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Renegades #1
The Magic Awakens
The 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.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2026
About the author
Erin Hunter
283 books11.2k 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 83 reviews
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!
June 20, 2026
A new series from the Erins. It was beautifully chaotic🥰, and the world is not fully established. Only here and there are hints on how the covens work. Enough to keep you wondering🤔
It took me a while to get used to the style in this, but it quickly spiked my intrigue.
We meet Luna and Willow to sisters who are orphaned and have a huge dislike in humans after their mother's death.
They meet a rat and a dog who tells them they are attuned and should come with them. Willow is our little sceptic, and Luna is so excited and feels so special because she can use magic.
And now they have to set their paws in an unfamiliar world, which Luna is adapting to more quickly.
They have to forge their own paths. Although they made promises for always staying together.
I started this with an open mind because I love Warriorcats so much, and I feel this will be an amazing adventure filled with magic, loyalty, and betrayals.
I can't wait to see where this will be heading and to see how the world of the animals unfolds🥰
It took me a while to get used to the style in this, but it quickly spiked my intrigue.
We meet Luna and Willow to sisters who are orphaned and have a huge dislike in humans after their mother's death.
They meet a rat and a dog who tells them they are attuned and should come with them. Willow is our little sceptic, and Luna is so excited and feels so special because she can use magic.
And now they have to set their paws in an unfamiliar world, which Luna is adapting to more quickly.
They have to forge their own paths. Although they made promises for always staying together.
I started this with an open mind because I love Warriorcats so much, and I feel this will be an amazing adventure filled with magic, loyalty, and betrayals.
I can't wait to see where this will be heading and to see how the world of the animals unfolds🥰
May 2, 2026
Two cat sisters bound for destiny or destruction.
A world where some animals have magic powers, two sisters search for a new place to call home but is it home for both of them or only fit for one?
Well it's not Warriors but it's pretty dang good! The toads really threw me off in the beginning there. I honestly love willow and violet LOL
I will definitely be reading the next book
A world where some animals have magic powers, two sisters search for a new place to call home but is it home for both of them or only fit for one?
Well it's not Warriors but it's pretty dang good! The toads really threw me off in the beginning there. I honestly love willow and violet LOL
I will definitely be reading the next book
June 7, 2026
Listened to audiobook, narrated by Caitlin Kelly.
Reading The Magic Awakens took me back to that feeling of discovering an exciting new book as a kid. There's a delightfully genuine sense of adventure and intrigue here: seeing the world through the eyes of two little sister cats made every risk and opportunity seem bigger.
If there were kids in my life, I'd absolutely pick up copies for them; I think this would be a great series to foster a young reader's love of books. That said, there are some references to and depictions of darker themes like animal cruelty and animal death, which, while not graphic, could be upsetting to young or sensitive readers (or cat-loving adults like me!), so I would suggest this for older kids or teens.
Caitlin Kelly's narration was a perfect fit for the audiobook. I adored her voices for all of the little animal characters and thought she did a great job conveying emotion to bring Willow's and Luna's inner worlds to life.
Truly a joy to read. I'll be keeping an eye out for the next entry in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Children's for providing an arc.
Reading The Magic Awakens took me back to that feeling of discovering an exciting new book as a kid. There's a delightfully genuine sense of adventure and intrigue here: seeing the world through the eyes of two little sister cats made every risk and opportunity seem bigger.
If there were kids in my life, I'd absolutely pick up copies for them; I think this would be a great series to foster a young reader's love of books. That said, there are some references to and depictions of darker themes like animal cruelty and animal death, which, while not graphic, could be upsetting to young or sensitive readers (or cat-loving adults like me!), so I would suggest this for older kids or teens.
Caitlin Kelly's narration was a perfect fit for the audiobook. I adored her voices for all of the little animal characters and thought she did a great job conveying emotion to bring Willow's and Luna's inner worlds to life.
Truly a joy to read. I'll be keeping an eye out for the next entry in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Children's for providing an arc.
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!
June 2, 2026
i’d be lying if i said i didn’t enjoy myself
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.
April 3, 2026
3.5 - The Magic Awakens follows sisters Luna and Willow as they navigate the loss of their home, and reckon with newfound magical powers. Somehow, Erin Hunter has delivered a story that is quite dark, even by Warrior Cat standards, but that still deals delicately with issues of identity, fitting in, and following the status quo. I felt that the pacing was a little off, but seeing as this will (likely) be a 6-book series I'm expecting that to right itself over time. The absence of Star Clan in a Hunter book about cats was a bit hard to get used to, but the inclusion of a spiritual group such as the Conclave was so fascinating and I'm excited to see the role those characters play in later books. All in all, I would avoid if animal cruelty is a hard NO for you in fiction, but if you already enjoy the Warrior Cat books this is a new series to get excited about. Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for the arc!!
June 8, 2026
Na de dood van hun moeder lijken Luna en Wilg alles kwijt te zijn. Tot ze ontdekken dat er achter de drukke straten van de stad een verborgen wereld schuilgaat. Een wereld waarin dieren magie gebruiken. Waar geheime genootschappen strijden om macht. En waar heksen jagen op iedereen die de kracht van ziel bezit. Terwijl Luna wordt aangetrokken door de beloften van deze nieuwe wereld, begint Wilg te twijfelen aan alles wat ze ooit geloofde. Hun keuzes brengen hen op gevaarlijke paden die steeds verder uit elkaar lopen. Maar wanneer een oude dreiging ontwaakt, beseffen de zusjes dat hun grootste vijand misschien niet de heksen zijn ... maar de kloof die tussen hen groeit.
Mijn ervaring:
Wat een toffe, sterke en indrukwekkende nieuwe serie! In deze serie draait het om een stedelijke fantasywereld vol magie, geheime genootschappen en morele conflicten. Het resultaat is een avontuurlijke en veelbelovende start van een nieuwe reeks die spanning, emotie en mysterie op een sterke manier weet te combineren.
Erin Hunter heeft een beeldende, toegankelijke en vlotte schrijfstijl. Ze weet lezers moeiteloos haar wereld in te trekken en voegt daarbij voldoende diepgang toe om het verhaal te laten boeien. De verborgen stad, verscholen tussen steegjes, parken en daken, voelt levendig aan en ook de magische kracht 'ziel' wordt helder uitgewerkt zonder dat het ingewikkeld wordt. Juist doordat de magie geleidelijk wordt onthuld, blijft je nieuwsgierigheid voortdurend geprikkeld.
Luna en Wilg vormen het hart van het verhaal. Hun zussenband voelt oprecht en liefdevol, waardoor het extra pijnlijk is wanneer hun overtuigingen steeds verder uit elkaar groeien. Erin Hunter laat overtuigend zien hoe verlies, angst en verlangen invloed hebben op keuzes. Luna wordt aangetrokken door de magie en de mogelijkheden die deze biedt, terwijl Wilg juist voorzichtiger en wantrouwender blijft. Die tegenstelling zorgt voor psychologische gelaagdheid en maakt beide personages begrijpelijk, zelfs wanneer hun keuzes botsen.
Het verhaal heeft een dynamische opbouw en een hoog tempo, waardoor je moeiteloos door de pagina's vliegt. Tegelijkertijd blijft de spanning voortdurend aanwezig door de dreiging van de heksen, de strijd tussen de verschillende facties en de mysteries rondom de magie. Daarnaast verweeft Erin Hunter thema's als vrijheid, loyaliteit, identiteit en verbondenheid op een sterke manier in het verhaal. Vooral de vraag hoe ver je bereid bent te gaan voor degenen van wie je houdt, komt mooi naar voren. Goed en kwaad zijn daarbij niet altijd zwart-wit, wat het verhaal extra diepgang geeft.
De combinatie van pratende dieren, geheimzinnige magie en een voortdurende dreiging werkte voor mij enorm verslavend. Ik leefde moeiteloos mee met Luna en Wilg en hoopte gedurende het hele verhaal dat ze elkaar weer zouden vinden. Door de gebeurtenissen aan het einde ben ik bovendien ontzettend nieuwsgierig geworden naar het vervolg. Deze serie belooft absoluut veel goeds!
Renegades: De magie ontwaakt is een sterke, verslavende en heerlijk spannende start van een nieuwe fantasyserie. Het verhaal is beeldend, toegankelijk en meeslepend geschreven. De overtuigende personages, de magische maar gevaarlijke wereld en de sterke thema's komen allemaal prachtig tot leven. Erin Hunter zet hiermee een indrukwekkend eerste deel neer dat smaakt naar meer... veel meer.
Mijn ervaring:
Wat een toffe, sterke en indrukwekkende nieuwe serie! In deze serie draait het om een stedelijke fantasywereld vol magie, geheime genootschappen en morele conflicten. Het resultaat is een avontuurlijke en veelbelovende start van een nieuwe reeks die spanning, emotie en mysterie op een sterke manier weet te combineren.
Erin Hunter heeft een beeldende, toegankelijke en vlotte schrijfstijl. Ze weet lezers moeiteloos haar wereld in te trekken en voegt daarbij voldoende diepgang toe om het verhaal te laten boeien. De verborgen stad, verscholen tussen steegjes, parken en daken, voelt levendig aan en ook de magische kracht 'ziel' wordt helder uitgewerkt zonder dat het ingewikkeld wordt. Juist doordat de magie geleidelijk wordt onthuld, blijft je nieuwsgierigheid voortdurend geprikkeld.
Luna en Wilg vormen het hart van het verhaal. Hun zussenband voelt oprecht en liefdevol, waardoor het extra pijnlijk is wanneer hun overtuigingen steeds verder uit elkaar groeien. Erin Hunter laat overtuigend zien hoe verlies, angst en verlangen invloed hebben op keuzes. Luna wordt aangetrokken door de magie en de mogelijkheden die deze biedt, terwijl Wilg juist voorzichtiger en wantrouwender blijft. Die tegenstelling zorgt voor psychologische gelaagdheid en maakt beide personages begrijpelijk, zelfs wanneer hun keuzes botsen.
Het verhaal heeft een dynamische opbouw en een hoog tempo, waardoor je moeiteloos door de pagina's vliegt. Tegelijkertijd blijft de spanning voortdurend aanwezig door de dreiging van de heksen, de strijd tussen de verschillende facties en de mysteries rondom de magie. Daarnaast verweeft Erin Hunter thema's als vrijheid, loyaliteit, identiteit en verbondenheid op een sterke manier in het verhaal. Vooral de vraag hoe ver je bereid bent te gaan voor degenen van wie je houdt, komt mooi naar voren. Goed en kwaad zijn daarbij niet altijd zwart-wit, wat het verhaal extra diepgang geeft.
De combinatie van pratende dieren, geheimzinnige magie en een voortdurende dreiging werkte voor mij enorm verslavend. Ik leefde moeiteloos mee met Luna en Wilg en hoopte gedurende het hele verhaal dat ze elkaar weer zouden vinden. Door de gebeurtenissen aan het einde ben ik bovendien ontzettend nieuwsgierig geworden naar het vervolg. Deze serie belooft absoluut veel goeds!
Renegades: De magie ontwaakt is een sterke, verslavende en heerlijk spannende start van een nieuwe fantasyserie. Het verhaal is beeldend, toegankelijk en meeslepend geschreven. De overtuigende personages, de magische maar gevaarlijke wereld en de sterke thema's komen allemaal prachtig tot leven. Erin Hunter zet hiermee een indrukwekkend eerste deel neer dat smaakt naar meer... veel meer.
June 16, 2026
Renegades is de nieuwe serie van Erin Hunter, bekend van oa de Warrior Cats serie. De magie ontwaakt is het eerste boek in deze serie.
Luna en Wilg zijn zussen die samen proberen te overleven nadat hun moeder is overleden. Ze wonen eerst samen in een eetcafé, maar wanneer daar brand uitbreekt, moeten ze vluchten. In het park komen ze een pratende rat tegen. Hij introduceert ze in de wereld van dieren met magie.
De dieren met magie kunnen met elkaar praten en leven in verschillende groepen. Luna en Wilg mogen even bij ze wonen, maar als ze besluiten om echt zich aan te sluiten, moeten ze daar wel een soort proef voor doen.
De zussen worden het niet eens over wat ze moeten doen. Als de padden dan ook een vreselijke voorspelling doen, weten ze het helemaal niet meer. Het gevolg is dat ze ruzie krijgen…
Je leest vanuit verschillende perspectieven, het is alleen helaas niet echt duidelijk aan het begin van een hoofdstuk vanuit welk personage je leest... Daarnaast moest ik in het begin heel erg wennen aan de namen van de personages, een uil heet Muizengif bijvoorbeeld. Een verschil met de Warrior Cats boeken is dat ze hier wel spreken van mensen en auto’s, in plaats van de verzonnen woorden tweebeen en monsters.
Luna en Wilg maken hun eigen keuzes en beide katten kan ik hierin begrijpen. Al is de miscommunicatie of gebrek aan communicatie wel een punt waar ik me aan stoorde. Het verhaal gaat ook heel erg snel, maar dat is ook wel logisch in een boek van 240 bladzijden.
Nieuwsgierig naar meer in de serie, maar niet zo enthousiast als over Warrior Cats.
Te lezen vanaf 9 jaar ongeveer.
Bedankt Pelckmans voor het opsturen van dit exemplaar ❤️
Luna en Wilg zijn zussen die samen proberen te overleven nadat hun moeder is overleden. Ze wonen eerst samen in een eetcafé, maar wanneer daar brand uitbreekt, moeten ze vluchten. In het park komen ze een pratende rat tegen. Hij introduceert ze in de wereld van dieren met magie.
De dieren met magie kunnen met elkaar praten en leven in verschillende groepen. Luna en Wilg mogen even bij ze wonen, maar als ze besluiten om echt zich aan te sluiten, moeten ze daar wel een soort proef voor doen.
De zussen worden het niet eens over wat ze moeten doen. Als de padden dan ook een vreselijke voorspelling doen, weten ze het helemaal niet meer. Het gevolg is dat ze ruzie krijgen…
Je leest vanuit verschillende perspectieven, het is alleen helaas niet echt duidelijk aan het begin van een hoofdstuk vanuit welk personage je leest... Daarnaast moest ik in het begin heel erg wennen aan de namen van de personages, een uil heet Muizengif bijvoorbeeld. Een verschil met de Warrior Cats boeken is dat ze hier wel spreken van mensen en auto’s, in plaats van de verzonnen woorden tweebeen en monsters.
Luna en Wilg maken hun eigen keuzes en beide katten kan ik hierin begrijpen. Al is de miscommunicatie of gebrek aan communicatie wel een punt waar ik me aan stoorde. Het verhaal gaat ook heel erg snel, maar dat is ook wel logisch in een boek van 240 bladzijden.
Nieuwsgierig naar meer in de serie, maar niet zo enthousiast als over Warrior Cats.
Te lezen vanaf 9 jaar ongeveer.
Bedankt Pelckmans voor het opsturen van dit exemplaar ❤️
June 25, 2026
I AM NOT OKAY
Yeah no surprise but I loved this one, I really think this is what the Erin Hunter brand needed; A fresh series that isn't too derivative of any of the previous ones. Yes, it stars cats like Warriors, but aside from that it's a pretty fresh take on magical animal xenofiction.
The two main characters and their relationship was the hightlight of this book for me. I LOVE Willow. And Luna, too, tbh. The side characters were diverse (species-wise) and memorable.
My main complaint would be the large time jump and the fact that the human stuff doesn't seem all that fleshed out. Violet as a character especially suffers under this, she just feels like the "generic nice kid"-type of character without a distinct personality or flaws.
But other than that I loved this one. It gave me the feels ;n;
Full review at: https://skybookcorner.blogspot.com/20...
Yeah no surprise but I loved this one, I really think this is what the Erin Hunter brand needed; A fresh series that isn't too derivative of any of the previous ones. Yes, it stars cats like Warriors, but aside from that it's a pretty fresh take on magical animal xenofiction.
The two main characters and their relationship was the hightlight of this book for me. I LOVE Willow. And Luna, too, tbh. The side characters were diverse (species-wise) and memorable.
My main complaint would be the large time jump and the fact that the human stuff doesn't seem all that fleshed out. Violet as a character especially suffers under this, she just feels like the "generic nice kid"-type of character without a distinct personality or flaws.
But other than that I loved this one. It gave me the feels ;n;
Full review at: https://skybookcorner.blogspot.com/20...
May 7, 2026
A grittier, darker story than typical from Erin Hunter, but extremely engaging and fascinating. I absolutely love what they are doing with this new world and I can’t wait to learn more. Is it too early to ask for 9 series and dozens of spin-offs? I was so excited to see not only animals other than cats as supporting characters, but also the odd human or two. As an avid Warriors fan, this new series is a wonderful breath of fresh air with the same energy and world-building behind it.
June 8, 2026
This one really disappointed me. I've never really been able to get into the Erins' other series aside from WC, and this is also the newest Erins book I've read since... wow. The Fourth Apprentice in 2009. But we got it as a physical ARC at the bookstore I work at, and I still have a lot of affection for WC, so I figured I'd try it.
I didn't think the premise sounded very good on the tin, but it's a bit better than what I expected. However, the actual execution is pretty dire. This is a very badly written book, even by children's standards. The book almost feels contemptuous of the children that would read it in terms of its writing.
I know that the same women are not writing The Magic Awakens as were writing Into the Wild 23 years ago, so obviously the style is going to be a bit different. But whatever is going on, it feels as though the writing has really degenerated over time. The prose is so simple and so obsessed with spelling out the obvious to the most minute detail that it feels like this is probably written for 5 year olds--which is fine, but I wonder who this book really is for because, in typical Erins fashion, the book is violent and has pretty graphic depictions of death. Nothing an older child can't handle (since I read WC at 8 and loved it unflinchingly), and nothing unexpected from the Warriors authors, but when the prose is so simple, I just wonder what kids get out of this.
The plot is unbelievably rushed as well. This book feels like the outline of a book not yet written because there is so much missing. Development? Natural story progression? Never heard of it. This is a book that checks off the boxes of what the outline said, and nothing more. So every plot development feels undeserved, random, and unconvincing because we aren't seeing enough character, world, and lore development to make it make sense.
The renegades that Luna joins, the very title of the series, you don't even see on screen till Luna is actually joining them. Shortly after,
Her joining the Renegades doesn't even really make sense since she's never even met any of them, and it feels like they had to make a bunch of contrivances to steer Luna away from the Wild Alliance in the first place. It's also contrived, the way Luna and Willow are separated. If there was more time dedicated to their slow falling out, it wouldn't feel this way, but everything is zero to a hundred in this book with no time for development in between.
Willow's story is also rushed. She meets the witch Violet and the very next scene together they're already best friends who know everything about each other and are Why do I care about any of this? I don't know Violet. She is a nice kid since she saves Willow, but I don't know her, so I don't really care about any of this. Like, it feels like the book forgot to find a reason for you to care about any of these characters at all before putting them in danger.
So much happens and yet so little at the same time. This book covers the ground of a novel that I think probably would require 500-600 pages to get a proper story and set of characters out of it in 230 pages. I think the base of the story is there. Even though I think the premise sounded pretty stupid, I can see the vision after finishing the book. I see what could be there if there was more love and time put in, and I am certain that the Erins probably had a time crunch from Harper Collins, considering how many books they put out a year.
That's not fair to the Erins either if that's true, because it is very clearly affecting the quality of the books at this point. This book is terrible, and it didn't have to be. There's something promising with the urban fantasy setting (though very little is done with it in reality), I like the inclusion of humans in this story, and although I think the lore of the magic and world is very poorly laid out, there's something interesting to it at least.
I'm an adult now, and I know adults have different tastes than children, but the first arc of Warrior Cats still holds up. The writing is simple enough for kids while still respecting their intelligence. The story was laid out sensibly, the world makes sense, and the characters had room to breathe and grow. This book has none of these things.
Stick with Warrior Cats. It's a much better series than this. People always insist that things made for children are bad because they're for children, but they really, truly don't have to be. I think kids deserve well-told and interesting stories. This is far from the most offensive outing a kid can have with a book, but again, I really struggle to figure out who this is for. I don't think it's for anyone at all.
I didn't think the premise sounded very good on the tin, but it's a bit better than what I expected. However, the actual execution is pretty dire. This is a very badly written book, even by children's standards. The book almost feels contemptuous of the children that would read it in terms of its writing.
I know that the same women are not writing The Magic Awakens as were writing Into the Wild 23 years ago, so obviously the style is going to be a bit different. But whatever is going on, it feels as though the writing has really degenerated over time. The prose is so simple and so obsessed with spelling out the obvious to the most minute detail that it feels like this is probably written for 5 year olds--which is fine, but I wonder who this book really is for because, in typical Erins fashion, the book is violent and has pretty graphic depictions of death. Nothing an older child can't handle (since I read WC at 8 and loved it unflinchingly), and nothing unexpected from the Warriors authors, but when the prose is so simple, I just wonder what kids get out of this.
The plot is unbelievably rushed as well. This book feels like the outline of a book not yet written because there is so much missing. Development? Natural story progression? Never heard of it. This is a book that checks off the boxes of what the outline said, and nothing more. So every plot development feels undeserved, random, and unconvincing because we aren't seeing enough character, world, and lore development to make it make sense.
The renegades that Luna joins, the very title of the series, you don't even see on screen till Luna is actually joining them. Shortly after,
Her joining the Renegades doesn't even really make sense since she's never even met any of them, and it feels like they had to make a bunch of contrivances to steer Luna away from the Wild Alliance in the first place. It's also contrived, the way Luna and Willow are separated. If there was more time dedicated to their slow falling out, it wouldn't feel this way, but everything is zero to a hundred in this book with no time for development in between.
Willow's story is also rushed. She meets the witch Violet and the very next scene together they're already best friends who know everything about each other and are Why do I care about any of this? I don't know Violet. She is a nice kid since she saves Willow, but I don't know her, so I don't really care about any of this. Like, it feels like the book forgot to find a reason for you to care about any of these characters at all before putting them in danger.
So much happens and yet so little at the same time. This book covers the ground of a novel that I think probably would require 500-600 pages to get a proper story and set of characters out of it in 230 pages. I think the base of the story is there. Even though I think the premise sounded pretty stupid, I can see the vision after finishing the book. I see what could be there if there was more love and time put in, and I am certain that the Erins probably had a time crunch from Harper Collins, considering how many books they put out a year.
That's not fair to the Erins either if that's true, because it is very clearly affecting the quality of the books at this point. This book is terrible, and it didn't have to be. There's something promising with the urban fantasy setting (though very little is done with it in reality), I like the inclusion of humans in this story, and although I think the lore of the magic and world is very poorly laid out, there's something interesting to it at least.
I'm an adult now, and I know adults have different tastes than children, but the first arc of Warrior Cats still holds up. The writing is simple enough for kids while still respecting their intelligence. The story was laid out sensibly, the world makes sense, and the characters had room to breathe and grow. This book has none of these things.
Stick with Warrior Cats. It's a much better series than this. People always insist that things made for children are bad because they're for children, but they really, truly don't have to be. I think kids deserve well-told and interesting stories. This is far from the most offensive outing a kid can have with a book, but again, I really struggle to figure out who this is for. I don't think it's for anyone at all.
June 30, 2026
Well it wasn't terrible but at the same time I'm torn on it.
I don't know how I feel about humans actively being involved in the story. The idea of magical animals is cool but Luna having fire powers is kinda funny compared to the first arc of Warrior Cats. It isn't subtle. The sisters relationship is fine I guess, not really much opinion there. I'll attempt book 2 when it comes out and see where it goes.
I don't know how I feel about humans actively being involved in the story. The idea of magical animals is cool but Luna having fire powers is kinda funny compared to the first arc of Warrior Cats. It isn't subtle. The sisters relationship is fine I guess, not really much opinion there. I'll attempt book 2 when it comes out and see where it goes.
Read
July 10, 2026My inner child and outer adult were both very pleased by this book. As expected, Erin Hunter pulled no punches for the children. I look forward to following this series.
July 4, 2026
I got the book for my best friend, who loved Warriors ( they have the same author) after i read it and i loved Willow
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2026
It's sad that the sisters have been driven so far apart in such a short time by a series of misunderstandings. Like how Willow thought that Luna chose the Wild Alliance over her, when in reality Luna had been searching for her nonstop since they separated. And Luna thinks Willow betrayed her and told the Ruesseus where the Renegades camp was, even though Willow didn't betray her at all and it was the rat that stole the information
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Erin Hunter, and HarperCollins for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have been a Warriors fanatic since I was 12 (now into my lates 20s), so I was giddy to be accepted into the ARC program for their new series. While I’ve only read most of Seekers and all of Warriors, I haven’t touched Survivors, Bravelands, or Bamboo Kingdom (their other series).
For a start of a new series, there’s a lot of good here. Some elements are similar enough to Warriors to make me comfortable with the writing. Yet, the differences are new and exciting.
I love the magic system and new terminology. The powers, though they may seem basic, are described and attributed so well that they feel fresh. Willow and Luna are wonderful characters to be reading the story through, too. Sibling relationships is something the Erin Hunter team has always excelled in—whether they’re as tight as two peas in a pod or on two separate cliffs.
All of the different creatures and critters involved made me so happy! I’m not even as caught off guard as I thought I’d be with the inclusion of human witches.
Still, the book does miss a couple marks. The plot moves a little too swiftly, with not enough time to marinate in the world building or some of the real action. The character relationships aren’t as fleshed out as they should be, either (which is a common problem with newer Warriors books, too).
At the same time, it has a LOT of potential. To add on: the prophecy is super good, with very clear imagery yet enough mystery that it could go any way and still make sense. The foreshadowing and cliffhangers work well for the narrative and make me want the second one.
I liked the covens and how different they are from each other (we need MORE though, please). The different settings throughout the story are interesting, too. Also, it is nice to not have to guess what every object and structure is, since they’re basically using human-language in this story (as opposed to Warriors language in their other cat-centric series).
For a middle-grade/YA story, the language is simple but challenging at the same time. It’s a good skill for kids to have to look up words as they’re reading, but still be able to get the gist if they don’t.
Plus, this book did not shy away from darker themes and scenes. Even I was gasping at some parts!
Overall, it’s worth a shot. I’m curious to see how the story continues. I’d probably give the book a 4.25-4.5 star rating rounded up.
Here’s my article too! https://www.fandomspotlite.com/the-ma...
I have been a Warriors fanatic since I was 12 (now into my lates 20s), so I was giddy to be accepted into the ARC program for their new series. While I’ve only read most of Seekers and all of Warriors, I haven’t touched Survivors, Bravelands, or Bamboo Kingdom (their other series).
For a start of a new series, there’s a lot of good here. Some elements are similar enough to Warriors to make me comfortable with the writing. Yet, the differences are new and exciting.
I love the magic system and new terminology. The powers, though they may seem basic, are described and attributed so well that they feel fresh. Willow and Luna are wonderful characters to be reading the story through, too. Sibling relationships is something the Erin Hunter team has always excelled in—whether they’re as tight as two peas in a pod or on two separate cliffs.
All of the different creatures and critters involved made me so happy! I’m not even as caught off guard as I thought I’d be with the inclusion of human witches.
Still, the book does miss a couple marks. The plot moves a little too swiftly, with not enough time to marinate in the world building or some of the real action. The character relationships aren’t as fleshed out as they should be, either (which is a common problem with newer Warriors books, too).
At the same time, it has a LOT of potential. To add on: the prophecy is super good, with very clear imagery yet enough mystery that it could go any way and still make sense. The foreshadowing and cliffhangers work well for the narrative and make me want the second one.
I liked the covens and how different they are from each other (we need MORE though, please). The different settings throughout the story are interesting, too. Also, it is nice to not have to guess what every object and structure is, since they’re basically using human-language in this story (as opposed to Warriors language in their other cat-centric series).
For a middle-grade/YA story, the language is simple but challenging at the same time. It’s a good skill for kids to have to look up words as they’re reading, but still be able to get the gist if they don’t.
Plus, this book did not shy away from darker themes and scenes. Even I was gasping at some parts!
Overall, it’s worth a shot. I’m curious to see how the story continues. I’d probably give the book a 4.25-4.5 star rating rounded up.
Here’s my article too! https://www.fandomspotlite.com/the-ma...
June 12, 2026
I’m so excited for the next book omg, if you liked warriors you’re gonna love this sm, too!!
June 13, 2026
The best book I have ever read in my entire 11 years, couldn’t stop reading! I HIGHLY recommend this book!! Read it! 🤩🤩
May 27, 2026
This book was really good. A great start to a new series. The magical aspects were unique and interesting. It has the same charm as the other books by this author. Since this is a new series you can enjoy this even if you haven't read any other books by this author.
It held my interest and didn't have any boring parts. The story was well written, but it did feel a bit short. It left off on a cliff hanger so i'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
I loved the narration and enjoyed listening to this one on audio.
It held my interest and didn't have any boring parts. The story was well written, but it did feel a bit short. It left off on a cliff hanger so i'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
I loved the narration and enjoyed listening to this one on audio.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The blurb reads:
The 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.
I... honestly don't know what to think of this book yet. I was thoroughly obsessed with the Warriors series when I was ten years old (It was the book series that got me into reading!!! And so, for that, it shall always have a special place in my heart. <3), and so I quite excited to be able to read Erin Hunter's new book!! Again, I don't know what to think of it quite yet.
It ends on a terribly heart wrenching cliffhanger and all the twists and the turns and betrayal and heartbreak and all the suffering the characters are put through... (Then again, tis Erin Hunter! I've read Warriors and from that series alone, this is usually to be expected from her.)
The book starts with a terribly ominous prologue that hooked me in almost immediately!! I adored the ominous visions that the characters were having in the prologue and also the way it is connected to the main characters... *blinks* Alas, I cannot give spoilers, but I must admit, I am looking forward to the rest of the books to see how this all unfolds!! (I want answers to this prophecy!!!!!!!)
Luna and Willow are wonderful main characters as well!! The two of them are siblings who have been through so much together and yet are so very different at the same time. And the way their relationship developed and they slowly... well, I don't know if 'grew apart' is the right word, but they certainly find themselves separated and it is just so very heartbreaking!! I always hate it whenever siblings (and best friends) are ripped apart in books because it is just so very painful to read.
There were a great deal of characters throughout the novel, but I must admit that I did not really connect to many of them all that much. Willow, however, I really felt for. The poor cat and all she's been through and how she really struggles with everyone seeing Luna as this brilliant cat who wields fire magic while really just turning their noses up at Willow. She needs a hug. And Violet!!! She only appears in the last few parts of the book, but I already love her so much. (And yes, she is indeed a human. Which... might be why I connect to her more? I don't know. I don't typically struggle to connect with non-human characters, but I did in this book, so... *shrug*)
And there was another one of my favorite characters, and I just loved him so much!!! The way he talked and thought and such... He was a brilliant leader.
And of course, it is just my luck that one of my favorite characters in this whole book, the one who was actually truthful and nice to poor Luna, DIED.
...
The curse of falling in love with the side character doomed to die.
However, I must also confess, I did find the setting and the social system a bit too similar to Warriors. While it has its differences (being set in the city and with animals having magic), I still felt like the overall vibe and structure of things was just so very similar to Warriors, especially with the clans and the meetings every moon. (Instead of the clans, you have the three different groups, the Wild Alliance, the Truthtellers, and the Renegades, all of whom, yes, do indeed have some form of rivalry). I feel like I would've liked to see something more unique from Erin Hunter.
I did, however, love Erin Hunter's writing style!! Now, Erin Hunter is technically six (give or take a few. I've no clue if anyone's left or if they've added anyone) writers writing under the same pen name. And so sometimes -- not always, but sometimes -- when I was reading the Warriors series, I felt like the writing style was sometimes a bit clunky/inconsistent.
I personally felt the same way with Renegades. But I still do love her writing style and especially the way she describes setting!! The detailed metaphors and the way she spins words to really craft this picture in your head and really give you that feeling of whatever it is you're meant to feel (doom, despair, hope) is just so very impressive and immerses you right into the setting. And I loved the way she managed to show you how the city would feel through a cat's perspective!! As a city gal myself, they are... pretty spot-on.
This book also feels a bit darker than Warriors, in my opinion. Warriors is pretty dark, but this one just feels a tad darker just because it is more realistic than Warriors. There are mentions of animal cruelty and such, and it all feels very gritty and dark, I suppose. It didn't bother me, but if you're looking for a more whimsical, lighthearted read, you may wish to keep this in mind.
And also, the cover is gorgeous. It is so very well drawn and I absolutely love the fire and the font!
Overall, this was an intriguing beginning to what I am sure shall be an action-packed series!! :)) A great middle-grade book for those who are looking for action and gritty adventures with animals and magic!! I personally feel like nowadays, I'm looking more for books that have more whimsy and magic and hope in them -- which I wouldn't say Renegades necessarily fits. But it was an enjoyable read, and I think younger me would've adored this book. Three out of five stars from me.
The 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.
I... honestly don't know what to think of this book yet. I was thoroughly obsessed with the Warriors series when I was ten years old (It was the book series that got me into reading!!! And so, for that, it shall always have a special place in my heart. <3), and so I quite excited to be able to read Erin Hunter's new book!! Again, I don't know what to think of it quite yet.
It ends on a terribly heart wrenching cliffhanger and all the twists and the turns and betrayal and heartbreak and all the suffering the characters are put through... (Then again, tis Erin Hunter! I've read Warriors and from that series alone, this is usually to be expected from her.)
The book starts with a terribly ominous prologue that hooked me in almost immediately!! I adored the ominous visions that the characters were having in the prologue and also the way it is connected to the main characters... *blinks* Alas, I cannot give spoilers, but I must admit, I am looking forward to the rest of the books to see how this all unfolds!! (I want answers to this prophecy!!!!!!!)
Luna and Willow are wonderful main characters as well!! The two of them are siblings who have been through so much together and yet are so very different at the same time. And the way their relationship developed and they slowly... well, I don't know if 'grew apart' is the right word, but they certainly find themselves separated and it is just so very heartbreaking!! I always hate it whenever siblings (and best friends) are ripped apart in books because it is just so very painful to read.
There were a great deal of characters throughout the novel, but I must admit that I did not really connect to many of them all that much. Willow, however, I really felt for. The poor cat and all she's been through and how she really struggles with everyone seeing Luna as this brilliant cat who wields fire magic while really just turning their noses up at Willow. She needs a hug. And Violet!!! She only appears in the last few parts of the book, but I already love her so much. (And yes, she is indeed a human. Which... might be why I connect to her more? I don't know. I don't typically struggle to connect with non-human characters, but I did in this book, so... *shrug*)
And there was another one of my favorite characters, and I just loved him so much!!! The way he talked and thought and such... He was a brilliant leader.
And of course, it is just my luck that one of my favorite characters in this whole book, the one who was actually truthful and nice to poor Luna, DIED.
...
The curse of falling in love with the side character doomed to die.
However, I must also confess, I did find the setting and the social system a bit too similar to Warriors. While it has its differences (being set in the city and with animals having magic), I still felt like the overall vibe and structure of things was just so very similar to Warriors, especially with the clans and the meetings every moon. (Instead of the clans, you have the three different groups, the Wild Alliance, the Truthtellers, and the Renegades, all of whom, yes, do indeed have some form of rivalry). I feel like I would've liked to see something more unique from Erin Hunter.
I did, however, love Erin Hunter's writing style!! Now, Erin Hunter is technically six (give or take a few. I've no clue if anyone's left or if they've added anyone) writers writing under the same pen name. And so sometimes -- not always, but sometimes -- when I was reading the Warriors series, I felt like the writing style was sometimes a bit clunky/inconsistent.
I personally felt the same way with Renegades. But I still do love her writing style and especially the way she describes setting!! The detailed metaphors and the way she spins words to really craft this picture in your head and really give you that feeling of whatever it is you're meant to feel (doom, despair, hope) is just so very impressive and immerses you right into the setting. And I loved the way she managed to show you how the city would feel through a cat's perspective!! As a city gal myself, they are... pretty spot-on.
This book also feels a bit darker than Warriors, in my opinion. Warriors is pretty dark, but this one just feels a tad darker just because it is more realistic than Warriors. There are mentions of animal cruelty and such, and it all feels very gritty and dark, I suppose. It didn't bother me, but if you're looking for a more whimsical, lighthearted read, you may wish to keep this in mind.
And also, the cover is gorgeous. It is so very well drawn and I absolutely love the fire and the font!
Overall, this was an intriguing beginning to what I am sure shall be an action-packed series!! :)) A great middle-grade book for those who are looking for action and gritty adventures with animals and magic!! I personally feel like nowadays, I'm looking more for books that have more whimsy and magic and hope in them -- which I wouldn't say Renegades necessarily fits. But it was an enjoyable read, and I think younger me would've adored this book. Three out of five stars from me.
April 5, 2026
Thank you Edelweiss, Erin Hunter, & HarperCollins for the opportunity of a lifetime to read an Erin Hunter book before it is officially published. As an avid Warriors fan (which was my favorite series while growing up), this story did not disappoint! I truly loved the story between the cat sisters Luna, and Willow. The world building was excellent and easy to understand and follow as always. I found the premise of animals having anima fascinating. I am so excited to read the next book in this series! I was so hooked on this book that as soon as I started reading, I could not put it down. I finished reading this book in a day.I truly hope I get selected for an ARC for the next book in this series. I will be highly recommending this series to all my students at my school library (especially my many Warriors fans and cat lovers). As soon as Renegades is released I’ll purchase two copies for my library and one for myself! Thank you so much again for the chance to read this book early! I know all who read this book will also be on the edge of their seat reading about the delicate balance between anima, animals, and humans. I’m excited to read the next book in this series already!
May 27, 2026
I grew up on the Warrior books and it was nostalgic to read their new series
May 25, 2026
This is really good. I enjoyed every page and I didn't want it to end. Highly recommend.
April 21, 2026
This is my first Erin Hunter book! Their books are super popular at the library and my daughter is a huge fan so I thought I'd try this out and I really liked it! I found the world building with the different covens fascinating and the characters were all so nuanced and ambiguous, it was tricky to tell what their real motivations were and I loved that! I'm excited to read more from this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 13, 2026
Erin Hunter does it again! As a fan of the Warriors series, this book has a new great fun feel that those who love cats will be obsessed with. Willow and Luna have a great dynamic I am looking forward to reading in future novels. This is a great coming of age novel told through an adventure of cats. The addition of the extra animals give this book an extra dynamic and can't wait to see how these friendships grow. I look forward to reading more of these novels! Thank you to Erin Hunter and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
June 13, 2026
High three stars. Enjoyable, but still with some flaws.
Breaking News: Erins finally realized they don’t have enough story to write 300 page books after several years of trying to convince their readers otherwise; new release enlarges the font and is aimed at a slightly younger audience.
This is. . . A really good decision! No, seriously. If the authors and editors aren’t going to put in the work to make their interesting story ideas substantially fleshed out and filled with necessary details (cough cough BRAVELANDS), I’d much rather have a simpler version of a story with less depth that doesn’t NEED all that extra stuff to be good. This book is at an easier reading level than most Erin books, and has a larger font. The writing is still engaging, and there’s still a few bigger words to teach kids, and while the story is very surface-level and predictable, it’s still enjoyable. Unlike many recent Erin Hunter books (“Breakers of the Code,” basically all of Bamboo Kingdom, etc.), there isn’t anything here that would have been a super easy fix if we just added more pages. And because it’s aimed just a bit more at the lower end of middle-grade, its simplistic nature and lack of uber-complex characters and plots is all totally fine. I expect more depth and nuance from books aimed at older kids; I expect a little less of that from something like this. An engaging story with basic, easy to recognize characters is more than enough to make this good quality for its age range. Also, bonus, I don’t think I found a single typo! Hooray for the editors!
To that end, yeah, the plot’s nothing special. Prophecy, destiny, dramatic mystery (that’s not really mysterious at all) is fate real and other existential questions that will be alluded to, blah blah blah same stuff we’ve already read from the Erins about a hundred times. The world’s interesting, with the idea of mundane and magical animals coexisting, and factoring humans into the story as more than just obstacle antagonists, but there won’t be much lore added to that beyond base level, which is fine for the story they’re trying to tell. Luna and Willow might have an interesting two sides of the story thing going on, but I don’t hold out hope that it’ll continue in good quality or for very long (based on prior experience with this author). It should be interesting though; maybe we’ll get some magical showdowns in later books.
Character time!
Luna is pretty bland. Her fierce love for her sister and her perseverance makes her likable, as does her initial trusting nature when Willow is overly cautious, but other than that, she doesn’t have much going for her.
Willow herself keeps that overly cautious nature for about three chapters before it disappears into jealousy and misunderstandings, which is always annoying to me but thankfully doesn’t go on too long before the sisters are separated (later misunderstandings are a lot more understandable and logical, so I take less of an issue with them). I like the idea of her and Violet, two shy characters, bonding quietly together. We just don’t get to see it, unfortunately, before we timeskip to plot things. I hope we see some of their bond in future books.
Everyone else is pretty much background characters or side characters. Ragwort was interesting in theory, and it was cool to see what sets Willow on her differing path to her sister. But that’s about it. I think (and hope) that later books will flesh out the other Renegades and Violet a bit more- right now, they’re all blank skates (yes, even Violet. Being kind isn’t enough to be interesting, especially when we skip all the bonding she allegedly does with Willow).
The only real villains are the Rossouas (yes, I’m sure I spelled that wrong; I’ll try to avoid typing it too much); I suppose they’re good for what they need to be. I like that they get a serious win at the end that finally pushes Willow and Luna apart for the foreseeable future, and I like the glimpses of witch culture we see through them. But they’re pretty basic villains, very one-dimensional despite their ties to Violet, with no real physical presence in the story yet. I imagine that will come in later books, so in that sense, I’m looking forward to seeing more from them.
Overall, this was still a fun read, despite its stereotypical story and character beats. I’d highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys animal fiction (though I suppose not if it’s super upsetting for you to read about animals dying; though personally, I stand on my perspective that reading about death and seeing it in media (in a non-gory manner) when you are young is very important to helping kids process and understand death, but alas, that is a discussion for another time). Erin Hunter fans will also probably enjoy this; just keep in mind that it’s aimed at a slightly younger audience than their other works.
SERIES RATINGS:
The Magic Awakens: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Broken City: TBD
Breaking News: Erins finally realized they don’t have enough story to write 300 page books after several years of trying to convince their readers otherwise; new release enlarges the font and is aimed at a slightly younger audience.
This is. . . A really good decision! No, seriously. If the authors and editors aren’t going to put in the work to make their interesting story ideas substantially fleshed out and filled with necessary details (cough cough BRAVELANDS), I’d much rather have a simpler version of a story with less depth that doesn’t NEED all that extra stuff to be good. This book is at an easier reading level than most Erin books, and has a larger font. The writing is still engaging, and there’s still a few bigger words to teach kids, and while the story is very surface-level and predictable, it’s still enjoyable. Unlike many recent Erin Hunter books (“Breakers of the Code,” basically all of Bamboo Kingdom, etc.), there isn’t anything here that would have been a super easy fix if we just added more pages. And because it’s aimed just a bit more at the lower end of middle-grade, its simplistic nature and lack of uber-complex characters and plots is all totally fine. I expect more depth and nuance from books aimed at older kids; I expect a little less of that from something like this. An engaging story with basic, easy to recognize characters is more than enough to make this good quality for its age range. Also, bonus, I don’t think I found a single typo! Hooray for the editors!
To that end, yeah, the plot’s nothing special. Prophecy, destiny, dramatic mystery (that’s not really mysterious at all) is fate real and other existential questions that will be alluded to, blah blah blah same stuff we’ve already read from the Erins about a hundred times. The world’s interesting, with the idea of mundane and magical animals coexisting, and factoring humans into the story as more than just obstacle antagonists, but there won’t be much lore added to that beyond base level, which is fine for the story they’re trying to tell. Luna and Willow might have an interesting two sides of the story thing going on, but I don’t hold out hope that it’ll continue in good quality or for very long (based on prior experience with this author). It should be interesting though; maybe we’ll get some magical showdowns in later books.
Character time!
Luna is pretty bland. Her fierce love for her sister and her perseverance makes her likable, as does her initial trusting nature when Willow is overly cautious, but other than that, she doesn’t have much going for her.
Willow herself keeps that overly cautious nature for about three chapters before it disappears into jealousy and misunderstandings, which is always annoying to me but thankfully doesn’t go on too long before the sisters are separated (later misunderstandings are a lot more understandable and logical, so I take less of an issue with them). I like the idea of her and Violet, two shy characters, bonding quietly together. We just don’t get to see it, unfortunately, before we timeskip to plot things. I hope we see some of their bond in future books.
Everyone else is pretty much background characters or side characters. Ragwort was interesting in theory, and it was cool to see what sets Willow on her differing path to her sister. But that’s about it. I think (and hope) that later books will flesh out the other Renegades and Violet a bit more- right now, they’re all blank skates (yes, even Violet. Being kind isn’t enough to be interesting, especially when we skip all the bonding she allegedly does with Willow).
The only real villains are the Rossouas (yes, I’m sure I spelled that wrong; I’ll try to avoid typing it too much); I suppose they’re good for what they need to be. I like that they get a serious win at the end that finally pushes Willow and Luna apart for the foreseeable future, and I like the glimpses of witch culture we see through them. But they’re pretty basic villains, very one-dimensional despite their ties to Violet, with no real physical presence in the story yet. I imagine that will come in later books, so in that sense, I’m looking forward to seeing more from them.
Overall, this was still a fun read, despite its stereotypical story and character beats. I’d highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys animal fiction (though I suppose not if it’s super upsetting for you to read about animals dying; though personally, I stand on my perspective that reading about death and seeing it in media (in a non-gory manner) when you are young is very important to helping kids process and understand death, but alas, that is a discussion for another time). Erin Hunter fans will also probably enjoy this; just keep in mind that it’s aimed at a slightly younger audience than their other works.
SERIES RATINGS:
The Magic Awakens: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Broken City: TBD
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
If you grew up reading the Warriors books and loved animal adventures, “Renegades: The Magic Awakens” by Erin Hunter will probably feel both familiar and totally new at the same time. It still has animal main characters (yes, cats again), but this time the story leans much more into urban fantasy with magic, witches, and a whole variety of animal species involved.
The story follows two cat sisters, Luna and Willow, whose lives are turned upside down after a fire destroys their home. As they wander the city looking for somewhere safe, they discover that the world is secretly filled with magical animals called the “Attuned.” These animals can channel a type of magic called anima, and they organize themselves into different groups or covens with their own territories and rules.
Right away, the sisters start discovering their own powers, especially Luna, who can control fire. Of course, that immediately makes her important to the different covens, some of which want her on their side. Meanwhile, there’s also a prophecy involving the sisters that hints they might have to go separate ways.
One of the best parts of the book is the relationship between Luna and Willow. They love each other deeply, but they’re very different. Luna is bold, energetic, and always ready to jump into danger, while Willow is more cautious and prefers stability and safety. Watching them slowly grow apart as they figure out their own paths is honestly kind of heartbreaking but realistic; some readers may be able to relate to their changing sisterly bond.
The worldbuilding is pretty fun too. Instead of just cats, the story includes all kinds of animals with different magical abilities like teleporting creatures, mind readers, telekinetic rats, and even a toad POV at one point. It makes the magical ecosystem feel bigger and more interesting than a typical animal fantasy.
Humans also play a major role here, especially witches. In this world, human witches can only use magic by bonding with magical animals, sometimes against their will. Because of that, many animals see humans as villains. One group called the Renegades even dedicates itself to rescuing animals that have been forcibly bound to witches.
Despite being a middle-grade/YA story, the book can get surprisingly dark. There are scenes involving animal cruelty, violent deaths, and the general danger animals face from humans. It’s not super graphic, but it definitely gives the story a grittier tone than you might expect.
The pacing is pretty fast throughout, with lots of action and new discoveries happening quickly. The downside is that many side characters don’t get a ton of development yet. The focus stays mostly on Luna and Willow, which makes sense since the story is really about their bond and how it changes.
By the end of the book, the prophecy starts pushing the sisters in very different directions. Luna joins the Renegades, determined to fight against the humans exploiting magical animals. Meanwhile, Willow makes the surprising decision to willingly bond with a human witch. Suddenly the sisters are technically on opposite sides, which sets up a really interesting (and emotional) conflict for the next books.
The story ends on a pretty intense cliffhanger with another prophecy hinting that things are going to get even more complicated.
Overall, “Renegades: The Magic Awakens” is a fast-paced, magical animal adventure with lots of action, cool powers, and a strong emotional core about sisterhood and choosing your own path. If you liked Warriors but want something with more magic, more species, and a bit of an urban fantasy twist, this is a really fun start to a new series.
If you grew up reading the Warriors books and loved animal adventures, “Renegades: The Magic Awakens” by Erin Hunter will probably feel both familiar and totally new at the same time. It still has animal main characters (yes, cats again), but this time the story leans much more into urban fantasy with magic, witches, and a whole variety of animal species involved.
The story follows two cat sisters, Luna and Willow, whose lives are turned upside down after a fire destroys their home. As they wander the city looking for somewhere safe, they discover that the world is secretly filled with magical animals called the “Attuned.” These animals can channel a type of magic called anima, and they organize themselves into different groups or covens with their own territories and rules.
Right away, the sisters start discovering their own powers, especially Luna, who can control fire. Of course, that immediately makes her important to the different covens, some of which want her on their side. Meanwhile, there’s also a prophecy involving the sisters that hints they might have to go separate ways.
One of the best parts of the book is the relationship between Luna and Willow. They love each other deeply, but they’re very different. Luna is bold, energetic, and always ready to jump into danger, while Willow is more cautious and prefers stability and safety. Watching them slowly grow apart as they figure out their own paths is honestly kind of heartbreaking but realistic; some readers may be able to relate to their changing sisterly bond.
The worldbuilding is pretty fun too. Instead of just cats, the story includes all kinds of animals with different magical abilities like teleporting creatures, mind readers, telekinetic rats, and even a toad POV at one point. It makes the magical ecosystem feel bigger and more interesting than a typical animal fantasy.
Humans also play a major role here, especially witches. In this world, human witches can only use magic by bonding with magical animals, sometimes against their will. Because of that, many animals see humans as villains. One group called the Renegades even dedicates itself to rescuing animals that have been forcibly bound to witches.
Despite being a middle-grade/YA story, the book can get surprisingly dark. There are scenes involving animal cruelty, violent deaths, and the general danger animals face from humans. It’s not super graphic, but it definitely gives the story a grittier tone than you might expect.
The pacing is pretty fast throughout, with lots of action and new discoveries happening quickly. The downside is that many side characters don’t get a ton of development yet. The focus stays mostly on Luna and Willow, which makes sense since the story is really about their bond and how it changes.
By the end of the book, the prophecy starts pushing the sisters in very different directions. Luna joins the Renegades, determined to fight against the humans exploiting magical animals. Meanwhile, Willow makes the surprising decision to willingly bond with a human witch. Suddenly the sisters are technically on opposite sides, which sets up a really interesting (and emotional) conflict for the next books.
The story ends on a pretty intense cliffhanger with another prophecy hinting that things are going to get even more complicated.
Overall, “Renegades: The Magic Awakens” is a fast-paced, magical animal adventure with lots of action, cool powers, and a strong emotional core about sisterhood and choosing your own path. If you liked Warriors but want something with more magic, more species, and a bit of an urban fantasy twist, this is a really fun start to a new series.
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.
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