Book Description
Lord Asheye of Salamandastron has a prophecy: A new Badger Lord must take his place and reign over the legendary badger fortress. But who is this young warrior who shuns both armor and sword? And how is he to be found? Mad Maudie, a feisty haremaid of the Long Patrol, is just the one to track him down. Meanwhile, the unsuspecting future Badger Lord has been captured by a scurrilous group of Sea Raiders led by the infamous fox, Vizka Longtooth, who intends on conquering Redwall Abbey. It is up to our young hero to defend Redwall so that he may fulfill his destiny as leader of Salamandastron. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Another excellent story in the "history of Red Wall".
My wife and I buy these for one of our grandsons who "loves" this Brian Jacques series. He usually reads them asap and gives us a "review" of the story. We rely on him for our reviews.

Mr. Jacques, I hate to say it, but at some point you're going to have to think of a new story
Inarticulate bad guys, rebellious good guys, threats to the sanctity of Redwall, horrid poetry, decadent food and fighting.Have I covered it all?I think so.I used to buy every book when it came out.I used to know ahead of time and save my pennies and buy the shiny new hard cover the same day it came out.Now, I borrow it from the library.In fact, I have to inter-library loan it, because even the librarians know the last, say, five books have been an identical story re-hashed and re-hashed and re-hashed.Seriously, even Jacques' non-Redwall books are the same dang story, just with a human main character instead of a rodent or small mammal.My eyes skip the page-stretching inane poetry altogether, because it adds nothing but length to the story.The only thing this book still has going for it is Jacques' talent for interesting names...even if the same characters appear in every story!

Great Tale from Redwall
Brian Jacques does it again!This fascinating story of Gorath, a badger taken captive by sea pirates, is filled with all the things that make a Redwall tale wonderful -- loyal friends, nasty fiends, lots of feasting, and an unknown destiny for our hero.Lots of action!A real treat!

Another winner!!
The adventure continues throughout the book with some old friends and new friends from the series. As usual Martin the Warrior sends visions. The young orphaned badger, troublemaking hare, and a sneakthief hedgehog all learn many life lessons. With two separate threats, the sea raiders and brown rats, each planning to conquer Redwall, several unexpected groups join to defeat the enemies. New friends become true friends in this grand adventure. The play on words and names adds to the writing we have come to enjoy from Brian Jacques.

Barely plodding along
*Spoilers Ahead

*Remember that I am not the target audience for this book, so younger adults will enjoy this novel.

Isn't it me, or have these books gotten worse after The Long Patrol? They all follow the same path, too afraid to stray off and try something new (bad guy evokes the wrath of hero, hero and bad guy face different paths that include fighitng and mutiny, preferribly in the bad side, while the good side grow fat on food, they meet, bad guy dies in a paragraph, rejoice), and "Eulalia!" follows just that. It also makes me wonder, with the Goodbeasts feeding their faces everyday, don't grow fat at all. It also makes me wonder, with the Long Patrol, how they ever got to be such good military tacticians, when all you ever see of them is feeding their engorged faces. Anyway, here's the same buildup for "Eulalia!"

The book title is misleading, like all of his works. "Eulalia!" is not about the origins of the word, or even about how Salamandastron got started. It is about a fox--could say 'evil fox' but foxes are always evil--named Vizka Longtooth, who of course has unusually long fangs. He is a captain of a band of Sea Raiders, and his brother Codj is the First Mate. They evade peaceful farm badgers, kill Gorath's grandparents, and Vizka takes Gorath prisoner, hoping to brainwash him to be evil.

Before I venture any further, let it be known that if you were looking for an evil badger, you haven't read any of Jacques interviews. He clearly stated that badgers will be forever good in his series. If you are already groaning in frustration, please bear in mind that this is another crappy Redwall novel, and if you're hoping that this one would break the chain, it only added another tedious link.

The only interesting aspect in this novel (thankfuly, it's short, even for hardcover) is Codj. For once, there is a 'cute' villain we can actually cuddle and hug, a brother that doesn't have any murderous intent on killing his brother, and actually looking up to Vizka for guidance. Unfortunately, like all of Jacques interesting villains, the mintue a difference is shown in the pile, Jacques kills them off. Once again, I am giving the same 'I don't care about anyone but myself--not even my own brother' character in Vizka. Codj is killed off, but Vizka shows not one drop of remorse. There are other bad guys, but they were very forgetable.

The good guys aren't even that great either. They don't think beyond the mentality of 'bad guys--evil, my friends--good', and they're downright annoying and corny. All they ever think of is food. It's all great and swell in a Redwall world, innit?

Bottom line, if you really like the generic plot that is in like, every Redwall novel now, you will fall in love with this book. If you were one of the few like myself who heard that this book would be different, that it would feature some good foxes for once because you thought the UK version had two foxes alongside the badger when they were actually squirrels, it's obvious you'd not like it.

FYI, 'Eulalia!' is the name of a ship. Yeah, that's it... ... Read more

Amazon.com
As the inhabitants of Redwall relax in the haze of the long,hot summer, they are unaware that the neighboring stronghold ofSalamandastron lies besieged by the evil weasel army of Ferhago theAssassin. Nor do they realize that Mara, beloved daughter of Urthsipe,Badger Lord of the Fire Mountain, is in terrible danger. But when alightening bolt uncovers the sword of Martin the Warrior, young Samkinembarks on adventure that leads him to Mara, and their lives becomeinextricably entwined.

Brian Jacques once again strikes to the heart in this stunninglyexecuted adventure, another in the best-selling Redwall series,proving, if indeed proof was needed, that he ranks high among the bestchildren's authors in the world. His genius lies in his ability tocapture character and atmosphere with a stroke of a pen, drawing thereader in until the only way to start breathing again is to finish thebook. --Susan HarrisonBook Description
The inhabitants of Redwall relax in the haze of summer-but as they do, the neighboring stronghold of Salamandastron lies besieged by the evil weasel army of Ferhago the Assassin. Worse still, Mara, beloved daughter of Urthstripe, Badger Lord of the Fire Mountain, is in terrible danger. Then a lightning bolt uncovers the sword of Martin the Warrior, and young Samkin embarks on an adventure that leads him to Mara. Can the good creatures triumph over the villainous Assassin?

Illustrated by Gary Chalk ... Read more

Customer Reviews (136)

Great!
At one time, this was my favorite redwall book. It was also the first redwall book I read all of. In this book, the fearless badger lord Urthstripe the Strong leads his army of long patrol hares in a battle against the cruel Ferahgo the Assasin. Read this book, it's great!

Different Size than others
While the book itself is very good (according to my 12 yr. old son), the size is different than the rest and he likes things orderly (especially since there are so many in this series) so we ended up going out and purchasing the same book, but by "Ace" publishers so they would all fit on his bed shelf.

The Book of Salamandstron
The Book of Salamandstron



Salamandstron, written by Brian Jacques in 1992 and published in 1993, is the fifth book in the Redwall Series. Like all Redwall books, Salamandstron is an animal adventure saga, which picturesquely describes a stunning tale set in medieval times. Intently, because of the strength of the story line, the reader will continue on through the book, like a bookworm, to find out what happens in the end When finished the person who examines this book, will have perused 391 obsessive pages, which, as interpreted, would have taken the reader through the world of Redwall.



Since the book, at times, tells five different stories, there are several different main characters and several antagonists. The first main character to be introduced is Lord Uthstripe the Strong, the Badger lord of Salamandstron, a mountain fortress. The Badgers lords of this massive mountain are mysterious characters. They are fierce fighters and reckless worries, who at times can be possessed by the terrible blood wrath and kill all in sight. Uthstrip's adopted daughter Mara, at the beginning of the book, was not content with her life at Salamandstron. The military fortress was strict and forcible, and Mara did not like her restrictions. Samkin, a young squirrel, contentedly lived at Redwall Abbey. In the beginning he was very mischievous and many times because of his carelessness, almost caused serous injuries. Ferahgo was an evil, cruel, pain-causing tyrant, who was the assassin weasel and chieftain of the horde of corps makers. Cruelly he Murdered Urthstripes parents and caused Urthstripe and his albino brother to be separated. Ferahgo's son Klitch was just as evil and crafty as his father. Fighting against each other, both wanted control of Salamandstron. Another enemy (although not a living creature) gets introduced about half way through the book. A terrible sickness called Dryditch Fever takes hold of the Abbey. It almost wipes out all. Although the characters all have different story lines within the book, each one is tied together in the end.



Opening at Salamandstron, the story begins with gloom. From the first, as Urthstripe reveals his anxiety for Mara with the words "Any sign of Mara yet?" it tells of Mara's discontentedness with the strictly ruled life she is living. It opens with her gone on one of her frequent run-a-ways. When she returns after two days absence from the mountain she brings two vermin, one of them Klitch, who falsely befriended her. Urthstripe throws the weasel and his companion out of the mountain, and Mara becomes so angry that she runs away for good. Accidentally (at Redwall) Samkin finds the skillfully crafted sword of the Legendary Hero, Martin the Warrior, but two stoats evilly steal the magnificent sword. The vermin were part of Ferahgo's horde but deserted. Samkin and Arula (Samkin's mole friend) chase after the stoats because the sword, which they took, represents the spirit of Redwall and could not be lost. They met some peculiar friends. Back at the Abbey Dry Ditch Fever broke out. Everywhere, from Salamandstron to Redwall Abbey trouble seemed to be taking hold of the good guys.



As the book continues the troubles grow worse. Mara, after being chased by Ferahgo's horde, escapes, but was betrayed into the hands of King Glagweb, the head of a cannibal toad tribe. Unfortunately she and several shrews, which were also caught, were going to be served up at a special occasion. Back at Redwall Thrugg, a brave otter set out on a journey to the mountains of the north to try to find the Icetor Flowers, which will cure any sickness. Sadly, however he gets trapped. Attacking him, a horde of crows in a pine forest almost overwhelmed Thrugg and his little friend baby Dumble. Samkin and his mole friend Arula were still persistently chasing after the vermin who stole the sword, when, one died of Dryditch fever and the other was killed by Ferahgo's tracker rats. The head of the trackers took the sword and headed back to Ferahgo's horde, but Samking and Arula still followed. They followed to get back the sword, they followed for their friends at the abbey, and they followed to slay the takers of Martins legendary blade. At Redwall Abbey, as dry ditch fever took victim after victim, all but two or three animals were stricken. At Salamandstron there was great famine because Ferahgo who besieged the mountain somehow destroyed or poisoned all the mountains food. Will Redwall Abbey be wiped out, or will Thrugg get back in time with the Icetor flowers? Will Mara and her friends be eaten or will they find a way to escape? Will Samkin retrieve the great sword? Will Salamandstron hold out?To discover what happens, READ THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



If The book Salamandstron is amazing it is because it seizes and holds the readers attention. Having a good story line, this book is extremely well written. Undoutedly, another reason this book is so good is because Brian Jacques uses very descriptive adjectives and excellent verbs as illustrations for every scene. The story builds up suspense.Throughout, it never contradicts itself. The story is very vivid. Salamandstron is not just a book, which might be ok to glance over; it is a must-read saga.

Amazing Adventures
What would you do if you were being attacked by an army of vermin, or your abbeys most prized possession, or if your abbey was being threatened by a deadly disease? Would you defend yourselves, find an antidote, or would you go after the possession? Well that is exactly what the charaters in this story did. This little world is filled with badgers, hares, vermin, mice, moles, shrews and squirrels. Also thisworld is also filled with a volcanoe, woods, seas, dunes, lakes, rivvers and enormous mountians.

Inthis fantasy a bagder named Mara left her home because her strict father was always punishing her. When she left, her friend ccame along with her. His name was Pikkle. On their journey they met two vermin who became frineds with them so they woild lead them to Salamandastron )(Mara's fathers fortress). There had been many rumors that there is a great fortune somewhere inside the volcanoe. So now the vermin were going to attack the fortress. Another two vermin acted as if they were lonely travelers (but they really weren't) and went to Redwall and the Red wallers accepted them. They tricked the Redwallers and stole the sword of Martin the Warrior also killing one of the Redwallers. When the vermin escaped one of them died of a deadly disease. He got the disease while at Redwall and now the Redwallers are at great risk.

What will happen to everyone?Will Salamandastron survive?Will the Redwallers perish?Will they get the sword back?This book was relly good and every time it would sound good, it would change to someone else. I would really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, action, and adventure.This is the fifth book of the 17 book series.

-Peyton

Salamandastron
I like salamandastron for many reasons.0ne is the book has lots of action .the bookis writen by Brian Jacques.This book is fantasy because animals have human abiltys.brian writes many more books. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Fans of the Redwall series eager to sink their teeth into thelatest adventure from Brian Jacques will be surprised to find that the cover ofCastaways of the Flying Dutchman belies the contents of this fine mysterynovel. A handsome young lad, sporting a billowing, ripped shirt, gazes off intothe distance, while behind him a ship founders on an eerily tempestuous sea.It's true, the first (brief) section of the book does tell the tale of astowaway orphan on the legendary, ill-fated ship, the Flying Dutchman.And that's as swashbuckling a story as they come. But as soon as the boy and hisnewly adopted dog are tossed into the sea during a ferocious storm, the booktakes a sharp turn. Benand his dog, Ned, given eternal life by a sympatheticangel, now set out to "bring confidence and sympathy, help others to changetheir fate." Two centuries later, they arrive in the village of Chapelvale,which is filled with quirky, affectionate citizens, who immediately welcome themysterious but kindhearted and brave boy and his dog. The impending destructionof their village by the blustering, bloated Obadiah Smithers, an industrialspeculator, propels Ben and his new friends into a thrilling search for asolution, involving ancient Byzantine gold chalices, mysterious coded messages,and some fierce tête-à-têtes with hired bullies. IllustratorIan Schoenherr's intriguing line drawings at the beginning of each chapter hintat the upcoming clues to the mystery. Redwall fans be warned: you'll findno warrior mice here. But readers will find a satisfying story that never leavesa doubt as to the ability of good to triumph over evil. (Ages 9 to 12) -- Emilie CoulterBook Description
A boy and dog trapped aboard the legendary ship, the Flying Dutchman, are sent off on an eternal journey by an avenging angel, roaming the earth throughout the centuries in search of those in need. Their travels lead them to Chapelvale, a sleepy nineteenth century village whose very existence is at stake. Only by discovering the buried secrets and solving the dust-laden riddles of the ancient village can it be saved. This will take the will and wile of all the people-and a very special boy and dog! Brian Jacques turns from Redwall to a very different sort of story, and succeeds admirably.

A boy and dog trapped aboard the legendary ship, the Flying Dutchman, are sent off on an eternal journey by an avenging angel, roaming the earth throughout the centuries in search of those in need. Their travels lead them to Chapelvale, a sleepy nineteenth-century village whose very existence is at stake. Only by discovering the buried secrets and solving the dust-laden riddles of the ancient village can it be saved. This will take the will and wile of all the people-and a very special boy and dog! Brian Jacques turns from Redwall to a very different sort of story, and succeeds admirably.

Illustrated by Ian Schoenherr ... Read more

Customer Reviews (76)

Returneth Doth Potter
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman (Firebird) review:

I have never, ever liked animal fiction. Especially Redwall. The idea of little mice and voles running around with swords just seemed so...absurd to me. Thus onto this book I came with a skeptical look at my friend whojusthad just recommended it to me.
But then I read it and couldn't stop. For the next two or so days I read it almost as addicted as when I finished HP7 in a day.
It was amazing. Aside from being nothing like Redwall, it was almost a completely different writing style.

The plot is,
A boy, caught onto the ship the Flying Dutchman before its curse when being chased by his abusive stepbrothers, and a dog pushed on by its starvation and need for warmth, are stuck on this ship as its captain, Vanderdecken, tries and tries again to pass Cape Horn. Vanderdecken curses God as none had cursed (anyone) afore and the ship is condemned to eternal voyage. However the boy and the dog are hurled off the ship by the waves strength. The dog saves the boy and an angel gives them a mission to bring help where there is need for all eternity in exchange for eternal youth. The dog begins to speak (through thoughts) and a friendship bonds between them.
For two centuries they go back and forth through time (not described in book) and eventually the arrive at English village Chapelvale, about to be overrun by industrial destruction. Can they save the village?

FINAL THOUGHT: Anybody who likes HP shall like Castaways of the Flying Dutchman (Firebird).

Fanatastic Journey for Kids and Adults!
First let me say I'm 36 years old and I had such a blast reading this book.I read this book last month, after I read Voyage of Slaves, which I can honestly say I enjoy more than Castaways.The first book is a fun introduction to a boy and his dog who have been touched by an angel, giving them immortality and never growing older than they are now.They have adventures in wich people discover there's something hidden to these two that nobody can grasp; they have old souls.They're path is to travel and help those less fortunate, and then move on, never resting.They are constantly hunted by a past, thus must constantly move.

This book is written well, fun, silly..made me laugh at times.It's an easy read, quick, and keeps your attention.I'm about to start the third installment now and cannot wait.Enjoy!

Don't judge it by the cover...
Unlike many other reviewers here, I had never read anything of Brian Jacques' before picking up this book on a whim at a discount bookstore. The first section of the book ("The Ship") was what drew me in; a powerfully-written, spellbinding yarn about the Flying Dutchman, her mad captain, her crew of cutthroats, and a poor mute boy who stows away to escape a brutal home.

Unfortunately, the book pulls an elaborate bait-and-switch, as the Dutchman tale ends all too soon, and we are dropped into a plodding, bucolic story which follows the immortal boy Ben and his immortal dog Ned as they cross the globe doing good deeds under the direction of the angel that cursed the Dutchman to her eternal voyage.

Still, this could have been handled with verve, had Jacques chosen to do so. The story hints at Ben and Ned's adventures during the U.S. Civil War, the Battle of Trafalgar, and many places and times in between. But we see none of this; instead being treated to a quaint save-the-village story with likeable, folksy characters but not a lot of excitement. So much potential for so little gain.

Worse still, the characteristics that made the boy and his dog interesting and captivating during the initial voyage are utterly removed when they begin their landbound travels. Instead we are given sugary-sweet heroes who can do no wrong, which means there is no character development to speak of.

Having heard many good things about Brian Jacques, I can't help but feel some disappointment at this introduction to his work. Even so, his writing and characterizations are lively and done well enough that I'll likely try Redwall before closing the case.

This is like 'Redwall'. That's the bad part.
*Remember that I am not the target audience for this book, so younger adults will probably enjoy this novel.

Picking this book up, I really did have high expectations for it. It had a good plot and all of the characters were human, so to me it seemed as though Jacques would be hard-pressed to follow under his black and white plotline he has done in his Redwall series.

The star of the story is a blond-haired mute boy who doesn't have a name. He was cruelly treated by his uncle Bjornsen and his sons and had run away from them, only to be knocked unconscious into the sea and was picked up by the crew of 'The Flying Dutchman'. There, he is enslaved to a fat Greek cook named Petros and is given the name Nebuchadnezzer. Of course, this shortens down to just Neb and Neb is introduced to a different kind of cruelty by Petros and the rest of the crew. The only man he feels safe with is Philip Vanderdecken, a mean captain who isn't really that evil towards Neb. And of course, during his cooking duties, Neb finds a black lab and names his Denmark, named after the place where the ship casted anchor and where the dog was found. Of course, Neb and Denmark save the captain from a failed mutiny, among many things. And then the plot goes onward.

To be honest, that's the only good part out of the entire book. Trust me, you'd throw down the book in frustration the minute Neb and Denmark are given voices. Yes, Neb and Denmark are given voices. After an angel casts down and curses Vanderdecken and his crew to sail for eternity, she spares Neb and Den's lives and grants them voices and immortality. The angel also tells them that they must spread joy and hope wherever they go. In a way, that was kinda corny, but it really did show promise. But Brian Jacques was the wrong man for the job, just like certain producers are bad at making certain movies.

You get a taste of how annoying both dog and boy are when they stay with an old shepherd named Luis for three years until the man dies a peaceful death and the angel sets them both on another quest. The dog's 'jokes' that he cracks along the way are very painful to listen to and both characters sound exactly like any character from any Redwall book (save the first Redwall book). The boy and dog are painfully good, too perfect, too nice, too much in your head. Is it me, or are they Mary Sues?

Their main goal in this book is helping an English village from total destruction by finding a will that will save the place, but of course Jacques adds his trademark taste by adding his riddles. In such a serious situation, riddles and puzzles that are extremely ridiculous, (and the solutions even more so) are close to not being appropriate. Who in their right mind would hide such an important document this way? It would work in a different story perhaps, maybe in Jacques' Redwall stories, but not this one.

And yeah, everyone solves those riddles as though they weren't riddles at all. How...predictable.

Also, in answer to a past reviewers concern on why the character's names have been changed from Neb and Den to Ben and Ned. Basically, it's to hide suspicion that these two were ever on the 'Flying Dutchman'.

Seriously, it makes no sense whatsoever to change the names because I'd seriously doubt anyone will remember that the 'Flying Dutchman' harbored a mute cabin boy and dog. And if they did, would be really assume Ben and Ned were in it? They are immortal, so it makes sense that they have to move from place to place after they completed their saintly tasks, but to change their names? Hmmm, perhaps it has to do with personal reasons as well, to hide emotional scars from the event. Well, I suggest they name themselves a name that wasn't the backwards of their own because then it'd be painfully obvious.

And last but not least, the bad guys. You got a stuck-up rich guy who has an equally stuck-up rich son, who wants to make profit from the company he wants to put in in replace of the town. The son has formed a band of very annoying stupid kids who are always beaten by Ned the wonder dog and Ben the wonder boy. And to make the Redwall theme more apparent, Jacques adds in four more villains in the story with ridiculous names like Gripper and Flash, and one of them even looks like a weasel.

Bottom line: Jacques tries to add in his 'Redwall' world onto this story, which does not work because, in human context, it only sounds corny. Get this book if only to read the first part. Assume Ben and Ned have died at the end. You'll not be dissappointed.

A review of the Dutchman
This aventurous book is about a mute boy, Neb, who sneaks aboard the Flying Duthchmanand becomes a galley boy until the Lord comes down and curses the ship. Neb and his dog Denmark are taken from the ship by an angel who gives Neb and Denmark gift of speech by an angel. They wander throughout world, never aging and always helping people. And each time they have completed their task, the angel sends them away with the toll of a bell. This book is so wonderfully exciting thatall young readers will love to read it. They will especially want to read it if they saw Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest. Though, if they haven't, they probally will want to anyway. After all, I used to hate Brian Jaques books, but after reading this one, I can't wait to read another. ... Read more

Book Description
Adrift in the Mediterranean Sea, Ben falls captive to a band of slave traders and their leader Al Misurata. With his faithful dog Ned at his side, Ben must plot escape as the ship of scoundrels sails up the Libyan coastline toward Italy, where a trap awaits. Ruthless enemies and hard times appear around every bend, but Ben and Ned have quick wits to rely on and, just as important, one another.

Fans of the New York Times bestselling Castaways of the Flying Dutchman series will only want more after this latest installment - a rousing yarn that's full of high-seas adventure! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great for reluctant boy readers
My 8 year old son was a very reluctant reader and this book got him started. Something about it really grabbed him (boys, dog, pirates) and he has been reading B. Jacques ever since. Highly recommend.

Final Grade: C-
I really don't understand how this book got such good reviews. Sure, I have to give it credit for being the best book so far, but I've noticed that Brian Jacques has a bad habit. He makes his heroes to nice! I mean, I know they're good guys and all, but still, they never even seem to get angry! Plus, there aren't even any slaves that go on a voyage in this movie at all. Don't pay any attention to the cool looking cover, this book is just stupid. Of course, I do like the dramatic ending with the death of Ben (or Nebuchezzur as I like to call him)'s true love... nahh. This book still sucks.

A Very Entertaining Read
I've read the other two in the series and I finally got my hands on this.

I'll keep this short.

Ben and Ned are back and for a whole lot more adventures.The story drew me in and had me turning pages.I finished the book in one day.If you loved, or even liked, the other books in the series, then this book will not disappoint.

Boy and Dog battle pirates
Reviewed by Kim Peterson for Reader Views (1/07)

Ben and his dog, Ned, survived the destruction of the Flying Dutchman years ago. Spared the doom of the ill-fated crew, these castaways were still affected by the avenging angel's curse--they live forever without growing a day older. Constantly on the move so no one detects their ageless nature, they roam the earth together. Due to the angel's benevolence, Ben and Ned can communicate with each other through thoughts.

In "Voyage of Slaves"--the third book of the series--Ben and Ned are adrift in the Mediterranean Sea when they are accosted by pirates. The cruel men toss the black Labrador into the ocean and take Ben to Al Misurata, a slave trader feared along the Barbary Coast. He keeps Ben for his knowledge of languages.

Meanwhile a traveling troupe of performers finds Ned and nurses him back to health. They make him a part of their traveling show. When Al Misurata drafts them to entertain, Ben and Ned are reunited. But their happiness is short-lived. Al Misurata takes them all to sea, and they soon realize that the Rizzoli troupe have been tricked and will be sold as slaves.

Ben wants to save his new friends, especially the beautiful girl, Serafina. But Al Misurata and his ruffians remain determined to succeed. The rest of the story ranges from seafaring adventures to perils on land where Ben and Ned encounter benefactors and villains. They must use their wits to survive and pray for good fortune as they try to outsmart their adversary and free the entertainers from a horrible fate.

"Voyage of Slaves" provides rough and tumble adventure for young adult males, though girls will enjoy the story, too. Set in the early 1700s, Jacques brings the nautical past to life with its harshness, dangers and glories. The bond between Ben and Ned resounds with poignancy and humor and will be appreciated by anyone who ever wished they could communicate with their four-legged childhood friend.

In "Voyage of Slaves," Jacques's cast of characters who befriend Ben and Ned is well-developed and diverse. The antagonists are intriguing and evil, yet believable. The author provides a compelling yarn where good triumphs over evil. Young adult "Redwall" fans will want to read this series, too.

Best book of the three so far
At last, a pretty good book by Brian Jacques on his series, Castaways of the Flying Dutchman. I found this book to be pretty entertaining and fun to read although there's a pattern developing here that began to look pretty redundent. In this book, our eternal young Ben and his dog, Ned got themselves captured by Barbary pirates and spent most of the book trying to get away from them and at the same time, trying to save his new found friends who he would have to abandoned anyway. The book have Ben and Ned virtually being passed on from one benefactor after another as they are led to safety and toward danger at the same time. Ben also learned a new aspect of this angelic curse when he realized that a love of a girl will be one thing he would never have for long since he have to keep on moving by angel's command. Since the story take place a lot on the sea, the curse of the Flying Dutchman and her crew remains always in the distance as they continued to haunt Ben and Ned.

As always, the ceaseless banters between Ben and Ned keep the story flowing and the book is well written enough that almost anyone of any age could enjoy it with ease.

One question I have is, if Ben looked like a 14 years old blond boy but have a life span of hundred generations, will he still act like a boy with such experiences and wisdom built into him?? You might think that by his 200th or 250th year of life, Ben might behaved more like an aged, overmatured wise man who look like a 14 years old blond boy!!

Anyway, any fan of this series should enjoy this book and considering the improvement over the previous two books, fans of the series won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Book Description
Getting to know the tribes of Redwall is essential to any avidRedwall Abbey fan.In this, the third guide in the series, readers can learnabout and celebrate the hidden worlds of the mice clan. From the legendaryMartin the Warrior, to Matthias and other mice heroes whose courage faroutweighed their size, this packet celebrates them all in a detailed 16-pagebooklet, complete with a wealth of information, puzzles, and a quiz to test theknowledge of Redwall fans old and new. There is also a stunning full-color pullout poster.

Complete with an introduction from Brian Jacques himself, Tribes of Redwall isindispensable for any Redwall enthusiast! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

want to know it all ?
It is a great book for those of us that think we know-it-all. Plus the poster is worth 3/4ths of the cost anyway.

Don't waste your money
I neglected to read the description closely - THIS IS NOT A BOOK.It's more like an extremely overpriced pamphlet.Do not waste your time or money on this series. I ordered is Aug. 7, got it on 9/9.Extremely disappointed.I give it 1 star because there is no lwer rating to chose from. ... Read more

Book Description
The Tribes of Redwall series takes an exciting new look at the wealth of clans-the badgers, the moles, the shrews-that make up the legendary life of Brian Jacques' best-selling series. In this first guide, readers can learn about and celebrate the hidden world of the badger Lords and the badger warrior spirit.

In the tradition of Redwall Map and Riddler and Redwall Friend and Foe, the packet features a detailed 16-page booklet, complete with a wealth of information on badgers, several puzzles, and a quiz to test the knowledge of Redwall fans old and new. Also included is a stunning full-color pullout poster illustrating the badger heroes and heroines profiled in the booklet.

Complete with an introduction by Brian Jacques himself, Tribes of Redwall is a must for any Redwall enthusiast! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

I ENJOYED IT!
I found it very informing. It talked about things I had mised in the main series and the poster was great!

P.S. wait until you have read the main series so you do not ruin any suppresses.

Not pleased
I am not pleased with this item.It is NOT a book.I don't really even know what to call it.It is folded over with some pages glued on the inside.It has a lovely poster if you want to pay that much money for a poster.It is more like cliff notes for a book.I very disappointed and feel like I've been had.

An appealing, colorful presentation
Tribes Of Redwall Badgers may not be suitable for library lending, with its pullout color poster, but will prove a fine parent's pick and will also appeal to school libraries for classroom enjoyment. This is recommended for prior young fans of the Redwall series: it provides a guide to the characters of the Badger Lords, covering the laws, language, and secrets of their tribes. An appealing, colorful presentation. ... Read more

Book Description
Ever read a Redwall novel and wonder exactly what Abbot's Special Abbey Trifle is? Or how to make Shrimp 'N Hotroot Soup, that delicacy of otters everywhere? Or Mole's Favourite Turnip and Tater Deeper 'N Ever Pie? From the simple refreshment of Summer Strawberry Fizz to Great Hall Gooseberry Fool, they're all here, along with dozens of other favorites sure to turn young hands into seasoned chefs, illustrated in full color with all the charm and magic that is Redwall. A gift like no other for fans of the series, old or new. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Very cute book
I bought this for my son who is a Redwall fan and he loves it. I thought it might be a little to young for him, he is 13, but he has been reading and looking at it ever since he got it. He has picked out several recipes to try, we haven't had time yet to make any of them but they all look very good. I am glad I purchased this item.

Great Vegetarian Cook Book!
This is the second copy of this cook book we have purchased.My daughter loves her copy so much she thougth that her aunt who is a vegetarian would love it too!The soups are great!

Wonderful book by itself
This is a great usable cookbook with a table of contents in the front showing the organization of dishes by season and an index in the back organized by course. It can also be read as a short story featuring characters from the novels. Recipes are presented as different dishes are mentioned in the story. Beautiful full color illustrations accompany the story making it an enjoyable read for both the reader and any young listeners.


The recipes are easy to follow and keyed with a picture of a dibbun when close adult supervision is unnecessary.

The PROBLEM with this book is that it is hugely inauthentic. Of the nearly 40 recipes only 4 have ever made an appearance in one of Jacques' books. Two of these, october ale and strawberry fiz, you certainly don't need a cookbook to make being based on ginger ale or seltzer water. This leaves us with only two authentic dishes deeper'n'ever turnip'n'tater'n'beetroot pie and shrimp'n'hotroot soup. If you are looking for something to tie in to the books and excite your child about cooking this is your book, but purists and people with nostalgia will be disappointed.

The recipes make this little cook book reasonable at twice the price.
Most of the recipes in this book are easy, quick to make, and very tasty. My favorite dish would be the cherry crisp. My word! that recipe is so good. Most cherry crisp recipes I have found are to sweet, but this one is absolutely perfect!

Definitely worth the money!

Great recipes!
This book was much better than I expected. There are many good healthy recipes that my grandchildren love to make.

What a good idea! ... Read more

Amazon.com
As the inhabitants of Redwall Abbey bask in the glorious Summerof the Late Rose, all is quiet and peaceful. But things are not as theyseem. Cluny the Scourge, the evil one-eyed rat warlord, is hell-bent ondestroying the tranquility as he prepares to fight a bloody battle forthe ownership of Redwall. This dazzling story in the Redwall series ispacked with all the wit, wisdom, humor, and blood-curdling adventure ofthe other books in the collection, but has the added bonus of takingthe reader right back to the heart and soul of Redwall Abbey and thecharacters who live there.

Magical, mystical, and the stuff of legends, this stunning tale of goodbattling with--and ultimately triumphing over--evil takes the reader ona roller-coaster adventure that barely draws breath from the first pageto the very last. Brian Jacques is a true master of his craft.--Susan HarrisonBook Description
The question in this first volume is resoundingly clear: What can the peace-loving mice of Redwall Abbey do to defend themselves against Cluny the Scourge and his battle-seasoned army of rats?If only they had the sword of Martin the Warrior, they might have a chance.But the legendary weapon has long been forgotten-except, that is, by the bumbling young apprentice Matthias, who becomes the unlikeliest of heroes. Teeming with riddles, humor, unforgettable characters, and high-bounding adventure, the original Redwall, the launching point for a series that has captured the world's attention, features seven full-color illustrations by renowned illustrator Troy Howell. This new paperback edition is a must-have for both longtime fans and first-time readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (759)

KCS Redwall Review
How would you feel if you lived in Redwall Abbey, a refuge for the good animals of Mossflower Woods. Then one day, your home is attacked by the army of Cluny the Scourge, a one-eyed rat who plans on taking over Redwall Abbey. This is what happens to Matthias, a young mouse who must now go to find the only hope for Redwall Abbey, the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior.
The story is about Matthias, a young mouse who dreams of adventure who lives in Redwall Abbey, a refuge for animal in need. Because he dreams of adventure, Matthias is not quite satisfied with a peaceful life, but is brought to patience with it. One day though, the evil one-eyed rat, Cluny the Scourge, launches his evil army to seize Redwall. Now Matthias must find Redwall Abbey's only hope to save their home, the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior. The title of the book, Redwall, is the home of Matthias who must save it.
The pacing of this book a somewhere between medium and fast. The author's craft is quite good, because the way he writes is not only capturing, but he is careful to make sure there is no conflict with religion, so it has no impact on a Christian perspective. This book is part of a series of the same genre and the same author. I don't really have any opinions of the book, other then it was good, but I do recommend this book to fantasy and adventure lovers.

Start those young kids on a new hero!
BUY the unabridged audio for this and you will NEVER regret it. Brian reads it himself and he has every character voice down pat because they were all stuck in his head for so many years. His history in the BBC also makes his voice in mesmerizing and enchanting so much that you will have a hard time turning it off. You need to buy the Redwall series because the story plays out over a few chronicles so do not just buy the first in the series get the first three. It is a great pick for those who would like more adventure with less magic. It takes place with woodland creatures and could also be considered a coming of age story.
RICH CHICKS reviews specializes in media that is purchased by women. We read hundreds of books every year and are serious about or recommendations. We review books that are of interest to a female demographic. We do not get a kick-back or commission for our reviews so they are left as an impartial judge.

Great
I'm 19 years old and I read this book began I enjoyed reading in when I was younger.I read many of the redwall series while I was in middle school and I still enjoyed reading it.I love adventure books and these are all great adventure books.The characters being rodents is a little wierd but creates an interesting picture for your imagination.I sometimes wish they would make movies, obviously cartoons out of these movies to go along with them but that would take away from the amazing picture you develop in your mind.This is one of my favorite Redwall books and I would recommend it to anyone.

-The Next Great Fantasy Series-
To start things off I would like to be genuinely honest and say that I am not an avid reader by any means, not because I don't love to read, but because many books fail to capture my attention.Once in a while a book will fall into my lap that can get me to spend my Friday night on my couch, something that not even the best movie or video game has ever accomplished.Redwall, I will say is one of those books, like Harry Potter, like The Golden Compass, and like The Lord of the Rings books that is very easy to fall in love with and not be able to put down.

The previous reviewer, while showing some likeness for the book stated that the book was too gruesome at some points.While I noticed some of this in the book, I would hardly say it is nearly as bad as described and I would like to add that the book would not have been able to achieve the level of prestige it has gotten were it not for these fight scenes.Although it is pointed out that this would only be a problem for children, it is easy to see why that is a pointless thing to say.The book is 416 pages long and unless your child is young Einstein II it is not geared towards children.Would you take your child to see an R rated movie when they are 12?Probably not, which is the same idea as letting them read this book, and it hardly achieves what I would call a PG-13 rating by any standards.The second thing I would like people reading David's review to understand, and while the review he wrote is much appreciated it seems to have one more flaw.The scale of the book seems to be the main "knock" on it because in other stories we all know and love the scale is different?Just because Jacques did not go into great detail about why the badger is the same size as the rats and the mice does not mean it was done sloppily or without any thought.I for one don't think the book would have been quite the same if the badger was so big it could not fit inside the castle to protect Redwall.Well maybe you can argue that different animals could have been used in place of the badger that is more mouse and rat size.I don't think however that it would have been the same if a guinea pig or hamster were protecting Redwall, nor do I think he would have been able to convince me that they are capable of doing an even adequate job.The scale Jacques used was for good reason, and to say that it took away from the book or was sloppily done is simply incorrect.On top of that, the book is a fantasy book with talking animals that are capable of constructing castles, plotting attacks, and solving riddles, why is it so inconceivable that the scale used for this book makes most of the animals approximately the same size?It is not bad thinking to make the scale this way in comparison to other fantasy books, it is simply different, and as far as I'm concerned, if you really think about it, it makes sense.

It seems as I look at other reviews, many people shared the same passion for this book that I had.Others argued flaws that they obviously haven't thought too much about and are easily refutable.Why didn't some of Cluny's army leave him to go join the mice of Redwall?Well why didn't the German's just come join us during World War II since they knew what Hitler was doing was wrong?Why didn't one of the Japanese come warn us that they were coming to bomb us at Perl Harbor?As well as this, I really doubt that the mice would have taken in a rat from Cluny's army, and given him full trust and responsibility with weaponry inside Redwall.

So if you have come to Amazon looking for a good book to read, just read some of the other 608 five star reviews that were written in favor of this book, as well as 99 four star reviews.Any of those people who rated the book any lower I am open to responses as to why this book is not exceptional.The book contains a character to cheer for, a likable cast of characters as well as many to hate, a fun story plot, an outstanding writing technique by Brian Jacques, a lot of action and fighting, riddles to be solved, a hero to be born, and when you're done reading it, eleven more books in the series to read.

Redwall
I highly recommend this book because it is based on mice, stoats, ferrets, rats and other animals protecting and defending a place called Redwall.The ending is very strong and if you like little animals like that, I really really recommend this.I'm already starting the second book because Redwall is so good. ... Read more

Book Description
Redwall fans will love the ghostly side of Brian Jacques!

Filled with humor, adventure, and imagination, these seven short stories go from the lighthearted to the bizarre. From a teenager who drives a museum curator to mummify him for signing Phantom Snake (an anagram of his name) all over his exhibits, to a boy who's dared to visit the tomb of a vampire at midnight only to discover that the vampire boy he meets has a mother who nags just like his own, the eerie and chilling settings and characters will captivate readers.

"Well crafted and smoothly written...While suitable for reading aloud, the tales are even better under the covers with a flashlight." --Booklist, starred review

"Brian Jacques, author of the Redwall books, proves to have a surprising gift for amusing, sometimes horrifying, sometimes quite poignant ghost stories....An excellent choice for reading aloud." --The Horn Book ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Strange, but not Ghostly
I will admit that I was looking for a book to keep me up all night, but instead I found a slightly eerie, yet funny book about ghosts and vampires.
The best story is "The Fate of Thomas P. Kanne".
Bottom line:
It was good, but I've read scarier.

Brian Jacques, an awesome author
This a totally cool book. perfect for campfires. all of these stories are eery, spooky, or hilarious. In my opinion, his other books also rock the house. I've read every one. if you don't buy this, you should check it out of the library and take the time to read it. I especially praise "Jamie and the Vampire". Hillariously funny! I also liked "Thomas P. Kanne". This scared the crap out of me! If you can't get hold of this book then buy it.Definetly your loss if you don't read it.

Bad things happen to bad people
Having enjoyed reading the Redwall series of books by the same author, I started this book with high expectations. While the seven stories all have interesting and unexpected twists and an odd sense of humor, I ultimately found the book unsatisfying. The Redwall books are stories about good triumphing over evil. In Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales, the best you could say about the stories is that bad things happen to bad people. The characters are either bad people, or good people who are victimized by the bad people. For this reason, I found it hard to relate to any of the characters. And unlike Jacques' other books, there are no heroic figures fighting on the side of good. If this book is meant to help instill positive values in younger readers, it would be by frightening them with supernatural consequences of being bad, rather than providing positive role models.

More interesting than scary
If you're looking for something to keep you awake all night in fright, look elsewhere. This is not a shock and scream book. However, if you're looking for suspenseful stories that are well-written, thought provoking,and can double as cautionary tales, this is the collection for you. Thepoetry before each story and the word play within in are good enough tomerit special note. This is a book people of any age can enjoy.

B.J.'s Ghost stories are a hidden gem
Brian Jacques is best known for his Redwall series, but surprisingly enough, Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales is an undescovered gem. This book is intended for kids 9-14, but unlike Goosebumps or other stories for the age range, this book has rich writing bursting with original ideas. Take, for example, a story where a boy fools the Devil himself. Read this book, you won't be dissapointed ... Read more

Book Description
The otters of Green Isle have long been enslaved to the Wildcat Riggu Felis and his catguards, who torture the otters at every opportunity. The otters trudge on, waiting for the day their savior will arrive—the prophesized High Rhulain, who will lead them in battle and a return to glory. Meanwhile, young Tiria Wildlough, an ottermaid at Redwall Abbey, pines for her chance to learn the ways of the warrior,much against the wishes of her father. But when an injured osprey arrives at the Abbey, seeking help for its wounds and carrying tales of an embattled clan of otters, young Tiria knows what she must do. . . .

The latest tale of Redwall from New York Times bestselling writer Brian Jacques is an empowering story of adventure and heroism sure to keep readers riveted through the final page. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Very Weak
This is by far Brian Jacques' worst work. I'm not saying this out of malevolence or even dislike--I truly love much of his work. The comments, however, that the book is formulaic are understatement.

The entire outcome of this book is obvious from the first few chapters. I almost didn't have the will to keep reading--the villains will die, the hero with a tragic past will sacrifice himself and be at peace, and the leader destined to be a queen becomes (surprise!) a queen. You can read a synopsis and skip the book. It's that bad. For the more avid Jacques readers, all of the specific terms and groups you've come to expect pop up, doing exactly what they always do: the Guosim shrews show up briefly, there's a badger lord we see for a bit, the Long Patrol are gluttonous and heroic, the Redwallers bumble good-naturedly, and the otters eat hotroot soup. Huzzah.

I in no way mean to imply that Jacques hasn't written good books; he has. "Mossflower", for example, is excellent. For the last four or five years, the Redwall novels have been episodic, and of increasingly poorer quality. The earlier stuff is the best.

I think Jacques is under pressure to keep churning out Redwall books at a steady pace, when he should've ended them years ago--or at least taken a break. If there is another Redwall novel, I dearly hope it is prudently done and isn't as exhausted as this one seems.

So - So
This was a pretty good book, and I love the fact that there was so little puzzle solving involved. But the battles were pretty pathetic, and the Bad guy died like 7 chapters before the end, which is too early for me. Plus, I just didn't feel like this book had enough excitement, it was kind of boring, and kind of reminded me of Mariel of Redwall {a previos book in the series}. If you like redwall, read this book, but you won't miss much in the series if you skip this book, it's not really related to any other books in the series.

Wildlough
A very good adventure story that can be read on its on or as the 18th Redwall book, Tiria Wildlough, prophisied Queen High Rhulain of Green Isle, faces an army of feral cats when she attemts to free their otterslaves. Eventurly, they are freed and live their lives out on Green Isle. This would have been better if the villians hadn't always acted so stupid.

-Emma D.

High Rhulain
This was a terrific book that couldn't leave my hands.It had many surprises, like when the outlaw otter leader got captured when he was leaving the cats' fortress.I read this book, because I have read many other Redwall books by Brian Jacques which I found excellent.Many chapters had fantastic cliffhanger endings.One example of these is that three Redwall inhabitants are going up into unknown attics when the stairs collapse and the creatures below hear screams.This was a terrific book and I would recommend it to all fantasy readers.

High Rhulain, The Quest for Freedom
High Rhulain is a novel of Redwall Abbey by Brain Jacques, and features a cast of anthropomorphized animals in various heroic or villainous roles. The Redwall Abbey stories are popular with children and young adults. The basic story is a "Quest" to have the hereditary descendant of the otter queen High Rhulain return to Green Isle and liberate the otters who face oppression and slavery at the hands, or rather the paws, of the cruel Riggu Felis and his band of wildcats.

The heroine is Tiria Wildlough, otter daughter of Skipper Banjon, Master-at-Arms of Redwall Abbey. Through deciphering the riddles of an ancient tome, and the tale of a rescued osprey, Tiria comes to the realization of the plight of the otters of Green Isle and an awareness of her destiny to return as their new High Queen Rhulain. She enlists the aid of the osprey, a migratory barnacle goose, two dozen hares of the Long Patrol from Salamandastron, and the colorful fighting rabbit and adventurer, Captain Cuthbert Frunk W. Bloodpaw, master of the Petunia, whose persona changes to match his costumes, (or vice-versa).

Several other characters contend with each other before the final struggle to free the otters of Green Isle from the scourge of wildcats; from the outlaw otter Leatho Shellhound, admired by the enslaved otters and feared by the wildcats for his exploits, to the two sons of Riggu Felis who contend with each other for their disdainful father's scant approval. There is also a pathetic band of water rats that infest the woodlands near Redwall Abbey and make a nuisance of themselves until they and their leader, Groffgut, are finally dealt with.

The quest ends following some sacrifices, but with peace and prosperity restored to Green Isle, as well as a new leader, the High Rhulain.
... Read more

Book Description
The creatures of Redwall-the abbeymice and hares, otters and moles-are planning a surprise feast in their dear Abbot's honor. There is cake to be baked, marchpane to be rolled. Stirring and sifting, smoothing and brewing. Can everything be finished in time?And how can the Redwallers keep such a grand feast from their Abbot's keen eyes? Fans of Brian Jacques's beloved Redwall books will delight in seeing their old friends, brought to life by Christopher Denise's witty, cozy art.

"Spirited and humorous... Denise's affectionate, detailed watercolors bring all the action to life." -Kirkus Reviews ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

flawless illustrations and a loooong poem
Fabulous illustrations occupy most of the page in this 64-page poem of 101 six-lined stanzas with an AACBBC rhyming scheme.The story incorporates many of the series' favorite characters, including Matthias and Cornflower, and depicts not only the preparations of a wonderful Redwall feast by hares and mice and otters, but includes a riddle as well.

This book is really beautiful and should be read aloud.

Great Read-Aloud
My older children read this book to themselves and were not impressed, BUT when I read it outloud with a british accent they were mesmerized.It's now one of our favorites.The pictures are delightful.Now my five year old is a Redwall fan too!

Wonderful introduction to Redwall!
I bought this book because my oldest son (5 years old) saw a part of the Redwall series on PBS.He loved it but the book series is too old for him yet.This book is a great introduction!The pictures are gorgeous and the language and imagery are exquisite.I highly recommend this book and I hope there will be more like it!

Very Cute, Very Creative
This book shows the talent of Chris Denise.Being the cover illustrator of the American Redwall books, he shows his work again in this very neat picture book.All the animals are so cute in this book, like hamsters, and it shows you how they prepare, what to prepare, and what to do in the abbey feasts.I recommend this book for all ages.

Your favorite Redwall characters in pictures
If you like Brian Jacques' Redwall series of stories, then you will like The Great Redwall Feast. As a picture book, it provides colorful, concrete images of characters that you have seen in your imagination. You'll see the mice, moles, hedgehogs, hares, and other animals prepare a surprise feast for their Abbot of Redwall. Without the violence that is characteristic of the Redwall stories, it is well suited for young children. But it is a fun book for older children too, and even adults (like me). ... Read more

Book Description
Ben and his Labrador, Ned, castaways from the legendary ghost shipFlying Dutchman, swore never go to sea again-but a mishap in SouthAmerica lands them aboard a French pirate ship with not one, but twovillainous sea captains in pursuit. To make matters worse, Ben is stillhaunted by visions of Captain Vanderdecken, whose ghost seeks vengeanceon the former cabin boy. And that is only the beginning of theiradventures! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

The Flawlessly Written Story of a Boy and His Dog Continues. . .
Let me begin by saying that Brian Jacques has my utmost respect. Having had the extreme pleasure of meeting him in person twice, I view him as both an amazingly talented author and a fantastic human being. I started reading his Redwall series when I was in middle school and eagerly picked up the Castaway series during my college years. I have never been disappointed with his uncanny ability for storytelling and creating memorable characters.

Upon finishing this book, I believe it is yet another triumph from Brian Jacques.But I have to admit I had a hard time getting fully interested in it from the very beginning. I even started and stopped the book twice over the last few years before just this last month getting the patience to get past the point I kept stopping at. I realized, upon the third try, that if I could just get past all the early action on the sea, that I would be fine. It's not that I dislike the descriptions and action on the ships - Jacques writes these scenes with extreme attention to detail and I appreciate that.But for some reason I just truly LOVE the village scenes where Ben and Ned meet characters that they help, befriend, and inevitably have to leave. It's more the human element that draws me to these stories and I think Jacques writes those elements flawlessly. Is there a better story of the true lasting power of a love and relationship between a boy and his dog than these? - I truly doubt it. I greatly love and admire the characters of Ben and Ned and my heart finds it easy to follow them on their journeys.

So once I hit "The Razan" section of the book, I flew through the rest of the pages quickly, reading both morning and night on the train, curious to see what would happen next. I just think, for me, it's more about the characters and their relationships and less about the action, although it is stimulating and Jacques paints a wonderful picture throughout the entire tale.

Overall, I still think I liked The Castaways of the Flying Dutchman better than The Angel's Command, but that doesn't take away from what is a very worthwhile series that Jacques has created, one that I am very excited to continue reading.

The Angels Command
This awesome novel by Brian Jacques is one of the best ones yet. I had only thought that Brian Jacques was famous for his redwall books, but then when I studied him, I realized there was a lot more to Brian Jacques than I thought! I reccomend his books to people with lots of adventure and a moderate sense of humor!

From, JULIAN D. Wellsley, M.A.

The Angel's Command- Review
This book is a great continuer of Castaways of the Flying Dutchman. Once again Ben and Ned are off to sea and this time with a kind,good-spirited,jolly captain. They are chased by pirates and privateers,attacked by ruthless bandits,and befriend a ruler. Together and with some friends they overcome these hardships and to spread good and kindness-on the angel's every command. This book is a real page turner. I could't put it down for hours. It's a real compliment to Brian Jaques's writing. Definitly a 5-star book.

Imaginary Masterpiece
I never read the first book in this series. I came across this book on a sale rack for two dollars and what a deal! Brian Jacques unique storytelling allows you to taste the sea waters and shiver from the cold of the mountains. The story take you from one edge of the world to the other. I have read some books from the Red Wall series and this one is just as exciting, if not more.

Better then the first book.....
Overall, I enjoyed this book whole lot better then I enjoyed the first book of this series. At least this time, the story take place within the framework from the time when the Flying Dutchman got cursed. The story maintained it pacing better and it was more consistence. The characters proves to be somewhat interesting and relatively well thoughtout within the frame work of the book. While Brian Jacques' writing in this series appears to be less impressive then his Redwall series, I thought it was an interesting and somewhat entertaining reading material for the young and the old. Ben and Ned's interpersonal communication keep the story going and I am still not sure if their eternal youth is a curse or a blessing. What would it be like to be young, blond and good looking with a loyal and intelligent dog at your bare feet forever?? It may be the combination of both as they aged in years but not in body.

I did spot several of obvious mistakes in Angel's Command commited by Mr. Jacques. First, when Capt Teal was being threatened toward the end, he was threatened with a "guillotine", a name not used until the French Revolution and not a form of execution in France during the reign of Louis XIII. Second, Teal identified himself as being in "His Britannic Majesty" service, such terms were not used by Englishmen in service of Charles I. I should also mentioned that term "centimes" which was being haggled over at the gates wasn't used until Napoleonic period and five francs is more money then most French would see in a month back in 1620s. Proper term would be "sou" back then which was wortha bout 5 centimes.

Still, the book was entertaining to a point and I enjoyed it.Since this book proves to be a considerable improvement over the first one, I may hope that the third book in this series will also show improvement over the second one.

... Read more

Amazon.com
Lord Brocktree, the 13th novel in Brian Jacques's excitingRedwall series, brings to life the tale of how the greatest badger lord of allcame to save Salamandastron, the mountain home of many heroic creatures.Everybeast will love heroic Lord Brocktree and his amazing adventure.

As the story opens, the villainous Ungatt Trunn, a menacing wildcat, has broughthis powers to bear on Salamandastron, threatening the peace-loving beasts wholive there.

Loneliness was everywhere. Hopelessness and an air of foreboding hadsettled over the western shores, casting their pall over land, sea and themountain of Salamandastron. Yet nobeast knew the cause of it.

But all is not lost. Old Lord Stonepaw, the venerable Badger Ruler, summons thestrongest of the strong to take over as lord of the mountain fortress and battlethe evil wildcat. Lord Brocktree, far away from the trouble, begins to havevisions that beckon him to Salamandastron. He travels there with his companion,a young haremaid named Dotti. But can he raise an army in time to smash UngattTrunn's terrifying Blue Hordes?

Like all the Redwall books, Lord Brocktree is a rollicking tale ofadventure, war, magic, and beastly battles. The animal characters are sometimesbrusque and brutal, and there's a strong current of darkness in the stories, aswell as no-nonsense death scenes and strong language. But for fans of medievalfantasy adventure with a twist, this unforgettable series continues to satisfy.(Ages 9 and older) --Therese LittletonBook Description
In this thirteenth book of the New York Times best-selling Redwall epic, Brian Jacques brings to life an adventure-filled new tale, featuring the most unlikely of companions--Dotti, a brazen young haremaid, and the badger Lord Brocktree, a fearsome warrior. Together, the two embark on a perilous journey to Salamandastron, the legendary mountain of the badger lords, which is under seige by the vicious wildcat Ungatt Trunn and his infamous Blue Hordes. It is only Brocktree, with the help of the spirited Dotti, who can save them and take back the mountain that is rightfully theirs, restoring peace to the Redwall lands. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (104)

Great Series for kids
My son is 12 and when he went looking for a new series to read, we picked up the first few books in this series.He was immediately hooked!!He went through them so fast and is now awaiting the new one in this series.The only thing we had to be careful of, was the publisher as my son keeps his books and wanted them all the same size.Some other publishers make the books larger.It's nice to see great stories for young boys.Thank you

Rampaging Rats
Lord Brocktree
By Brian Jacques

"In coming" a hare said from a far, "me lord the signal has been fired, shall I order the charge?" Badger Lord Brocktree acknowledged that and said then "sound the charge." Then Lord Brocktree and his army of shrews, hedgehogs, moles, hares, and beavers swept down and attacked on his own mountain's position. He needed to gain his mountain fortress back from the evil wild cat Ungatt Trunn, son of the malevolent Highland King Mortspear. Both armies new they were going to get a fight and that's exactly what happened. Brocktree's army clashed cutlasses with the blue rats of Ungatt trunn's army. The fight for Salmadastron has begun.
Lord Brocktree by Brian Jacques is 344 pages of pure excitement. The battles, journeys, and struggles the characters had to face are vividly detailed. So detailed you would have trouble putting it down. Every thing the characters do in this book makes it so interesting and so awesome. Read it!
Who do you think will win this last fight to save Salmadastron the mighty mountain fortress, the army of the badger lord or the evil rat's? Do you want to witness the fight for Salmadastron? The only way to do any of that is to read Lord Brocktree by Brian Jacques.

Lord Brocktree
For the thrill reading lovers out there, is a book that I think has passed all the expectations, and beyond!Lord Brocktree is this amazing book.It is a compelling story of friendship, loyalty, violence, utter excitement, and when you're done, you'll want more!
Lord Brocktree takes place at the mighty mountain of the badger lords, salamandastron, ruled by an old badger named Stonepaw Brock tree's father.The mountain is attacked by an evil tyrant, leader over an army as far as the eye can possibly see, plagues the mountain with an onslaught that would wipe them out.He is a wildcat named Ungatt Trunn, who has taken many lands on his conquest.
However, faraway in a land called Mossflower, a hare named Dotti, meets a traveler named Brocktree while fighting a band of shrews that attacked her.After Brocktree saved Dotti from them, they started to travel together.However, Brocktree started to have horrible nightmares of Ungatt Trunn.He also saw the mountain being torn apart by overwhelming armies; it was as if the mountain was covered blue with the hordes.Therefore, in mass of anxiety, Brocktree starts to gather an army to see if Salamadastron and his father can be saved.This installs a lot of pressure on him because he knows he must hurry.
I think this story always gives you suspense and it makes you want to read it constantly.I believe Lord Brocktree is a story to remember.Will Brocktree save the mountain in time?

lord brocktree
This book is a thriller.Its full of fun, excitement ,and adventure.I personally got sucked into the the book and pictured the evennts that were happening in the book.I would strongly recomand a teen to read lord brocktree.

Great Book!
this is a wonderful book! I loved it from start to finish,
and I highly suggest it to you! ... Read more

Amazo