Customer Reviews

The Taggerung (Redwall)

5 star:		(91)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been following this series since I first was enthralled by the first book, Redwall. So when this book came out I went out and picked it up, hoping it would live up to expectations. The truth of the matter it did not make my expectations it blew them away. I was expecting another hero, defending Redwall or the citizens of Redwall, who overcomes another impossibly huge army, by the Sword of Martin. Well this book was nothing like this, it was totally different than any of the previous Redwall books.

The Taggerung is a prophetic warrior, in vermin tribes, that will lead its tribe to victory against any obstacle. In this case an otter is the Taggerung and he is stolen from his parents at a very early age by Sawney Rath. He wants the Taggerung to become his son and lead the tribe to countless victories. The vermin leader, surprisingly, shows respect and almost father-like love to the otter cub and trains him everything he knows about fighting. Eventually clan problems occurr, and the Taggerung has to run from his foster father and clan. He eventually meets Nimbalo the Slayer, similar to Gonff the mousethief, and they many grand adventures on their search for the Abbey of Redwall. During the Redwall plot line, Deyna or the Taggerung, is never forgotten by his family, but they move on to take care of things in the Abbey. Mhera, his sister, becomes involved in a complex puzzle, one that is much better than in any other Redwall book, that takes up much of her time and teaches her to be a leader. The third plot line is the cowardly Gruven, and his adventures to capture the Taggerung and craven flight away from the Taggerung.

This book seems to be the start of a new direction in the Redwall saga. I hope Brian Jacques will continue to use Deyna in more books, because he is the most interesting character he has created to date, even more so than Martin. This book is also Mr. Jacques most mature Redwall book, seems he is trying to gain a larger audience of teenagers and adults. Anyway, I can't wait for the next book, it can't come soon enough.

For many seasons rumors have gone around that one day a powerful warrior beast called the Tagggerung will join the Juska rat clan and be the most powerful of them all. THe rumors about this beast are almost unbelievable but Sawney Rath wants nothing more than to find him, so when he dose the whole clan is shocked to learn that the Taggerung is no vermin, but an otter! Little Tagg grows up amoung the vermin living a tragic life, never knowing who he really is. But one day he realizes that something is wrong with his life, very wrong.
Meanwhile at Redwall, the Abby has been without an Abbess and Warroir for more seasons than they can count. The only member of the Abby from the old times that hasn't died from old age is Lady Cregga Rose eyes, the badgermum. But soon a series of riddles shows up around the Abby. Riddles that can tell who the Abbess really is.
When I saw this book I was a bit surprised. It was longer than any Redwall book I've seen in a while, but apparently the longer books are the better they are. I haven't Read a Redwalll book this good since Marlfox. Tagg's story is very entertaining and their are countless refrences to a Classic Redwall book that fans of the series will recognize. The new charecters are well drawn (my favorite being little Nimbalo) and for once, Brian Jacques introduces a serious issue in the series, one that readers may relate too. I reccomend this book strongly to fans of the series. You won't be dissapointed!

I've loved the Redwall books ever since first grade when I read Redwall for the first time. I've read it 16 times since, but that's not the point. When Taggerung came out, I was delighted, even more so when I actually read it. Much as I love the Redwall series, the later books' plots do get rather repetitive. I don't hold that against Mr. Jacques. The books are still good. But Taggerung was a completely new plot, standing apart from the others, but just as good; better than some. The plot twists and turns, with things happening that I didn't think would ever occur. I was frequently surprised by the outcome of a section, and the characters were all perfect, developed so they'd fit their station perfectly. The repetitive theme of "Martins sword and/or tapestry is lost, a young creature, male or female, goes out to find it, and invariably succeeds, killing the villain in the process" was gone, though some fragments remained, which was terrific. I happen to like that redundant theme. Anyway, if you like fantasy, you should definately read this book-oh, except you should read the other 13 books in chronological order first. That will make Taggerung better. Happy reading!

I agree wholeheartedly with the other reviewers. This book deserves praise from all who read it. The newest installment in the Redwall series had everything that I like about Jacques' writing, and nothing that I didn't. I would rate The Taggerung right up there with Pearls of Lutra, Mattimeo, and Marlfox, all great Redwall books. It is my sincere hope that Mr. Jacques recovers quickly from the stroke he suffered and continues writing phenomenal books like this one.

Brian Jacques, yet again, has written another page-turning thriller. I have all of the books in the Redwall Series and have read them all at least 3 times. His ability to tell different stories and then wind them all together at the end in each book is amazing. The detail he uses is superb, u actually feel like u are right there in Mossflower or wherever the story is taking place. The characters and their personalities are so excellently described that u actually think they are real. Anyone who says that any of his books have been even remotely poor, obivously must not have actually read them. This is the best yet, I'm 17, and when the next one comes out, even I'll be sure to get it a.s.a.p. Read this book!

Apart from the original, I think this is the best Rewall book ever. Why? It's just so different! This time Brian Jacques has almost changed the monotonous old Redwall formula (i.e. Random guy gets a summoning from M the warrior to go on a quest, finds the route through riddles hidden in a song... etc). Rolicking adventure is replaced by an emotionally charged plot, with it's joys and sorrows, victories and defeats, and it's refreshingly new, nothing like the disappointing 'Lord Brocktree'. Being the latest book chronologically also has it's advantages, as this brings in a whole cast of new characters (as well as keeping two of the old). And the characters are just great! Sawney Rath, the adoptive father of Tagg who changes from almighty cheftain to old bodger, Nimbalo the harvestmouse, brought up by a cruel father and wanting to prove himself, Rukky the mysterious otter healer... they are all marvellously placed forward in the development of the story.

And there's more. This time Redwall itself is given a new, more organised feel. There's a dibbun choir, wallguards, music teacher... This time there's a badgerlord without bloodwrath, Russano the wise (yay!)... this time there's real frienship, hatred, romance... and, to the disappointment of some fans Iguess, not much action (there's not even a main bad guy, and no final showdown); but I think that's a great change (sort of, everyone lives happily ever after, except for Gruven). Also, the scene of Cregga's death had me close to tears (really!).

I just hope that other books will feature Deyna and his friends, Fwirl, Broogle and Rosabel, Mhera and Filorn, Old Hoarg, Boorab (he actually made me laugh out loud). They're simply amazing characters, and Brian Jacques has simply done an amazing job on this, his latest book. Top marks sah, wot wot!

(Finally, does anyone have the same suspicion as me that Madd is really Fwirl's lost mother? :P)

You may have read many reviews of "Taggerung" and seen the book jacket. Yet they tell you nothing about it. First of all, there's an otter named Deyna, who's born at Redwall. Meanwhile, in the clan of a warlord named Sawney Rath, Grissoul the Seer predicts that the Taggerung, a fabled chieftain, is going to be borne but is not going to be a vermin. Sawney and his clan go to a stream where Rillflag, Deyna's father, is performing an otter ritual on him. Sawney gets one of his vermin to kill Rillflag, then steals Deyna away. Deyna's position as Taggerung is threatened by Antigra. Antigra is a stoat who claims her son Gruven is Taggerung. Grissoul said that it was impossible for this to be before Deyna came along. They rename Deyna Tagg and train him to be the Taggerung. Sixteen seasons pass. Back at Redwall, the Abbey is again without a leader. Mhera the otter, who is really Deyna's sister, and her friends Gundil the Mole and Lady Cregga, uncover a riddle from Abbess Song. Basically, there are two plots that wind together. I'm not going to tell you anymore

Brian Jacques's 14th novel in the fantasy series, Redwall, takes readers through suspenseful tale of good versus evil where the vicious vermin seek to destroy the percocious mice, moles, shrews, squirrels, and otters of Redwall Abbey. The villainous Juskarath clan, lead the inquitous Sawney Rath, of rats, weasels, foxes, and ferrets believe Deyna, an otter born of the community at Redwall, is their Taggerung, a great warrior destined to lead them to numerous victorys and whose birth marks a time of prosperity for the for the clan in which he is the leader. Members of the Sawney Rath clan murder Deyna's father and kidnap him from his home as a young otter. As Deyna grows, he embarks upon a search for his true family at Redwall.
As ever, Jaques' incredeble language gives his exciting adventures a magical quality. Jacques presents a tale of courageous warriors and vilanous evildoers alike, each group journeying toward conflicting ends. Taggerung is an intense page-turner with numerous plot twists that will keep readers on their toes.

Long ago the clan of Swaney Rath took a child from Redwall. The baby otter deyna, destined to be the "Taggerung" a warrior of legend chosen to lead the Juska. In his fifteenth season he rebells aginst his destiny.

this book is filled with detail and excitement. Taggerung also has many many riddles and songs throughout. over all this is a very good book. (warning may cause extreme hunger)

Other books:Redwall, mossflower, mattimeo, mariel of redwall, the bellmaker, the outcast of redwall, and so on and so forth.

This book is a great book that is a perfect example of how good overcomes evil! Anyone and everyone will love this wonderfully excellent book.