Redwall series returns with final book Orphans of Mossflower in 2027

The Redwall fantasy series will return with a 23rd novel, Orphans of Mossflower, 15 years after the death of author Brian Jacques. Publisher Penguin announced the book for release on Sept. 7, 2027, alongside a boxed set containing the other 22 novels in the series. Both releases coincide with the 40th anniversary of the series, which first appeared in the U.K. in 1986 and in the United States a year later.

Jacques wrote the Redwall novels for 25 years, from 1986 until his death in 2011. The Rogue Crew, released three months after he died, has stood as the final entry in the series ever since. The new book is being advertised as written by Jacques, though no official plot synopsis has been released.

Fans have suspected a 23rd book existed in some form for more than a decade. In 2010, Penguin ran a contest that let one fan name a character in the next Redwall novel. The winner came forward in 2015 with details about the character, and fans realized that character did not appear in The Rogue Crew, fueling the theory that another manuscript existed.

The contest winner's account offers the strongest hints about the plot. The character, named Reisa Kartwell, is a cartographer whose map of efficient travel paths proves invaluable when the Redwallers must quickly reach Salamandastron because Redwall is under attack. The title points to the Mossflower Woods, a recurring location in the series whose most notable landmark is Redwall Abbey, suggesting the Abbey's residents may have to evacuate their home.

The last several novels Jacques wrote before his death all took place consecutively, unlike earlier entries that jumped around the Redwall universe's timeline. That pattern suggests Orphans of Mossflower will serve as a direct sequel to The Rogue Crew.

The announcement was first spotted by the Redwall fan wiki. More details are expected as the release date approaches. The book's path to readers has not been entirely smooth in other media: Over the Garden Wall creator Patrick McHale was slated to develop a Redwall adaptation for Netflix, but that project was canceled earlier this year.