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Warriors: Dawn of the Clans #6
Ścieżka gwiazd
Koniec, który stał się początkiem
Przywódcy pięciu obozów znaleźli się w impasie. Okrutny włóczęga Harat, niegdyś bliski przyjaciel bezwzględnego tyrana Jednookiego, uprowadził ciężarną partnerkę Nieba Czystego, aby dobić targu z leśnymi kotami. Życie Kwiatu Gwieździstego oraz jej nienarodzonych kociąt w zamian za codzienną część upolowanej zwierzyny. Ogarnięty paniką Niebo Czyste zwraca się o pomoc do pozostałych przywódców. Jedyną nadzieją na ocalenie karmicielki oraz ukrócenie rządów Harata jest zjednoczenie mieszkańców lasu, nadrzecza i wrzosowiska przeciwko wspólnemu wrogowi. Tylko dzięki braterstwu i współpracy dzikie koty będą mogły wkroczyć na ścieżkę, która zaprowadzi ich ku nowej erze wojowniczych klanów.
Przywódcy pięciu obozów znaleźli się w impasie. Okrutny włóczęga Harat, niegdyś bliski przyjaciel bezwzględnego tyrana Jednookiego, uprowadził ciężarną partnerkę Nieba Czystego, aby dobić targu z leśnymi kotami. Życie Kwiatu Gwieździstego oraz jej nienarodzonych kociąt w zamian za codzienną część upolowanej zwierzyny. Ogarnięty paniką Niebo Czyste zwraca się o pomoc do pozostałych przywódców. Jedyną nadzieją na ocalenie karmicielki oraz ukrócenie rządów Harata jest zjednoczenie mieszkańców lasu, nadrzecza i wrzosowiska przeciwko wspólnemu wrogowi. Tylko dzięki braterstwu i współpracy dzikie koty będą mogły wkroczyć na ścieżkę, która zaprowadzi ich ku nowej erze wojowniczych klanów.
424 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
620 people are currently reading
4542 people want to read
About the author
Erin Hunter
280 books10.8k followersErin 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 409 reviews
May 3, 2016
I'm struggling to find the positives in this one. It wasn't really what I expected the finale to be at all. It was a rather low-key story, and I couldn't really engage myself in the plot.
I assumed the final dawn of the clans book would be about the building of the clans themselves, and that by the end they would resemble the clans we see in the first Warriors books, but aside from a few spare details in the last five pages, there's none of that at all.
The plot is the same recycled 'rogues are trying to sabotage the clans to get their prey' conflict, and I was bored. I didn't find the rogues or their motive for attacking the clans compelling.
A lot of people absolutely loved book three, The First Battle, which leaves me wondering if this arc would have worked better as a trilogy. I mean, who says every series has to be six books? I honestly enjoyed the first three quite a bit, but the last three barely had any plot and felt very unnecessary and filler-like. I assumed it was building toward an epic finale, but no, this was a rather passive book.
I also wasn't a fan of how all three main characters, Thunder, Clear Sky, and Gray Wing, had to be paired up with someone. I mean, a character doesn't need a love interest to be complete. To me, all three relationships felt a little forced and just crammed in for the sake of having them paired up.
That isn't to say I didn't enjoy some parts. I've grown very attached to Gray Wing and Thunder, and I liked most of their parts. The ending was probably the best part. It was very bittersweet, seeing everything fall into place like that. Nice way to wrap it up.
I hear next series is going to follow Squirrelflight and Bramblestar's kits. I'm skeptical, it could go either way. It has potential, so I'm really hoping it'll be good!
I assumed the final dawn of the clans book would be about the building of the clans themselves, and that by the end they would resemble the clans we see in the first Warriors books, but aside from a few spare details in the last five pages, there's none of that at all.
The plot is the same recycled 'rogues are trying to sabotage the clans to get their prey' conflict, and I was bored. I didn't find the rogues or their motive for attacking the clans compelling.
A lot of people absolutely loved book three, The First Battle, which leaves me wondering if this arc would have worked better as a trilogy. I mean, who says every series has to be six books? I honestly enjoyed the first three quite a bit, but the last three barely had any plot and felt very unnecessary and filler-like. I assumed it was building toward an epic finale, but no, this was a rather passive book.
I also wasn't a fan of how all three main characters, Thunder, Clear Sky, and Gray Wing, had to be paired up with someone. I mean, a character doesn't need a love interest to be complete. To me, all three relationships felt a little forced and just crammed in for the sake of having them paired up.
That isn't to say I didn't enjoy some parts. I've grown very attached to Gray Wing and Thunder, and I liked most of their parts. The ending was probably the best part. It was very bittersweet, seeing everything fall into place like that. Nice way to wrap it up.
I hear next series is going to follow Squirrelflight and Bramblestar's kits. I'm skeptical, it could go either way. It has potential, so I'm really hoping it'll be good!
September 18, 2015
Dear Erin Hunter,
That's your finale?
I can't help but feel a little disappointed. I enjoyed it as a general Warriors story; but for a conclusion to an entire arc, it was quite anticlimactic.
The big issue at hand--dealing with Slash--never truly happened. It's a very big loose end, and I can't overlook that. The clans are finally in their place, they're pretty much happy, and then the villain they need to fight kind of disappears? There is no triumphant battle, no real sense of security at the end. That's not like you, Hunter. Some loose ends are fine, but that's a big one. Where were the awesome battles, the epic revelations, the soulful showings of mercy?
Which brings me to another small complaint. Where was StarClan again? It may be my personal preference, of course, but I always liked that part of Warriors. Dawn of the Clans lost that element in a big way, with only a few pieces to sample. And those parts were the best! The First Battle was so good, and that was because of its Starry finale. The Clans are not themselves without StarClan, and so I cannot call these groups fully formed yet. Hopefully, the new super edition coming out soon with Moth Flight will give me the answers I'm looking for. Because otherwise, while I liked this one, I have to say that it could have been better.
Though the final chapter did deliver the feels...
One of the best parts though? Cats learning to Chi Block!
That's your finale?
I can't help but feel a little disappointed. I enjoyed it as a general Warriors story; but for a conclusion to an entire arc, it was quite anticlimactic.
The big issue at hand--dealing with Slash--never truly happened. It's a very big loose end, and I can't overlook that. The clans are finally in their place, they're pretty much happy, and then the villain they need to fight kind of disappears? There is no triumphant battle, no real sense of security at the end. That's not like you, Hunter. Some loose ends are fine, but that's a big one. Where were the awesome battles, the epic revelations, the soulful showings of mercy?
Which brings me to another small complaint. Where was StarClan again? It may be my personal preference, of course, but I always liked that part of Warriors. Dawn of the Clans lost that element in a big way, with only a few pieces to sample. And those parts were the best! The First Battle was so good, and that was because of its Starry finale. The Clans are not themselves without StarClan, and so I cannot call these groups fully formed yet. Hopefully, the new super edition coming out soon with Moth Flight will give me the answers I'm looking for. Because otherwise, while I liked this one, I have to say that it could have been better.
Though the final chapter did deliver the feels...
One of the best parts though? Cats learning to Chi Block!
September 5, 2015
If I was to be honest it probably wasn't as good as it could be.
Good Things:
The plot in the book managed to flow well. It didn't have much unnecessary dialogue, and the characters all had believable moves. Almost every part had a mental image you could refer to, and the writing is very good.
The ending was my favorite part. It was very bittersweet, and probably the most emotional part of the book. It leaves you with the starting of the clans, and you get to see Grey Wing's rule in everything.
Bad Things:
The main villain in this book is PITIFUL. I mean, you have all this suspense adding up to him, and then you have this moment where he's like, "Hey, you mad bro? Lol okay I'm totally gonna kill you but bye for now." And then he comes back like, "Hey, I don't know why, but I'm gonna blame you for everything I hate. Now let me go run away with your kit. Lol you want him back, gotta kill him. Oh you got him back. Oh well, I'm just going to leave and live a happy life from now on. Kk?" I mean, he has like no motive, and the ending with him is so crappy I can't even.
Then let's get onto the romance. It seems Erin Hunter is determined to have every cat get a love life. I mean, it was cute and all, but really? In one scene one of the main characters sees a beautiful cat and goes, "Hey, I like your face. Let me save your Mary-Sue pelt and bring you home. Now let's be mates, k? K. Cool." It's just so forced and unrealistic.
Good Things:
The plot in the book managed to flow well. It didn't have much unnecessary dialogue, and the characters all had believable moves. Almost every part had a mental image you could refer to, and the writing is very good.
The ending was my favorite part. It was very bittersweet, and probably the most emotional part of the book. It leaves you with the starting of the clans, and you get to see Grey Wing's rule in everything.
Bad Things:
The main villain in this book is PITIFUL. I mean, you have all this suspense adding up to him, and then you have this moment where he's like, "Hey, you mad bro? Lol okay I'm totally gonna kill you but bye for now." And then he comes back like, "Hey, I don't know why, but I'm gonna blame you for everything I hate. Now let me go run away with your kit. Lol you want him back, gotta kill him. Oh you got him back. Oh well, I'm just going to leave and live a happy life from now on. Kk?" I mean, he has like no motive, and the ending with him is so crappy I can't even.
Then let's get onto the romance. It seems Erin Hunter is determined to have every cat get a love life. I mean, it was cute and all, but really? In one scene one of the main characters sees a beautiful cat and goes, "Hey, I like your face. Let me save your Mary-Sue pelt and bring you home. Now let's be mates, k? K. Cool." It's just so forced and unrealistic.
April 10, 2022
don’t mind me fulfilling my childhood
September 12, 2015
I waited so long for this book. I fell so deeply in love with the Dawn of the Clans series and its characters. Although the ending of this book left me sad and confused (what happened to Slash? How do the leaders get their true names and nine lives?), I know that it left me happy. (maybe those questions will be answered in Moth Flight's vision).
I zoomed through this emotional book. The cats of all of the Clans had to join together to rid themselves of the very real threat of the abusive and very evil Slash. We never do get to see the end of him, but we do get a very clear picture of just how evil he and his followers really are.
Like I've said before, the Erins have been impressing me with their latest works. The books seem to be going back to the dark, emotional side that made me fall in love with the series to begin with. I hope that they keep writing this way. I thought that Dawn of the Clans was going to be boring and a waste of time. Boy, was I wrong. Thank you Erins again for creating such a wonderful arc. You have made such a huge fan of me yet.
I zoomed through this emotional book. The cats of all of the Clans had to join together to rid themselves of the very real threat of the abusive and very evil Slash. We never do get to see the end of him, but we do get a very clear picture of just how evil he and his followers really are.
Like I've said before, the Erins have been impressing me with their latest works. The books seem to be going back to the dark, emotional side that made me fall in love with the series to begin with. I hope that they keep writing this way. I thought that Dawn of the Clans was going to be boring and a waste of time. Boy, was I wrong. Thank you Erins again for creating such a wonderful arc. You have made such a huge fan of me yet.
February 2, 2022
Gray wing deserves a thousand stars, i cried so hard at the ending. I really related to Gray Wing, being a sibling when times are hard, his indecisiveness on weather to leave or not, and i long to have his compassion for others. I’m sad there won’t be more books continuing with his kits growing up. I also wish there had been a bigger showdown with Slash, instead of him running away. Anyways, I really loved this series of the warrior cats and I can’t wait to continue reading through this amazing series!!!!
May 10, 2017
Dang it all, Erin Hunter! You write a substandard prequel series and then you slay my heart with that ending!
I hate to give such a low rating, but Erin Hunter can do better. The collective Erins were never Charles Dickens, but I never gave much heed to readers who complained about a drop in quality with each new series. Now I do. *sigh*
As GR friends have mentioned, Dawn of the Clans fails to give every Clan leader a POV, and gives POVs to characters who aren't Clan leaders instead. While Gray Wing is my favorite character in this 6 book cycle, DotC is supposed to be about the formation of the Clans way back when, but readers are shut off from the joys and pressures of many characters who were fundamental to shaping and leading the Clans. Gray Wing played a huge part by raising Thunder (ThunderClan's first leader) and being a loyal friend, but he never had more than joint leadership and a Clan was never named for him, so it's just a bit curious.
I still love Warriors, and I wouldn't steer readers away from DotC entirely, but I'd suggest it only if you're a rabid Warriors fan who's already read every other Warriors novel. It isn't necessary to read this set first, so pretty much try put it off as long as possible.
I hate to give such a low rating, but Erin Hunter can do better. The collective Erins were never Charles Dickens, but I never gave much heed to readers who complained about a drop in quality with each new series. Now I do. *sigh*
As GR friends have mentioned, Dawn of the Clans fails to give every Clan leader a POV, and gives POVs to characters who aren't Clan leaders instead. While Gray Wing is my favorite character in this 6 book cycle, DotC is supposed to be about the formation of the Clans way back when, but readers are shut off from the joys and pressures of many characters who were fundamental to shaping and leading the Clans. Gray Wing played a huge part by raising Thunder (ThunderClan's first leader) and being a loyal friend, but he never had more than joint leadership and a Clan was never named for him, so it's just a bit curious.
I still love Warriors, and I wouldn't steer readers away from DotC entirely, but I'd suggest it only if you're a rabid Warriors fan who's already read every other Warriors novel. It isn't necessary to read this set first, so pretty much try put it off as long as possible.
September 27, 2024
popłaczę się
October 23, 2015
And with this done, it marks the end of the DoTC arc for Warriors!
How did I feel about knowing about how the clans were formed and what not? Well this was my reaction to finishing this book:
Along with a little of this:
Not too much but just a little.
Why did I feel this way?
Well, first off, I will say that the storyline of DoTC was not that interesting to me. Sure there were some good characters here and the first two books were alright. However, the more I read, the more I disliked it.
I think it was the characters, mostly Clear Sky. Oh boy...I have never hated a Warrior POV so bad(except for the short story with Tigerstar). I just did not care at all about him and had no reasons to like him.
Gray Wing though, I loved that guy. That was the point of the second gif. It was related to what happened to him at the end.
Thunder as the third POV? He was fine. I didn't really care either way for him.
However, I think the issue in this arc was the POVs. Probably anyone that has read the previous books, went into this one thinking it would be about the Dawn of the Clans. As in the main focus would be the creation of the clans.
Guess what. You don't get POVs for the other first clan leaders. Tall Shadow, Wind Runner, River Ripple. Three of the five leaders don't get a POV. So in other words, I didn't feel like this was the beginning of the clans series(despite the references to future things, like medicine cats, mentors, ect). It was the story of a cat family with squabbles. Especially with River Ripple and RiverClan. What did those cats do? I don't know! There were never any "eyes" in there!
So yeah, that detracted a lot of my enjoyment. Sadly, I also prefer the versions of the cats found in the guide. Sure those cats are the idolized versions but at the same time, it's better than this.
Anyway, I'll still be reading Erin Hunter books of course. Not looking forward to Moth Flight's story...
There was an excerpt for the next series. Alderpaw and Sparkpaw huh. Alright then..
How did I feel about knowing about how the clans were formed and what not? Well this was my reaction to finishing this book:
Along with a little of this:
Not too much but just a little.
Why did I feel this way?
Well, first off, I will say that the storyline of DoTC was not that interesting to me. Sure there were some good characters here and the first two books were alright. However, the more I read, the more I disliked it.
I think it was the characters, mostly Clear Sky. Oh boy...I have never hated a Warrior POV so bad(except for the short story with Tigerstar). I just did not care at all about him and had no reasons to like him.
Gray Wing though, I loved that guy. That was the point of the second gif. It was related to what happened to him at the end.
Thunder as the third POV? He was fine. I didn't really care either way for him.
However, I think the issue in this arc was the POVs. Probably anyone that has read the previous books, went into this one thinking it would be about the Dawn of the Clans. As in the main focus would be the creation of the clans.
Guess what. You don't get POVs for the other first clan leaders. Tall Shadow, Wind Runner, River Ripple. Three of the five leaders don't get a POV. So in other words, I didn't feel like this was the beginning of the clans series(despite the references to future things, like medicine cats, mentors, ect). It was the story of a cat family with squabbles. Especially with River Ripple and RiverClan. What did those cats do? I don't know! There were never any "eyes" in there!
So yeah, that detracted a lot of my enjoyment. Sadly, I also prefer the versions of the cats found in the guide. Sure those cats are the idolized versions but at the same time, it's better than this.
Anyway, I'll still be reading Erin Hunter books of course. Not looking forward to Moth Flight's story...
There was an excerpt for the next series. Alderpaw and Sparkpaw huh. Alright then..
October 31, 2018
This was an actually a satisfying ending to this series.
Gray Wing is now cemented as one of my favourite characters. Also, Wind Runner.
They also started naming pregnant cats Queens all of the sudden, where did that come from?
And what is it with Quiet Rain's sons falling in love with random cats who look pretty? Like why is that a thing? It makes no sense. I want more relationships like Jagged Peak and Holly.
Gray Wing is now cemented as one of my favourite characters. Also, Wind Runner.
They also started naming pregnant cats Queens all of the sudden, where did that come from?
And what is it with Quiet Rain's sons falling in love with random cats who look pretty? Like why is that a thing? It makes no sense. I want more relationships like Jagged Peak and Holly.
September 10, 2015
I read it and it was sooooooo not... good. looking forward tho 2 Alderpaw's adventrues!
December 31, 2015
A lovely ending to the Dawn of the Clans.
May 4, 2023
I am sitting here sobbing and all I have to say is that Gray Wing deserves the world and I am devastated that the series is finished. five stars solely for the last line of the book.
June 16, 2024
Damn I’m crying over these cats again
September 16, 2020
Premise: With winter's grip on the five territories still firm, a new bad-boy cat has arrived to cause trouble for our heroes. Slash is the vicious, hard-hearted successor of One Eye, and he makes sure everyone knows it by demanding that the founding leaders and their cats hunt for him and his rogues. Worse, it seems there's no line he's unwilling to cross to get them to obey. It's up to Thunder, Wind Runner, River Ripple, Tall Shadow, Clear Sky, and Gray Wing to join forces and show Slash what five new Clans of cats can do against a villain like him.
Story/Writing: This is the last of the six books in the "Dawn of the Clans" story arc, and…I was blown away. This arc could not have ended on a more perfect – if bittersweet – note. This story is filled to the brim with action and intrigue. There's never a dull moment. I read it all in less than two days and I felt like I needed a nap once it was over! It was tough trying to pull my eyes from my Kindle. I had to remind myself to eat and use the bathroom. Okay, maybe that was a bit too much information, but I loved this book that much! Besides, it was the last in the first "Warriors" story arc that I can now proudly say I've read all the way through. Once I finished it, I got the sense that I'd reached the end of an epic journey and just witnessed history being made, in a way. Maybe I'm embellishing my words, but I always get a cathartic feeling when I finish a book, and I often feel it a ton more when I finish a series – or something like the first season of a TV show in this case. I could probably go on and on, but all I have time to say is that these women have won me over and gained a new fan in me!
Characters: It's amazing how far these characters have come and grown from when I first saw them, particularly those who've been here from the very beginning. Each of the founding leaders and their cats may have their flaws – some more than others – but their strengths and how they deal with their issues is what makes them great, especially when they come together. These cats feel more human than most human characters I've read about. Even if you don't particularly care for cats, you have to commend these women for how they write their characters.
Gray Wing: Wow, where to begin? Where to begin? Well, I can't talk about this character without bringing up his eventual fate first. It's official – Gray Wing has gone to StarClan. And what I'm about to write feels more like a eulogy than anything else. But I don't care. He may not have given his name to any of the five Clans – though I was tremendously happy that he did name them – and his kits may not have gotten to spend much time with him (*sniff*), but I hope they grow up knowing their father was the first great hero of any of the Clans. He more than deserves that honor. And to think, he very nearly didn't travel the sun trail. He never stopped loving his older brother, even as Clear Sky acted like a maniac and nearly killed him. He raised Thunder to be the strong and honorable leader he now is. He loved Turtle Tail's kits as his own. He was always committed to helping others, even when it meant risking his own life. Gray Wing has more than earned his place as one of my favorite characters in the series! May he be long remembered, and know peace now and forevermore in StarClan.
Clear Sky: I think it's safe to say that Clear Sky has turned over a new leaf and has redeemed himself, at least in my eyes. He may still be a bit rough around the edges, and certainly made the biggest mistakes and lapses in judgment out of all the main characters in this arc – but in a way, he's become a hero like Gray Wing in his own right. It of course helps that he's now a father again to three new kits. Not to mention he literally nearly loses his tail saving his nephew Black Ear from getting hit by a car. It seems whatever new kind of stress he's put under strengthens him rather than breaks him. Probably my favorite scene with him in this book, however, is when he finally reconciles with his firstborn, Thunder. While Thunder's reaction did feel a little lackluster – though understandable – I wanted to cry when I read Clear Sky's words. He apologizes to Thunder about not being the father he should've been. He wants to be part of his son's life, and wants Thunder to be part of his as well. It really touched me that he was finally owning up to his actions and showing real love to Thunder.
Thunder: If this book has proven anything to me, it's that no cat other than Thunder could've been the founding leader of ThunderClan. In my opinion, he goes above and beyond the other leaders, including his father. He's grown into his role the same way he's grown into his big forepaws. It's also kind of impressive given he's the youngest of the founding leaders. One big theme of this book is letting go of the past and looking to the future, and I think Thunder has done that very well. It's definitely relatable that he wishes Clear Sky was there for him like he is now for his new kits with Star Flower. But I'm glad he's realized he has a family in his Clan of cats, who look up to him as a father of sorts – and hopefully he'll be an actual father soon now that he has Violet Dawn at his side! I like though that – because he is still kind of young – he makes pretty risky decisions, such as spying on Slash and his rogues. Then again, those decisions turn out to be in his favor when he's able to rally most of Slash's rogues to his side and convince them to settle in the new Clans.
Star Flower and Slate – And here I get to Clear Sky's and Gray Wing's new respective mates! While I will admit Star Flower really got on my nerves in the last book, now that she's a mother and has shown herself to be the mate Clear Sky needs, she's made herself much more likable. After all, she gave birth to her three kits near the Thunderpath of all places, so she's clearly a strong she-cat. And while I'll always pair Gray Wing with Turtle Tail, Slate was the exact right mate for him in his twilight moons. I freaked out when I thought she died, despite knowing she'd be willing to fight for her kits to the death – just as Turtle Tail did for hers. I do wish though that she'd gotten to know Gray Wing before he sealed his fate by breathing in too much smoke in the forest fire – then she would've been able to see him in his glory days. That of course is more of an emotional wish rather than a story or writing critique, but still. Bottom line, Star Flower and Slate have both really won me over, and I'm glad they aren't just supportive mates but cool characters in their own right.
Wind Runner, River Ripple, and Tall Shadow: I'm glad we really got to see these characters shine in this book. They are the remaining founding leaders, after all. Wind Runner is a tough she-cat willing to do anything to protect her cats, even if she has a hard time trusting the rogues – particularly when Bee betrays them. River Ripple as always is calm, cool, and collected. I liked that he was the one who came up with and presided over the ceremony inducting the rogues into the Clans, as well as the scene where his new cats were getting swimming lessons from Shattered Ice and Dappled Pelt. As for Tall Shadow, I liked that she seemed a mixture of the previous two. She's strong-willed like Wind Runner, while level-headed like River Ripple. Her Clan in the pine forest is certainly in good paws. And Sun Shadow couldn't have a better mentor than his aunt.
Lightning Tail: While Lightning Tail felt more like a side-character to me in the previous books, he's proven himself as Thunder's best friend and second-in-command. I'd even say he could be ThunderClan's first deputy. I particularly liked the scene when he was willing to jump in to save the kits in Slash's camp, even though he and Thunder were spying. If anything, it certainly says something about Lightning Tail that Thunder is willing to entrust the whole Clan to him should anything happen to him.
Fern: Fern was probably one of my favorite characters in this book. Given everything she's endured at Slash's claws – specifically the times he starved her and killed her sister – it's kind of miraculous she turns out as kind and honorable as she does – willing to risk her life multiple times to help defeat her tormentor. Even when Bee betrays WindClan by attacking her, Fern stays on the good side and proves herself to her new leader, Wind Runner. Even though this particular arc is over, I definitely would like to see more of her in the series.
Slash: What a savage villain the Erin Hunter team gave us! He kind of reminds me of Hopper from "A Bug's Life," not just in his outrageous demands for pray but his character. He's arguably worse in some ways than One Eye. He claims he wants to feed his rogues, when he in fact cares only to feed himself and his most loyal followers while letting the leftovers rot. He disciplines his rogues without mercy, and starves them to the point where they're unwilling to defend themselves from a dog invasion. More grievously, of course, he holds Star Flower and her then-unborn kits hostage with threats. He even goes so far as to kidnap and risk the life of Black Ear, who's still not even a moon old. I'll admit I was a little disappointed Slash was left alive at the end. But hopefully – if he has any sense – he'll think twice before messing with any of the Clans again.
Various Other Characters: I'm glad I got to see more of Moth Flight! I'm gonna read her super edition after this and I can't wait to see where her character goes, given she already seems a promising medicine-cat in the making. I liked how loyal Red Claw showed himself to be, despite his huge mistake of leading the dog pack to Slash's camp. I also liked the other rogues – at least, the ones who become loyal Clan cats – and hope to see more of Violet Dawn in particular, now that she's Thunder's mate. The cats already in the Clans before the new additions were fun to read about as well. Clover and Thistle appear to be auspicious young warriors. Last but not least, I adored Clear Sky's new kits – and Gray Wing's too! I really liked their names and look forward to seeing them grow up.
Overall: I'm so glad I finally decided to get back into this series after being away from it for a long time. Like "Harry Potter," this is a book series that both adults and kids can really get into and enjoy. I commend these women for crafting such a believable world with great characters and thrilling stories. This arc was a fantastic origin story for the Clans, and I look forward to reading more from the Erin Hunter team in the future!
Story/Writing: This is the last of the six books in the "Dawn of the Clans" story arc, and…I was blown away. This arc could not have ended on a more perfect – if bittersweet – note. This story is filled to the brim with action and intrigue. There's never a dull moment. I read it all in less than two days and I felt like I needed a nap once it was over! It was tough trying to pull my eyes from my Kindle. I had to remind myself to eat and use the bathroom. Okay, maybe that was a bit too much information, but I loved this book that much! Besides, it was the last in the first "Warriors" story arc that I can now proudly say I've read all the way through. Once I finished it, I got the sense that I'd reached the end of an epic journey and just witnessed history being made, in a way. Maybe I'm embellishing my words, but I always get a cathartic feeling when I finish a book, and I often feel it a ton more when I finish a series – or something like the first season of a TV show in this case. I could probably go on and on, but all I have time to say is that these women have won me over and gained a new fan in me!
Characters: It's amazing how far these characters have come and grown from when I first saw them, particularly those who've been here from the very beginning. Each of the founding leaders and their cats may have their flaws – some more than others – but their strengths and how they deal with their issues is what makes them great, especially when they come together. These cats feel more human than most human characters I've read about. Even if you don't particularly care for cats, you have to commend these women for how they write their characters.
Gray Wing: Wow, where to begin? Where to begin? Well, I can't talk about this character without bringing up his eventual fate first. It's official – Gray Wing has gone to StarClan. And what I'm about to write feels more like a eulogy than anything else. But I don't care. He may not have given his name to any of the five Clans – though I was tremendously happy that he did name them – and his kits may not have gotten to spend much time with him (*sniff*), but I hope they grow up knowing their father was the first great hero of any of the Clans. He more than deserves that honor. And to think, he very nearly didn't travel the sun trail. He never stopped loving his older brother, even as Clear Sky acted like a maniac and nearly killed him. He raised Thunder to be the strong and honorable leader he now is. He loved Turtle Tail's kits as his own. He was always committed to helping others, even when it meant risking his own life. Gray Wing has more than earned his place as one of my favorite characters in the series! May he be long remembered, and know peace now and forevermore in StarClan.
Clear Sky: I think it's safe to say that Clear Sky has turned over a new leaf and has redeemed himself, at least in my eyes. He may still be a bit rough around the edges, and certainly made the biggest mistakes and lapses in judgment out of all the main characters in this arc – but in a way, he's become a hero like Gray Wing in his own right. It of course helps that he's now a father again to three new kits. Not to mention he literally nearly loses his tail saving his nephew Black Ear from getting hit by a car. It seems whatever new kind of stress he's put under strengthens him rather than breaks him. Probably my favorite scene with him in this book, however, is when he finally reconciles with his firstborn, Thunder. While Thunder's reaction did feel a little lackluster – though understandable – I wanted to cry when I read Clear Sky's words. He apologizes to Thunder about not being the father he should've been. He wants to be part of his son's life, and wants Thunder to be part of his as well. It really touched me that he was finally owning up to his actions and showing real love to Thunder.
Thunder: If this book has proven anything to me, it's that no cat other than Thunder could've been the founding leader of ThunderClan. In my opinion, he goes above and beyond the other leaders, including his father. He's grown into his role the same way he's grown into his big forepaws. It's also kind of impressive given he's the youngest of the founding leaders. One big theme of this book is letting go of the past and looking to the future, and I think Thunder has done that very well. It's definitely relatable that he wishes Clear Sky was there for him like he is now for his new kits with Star Flower. But I'm glad he's realized he has a family in his Clan of cats, who look up to him as a father of sorts – and hopefully he'll be an actual father soon now that he has Violet Dawn at his side! I like though that – because he is still kind of young – he makes pretty risky decisions, such as spying on Slash and his rogues. Then again, those decisions turn out to be in his favor when he's able to rally most of Slash's rogues to his side and convince them to settle in the new Clans.
Star Flower and Slate – And here I get to Clear Sky's and Gray Wing's new respective mates! While I will admit Star Flower really got on my nerves in the last book, now that she's a mother and has shown herself to be the mate Clear Sky needs, she's made herself much more likable. After all, she gave birth to her three kits near the Thunderpath of all places, so she's clearly a strong she-cat. And while I'll always pair Gray Wing with Turtle Tail, Slate was the exact right mate for him in his twilight moons. I freaked out when I thought she died, despite knowing she'd be willing to fight for her kits to the death – just as Turtle Tail did for hers. I do wish though that she'd gotten to know Gray Wing before he sealed his fate by breathing in too much smoke in the forest fire – then she would've been able to see him in his glory days. That of course is more of an emotional wish rather than a story or writing critique, but still. Bottom line, Star Flower and Slate have both really won me over, and I'm glad they aren't just supportive mates but cool characters in their own right.
Wind Runner, River Ripple, and Tall Shadow: I'm glad we really got to see these characters shine in this book. They are the remaining founding leaders, after all. Wind Runner is a tough she-cat willing to do anything to protect her cats, even if she has a hard time trusting the rogues – particularly when Bee betrays them. River Ripple as always is calm, cool, and collected. I liked that he was the one who came up with and presided over the ceremony inducting the rogues into the Clans, as well as the scene where his new cats were getting swimming lessons from Shattered Ice and Dappled Pelt. As for Tall Shadow, I liked that she seemed a mixture of the previous two. She's strong-willed like Wind Runner, while level-headed like River Ripple. Her Clan in the pine forest is certainly in good paws. And Sun Shadow couldn't have a better mentor than his aunt.
Lightning Tail: While Lightning Tail felt more like a side-character to me in the previous books, he's proven himself as Thunder's best friend and second-in-command. I'd even say he could be ThunderClan's first deputy. I particularly liked the scene when he was willing to jump in to save the kits in Slash's camp, even though he and Thunder were spying. If anything, it certainly says something about Lightning Tail that Thunder is willing to entrust the whole Clan to him should anything happen to him.
Fern: Fern was probably one of my favorite characters in this book. Given everything she's endured at Slash's claws – specifically the times he starved her and killed her sister – it's kind of miraculous she turns out as kind and honorable as she does – willing to risk her life multiple times to help defeat her tormentor. Even when Bee betrays WindClan by attacking her, Fern stays on the good side and proves herself to her new leader, Wind Runner. Even though this particular arc is over, I definitely would like to see more of her in the series.
Slash: What a savage villain the Erin Hunter team gave us! He kind of reminds me of Hopper from "A Bug's Life," not just in his outrageous demands for pray but his character. He's arguably worse in some ways than One Eye. He claims he wants to feed his rogues, when he in fact cares only to feed himself and his most loyal followers while letting the leftovers rot. He disciplines his rogues without mercy, and starves them to the point where they're unwilling to defend themselves from a dog invasion. More grievously, of course, he holds Star Flower and her then-unborn kits hostage with threats. He even goes so far as to kidnap and risk the life of Black Ear, who's still not even a moon old. I'll admit I was a little disappointed Slash was left alive at the end. But hopefully – if he has any sense – he'll think twice before messing with any of the Clans again.
Various Other Characters: I'm glad I got to see more of Moth Flight! I'm gonna read her super edition after this and I can't wait to see where her character goes, given she already seems a promising medicine-cat in the making. I liked how loyal Red Claw showed himself to be, despite his huge mistake of leading the dog pack to Slash's camp. I also liked the other rogues – at least, the ones who become loyal Clan cats – and hope to see more of Violet Dawn in particular, now that she's Thunder's mate. The cats already in the Clans before the new additions were fun to read about as well. Clover and Thistle appear to be auspicious young warriors. Last but not least, I adored Clear Sky's new kits – and Gray Wing's too! I really liked their names and look forward to seeing them grow up.
Overall: I'm so glad I finally decided to get back into this series after being away from it for a long time. Like "Harry Potter," this is a book series that both adults and kids can really get into and enjoy. I commend these women for crafting such a believable world with great characters and thrilling stories. This arc was a fantastic origin story for the Clans, and I look forward to reading more from the Erin Hunter team in the future!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2023
This book tore out my heart and broke it into a million pieces, then it threw the pieces into the mud and stamped on them. And it's one of the best books I've ever read.
I was hesitant to read this series. The only reason I read it was for my eleven year old brother, who pretty much made me read it. I was not expecting to care about the series independently of caring about him, and for this reason, the connection I felt to Gray Wing was completely unprecedented. He's not just my favourite Dawn of the Clans character, he's one of my favourite characters I've ever read. And I've read a lot of books, and connected with a lot of characters. I connected with him right from the first book, but it just grew the more I read. By A Forest Divided, I couldn't read his chapters without feeling his emotions incredibly viscerally. I could barely get through a chapter of his without crying at least once, or feeling overwhelming surges of joy.
If you've read this book, you can probably guess what I'm going to say next. Gray Wing dies at the end of this book, and I've got to say, I've never grieved for a character as intensely as I grieved for him. There were two whole days when I was just overwhelmed by it, and also having to deal with my shame at feeling such intense emotions over a fictional cat. But I've got to say this: the cats in this book are people in the same way that any human character is a person, and to me, Gray Wing felt incredibly real.
At this point I feel it would be dishonest not to admit that I did have his death spoiled for me sometime before actually reaching it (the two days of grieving actually happened after my brother spoiled it). However, I still was completely unprepared for how beautifully his death scene was written. Even if I wasn't a fan of Gray Wing, I wouldn't have been able to help feeling something, because this was the most beautifully moving death scene I've ever read. I had tears streaming down my face through the whole entire chapter. Every single line was so impactful, so powerful and so quotable.
Kate Cary somehow managed to make it feel uplifting rather than just depressing. It was so touching when he named the clans on his deathbed, and it ending with him joining the spirit cats' world rather than just his last breath just caused so many intense emotions that I could never possibly attempt to describe. But let me just say that some of them were positive. It made me feel a lot more at peace than I have since his death was spoiled. And although I simultaneously feel so bad for him and how his health was in the end, I can't help but actually feel a little happy for Gray Wing. All his troubles are over, and he's in a better place. He hasn't ceased to exist- he may have left his body, but he's still following the sun trail!
The real tragedy, though, is his kits. They were barely a moon old when he died. Being a father figure is so central to Gray Wing's character. Throughout the series, we see him raise so many other people's kits, and raise them well, but he hardly got the chance to raise his own! These kits could have got the chance to have the best father in the world. Instead, they'll have to grow up without a father, and this just breaks my heart. I know this isn't what Gray Wing would have wanted for them. He would've been horrified! I love how Cary actually addresses this by having him apologise to Slate that he's going to die and won't be able to raise the kits with her. Obviously it was completely out of control and he shouldn't have to apologise, but this kind of thing is just so Gray Wing, and it broke my heart.
The whole thing just broke my heart, actually, but I was still able to appreciate the message his death sends about self sacrifice and the negative aspects of heroism, and for this I say THANK YOU! These kinds of issues have been keeping me up at night for the past year, and I've yet to find a more honest representation in literature of the consequences of constantly risking your life to save people. Gray Wing always wanted to protect everyone, and I love that about him, but it was ultimately his downfall. He ran into a forest fire to save his brother, Clear Sky, and it damaged his lungs, which severely affected the rest of his life. It put his life on a timer, and it made things which used to be easy a lot more difficult. And not only that, but he kept refusing to rest and look after himself. He kept pushing himself to his absolute limits. Kept putting others before himself, and putting himself in danger for their sake.
This is not an uncommon heroic trait- in fact, literature is full of characters like this, and so often, authors completely neglect to address the kind of effects this kind of behaviour has on people's health. Heroes go willingly into life threatening situations and emerge virtually unscathed. They literally sacrifice themselves only to be miraculously resurrected. But this team of writers don't shy away from the unromantic truth. In real life, the hero doesn't always get a fairy tale ending. You can't save everyone, and constantly putting others first can be extremely detrimental to your health. Sometimes, it's important to put yourself first.
In trying to save Clear Sky, Gray Wing pretty much sacrificed himself, and not only did it affect his personal health, but it affected his ability to be there for others. If he hadn't run into the fire, his relationship with Slate wouldn't have been so brief. He would have had the chance to father his own kits, and to see them grow into young cats. If he hadn't pushed himself to the absolute limit following the fire, he would at least have bought himself some time. For this reason, his character and arc were incredibly cathartic for me to read, and I'm so grateful he came into my life when he did.
The question is: was any of it worth it? It's up to the reader to decide, and from a certain perspective, you might say it is. Gray Wing may have died at the end, but in many ways, his life was a triumph. Though they are a weakness in some ways, his self sacrificing tendencies come from how deeply he feels, and how deeply he loves, and this is a rare strength indeed. Gray Wing had such a positive impact on the lives of so many cats, and had deep and meaningful connections not only with all the clan leaders, but many others besides. He was ready to forgive and understand others rather than fight them. Despite how much praise and respect he received, he still retained an impressive level of humility and never had ambitions for power. And even when people he loves hurt or betrayed him, he still wouldn't hesitate before risking his life for them. He and Clear Sky were on bad terms when the forest fire happened, but he was still willing to walk into a fire for Clear Sky. If that isn't unconditional love, I don't know what is.
On that note, I was really pleased with how the series ended for the other two POV characters, Thunder and Clear Sky. Unlike Gray Wing, for whom I have nothing but love, I've always felt a little conflicted on these two characters. Both really got on my nerves at times, but over the course of the story, I still grew to deeply care for them and view them with affection. The part of my brain that gets overly attached to characters is more than a little annoyed that Gray Wing didn't get a beautiful triumphant arc the way these two did, but it was still incredibly satisfying to see these two getting that, and I'm so proud of both of them.
Thunder grew from a hot-headed, rebellious kit into a strong and conscientious leader, and in some of his thought processes you can tell Gray Wing raised him (and raised him well!). He feels the weight of responsibility and worries who will look after his group when he's gone, and it was incredibly satisfying to see that weight ease a little during this book, when he saw Lightning Tail's leadership potential. His friendship with Lightning Tail is so beautiful. It's the kind of friendship most would dream of having in their life. Also, I'm so happy for him that he finally found love.
Clear Sky completes his redemption arc in the most beautiful and satisfying way. Over the past two books, he's been struggling to come to terms with all the things he's done, and struggling to forgive himself. He's been working hard to redeem himself since the end of book 3, but the other cats are colder towards him than before. As the series progresses, Clear Sky spends increasingly more time regretting the connections he's sabotaged, and the loved ones he's pushed away. He especially seems to regret his lost connections with the other two POV characters, who both happen to be his kin.
Although Gray Wing forgives him, they aren't as close as they once were. He's distanced himself, and we hear Clear Sky comparing himself to Gray Wing a lot in his thoughts, and wishing he was more like Gray Wing. His relationship with Thunder is never that great, and he deeply regrets that he wasn't a proper father to Thunder. I love how he makes it up to both of them in this book. Both he and Gray Wing save each other's kits, and this fully mends their relationship. At the end, when Gray Wing's on his deathbed, you really get the sense that they've recovered the deep connection they once had. Clear Sky also saves Thunder's life, and while their relationship still has a way to go by the end of the book, you get the feeling that it's starting to mend. He also finds redemption for the way he treated Thunder in fathering his new kits.
In regards to his kits, they are a discussion on their own, because he has them with Star Flower. I'm very conflicted about their relationship. Surprisingly, she doesn't betray him, which makes me like them together a lot more. However, I can't quite get over the fact that she used to be in a relationship with Thunder, Clear Sky's son, which makes the whole thing a little creepy to me. Which is a real shame because, in terms of Clear Sky's and Star Flower's actual personalities, I think they're incredibly suited for each other. I love how they've both done bad things in the past but are able to find redemption in each other. They improve each other, which is the hallmark of an ideal relationship. I just wish Thunder hadn't been involved. I would go crazy over their relationship if he hadn't.
There were some things about this book that didn't work. The main one was how it all ended with Slash. Do you really expect me to believe that, after everything he'd done, he would just be scared off so easily by Clear Sky and Thunder, and run off into the night like a complete mouse heart, never to be seen again? Knowing that they rescued Black Ear? It just makes no sense at all. After everything we know about his character, I can't believe that he wouldn't at least try to get revenge on them for saving the kit, Black Ear. I thought he must come back in Moth Flight's Vision, but my brother, who's read that, told me this really is the last we see of him.
Also, I hate that Sparrow Fur and Owl Eyes didn't get to say goodbye to Gray Wing. Okay, this might just be a sad plot point rather than bad writing, but still... imagine finding out that your father figure is dead and you didn't get to say goodbye?
I'm going to finish with a personal memory. It was the day my brother spoiled Gray Wing's death for me. Me, him and our father had gone out for the evening, which had been a welcome distraction for my grief, but now it was late, I was exhausted and it was coming back in full force. I was barely holding myself together. I was sitting in the back of the car with my brother, and our dad was driving us home. We were all talking, and my brother and I had a disagreement about something stupid, which ended in us fighting and me crying. This was when the grief completely overwhelmed me. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I just started crying really loudly.
Dad turned up the song on the radio. Piano, and a comforting voice: When you're weary/ Feeling small/ When tears are in your eyes/ I'll dry them all... It was Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." I stopped crying, and let the music take me away. Let the beautiful voice speak to my soul, telling me that he cares, that he'll always be there for me, and would give anything for me. Like a bridge over troubled water/ I will lay me down...
At some point, I suddenly realised how much these lyrics fit Gray Wing's character. I could just see him thinking the lyrics in relation to any of the cats he cared about. He will, and does, lay himself down for those he loves. Listening to the song, it felt like Gray Wing was speaking to me. And I realised that, in a sense, I'll never lose him. He'll live forever in the stars, and in the pages of Dawn of the Clans. Because book characters are not like real people. When they die, they're not forever lost to this world, or to the people who love them. And all I have to do is open a Dawn of the Clans book, and I'll be with Gray Wing once again.
P.S. I couldn't resist making a Spotify playlist of considerable length, dedicated to Gray Wing. And yes, I know the cats in Warriors do not listen to music, but I couldn't resist. Once I'd started, I couldn't stop thinking of songs I thought he'd relate to. You can listen to the playlist here. And if you have any suggestions for songs I could add, I'd love to hear them.
I was hesitant to read this series. The only reason I read it was for my eleven year old brother, who pretty much made me read it. I was not expecting to care about the series independently of caring about him, and for this reason, the connection I felt to Gray Wing was completely unprecedented. He's not just my favourite Dawn of the Clans character, he's one of my favourite characters I've ever read. And I've read a lot of books, and connected with a lot of characters. I connected with him right from the first book, but it just grew the more I read. By A Forest Divided, I couldn't read his chapters without feeling his emotions incredibly viscerally. I could barely get through a chapter of his without crying at least once, or feeling overwhelming surges of joy.
If you've read this book, you can probably guess what I'm going to say next. Gray Wing dies at the end of this book, and I've got to say, I've never grieved for a character as intensely as I grieved for him. There were two whole days when I was just overwhelmed by it, and also having to deal with my shame at feeling such intense emotions over a fictional cat. But I've got to say this: the cats in this book are people in the same way that any human character is a person, and to me, Gray Wing felt incredibly real.
At this point I feel it would be dishonest not to admit that I did have his death spoiled for me sometime before actually reaching it (the two days of grieving actually happened after my brother spoiled it). However, I still was completely unprepared for how beautifully his death scene was written. Even if I wasn't a fan of Gray Wing, I wouldn't have been able to help feeling something, because this was the most beautifully moving death scene I've ever read. I had tears streaming down my face through the whole entire chapter. Every single line was so impactful, so powerful and so quotable.
Kate Cary somehow managed to make it feel uplifting rather than just depressing. It was so touching when he named the clans on his deathbed, and it ending with him joining the spirit cats' world rather than just his last breath just caused so many intense emotions that I could never possibly attempt to describe. But let me just say that some of them were positive. It made me feel a lot more at peace than I have since his death was spoiled. And although I simultaneously feel so bad for him and how his health was in the end, I can't help but actually feel a little happy for Gray Wing. All his troubles are over, and he's in a better place. He hasn't ceased to exist- he may have left his body, but he's still following the sun trail!
The real tragedy, though, is his kits. They were barely a moon old when he died. Being a father figure is so central to Gray Wing's character. Throughout the series, we see him raise so many other people's kits, and raise them well, but he hardly got the chance to raise his own! These kits could have got the chance to have the best father in the world. Instead, they'll have to grow up without a father, and this just breaks my heart. I know this isn't what Gray Wing would have wanted for them. He would've been horrified! I love how Cary actually addresses this by having him apologise to Slate that he's going to die and won't be able to raise the kits with her. Obviously it was completely out of control and he shouldn't have to apologise, but this kind of thing is just so Gray Wing, and it broke my heart.
The whole thing just broke my heart, actually, but I was still able to appreciate the message his death sends about self sacrifice and the negative aspects of heroism, and for this I say THANK YOU! These kinds of issues have been keeping me up at night for the past year, and I've yet to find a more honest representation in literature of the consequences of constantly risking your life to save people. Gray Wing always wanted to protect everyone, and I love that about him, but it was ultimately his downfall. He ran into a forest fire to save his brother, Clear Sky, and it damaged his lungs, which severely affected the rest of his life. It put his life on a timer, and it made things which used to be easy a lot more difficult. And not only that, but he kept refusing to rest and look after himself. He kept pushing himself to his absolute limits. Kept putting others before himself, and putting himself in danger for their sake.
This is not an uncommon heroic trait- in fact, literature is full of characters like this, and so often, authors completely neglect to address the kind of effects this kind of behaviour has on people's health. Heroes go willingly into life threatening situations and emerge virtually unscathed. They literally sacrifice themselves only to be miraculously resurrected. But this team of writers don't shy away from the unromantic truth. In real life, the hero doesn't always get a fairy tale ending. You can't save everyone, and constantly putting others first can be extremely detrimental to your health. Sometimes, it's important to put yourself first.
In trying to save Clear Sky, Gray Wing pretty much sacrificed himself, and not only did it affect his personal health, but it affected his ability to be there for others. If he hadn't run into the fire, his relationship with Slate wouldn't have been so brief. He would have had the chance to father his own kits, and to see them grow into young cats. If he hadn't pushed himself to the absolute limit following the fire, he would at least have bought himself some time. For this reason, his character and arc were incredibly cathartic for me to read, and I'm so grateful he came into my life when he did.
The question is: was any of it worth it? It's up to the reader to decide, and from a certain perspective, you might say it is. Gray Wing may have died at the end, but in many ways, his life was a triumph. Though they are a weakness in some ways, his self sacrificing tendencies come from how deeply he feels, and how deeply he loves, and this is a rare strength indeed. Gray Wing had such a positive impact on the lives of so many cats, and had deep and meaningful connections not only with all the clan leaders, but many others besides. He was ready to forgive and understand others rather than fight them. Despite how much praise and respect he received, he still retained an impressive level of humility and never had ambitions for power. And even when people he loves hurt or betrayed him, he still wouldn't hesitate before risking his life for them. He and Clear Sky were on bad terms when the forest fire happened, but he was still willing to walk into a fire for Clear Sky. If that isn't unconditional love, I don't know what is.
On that note, I was really pleased with how the series ended for the other two POV characters, Thunder and Clear Sky. Unlike Gray Wing, for whom I have nothing but love, I've always felt a little conflicted on these two characters. Both really got on my nerves at times, but over the course of the story, I still grew to deeply care for them and view them with affection. The part of my brain that gets overly attached to characters is more than a little annoyed that Gray Wing didn't get a beautiful triumphant arc the way these two did, but it was still incredibly satisfying to see these two getting that, and I'm so proud of both of them.
Thunder grew from a hot-headed, rebellious kit into a strong and conscientious leader, and in some of his thought processes you can tell Gray Wing raised him (and raised him well!). He feels the weight of responsibility and worries who will look after his group when he's gone, and it was incredibly satisfying to see that weight ease a little during this book, when he saw Lightning Tail's leadership potential. His friendship with Lightning Tail is so beautiful. It's the kind of friendship most would dream of having in their life. Also, I'm so happy for him that he finally found love.
Clear Sky completes his redemption arc in the most beautiful and satisfying way. Over the past two books, he's been struggling to come to terms with all the things he's done, and struggling to forgive himself. He's been working hard to redeem himself since the end of book 3, but the other cats are colder towards him than before. As the series progresses, Clear Sky spends increasingly more time regretting the connections he's sabotaged, and the loved ones he's pushed away. He especially seems to regret his lost connections with the other two POV characters, who both happen to be his kin.
Although Gray Wing forgives him, they aren't as close as they once were. He's distanced himself, and we hear Clear Sky comparing himself to Gray Wing a lot in his thoughts, and wishing he was more like Gray Wing. His relationship with Thunder is never that great, and he deeply regrets that he wasn't a proper father to Thunder. I love how he makes it up to both of them in this book. Both he and Gray Wing save each other's kits, and this fully mends their relationship. At the end, when Gray Wing's on his deathbed, you really get the sense that they've recovered the deep connection they once had. Clear Sky also saves Thunder's life, and while their relationship still has a way to go by the end of the book, you get the feeling that it's starting to mend. He also finds redemption for the way he treated Thunder in fathering his new kits.
In regards to his kits, they are a discussion on their own, because he has them with Star Flower. I'm very conflicted about their relationship. Surprisingly, she doesn't betray him, which makes me like them together a lot more. However, I can't quite get over the fact that she used to be in a relationship with Thunder, Clear Sky's son, which makes the whole thing a little creepy to me. Which is a real shame because, in terms of Clear Sky's and Star Flower's actual personalities, I think they're incredibly suited for each other. I love how they've both done bad things in the past but are able to find redemption in each other. They improve each other, which is the hallmark of an ideal relationship. I just wish Thunder hadn't been involved. I would go crazy over their relationship if he hadn't.
There were some things about this book that didn't work. The main one was how it all ended with Slash. Do you really expect me to believe that, after everything he'd done, he would just be scared off so easily by Clear Sky and Thunder, and run off into the night like a complete mouse heart, never to be seen again? Knowing that they rescued Black Ear? It just makes no sense at all. After everything we know about his character, I can't believe that he wouldn't at least try to get revenge on them for saving the kit, Black Ear. I thought he must come back in Moth Flight's Vision, but my brother, who's read that, told me this really is the last we see of him.
Also, I hate that Sparrow Fur and Owl Eyes didn't get to say goodbye to Gray Wing. Okay, this might just be a sad plot point rather than bad writing, but still... imagine finding out that your father figure is dead and you didn't get to say goodbye?
I'm going to finish with a personal memory. It was the day my brother spoiled Gray Wing's death for me. Me, him and our father had gone out for the evening, which had been a welcome distraction for my grief, but now it was late, I was exhausted and it was coming back in full force. I was barely holding myself together. I was sitting in the back of the car with my brother, and our dad was driving us home. We were all talking, and my brother and I had a disagreement about something stupid, which ended in us fighting and me crying. This was when the grief completely overwhelmed me. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I just started crying really loudly.
Dad turned up the song on the radio. Piano, and a comforting voice: When you're weary/ Feeling small/ When tears are in your eyes/ I'll dry them all... It was Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." I stopped crying, and let the music take me away. Let the beautiful voice speak to my soul, telling me that he cares, that he'll always be there for me, and would give anything for me. Like a bridge over troubled water/ I will lay me down...
At some point, I suddenly realised how much these lyrics fit Gray Wing's character. I could just see him thinking the lyrics in relation to any of the cats he cared about. He will, and does, lay himself down for those he loves. Listening to the song, it felt like Gray Wing was speaking to me. And I realised that, in a sense, I'll never lose him. He'll live forever in the stars, and in the pages of Dawn of the Clans. Because book characters are not like real people. When they die, they're not forever lost to this world, or to the people who love them. And all I have to do is open a Dawn of the Clans book, and I'll be with Gray Wing once again.
P.S. I couldn't resist making a Spotify playlist of considerable length, dedicated to Gray Wing. And yes, I know the cats in Warriors do not listen to music, but I couldn't resist. Once I'd started, I couldn't stop thinking of songs I thought he'd relate to. You can listen to the playlist here. And if you have any suggestions for songs I could add, I'd love to hear them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2018
In a forest dominated by feral cats, a dangerous villain threatens life as they know it. Drama will ensue. Battles will be fought. Hearts will be broken. It seems that these forest cats can never get a break from the new and upcoming dangers of their home. This books expands on the lore of the Warriors universe and is perfect for any fan of the Warriors series. As expected, there will be well-developed characters, heart-wrenching tragedies, and intense action scenes. Once again, Erin Hunter has created another amazing book to add to my Warriors collection.
This book, and the other books in the Dawn of the Clans arc, follows the stories of the characters Gray Wing, Thunder, and Clear Sky. By far, my favorite is Gray Wing. He’s a kind-hearted tom who’s been through a lot, but he’s still fights through and tries to stay upbeat, helping anyone he can. I personally think he’s a relatable and lovable character. His brother Clear Sky, however, is the opposite. Clear Sky isn’t necessarily mean, but he’s rather controlling, a bit rude, and I personally think he’s a very annoying character. Honestly, I can’t really relate to him and I’m not a huge fan of his point of view. I will admit, though, that he has grown on me. He has improved since the first books in the arc, where he was overly controlling and unnecessarily violent, but, although he has become nicer, I’m still not a fan. A positive to him, though, is that I think he has developed a lot throughout the series. It seems that he’s finally trying to become better and in this book we get to see a softer side of him which isn’t shown in the other books. The third main character, Thunder, is the son of Clear Sky, who Clear Sky had rejected and Thunder instead ended up living with his uncle Gray Wing for several books in the arc. Thunder also tried to stay in his father’s group at one point, but they didn’t really get along and Thunder ended up leaving. Currently, Thunder has his own group in the forest, separate from Clear Sky. Thunder is friendly and he tries to get along with others, but he can be a bit impulsive. Also, in this book, he eventually gets into a relationship, but honestly I feel that the relationship seems rushed and kind of forced, so it’s hard to be interested in their relationship. Overall, they’re an interesting set of characters and, for the most part, I enjoyed reading their points of view (although I didn’t like Clear Sky as much.)
The conflict of the story is the threat of being attacked by a group of rogues governed by an abusive leader named Slash. This is a large part of the plot, but I actually feel like this story is mainly made up of internal conflicts. Throughout this book is the theme of accepting others. This is shown when some rogues join the forest cats. The forest cats have difficulty trusting these rogues, but they show nothing but loyalty and the forest cats must learn to accept them. This theme is also shown when Clear Sky’s mate Star Flower is kidnapped in the beginning. Some want to save her, but others would rather not. She has done terrible things in her past, so some cats don’t like her, despite that she has improved. Ultimately, the forest cats decide to rescue her.
I love this book and I think it’s a great addition for any Warriors fan! I rate this book ⅘ stars. There’s well-developed characters and many intriguing plot points. I also love that there’s the theme of accepting others. Having themes in stories is something that I really enjoy, since it adds a life lesson into the book. However, there are a few downfalls to this book. For one thing, you have to read the previous books in the Dawn of the Clans arc in order to fully understand this book. This isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s something to keep in mind before reading. Secondly, some characters (specifically Clear Sky) can be hard to relate with and don’t fully engage the reader. There are also some loose ends to the plot, but the overall plot was entertaining enough to keep me reading. This book is definitely worth the read and I recommend to add it to your book collection, especially if you are a fan of the Warriors series!
January 2, 2026
It might seem silly to hold a grudge against a small, grey, blue-eyed fictional cat, but here I am, finishing the sixth book of Dawn of the Clans, still fuming that Clear Sky basically gets off with a slap on the wrist for all the death, destruction, betrayal, and outright nonsense he’s caused throughout the entire series.
December 2, 2024
Definitely not the best but definitely not the worst! Kind of good, kind of bad at the same time! I highly recommend this series!
June 2, 2019
I just finished the last book of this series after taking a year-long pause. It was definitely hard to remember what was going on at first, but I conclude that this is the best book out of the set.
I liked the original Warriors series as a kid, and I am continually surprised at how many series Hunter can pull off in less than a decade. There were about five pages of her past and present releases at the back of this one.
The 'Dawn of the Clans' series has its high and low points. Some parts of the books are relentlessly depressing for too long; the pages are predominantly filled with death, disease, and feline corruption. The last book, Path of Stars, however, is a quick read and offers a satisfying conclusion. The events described in the last few pages are really the most emotional part of any Warriors book I have read.
My main complaint about the Warriors books as a whole is that only five things seem to be able to happen to the forest-dwelling cats, those being
1. Rivalries between the Clans
2. Rivalries within the Clans
3. Outbreak of disease
4. Cats being designated as warriors, apprentices, deputies, or leaders
5. ShadowClan living up to its name and launching raids
Having said this, I think that Hunter's prequal series offers a new look at some of these old points, making it a very enjoyable set.
I liked the original Warriors series as a kid, and I am continually surprised at how many series Hunter can pull off in less than a decade. There were about five pages of her past and present releases at the back of this one.
The 'Dawn of the Clans' series has its high and low points. Some parts of the books are relentlessly depressing for too long; the pages are predominantly filled with death, disease, and feline corruption. The last book, Path of Stars, however, is a quick read and offers a satisfying conclusion. The events described in the last few pages are really the most emotional part of any Warriors book I have read.
My main complaint about the Warriors books as a whole is that only five things seem to be able to happen to the forest-dwelling cats, those being
1. Rivalries between the Clans
2. Rivalries within the Clans
3. Outbreak of disease
4. Cats being designated as warriors, apprentices, deputies, or leaders
5. ShadowClan living up to its name and launching raids
Having said this, I think that Hunter's prequal series offers a new look at some of these old points, making it a very enjoyable set.
December 30, 2022
Quick review (and an overall DotC review):
What did I dislike?
The finale, to be honest, felt rushed and quick and the overall conclusion was underwhelming. Did we get a conclusion with Slash in Mothflight’s Vision? Because I feel like that had to happen somewhere in this book.
I also wish that the romances in DotC would be more, I don’t know, REALISTIC? Most she-cats don’t even have something going on for themselves, other than being a male protagonist’s love interest. I feel like the she-cats with the strongest roles and with something going on for themselves are Wind Runner, Tall Shadow, Star Flower, Turtle Tail and arguably Quiet Rain and Moth Flight. And these are probably my favourites. Meanwhile, Bright Stream, Storm, Slate and Violet Dawn are thrown under the bus to be some male leads mates. They barely have a personality, all they have to do is to make tom think that they’re attractive and have kits, then some tragedy happens, no more mother, no more father, no more kits, the end. This feels really shallow, and I wish we had at least one POV lady (I know that Tall Shadow and Moth Flight get their own books later on, but Star Flower would’ve also been interesting).
And am I the only one that has mixed feelings about Gray Wing’s death? Yeah…
And I seriously need to read “Moth Flight’s Vision”, because I don’t know how to feel about her during “Path of Stars”.
What did I like?
Now, with all the bad out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff.
I don’t know if Clear Sky was able to fully redeem himself, but it was nice to see for the second half of the arc. Having him realise the bads he did isn’t something that will change the past, but it’s a good start to have him stumble in doing what’s right, and only feels fitting for Clear Sky. At first I hated him for all the horrible things he did and wished he would die already in the first half of the arc, but now, it’s definitely a lot more satisfying to have a villain that redeems themselves. Or at least tries. “The Blazing Star” and “Path of Stars” tries more than “A Forest Divided”, I give you that - the Star Flower is complicated and I feel like Star Flower shouldn’t have been the one to seduce Thunder and then get his father as mate, so it would stay less controversial. But it fits how it is…? I’m not sure. Thunder and Clear Sky are still the dumb ones for falling for her in first place, so, haha. (And Thunder is really dumb when it comes to she-cats that he finds attractive just by looking at them for a few seconds.)
Also, Star Flower was nice to have around, I’ll be honest. She’s such a bad woman at the start, but then she becomes good? It’s funny how she didn’t really even do anything bad, other than being a daddy’s girl, but she still gets a redemption arc alongside with Clear Sky. 😂
And for the most part, I really love the characters. Gray Wing, Turtle Tail, Jagget Peak, Tall Shadow, Wind Runner, Gorse Fur, Star Flower, Pebble Heart, Clear Sky (soo many mixed feelings for this guy), Lightning Tail and Thunder really ended up as some of my faves. 💙
Now, that’s it, I hope you enjoyed reading my ramblings about the arc, because I really enjoyed for the most part, and I just wish it used its whole potential, because it lost some really good stuff.
What did I dislike?
The finale, to be honest, felt rushed and quick and the overall conclusion was underwhelming. Did we get a conclusion with Slash in Mothflight’s Vision? Because I feel like that had to happen somewhere in this book.
I also wish that the romances in DotC would be more, I don’t know, REALISTIC? Most she-cats don’t even have something going on for themselves, other than being a male protagonist’s love interest. I feel like the she-cats with the strongest roles and with something going on for themselves are Wind Runner, Tall Shadow, Star Flower, Turtle Tail and arguably Quiet Rain and Moth Flight. And these are probably my favourites. Meanwhile, Bright Stream, Storm, Slate and Violet Dawn are thrown under the bus to be some male leads mates. They barely have a personality, all they have to do is to make tom think that they’re attractive and have kits, then some tragedy happens, no more mother, no more father, no more kits, the end. This feels really shallow, and I wish we had at least one POV lady (I know that Tall Shadow and Moth Flight get their own books later on, but Star Flower would’ve also been interesting).
And am I the only one that has mixed feelings about Gray Wing’s death? Yeah…
And I seriously need to read “Moth Flight’s Vision”, because I don’t know how to feel about her during “Path of Stars”.
What did I like?
Now, with all the bad out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff.
I don’t know if Clear Sky was able to fully redeem himself, but it was nice to see for the second half of the arc. Having him realise the bads he did isn’t something that will change the past, but it’s a good start to have him stumble in doing what’s right, and only feels fitting for Clear Sky. At first I hated him for all the horrible things he did and wished he would die already in the first half of the arc, but now, it’s definitely a lot more satisfying to have a villain that redeems themselves. Or at least tries. “The Blazing Star” and “Path of Stars” tries more than “A Forest Divided”, I give you that - the Star Flower is complicated and I feel like Star Flower shouldn’t have been the one to seduce Thunder and then get his father as mate, so it would stay less controversial. But it fits how it is…? I’m not sure. Thunder and Clear Sky are still the dumb ones for falling for her in first place, so, haha. (And Thunder is really dumb when it comes to she-cats that he finds attractive just by looking at them for a few seconds.)
Also, Star Flower was nice to have around, I’ll be honest. She’s such a bad woman at the start, but then she becomes good? It’s funny how she didn’t really even do anything bad, other than being a daddy’s girl, but she still gets a redemption arc alongside with Clear Sky. 😂
And for the most part, I really love the characters. Gray Wing, Turtle Tail, Jagget Peak, Tall Shadow, Wind Runner, Gorse Fur, Star Flower, Pebble Heart, Clear Sky (soo many mixed feelings for this guy), Lightning Tail and Thunder really ended up as some of my faves. 💙
Now, that’s it, I hope you enjoyed reading my ramblings about the arc, because I really enjoyed for the most part, and I just wish it used its whole potential, because it lost some really good stuff.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2021
This book was absolutely amazing. It was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I just didn't expect this to be how the Clans formed.
**Spoilers for end of the book**
The fact that first, Slash and his group of rogues kept Clear Sky's mate, Star Flower hostages WHILE she was holding kits is just insane. But it got more insane where towards the end, he attacked again, but it wasn't Star Flower, nor was it just a hostage.
Slash came with a smaller group of rogues and attacked Gray Wing's mate, Slate, and took one of his kits. And it's crazy that Slash just left Black Ear, (The kit that was taken) at the middle of a thunderpath in front of Thunder and Clear Sky.
I'm glad Clear Sky saved him, but he was injured, and pulled through. But it sucks that in that time period Gray Wing was dying. It got even sadder when his kits were right next to him whilst he was dying, and when he died.
The fact that just one cat made the Clan's names' is life changing, and it was amazing that's how it happened.
Now I'm curious, what happened to Slash and the rest of his rogues? Did they leave the Clans alone, or did he ever attack again because he's a foolish cat-?
And what happened to WindClan after Gray Wing die? How did they break the news to the cats he once knew and were close to? It was nice to know his brothers and kits were there next to him, but what about the others?
**Spoilers for end of the book**
The fact that first, Slash and his group of rogues kept Clear Sky's mate, Star Flower hostages WHILE she was holding kits is just insane. But it got more insane where towards the end, he attacked again, but it wasn't Star Flower, nor was it just a hostage.
Slash came with a smaller group of rogues and attacked Gray Wing's mate, Slate, and took one of his kits. And it's crazy that Slash just left Black Ear, (The kit that was taken) at the middle of a thunderpath in front of Thunder and Clear Sky.
I'm glad Clear Sky saved him, but he was injured, and pulled through. But it sucks that in that time period Gray Wing was dying. It got even sadder when his kits were right next to him whilst he was dying, and when he died.
The fact that just one cat made the Clan's names' is life changing, and it was amazing that's how it happened.
Now I'm curious, what happened to Slash and the rest of his rogues? Did they leave the Clans alone, or did he ever attack again because he's a foolish cat-?
And what happened to WindClan after Gray Wing die? How did they break the news to the cats he once knew and were close to? It was nice to know his brothers and kits were there next to him, but what about the others?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2015
The ending of this book wasn't really what I thought it was going to be.I was expecting there to be this huge, glamorous ending where the StarClan cats come back and bestow upon the leaders their 'star part of the name and there would be another battle or something. Not to say that this book wasn't good and if you've read the other five books in the arc then you might as well finish it, because it's worth that much. The last couple of pages were beautiful, and they ALMOST made me tear up a little. Almost. The love between certain characters of the story seemed a little...forced to me. As if character needs love to be complete. And it felt as though the authors were TELLING how in love they were instead of actually showing. Or maybe it's just how I perceived it. All in all, it wasn't my favorite book in the arc but I'm glad I read it.
September 7, 2018
The end of the Dawn of the clans series! I did enjoy this one, but I felt a bit underwhelmed on the whole. I had hoped this would add more into how the groups formed and came up with all their customs and titles, but it kind of only skimmed the surface. Reading other reviews after I finished showed me I wasn't the only one with this feeling!
The grand finale however, was sad and I truly felt sorry for all the cats. -Sigh- I won't get into spoilers, but it wasn't the ending I was hoping for. I grew to love some of these characters and they deserve better :(
Anyway I was overall happy with this series, and I have more of the newer series to read too, so no complaints on quantity. Four stars.
The grand finale however, was sad and I truly felt sorry for all the cats. -Sigh- I won't get into spoilers, but it wasn't the ending I was hoping for. I grew to love some of these characters and they deserve better :(
Anyway I was overall happy with this series, and I have more of the newer series to read too, so no complaints on quantity. Four stars.
September 19, 2018
I would have given this finale 3 stars if it wasn’t for the fact that the ending made me cry like a baby. It was a rather unexciting finale, especially when compared to the previous series finale, The Last Hope, which was mindblowing.
I was really hoping that this book would set up the structure of the Clans, such as titles of leader, deputy, and medicine cat. But the only thing accomplished by the end of the book was the names of the Clans.
Also, a new editor is in order! I lost track of how many times “Lighting Tail” was typed instead of Lightning Tail.”
Overall though, I enjoyed this series and have grown to love the characters, especially Gray Wing.
I was really hoping that this book would set up the structure of the Clans, such as titles of leader, deputy, and medicine cat. But the only thing accomplished by the end of the book was the names of the Clans.
Also, a new editor is in order! I lost track of how many times “Lighting Tail” was typed instead of Lightning Tail.”
Overall though, I enjoyed this series and have grown to love the characters, especially Gray Wing.
March 29, 2016
This was an amazing book. I love this whole series and this book was the last part of a prequel series to that series. This author makes the characters come to life with detailed writing and amazing emotion.
January 22, 2016
im sad the warriors series is over..and im kinda disappointed..
April 21, 2023
I just cried for a freaking cat. Good night. 🥴🤣
May 13, 2020
OH MY GOSH I"M HEARTBROKEN! I didn't like him at first and he got kind of on my nerves, but I got attached and AAHH so many cats are affected and upset by his death :( I thought someone else was going to die first! He was so pivotal to keeping the peace and maintaining good relations, you know everything's about to go downhill ah
On another note, we finally have the clan names (named by the above cat who died - no spoil-y) !! But I get sad thinking about how they're now going to become more separated and guarded; I love that they can visit each other when kin in different clans have kits and that they can seek refuge with each other - now this is all going to fall apart before my beloved Fireheart appears :'(
A lot of people have noted that this book was anticlimatic, and I rather agree. I expected the clans to be well-formed at this point, and I feel as though you really need to read all the individual novellas and super editions to get to the meat of clan life formation, which I expected this series to be about. There's a huge jump between relations by the end of this series to the life of the warrior cats in The Prophecies Begin. But the death was done well and hurt my soul, and for that it gets 4/5.
On another note, we finally have the clan names (named by the above cat who died - no spoil-y) !! But I get sad thinking about how they're now going to become more separated and guarded; I love that they can visit each other when kin in different clans have kits and that they can seek refuge with each other - now this is all going to fall apart before my beloved Fireheart appears :'(
A lot of people have noted that this book was anticlimatic, and I rather agree. I expected the clans to be well-formed at this point, and I feel as though you really need to read all the individual novellas and super editions to get to the meat of clan life formation, which I expected this series to be about. There's a huge jump between relations by the end of this series to the life of the warrior cats in The Prophecies Begin. But the death was done well and hurt my soul, and for that it gets 4/5.
June 28, 2023
4.4 ⭐️
It was painful to come to the end of the final book of this arc, especially since I’ve gotten close to the cats. This book was more about growth, more morals than combat that we’re so used to.
I can understand why some people think this is the worst arc but I personally enjoyed my time reading it, loving Thunder, Grey Wing and Clear Sky as the main characters who became so familiar to me.
Was expecting some great battle to happen but there was no bloodshed, the villains gave up on terrorizing the clans. Although I don’t know why they’ve introduced so many new rogues into the clans in the last book, oh well.
I was wondering how would this series come to an end and Grey Wing leaving his love and kits behind to join the stars was just somehow perfect and bittersweet. The clans became as close as possible, forgetting their old tensions. I just don’t know WHY they’d become hostile and suspicious with each other again during the original series.
Nevertheless, it was a good way to get into these books again after stopping with The Last Hope 4 years ago. Onwards with Bramblestar’s Storm and Moth Flight’s Vision!
It was painful to come to the end of the final book of this arc, especially since I’ve gotten close to the cats. This book was more about growth, more morals than combat that we’re so used to.
I can understand why some people think this is the worst arc but I personally enjoyed my time reading it, loving Thunder, Grey Wing and Clear Sky as the main characters who became so familiar to me.
Was expecting some great battle to happen but there was no bloodshed, the villains gave up on terrorizing the clans. Although I don’t know why they’ve introduced so many new rogues into the clans in the last book, oh well.
I was wondering how would this series come to an end and Grey Wing leaving his love and kits behind to join the stars was just somehow perfect and bittersweet. The clans became as close as possible, forgetting their old tensions. I just don’t know WHY they’d become hostile and suspicious with each other again during the original series.
Nevertheless, it was a good way to get into these books again after stopping with The Last Hope 4 years ago. Onwards with Bramblestar’s Storm and Moth Flight’s Vision!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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