Martin the Warrior is the sixth book in the very popular Redwall series by the British author Brian Jacques. Those who are not familiar with the series are missing out immensely. The stories focus around groups of various animals, mainly rodents, but there’s an occasional badger, fox, or wolf thrown into the mix. These animals live like human beings in a medieval setting, which means enough swords and swordplay to keep any fantasy fan interested. The true appeal of the series, though, is Jacques’ unique storytelling flare as well as his abundance of songs and poems that could be a book by themselves.

Martin the Warrior focuses on a central character in the Redwall saga. A mouse who later forms the title’s Redwall Abby, this exquisite yarn tells of his childhood and initial adventures. It begins with Martin enslaved in fortress Marshank by a ruthless stoat named Badrang. Helped to freedom by a young mouse named LateRose, Martin and his other traveling comrades embark on a series of strange adventures that will remind the reader of the exploits of Ulysses in The Odyssey. The adventures are really there to build a bond  between you and the characters, which Jacques does flawlessly. The story ends with a vicious battle to free the remaining slaves from Marshank. Add an insane pirate, vengeful squirrel, and an army of pigmy shrews, and you have a fantastic adventure. The ending is probably the saddest in any of the Redwall books, fitting perfectly with Martin’s saga of being a vengeful warrior.

Martin the Warrior is an excellent read, for both newcomers to the series or seasoned Mossflower adventurers. Pick it up today! You won’t be let down.

 Nathaniel Major is a twenty-year-old student who has been a fan of the Redwall series since he was a child.  He is a fan of British comedy and fantasy books and has been working on publishing a children’s book of his own. We thank him for his review.