Redwall #1
Publisher: Penguin
Release Date: October 4th, 2007
Source: Library
Date Read: 3/6/15 to 3/14/15
352 pages
Rating: ✰✰✰✰
Redwall Abbey, tranquil home to a community of peace-loving mice is threatened by Cluny the Scourge - the evil-one-eyed rat warlord - and his battle-hardened horde of predators. Cluny is certain that Redwall will fall easily to his fearsome army but he hasn't bargained for the courage and strength of the combined forces of the Redwall mice and their loyal woodland friends.
There is literally no reason for you not to read it. I love everything about it. There are adorable mice and woodland critters doing cute things that literally had me saying "aww" as I read. The plot is pretty simple. Redwall Abbey is the home of the peaceful monk mice and they take care of and live happily with the surrounding woodland critters. Then an evil rat called Cluny the Scourge shows up, decides he wants Redwall and begins a siege. The main character is Matthias, a young mouse who steps up and becomes the warrior that Redwall needs. However this is as much a story of the place and the other creature's relationship to and love of it, as much as it's about Matthias's hero journey.
Also the women characters are awesome and important and diverse and just as important as the male characters. I love how there is Constance the Badger who is all muscle and stuff, but theres also Cornflower who spends most of her time in the kitchen cooking and taking care of Redwall while everyone is fighting, and Jess the Squirrel who is a mother but is still kicking ass. LIKE IT SHOWS THAT WOMEN CAN BE STRONG AND EVERYTHING NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO AND YASS. I really like that because while I do love strong female characters, I feel like people seem to think that a woman can only be strong if they are like Constance, on the front lines in the "man's" realm, but I love love LOVE how this shows that women can be strong and badass even when they are in traditional women roles.
I loved all the characters and how unique they all were and the world building that went into it, and how well written it is. The only criticism I could see one making is that like the morality is so black and white--the villain is super evil and the good guys are obviously good--but I personally didn't find that to be a problem at all because 1) its a kids book 2) it's still so awesome.
So if you want to spend a few hours with ADORABLE anthropomorphic woodland critters, meet some of the most awesome characters, soak up some good writing, and just have a good read. DEFINITELY pick this up.
Vanessa is Val's bestest buddy, and she will be guest posting throughout because she loves to read and write. She loves video games, reading comic books, working out LIKE A BEAST and photography. You can also find her at her own blog, Musings of an Aspiring Writer.