3.5 Stars

This was another entertaining and endearing read from the Redwall series.  Mariel of Redwall was one of the prequel stories to the first titular book of the series, and provided more history to the Redwall Abbey that we've come to known and love.  Mariel as the eponymous character of the book was very easy to like, as was the case with most of the main characters of each title so far.  There's really nothing new that I can say given that the stories are fairly formulaic (well, these are children's stories after all) but it's a formula that works and one which I really enjoy.

4/5 Another fun Redwall book. There’s some great characters in this one Mariel and Tarquin. Many of the Sea Rats are hilarious as well. As well as the first real introduction to The Long Patrol. My only real qualm is the lead villain Gabool doesn’t really do much for the entirety of the novel. He never even sets foot outside his keep.

Probably the worst redwall book I've read so far. I like isolated parts of the book: I like Mariel a lot, and a few of the parts of her journey, but overall, i didn't love it. The plot is predictable and a bit boring (they fight and the bad guy loses), and basically all the characters are flat and uninteresting. I didn't like how Mariel wasn't able to exist as the main heroine in the story: as soon as Dandin was introduced, he became the Mary Sue hero lead, instead the badass mouse lady who was already taking care of herself well.

I recommend reading Redwall (#1) or Mossflower far over this book. Mossflower has been my favorite in the series so far, and happily enough, you can read these books in any order!

i loved this whole series! more magical than babysitters club, but also realistic descriptions and amazing adventure set.

3.5/5 rounded down

This series is cute but as an adult reading (listening) to them the plots are repetitive.

Meh. Started out great but then it came to a slow grinding halt about halfway through. I fear that I lack the imagination needed for this book, which is pretty sad after all.

DNF for me.

I'm so very frustrated by this book.

A really cool premise for a story, established in the first few chapters, got its legs swept out from under it at every turn. Mariel has a couple of cool moments. Rawnblade, standing in the mist, waiting, was chilling. Bobbo and his story were incredible. THAT ONE SCENE WITH THE LONG PATROL! There are moments that are incredible. But those moments aren’t enough to buoy the story through an uninteresting main quest, a completely abandoned Bourne Identity plot, the wish.com version of threats and characters that we’ve already seen before, a tower defense that lacked a real sense of danger, and a woeful lack of sparrows.

If somebody is looking to read a CONDENSED run of the series, this is the first book I tell them to cut... Especially since this seems to be the book that convinces Jacques to shake up his formula. Because in the next book we're leaning into the badger lords! ONWARDS TO SALAMANDASTRON!

Want a deeper dive into what I'm talking about? Check out for the Books and Badgers podcast, where Trevor and Collin Williamson and I elaborated on all of this, and talked about how Mariel fits into the broader plan for REDWALL as a whole.

These are such fun, well written, classic stories. Brian creates such a rich world with dynamic characters and I just love rereading these.

I mean, all the Redwall novels basically have the same plot, but it's comforting and I'm enjoying revisiting my favorite childhood series as an adult. I like how intense Mariel is, with her Gullwhacker.

best part of this book for sure was when the toddlers stole the cook's biggest knives and used them to cut the ropes the attacking vermin were using to climb up the walls, sending the vermin falling to be impaled by rocks or crush their friends with their bodies, killing them both, as the toddlers GIGGLED WITH GLEE.

I will here admit to being a fan girl. Brian Jacques Redwall books actually float my boat big time. It's just the rightness of them.

The man was brilliant.