Customer Reviews

High Rhulain (Redwall)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

With High Rhulain (the eighteenth installment of the famed Redwall series) now released, Brian Jacques reasserts his powerful writing ability in a truly fantastic manner. In this adventure, the readers are introduced to Tiria, a young otter-maid who excels at her skill with a rock and sling. Tiria lives at the famed Redwall Abbey in Mossflower Wood with her father and lots of other peaceful forest creatures. After rescuing a large osprey from the clutches of an evil rat gang outside the Abbey, she begins to learn of the existence of Green Isle, a far away island where otters related to her are enslaved by barbarous wildcats. Slowly through riddles, puzzles, and strange dreams, Tiria learns that she is the lost queen (or Rhulain) of the oppressed otters at Green Isle. Together with the help of Pandion the osprey, Captain Frunk W. Bloodpaw the pirate, and thirty fighting-hares from Salamandastron; she sets out on a quest to free her fellow otters, defeat the vicious wildcat warlord Riggu Felis, and reclaim her rightful position as Rhulain of Green Isle.

After finishing the last few pages of this novel and closing the book, only one conclusion could have been drawn about High Rhulain; this manuscript is another masterpiece in Mr. Jacques' vast collection. The book is geared towards the 6+ grade category and it captures the attention of its age group very early in the story. As with all of Jacques' books before, High Rhulain is filled to the brim with courage, singing, laughter, bloody battles, and many puzzles. The mood was delightfully edgy at some points in the story, and totally uplifting in others. Theme throughout the story consisted of bravery and how one person (or creature) can change the outcome of an entire civilization. Once again, the time and setting take place at the historic Redwall Abbey, but readers are also introduced to the exotic island of Green Isle.

Having just focused on some of the few grammatical delights of this book, the review will now center on the novel itself. The story far surpassed any of the author's previous attempts at folklore. Perhaps what was most enjoyable would have to be the way Mr. Jacques balanced the act of illustrating three separate adventures simultaneously while not losing a single beat in any instance. The story would constantly oscillate between Tiria's journey to Green Isle, her friends' attempts to solve mysterious riddles back at Redwall Abbey, and the events happening at faraway Green Isle. These separate plots would be distinctly different from each-other for a majority of the story, until they were finally tied together at the climax of the novel.

Contained within this book is something for everyone to identify with. If the reader is a compassionate, good-always-triumphs-over-evil type of person, then they'll probably identify with Tiria and all her Redwall friends. But if the person reading this story is a little wild, a bit humorous, and infinitely hungry; then that person will definitely feel a connection with any hare featured throughout this story. It is rare nowadays that an author can make a hero truly likeable and the villain so totally despicable, but Mr. Jacques' accomplishes this task with relative ease. All in all however, High Rhulain is certainly not the best of the Redwall series; but it proves to readers that many adventures still exist within Mossflower Wood.

The High Ruhlain is about an otter maids adventure and all the friends she makes along the journey. Also, a large Abbey named Redwall, an evil cat lord, and a place called Green isle Take a large part of the story.

This amazing book is about a otter maid named Tiria Wildough, who has a dream-vision. In this dream, Martin The Warrior, spirit of Redwall, her home, and a tall otter queen who sort of looks like an older Tiria give the otter a riddle to solve. Later, When she and her friends crack the riddle, they discover that Tiria is descended from the queen in her dream, and Tiria was the rightful ruler of Green isle, where the tyrannical cat lord Riggu Felis has enslaved most of the old otter population, except for a small band of rebels hiding from him.The riddle also said that Tiria was the one to save the otters.

On her journey, she meets the Guosim (Gorilla Union Of Shrews In Mossflower), a mad rabbit, named Cuthbert Frunk W. Bloodpaw, a badger lord, by the name of Mandoral high-peak, the lord's rabbit army, the Long Patrol, and a lot of other guys who it would take too long to name. Well, Tiria, Cuthpert, a couple of long potrol squads, and two birds named Pandion and Brantilis set sail on the last leg of the journey to Green isle.once there, a large battle takes place between trained Rabbits from the long patrol and newly enthusiastic rebel otters against the guard of Riggu Felis who, by the way, is killed in this battle a little bit before the rest of the cat army wemt down. But in the process of destroying the cat lord's evil rule, two good friends are left to be greived.

I love this book. Some of my favorite parts are the riddles. for example;
"Linger sure for the lee, I set my trick carefully,
My home lies o'er the sea you'll find the title names me... is"
very confusing. I also like howJacquesgoes from talking about Tiria, to Redwall, to the enemy H.Q. He really makes you want the good guys to win.

If you like puzzles, dramatic, discriptive books, than this is a must-read. This is Jacques's Master piece.you know the whole time that the good guys will win, but he keeps it realistic at the same time. a true work of art.

Young Tiria Wildlough is an ottermaid touched with destiny: she journeys from Redwall Abbey to an isle where she must fulfill an ancient prophecy to gain her inheritance, and face a wildcat chieftain and his catguard slave masters. Her involvement in an otterclan battle will change her world in this latest Redwall saga for fantasy readers in middle school, high school and beyond.

I enjoyed Brian Jacque High Rhulain. I just got it form the library and read it at record speed. I enjoyed it immencely and would like to commend Brian Jacques for his good work. I especially enjoyed Shellhound and Major Cuthbert Frunk W. Bloodhound. In short, Excellent book

This was probably the best Redwall book, and was filled with action, and a real page turner. It would be close competition with Eldest by C. Paolini, and probably one of the best fantasy/literature books around.

With Redwall, my experience is that you get into it early, or not at all. I first was introduced to the world of Mossflower when I was eight, and I have never left it. Now I am a teenager, and when I try to get my friends to read it, they call it childish and trite. I realize that the plots do aquire a certain sameness over the course of the series, but I find that incredibly comforting. I know that one or two good beasts will die, but the good guys will win, and the bad guys will get their tails kicked in an extremely satisfying manner.

Are you a person who loves action, riddels, and adventure? If so than High Rhulain is the book for you. The story starts when a young otter ( Tria Wildlough) has a dream that leads her to embark on a peirlous jorney to Green Isle. to free the otters from the ruthless grasp of Riggu Felis tayrant of Green Isle.
I personally liked all of the adventure, action and dioluge in the story. There is nothing in the book I did not like because this is the kind of book I like.
My favorite charecter in the book is Leatho Shellhound, an outlaw otter who has managed to avoid the grip of tryany and is working to free all the otters from it. My favorite part in the book is when he along with some others managed to free a few otters that would have otherwise been killed.

A very good adventure story that can be read on its on or as the 18th Redwall book, Tiria Wildlough, prophisied Queen High Rhulain of Green Isle, faces an army of feral cats when she attemts to free their otterslaves. Eventurly, they are freed and live their lives out on Green Isle. This would have been better if the villians hadn't always acted so stupid.

-Emma D.

I started reading Redwall at age 12, and for the next few years, I spent much free time reading through all of the series. By age 15, I had read every book that he had written at the time (it's a testament to the amount of book he pumped out, considering that it took me three years to read them all). Since then, I found myself engrossed in more complex fantasy, authors such as George R R Martin, Robert Jordan, and Patrick Rothfuss. After hearing news of the author's tragic death, I decided to look into what he'd been writing since I finished reading through his work in 2005. I was not surprised to see that he had written several more books, and was in the middle of writing another book while they sealed shut his coffin. In honor of his memory and all the great times I had reading Redwall when I was a teenager, I picked up where I left off with [High Rhulain].

I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to appreciate this world anymore, considering that I am now 21 and I read a myriad of longer, deeper novels now. Of course, it's one of those cases in which it feels great to be wrong. With only 300+ pages to work with, Brian Jacques moves the story along quickly, with very little of the plodding segments found in a longer novel. [High Rhulain] features the same types of quirky characters that fans of the series will expect to see, but this time with new species such as wildcats, dragons, and for the first time, birds fighting alongside the heroes. There are several overlapping points of view, and the characters from all sides frequently interact. Of course there's plenty of Redwall Abbey to be seen, and a brief stop at Salamandastron (long absent from the series), but a majority of the novel takes place on Green Isle. The plot involves a rebel uprising of a band of otters in order to free their enslaved families from the oppressive rule of dictator wildcats. The story is action packed and makes for an easy read.

I recommend this book to any fantasy fan who needs some fun, light reading to fill the multi-year gap between each new Song of Ice and Fire novel. [High Rhulain] is nothing too complex, but it's another successful addition to the Redwall saga, which is long and has very few low points to speak of. It's nice to have a series like this to fall back on, a comfort knowing that I'll always get what I expect, and sometimes my expectations are exceeded.

Like the sun, High Rhulain will rise anew,
To set the downtrodden free.
A warriormaid with Wildlough blood,
Must cross the Western Sea...

So goes the legend surrounding the dream in which Martin the Warrior says there will be a special maid to rescue the otters who have been enslaved by Riggu Felis, the wildcat chieftain. Ottermaid Tiria Wildlough is drawn to this vision. Although she does not know that she's destined to become the next high Rhulain, she knows that she must do what she can to rescue her friends from evil Riggu, his murderous sons and his band of vicious wildcats. Gathering the best of her clan, along with help from Salamandastron's Long Patrol hares led by the colorful Major Cuthbert Blanedale Frunk and two great birds, she sets off on a dangerous and bold journey. This quest will lead to death and destruction for both sides --- friends and foe will suffer terribly during the great battles that ensue.

Some of the characters included in this eighteenth Redwall story are "the silver-furred squirrel, an ancient dry stick of a beast, bent by many long seasons" and the ancient librarian/recorder of the Abbey known as Old Quelt, along with his assistant, Sister Snowdrop, a smart, funny little mouse who happens to be exceptional at riddles. There's also Abbess Lycian of Redwall, who helps keep everyone calm and runs the Abbey with a firm but loving paw. Even the two birds, the giant osprey known as Pandion Piketalon and the goose known as Brantalis, offer quirky, loving support to this troop of strange personalities.

On the darker side, Riggu Felis is a villain who is as horrible to look at as he is to deal with. His family is torn apart by greed and his wife has gone mad. His son Pitru has even murdered his own brother Jeefra. Jacques is a master at capturing these fascinating personalities and interweaving them into a believable adventure.

Throughout the story there is the constant reference to food --- all gatherings are celebrated with the most scrumptious of dishes, usually prepared at the Abbey under the skillful paws of a tubby little shrew cook known as Friar Bibble.

The meal included a long chestnut and apple plait with a crispy golden crust, bean and scallion soup and summer salad. The dessert was a batch of redcurrant tarts with meadowcream. There was cherry cordial to drink, plus the obligatory pot of teas...

Between riddles, anagrams, mysterious messages, fearsome battles and delicious meals, the plot moves along with a building force. The artwork is skillfully done by David Elliot and fleshes out Jacques's word-painted worlds. Fans of the Redwall series will be delighted by this wonderful adventure, and even those who have not read previous works will love HIGH RHULAIN.