Customer Reviews

Loamhedge (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Redwall Novels)

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've read every Redwall book ever written, and I own almost all of them. And this is by FAR the best book Brian Jacques has written! It starts out with a young hare named Martha Braebuck, who has been wheel chair bound since infancy. Then one night she receives a dream from Martin the Warrior! Martin tells her to look for two creatures returning to the abbey after years of adventuring. When they show up, they set out questing to find the lost abbey of Loamhedge, where the cure to Martha's sickness can be found!
While our heroes are on their trip, Raga Bol and a crew of vermin lay siege to Redwall! Along with the help of the badger, Lonna Bowstripe, the good abbey creatures fight to take back their abbey!
This book is filled with songs, battles, riddles, new friends, and everything else Jacques is famous for! The BEST REDWALL BOOK YET!!!

"Loamhedge" is another epic Redwall tale jam-packed with adventure and intrigue. The 16th book of the Redwall series is exciting from the very beginning. I have read all of the other Redwall books and every new book has been a little better than the last.

There are two main characters whose lives are portrayed in the story. Lonna Bowstripe is a badger who has always been a wandering warrior. The other main character is Martha Braebuck, who is a young haremaid always searching for knowledge. Both Martha and Lonna have friends that help them in their adventures. Horty Braebuck (Martha's brother), Abbot Carrul (head of Redwall Abbey), Bragoon and Saro (two of Redwall's best warriors), and Toran (the otter cook) all guide and advise Martha throughout her life at Redwall. Lonna's friends are the Abruc Sea Otter Clan (who healed him from a terrible vermin attack), Garfo Trok (a river otter who gave him passage up the Mossflower River), and Figalok Twigbenda (who hid Lonna from a horde of Sea Rats).

Brian Jacques incorporates two separate plot lines into his story. He begins his novel by introducing Lonna Bowstripe through a tragic experience. The Abruc Otter Clan find Lonna near the Sea Coast with a gashed face, lying on the ground next to a dead older badger. After being brought in and healed by the Clan, Lonna begins his adventures to avenge his close friend's death. The Clan tells Lonna that Raga Bol and his Sea Rat crew have come inland from the coast for the winter and he then vows to kill every last vermin including Raga Bol himself. Lonna sets off on his quest with the aid of the river otter, Garfo Trok.

The foundation of Brian Jacques' second plot line is the life of Martha, the young haremaid. The reader is informed that Redwall Abbey is a peaceful fortress in Mossflower County that houses and protects all sorts of working woodland creatures. This Abbey is where Martha leads her life, bound to a wheelchair. Handicapped from birth, Martha often finds free time for reading and gaining knowledge. When Martha discovers that another abbey beast from ancient times, who shared the same condition as Martha, had figured out how to walk, the plot line is revealed. Horty, Fenna, Bragoon, and Saro all set out to find the lost abbey of Loamhedge where the cure for Martha has been supposedly recorded. This begins the adventure to Loamhedge.

A main theme that appears often throughout the story is good triumphing over evil. Bragoon and Saro left Redwall as Dibbuns (young babes) to search for adventure. They become great warriors and fight vermin in Mossflower for a living. Whenever Bragoon and Saro fight they rarely shed blood. The reader sees them trick a fox and his filthy vermin crew out of their lunch and later save woodland creatures from ten score nasty vermin without a scratch. This theme is also evident in the actions of Lonna Bowstripe. Lonna saves Figalok and her squirrels from a terrible vermin threat that had been harassing the squirrel colony for their entire life. This theme is emphasized throughout the book.

I encourage any Redwall enthusiasts to read this book and if one has not read a Redwall book yet, do it! You will not be sorry.

I was really hoping when I had heard that this book was called "Loamhedge" that it was more about the long-lost abbey. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed that it was merely about a journey to the ruins and not a story about it. I had been hoping for some more history of the beginnings of Redwall. Still, the book, like all of Jacques works, is filled with adventure and intrigue, happiness and sadness, danger and more. I proudly add this book to my collection!

As most of us who have been reading the Redwall series for a while think, ever since the book Marlfox, the quality of the books have gone down a bit. It's apparent that Brian Jacques was writing for a younger audience (the dibbun humor, and the humor in general), and his books mainly follow the same plotline: A few friends go on an adventure, one of them carrying Martin's sword, magically learning how to use it like a pro without any previous training. Loamhedge was a nice change from that story line. It's also his best coming of age story yet! I think BJ is coming out of his slump, and I cannot wait for his next book, Rackety Tam. Keep it up, Brian!!! ^_^

I really love Redwall but some how this one didn't keep me on the edge of my seat. Some parts were very strange [if you read it you'll understand] but I certainly don't regret reading this book, like all Redwall books are very descriptive,all an all its a good book, and is a good addition to the Redwall series

This book is wonderful. The 16th book in Brian Jaque's "Redwall" series, two no-longer-young ruffians set off on a quest to find the secret of a mouse named Sister Amyl, of Loamhedge. Both experienced in the ways of living rough, their skills are put to the test as three young pals chase after them with hopes to aid the young haremaid Martha, unable to walk since arriving at Redwall with her brother Horty. Martha soon has her own problems though, because a threatening shadow looms over her beloved Abbey. Could the threat of a vermin crew come to Redwall? Will Martha ever be able to walk?

A wonderful story with characters so real you get to know their habits. Brian Jaques has the uncanny knack of transforming a fictional character into someone you feel is standing right beside you. Recommended for everyone over 10 years, as there are battles and gory details in these stories.

I am a HUGE fan of Mr. Jaques and the Redwall series, but Loamhedge simply didn't do it for me.

As other reviewers have noted, this is not a book about Loamhedge itself, but a story partly about a journey to the abandoned abbey to find a remedy for a young hare who is unable to walk. I found this to be a bit of a disappointment. Loamhedge continues to linger on the periphery of the Redwall series, and perhaps one day we will hear its tale in full. One can only hope.

There were the usual endearing characters that Mr. Jaques is so proficient at creating (the otters, Martha, the dibbuns, Lonna, etc), but this time I found too many of the main players to be grating and difficult to like. Horty and his companions in particular tried my patience, which is highly unfortunate since the majority of the book focuses on them.

Overall, the story is adventurous and well-paced, full of action and excellent dialogue. On occasion the plot was a tad bit predictable, but not necessarily to the detriment of the tale.

Loamhedge occupies a well-deserved place on my shelf with the rest of the Redwall series, just not quite as prominent a ranking.

this is one of the best of the redwall series. of late, the quality of the books has been less than mediocre. this book doesn't drag or lack plot. in fact, it could easily have been expanded and still maintained reader interest. i would definitely recommend it.

I just got finished reading Loamhedge no more than thirty seconds ago and I must say it is a rather good departure from the usual Redwall books.

Usual in his books Mr. Jacques has vivid descriptions and colorful accounts of abbey life. While this is still true in this book it does not take a paragraph to establish the same effect. It seems like there is less time spent on food and fun and more on questing. That's really nice and maybe a sign that he's reading a reviews or he's trying something new.

Also the descriptions are more raw and sanguinary for a children's book. That's not to say he describes it like a horror book, but he does actually spend a few more words on the fighting scenes and their effects.

This book does have one drawback, which lead to half a star being deducted. It seems to me like after the author wrote the book he realized that he needed another chapter or two to make sure he can tie everything together. Seeing that he didn't, it seems like some events were written so that they didn't have to be explained in more detail or just plain left not explained. When you get to the end of the book, you'll get my point.

However, it's harrowing tale and energetic characters are fun and lively. And while Horty got on my nerves a few times, he was a necessary part. All in all a great Redwall book. Not the best, but certainly great!

this book is the latest thrilling tale of redwall. it is about a quest to the ancient abbey of loamhedge to enable a young hare maid named Martha to walk. this book has humour action....
EVERYTHING!!!i just cant say enough about it. u should really get it.