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shynes's review against another edition
4.0
This series was one of my childhood favourites. There’s something so cosy and soothing about medieval woodland creatures. I realised however I’d only read 9/22 of them so I thought this time of year might be a good opportunity to read those I had missed.
This wasn’t one of my personal favourites (3.5), and the characters didn’t endear themselves to me as much as those in previous books. Perhaps it had a few too many battles for my taste - I prefer the myths, storytelling, and sumptuous meal descriptions.
This wasn’t one of my personal favourites (3.5), and the characters didn’t endear themselves to me as much as those in previous books. Perhaps it had a few too many battles for my taste - I prefer the myths, storytelling, and sumptuous meal descriptions.
elliefish's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
vickeyfoggin's review against another edition
5.0
The second book to feature my favourite Redwaller, the plucky mousemaid Mariel. A bit different from the other Redwall books in that most of the book takes place in the land of Southward, ruled by Gael Squirrelking. Some great characters in this one like the simple good-hearted searat Blaggut and the hedgehog Bowly Pintips who fights evil with a pawful of rock hard stale scones. A rollicking adventure!
theineffablef's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
robotnik's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
twilliamson's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Although The Bellmaker starts off a little bumpy, the whole of the book is much more consistent than its predecessor Mariel of Redwall, with a story that feels much more cohesive and a whole lot of fun. Its villain is perhaps one of the least interesting of any of the first seven books, but for what it might lack in villainy it more than makes up for with hilarious new characters, some brave and intrepid new adventurers, and some old friends familiar to readers of Mariel.
I'm not going to go in deep on what about the book didn't work for me, although there are definitely some strands left unfinished and some elements of the book I felt deserved a lot more development. Instead, I want to focus on what is surely the best part of the book: Blaggut and Finnbarr, the book's two standout new characters. In all of the series, only maybe a couple of characters are cooler than these two, one a kind-hearted former searat and the other a swashbuckling rogue always ready for a fight.
This book really marks Redwall's full ascendance into swashbuckler territory, with sea adventures aplenty to synchronize with another annal of war, though this time set in a completely different region of Jacques' world. Southsward is a neat territory, with Castle Floret at its center, and while I would have loved to read more of its own cultural history, the story of Joseph and his eventual contribution to Southsward's war for freedom from Urgan Nagru is great.
I will never let go of Redwall as a series and as an ideal, and The Bellmaker is just yet another stellar chapter in its histories.
I'm not going to go in deep on what about the book didn't work for me, although there are definitely some strands left unfinished and some elements of the book I felt deserved a lot more development. Instead, I want to focus on what is surely the best part of the book: Blaggut and Finnbarr, the book's two standout new characters. In all of the series, only maybe a couple of characters are cooler than these two, one a kind-hearted former searat and the other a swashbuckling rogue always ready for a fight.
This book really marks Redwall's full ascendance into swashbuckler territory, with sea adventures aplenty to synchronize with another annal of war, though this time set in a completely different region of Jacques' world. Southsward is a neat territory, with Castle Floret at its center, and while I would have loved to read more of its own cultural history, the story of Joseph and his eventual contribution to Southsward's war for freedom from Urgan Nagru is great.
I will never let go of Redwall as a series and as an ideal, and The Bellmaker is just yet another stellar chapter in its histories.
superdreuzel's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ewreath's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0