor, heroism, and most importantly, standing up for your beliefs in the defense of those less fortunate - a tale that will surely delight new readers and old alike.

9/10

This book had such great buildup: The Long Patroller's quest, the vulnerability of Redwall, and the threat of the Rapscallions. Everything was building up to a long-awaited final battle, but I was disappointed in the end with the off-camera death of the main villain. I suppose it would have done better through visual media, using a "when the smoke clears" type of moment, and you see the aftermath. When I got to the next chapter, I thought, "Oh, he's already dead...?" I would also like to have seen more of Lady Cregga before the final battle. I suppose he was saving the badger's wrath for the end.

Besides those minor gripes, this is an excellent addition to the series. As for how it compares to the rest, I won't know until I have finished the series.

"It was not as good as I remembered. I think Brian Jacques likes to glorify war a little too much. And while I don't mind big battles, it felt like in this book nobody would shut up about how there was going to be a big battle at the end, which detracted from the whole book leading up to it. Still, I did enjoy reading it and I think it's in the better half of the Redwall series."

As usual, another fantastic entry in the Redwall series that I am more than happy to listen to over and over, hence why I listened to it again just at the end of last year. If you like adventure, meaningful relationships, stories of growth and love, and a phenomenal voice cast- please check all of this series out.

Why can’t they just be like ordinary peace-lovin’ creatures an’ leave us alone?” Paw on swordhilt, the squirrel Champion shrugged. “Hard to say, really, Skip. There’ll always be vermin of that kind, with no respect for any creature, takin’ what they please an’ never carin’ who they have to slay, as long as they get what they want. Peaceful creatures to them are weak fools. But every once in a while they come up against beasts like us, peace-lovin’ an’ easy-goin’ until we’re threatened. Win or lose then, we won’t be killed, enslaved, or walked on just for their cruel satisfaction. No, we’ll band together an’ fight for what is ours!”

The mole Bunto scratched his nosetip with a hefty digging claw. “Gudd idea, zurr, an’ may’ap ee’ll take a lukk at ee carvens on yon stones.” Foremole Diggum donned a tiny pair of glasses and peered over the top of them at Bunto. “Yurr, ee never told oi abowt no carven on walls!” Bunto smiled disarmingly, saying, “Probberly ’cos you’m never arsked oi, zurr!” Foremole took Bunto’s answer quite logically. “Hurr, silly o’ me. No matter, next toim oi’ll arsk ee!”

“Ahoy, Dibbun, drink any more o’ that strawberry fizz an’ you’ll go bang!” “Awright den, me go bang.

A tiny hedgehog named Twingle drew the short straw. Covering his eyes with a dock leaf, he began counting aloud in baby fashion. “One, three, two an’ a bit, four, sixty, eight, three again, an’ a five-seventy-nine . . .” Squealing and giggling with excitement, the little creatures dashed off to hide before Twingle finished counting. “Four, two an’ a twelve, don’t knows any more numbers, I’m a cummin’ t’find youse all now!”


“Aye, yore too nice-spoken, Tammo, prob’ly ’cos you was well brung up!”