By far the best book in the series. He tells the entire story of Martin and his journey from peasant to legend at Mossflower. I loved the setting, the characters, and the plot. Absolutely fantastic book.

Spoilers ahead!

This one was always my least favorite Redwall novel growing up largely because of its bittersweet ending (But it was still a Redwall book so I still really liked it). Now I have a better appreciation for this novel. Martin is an awesome character and the mythos surrounding him is a driving force throughout the series. I really enjoy the novels that focus on him and his past. Plus I've always enjoyed books that feature the little guy fighting back against an impossible foe. A big reason why I didn't like this book that much was because of the fate of Rose. It was considerably less devastating this time around and I found her to be a bit bland. She's like a Disney princess in mouse form, singing and all. I tend to admire the other more warior-like female characters like Roanoke.

Also normally, I don't promote different formats, but I listened to the audiobook and it was AMAZING! It featured a full cast and had the late Brian Jacques as the narrator. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

So happy with this book for giving Martin the proper backstory that he deserved! It always bothered me how much his other story seemed lackluster to his legacy, and this was a great fix. The story itself was engaging and at times quite emotional. Probably my favorite of the series overall.

This book is a very exciting story of both loss and victory. After having his father killed by the searat Badrang, Martin must watch as everything he knows is taken from him at a young age. When Badrang and his crew arrive to the coast Martin and his village reside on death and destruction soon follow. Badrang kills all that oppose him and the ones that don't are soon sold into slavery. The slaves then suffer as the turn their once beautiful land into a vicious territory controlled by their cruel enslaver. Badrang uses the slaves he captures to build the symbol of his power, a huge fort that is the symbol of his cruel and tyrannical control over the land surrounding it. As Badrang's empire grows the hatred inside of Martin grows with it. As Marting gets older he becomes more rebellious and is soon punished for his actions. He is bound by his hands and feet to poles fastened into the walls of the fort and is open to the attacks of deadly birds.

Outside of the fort Rose the mousemaid sees him and realizes she must help. With the help of her friend Grumm they are able to get Marting off the wall. His captors place him a pit inside the walls safe from the birds. While inside the pit he makes friends in Felldoh and Rose's brother. Grumm is able to dig a tunnel to the pit and free them without Badrang knowing. While they escape they are separated while at sea and drift away from each other on different journeys. Felldoh and Rose's brother meet an acting troupe called The Rosehip Players. Together they are able to sneak into Badrang's fort in disguise and free half of the slaves. They then train the slaves so they soon will be able to recapture their land from Badrang and his forces.
Rose, Martin, and Grumm find themselves on a beach far south of their friends.

They soon reattempt their journey to Rose's village in order to enlist the help of the surrounding creatures to free all the slaves. With the help of the GUOSIM shrews and other creatures they are able to form an army capable of retaking the land controlled by Badrang. Led by Martin they mount an assault on the fort. After many attempts Badrang and his troops can no longer defend their fort from the determined attackers and are brutally killed by the angry forces of Martin and his friends. After the dust settles Martin finds out his friend Rose was killed in the fight and he falls into a state of depression. After many seasons he tells his friends he must leave them and go on a solo journey to ease the demons inside of him.

Martin's character changes are very apparent throughout the book. It seems that throughout each chapter his character becomes more bold and unpredictable. He grows in both courage and bravery which helps aid him in the retaking of the land he loves so much. At the end of the book his character is sad with the loss of his love Rose and in order to change that he must go on a journey by himself and do some soul searching to find out what he really wants to be.

This book gained a very deserving five out of five stars. It was full of adventure and suspense. While reading the book you can't help but root for the heroes that fight for the land that is rightfully theirs. This book has a very dramatic story line that leaves the reader wanting more. This book is perfect for anyone grades eight to twelve that want to read a book built on suspense and adventure. This is a book fit for both genders.

By far the BEST book in the Redwall seiries. Martin is amazing. I listened to the tape when i first heard it but if i had read it i would not have been able to put it down! really great story. i loved it. Rose is really cool also. It is all about how they save a bunch of slaves from searats and other pleasent animals. Really amazing book. Sad at the end but then cheers up. Martin is really cool. You really have to have a certain taste for Brian Jaques style, but most people would like it. The tapes are very good. Brian jaques narrates it. His brother plays Martin. i don't know who Plays rose. Next one in the series is Mossflower.

The previously untold story of Martin the Warrior's travels before coming to the forest of Mossflower to found Redwall Abbey. He vows revenge on the vermin warlord of a fortress, and also to free the miserable slaves who have dwelt there for uncounted years. Formulaic, in the tradition of all the Redwall books, but enjoyable nonetheless. It's always fun to read about your mouse heroes facing an army and defeating them, using the skills of moles, squirrels, birds, badgers, otters, and all the good creatures of the forest.

The mouse was cool

This Redwall books was especially wonderful, for me, because it was so atypical. It just wasn't like the rest of them. In fact, I must say that, as the series grew larger, I found that I liked the books that occured in distant lands better than the ones near Redwall, because the ones by the abbey were sometimes slightly redundant.

Anyway, this particular book was awesome. And I punched a guy over it. I think it was the first time I punched someone outside of my family too, so it is extra awesome.

This is probably THE book that turned me into a fully-fledged bookworm when I was a kid. One of the first books I remember being absolutely enthralled and obsessed with! After I read this one, every time the scholastic book fair came around I was foaming at the mouth for next Redwall entry. Do these hold up today with me as a bitter and jaded adult? Admittedly, no. But, they do make me nostalgic, and I can absolutely see why they are so beloved, and why they hooked me so much when I was young. If I ever have kids one of the coolest things is going to be reading these books to them during bedtime - doubt I can replicate all those complicated accents and "mole-speak" though!

The swashbuckling adventure!
The cutthroat villains!
The heroic characters!
Oh, and let's not forget all the fantastic FOOD!

Honorable influential books from childhood mentions:
Mouse and the Motorcycle
Bunnicula
The Hobbit
Wizard's Hall
James and the Giant Peach
Three Billy Goats Gruff

Also, how RAD was the Scholastic Book Fair back in the day?! Damn.

This book gets me every time I read it, and I mean like actually crying 'gets me'. Maybe because I was little the first time I read it and I have that emotional connection to it/the characters but. Yeah :'(

I think the keystone of this book is how much rests on Martin NOT having extraordinary strength or powers, NOT having the ability to keep going. He has this Pyrrhic victory and what he lost shows on him. Like, for months. And he doesn't heal. I think that's such brilliant writing, and such a bold move in a kids/middle grade story too, and it just makes his character so raw and so believable.

I'm giving all these books a 4, because they basically GOT me hooked on fantasy I think. I read all of these in elementary school, and still have fond memories floating around. The rad legendary weapons, (with the channels etched in for blood flow, which i found super hardcore). The foods, the booze, honey mead and apple wine or whatever. Come to think of it, these books might also be a little responsible for my alcoholism, too.

i remember this one being one of the best though. Martin is a badass for sure.

How does one even begin to relate this epic tail without making this sound like every other Redwall tale? You'll just have to take my word when I say everyone should pick this book up and give it the read it deserves. Martin the Warrior is the sixth installment in the Redwall series and mainly focuses on Martin and his story of becoming the renown warrior we have all heard epic tails about.
There is a little adventuring in the story but the main focus of this tale is the battle of Marshank. Martin and his ragtag band of friends meets a few fellow beasts along the way, while your introduced to the Tyrant of Marshank and his evil minions and ex-comrades. Not all is black & white in this adventure as it has a really nice mix of good vs bad in this story. Mixed with a bittersweet ending it's hard to compare this one to the other Redwall novels.