Final Redwall Book Orphans of Mossflower Set for 2027 Release

For 25 years from 1986 to 2011, writer Brian Jacques delighted readers with his Redwall series of fantasy novels. The Rogue Crew arrived in 2011, three months after Jacques died. For 15 years, that book remained the final entry in the series, but a new installment is on the way.

As spotted by the Redwall fan wiki, a 23rd book in the series has been announced for release next year. The novel, titled Orphans of Mossflower, arrives on Sept. 7, 2027. Publisher Penguin releases it alongside a boxed set containing the other 22 novels in the series. Both releases coincide with the 40th anniversary of the franchise, which debuted in the U.K. in 1986 and in the United States a year later. While specific details remain scarce, Orphans of Mossflower is credited as being written by Jacques.

Fans suspected a 23rd book existed in some form for over a decade. In 2010, publisher Penguin held a contest that allowed one fan to name a character in the upcoming Redwall novel. The winner came forward in 2015 with details on that character. Because the character did not appear in The Rogue Crew, fans theorized that another unpublished manuscript existed.

What will the Orphans of Mossflower be about?

No official plot synopsis for the new novel is available yet. The final several novels Jacques wrote before his death take place consecutively, unlike earlier entries that jumped around the Redwall timeline. Given that structure, Orphans of Mossflower will likely serve as a direct sequel to The Rogue Crew. The Mossflower Woods serve as a recurring setting in the series, anchored by the landmark Redwall Abbey. The title suggests the residents of the Abbey may need to evacuate their home.

That theory is supported by plot details the contest winner revealed to the Redwall wiki. The character, a cartographer named Reisa Kartwell, possesses a map depicting efficient travel paths that “proves invaluable when the Redwallers must quickly reach Salamandastron when Redwall is under attack.” Publishers will likely share more information as the release date approaches. Meanwhile, Over the Garden Wall creator Patrick McHale was previously slated to develop an adaptation of the series for Netflix, but Netflix canceled the project earlier this year.

Source: Polygon