I want to start by saying that I was unfortunately spoiled on some of the events by my siblings, who had already seen the animation. That said, I could have predicted many of those spoilers anyway, but that by no means prepared me for the way Martin the Warrior ended. This was also the fastest I’ve ever read a Redwall book; I took two days for the first third, then binged the rest of it in just a few hours. The story felt much simpler in tone, but it was nonetheless deep in character development...

5+ stars (8/10 hearts). I loved Redwall—I loved Mossflower—I loved Lord Brocktree. But I really loved Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques. I can’t quite put my finger on why. Perhaps it’s the writing. The descriptions were unusually beautiful in this book—there are several I want to add to my commonplace book. Perhaps it's the aesthetic—a mix of slave fort and sea, forest and sand. Maybe it’s because of the TV show, which brings it to life so accurately and which I adore. Perhaps it's the charac...

The second book on my chronological rereading journey. Now, we finally dive into the early origins of Redwall's legendary hero in Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques. After escaping from the clutches of slavery, Martin journeys back to the cruel fortress of Marshank. His mission is clear: to free his fellow captives and reclaim his father's sword in this gripping fantasy adventure. If you are looking for a classic animal fantasy book review, this tale of courage and rebellion is an absolute must...

I hadn’t thought about rereading these until I realized that picking up a childhood favorite was on my reading challenge list, and then my sister returned all my copies to clear some shelf space. I figured, why not? I remember feeling like the series became a bit repetitive as it went on (and on, and on), but Martin the Warrior was the first one I ever read, and it’s easy to see why it hooked me as a kid. It’s a bit deterministic—rats are evil, mice are good, shrews are quarrelsome—though I know...

The plot in Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques feels pretty thin, and honestly, there are quite a few dull stretches to get through. I really struggled with how every single meal had to be described in such excruciating detail—even if I suppose it did help with the world-building and immersion. Ultimately, I preferred it when Martin the Warrior was just a mysterious legend; seeing his backstory fleshed out this way took away some of that magic. If you are looking for an honest book review of th...

Martin the Warrior is arguably one of the finest entries in the Redwall series. While the prose can be decidedly clunky at times, you completely stop noticing it once you’re drawn into the story. Martin the Warrior truly has it all: the drama, the sorrow, and the complex blend of love and hate that you’d expect from an epic like The Lord of the Rings. It also captures the raw revenge and bitterness of Felldoh, not to mention the gut-wrenching sadness that comes with the loss of several central c...

I absolutely love the Redwall series and have every single one of them lined up on my shelves. I’m currently making my way through them all again as a tribute to the late, great Brian Jacques. It’s heartbreaking to know there won’t be any more of these delightful stories filled with the charming adventures of the animals of Redwall. Yes, these books are primarily written for children, but I’m a child at heart who has been completely gripped by every single one. They offer so much wisdom for both...

This was the book that first got me into fantasy and made me fall in love with reading. My grade school teacher absolutely adored the story, and all my friends were obsessed with the series. Years later, I gave the audiobook a try and immediately fell in love with both the medium and this incredible saga. Martin the Warrior is easily my favorite book in the Redwall series. I just love the character development of Martin the Warrior; this origin story perfectly captures how he rose from nothing t...

One of the things I stumbled upon when I was young and completely obsessed with the Redwall series 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 reflect on Martin the Warrior, because here's the thing: while on its surface the Redwall series can look like it has black-and-white morality, where certain characters are inherently good and others are evil, the stories themselv...

And so concludes the last of the three major Redwall books, and arguably the one most frequently referenced throughout the entire timeline, right alongside the series-titled debut. I’ll admit, I felt a bit conflicted while reading; while I enjoyed the stoat antagonist and found Martin’s origin story cool enough, the usual "can't-put-it-down" pull I feel with Brian Jacques’ other work just wasn't quite there at first. That said, once I hit the second half, the action, the wonderfully complex char...