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Redwall #3
Mattimeo
The third addition to the beloved Redwall series takes place during the summer of the Golden Plain. Preparation for a great feast are underway at Redwall Abbey, and the young mouse Mattimeo is contributing his share of the labors. But Mattimeo is the son of Matthias, the guardian of Redwall Abbey, and it is this fact that makes him the target of a fiendish kidnapping plot contrived by the vicious fox, Slagar the Cruel. When Matthias and his brave followers abandon their homes and face enslavement for the return of their children, the captive Mattimeo stands to prove his worth--and an unexpected hero is born.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
About the author
Brian Jacques
208 books4,138 followers Brian Jacques (pronounced 'jakes') was born in Liverpool, England on June 15th, 1939. Along with forty percent of the population of Liverpool, his ancestral roots are in Ireland, County Cork to be exact.
Brian grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks, where he attended St. John's School, an inner city school featuring a playground on its roof. At the age of ten, his very first day at St. John's foreshadowed his future career as an author; given an assignment to write a story about animals, he wrote a short story about a bird who cleaned a crocodile's teeth. Brian's teacher could not, and would not believe that a ten year old could write so well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then that he realized he had a talent for it.
He wrote Redwall for the children at the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in Liverpool, where as a truck driver, he delivered milk. Because of the nature of his first audience, he made his style of writing as descriptive as possible, painting pictures with words so that the schoolchildren could see them in their imaginations. He remained a patron of the school until his death.
Brian lived in Liverpool, where his two grown sons, Marc, a carpenter and bricklayer, and David, a professor of Art and a muralist, still reside. David Jacques' work can be seen in Children's hospitals, soccer stadiums, and trade union offices as far away as Germany, Mexico, and Chile (not to mention Brian's photo featured in most of his books).
Brian also ran a weekly radio show on BBC Radio Merseyside, until October 2006, where he shared his comedy and wit, and played his favourites from the world of opera - he was a veritable expert on The Three Tenors.
When he was wasn't writing, Brian enjoyed walking his dog 'Teddy', a white West Highland Terrier, and completing crossword puzzles. When he found time he read the works of Mario Puzo, Damon Runyon, Richard Condon, Larry McMurty, and P.G. Wodehouse. He was also known to cook an impressive version of his favourite dish, spaghetti and meatballs.
Sadly, Brian passed away on the 5th February 2011.
Brian grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks, where he attended St. John's School, an inner city school featuring a playground on its roof. At the age of ten, his very first day at St. John's foreshadowed his future career as an author; given an assignment to write a story about animals, he wrote a short story about a bird who cleaned a crocodile's teeth. Brian's teacher could not, and would not believe that a ten year old could write so well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then that he realized he had a talent for it.
He wrote Redwall for the children at the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in Liverpool, where as a truck driver, he delivered milk. Because of the nature of his first audience, he made his style of writing as descriptive as possible, painting pictures with words so that the schoolchildren could see them in their imaginations. He remained a patron of the school until his death.
Brian lived in Liverpool, where his two grown sons, Marc, a carpenter and bricklayer, and David, a professor of Art and a muralist, still reside. David Jacques' work can be seen in Children's hospitals, soccer stadiums, and trade union offices as far away as Germany, Mexico, and Chile (not to mention Brian's photo featured in most of his books).
Brian also ran a weekly radio show on BBC Radio Merseyside, until October 2006, where he shared his comedy and wit, and played his favourites from the world of opera - he was a veritable expert on The Three Tenors.
When he was wasn't writing, Brian enjoyed walking his dog 'Teddy', a white West Highland Terrier, and completing crossword puzzles. When he found time he read the works of Mario Puzo, Damon Runyon, Richard Condon, Larry McMurty, and P.G. Wodehouse. He was also known to cook an impressive version of his favourite dish, spaghetti and meatballs.
Sadly, Brian passed away on the 5th February 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 700 reviews
August 19, 2012
My first introduction to fantasy as an eleven year old. Still has a very special place in my heart. <3
June 20, 2023
5+ stars (7/10 hearts). Okay, so I’ve read Redwall 1-6 now. And in my opinion so far, Martin the Warrior, Mossflower, Redwall, and Mattimeo are the four canon pieces, with the rest as wonderful side stories. Oh my stars. I legit teared up at the ending. WHAT a perfect, perfect ending to Martin & Matthias’s legacies. <33
But I’ll back up a little. So, setting: Redwall! It was so fun to see everyone some ten years or so after the events in Redwall. Constance, Basil, Jess, Foremole, Logalog, Alf… they’re all there. <3 And of course Redwall is the wonderful, happy place it is… for a time. Then Matti, his friends, and the slavers range all over deserts and underground cities and deep forests, far away from Mossflower, and Matthias follows with his group, while at home Redwall battles another invader and scenes are mostly confined to the Great Hall. The story is very different from Redwall while still keeping enough similarities to be a perfectly satisfying sequel. And the writing style definitely strengthened.
I already mentioned how some old favourite characters returned. There’s Matthias, grown up now, responsible and strong, honourable and filled with love—a perfect warrior. There’s Cornflower, as courageous and strong as Matthias in her own feminine, motherly way. There’s Basil, just as much a flippant, humorous, loyal stomach on legs. There’s Constance, powerful and gruff and oh-so-loving. There’s Jess, the wild squirrel warrior, verbose Sir Harry the Muse, and fighting, honest Log-a-log. There’s kindly Brother Alf, now abbott, and Foremole with his homely wisdom, and Warbeak the passionate. There’s new characters, like testy John Churchmouse, sweet Mrs. Churchmouse, hardy Winnifred, darling Baby Rollo, Orlando the Axe (which says everything you need to know about him), Jabez the hedgehog, and a big red bird… And, finally, there’s soft-spoken Tess, sturdy Auma, Slagar the Cruel, and Mattimeo the troublemaker and leader.
The plot of Mattimeo is a perfect rollercoaster ride, from Matti’s fight with Vitch, to the slavers’ arrival, to the pursuit, to the invasion, and down to the epic climatic battle. It’s perfectly balanced between Mattimeo’s journey to slavery, Matthias’ pursuit to rescue, and the trials at home. The reappearance of a key character from Redwall and his perfect villain backstory was an excellent addition (not gonna lie, I screamed when I realized it) and the arc for Mattimeo to realize what a true warrior is, was splendid. It’s a wonderful and gripping adventure, but there is a deep theme woven throughout. I hesitate to say more for fear of spoilers, but there’s all the trademark humour and tears, cliffhangers and sweet moments, symbolism and stark reality that the Redwall books usually possess. And yes, the TV show is remarkably accurate.
Like I mentioned above, this is the perfect ending to Martin & Matthias’s legacies—the perfect wrap-up to the cycle. Definitely not to be missed. <3
*quotes & content list to follow upon reread*
But I’ll back up a little. So, setting: Redwall! It was so fun to see everyone some ten years or so after the events in Redwall. Constance, Basil, Jess, Foremole, Logalog, Alf… they’re all there. <3 And of course Redwall is the wonderful, happy place it is… for a time. Then Matti, his friends, and the slavers range all over deserts and underground cities and deep forests, far away from Mossflower, and Matthias follows with his group, while at home Redwall battles another invader and scenes are mostly confined to the Great Hall. The story is very different from Redwall while still keeping enough similarities to be a perfectly satisfying sequel. And the writing style definitely strengthened.
I already mentioned how some old favourite characters returned. There’s Matthias, grown up now, responsible and strong, honourable and filled with love—a perfect warrior. There’s Cornflower, as courageous and strong as Matthias in her own feminine, motherly way. There’s Basil, just as much a flippant, humorous, loyal stomach on legs. There’s Constance, powerful and gruff and oh-so-loving. There’s Jess, the wild squirrel warrior, verbose Sir Harry the Muse, and fighting, honest Log-a-log. There’s kindly Brother Alf, now abbott, and Foremole with his homely wisdom, and Warbeak the passionate. There’s new characters, like testy John Churchmouse, sweet Mrs. Churchmouse, hardy Winnifred, darling Baby Rollo, Orlando the Axe (which says everything you need to know about him), Jabez the hedgehog, and a big red bird… And, finally, there’s soft-spoken Tess, sturdy Auma, Slagar the Cruel, and Mattimeo the troublemaker and leader.
The plot of Mattimeo is a perfect rollercoaster ride, from Matti’s fight with Vitch, to the slavers’ arrival, to the pursuit, to the invasion, and down to the epic climatic battle. It’s perfectly balanced between Mattimeo’s journey to slavery, Matthias’ pursuit to rescue, and the trials at home. The reappearance of a key character from Redwall and his perfect villain backstory was an excellent addition (not gonna lie, I screamed when I realized it) and the arc for Mattimeo to realize what a true warrior is, was splendid. It’s a wonderful and gripping adventure, but there is a deep theme woven throughout. I hesitate to say more for fear of spoilers, but there’s all the trademark humour and tears, cliffhangers and sweet moments, symbolism and stark reality that the Redwall books usually possess. And yes, the TV show is remarkably accurate.
Like I mentioned above, this is the perfect ending to Martin & Matthias’s legacies—the perfect wrap-up to the cycle. Definitely not to be missed. <3
*quotes & content list to follow upon reread*
July 12, 2017
This is the second time I have read 'Mattimeo'. It is a wonderful book and only one of the many books in the Redwall series for children but read by all ages: written by the brilliant late Brian Jacques. I love these magical books. They fascinate me. The Redwall characters, a mix of many animals who live together in harmony, goodwill and peace (when the 'baddies' will let them) are nevertheless always ready to defend their Abbey and lifestyle against those bent on eliminating them from the youngest to the oldest creature. There is so much in these books to teach children on a deeper level too.
The theme as always is the triumph of good over evil. In this book evil is in the form of the wicked fox Slagar and his equally unpleasant but often dim witted followers. Slagar has a score to settle with the Redwallers and is out for revenge in retaliation for the death of his evil mother, an alleged healer and facial injuries to himself in an earlier book. His plan is to steal the youngsters of Redwall and sell them to slavers. The book is full of exciting adventures and as with every Redwall book has enchanted me all over again.Go on give it a try!
The theme as always is the triumph of good over evil. In this book evil is in the form of the wicked fox Slagar and his equally unpleasant but often dim witted followers. Slagar has a score to settle with the Redwallers and is out for revenge in retaliation for the death of his evil mother, an alleged healer and facial injuries to himself in an earlier book. His plan is to steal the youngsters of Redwall and sell them to slavers. The book is full of exciting adventures and as with every Redwall book has enchanted me all over again.Go on give it a try!
June 14, 2022
Mattimeo is the third installment in Brian Jacques’s Redwall series, and I can’t express to you how much fun I’ve been having as I revisit this series and world that meant so much to me as a child, alongside friends who are experiencing Mossflower and its inhabitants for the first time. This particular installment felt like it had a bit more going on than its predecessors, Mossflower and Redwall, while still holding true to the formulaic, but successfully so, format of the books. And it was filled with my three favorite elements of this series: little heroes facing incredible odds and succeeding anyway; heartwarming groups of these characters banding together to solve riddles or fight battles or fix what’s broken, or all of the above; and, of course, the mouth-watering descriptions of food.
This story ended up being a battle on multiple fronts, and I was pretty equally invested in all of them. The way Jacques would jump back and forth between said fronts so frequently within a single chapter was both engaging and jarring, which I found an odd but compelling mix. Our cast of characters in this installment felt a good deal larger than the casts of the two books preceding it, purely because of the multiple story arcs and settings. We have Mattimeo and the other Redwall youth who are kidnapped from the Abbey. We have Matthias the Warrior and the other parents and concerned parties who join forces along the way to free their children. We have those left at the Abbey, who suddenly find themselves facing invasion in the face of their warriors being gone. And then we have the various villainous groups on each of these different fronts. There was a lot to keep track of, considering the age group for whom these books are intended, but Jacques somehow ensured that everything was always easy to follow.
Something I really appreciated about this particular book is that we finally had a main villain with some canniness. Slagar the fox was a more intelligent and multifaceted villain than those in Mossflower or Redwall, though unfortunately he kind of fell apart at the end. But this is a series intended for children, so the evil have to be obviously evil and ultimately fallible. Something else I really appreciate about this series, and this installment in particular, is that even though this is intended for children and thus you have the security of knowing everything will turn out okay in the end, Jacques doesn’t believe in high stakes with no costs. There are character deaths here, and fairly significant ones. This adds tension to the trials of the main characters, because you’re never quite sure if they’re going to pull through or not, seeing as others have died along the way.
Overall, I have to say that Redwall as a whole is proving itself to have held up very well. Three books in, and all have been 4 stars so far. This has been an incredibly nostalgic journey so far for me, and I’m happy that TS and Eon seem to be enjoying themselves, as well. If you’re a fantasy fan looking for a story to share with the kids in your life, or simply looking for something clean and wholesome for yourself, I highly recommend the Redwall series.
This story ended up being a battle on multiple fronts, and I was pretty equally invested in all of them. The way Jacques would jump back and forth between said fronts so frequently within a single chapter was both engaging and jarring, which I found an odd but compelling mix. Our cast of characters in this installment felt a good deal larger than the casts of the two books preceding it, purely because of the multiple story arcs and settings. We have Mattimeo and the other Redwall youth who are kidnapped from the Abbey. We have Matthias the Warrior and the other parents and concerned parties who join forces along the way to free their children. We have those left at the Abbey, who suddenly find themselves facing invasion in the face of their warriors being gone. And then we have the various villainous groups on each of these different fronts. There was a lot to keep track of, considering the age group for whom these books are intended, but Jacques somehow ensured that everything was always easy to follow.
Something I really appreciated about this particular book is that we finally had a main villain with some canniness. Slagar the fox was a more intelligent and multifaceted villain than those in Mossflower or Redwall, though unfortunately he kind of fell apart at the end. But this is a series intended for children, so the evil have to be obviously evil and ultimately fallible. Something else I really appreciate about this series, and this installment in particular, is that even though this is intended for children and thus you have the security of knowing everything will turn out okay in the end, Jacques doesn’t believe in high stakes with no costs. There are character deaths here, and fairly significant ones. This adds tension to the trials of the main characters, because you’re never quite sure if they’re going to pull through or not, seeing as others have died along the way.
Overall, I have to say that Redwall as a whole is proving itself to have held up very well. Three books in, and all have been 4 stars so far. This has been an incredibly nostalgic journey so far for me, and I’m happy that TS and Eon seem to be enjoying themselves, as well. If you’re a fantasy fan looking for a story to share with the kids in your life, or simply looking for something clean and wholesome for yourself, I highly recommend the Redwall series.
November 2, 2019
I would likely give three and a half stars to Mattimeo, but four is a distinct possibility.
This is, I believe, the most epically powerful adventure that Brian Jacques had to this point created.
I can only shake my head in wondrous awe at the almost ridiculously intricate and ingenious nuances that mark the text of this magnificent story from page one to page four hundred forty-six. There are enough gritty, determined, strong-willed heroes to fill a dozen super-novels, and enough dastardly, cold-blooded, wholly evil villains to keep them busy for an additional dozen books.
There truly is something magical and literally breathtaking about the luminous prose of Brian Jacques. I have never seen another author so adroitly able to spin fine fantasy literature like gold, and to retain that absurdly high standard for so long in the pages of one single heart-searing book.
I could trot out all of the masterful characters here, and talk about how wonderfully real they are while all the while they maintain a level of strength and dignified grace that sets them apart as the creations of an outstanding storyteller, but I could not do this with even a small fraction of the skill used by Brian Jacques. The same goes equally for the many formidable evil-doers.
Mattimeo is all at once a coming-of-age story, an epic fantasy, an epic adventure, a social commentary, a love story, a narrative about the strength of family ties and the determination that serves as a bedrock to the heart and soul of every human being, and much more that you will find upon reading it. It is a soul-stirring, thought-provoking journey that I must implore anyone and everyone not to miss.
"Weapons may be carried by creatures who are evil, dishonest, violent or lazy. The true warrior is good, gentle and honest. His bravery comes from within himself; he learns to conquer his own fears and misdeeds."
—Matthias, "Mattimeo", P. 30
This is, I believe, the most epically powerful adventure that Brian Jacques had to this point created.
I can only shake my head in wondrous awe at the almost ridiculously intricate and ingenious nuances that mark the text of this magnificent story from page one to page four hundred forty-six. There are enough gritty, determined, strong-willed heroes to fill a dozen super-novels, and enough dastardly, cold-blooded, wholly evil villains to keep them busy for an additional dozen books.
There truly is something magical and literally breathtaking about the luminous prose of Brian Jacques. I have never seen another author so adroitly able to spin fine fantasy literature like gold, and to retain that absurdly high standard for so long in the pages of one single heart-searing book.
I could trot out all of the masterful characters here, and talk about how wonderfully real they are while all the while they maintain a level of strength and dignified grace that sets them apart as the creations of an outstanding storyteller, but I could not do this with even a small fraction of the skill used by Brian Jacques. The same goes equally for the many formidable evil-doers.
Mattimeo is all at once a coming-of-age story, an epic fantasy, an epic adventure, a social commentary, a love story, a narrative about the strength of family ties and the determination that serves as a bedrock to the heart and soul of every human being, and much more that you will find upon reading it. It is a soul-stirring, thought-provoking journey that I must implore anyone and everyone not to miss.
"Weapons may be carried by creatures who are evil, dishonest, violent or lazy. The true warrior is good, gentle and honest. His bravery comes from within himself; he learns to conquer his own fears and misdeeds."
—Matthias, "Mattimeo", P. 30
June 12, 2022
Another lovely, heartwarming and hunger-inducing read. Three books in and I can see that there's a pretty standard formula to these Redwall books, but that do not make it any less enjoyable to read. I do love the riddle-solving and quest-type adventures that seemed to take place in each book so far. I think so long as I space out my reading of this series, it will work perfectly as delightful palate cleansers.
June 15, 2022
Mattimeo is another highly enjoyable read and solid entry in the Redwall series. I felt this one really took things up a notch in various departments, but also felt a bit predictable in how it went about things. That said, I'm still having a delightful time in this world and wish I had read them as a kid too.
March 25, 2016
Probably my least favorite.
May 12, 2022
This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Mattimeo
Mattimeo may be the son of Matthias the hero, but he is still a young mouse who tests the rules of Redwall Abbey. When he strikes out at a guest of the Abbey his fellow Redwallers are taken aback. Despite Mattimeo only doing so to defend his family’s honor. At times the animals of Redwall Abbey are too forgiving and trusting. When a traveling band of creatures appears on their doorstep, they allow the group within their walls. Little do they know, the fox Slagar has his eyes on Mattimeo. As soon as the chance arises, Slagar kidnaps Mattimeo and his friends, whisking them off to be sold as slaves.
With every Redwall book, there is a balance of good and evil. The creatures of the abbey are the epitome of good natured and wholesome folk. Though some may have mischievous tendencies, they genuinely care for one another. The lengths to which they will go to rescue their own are admirable. And on the opposing side, Brian Jacques creates such cleverly evil characters to set against the Redwallers. Slagar is cunning, cruel, and fueled by revenge. He would sacrifice his crew if it meant saving his own life. And stealing the children of those who you seek vengeance on is the lowest of low.
Mattimeo was a delight to read. This tale combines two classic tropes, coming of age and the path to becoming a hero. Mattimeo has a lot to learn, and a temper to curb to be the strength his friends need. He’s impulsive and is quick to anger when fear overcomes courage in his friends. While he believes they should be able to fight to escape, not all creatures can stand up to their oppressors. To witness characters struggle and ultimately become their better selves never grows old. Mattimeo may start rough around the edges, but his time with Slagar and the slavers will bring about a healthy dose of character development and push him towards becoming a hero like his father.
Brian Jacques creates characters and settings in a way that will make readers feel as if they are coming home to lifelong friends and familiar settings. There’s always an overarching puzzle or riddle to be solved that will ultimately aid in Redwall’s success and just enough tension laced within the scenes. I admire how he details his battles, depicting the clash between heroes and villains in a way that is safe for all ages. And while not every hero can be saved, he depicts their deaths in ways that honor their memories and gives peace to both the reader and the characters.
Mattimeo is another wonderful addition to the story of Redwall. While it is the third published book, it is the direct sequel to book one, Redwall. But each book is written so that readers can start at any point in the series. If you enjoy reading about a community of characters who are willing to risk their lives to save one of their own, you need to pick up this series.
Mattimeo may be the son of Matthias the hero, but he is still a young mouse who tests the rules of Redwall Abbey. When he strikes out at a guest of the Abbey his fellow Redwallers are taken aback. Despite Mattimeo only doing so to defend his family’s honor. At times the animals of Redwall Abbey are too forgiving and trusting. When a traveling band of creatures appears on their doorstep, they allow the group within their walls. Little do they know, the fox Slagar has his eyes on Mattimeo. As soon as the chance arises, Slagar kidnaps Mattimeo and his friends, whisking them off to be sold as slaves.
With every Redwall book, there is a balance of good and evil. The creatures of the abbey are the epitome of good natured and wholesome folk. Though some may have mischievous tendencies, they genuinely care for one another. The lengths to which they will go to rescue their own are admirable. And on the opposing side, Brian Jacques creates such cleverly evil characters to set against the Redwallers. Slagar is cunning, cruel, and fueled by revenge. He would sacrifice his crew if it meant saving his own life. And stealing the children of those who you seek vengeance on is the lowest of low.
Mattimeo was a delight to read. This tale combines two classic tropes, coming of age and the path to becoming a hero. Mattimeo has a lot to learn, and a temper to curb to be the strength his friends need. He’s impulsive and is quick to anger when fear overcomes courage in his friends. While he believes they should be able to fight to escape, not all creatures can stand up to their oppressors. To witness characters struggle and ultimately become their better selves never grows old. Mattimeo may start rough around the edges, but his time with Slagar and the slavers will bring about a healthy dose of character development and push him towards becoming a hero like his father.
Brian Jacques creates characters and settings in a way that will make readers feel as if they are coming home to lifelong friends and familiar settings. There’s always an overarching puzzle or riddle to be solved that will ultimately aid in Redwall’s success and just enough tension laced within the scenes. I admire how he details his battles, depicting the clash between heroes and villains in a way that is safe for all ages. And while not every hero can be saved, he depicts their deaths in ways that honor their memories and gives peace to both the reader and the characters.
Mattimeo is another wonderful addition to the story of Redwall. While it is the third published book, it is the direct sequel to book one, Redwall. But each book is written so that readers can start at any point in the series. If you enjoy reading about a community of characters who are willing to risk their lives to save one of their own, you need to pick up this series.
December 29, 2022
What can I say? Jacques has done it again! In fact, I'd even go so far as to say I love this book the best out of the three I've read so far. Beautiful characters, beautiful story, hair-raising stakes...I couldn't get enough and am eagerly jumping into the next book!
April 26, 2021
(c/p from my review on TheStoryGraph) I remember this being one of my favorites as a kid and YUP STILL REAL GOOD
TW for this book include: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, and Kidnapping
TW for this book include: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, and Kidnapping
Read
July 3, 2010Great novel: "Mattimeo" tells the story of the son of Matthias the Warrior, who happens to be named Mattimeo. The plot is compelling and whimsical, great especially for younger readers, and I enjoyed it even more than "Redwall". There were only a couple of minor things that kept me from giving it the full five stars.
First of all, there are the numerous (that may well be an understatement) descriptions of Slagar's mask. Believe me, if you don't know what material that mask is made of by the end of the book then you have some serious attention problems. Quotes such as "Slagar grinned from behind the silken mask" and "The silk mask sucked into a hideous grin" are okay when used in moderation, but when we are bombarded endlessly with these nearly identical descriptions, it detracts from rather than adds to the story. I'm sorry, *what* was the mask made from again?
The other thing that bothered me was the apparent lack of attention to proportion. For example, at one point, Slagar gets angry at an impudent Mattimeo and starts beating the young mouse with a cane. And yet, according to Brian Jacques, Mattimeo does not feel the blows at all. Am I the only one who thinks this is simply absurd? A fox beating a mouse with a cane would be like King Kong beating a human with an uprooted tree - that's how big foxes are compared to mice. Forget feeling the blows, Mattimeo should be crushed by them!
But despite these things, I really enjoyed the story of Mattimeo, and I would recommend it to anyone who has read other books in the series or who just loves animal fantasy. I also recommend the fantastic "Guardians of Ga'Hoole" series by Kathryn Lasky and the "Warriors" books by Erin Hunter.
First of all, there are the numerous (that may well be an understatement) descriptions of Slagar's mask. Believe me, if you don't know what material that mask is made of by the end of the book then you have some serious attention problems. Quotes such as "Slagar grinned from behind the silken mask" and "The silk mask sucked into a hideous grin" are okay when used in moderation, but when we are bombarded endlessly with these nearly identical descriptions, it detracts from rather than adds to the story. I'm sorry, *what* was the mask made from again?
The other thing that bothered me was the apparent lack of attention to proportion. For example, at one point, Slagar gets angry at an impudent Mattimeo and starts beating the young mouse with a cane. And yet, according to Brian Jacques, Mattimeo does not feel the blows at all. Am I the only one who thinks this is simply absurd? A fox beating a mouse with a cane would be like King Kong beating a human with an uprooted tree - that's how big foxes are compared to mice. Forget feeling the blows, Mattimeo should be crushed by them!
But despite these things, I really enjoyed the story of Mattimeo, and I would recommend it to anyone who has read other books in the series or who just loves animal fantasy. I also recommend the fantastic "Guardians of Ga'Hoole" series by Kathryn Lasky and the "Warriors" books by Erin Hunter.
May 6, 2018
A good addition to Redwall, but it shares the issues of all books in this series- that is its predictability, and the sameness of characters from book to book. All the otters act pretty much the same, same for shrews and badgers, and hares and so on and so forth.
They all also have the same plot, of something is stolen from Redwall, or an evil horde comes to attack it. Despite this, it is still a good series, and there are a few books to break the mold, Martin The Warrior and Taggerung off the top of my head.
I highly recommend this to fans of Wind in the Willows and/ or Watership Down, or for reluctant readers. It is middle grade writing, with a few harder words, but they are easily definable from context, and the fact that there are so many in the series lends itself to lots of reading if one is liked.
For adults reading it, I would suggest interspersing it with other books die to the similarities between books.
They all also have the same plot, of something is stolen from Redwall, or an evil horde comes to attack it. Despite this, it is still a good series, and there are a few books to break the mold, Martin The Warrior and Taggerung off the top of my head.
I highly recommend this to fans of Wind in the Willows and/ or Watership Down, or for reluctant readers. It is middle grade writing, with a few harder words, but they are easily definable from context, and the fact that there are so many in the series lends itself to lots of reading if one is liked.
For adults reading it, I would suggest interspersing it with other books die to the similarities between books.
March 10, 2020
When a masked fox known as Slagar the Cruel steals all of the children of Redwall Abbey away, it is up to Matthias the warrior and friends to save them. Can they save them from a horrible fate and will Redwall be safe upon their return? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good installment of the Redwall series. I read this book then saw the Season 2 of the Redwall animated series which was Book 3 of this series in it which is as close to the book as you can get. If you enjoy fantasy stories about animals, be sure to check this series out at your local library and wherever books and ebooks are sold.
This was a pretty good installment of the Redwall series. I read this book then saw the Season 2 of the Redwall animated series which was Book 3 of this series in it which is as close to the book as you can get. If you enjoy fantasy stories about animals, be sure to check this series out at your local library and wherever books and ebooks are sold.
November 30, 2022
Dare I say that Mattimeo is better than Redwall? I think I not only dare but must. In fact, over my last audiobook listen, I realized that it may be one of the strongest installments in the series, even though it was never one of my favorites. The plot is actually quite meaty, the pacing is better than usual, it's got a good tonal balance (gravity + levity), and its settings are varied and compelling. Pretty solid, overall!
December 3, 2007
Jee-Uk Yang
Mrs.Ebarvia
11-29-07
The book that I read was Mattimeo by Brian Jacques. It is the third book in the Redwall series. He published his first book, Redwall, in 1986. Some other famous novels are The Bellmaker, The Legend of Luke, Rakkety Tam, and more. Mattimeo is about a rat, Mattimeo, fighting against other animal armies under Slagar the Cruel with his friends and his dad’s army. The story ends by killing Slagar the Cruel.
The interesting thing that I found in this book is that the author used animals instead of using humans. The author used animals just like humans. Most novels about war I have read involved animals. When I first started reading this book, I thought it was a churlish book because animals are used as humans. But by the time goes, the author used one animal’s features to solve problems. I thought it was really interesting and I also thought that it was childish because there weren’t any problems that they couldn’t solve it by themselves.
As I have mentioned in the previous paragraph, all the characters solved the problems by themselves. There were many obvious plots. For instance, when a hero is fighting against a villain, the hero never loses. Only about once or twice in the story, the hero dies. If the author set the story as in the back and forth forms, which is giving some loses to the hero and give some wins to the enemy, it should be more exciting.
Despite its weaknesses, such as obvious plots, the novel is an enjoyable one to read. I have heard that there are lost s of different age groups as fans of this book. You should be able to tell why that is. It gets better and better as you read the book. It is like a video game you play on TV, except that you are not using your fingers that much and you are just looking at it.
Mrs.Ebarvia
11-29-07
The book that I read was Mattimeo by Brian Jacques. It is the third book in the Redwall series. He published his first book, Redwall, in 1986. Some other famous novels are The Bellmaker, The Legend of Luke, Rakkety Tam, and more. Mattimeo is about a rat, Mattimeo, fighting against other animal armies under Slagar the Cruel with his friends and his dad’s army. The story ends by killing Slagar the Cruel.
The interesting thing that I found in this book is that the author used animals instead of using humans. The author used animals just like humans. Most novels about war I have read involved animals. When I first started reading this book, I thought it was a churlish book because animals are used as humans. But by the time goes, the author used one animal’s features to solve problems. I thought it was really interesting and I also thought that it was childish because there weren’t any problems that they couldn’t solve it by themselves.
As I have mentioned in the previous paragraph, all the characters solved the problems by themselves. There were many obvious plots. For instance, when a hero is fighting against a villain, the hero never loses. Only about once or twice in the story, the hero dies. If the author set the story as in the back and forth forms, which is giving some loses to the hero and give some wins to the enemy, it should be more exciting.
Despite its weaknesses, such as obvious plots, the novel is an enjoyable one to read. I have heard that there are lost s of different age groups as fans of this book. You should be able to tell why that is. It gets better and better as you read the book. It is like a video game you play on TV, except that you are not using your fingers that much and you are just looking at it.
February 28, 2017
Jacques' endings, y'all. They feel like a foretaste of eternity.
I didn't used to like this one because it disturbed me for personal reasons (watching the animated show as a little kid didn't help), but reading it again, wow, it's fabulous.
There's the importance of community and sacrifice, of bravery and love. And, as all of the Redwall books, there's darkness and the fight against it, but joy and goodness has the same weight. I feel like many writers who want to write darkness don't place enough emphasis on light as well, and a lot can be learned from Jacques on the compelling balance. Granted, it's an idealized darkness instead of a gritty one, but it's still darkness, and showing the goodness and the harmony of the creates gives a purpose to the fight against evil, instead of the fighting being for its own sake.
Anyway. Characters are all fantastic; wonderful, diverse personalities, even if some of the leading characters were a bit flat. Ends tie together beautifully. My new favorite Redwall book.
I didn't used to like this one because it disturbed me for personal reasons (watching the animated show as a little kid didn't help), but reading it again, wow, it's fabulous.
There's the importance of community and sacrifice, of bravery and love. And, as all of the Redwall books, there's darkness and the fight against it, but joy and goodness has the same weight. I feel like many writers who want to write darkness don't place enough emphasis on light as well, and a lot can be learned from Jacques on the compelling balance. Granted, it's an idealized darkness instead of a gritty one, but it's still darkness, and showing the goodness and the harmony of the creates gives a purpose to the fight against evil, instead of the fighting being for its own sake.
Anyway. Characters are all fantastic; wonderful, diverse personalities, even if some of the leading characters were a bit flat. Ends tie together beautifully. My new favorite Redwall book.
December 5, 2014
Mattimeo is a sequel to Redwall and Mossflower books. The peaceful creatures of the Redwall Abbey are preparing a feast for the turn of the season. Young Mattimeo is son of Matthias who is Redwall's warrior, which makes him a target. A sly fox named Slagar the Cruel and his band of slavers are planning to capture Mattimeo and young ones from the abbey to work as slaves in this mysterious underground kingdom. After being drugged at their feast and discovering that their young ones were gone, Matthias and his 2 companions set out on a long and epic journey fighting evil and finding new companions while they find their young ones.
This is one of the best books that I have read, it has many side conflicts that can have a chain reaction and affect other conflicts that they have. I also thought that the book having clues that would fit together and relate to something was cool.
This is one of the best books that I have read, it has many side conflicts that can have a chain reaction and affect other conflicts that they have. I also thought that the book having clues that would fit together and relate to something was cool.
January 18, 2008
Matthias and his wife, Cornflower, have had a son, Mattimeo, who gets stolen (along with the abbey's young ones) by a fox who blames the abbey for a deformity. Through rescuing the abbey's young, the Redwall warriors rescue other slaves, while the animals at the abbey deal with invading birds.
It's interesting that I have to keep rotating the order that I read these books or I get tired of them. Sometimes I just have to stop reading them for a while, and this is one of the ones I read the most. Occasionally I get tired of this book, and I had 4 stars for this one's rating, but I really like this book.
It's interesting that I have to keep rotating the order that I read these books or I get tired of them. Sometimes I just have to stop reading them for a while, and this is one of the ones I read the most. Occasionally I get tired of this book, and I had 4 stars for this one's rating, but I really like this book.
February 20, 2017
Mattimeo gives "Redwall" fans a sense of adult storytelling that is appealing to the older fans of this series. Mattimeo is the son of Matthias, Warrior of Redwall. He and a few other woodland children are captured by the sly fox, Slagar the Cruel. Matthias then sets out to find them with the help of a few followers.
A must read for Redwall fans!
A must read for Redwall fans!
June 21, 2020
To quote from Larry the Cucumber, "I laughed, I cried, it moved me Bob."
I read this book immediately after Redwall, which I think is the best way to read the books. It was a wonderful sequel. I'm glad that Mattimeo wasn't a clone of his father, but his own mouse :).
RW Ratings:
Language: 5 stars. May have been a couple of instances of "h---".
Abuse: 4 1/2 stars. Lots of physical and mental abuse by the villians. Quite a lot of violence
Lust: 5 stars. No impure content of any kind
I read this book immediately after Redwall, which I think is the best way to read the books. It was a wonderful sequel. I'm glad that Mattimeo wasn't a clone of his father, but his own mouse :).
RW Ratings:
Language: 5 stars. May have been a couple of instances of "h---".
Abuse: 4 1/2 stars. Lots of physical and mental abuse by the villians. Quite a lot of violence
Lust: 5 stars. No impure content of any kind
December 5, 2017
Shortly after reading Redwall and Mossflower, I was eager to start this book. I was not disappointed. Redwall and Mossflower remain two of the best books within the Redwall series, but Mattimeo holds by itself well. The cartoon they did based off this book was also a decent one, though I'd like to see foxes cast as good guys for once. :P A solid read for any Redwall fan.
September 8, 2021
"Mattimeo grew up unrealistically fast, there were too many unnecessary character deaths, and the story just wasn't that good. I did like the Little Folkses, but the riddle stuff wasn't on par with Redwall standards. Kind of felt like a lame attempt at repeating Redwall."
May 7, 2018
This book was good, but some parts were stupid.
October 16, 2022
Rating: All-Time Favorite
This book was my entry to the Redwall series as a kid and has remained one of my absolute favorites of the series. This is technically the third entry, and I noticed some growth in the writing between this and the first two. It was a little less black and white with a little less of the less than ideal depictions of mental health being tied to being evil.
I definitely still teared up at parts of this one, and it held up on reread as an adult.
At first, I didn't really enjoy the audio, but they are narrated by Brian Jacques and a full cast, and I ended up enjoying this one much more than I did Redwall or Mossflower. It can be a smidge cheesy, but it was a lot of fun. I listened to this over a long period of time as my bedtime book, and I am glad that I did.
Overall, I am feeling a lot more positive about my reread and read-on of the Redwall series. It will definitely take some time because it's long and is not going to be my main priority, but it is just so cozy to revisit these stories that I picked up around 7-8 and really cemented me as a lifelong fantasy reader.
This book was my entry to the Redwall series as a kid and has remained one of my absolute favorites of the series. This is technically the third entry, and I noticed some growth in the writing between this and the first two. It was a little less black and white with a little less of the less than ideal depictions of mental health being tied to being evil.
I definitely still teared up at parts of this one, and it held up on reread as an adult.
At first, I didn't really enjoy the audio, but they are narrated by Brian Jacques and a full cast, and I ended up enjoying this one much more than I did Redwall or Mossflower. It can be a smidge cheesy, but it was a lot of fun. I listened to this over a long period of time as my bedtime book, and I am glad that I did.
Overall, I am feeling a lot more positive about my reread and read-on of the Redwall series. It will definitely take some time because it's long and is not going to be my main priority, but it is just so cozy to revisit these stories that I picked up around 7-8 and really cemented me as a lifelong fantasy reader.
May 13, 2024
When I first read this as a child, I thought it wasn’t as good as its predecessor; on reread as an adult, I’m pretty sure it’s the best of the series. There are a lot of dark themes in this book which you would think shouldn’t be in a children’s book—slavery, cannibalism, cultism, and the death of friends. But Jacques skillfully contrasts them with fortitude amidst adversity, not giving up even when all hope is lost, helping each other survive, fighting to protect your own, and the determination to see evil destroyed and justice done. While not all the Redwall books are of the same quality, there are some that I’ve started thinking should be required reading for kids and this is one of them. Seeing that the “monster under the bed” can be defeated (albeit not without great effort) is crucial for children who will someday have to face the monsters of real life.
I had forgotten that Ironbeak is one of the side plots; I love how creative the characters had to get in order to defeat him.
I had forgotten that Ironbeak is one of the side plots; I love how creative the characters had to get in order to defeat him.
September 28, 2023
As a follow up to Redwall there are a lot of familiar characters. The threats in this book are more personnel yet less threatening then before. But also death comes for some of our characters but the death comes and goes, we don't much dwell in those spaces. The world expands to the past even when the story centers on the future to come. When the story comes to the end it almost feels like we've come full circle like a sitcom. Like the seasons change Redwall abbey moves into the new year with the slow changes of life and death and feasts.
August 22, 2024
sissimay 🫶🏻
March 30, 2024
Comfort food for the talking animal book lover.
May 17, 2018
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Original review:
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I must say, this book was of a brilliant radiance that rivals the sun. That is, I would have to say that if I was planning to exaggerate a wee bit. But, seeing as the mood to exaggerate has not taken me, I shall instead say that this book was very well written and quite funny. I would have been sad to put it aside, except that I spurned it at the exact second that I finished in order to read Wrath of the Storm , but that is not relevant, so I suppose I'll usurp my power and stop writing this review to avoid any more irrelevance. <---(EXCUSE)
Original review:
===================
I must say, this book was of a brilliant radiance that rivals the sun. That is, I would have to say that if I was planning to exaggerate a wee bit. But, seeing as the mood to exaggerate has not taken me, I shall instead say that this book was very well written and quite funny. I would have been sad to put it aside, except that I spurned it at the exact second that I finished in order to read Wrath of the Storm , but that is not relevant, so I suppose I'll usurp my power and stop writing this review to avoid any more irrelevance. <---(EXCUSE)
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