Salamandastron
Jacket cover of USA edition:
When the mountain stronghold of Salamandastron, ruled under the iron paw of badger lord Urthstripe the Strong, is besieged by the ruthless weasel Ferahgo the Assassin, the destinies of five creatures become intertwined: Samkim and Arula from Redwall Abbey, Mara and Pikkle of Salamandastron, and Klitch, son of Ferahgo. Why did Martin the Warrior’s sword fall from the Abbey roof? Will Thrugg and Dumble find the flowers of Icetor in time to stop the raging fever sweeping the Abbey? Who is the white badger? And can the good creatures triumph over the villainous Ferahgo? These momentous questions in this, the fifth epic of Brian Jacques’s Redwall series, will hold a new generation of readers in the magic spell of Redwall, and captivate dedicated followers as well.
My rating: *****/10 stars
Main hero: Urthstripe the Strong the badger
Excerpt from Redwall Friend and Foe:
Orphaned as a babe, Urthstripe the Strong is Badger Lord of Salamandastron. When the mountain fortress comes under attack from Ferahgo the Assassin, Urthstripe is disturbed by a sense of the familiar about his opponent--explained by the face that Ferahgo murdered Urthstripe's parents. A fierce warrior of huge strength combined with surprising agility, Urthstripe gives up his life in defense of Salamandastron and his twin brother, Urthwyte, with whom he is not reunited until it is tragically too late.
Main villain: Ferahgo the Assassin the weasel
Excerpt from Redwall Friend and Foe:
An evil and pitiless weasel, Ferahgo the Assassin's pale blue eyes and seemingly friendly smile conceal the depth of villainy to which he is able to sink. Having killed the parents of Urthstripe and Urthwyte, Ferahgo leaves the two badger babes to die--a mistake that proves fatal when he later goes in search of the rumored treasure of Salamandastron, where Urthstripe is Badger Lord. Dismissing badgers as fierce fighters who lack cunning and are hampered by conscience, Ferahgo underestimates his opponent at the expense of his life.
Badger hero/heroine: Mara and Urthwyte the Mighty
Excerpt from The Tribes of Redwall: Badgers
Mara:
Adopted as a babe by the Badger Lord Urthstripe the Strong, Mara becomes increasingly resentful of the restrictions imposed by the regime at Salamandastron. She runs away, but it is not long before life teaches her to appreciate Urthstripe's integrity, and when she returns to the mountain she is devestated that it is too late to call him, in life, by his real title: Father. Her own destiny is carved on the walls of the secret chamber: Guardian of Redwall Abbey.
Urthwyte:
After the death of his parents at the paws of Ferahgo the Assassin, the white badgerbabe is cared for by his grandmother Loambudd. A simple soul, gentle at times but savage when needs be, Urthwyte eagerly joins Mara's quest to help Urthstripe in his fight against Ferahgo, but reaches Salamandastron only in time to see his brother leap to his death from the mountaintop. Every inch the true warrior now, Urthwyte takes up his destiny as Lord of Salamandastron.
Otter hero/heroine: Thrugg
A loyal, garrulous otter, Thrugg helps to keep Redwall under control during the rule of Abbess Vale. And when the Abbey falls sick under the mysterious and deadly Dryditch Fever, Thrugg valiantly offers to go and find the flowers of Icetor...alone. On the way, he finds that one of the Dibbuns, Dumble, has accompanied him despite his insistence that he travel solo, and to his surprise, he becomes fast friends with the little dormouse. Upon returning to Redwall Abbey, flowers of Icetor in paw, Thrugg is presented with a specially carved bowl and spoon, made of applewood, for his bravery.
Pages: 391
Covers:
