Softcover

ISBN 10: 0099264366 ISBN 13: 9780099264361

Publisher: Red Fox, 1999

Queen Silth rules Castle Marl from behind the curtains of her palanquin. Greedy and vain, she has sent her six children into the world to plunder treasure. Stealth and cunning are the traits of the Marlfox. Known only in Redwall country by legend, they are said to able to appear and disappear by magic. When the strange creatures begin to appear in Mossflower Woods, it is clear that evil is abroad. A kidnapping and a cunning raid to steal the beautiful Redwall tapestry confirm the worst; Redwall is under threat! Three young friends, fated by the prophecy of Martin the Warrior, pursue the villains in a quest of daring, courage and wit to return the beloved tapestry to its home.

Review:

For this enchanting novel Brian Jacques has brought to bear the experience of his eventful and adventuresome life--a life which has taken him all over the world and seen him variously described as folk singer, playwright and broadcaster. No doubt his usual writing environment, garden in summer conservatory in winter, provides him with the ideal theatre for observing the wildlife on which the book's unusual central characters are based.

It is, perhaps, appropriate that the story line revolves around the theft of the famous Redwall Tapestry, for Marlfox is a richly woven tapestry, skilfully running together threads of the magical and mythical with the "natural world", to give its audience a heady blend of fairy tale and medieval adventure. The result is a tale of grand themes and conflicting human passions played out against a backdrop of humour and uncertainty; yet the author manages never to lose sight of the reality of life as experienced by the human and animal kingdoms alike.

Young readers will gorge themselves on this literary feast, a spread worthy of comparison to other classics in this vein such as The Hobbit,Duncton Wood, The Mythical Knights of the Round Table.

Review:

"Not since Roald Dahl have children filled their shelves so compulsively" (The Times)