I started reading this book and decided that the audiobook would be better because of the strange accents. I absolutely detest reading dialogue with accents because it slows me down. So the audiobook was better in that regard, but evidently I'm not a Brian Jacques fan. I know he's popular and a genius with animal fantasies, but I wasn't entertained. The full cast production was entertaining, but I'm just not sure why I couldn't wait for the book to end. There have been animal fantasies that I have loved--Fire Bringer by David Clement-Davies is the first one that comes to mind. I did love the evil character Badrang--he made me smile....

This was the book that got me into fantasy, and fill in love with reading. My teacher in grade school loved the story, and all my friends read the series. So I gave it a try on audio, and felt in love with audio and this series. This is my favorite book of the Redwall series. I just love the character of Martin the Warrior. This origin story really shows how he came from nothing into the one of the greatest leaders and warrior in the land. The ending of the book is the cause and origins of Redwall. Without it, Redwall would have never existed. So this is the foundation book in the series.

P.S. I have read this book more times than I can count.

My favorite of the Redwall novels.

While it is easy to argue that the Redwall books quickly fell into a formula, Martin the Warrior is a black sheep in so many ways. There is no Redwall to save. The heroes are not constantly on the defense. There is a genuine love interest you care about. Not to mention easily the most heartbreaking ending of any of the books in the entire series.
Martin the Warrior is the best Redwall book, easily. It's compelling, unique, and beautiful.

One of the things I came across when I was young and completely obsessed with Redwall was a quote from Brian Jacques, in the introduction to 'Redwall Friend and Foe' where he stated, emphatically, "Goodies are good!" I can't help thinking about that when I think about this book, because here's the thing: while on its surface Redwall can look like a series with black and white morality, where certain people are good and others are bad, the stories themselves often overturn those expectations, and none do it quite as powerfully as Martin the Warrior, story of the Abbey's legendary champion before he arrived in Mossflower Wood.

Martin isn't a bad person, but what he is isn't precisely 'good' either. His story is fundamentally about being consumed by revenge to the point that he loses sight of the people around him, and it causes horrible destruction and suffering. What he fights for, nominally, is freedom; but it is clear as the book nears its climax that he is also motivated by pride and pain, and both of those cloud his vision. He does not make it out unscathed.

The end of this book was pretty much the saddest thing I remember reading as a child - the song that played over the TV show's final scenes still makes me tear up. There is a brutality to it which is uncommon for the series (though not unique) and it is that coupled with the long-term effects on Martin - which most readers probably already know - that make this so painful. And yet it's... also a big part of what makes this book powerful, because it is a book about pain and responding to it, and Martin's choices at the beginning and at the end are completely opposed, as are the choices he makes in much of the rest of his life.

I can’t believe I had to wait until book six to read Martin’s story. I definitely had my own ideas of what adventures he might take and they were nowhere near the ones Brian Jacques gives us readers. Brian Jacques does a way better job at all the details and plot.

I really liked the friendships that blossomed as Martin met creatures along his journey, and the care the kind animals had for one another. This is also the first “Redwall” book that had me tearing up. I postmarked one particular scene (I will not share it here, though, as it would be a spoiler). Brian Jacques did a great job playing on my emotions and I think this particular book in the series is now my favorite.

One of my favorite quotes from the book- Baby Bungo said: “….You’m never too seasoned to lurn….”

*What I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts. I was not compensated in any monetary way.*

Content Warning– Death, Murder, Injury, Animal Abuse, Drug Abuse, Fire, Enslavement, Fighting, Blood, Death of a Parent, Abuse, Kidnapping, Torture, War, Dead Animal, Dead Body, Bullying, Confinement

Whilst Redwall was very fresh, I found this one a bit of a slog. Martin is a slave to a tyrant who didn’t come across as that scary. The set pieces were ok but lacked the impact of previous versions of the book. The biggest problem with a lot of prequel stories is that you know how things will end in advance.

This wasn't bad, but like much of the historical Redwall books I felt like this was just a bit of filler, retreading many of the same beats from previous books.

My pick for the best of the Redwall series. Martin the Warrior is the legendary hero of the Redwall universe, and this book does him full justice. Very entertaining story with a strong final act, this was one of my favorite books as a youngster. 4.5 stars, highly recommended!

Martin the Warrior was mentioned in Redwall and prominently featured in Mossflower. However, this book truly centers around him, and is an amazing book about the history of one of Redwall's finest heroes. I like how Brian Jacques doesn't write his books in time-linear sequence, because it's nice to get these nice background stories after a primary universe/canon has been established. Next to 'Legend of Luke' (another fabulous prequel to Redwall) this book stands as one of the best stories of the Redwall universe.

One of those books you wish you were a kid and the first time reading it, always an adventure

This was extremely well written and entertaining. I enjoyed it vastly.