Paula Rohrlick (KLIATT Review, September 2002 (Vol. 36, No. 5))
This is the 15th book in Jacques' epic series about adventurous woodland creatures, both noble and dastardly. Here our heroes are Triss the squirrelmaid, Shogg the otter, and Welfo the hogmaid, who escape from slavery and head across the sea toward Redwall. Nasty brother and sister ferrets Princess Kurda and Prince Bladd are on their trail, while a badger, an otter, and a hare head out to sea too, searching for the lost treasure of Brockhall. Fights, escapades, feasts and humor abound, along with lots of folksy British dialect. Redwall fans won't want to miss this latest fantasy, and those new to the series can easily pick it up here. Illustrated with b/w drawings. (Redwall series) Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: JSA--Recommended for junior and senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2002, Penguin Putnam/Philomel, 400p. illus. map., $23.99. Ages 12 to adult.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2003)
This fifteen Redwall book continues the pattern: contentment, good cheer, plentiful food, and fine companions exist side-by-side with adventure, mayhem, and death, but in the end the goodness of the Abbey world prevails. With at least four story lines always in play and numerous characters, it's a wonder it ever gets sorted out. Jacques pulls it all together, so that lovers of Redwall will find this another satisfying read. Category: Intermediate Fiction. 2002, Philomel, 391pp, $23.99. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average.

Virginia Gleaton (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 15, No. 4))
A new hero, Triss, is created in this adventure story. As usual, Jacques takes the reader on many unexpected twists and turns. This book is another addition to the Redwall series. This book was somewhat less interesting than some of his others. The language that was used, indicating an accent or brogue, was a little hard to read and follow. However, if the reader is really fond of the Redwall series, he/she will like this book. Fiction. Grades 6-8. 2002, Philomel Books, 389p, $23.99. Ages 11 to 14.

Bill Mollineaux (VOYA, December 2002 (Vol. 25, No. 5))
Fervent Redwall fans and newcomers will welcome the fifteenth book in this highly acclaimed and popular series. Scrumptious feasts, rollicking humor, swashbuckling heroes, faithful friends, and treacherous villains magically combine through three intertwined action-packed plots into one unforgettable, spellbinding story. When two Dibbuns, tired of going to bed early, sneak off into the Mossflower woodland and get lost, they accidentally discover the forgotten secret entrance to Brockhall, the original home of the badgers, but they are unable to remember the exact location. Triss, a brave squirrelmaid slave, escapes the clutches of the evil ferret King Agarnu and his murderous daughter Princess Kurda, incurring Kurda's wrath and unquenchable thirst for revenge. After capturing the newly built ship that was to take Kurda and her bumbling brother Prince Bladd to Mossflower to find out if the previous king is alive or dead, Agarnu hires treacherous freebooters to carry out the mission, enabling vengeful Kurda to pursue Triss. The rebellious son of the great badger ruler of Salamandastron and his friend run away, searching for adventure and wind up joining forces with Triss and the Redwallers as they discover Brockhall and defeat the freebooters. Jacques combines these three stories with three smelly and sinister snakes and a secret code that is the key to discovering Brockhall's location, rewarding readers with an unforgettable adventure. Readers will want to use the code to decipher and reply to the invitation at the story's conclusion. When animal fantasy buffs have sated themselves with all the Redwall books, they might enjoy Avi's Poppy series, Robin Jarvis's Deptford Mice trilogy, and books by David Clement-Davies. VOYA CODES: 5Q 5P M J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2002, Philomel, 432p, $23.99. Ages 11 to 18.