Salamandastron
Review
Salamandastron is the fifth book in the Redwall series. It tells the story of two parallel conflicts: the siege of Salamandastron by Ferahgo the Assassin and a devastating plague at Redwall Abbey.
Salamandastron breaks new ground in the Redwall series in several ways:
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For the first time, vermin (Dingeye and Thura) are welcomed into Redwall, though they later accidentally betray this trust.
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The Abbey faces an internal threat—a plague—rather than the usual external enemies.
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The story follows three parallel quests instead of one: Mara and Pikkle’s mission to save Salamandastron, Arula and Samkim’s search for Martin’s sword, and Thrugg and Dumble’s race to find a cure for the fever.
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The battles feel weighty and damaging, even to the victors.
Salamandastron features the first true war in the Redwall series: we witness warrior hares defending their mountain fortress against thousands of vermin in a full-scale conflict. In the previous Redwall sieges, the death of a defender was a major, book-defining moment; in the siege of Salamandastron, hares die with only half a sentence spared to mention it. It makes the war feel cruel and impersonal. The Long Patrol fought in Mariel of Redwall, but this appearance highlights their mythical, Spartan-like qualities: heroic, selfless, and willing to fight to the death in service of their mission.
Ferahgo and his son are fine villains, and their strained relationship adds some depth, but they come across as a second take on Slagar from Mattimeo: tricksters in charge of an army. Still, they fulfill their role as hateable antagonists who meet satisfying ends.
My favorite characters were the falcons and eagles of the north with their outrageous Scottish accents. Reading their dialogue aloud was particularly entertaining for my kids.
Salamandastron marks a departure from earlier books in the series. It stands largely independent, with most characters appearing only in this volume. The combat is grittier and the stakes feel higher. After the final battle, the hares and heroes look around at the carnage and realize with horror what they’ve done, something brand new in a series that typically treats battles as relatively clean affairs where characters may die but the violence itself is glossed over.
The kids once again loved it, and are looking forward to Martin the Warrior.