Mossflower (Redwall, Book 2) [Paperback]

Brian Jacques (Author), Gary Chalk (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: September 30, 2002 | Age Range: 5 - 8 years | Series: Redwall (Book 2)

Tells the story of how Redwall Abbey was established through the bravery of the legendary mouse Martin, and his epic quest for Salamandastron. Illustrated with black and white chapter heads by Gary Chalk.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Brian Jacques's superb Redwall series truly captures the finest in storytelling tradition and combines it with the ultimate in upbeat, catch-your-breath adventure. Mossflower tells the story of Martin the Warrior, who finds himself trespassing on the land of Verdagua, King of a Thousand Eyes, as he lies sick and near dying. With his last strength, Verdagua is struggling to make a decision on who should replace him as ruler of Mossflower Country. As Martin and his newfound friend and fellow prisoner Gonff become embroiled in the battle against Verdagua's ruthless daughter, Tsarmina, a bloody fight between good and evil ensues.

Stunning landscapes, brilliant characterization, masterly plots, and a wicked sense of humor unite in this epic tale of derring-do and the triumph of good over evil, making it one of the most addictive and memorable books that anyone is ever likely to read. --Susan Harrison --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Right from the start of this rousingly old-fashioned prequel to Redwall , readers will submerge themselves in the culture of the woodlanders and their council, the Corim, against the wicked Kotir. Kotir is the name of the group holed up at the castle, led by Tsarmina, a wildcat who poisons her father and imprisons her good brother Gingivere so that she may rule in her own way. Into the woodlanders' midst comes Martin the Warrior, who becomes fast friends with Gonff the mousethief and others; they soon set off to find the only warrior who can lead them to victory. More important than the outcome of the story, where good triumphs over evil, are the characters: baby hedgehogs Ferdy and Coggs, doing their valiant best to become warriors; the kindly Gingivere, who finds his heart's joy as a farmer; Lady Amber, the squirrel Chief and her band of archers; Chibb, the robin who will spy for anyone as long as he is paid in candied chestnuts. Martin's heroics pale in comparison to the acts of his fellow-fighters, so colorful are their escapades. While Redwall fans will enjoy this, no prior knowledge of that book is necessary. Illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Age Range: 5 - 8 years
  
• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Firebird (September 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142302384
• ISBN-13: 978-0142302385
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (315 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,191 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I remember my 5th grade teacher reading this; and I'm 19! September 24, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Mossflower is one of the most dynamic books I've read. I'm 19 years old and I remember my 5th grade teacher reading me this book when I was 10! From that point on I have collected all the books in the series. I remember being able to identify with Martin and his followers from day one. Everyone in my class (even the class clown, David!) loved the time when our teacher would whip out her paperback and pick up where she had left off the previous day. Everyone groaned when the rats and ferrets chased after the otters, everyone held their breath when the Gloomer was sent in the water. Everyone laughed when Gonff danced with the crab. Everyone was spellbound with delight when Martin and Gonff met the hares, and everyone cheered when . . well I'm not going to say! The tone and style of the story weaves itself around you until you are spellbound by its magic. Even though the reality of animals talking isn't possible, in Mossflower you accepted that they did and moved on to the adventure. The characters were all well developed and there was just enough flat characters to contrast with the dynamic ones. The result is that you get a sense of realistic stability not often found in a talking animal book. The obvious character foils made you sense the good and evil and you take a side; the side you stick with until the end. All in all, this book is a classic. The poetry, the words, the characters, and best of all the magic, make it come alive into your heart, imagination and soul. This is a wonderful book that I highly recommend to anyone.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The fantastic story of a legendary hero August 19, 2002

By Strategos

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

One series to rule them all...

A dark army that has overrun the land. An unlikely hero on sent on an epic quest. A sword that is broken and forged anew. A search for the lost king. I could easily be describing Lord of the Rings! I have read several books in this amazing series (and shall not stop till I have read them all), but so far this one is undoubtedly my favorite. When you read Redwall and Mattimeo (and some of the other books in the series), you feel as if it's set in the present. But when you read the books about Martin the Warrior, the legendary hero of Redwall Abbey...

The time of great heroes

What can I say, reading Mossflower is like reading a book about the legend of King Arthur or Robin Hood. You're stepping back in time to an era when villains were more wicked, heroes were more brave, and the country was more wild. The story begins with Martin entering the country of Mossflower and then swiftly being imprisoned because he is carrying a sword. The ultimate climax of the book is set up swiftly when Martin swears vengeance upon the evil Queen of the land (who in an awesome scene breaks Martin's sword and tells the guards to have him wear it around his neck). But even for the Hero Martin, vengeance doesn't come easy.

Have you ever been on a quest?

Like Redwall, there is a major sidequest for our hero to embark upon (you can't kill the main villain with a broken sword now can you?), involving a search for the old Badger Lord king of Mossflower. Also like Redwall, there will be clues to unravel, friends to make, and alliances to forge. And like the great Lord of the Rings, there will also be beautiful songs to sing and poems to read.

Hungry yet?

And let's not forget about the fantastic way the author has of drawing up beautiful descriptions without overloading the reader. The Redwall foods in particular are famous, and for good reason. When reading this book you'll not only feel every mile of the journey, you'll also mouth-water every time the food is described. Good stuff.

A battle between good and evil

Ultimately, what holds this book together is wonderful characters and the way that they interact together. Even the villain is not simply an evil tyrant bent on evil purposes. There is a depth of character here that few books can touch in my opinion. And the icing on the cake is the irony and action that's to be found. The battle sequences in this book will enthrall you, and way things work out is really pulls at you emotionally. There is strong narrative here. And I cannot and will not ever forget the ending of this book. It stands as one of the greatest endings I've ever read in any book. Every story of a legendary hero needs a showdown, and the one in this book is incredible.

In the End...

Mossflower is more than just a good book. It is a GREAT book. It is the story of the origins of a legendary Abbey, a Legendary Country, and a Legendary Hero. To readers of the Redwall books it is an essential buy. To all others it is without a doubt an essential read. If you only read one book in the series, let it be this one.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Mossflower" is just as great as its predecessor, "Redwall" March 10, 2001

By S. Joshi

Format:Mass Market Paperback

"Mossflower" is about Martin the Warrior, the legendary character mentioned in "Redwall," the book that came before this one in the Redwall series.

In the beginning of the book, the mouse Martin is traveling through Mossflower woods, the future site of Redwall Abbey. The forest and its inhabitants are under oppression by a fearsome wildcat known as Verdauga Greeneyes, Lord of the Thousand Eyes. He has two children--a gentle son named Gingivere, and a merciless, cruel daughter called Tsarmina. The wildcat family is served by hundreds of soldiers. The family and their horde live in a fortress called Kotir.

Martin has a sword hanging around his neck; it had once belonged to his father, Luke the Warrior. When Verdauga's soldiers see him walking through the forest with the sword, they arrest him on the charge of bearing arms and drag him to Kotir. He fights them fiercely all the while. After struggling with him for a while, the soldiers manage to drag him to Verdauga's chamber, where the wildcat is laying in his bed, ill. Although Verdauga admires the mouse's courage and spirit. Tsarmina, however, expresses feelings of disgust, snaps the sword in two, leaving only the hilt hanging around Martin's neck, and throws him into one of Kotir's dungeons.

Meanwhile, the carefree mouse Gonff, a thief who calls himself the Prince of Mousethieves, is making his way back from Kotir, where he has stolen food. Gonff is a member of CORIM, the Council of Resistance in Mossflower, which is an organization set up by the forest dwellers to fight Verdauga's tyranny. Gonff lets his guard down and manages to get himself captured by two of Kotir's soldiers. He is taken to the fortress and put in the same dungeon cell as Martin, where the two become friends. Gonff knows just how to escape the cell, and does so, taking Martin with him. They go straight to the headquarters of CORIM, the mansion home of a female badger called Bella of Brockhall.

Martin is welcomed by the CORIM leaders, and he decides to help them with their mission. He befriends Lady Amber, the leader of the squirrel population, and Skipper of Otters, the chieftain of an otter tribe who dwells in nearby River Moss, along with many others. Gonff remains his best friend, along with a mole called Young Dinny.

At Kotir, the ruthless wildcat Tsarmina poisons her father and accuses her kindly brother Gingivere of the murder. Gingivere is imprisoned, and Tsarmina is proclaimed the new Queen. She promptly embarks on a reign of terror. The woodland dwellers become more desparate than ever to overthrow the wildcats.

Bella of Brockhall has convinced Martin that the only way to get rid of Tsarmina and her minions for good is to fetch her father, Boar of Brockhall, who is a formidable warrior. He dwells in an extinct volcano known as Salamandastron, a long journey from Mossflower. Martin agrees to make the journey, along with Gonff and Dinny. They set out immediately, but are followed for a good part of the journey by three of Tsarmina's bumbling soldiers. Along the way, they befriend a shrew called Log-a-Log, who assists them by letting them use his boat to travel on the river. They get lost inside a pitch-black mountain, where they are helped by some bats. At last they reach Salamandastron.

If you want to find out what happens to the three friends, read "Mossflower," by Brian Jacques, one of the best books I've read to date.