THE SABLE QUEAN: A Tale of Redwall
by Brian Jacques
Philomel/Penguin Young Readers Group
ISBN: 9780399251641
Ages 10-up
368 pages
Redwall Abbey is hundreds of years old. It has withstood countless assaults and provided shelter for many travelers. Its history is as colorful as the beautiful Mossflower woodlands where it sits. Heroes have come and gone, often leaving the inhabitants of the Abbey with fantastic tales to tell their young ones. The Abbey brims with such stories and the reputation of its great cuisine. Any who go through its welcoming doors are treated to the best food imaginable:
From end to end the tables groaned under the array of fresh breads, salads, cheeses and pastries… platters of scones, tarts, cakes and pies, each with a different filling, most topped with whipped honey or meadowcream. The centerpiece was a magnificent flan of strawberries, plums and damsons set in red currant jelly on a shortcake base.
Abbess Marjoram is proud of the Abbey she oversees and prouder still of the gentle, simple creatures living in its protective walls. Its peaceful existence, however, seems too often threatened by one marauder or another. This time, the threat concerns their Dibbuns (children) who have been disappearing.
Now the entire Abbey is in chaos and fear when two Long Patrol hares from the Salamandastron valley appear on their doorstep: Buckler Blademaster and his fat but noble friend, Subaltern Meliton Gubthorpe Digglethwaite, otherwise known as Diggs. It does not take them long to take in the situation and agree to find the missing Dibbuns, whatever the risk.
Meanwhile, plots are being put into action under the evil direction of a villainous badger, Vilaya the Sable Quean. Her quest is to overtake the Abbey, and her plan is to undermine the inhabitants so they will bow to her will. What better way than to threaten these families by stealing the children --- they will be so terrified that they will hardly put up a fight. Her chosen partner is none other than the menacing Zwilt the Shade. Zwilt is well known for his abilities as a swordsman, but also for his totally ruthless disregard for anyone who gets in his way. Vilaya is even more deadly, never trusting anyone (and definitely not Zwilt). But Vilaya and Zwilt have no idea that by taking children from the Abbey, they have unleashed the wrath of every Abbey dweller along with the formidable talents of Buckler and Diggs.
No battles are won without bloodshed. Sacrifices are made, which are painful and sometimes senseless. Zwilt and Vilaya leave a trail of dead bodies wherever they go, eventually ending in a surprising confrontation between the two. But this is just one of many twists as the Ravenger vermin push their way to the Abbey.
When Zwilt and the Ravengers break into the Abbey, the battle between Buckler and Zwilt ensues. Surprisingly, Zwilt gets the drop on the mighty hare, and with the help of Zwilt’s guards, Buckler is cornered:
Zwilt stood over his victim, raising the big broadsword aloft to judge the strike. “Well, rabbet, you don’t look so brave now, do you?”
In his 21st book of Redwall, Brian Jacques manages again to keep his readers on the edge. His villains are horrible, his heroes are mighty, and the Abbey food is delectable. Join the throngs who love these books because THE SABLE QUEAN does not disappoint. For more fun and information, visit www.theredwallexperience.com. Jacques has done it again!
--- Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts
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