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Redwall #9
The Pearls of Lutra
Ninth thrilling REDWALL adventure - new in PAPERBACK! Far away, on the isle of Sampetra, Emperor Ublaz - also scarily known as. . . . Mad Eyes - sends his fearsome lizards and seascum on a murderous mission to Redwall. Meanwhile Tansy and her fellow abbey dwellers frantically race against time to unravela fiendishly difficult set of riddles and rhymes left by the Fermald the Ancient. . .
403 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1996
170 people are currently reading
6,876 people want to read
About the author
Brian Jacques
234books4,221followers 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 294 reviews
December 31, 2023
🛡� A delightful YA series that adults can enjoy too. It’s very medieval 🏰 and indeed monastic, but it’s a pleasant and peaceful monasticism that is not grounded in religion.
🐁 🦦 🐿� 🐇 “In the Redwall universe, species almost invariably (with very few exceptions, including change of character mid-story) determines a creature's nature, whether good or evil. Some common noble species in Redwall include mice, otters, moles, hares, squirrels, hedgehogs, shrews, birds, voles, and badgers, while common vermin include rats, foxes, weasels, ferrets, ravens, snakes, stoats, ermine, sables, wildcats, magpies, rooks, and crows. However, many other varieties of species also make appearances throughout the novels as well.� (Wiki)
The author passed in 2011 and his 22nd and final novel in the series was published three months after his death.
🐁 🦦 🐿� 🐇 “In the Redwall universe, species almost invariably (with very few exceptions, including change of character mid-story) determines a creature's nature, whether good or evil. Some common noble species in Redwall include mice, otters, moles, hares, squirrels, hedgehogs, shrews, birds, voles, and badgers, while common vermin include rats, foxes, weasels, ferrets, ravens, snakes, stoats, ermine, sables, wildcats, magpies, rooks, and crows. However, many other varieties of species also make appearances throughout the novels as well.� (Wiki)
The author passed in 2011 and his 22nd and final novel in the series was published three months after his death.
March 25, 2023
5 stars. Aight, it is three weeks since I read this (I know, I became dreadfully behind on reviews). But I do remember I loved this book and was OH SO EXCITED to meet Mattimeo’s son Martin II of Redwall!!! He was epic and such a great mix of Matthias and Martin I the Warrior. I was quite sad to discover he only appears in this one book�
This book reminded me of a couple other Redwall books, particularly somewhat, with the pirate island and mad ruler and various quests. But it still felt very much its own story, and I loved it. I honestly remember little of the plot by now, except that it had plenty of sailing and fighting and kidnapping and otters� But the hunt for the pearls at Redwall was super cool and I enjoyed it so much!
As for the characters, I hated Viola at first of course but was delighted with her character arc. Tansy + Arven were the cutest thing (reminded me of Trimp & Chugger from . Clecky and Gerul were a great pair. Ublaz was horrid—along the lines of Tsarmina, and Ungatt Trunn. The pirate captains were along the same lines as usual except for Romsca, who I couldn’t help liking. Grath was a pretty epic otter, of course. ;) I loved seeing Rollo again!!! I don’t remember anyone else but they all played their parts well.
In short, I remember little about this except that I absolutely loved it and rushed on immediately to the next book. ;P
*updated review + content list to come upon reread*
This book reminded me of a couple other Redwall books, particularly somewhat, with the pirate island and mad ruler and various quests. But it still felt very much its own story, and I loved it. I honestly remember little of the plot by now, except that it had plenty of sailing and fighting and kidnapping and otters� But the hunt for the pearls at Redwall was super cool and I enjoyed it so much!
As for the characters, I hated Viola at first of course but was delighted with her character arc. Tansy + Arven were the cutest thing (reminded me of Trimp & Chugger from . Clecky and Gerul were a great pair. Ublaz was horrid—along the lines of Tsarmina, and Ungatt Trunn. The pirate captains were along the same lines as usual except for Romsca, who I couldn’t help liking. Grath was a pretty epic otter, of course. ;) I loved seeing Rollo again!!! I don’t remember anyone else but they all played their parts well.
In short, I remember little about this except that I absolutely loved it and rushed on immediately to the next book. ;P
*updated review + content list to come upon reread*
June 12, 2018
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Original review
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This was most extremely excellent and I'm writing this [review] on a little, tiny digital keyboard and the temperature is relatively very hot today, so I think I'll finish my review right now, what?
Original review
=============
This was most extremely excellent and I'm writing this [review] on a little, tiny digital keyboard and the temperature is relatively very hot today, so I think I'll finish my review right now, what?
May 9, 2023
This one was a bit different than the other Redwalls I've read so far. It's a cursed treasure hunt, along with the usual plot lines. It made for a much more interesting read in that aspect, though I loved the whole thing as much as any other Redwall book. The difference was refreshing in a way. As usual, these books feel like home, and I'm looking forward to reading more soon.
April 13, 2024
Brian Jacques seems to write from a neverending well of beautiful language and grand, enrapturing themes that take a simple idea and enlarge it on such a breathtakingly big scale that it becomes something emotionally powerful and absolutely unforgettable.
Not since the fourth Redwall book, Mattimeo, have we seen a story that takes place as chronologically late as Pearls of Lutra. The famed Redwall warriors Matthias and Mattimeo have gone to the gates of the Dark Forrest by now, but Mattimeo's brave son Martin lives on to preserve the legacy of his forefathers as the new Abbey warrior. By hearkening back to the early roots of the Redwall series in writing about Martin, whom we knew nothing about previously, Brian Jacques brings forth a welcome idea that resonates deeply with fans of the series, a reward for those among us that clamor for complex continuity.
The Emperor Ublaz Mad Eyes will stop at nothing to find the six magnificent Pearls of Lutra that are designed to fit the crown atop his head, and when he finds that the pearls likely are hidden within the gates of faraway Redwall Abbey, he sends a deadly team of corsair rats and monitor lizards to retrieve the prized pearls. When the leaders of this team capture Redwall's Abbott Durral with the intention of spiriting him back to the island on which Ublaz lives, the warrior Martin and a few others set off in pursuit, unwilling to return without their Abbey's leader.
Meanwhile, at the Abbey, the principal remaining figures learn that the father Abbott is being held ransom for the six Pearls of Lutra that lie within their gates, yet they have no idea where the pearls might be. The initial clue of a deceased Redwall resident who had not been in her right mind and who hid the pearls leads them on a high-stakes treasure hunt that pits the peaceable creatures against outside foes both big and small, and tests their mental strength and lateral thinking to the fullest. Finding all six pearls may be the only way to get their Abbott back again, yet the path is harder than they ever imagined.
Forces and motives collide as multiple coups to overthrow the Emperor Ublaz converge, and Martin and his companions find themselves right in the middle of it all. Redwall's own warrior finds that he must win a war far from Redwall to ensure that his home will remain the safe haven it has been for so many generations.
This book, in many ways, seems different from most of its Redwall predecessors. The search for the six pearls is cleverly rendered, and I appreciate the story being about the second warrior Martin. I would give Pearls of Lutra a definite two and a half stars.
Not since the fourth Redwall book, Mattimeo, have we seen a story that takes place as chronologically late as Pearls of Lutra. The famed Redwall warriors Matthias and Mattimeo have gone to the gates of the Dark Forrest by now, but Mattimeo's brave son Martin lives on to preserve the legacy of his forefathers as the new Abbey warrior. By hearkening back to the early roots of the Redwall series in writing about Martin, whom we knew nothing about previously, Brian Jacques brings forth a welcome idea that resonates deeply with fans of the series, a reward for those among us that clamor for complex continuity.
The Emperor Ublaz Mad Eyes will stop at nothing to find the six magnificent Pearls of Lutra that are designed to fit the crown atop his head, and when he finds that the pearls likely are hidden within the gates of faraway Redwall Abbey, he sends a deadly team of corsair rats and monitor lizards to retrieve the prized pearls. When the leaders of this team capture Redwall's Abbott Durral with the intention of spiriting him back to the island on which Ublaz lives, the warrior Martin and a few others set off in pursuit, unwilling to return without their Abbey's leader.
Meanwhile, at the Abbey, the principal remaining figures learn that the father Abbott is being held ransom for the six Pearls of Lutra that lie within their gates, yet they have no idea where the pearls might be. The initial clue of a deceased Redwall resident who had not been in her right mind and who hid the pearls leads them on a high-stakes treasure hunt that pits the peaceable creatures against outside foes both big and small, and tests their mental strength and lateral thinking to the fullest. Finding all six pearls may be the only way to get their Abbott back again, yet the path is harder than they ever imagined.
Forces and motives collide as multiple coups to overthrow the Emperor Ublaz converge, and Martin and his companions find themselves right in the middle of it all. Redwall's own warrior finds that he must win a war far from Redwall to ensure that his home will remain the safe haven it has been for so many generations.
This book, in many ways, seems different from most of its Redwall predecessors. The search for the six pearls is cleverly rendered, and I appreciate the story being about the second warrior Martin. I would give Pearls of Lutra a definite two and a half stars.
March 10, 2011
I've reread this particular Redwall tale several times, partly because it was always lying around in my fifth grade classroom and partly because of the distinction of a female otter warrior as the main character (or as one of the main characters, as Jacques can never stick to just one).
Grath is always strong on my heart, second to Bragoon of course, and I'm glad Jacques decided to introduce another strong female. He's great at females strong in personality (sassy hedgehogs especially), which is great but we seem to rarely get as many physically strong females.
And of course, there's the riddles that went with finding the pearls. I would just like to point out that this story becomes even better (or at times even more frustrating) if you have someone together with you to try to guess the riddles. It got me involved in the story so much more, although I'll admit my guesses were not right nearly as often as I would like to admit.
Grath is always strong on my heart, second to Bragoon of course, and I'm glad Jacques decided to introduce another strong female. He's great at females strong in personality (sassy hedgehogs especially), which is great but we seem to rarely get as many physically strong females.
And of course, there's the riddles that went with finding the pearls. I would just like to point out that this story becomes even better (or at times even more frustrating) if you have someone together with you to try to guess the riddles. It got me involved in the story so much more, although I'll admit my guesses were not right nearly as often as I would like to admit.
September 26, 2022
Perhaps it's just me getting used to the his style of writing but I felt like this one wove all the different places and people into a more coherent tapestry. And while I understand animals lives are much shorter then our own I do wish he had given us more books with each generation. I feel like each of them is much too short to be satisfying.
May 18, 2021
Brian Jaques does it again, the man knows how to make a intriguing story, dramatic and sad.
This focuses on a angry psychotic emperor of a tropical island who send his minions to kill a tribe of otters for "The tears" five perfect rose pearls that he wants for his crown.
While a lone surviver of the attack tracks vermin scum In need for revenge, while young redwallers follow The Ancients riddles in how to find these pearls, while the poor Abbot is taken by the Mad Emperors Monitor General in reason for the petals.
Martin must go find the Abbot, Tansy must find the pearls and tragedy will always be truck when least expected.
This one made me cry.
This focuses on a angry psychotic emperor of a tropical island who send his minions to kill a tribe of otters for "The tears" five perfect rose pearls that he wants for his crown.
While a lone surviver of the attack tracks vermin scum In need for revenge, while young redwallers follow The Ancients riddles in how to find these pearls, while the poor Abbot is taken by the Mad Emperors Monitor General in reason for the petals.
Martin must go find the Abbot, Tansy must find the pearls and tragedy will always be truck when least expected.
This one made me cry.
February 1, 2009
Brian Jacques must surely run out of ideas, but fortunately,
he'll never run out of stories :D
he'll never run out of stories :D
January 21, 2025
Brian Jacques is a genius. I have to say I find the dialogue amusing - it is so genteel and unrealistic.
I don’t know how he creates so many amazing characters, and plots- and the poetry he writes is really moving.
I have read many Redwall books since childhood but I have to say this one was one of my favorites. There is such a striking contrast between good and evil in his books and the fact that good triumphs leaves you feeling happy.
Of the many exceptional scenes that he paints, one stands out: when Martin (not the OG Martin but the current Abbey Warrior, named after him) makes eye contact for the first time with Ublaz. I could literally see the ship floating by, Martin leaning over the railings, and Ublaz losing his mind on the shore because for the first time his hypnotic stare is failing him.
I don’t know how he creates so many amazing characters, and plots- and the poetry he writes is really moving.
I have read many Redwall books since childhood but I have to say this one was one of my favorites. There is such a striking contrast between good and evil in his books and the fact that good triumphs leaves you feeling happy.
Of the many exceptional scenes that he paints, one stands out: when Martin (not the OG Martin but the current Abbey Warrior, named after him) makes eye contact for the first time with Ublaz. I could literally see the ship floating by, Martin leaning over the railings, and Ublaz losing his mind on the shore because for the first time his hypnotic stare is failing him.
January 10, 2019
This is one of my favourite books in the canon, partly because the different storylines (Grath's revenge, rescuing the abbot and the riddles) fit together so neatly. This avoids the widely diverging storylines that plague some of the other books in the series.
There is a lot to like in this book. The first thing is that most of the heroes (Martin, Clecky, Grath and the shrews) are not young warriors setting out for the first time but seasoned veterans. This gave the book a stable feel and also made a nice change from young warriors trying to overcome lots of difficulties. Martin in particular was very confidence inspiring; at no point did you feel that Abbot Durrel would not be rescued.
Clecky also was a slight surprise. At first, I thought he would turn out to be a typical Redwall hare, garrulous with a huge appetite. Although this is true, this is not so exaggerated that it renders him annoying and his panache (he dresses up especially for the final battle) and his reckless bravery (even for a hare) make him extremely likeable. It is also interesting that, despite being a mountain hare, Jacques resisted the temptation to have him talk in a Scottish accent.
To offset the contingent of older warriors, Jacques includes younger characters but, with the exception of Viola (who stows away), they are limited to solving the riddles rather than fighting foebeasts. For once, the riddles do have a serious purpose to the overall storyline as they help find the pearls which are needed (if the rescue attempt fails) to ransom the Abbot.
In terms of villains, the story is a mixed bag. The monitor lizards, particularly the Monitor General, are excellent; big, flesh eating and not overburdened with brains. The hatred gradually growing between Romsca and Lask Frildur made entertaining reading, particularly when Romsca begins protecting Abbot Durrel. The conflict between the corsairs and Ublaz back on Sampetra is less entertaining but it is neccessary to the storyline. Ublaz himself is a middle ranking Redwall villain. His ability to hypnotize is a nice touch, as is his general craftiness. Unlike some villains in the series, his death is also a dramatic, dueling with Martin before being bitten by his own pet snake. My only complaint really is that he's a pine marten; what was a pine marten doing on a tropical island that had no trees?
There are very few things to dislike about this book. Perhaps there is a slight lack of tension in the latter stages. Whilst the captured abbot is still in Mossflower, it feels like anything can happen; when the corsairs put to sea, you know that a showdown on the island is guaranteed. However, this is compensated by the battle once they reach the island, which is an absolute cracker.
The only other complaint I have is Piknim's death, or rather the reaction to it. The initial reaction, that of stunned, almost hysterical, shock, feels genuine. However, the characters recover remarkably quickly; their 'Oh come on, let's get on with solving these riddles' attitude is very laudable, but it doesn't feel particularly genuine. A longer grieving process would have felt more natural, but then again, would also have messed the timeline of events up as well as creating a longer book.
Considered overall, this is a very good children's book; well written and dealing very capably with difficult subjects like death, grief and revenge.
There is a lot to like in this book. The first thing is that most of the heroes (Martin, Clecky, Grath and the shrews) are not young warriors setting out for the first time but seasoned veterans. This gave the book a stable feel and also made a nice change from young warriors trying to overcome lots of difficulties. Martin in particular was very confidence inspiring; at no point did you feel that Abbot Durrel would not be rescued.
Clecky also was a slight surprise. At first, I thought he would turn out to be a typical Redwall hare, garrulous with a huge appetite. Although this is true, this is not so exaggerated that it renders him annoying and his panache (he dresses up especially for the final battle) and his reckless bravery (even for a hare) make him extremely likeable. It is also interesting that, despite being a mountain hare, Jacques resisted the temptation to have him talk in a Scottish accent.
To offset the contingent of older warriors, Jacques includes younger characters but, with the exception of Viola (who stows away), they are limited to solving the riddles rather than fighting foebeasts. For once, the riddles do have a serious purpose to the overall storyline as they help find the pearls which are needed (if the rescue attempt fails) to ransom the Abbot.
In terms of villains, the story is a mixed bag. The monitor lizards, particularly the Monitor General, are excellent; big, flesh eating and not overburdened with brains. The hatred gradually growing between Romsca and Lask Frildur made entertaining reading, particularly when Romsca begins protecting Abbot Durrel. The conflict between the corsairs and Ublaz back on Sampetra is less entertaining but it is neccessary to the storyline. Ublaz himself is a middle ranking Redwall villain. His ability to hypnotize is a nice touch, as is his general craftiness. Unlike some villains in the series, his death is also a dramatic, dueling with Martin before being bitten by his own pet snake. My only complaint really is that he's a pine marten; what was a pine marten doing on a tropical island that had no trees?
There are very few things to dislike about this book. Perhaps there is a slight lack of tension in the latter stages. Whilst the captured abbot is still in Mossflower, it feels like anything can happen; when the corsairs put to sea, you know that a showdown on the island is guaranteed. However, this is compensated by the battle once they reach the island, which is an absolute cracker.
The only other complaint I have is Piknim's death, or rather the reaction to it. The initial reaction, that of stunned, almost hysterical, shock, feels genuine. However, the characters recover remarkably quickly; their 'Oh come on, let's get on with solving these riddles' attitude is very laudable, but it doesn't feel particularly genuine. A longer grieving process would have felt more natural, but then again, would also have messed the timeline of events up as well as creating a longer book.
Considered overall, this is a very good children's book; well written and dealing very capably with difficult subjects like death, grief and revenge.
February 1, 2022
"I would have enjoyed a story about Grath Longfletch, the main character who is introduced at the beginning of the book and was then promptly forgotten about. I also would have enjoyed a story about Redwallers solving riddles for an important cause instead of Redwallers bumbling into the answers through sheer coincidence and then throwing the prize into the ocean. Everybody was jerks, even the good guys. Why was everybody a jerk? This book could have been a lot better, but it wasn't."
January 17, 2021
I’m reading the Redwall books to my daughter at bedtime and I’d say this isn’t anywhere near the strongest in the series so far but I’m sure it will satisfy anyone who enjoyed those that came before. It’s about pirates and has some of the fun riddles that you see a lot of in earlier books.
May 31, 2021
A fun elementary chapter book series of good versus evil
February 2, 2025
I write this review as a 32 year old man. Redwall books got me through middle school when things weren't the best, and I have a true fondness for the series and saved a few to break out over the years. This is one of them. I remember being in the 7th grade and going to the school library to get my next Redwall book. Another kid told me Pearls wasn't a fun read when he saw me looking at it. So, I always had an odd negative association with this book till now. I and that kid were wrong. Rip roaring good, cozy fun. Lots of action, riddles, and all the food and songs you can shake a stick at. Cheers for Redwall!
March 2, 2018
Ublaz Mad Eyes, the evil ruler of the island called Sampetra, is on a mission to find the Tears of All Oceans. Meanwhile, Grath Longfletch sets out on a journey to seek vengeance for the murder of her otter tribe and family, and joins forces with Martin (Mattimeo's son) and other friends of Redwall who are in search of Abbott Durral and a young bankvole maid who were captured by Ublaz's evil followers. Back at Redwall, Tansy and her friends follow clues to find the six rose colored pearls known as the Tears of All Oceans. As always, paths intertwine, new friends are made and the heroes win in the end. I found this to be one of the sadder novels in Jacques series, but just as exciting of a journey.
February 18, 2017
This is one of the best Redwall books that I've read yet. I enjoyed reading about the quest that Fermald left behind for Tansy, Rollo, Piknim, Craklyn, Arven, and others to follow. The friendship between Grath - an otter bent on seeking revenge - and Inbar - another otter who knew no warfare - was nice to read about, and I hope that Grath found peace after she moved with Inbar back to his holt. And, of course, the character Romsca was dear to my heart - how her cruel corsair heart softened and by her death she became an ally to the captive Abbot Durral.
I was a little surprised, though, by the ending at Sampetra. Why didn't Martin, the shrews, Clecky, and the others destroy all the animals left on Sampetra? Mad Eyes was already dead, his lifeless body guarded by a bizarre serpent. However, the villains were basically stuck on the isle with empty taverns, without any timber to build ships, and ideally they would fight out leadership among them, so I suppose that's a fitting end. Perhaps it is not the way of Redwallers to just kill and murder - once the leader of the evil side was slain.
All in all, this was a very good tale from the Abbey. I appreciated how Tansy was almost humanlike in her characteristics - she tried to be mature and confident; she became frustrated; she felt grief; guided by the dead Martin the Warrior, she gradually took on wisdom and leadership skills and in the end she and Craklyn were rewarded: Tansy took on Abbess robes and Craklyn became the Recorder.
I always love visiting the pages of Redwall Abbey - I feel like if I were a character, I would like to be a Recorder. The otters, I think, are my favorite, but Jacques has done a splendid, almost tremendous, job in creating each and every character, friend and foe alike :)
I was a little surprised, though, by the ending at Sampetra. Why didn't Martin, the shrews, Clecky, and the others destroy all the animals left on Sampetra? Mad Eyes was already dead, his lifeless body guarded by a bizarre serpent. However, the villains were basically stuck on the isle with empty taverns, without any timber to build ships, and ideally they would fight out leadership among them, so I suppose that's a fitting end. Perhaps it is not the way of Redwallers to just kill and murder - once the leader of the evil side was slain.
All in all, this was a very good tale from the Abbey. I appreciated how Tansy was almost humanlike in her characteristics - she tried to be mature and confident; she became frustrated; she felt grief; guided by the dead Martin the Warrior, she gradually took on wisdom and leadership skills and in the end she and Craklyn were rewarded: Tansy took on Abbess robes and Craklyn became the Recorder.
I always love visiting the pages of Redwall Abbey - I feel like if I were a character, I would like to be a Recorder. The otters, I think, are my favorite, but Jacques has done a splendid, almost tremendous, job in creating each and every character, friend and foe alike :)
May 22, 2022
This was my least favorite redwall book by far. I'm not sure how it's earned a 4 average. The beginning is very strong, but it quickly goes downhill. The plot is mainly divided between two pirates fighting against each other, a group on a rescue mission, and a group of Red Wallers hunting for pearls. None of the plot lines actually result in anything useful. The pearl hunt is incredibly bland, and the characters essentially bumble their way through by chance, solving riddles that are near useless, only to toss them into the ocean instead of giving them to their rightful owner. Urgaz and his opponent spend the book trying to outsmart each other in dull ways, only to have both die anticlimactically and separately from one another. Grath Longfletch should have been the star of this book, but she was essentially forgotten about for most of the story, only bringing her in as a bland supporting character. This book liberally applied all the worst habits that Jaques adhered to and strung them out as long as possible. I'm going to keep reading the series, but this was a low point for certain.
January 2, 2024
3.5/5 I definitely enjoyed this one more than the previous installment, The Outcast of Redwall. Though it did take me quite a while to finish as I was distracted with other things.
The villains didn’t shine here like they do in some other stories but Ublazz Mad Eyes, Rasconza the Fox, and the evil monitor lizards were still fun.
The story is split into two main stories like usual one is the party of warriors going of to fight Ublazz and the other is Tansy the hedgehog searching for the Pearls of Lutra that have been hidden throughout Redwall. They weave together well but the adventuring party was still more interesting. The Hares are still probably my favorite and Clecky is an excellent addition to the Hare cast. We also get to see Seals this time around which is fun.
The villains didn’t shine here like they do in some other stories but Ublazz Mad Eyes, Rasconza the Fox, and the evil monitor lizards were still fun.
The story is split into two main stories like usual one is the party of warriors going of to fight Ublazz and the other is Tansy the hedgehog searching for the Pearls of Lutra that have been hidden throughout Redwall. They weave together well but the adventuring party was still more interesting. The Hares are still probably my favorite and Clecky is an excellent addition to the Hare cast. We also get to see Seals this time around which is fun.
June 2, 2013
I have yet to find a Brian Jacques book I didn't adore. His books are full of adventure, friendship, good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, humor, song, riddles, and characters we fall in love with. I can read any Redwall book to any age person and it's rare they won't get caught up in the stories. My dad loved them as much as my little grandson. The Pearls of Lutra was full of riddles, corsairs, an evil pine marten, dream visits from Martin the Warrior mouse, an otter on a mission, Dibbuns creating chaos, and a hare and owl eating everyone out of house and home. All in all, a rollicking good tome!
May 13, 2022
Finally finished. Too many characters, too many plot lines, to many settings, too many deus ex machinas... just overall too convoluted AND predictable at the same time. In the end I didn't care about anyone or anything anymore.
September 14, 2023
This book has always felt sad to me. It starts off with the murder of an entire tribe of otters and includes an almost senseless death of a younger animal. It's also somewhat a story about growing up and things we have to do.
That being said, it's still a fantastic book and includes a lot of fun riddles, a pirate island, and seals!
That being said, it's still a fantastic book and includes a lot of fun riddles, a pirate island, and seals!
September 6, 2021
Any lover of Brian Jacques Redwall stories will love this book...written in his particularly descriptive and humorous style...you can 'hear' the characters speak as you read the text...great stuff for chilling out to whatever age you are!
September 21, 2024
Another of my favorites. Love all these creature adventures with their gorgeous settings and delightful food descriptions.
August 2, 2019
The best of all the Redwall books. It is the treasure of the series & Brian Jacques outdid himself with the magic & adventure found within its pages.
November 3, 2024
4 Stars
February 1, 2018
If you get to this point in the Redwall books, you know the formula. There will be feasts! Riddles! Evil pirate rats! Plucky woodland heroes! Strange undertones of race theory and absolutely no attention to actual mustelid behavior! Did anyone ever bother to tell Brian Jacques that otters and badgers are also mustelids like ferrets and prey on mice? Apparently not!
Ahem. For a later Redwall book, only half-trying with the formula, this one works well. There's a fun heist with the pearls and a connection to the original Redwall book through Matthias's grandson Martin. After the original three, Mariel, Salamandastron, and this one are the only ones I remember with real fondness.
Ahem. For a later Redwall book, only half-trying with the formula, this one works well. There's a fun heist with the pearls and a connection to the original Redwall book through Matthias's grandson Martin. After the original three, Mariel, Salamandastron, and this one are the only ones I remember with real fondness.
February 11, 2021
This was a fun, feel-good, family-friendly fantasy that took me back to my childhood and gave me nice, warm-fuzzies upon finishing. It's not a hard or complex read, but it certainly is fun.
Brian Jacques will always live in my heart as the author that first inspired me to start writing. His book, (which begins the series in which Pearls of Lutra takes place), was a source of endless excitement and adventure for my middle school mind. Now, decades later, I have finally found my way back to Redwall Abbey, this time following a swash-buckling tale of wicked kings, fearsome pirates, confusing riddles, horrifying kidnappings, and a set of six stolen pearls. What's not to love?
The nice thing about the Redwall series is that each book stands alone plot-wise. You can pick up this book, which is technically #9 in the series, and not need to know much about the rest to still enjoy it. However, every book is connected as a sort of "history of Redwall", with each one encompassing a specific generation so that, as you move through the series, you're moving through time and the history of the area. It's a fabulous way to write a series! Even with having not read a single Redwall book for almost 20 years now, I still recognized references and recollections in this book that hearkened back to the ones I'd read as a kid. Matthias, the hero of book one, is now the legend of book nine, as is Mattimeo. It was fun to read about these characters many years later through the eyes of a Redwall Abbey that is also many generations removed from them. I would love to actually sit down and read the entire series some day and follow the full historical plot of the Redwall story. It reminds me of C. S . Lewis' autobiography where he talks of creating worlds and kingdoms and maps of a fantasy animal-world as a kid. Brian Jacques and he would have been bffs.
Indeed, you'll catch a whiff of Narnia as you explore the halls of Redwall.
This is not a hard read nor is it too involved. The writing style is beautiful but simple, as are the characters. There is little depth or development, and its simplicity is what loses it a star. However, that same simplicity makes it accessible to all ages. I enjoyed this book now as an adult just as much as I did as a kid. I'm also not a big fan of animalism, but that's just me. I envision the characters as people, even though they are all manner of animals. But that's just my preference.
What I remember most about Redwall when I read it as a kid is the food. And this book was no different. I have never read a book that describes food like this series does. I don't recommend reading it when hungry or fasting! Goodness, I want to just steal into the book just to eat wat they're serving! The setting is also wonderful. You will wish Redwall was real. I loved the way Martin the Warrior was written (both the legend and his namesake!). Strong but also full of emotion and grit. I loved the morals and the redemption theme. The nod to mysticism and miracle-working saints was a nice touch that I missed as a kid but appreciate better now as an adult. The one romance was so vague it is very hard to believe, and there are quite a few cliches, but it was still just a nice read. Some violence, but it's not overly grotesque. My only main complaint is the simplicity of the characters.
If you're looking for an easy adventure or a wholesome book to read to your kids together as a family, I heartily recommend the Redwall series. It's a good "beginner high fantasy", a step above Narnia but not quite into the realm of Sanderson or Eddings, and it will delight no matter your age. I thoroughly enjoyed coming back to it!
Brian Jacques will always live in my heart as the author that first inspired me to start writing. His book, (which begins the series in which Pearls of Lutra takes place), was a source of endless excitement and adventure for my middle school mind. Now, decades later, I have finally found my way back to Redwall Abbey, this time following a swash-buckling tale of wicked kings, fearsome pirates, confusing riddles, horrifying kidnappings, and a set of six stolen pearls. What's not to love?
The nice thing about the Redwall series is that each book stands alone plot-wise. You can pick up this book, which is technically #9 in the series, and not need to know much about the rest to still enjoy it. However, every book is connected as a sort of "history of Redwall", with each one encompassing a specific generation so that, as you move through the series, you're moving through time and the history of the area. It's a fabulous way to write a series! Even with having not read a single Redwall book for almost 20 years now, I still recognized references and recollections in this book that hearkened back to the ones I'd read as a kid. Matthias, the hero of book one, is now the legend of book nine, as is Mattimeo. It was fun to read about these characters many years later through the eyes of a Redwall Abbey that is also many generations removed from them. I would love to actually sit down and read the entire series some day and follow the full historical plot of the Redwall story. It reminds me of C. S . Lewis' autobiography where he talks of creating worlds and kingdoms and maps of a fantasy animal-world as a kid. Brian Jacques and he would have been bffs.
Indeed, you'll catch a whiff of Narnia as you explore the halls of Redwall.
This is not a hard read nor is it too involved. The writing style is beautiful but simple, as are the characters. There is little depth or development, and its simplicity is what loses it a star. However, that same simplicity makes it accessible to all ages. I enjoyed this book now as an adult just as much as I did as a kid. I'm also not a big fan of animalism, but that's just me. I envision the characters as people, even though they are all manner of animals. But that's just my preference.
What I remember most about Redwall when I read it as a kid is the food. And this book was no different. I have never read a book that describes food like this series does. I don't recommend reading it when hungry or fasting! Goodness, I want to just steal into the book just to eat wat they're serving! The setting is also wonderful. You will wish Redwall was real. I loved the way Martin the Warrior was written (both the legend and his namesake!). Strong but also full of emotion and grit. I loved the morals and the redemption theme. The nod to mysticism and miracle-working saints was a nice touch that I missed as a kid but appreciate better now as an adult. The one romance was so vague it is very hard to believe, and there are quite a few cliches, but it was still just a nice read. Some violence, but it's not overly grotesque. My only main complaint is the simplicity of the characters.
If you're looking for an easy adventure or a wholesome book to read to your kids together as a family, I heartily recommend the Redwall series. It's a good "beginner high fantasy", a step above Narnia but not quite into the realm of Sanderson or Eddings, and it will delight no matter your age. I thoroughly enjoyed coming back to it!
November 24, 2022
I had really fond memories of this one from when I was a kid, but on re-reading as an adult this feels like a pretty weak installment in the series.
There are three totally unrelated storylines, held together by the fact that they're all in the same universe. But like, why is Tansy searching for the pearls when it is obvious that they're absolutely not going to be used as a ransom?
Why does Mad Eyes want the pearls in the first place? His rant near the end comes totally out of the blue and is completely divorced from reality. It undermined this otherwise cold, calculating, scarily controlled villain and turned him into a bit of a clown? Granted, that may have been my voicing choices that built him up as that more than the text might support.
Also, Martin went berserk on the lizards, escalating the situation to the point where they had to sail across an ocean to get the pearls back instead of just "okay chill we don't have the pearls but we'll figure it out." Like, ultimately, the only reason they didn't want to give the pearls that they didn't even know they had to the lizards is because...oh no the lizards are big and scary?
Lastly, it seems like people are mean to one another a LOT in this one? Like, calling each other "maggot" and just generally not quite as nice. PARTICULARLY Tansy. The decision to make her Abbess at the end was...weird. Like, she's mean to Viola, causes the death of her friend, is repeatedly rude to Gerul, and is described as being hardly older than a Dibbun? But she can solve puzzles (except not really, it's usually someone else spelling out the solution to her), so I guess she can be the Abbess?
There are three totally unrelated storylines, held together by the fact that they're all in the same universe. But like, why is Tansy searching for the pearls when it is obvious that they're absolutely not going to be used as a ransom?
Why does Mad Eyes want the pearls in the first place? His rant near the end comes totally out of the blue and is completely divorced from reality. It undermined this otherwise cold, calculating, scarily controlled villain and turned him into a bit of a clown? Granted, that may have been my voicing choices that built him up as that more than the text might support.
Also, Martin went berserk on the lizards, escalating the situation to the point where they had to sail across an ocean to get the pearls back instead of just "okay chill we don't have the pearls but we'll figure it out." Like, ultimately, the only reason they didn't want to give the pearls that they didn't even know they had to the lizards is because...oh no the lizards are big and scary?
Lastly, it seems like people are mean to one another a LOT in this one? Like, calling each other "maggot" and just generally not quite as nice. PARTICULARLY Tansy. The decision to make her Abbess at the end was...weird. Like, she's mean to Viola, causes the death of her friend, is repeatedly rude to Gerul, and is described as being hardly older than a Dibbun? But she can solve puzzles (except not really, it's usually someone else spelling out the solution to her), so I guess she can be the Abbess?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2018
Not a bad entry, but very busy and with a surfeit of tedious characters. Clecky needed to fall into a hole of editorial excision and never return, and the "cute" trio of Dibbuns was obnoxious. All four characters were a waste of paper that could have been better devoted to exploring Romsca, the ferret corsair with a conscience who protected Father Abbot Durral. Jacques has never been nuanced in his portrayal and examination of nature versus nurture and good versus evil, and this could have been a rare opportunity to play with the idea of redemption and repentance. Romsca could have survived and gone to live at Redwall, where she could have renounced her past and served as an example of the possibilities inherent in opportunity. But nope. What this book needs is pages and pages of Dibbun hilarity and endless bouts of Clecky the hare eating the cupboards bare. Yippee.
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