Sunlight through forest trees – Redwall Books in Order

Redwall Books in Order: The Complete Reading Guide

Updated September 2026

Redwall Books in Order: The Short Answer

There are 22 Redwall novels by Brian Jacques, published from 1986 to 2011, starting with Redwall and ending with The Rogue Crew, which came out a few months after his death. We recommend reading the Redwall books in order of publication. Here's the full list:

  1. Redwall (1986)
  2. Mossflower (1988)
  3. Mattimeo (1989)
  4. Mariel of Redwall (1991)
  5. Salamandastron (1992)
  6. Martin the Warrior (1993)
  7. The Bellmaker (1994)
  8. Outcast of Redwall (1995)
  9. The Pearls of Lutra (1996)
  10. The Long Patrol (1997)
  11. Marlfox (1998)
  12. The Legend of Luke (1999)
  13. Lord Brocktree (2000)
  14. The Taggerung (2001)
  15. Triss (2002)
  16. Loamhedge (2003)
  17. Rakkety Tam (2004)
  18. High Rhulain (2005)
  19. Eulalia! (2007)
  20. Doomwyte (2008)
  21. The Sable Quean (2010)
  22. The Rogue Crew (2011)

The good news for anyone buying used: almost every book is a complete adventure with its own heroes and villains, so a missing volume won't ruin the series. The two exceptions are covered below.

In this guide:

Redwall Chronological Order vs. Publication Order

The books jump around Redwall's history. Lord Brocktree, published thirteenth, is the earliest story; Redwall itself falls ninth in the timeline. Here are both orders side by side:

Timeline position Title Published
1 Lord Brocktree 2000
2 Martin the Warrior 1993
3 Mossflower 1988
4 The Legend of Luke 1999
5 Outcast of Redwall 1995
6 Mariel of Redwall 1991
7 The Bellmaker 1994
8 Salamandastron 1992
9 Redwall 1986
10 Mattimeo 1989
11 The Pearls of Lutra 1996
12 The Long Patrol 1997
13 Marlfox 1998
14 The Taggerung 2001
15 Triss 2002
16 Loamhedge 2003
17 Rakkety Tam 2004
18 High Rhulain 2005
19 Eulalia! 2007
20 Doomwyte 2008
21 The Sable Quean 2010
22 The Rogue Crew 2011

Fans don't agree on every placement, particularly among the later books, where the dates are harder to pin down from the text. Treat the timeline as a good approximation, not scripture.

Which order we recommend

Publication order, starting with Redwall. Three reasons:

  • Redwall is where Jacques introduces the abbey, its customs and the legend of Martin the Warrior. The prequels are written for readers who already know that legend and want to see where it came from.
  • Mattimeo is a direct sequel to Redwall, following Matthias's son. Those two should be read together, in that order.
  • Jacques's writing got more confident over the first few books. Reading the later-written prequels first means starting with a more polished book and then stepping back to a rougher one.

The chronological order is fun for a second pass, especially for kids who have become Martin fans and want his whole story in sequence: Martin the Warrior, then Mossflower, then The Legend of Luke.

Other Good First Redwall Books

Because the books stand alone, many families start wherever a copy turns up. A few that make excellent first books:

  • Redwall: the natural choice. A young mouse, Matthias, searches for a legendary sword while the rat warlord Cluny the Scourge lays siege to the abbey.
  • Mossflower: many longtime fans' favorite. Martin arrives in Mossflower Wood and helps overthrow the wildcat Tsarmina.
  • Martin the Warrior: the darkest and most moving of the early books, with an ending that surprises readers expecting a pure adventure.
  • The Long Patrol: heavy on the hares of Salamandastron, the series' comic relief. Great for kids who love the funny side.
  • Salamandastron: the badger lords' mountain fortress, and a good pick if a reader likes the battle-heavy books.

The Redwall Formula and the Man Behind It

After two or three books, you'll notice the pattern, and kids love it rather than tire of it. A peaceful community of mice, moles, otters, hares, squirrels and badgers is threatened by a band of rats, foxes, stoats or weasels. A young hero sets off on a quest, often solving riddles left by Martin the Warrior. There's a siege, a great battle and, without fail, a feast described in loving detail.

Brian Jacques (1939–2011) grew up in Liverpool and worked as a sailor, a truck driver and a milkman, among other jobs. He wrote Redwall for the children at a school for the blind on his milk route, which is why his descriptions of food, sound and smell are so vivid. That habit of writing to be heard also makes the books wonderful read-alouds. Our list of read-aloud chapter books for families has more that sound best out loud.

A note on the accents

The moles speak in a thick rustic dialect ("Burr aye, zurr"), the hares in an upper-class English military style, and the sparrows in broken English. Kids tend to find this hilarious. Parents reading aloud should expect a workout, and a few children reading alone find the mole dialect slow going at first.

Redwall Age and Content Guidance

Redwall is usually read by children from about 9 to 13, and plenty of adults reread it. The reading level isn't hard, but the books are long, often 350 pages or more, with big casts.

It is worth knowing that these are war stories. Characters are killed in battle, sometimes characters the reader loves, and the villains can be genuinely cruel. There is no gore to speak of, and no romance beyond an occasional marriage at the end, and no bad language. Good is good and evil is evil, which is part of the appeal for families. A sensitive eight-year-old may still find the sieges and deaths a lot, so consider reading the first one together.

For homeschoolers, Redwall pairs nicely with a unit on medieval life: abbeys, sieges, bells and feasts all appear throughout. Add a novel set in the real Middle Ages from our historical fiction books for students guide and the unit almost plans itself.

It's also a strong bridge for kids moving from shorter chapter books to full-length novels. If you're looking for other books at that stage, our best books for 10-year-olds guide is a good place to browse.

Redwall Picture Books, Companions and the TV Series

Companion books

  • The Great Redwall Feast (1996) and A Redwall Winter's Tale (2001): illustrated picture books in verse.
  • The Redwall Cookbook (2005): recipes for the dishes in the novels. A surprisingly good homeschool kitchen project.
  • Redwall Map and Riddler (1998) and the Tribes of Redwall guides to badgers, otters and mice (2001–2003).
  • Redwall: The Graphic Novel (2007): an adaptation of the first book, handy for reluctant readers. For more ideas, see our books for sixth grade boys who don't like reading.

The animated series

A Canadian animated Redwall series ran for three seasons starting in 1999. Each season adapts one book: Redwall, Mattimeo and Martin the Warrior. It is gentler than the novels and is still sought after on DVD.

What happened to the Netflix adaptation

Netflix acquired the rights in February 2021 and announced a Redwall feature film and a series about Martin the Warrior. In April 2026, it was reported that those animated projects had been cancelled. As things stand, there is no new Redwall film or series on the way.

If your reader finishes all 22, Jacques also wrote the Castaways of the Flying Dutchman trilogy, a sea adventure about a boy and his dog who survive the wreck of the Flying Dutchman and wander the world for centuries. Kids who want another long animal-kingdom saga with battles and loyal friends usually land on dragons next; our Wings of Fire books in order guide lays out that series.

Filling Gaps in a Redwall Set

Hardcovers and paperbacks from several publishers all turn up used, and mismatched editions are part of the charm of a well-read Redwall shelf. Check which Brian Jacques books we have in stock, or browse fantasy and kids' books for similar reads. Shipping is free once your order reaches $15.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Redwall books are there?

Twenty-two novels, from Redwall (1986) to The Rogue Crew (2011), plus picture books, a cookbook and other companion titles.

What order should I read the Redwall books in?

Publication order, starting with Redwall, is best for a first reading. Most books stand alone, but read Redwall before its direct sequel Mattimeo.

What is the first Redwall book chronologically?

Lord Brocktree (2000) is the earliest story in the timeline, followed by Martin the Warrior and Mossflower. Redwall itself comes ninth.

Do you have to read Redwall in order?

No. Nearly every book is a complete story with its own characters. Mattimeo follows directly from Redwall, and the Martin books make more sense after you've met his legend, but otherwise any book can be a starting point.

What age is Redwall for?

Roughly ages 9 to 13, though adults enjoy them too. The books contain battles and character deaths but no gore, romance or bad language.

What was the last Redwall book?

The Rogue Crew, published in May 2011, a few months after Brian Jacques died in February 2011.

Is there a Redwall movie?

Not currently. Netflix acquired the rights in 2021 and planned a film and a Martin the Warrior series, but the projects were reported cancelled in April 2026. A 1999 animated TV series adapted three books.

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