Hollyleaf's Story

Warriors Novellas #1

by Erin Hunter

When Hollyleaf disappeared in the tunnels by the Lake, ThunderClan believed she was gone forever. But her adventure was only beginning . . .

Lost and lonely, Hollyleaf soon meets a mysterious cat named Fallen Leaves, who teaches her how to live in the tunnels. Hollyleaf tries to be happy, but she can't help wondering if leaving her Clanmates was the right choice. Hollyleaf knows she's a ThunderClan cat at heart, but can she ever truly go back?

Genres: Fantasy, Animals, Middle Grade, Cats, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens

144 pages, ebook

First published March 13, 2012

About the author

Erin Hunter is the pseudonym of five people: Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry, Tui T. Sutherland, Gillian Philip, and Inbali Iserles, as well as editor Victoria Holmes. Together, they write the Warriors series as well as the Seekers and Survivors series. Erin Hunter is working on a new series now called Bravelands.

Erin Hunter is inspired by a love of cats and a fascination with the ferocity of the natural world. As well as having a great respect for nature in all its forms, Erin enjoys creating rich mythical explanations for animal behavior, shaped by her interest in astronomy and standing stones.

Reviews

[Micheline · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Hollyleaf's Story is an e-book exclusive Special Edition. Much like the other Warriors Special Editions it focuses on one specific character. In this case, it tells the tale of Hollyleaf during the time of her self inflicted exile from the clans. I think the reason it came out as an e-book exclusive is the fact that there really isn't enough material, or plot to make up a full sized book. Nonetheless it was an enjoyable if not entirely surprising story. Much of what takes place in this story was addressed in the main series in some way. Especially for people who knew Hollyleaf was around and would eventually come back (like myself). I still very much enjoyed reading this story. It was a little something extra and very welcome considering the end of the main series.

Before Hollyleaf lost it (during the end of the PO3 series) I enjoyed her character well enough; though never as much as her two brothers. The end of the PO3 series was marked with a rapid decline in her mental and emotional state and to be honest I was a bit relieved when she left. ''Hollyleaf's Story'' provides much needed insight into Hollyleaf's own feelings towards everything that happened. This story really helped me appreciate her character a lot more and it really explains how she changed upon her return in the OotS series... It was also fun to see firsthand how she was always helping Thunderclan when she could.

I enjoyed the relationship with Hollyleaf and Fallen Leaves though I wish Hollyleaf would have figured out why he's never warm and never eats. I mean as the reader we know why, but I was expecting Hollyleaf to figure it out and be shocked or whatever.Fallen Leave's story in itself is so tragic, I was glad he had companionship, if only for a little while. All things considered it wasn't the best or most complete Warriors story I've read, but at this point with the main series done with and the prequel series nowhere near written, I'll take any little piece of the clans I can get. I already miss reading from a warrior cat's perspective...and this was the perfect thing to tide me over until the Yellowfang SE comes out.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Hollyleaf!!!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!!! This was such a good novella!!! It filled in, from Hollyleaf's point of view, what happened to her all those moons after she'd run into the tunnels and before she was brought back to ThunderClan.
When the tunnels collapsed, an injured Hollyleaf managed to make it out of the wreckage, and was saved by Fallen Leaves, who treated her with herbs, and provided her with food and a nest. After she was strong again, she started exploring and patrolling the tunnels with him, learning how to live underground. They become good friends, both with complicated backstories. I loved how the author included Fallen Leaves, the ghost cat, in all of this. His destiny is so so sad though!!! How can he wander around, lonely, in the tunnels forever? It was so sweet how he got to share company with another cat when Hollyleaf arrived, how he looked after her so well and helped her find herself again after she'd been broken by her past. It was completely heartbreaking when she had to leave him behind in the end. "Go well, Hollyleaf. I will never forget you." Aahhh! :,(
So, the story follows Hollyleaf through little events that have a big impact on her life - meeting Fallen Leaves, of course; saving that fox cub only to be forgotten by it later (that was sad!); adapting to the underground; then eventually helping her Clan again - leaving them yarrow, saving them some marigold, rescuing two apprentices from a fox, and then guiding Ivypool and Blossomfall out of the tunnels, all anonymously. During all of this, she realizes that she belongs to her Clan, and that she will go back even if it means facing the past and what she'd been hiding from for so long.
She tells Fallen Leaves and he understands. Soon, she discovers cats in the tunnels yet again, and this time comes out to help Ivy pool and Do viewing get away from their enemies. "Because I'm a ThunderClan cat like you. My name is Hollyleaf"... and she at last steps out from the shadows.
Again, I think it was so sad that she and Fallen Leaves couldn't stay together!!! I think this story was amazing, showing how Hollyleaf changed so much and regained her light. Hollyleaf is an awesome character - I used to like her brothers better, but I really admire her and can feel everything she does now. Go Hollyleaf!!! :D LPP

[Bryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'm very very glad that Hollyleaf survived. But it's kind of sad that her clan doesn't know she's alive, and it's very upsetting that she had to kill Ashfur. But I hope she falls in love with Fallen Leaves. I'm also very glad that she can help her clan by finding different herbs to help the medicine cat.

[skibiditoilet_lover69 · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome

[Emily Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was very great. It showed how Hollyleaf lived and felt after running away from her problems and ThunderClan. I especially loved how the author, Erin Hunter, included Fallen Leaves in the story to care, teach, and help Hollyleaf along the way. Hollyleaf goes through a lot like being lost in tunnels, secretly aiding her clan, getting attacked by seemingly friendly foxes, and being homesick for the clan she had lived in since birth. I would definitely recommend this book to others so they can figure out how Hollyleaf fares in her adventure.

[Michelle Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short read, but still a bit longer than it needed to be when you consider most of the story is about Hollyleaf and Fallen Leaves alone in the tunnels, and most of the remainder is Hollyleaf alone outside the tunnels. It doesn't really contribute much to the overall storyline, but we learn how much Hollyleaf paid for her recklessness through lonliness, and it's nice to revisit the character.

[Roselyn Blonger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never liked Hollyleaf, but it was a nice change to finally make her face the repercussions of her actions. I was used to her doing all kind of terrible things and being saved by her beloved family. So it was refreshing to explore how spoiled and selfish Hollyleaf can be and let her deal with her own mistakes for once on her life. I really hope this is the last of her!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one, I was glad it stopped there because it was nice to know about the tunnels. I was disappointed Fallen Leaves never revealed that he was basically dead, and the rest of his family would be too, Holly Leaf could have been one to comfort him. Otherwise it was fantastic and I liked it a lot.

[Stormy Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I love this book!
Hollyleaf is great! Hollyleaf is great!
Lalalallall

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was merely so-so. I was rather disappointed about it, because not only was it extremely short, it also pretty much repeated the same things that went on during the main story-line, just from a different perspective.

I always liked Hollyleaf, but this book didn't do much justice to anyone. It has a lot of potential for character development and back-story for both herself and Fallen Leaves, but unfortunately not much happened at all. Even the events that coincided with her story and Clan's story were told in much the same way, with very little difference. This book was rather a wasted opportunity for character development.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best e-book short stories in my opinion. It felt more like a super edition than a short story, even though obviously it's not half as long as the super editions. There was a lot packed into it and it's one of the more intriguing ebook specials, since we all wanted to know what happened to Hollyleaf during her time away from the Clans.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of 'The Untold Stories' - yet another masterpiece in this astounding series.

[C2 Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel empathetic for the main character. Her family and friends thought she was dead. But, she doesn't have the bravery to go back just because she has done something really bad. I feel like holyleaf is kind of like the main character from Orphan Island. For the main character in Orphan Island, she is afraid to leave the island. However, for holyleaf, she is afraid to go back to her clan. There kind of like the opposite. They both don't want to face what is real.

[Isabella McPhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short book about Hollyleaf's time in the tunnels with Fallen Leaves. In the book "The Last Hope" Hollyleaf said that she hadn't met any other cat, and this still wasn't touched up on in this novella. Still a really good short read.

[Amory · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure how to feel about this novella since so little happened in it. It's interesting that Hollyleaf is still alive, but I'm tired of tunnel plots.

[Makayla Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites!!! Hollyleaf and Fallen leaves are perfect for each other!!! For some reason I always forget about those caves.

[Juli · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty informing, got to know how hollyleaf felt and survived during the omen of the stars arc.
i definitely ship fallen x holly.

[Chantal Kloth · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh hollyleaf!!!! god i love her and it was so good to see from her perspective how the events unfolded

[Historyprincess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Premise: Once a ThunderClan warrior, Hollyleaf is now on the run from her own Clan, certain that she'll be punished for the blood on her paws and exposing her family's terrible secret. Having fled into the tunnels, she intends to let her Clan believe she's dead, until she makes friends with a mysterious but kind cat. With his help, the young she-cat learns to live underground. But the longer Hollyleaf hides in her new home, the more homesick she feels for her first. In the end, she can only have one. The question is, which is the one where her heart is?

Story/Writing: Man, after Hollyleaf left me utterly stunned at the end of "Sunrise" and then disappeared into the tunnels, I HAD to know what happened to her after that! I've always loved stories about characters in hiding and on the run, especially when the people they're running from are the ones they care about most. It's so dramatic! From what I know, this was the first digital novella to be published in the "Warriors" series, probably because (again, just like me) fans HAD to know what happened to a character they thought was part of the prophecy but ended up being a fugitive instead. Before I read "Sunrise," I'd assumed she'd be lost in the tunnels because of a battle or something. But the actual circumstances surrounding her disappearance make it much more personal. Not to mention it was cool reading another novella after having been away from them for awhile. The last one I read before this was "Leafpool's Wish," which seems oddly appropriate! Anyway, the Erin Hunter team does a fantastic job as always, managing to put so much content into a novella without making it feel crowded or rushed. The story itself felt very heartfelt, genuine, and most of all, satisfying. I stayed up long into the night reading it and I loved every page!

Characters: While the cast in this title is smaller than what I'm used to from this series, it fits since it is a novella. Not to mention, as I said before, it makes the story far more personal and makes you feel like you're experiencing a very troubled character's journey. And it was also cool seeing characters I'd seen before interacting with each other in a way they never really did before.

Hollyleaf – Hollyleaf is probably not only my favorite character in the "Power of Three" arc, but one of my favorite characters in the entire series. I felt like I got to know her so well in that arc, probably because she and I have a lot in common to the point where it's delightfully surreal. Anyway, I loved how the way she started this journey and the way she ended it were written to be total opposites. In the beginning, she feels she may as well be as good as dead, even though she's not. Out of all the three siblings, she was clearly the most traumatized by the revelation of who their real parents are. Her trauma had given way to rage to the point where she wasn't thinking straight. All she knew was that she did something wrong, and she wanted to get away. That said, it's obvious she still loves ThunderClan, and the more she helps them the more she feels the need to reunite with them. I think we can also appreciate how kind she still is even after all these terrible things happened. And of course, now that she is thinking straight, she finally admits that, while Leafpool and Squirrelflight had lied to her and her brothers, they loved them so much and always will. All of this builds up to her eventual return, and when she does make the decision to go back, it's glorious!

Fallen Leaves – Wow, who knew we can have a male and a female together for a long time and just be friends! In all seriousness, Fallen Leaves was clearly the friend Hollyleaf needed at that very difficult time in her life. He didn't have to help her, but not only does he help her, he does it in such a kind and touching way. Probably my favorite scene in this story is the part where Hollyleaf basically spills everything to him, and he helps her to sort through all the strong emotions she feels toward her biological mother and the she-cat who raised her. That said, while I was touched by his willingness to tell her something of his tragic past (little though it was), I thought it was interesting that he never once tells Hollyleaf that he's a ghost, nor does she ever figure that out for herself. She just thinks he's a very odd yet very kind cat. And it's clear he wanted to leave it there because no one had seen him that way for a long, long time. It's similar to "The Sixth Sense" in that way. Another thing I liked about him though was that he was willing to stand up to her from time to time, and he ends up being the one to convince her to go back. I loved the friendship between these two and I was sad to see it go.

Various Other Characters – So this part is basically gonna be a photo album of all the cats and other animals Hollyleaf helps. I thought her willingness to help the fox kit get out of the tunnels was pretty bold yet sweet, only to see that kit grow up and naturally turn on her. And even though the story never explicitly says this, I wonder if he's the fox Hollyleaf had to fight off to keep the apprentices safe. Speaking of which, I liked that, despite her very complicated feelings toward her Clan, I liked that Hollyleaf still looked for ways she could help them. She finds herbs for the kits; she leads Ivypool and Blossomfall out the tunnels while impressively managing to stay hidden; and of course, she takes the enormous risk of fighting off the fox, even though it could've been the one she'd helped. I can't wait to get to her actual return in the books 'cause I'd like to see the Clan's reactions if she reveals all the times she's helped them!

Overall: I thought this was a fantastic story to give fans some much needed insight into this character's turmoil. Hollyleaf has gone through some really tough things and has herself done things that she's far from proud of (to put it mildly), but I'm glad she ends up coming out on top in the end!

[TreeSpright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hollyleaf has always been one of my favorite characters, so it was really fun reading the Forgotten Warrior from her point of view. At first it was sad because it turns out she really was injured by the tunnels, but then she ends up meeting Fallen Leaves in the tunnels. He ends up rescuing her and they very quickly build a friendship together. Along the way, Hollyleaf saves a baby fox, but later the fox doesn't remember her and tries to attack her. Hollyleaf lives and then that's when her point of view from the Forgotten Warrior begins. She watches over her clan mates to make sure that they're safe and it's just overall a really cute story. It shows she never really forgot her clan and was still thinking about them even moons later.

I don't think Hollyleaf ever figures out that Fallen Leaves is a ghost and honestly it's really sad that Fallen Leaves is back to being alone in the tunnels forever. It kinda makes me wish that the ghost of his mom (Broken Shadow) brings him back to the tribe of endless hunting or something, but then maybe that would have been too cheesy of a story.

[Gabs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice tie-in to what Hollyleaf was doing between the time she went in the tunnels to the time she came back. It made for an interesting story, with Fallen Leaves playing a big part in it. (I loved that the Erin Hunters included him!) It wasn't a 'wow, I shall remember this forever' kind of book, but I enjoyed the overall story and will now read the rest of the Warriors novellas, since this one has fulfilled my expectations. That being said, I must say, I think this would have made a better super edition. This seemed rushed in some places, and I HATE that Super editions are now just prequels instead of transitions between series like Firestar's Quest, which in my opinion is the Super Edition of all Super Editions. So that would have been a refreshing change for me, but I'll stop complaining now. Anyway, it was a good book, and I can't wait to read more novellas like these!

[Book Wyvern · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could be read right after the last book of the Power of Three series but I also guess after the first book of the Omen of the Stars series. It’s in a weird place.

I didn’t love this novella but I did like reading it, seeing what Hollyleaf went through in the tunnels. I thought I would see what Hollyleaf was thinking when she thought she made the right decision in revealing the secret at the Gathering but I guess she was just overwhelmed.

The writing is alright, enough to keep me reading but there wasn’t really any emotion for me to feel. I guess I should read this after The Fourth Apprentice to get the emotion the authors were trying to go for.

The cover is, again, generic, the writing was alright and the pace was a little slow. All-in-all, I just liked it.

Thank you for reading my review,

-Sam

[LM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hollyleaf’s Story retells some moments of the third and fourth Warriors arc, but mainly focuses on Hollyleaf’s life in the tunnels. I didn’t like the story as much as Cloudstar’s Journey, but I still gave four stars as well because Hollyleaf is one of my favorite cats of the series.

Fallen Leaves is a great character and it’s so cute how he cares for Hollyleaf, especially how he tries to make her life more Clan-like. He has such a sad faith and I’m wondering if he’ll ever find peace. I enjoyed Hollyleaf’s character here as well; it was so cute how she watched over her Clan but the arc with the baby fox was a bit weird. It was annoying though that they had a beef for no reason but for drama.

All in all, this was a nice novella that depicted Hollyleaf’s internal struggles very well.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was very exciting and how everything was set very well. The story was about a cat named Holly leaf and she was a thunder clan warrior but ran into a tunnel and it collapsed on her but she survived, but then a cat named fallen leaves tended to her wounds and he told her that he lived in the tunnels. So when Holly leaf recovered she and Fallen leaves stayed together in the tunnel but a few years later her clan mate was in trouble in the tunnels and Fallen leaves advised her to go back but she didn't want to because she did a terrible mistake, but eventually she said goodbye to Fallen leaves and went to save her clan mates and she returned home.

[Janiel Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really thought this book was good. It filled in on what was missing in the warrior. I also knew hollyleaf didn't die. She survived in the tunnels and is growing a relationship with a cat named fallen leaves, who died long ago. But hollyleaf knows she can't go back. But soon she does. This book was short but still good

[Crowleaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked it. It showed about how Hollyleaf felt about her parents more, how caring and thoughtful she was towards Fallen leaves, and how she felt she couldnt go back to the clan. (BTW-- I KNEW SHE WAS NEVER DEAD!)

[zzzoe.k · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh, Hollyleaf was always my least favorite of the three, so this wasn't all that interesting to me as I didn't need more of her POV. I also found it weird that she never figured out that Fallen Leaves is basically a ghost..

[Sam Meisler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hollyleaf

Erin Hunter, you have done some amazing work!!
Hollyleaf's story is outstanding piece of work..
I have one thing to say, MEOW!!

[izzy James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Book of Hollyleaf Ever

I love it!!!Best book ever! I don't want it to end! I have read only a few Warriors books and this is the best one!

[Scythe Rowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hätten wir das Buch gebraucht? Nein. War es trotzdem nett zu lesen? Ja.