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Renegades #1
The Magic Awakens
Not yet published
Expected 19 May 26The launch of a brand-new series from blockbuster Warriors author Erin Hunter about two orphaned cat sisters who discover a secret world of magical creatures . . . and the humans who are out to control them.
Willow and Luna have been on their own since they were kittens. After their mother’s death, they settled into a scrappy life in the heart of the city. But when a mysterious fire rips through their makeshift shelter, they’re left searching for a new home.
Luna is immediately drawn in by the strange, secretive animals they meet in the park—animals they can somehow talk to . . . and who unlock her ability to perform magic. Willow is less sure about these so-called “attuned” animals and has no interest in joining their world—or their fight against the human witches who seek to “bind” the animals to them.
As Luna and Willow come to realize their own unique magic, they find themselves at odds, separated by destiny, with the fate of the whole city in their paws.
Willow and Luna have been on their own since they were kittens. After their mother’s death, they settled into a scrappy life in the heart of the city. But when a mysterious fire rips through their makeshift shelter, they’re left searching for a new home.
Luna is immediately drawn in by the strange, secretive animals they meet in the park—animals they can somehow talk to . . . and who unlock her ability to perform magic. Willow is less sure about these so-called “attuned” animals and has no interest in joining their world—or their fight against the human witches who seek to “bind” the animals to them.
As Luna and Willow come to realize their own unique magic, they find themselves at odds, separated by destiny, with the fate of the whole city in their paws.
- GenresFantasy
240 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 19, 2026
2 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Erin Hunter
278 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 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 29, 2025
Thank you Netgalley, Erin Hunter and HarperCollins for giving me the opportunity to read and write a review prior to publishing.
**Slight minor Spoilers ahead***
As a lover of the series " Warriors" ever since I was a child, getting older and actually reviewing a novel of theirs feels like a dream come true. From the way they are able to weave a tale that feels like it transcends any age group. This latest series is a wonderful addition to their catalog of books written.
The story follows two cat sisters- Luna and Willow- as they traverse life after their lives were upturned after their home burned down. Not long into their journey they meet the Alliance, a coven of animals who are attuned and perform magic, along with other covens vying for the claim of having Luna due to her ability to due Fire Magic and Willow becoming friends with a witch - who the covens say are inherently evil humans wanting the attuned animals magic all to themselves to channel.
Filled with twists and wonderful turns, I cannot wait for additional novels to continue to see what happens.
I did however; forget how dark these stories can become which feels like the author views children as people and not something that cannot process or think when grappled with issues. Especially when their parents grew up with Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, Sesame Street and other broadcasting companies that helped explain topics that were deemed more mature.
I will forewarn everyone who reads this that while Warriors dealt with animal death, this series deals with more animal cruelty ( offscreen and hinted when they describe humans draining the anima- magic- from animals), animal death ( hinted at and briefly described after a battle), how animals are stuck in cages along with animal fighting ( Willow fights some raccoons).
However; as a lover of animals and a person who shies away and is uncomfortable with such things. It is not overly described like Tail chasers Song by Tad Willaims nor The Wild Road by Gabriel King.
For lovers of Warriors, this is a must for to read. For people who always wanted to read Erin Hunter and their work, this is a wonderful stepping stone into the fore ray of their wonderful worlds they have come to create.
**Slight minor Spoilers ahead***
As a lover of the series " Warriors" ever since I was a child, getting older and actually reviewing a novel of theirs feels like a dream come true. From the way they are able to weave a tale that feels like it transcends any age group. This latest series is a wonderful addition to their catalog of books written.
The story follows two cat sisters- Luna and Willow- as they traverse life after their lives were upturned after their home burned down. Not long into their journey they meet the Alliance, a coven of animals who are attuned and perform magic, along with other covens vying for the claim of having Luna due to her ability to due Fire Magic and Willow becoming friends with a witch - who the covens say are inherently evil humans wanting the attuned animals magic all to themselves to channel.
Filled with twists and wonderful turns, I cannot wait for additional novels to continue to see what happens.
I did however; forget how dark these stories can become which feels like the author views children as people and not something that cannot process or think when grappled with issues. Especially when their parents grew up with Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, Sesame Street and other broadcasting companies that helped explain topics that were deemed more mature.
I will forewarn everyone who reads this that while Warriors dealt with animal death, this series deals with more animal cruelty ( offscreen and hinted when they describe humans draining the anima- magic- from animals), animal death ( hinted at and briefly described after a battle), how animals are stuck in cages along with animal fighting ( Willow fights some raccoons).
However; as a lover of animals and a person who shies away and is uncomfortable with such things. It is not overly described like Tail chasers Song by Tad Willaims nor The Wild Road by Gabriel King.
For lovers of Warriors, this is a must for to read. For people who always wanted to read Erin Hunter and their work, this is a wonderful stepping stone into the fore ray of their wonderful worlds they have come to create.
November 28, 2025
A great start to a new series! I am very sad the next book isn't out until next November 🙃
This story carries the same world building, and characterization as Warriors, but it is still a completely fresh world with a unique premise.
Willow and Luna have always had each other. You watch them go from normal cats to those with magical abilities. They embark on a journey through a world full of all types of animals with all types of powers. But slowly they drift apart, and must choose their own paths.
Thus begins a story about fate and freedom.
I am very excited to see where this story goes. The complex politics in and out of the animal world really show a powerful story ahead.
My love for Warriors has been reignited, so I will be devouring those books now that I have finished this.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This story carries the same world building, and characterization as Warriors, but it is still a completely fresh world with a unique premise.
Willow and Luna have always had each other. You watch them go from normal cats to those with magical abilities. They embark on a journey through a world full of all types of animals with all types of powers. But slowly they drift apart, and must choose their own paths.
Thus begins a story about fate and freedom.
I am very excited to see where this story goes. The complex politics in and out of the animal world really show a powerful story ahead.
My love for Warriors has been reignited, so I will be devouring those books now that I have finished this.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
November 25, 2025
I was granted access to an advance copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
As an avid Warriors fan from my youth, I was delighted to see that I could request this new title. As much as I loved the Warriors series, I think I like this concept even more.
Firstly: toad POV. As absurd as that sounds, a mixture of different animals was one of the draws of this book. Along with their different magical skills.
And, as a middle-grade/YA title, this book works perfectly. The sentence structure is simple enough to teach kids how to read and imagine what they're consuming. I also think that the subject matter works well. The two cats have different personalities and goals, and they need to figure out how to navigate their lives individually. The heavier topics surrounding tradition, fealty, compassion, and deceit are also perfect for this age group.
Time for a Warriors re-read!
As an avid Warriors fan from my youth, I was delighted to see that I could request this new title. As much as I loved the Warriors series, I think I like this concept even more.
Firstly: toad POV. As absurd as that sounds, a mixture of different animals was one of the draws of this book. Along with their different magical skills.
And, as a middle-grade/YA title, this book works perfectly. The sentence structure is simple enough to teach kids how to read and imagine what they're consuming. I also think that the subject matter works well. The two cats have different personalities and goals, and they need to figure out how to navigate their lives individually. The heavier topics surrounding tradition, fealty, compassion, and deceit are also perfect for this age group.
Time for a Warriors re-read!
December 7, 2025
The publisher, HarperCollins, has granted me access to an advance copy for the purposes of the review.
Another Erin Hunter series, another animal... Wait, we're back at cats again?
Our protagonists, the feline sisters Luna (showcasing her fiery personality on the gorgeous cover) and Willow (more shy and reserved, avoiding reader's gaze on the cover) find themselves jumping from one danger to another. Following the death of their mother, the book opens with an action scene right away, with the sisters escaping a burning building. While searching the city for the new place to call home, they meet a colourful variety of fascinating creatures of different species. They discover, that their world is inhabited by 'Attuned' beings, wielding powerful magic. The attuned organize themselves in elusive groups, called covens, which each of has their own rules and values. They also learn about witches, humans with magical powers who require attuned beings to channel their own magic. Many of the attuned are scared of them, though not all.
Despite the cover showcasing a cat, and our PoVs also being cats, the world of attuned is populated by a wide variety of animals, and not only those of species which would be popular as familiar choices, so it's not strictly-speaking, a cat book.
Our main characters have pretty strong and distinctive personalities and I adore their bond. It's a very heartfelt portrayal of a sibling bond, even when the sisters argue and don't agree with each other, you can still tell that they mean the world to each other. So when they inevitably end up separated, the pain behind it feels real. When one of the sisters ends up joining a coven, while the other one becomes a familiar for a witch, their relationship is on a crash course when the two groups are about to start a war. But the drama is fun and exciting and I'm all here for it!
The urban setting is pretty unique for an Erin Hunter book and it's really cool seeing what would be an ordinary place that I walk past every day without as much of a thought, serve as a secret base to magical beings. It adds the vibe of mystery and exploration. There is implied to be a lot more to the story than it is at first sight and I can't wait for the next book to unravel some of its secrets.
Fantasy elements are also far more pronounced here, with each of the attuned magical beings having their own unique powers. Luna has fire powers, someone else can teleport, there's a rat with telekinesis, we have our mind readers... The book isn't afraid of just letting all the fun stuff out and try to come up with cool ideas of what would happen with all that.
And it definitely helps make the book more alive. The focus here is definitely on action. The book opens with the sisters escaping from fire and whenever it slows down, it's only for a brief moment. There's a lot of exciting scenes, including fights. The author doesn't hold any punches here and the characters do get maimed or die. A lot of them die and it only seems like a prelude of what is to come.
I didn't mind the book's fast pace in general, though I did wish it slowed down in certain moments to explore some locations or relationship in a bit more detail. But oh well, you can't have everything.
I ended up enjoying it a lot and I can't wait for the next book. Very action-packed, fast-paced book set in a setting full of mystery left to be uncovered.
Another Erin Hunter series, another animal... Wait, we're back at cats again?
Our protagonists, the feline sisters Luna (showcasing her fiery personality on the gorgeous cover) and Willow (more shy and reserved, avoiding reader's gaze on the cover) find themselves jumping from one danger to another. Following the death of their mother, the book opens with an action scene right away, with the sisters escaping a burning building. While searching the city for the new place to call home, they meet a colourful variety of fascinating creatures of different species. They discover, that their world is inhabited by 'Attuned' beings, wielding powerful magic. The attuned organize themselves in elusive groups, called covens, which each of has their own rules and values. They also learn about witches, humans with magical powers who require attuned beings to channel their own magic. Many of the attuned are scared of them, though not all.
Despite the cover showcasing a cat, and our PoVs also being cats, the world of attuned is populated by a wide variety of animals, and not only those of species which would be popular as familiar choices, so it's not strictly-speaking, a cat book.
Our main characters have pretty strong and distinctive personalities and I adore their bond. It's a very heartfelt portrayal of a sibling bond, even when the sisters argue and don't agree with each other, you can still tell that they mean the world to each other. So when they inevitably end up separated, the pain behind it feels real. When one of the sisters ends up joining a coven, while the other one becomes a familiar for a witch, their relationship is on a crash course when the two groups are about to start a war. But the drama is fun and exciting and I'm all here for it!
The urban setting is pretty unique for an Erin Hunter book and it's really cool seeing what would be an ordinary place that I walk past every day without as much of a thought, serve as a secret base to magical beings. It adds the vibe of mystery and exploration. There is implied to be a lot more to the story than it is at first sight and I can't wait for the next book to unravel some of its secrets.
Fantasy elements are also far more pronounced here, with each of the attuned magical beings having their own unique powers. Luna has fire powers, someone else can teleport, there's a rat with telekinesis, we have our mind readers... The book isn't afraid of just letting all the fun stuff out and try to come up with cool ideas of what would happen with all that.
And it definitely helps make the book more alive. The focus here is definitely on action. The book opens with the sisters escaping from fire and whenever it slows down, it's only for a brief moment. There's a lot of exciting scenes, including fights. The author doesn't hold any punches here and the characters do get maimed or die. A lot of them die and it only seems like a prelude of what is to come.
I didn't mind the book's fast pace in general, though I did wish it slowed down in certain moments to explore some locations or relationship in a bit more detail. But oh well, you can't have everything.
I ended up enjoying it a lot and I can't wait for the next book. Very action-packed, fast-paced book set in a setting full of mystery left to be uncovered.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This isn't an unkind three stars, because I did still enjoy reading. This is great for kids who liked Warrior Cats, or who didn't like Warrior Cats because they thought the series had too many cats, too much forest, and not enough magic. Personally I find some of the character motivations weak and wish the covens were defined a bit more before (spoiler) one of the main characters somehow inherits an entire coven when the leader, who we hardly know, is murdered -- some of the greatest narrative injustices of the book are that, after (more spoilers) Luna joins the renegades, we don't see her first three heists to free bound animals but instead tune into her *fourth* heist; plus, having the massive earth-changing plot-crystalizing massacre exist entirely off-page... So many missed opportunities.
October 25, 2025
perfect for Erin's previous fans of her warrior series, This is separate but it gives that same feeling as cracking open your first warrior book back in grade 1.
With all sorts of talking animals and magic afoot, it was fun to go on this first part of the journey with Willow and Luna and I can't wait to see where we go from here!
With all sorts of talking animals and magic afoot, it was fun to go on this first part of the journey with Willow and Luna and I can't wait to see where we go from here!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins and Erin Hunter for an advanced review copy. My 11 year old cat loving son loves all The Warriors books and this we knew had to request this one. This was a quick read and enjoyed the elements of the story in this book. My son was bummed at the end of the story that the next book in the series is not out anytime soon.
January 13, 2026
1.5
This was my first Erin Hunter book and while I’ve heard great things about her Warriors series, I’m honestly disappointed in this one.
Psychics
Animal death, some very graphic and gorey.
Mentions of witchcraft and witches
Worshiping animal ancestors
Mentions of gods they have dedicated themselves to.
It was just very dark and graphic. Plus with all the witchcraft and all the emphasis on evil things, it’s just not something I like to read or would allow my siblings to read. So unfortunately this is not a book I can recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book.
This was my first Erin Hunter book and while I’ve heard great things about her Warriors series, I’m honestly disappointed in this one.
Psychics
Animal death, some very graphic and gorey.
Mentions of witchcraft and witches
Worshiping animal ancestors
Mentions of gods they have dedicated themselves to.
It was just very dark and graphic. Plus with all the witchcraft and all the emphasis on evil things, it’s just not something I like to read or would allow my siblings to read. So unfortunately this is not a book I can recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews