Martin the mouse was rescued from enslavement, and sets off on a journey to raise an army to rescue the other slaves held in the fort Marshank by Badrang the Tyrant. This tale is a legend in the other Redwall books, and is here revealed in its entirety by travelers stopping by the abbey. The world of these small human-like animals is given rich detail in setting. Songs and odd accents abound, making for reading that can be at turns interesting and frustrating. The fact that chapters consist of many small sections of about three to four paragraphs each may help those with shorter attention spans, but may also cause those looking for a deeper experience to drift away. Readers may also want a dictionary close at hand, as many words that are not everyday speech make appearances. Also, I don't think I've ever encountered a piece of fiction that mentions food so much; it seems like every few pages someone is eating something that is described in loving detail. The plot felt very thin and predictable right up to the conclusion, where suddenly things coalesced into an exciting, emotional climax. Seekers of action will feel very at home here. ( )

This is definitely my favorite Redwall book. It held me from the first page and it explains Martin's backstory very well. I love the thirst for vengeance and liberty that the slaves show and Ballaw is just hilarious! ( )

A prequel to Redwall. A very dark children's book (as is only natural). There IS violence. There IS death. It follows the story of the legendary warrior, Martin, before he founded Redwall. He begins as a young slave, railing against his captors, vowing to free his friends. There are some heart wrenching moments as well as the requisite 1001 meals. Jacques is obsessed with food. ( )

The inspiration of Matthias in Jacques' "Redwall", Martin the Warrior is the hero that every small mouse needs to have. He fights for what's right, and those who can't defend themselves. Most of all, he knows when to hang up his sword and found an abbey. ( )

Martin the Warrior . . what a hero. ( )