The Taggerung
📘 About This Book
The fourteenth book in the beloved, bestselling Redwall saga - soon to be a major Netflix movie! Sawney Rath, ferret chief of the Juska tribe, and his band of villains kidnap a baby otter from Redwall to raise him as the Taggerung - a legendary animal said to have supernatural fighting skills. The young otter is trained to be a ruthless killer, but the Redwall spirit lies deep within him and as he grows older he begins to dream of another life . . .
📖 Summary
The fourteenth installment in Brian Jacques's beloved, bestselling Redwall saga invites readers back into a rich, immersive world of courageous woodland creatures and cunning villains. At the center of this sweeping juvenile fiction epic is a young baby otter who is kidnapped from the safety and peace of Redwall Abbey by Sawney Rath, the treacherous ferret chief of the Juska tribe. The villains harbor a dark and ambitious goal: to raise the infant as the Taggerung, a legendary figure of ancient lore believed to possess supernatural fighting skills and unmatched martial prowess. As the captive otter grows under the harsh and ruthless tutelage of his captors, he is rigorously trained to become an unmerciful killer, meant to serve as a supreme weapon for the Juska tribe. Yet, despite the cruel environment and the relentless conditioning imposed upon him, the gentle and honorable spirit of Redwall remains buried deep within his soul. As he matures into adulthood, the young warrior begins to experience vivid dreams of another life, one filled with kindness, community, and peace rather than bloodshed and tyranny. This internal conflict sets the stage for a compelling journey of self-discovery, identity, and the enduring power of one's true upbringing. The narrative weaves together classic themes of nature versus nurture, loyalty, and the eternal struggle between the forces of good and evil. Readers follow the otter's harrowing path as he wrestles with the destiny forced upon him versus the destiny he chooses for himself. Alongside this central plot, the rich tapestry of the Redwall universe expands with memorable characters, high-stakes adventures, and the vivid world-building that has made the series a timeless classic for generations of readers young and old. The book captures the essence of classic heroism, testing the boundaries of morality and the capacity for redemption in a world where violence often seems the only path. As anticipation builds toward a major Netflix adaptation of the saga, revisiting or discovering this fourteenth volume offers a thrilling reminder of why these stories continue to resonate so deeply with fans of fantasy and adventure.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Engaging and fast-paced fantasy adventure
Deeply imaginative world-building typical of the Redwall series
Compelling internal conflict regarding identity and destiny
Memorable characters both heroic and villainous
⚠️ Cons
Can feel formulaic for readers familiar with earlier Redwall books
Contains dark themes of kidnapping and combat that may require parental guidance for very young readers
✍️ About the Author
❓ FAQ
What number book in the Redwall series is The Taggerung? +
The Taggerung is the fourteenth book in the bestselling Redwall saga.
Who kidnaps the baby otter in the story? +
Sawney Rath, the ferret chief of the Juska tribe, kidnaps the baby otter.
What is a Taggerung? +
A Taggerung is a legendary animal in lore said to possess supernatural fighting skills.
Does the young otter remain a ruthless killer? +
Though trained to be ruthless, the Redwall spirit lies deep within him, and he eventually begins to dream of another life.
When was this book published? +
The Taggerung was published in the year 2011.
