Redwall is returning with a 23rd novel
Brian Jacques’ Redwall fantasy series is set to continue in 2027, 16 years after the author’s death and 15 years after the publication of its previous book.
The Rogue Crew arrived in 2011, three months after Jacques died, and has remained the series’ latest entry. The new book, Orphans of Mossflower, is scheduled for release on 7 September 2027.
The launch will coincide with a new boxed set collecting all 22 existing novels. Both releases mark the 40th anniversary of the series, which began in the United Kingdom in 1986 before reaching the United States in 1987.
Although few details have been announced, the publisher is presenting Orphans of Mossflower as a book written by Jacques.
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Why fans thought a 23rd Redwall book existed
Speculation about another novel has circulated for more than a decade. In 2010, Penguin ran a competition allowing one fan to name a character intended for a future Redwall story.
The competition winner shared information about that character in 2015. Readers noticed that the character did not appear in The Rogue Crew, strengthening the theory that a separate, unfinished or unreleased book remained.
What could Orphans of Mossflower be about?
There is no official plot synopsis yet. Jacques’ final several novels followed one another in sequence, unlike earlier instalments that moved between different points in the wider Redwall timeline. That pattern suggests the new story could follow The Rogue Crew directly, although this has not been confirmed.
Mossflower Woods is one of the setting’s recurring locations, with Redwall Abbey its best-known landmark. The new title may indicate that the Abbey’s residents are forced to leave their home, though the reason remains unknown.
Additional clues come from plot details the contest winner revealed. The named character, Reisa Kartwell, was described as a cartographer whose map of efficient travel routes becomes vital when Redwallers need to reach Salamandastron quickly during an attack.
More information is expected as the 2027 publication date approaches. An animated adaptation previously being developed for Netflix by Over the Garden Wall creator Patrick McHale was canceled earlier this year.
While the story is still under wraps, readers can follow further announcements through the RETROCADE video section and keep the wider release news in view through the site’s gaming news coverage.
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