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From School Library Journal

February 1, 2005
Gr 4-8 -In the fourth book in the popular Redwall series (Philomel, 1992), author Brian Jacques serves as narrator along with a full cast of actors. Mariel, Mousemaid and daughter to Joseph, the Bellmaker, is tossed off her ship during a pirate raid led by Gabool, the evil King of Searats. Washed up on shore having survived the plunge and a storm, Mariel can't remember who she is and so names herself Storm Gullwhacker after successfully fighting off Gulls determined to eat her. This fantasy of good versus evil centers around Mariel, a female heroine who is determined to avenge the capture of her ship and her father. However, listeners will soon learn that all the stories are interconnected and all roads lead through and back to Redwall Abbey and, with the help of the spirit of Martin the Warrior, good eventually triumphs over evil. It will take a while for listeners to get used to Jacques' heavy accent. The full cast of actors brings the story to life and makes the action, including the bloody death of many of the characters, seem very real. The animal characters are very human, and listeners will feel connected to the emotions and heroism displayed. Use of music to signify the beginning of new chapters adds to the feel of the story. Fans of the series will surely appreciate this lively telling. Fans of animal fantasy will enjoy the depiction of an array of beasts with human attributes. -"Stephanie A. Squicciarini, Fairport Public Library, NY"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Publisher's Weekly

Starred review from February 24, 2003
A female protagonist, Mariel the mousemaid, lends a contemporary touch to the fourth installment in the Redwall series. Ages 10-up.

From Publisher's Weekly

May 31, 1999
A female protagonist, Mariel the mousemaid, lends a contemporary touch to the fourth installment in Jacques's Redwall series, which narrates epic events among the animals in the manner of Watership Down.

From Publisher's Weekly

February 19, 1996
Dishing out neither surprises nor disappointments, Jacques's latest Redwall installment (after The Bellmaker) is likely to satisfy his considerable fans even if it doesn't win him any converts. This lengthy story rumbles into life when Sunflash, a badger, prisoner of the cruel ferret Swartt Sixclaw, escapes and swears revenge. Sunflash is destined to get not only his revenge but much else besides, for he is a Badger Lord, fated to rule the mountain Salamandastron. Drawn there by dreams, after an epic journey he takes command of the resident regiments of fighting hares and various serving beasts, and soon defends the mountain from a horde raised by Swartt. Though strongly plotted and spiced with a variety of secondary characters, Jacques's new concoction, like the vegetarian feasts he describes often and in detail, will not appeal to all tastes: the repasts are not the only parts of the story that go on too long, and the characteristics of all the animals in the story are fixed by their species. Moles, for example, are all rural bumpkins, with a "quaint mole dialect" that requires some study. Such ingredients, of course, may be just what makes the Redwall recipe so consistently popular. Ages 8-up.

From Publisher's Weekly

June 1, 1987
Only the lost sword of Martin the Warrior can save Redwall Abbey from the evil rat Cluny and his greedy horde. The young mouse Matthias (formerly Redwall's most awkward novice) vows to recover the legendary weapon. In the course of his quest, Matthias forges strong ties with various local animals. As much as the magic of the sword, it is the help of these new friends that enables Matthias to defeat Cluny once and for all. Jacques's clever use of detail creates an animal world as compelling as that of The Wind in the Willows. From the beginning, each of Redwall's characters is endowed with a unerringly distinct personality: there is a powerful badger named Constance; a mute squirrel named Silent Sam, who knows the forest better than anyone; and his mother Jess, a champion climber who leads a splendid rescue of a piece of the abbey's tapestry. This epic adventure contains elements of all grand quests, with heroic archetypes that will keep fans of Tolkein and King Arthur tales engaged to the final battle. Illustrations not seen by PW. All ages.

From AudioFile Magazine

With the exuberance of Matthias and the mice of Redwall Abbey, this audio dramatization projects great enthusiasm, charm and dedication. The ensemble, which includes author Brian Jacques taking the role of narrator and nearly 20 actors, creates the lively fantasy, featuring the valiant Redwall mice, their woodland friends and wicked rat enemies. Styled as a radio-play, the program captures an immediacy as each character speaks in turn. There's a strong sense of real-time recording. The accents, all quite British--full of character and having great charm--may take some getting used to for young American ears. Details and subtleties will be revealed with each replay, making the performance even richer. This full-cast presentation offers a dramatic contrast to the single-voice reading by Ron Keith (Recorded Books). There will be some who prefer to experience the Redwall story with Keith's more subtle approach, but the energy of this cast is infectious. While it won't be everyone's cup of acorn tea, try listening to this saga of Redwall through speakers rather than headphones, and entertain a crowd. R.F.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine