Beware of Cluny the Scourge
On the surface, the basic idea of Redwall is just plain silly - but looks can be deceiving. Obviously, this is a kids' book... but as one great author once said, I find I enjoy so-called "children's stories" more as an adult than I ever did as a kid. And once you get past the fact that the characters are animals, it's an epic adventure to rival my favorites. So why did I title this review "Beware of Cluny the Scourge"? TL;DR because once you start listening you'll be hooked. Now granted I read this book as a kid, ages ago... but back then I would read anything with a heroic mouse in it. Stewart Little, the Mouse and the Motorcycle... yeah, I was that geeky kid who loved mice. :-D But even if I weren't, I love medieval stuff (both fictional and historical) so if that's you then you're just as likely to get into it as me. The narration is excellent, done by more than one person, with all the emotion you would expect from professional actors. Like movies, this series - and yeah, I say series because I'm hooked (just bought the third book) tends to get loud and then quiet, loud and then quiet again. You'll want to keep your finger on the volume up/down keys. But that's because they get so into it! It's awesome. The important characters, (fur and whiskers aside :-D), are very real and relatable. The villain is a monster of a man... um, rat... that is easily on par with other villains (if not worse). And the hero is so cool! And there's plenty of humor, though it's not a comedy. The only negative criticism I have - and it's not really that negative since the stories are so addictive - is that they tend to run extremely long. I just finished the second book (Mossflower) and it had like 52 chapters. This one was that way as well. No, I know a legit criticism: his description of the foods these characters eat makes me want to try some! :-D Okay, that was a joke too. But all joking aside, the author paints such a vivid picture of Redwall, and the surrounding countryside, and the battles and quests and all that, that you can practically see and smell and hear and taste it. And that's what you want - that's the mark of a great story IMO. The only author who has ever painted so real a picture for me is C. S. Lewis in the Narnia books, and frankly for me to even consider comparing Redwall to Narnia speaks of how much I enjoyed it, because Narnia is my all-time favorite book series ever. Anyway, thank you for reading this review, which unfortunately came out less structures and objective and more like the ramblings of a mega-fan... but I guess that's what I am, and that should say volumes.