Ever look at your kid—the one currently trying to flush a Hot Wheels car down the toilet—and wonder if they'll ever actually become a functional member of society? Because that's exactly the vibe Mattimeo gives off in the first few chapters.
He's spoiled, he's grumpy, and honestly? He kind of deserves a timeout. But since this is a Brian Jacques book, his timeout involves getting kidnapped by a fox wearing a creepy mask.
I listened to this mostly during the "witching hour"—that 5 PM to 7 PM stretch where everyone is hungry, crying, or needs help with math I don't remember learning. And let me tell you, having a full-cast adventure blasting in one earbud is a solid coping mechanism.
Not Just a Book, It's a Whole Production
This isn't your standard "soothing voice puts you to sleep" audiobook. It's a full-blown radio play from the 90s. Brian Jacques narrates the main prose himself, and he's got this thick, gravelly Liverpool accent that feels like a grandpa telling scary stories by a fire. He doesn't just read; he performs.
Then you've got the cast. The rats sound scratchy and mean. The shrews are high-pitched and argumentative (reminded me of my kids fighting over the iPad, actually). There's music. There are sound effects. When swords clash, you hear the metal.
The full-cast treatment reminds me of what they did with Something Wicked This Way Comes—same kind of atmospheric chaos where the sound design is basically its own character.Is it subtle? No. Is it sometimes a little chaotic when you're already overstimulated? Yes. But it keeps you awake. I tried listening to a "calm" literary fiction novel last week and almost drove into a mailbox. This kept my brain firing.
The "Mom Anxiety" Factor Is Real
I'll be honest—the plot is basically a parent's worst nightmare. A bunch of kids get snatched during a festival? Slagar the Cruel is terrifyingly effective as a villain—he's not just "bad," he's psychologically manipulative.
I found myself gripping the steering wheel a little too tight during the scenes where the young ones are forced to march. It's darker than the first Redwall book. There's a real sense of dread in the slavery sequences that made me want to go hug Sophie while she slept.
But that's why it works. Because Mattimeo starts out as such a little brat. You spend the first hour annoyed with him, and the next twelve rooting for him to survive and grow up. The payoff when he finally steps up? Worth every stressful moment.
How It Stacks Up Against the First Two
If you listened to Redwall, you know the drill. But the production quality here feels tighter. The cast seems more settled into their roles. It's definitely a step up from Mossflower in terms of pacing—there's very little downtime here. Just go, go, go.
And unlike some audiobooks where I have to rewind because I zoned out thinking about the grocery list, the musical cues and distinct voices pull you back in. If a badger is yelling, you know it's a badger. You don't need to track "he said, she said" tags.
I had a similar experience with Little Women—also full cast, also the kind of production where you always know exactly who's talking even when you're half-distracted by someone yelling for a snack.Who's This Actually For?
Perfect for parents who need something engaging enough to survive the carpool-homework-dinner gauntlet, or anyone who loved the Redwall series and wants the full theatrical experience. Skip it if your kids are really little (I wouldn't play it for Sophie—too intense), or if you need something low-key. This is not low-key.
The Car Line Consensus
It's 13 hours of chaos, courage, and mice with swords. Just maybe don't listen to the kidnapping scene right before you drop your kids off at school. Too real.
