Warriors: The Prophecies Begin, originally known as Warriors, is the first story arc in the Warriors juvenile fantasy novel series about feral cats. The arc comprises six novels which were published from 2003 to 2004: Into the Wild, Fire and Ice, Forest of Secrets, Rising Storm, A Dangerous Path, and The Darkest Hour. The novels are published by HarperCollins under the pseudonym Erin Hunter, which refers to authors Kate Cary and Cherith Baldry and plot developer/editor Victoria Holmes. The sub-series details the adventures of the housecat Rusty, who joins ThunderClan, one of four Clans of feral cats living in a forest which adjoins the human town in which he originally lives. The arc's major themes deal with forbidden love, the concept of nature versus nurture, and characters being a mix of good and evil. Though the novels have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List and have been nominated for several awards, none of the novels in the Warriors sub-series have won a significant literary award.
The series first began when HarperCollins asked Victoria Holmes to write a fantasy series about feral cats. Initially, Holmes was not very enthusiastic, since she "couldn't imagine coming up with enough ideas". Nevertheless, she worked with the concept and expanded the storyline with elements of war, politics, revenge, doomed love, and religious conflict.[1] Although the original plan was for a stand-alone novel, enough material was created for several books, and the publisher decided upon a six-volume series.[1] Holmes then enlisted the help of another author, Kate Cary, for whom Holmes had previously edited and knew as a cat-lover.[2]Into the Wild was thus written by Kate Cary in about three months under the pseudonym "Erin Hunter".[3] Holmes then began to work behind the scenes, editing and supervising details.[4] HarperCollins requested Holmes to produce a book every three months. Upon hearing this, Holmes invited Cherith Baldry into the team in order to keep up with the schedule. Holmes says she chose Baldry because "her natural writing style was quite close to mine and Kate's, so I knew that Cherith's voice would fit".[2] Afterwards, Holmes began to like the idea of using cats, since she realized how thoughtful they can be in leading private lives without any humans realizing.[4] The series is considered to be fantasy,[4] and has also been labelled an "animal adventure".[5]
With two authors at the time, Holmes decided to publish the books under a pseudonym; having two authors would place the books at different places at libraries, confusing and possibly scaring off potential readers. The last name Hunter was chosen because it put the books next to the Redwall series, which has a similar genre.[6]
Warriors uses a lexicon with different names for certain foreign objects. A Children's Literature review noted the words "kittypet" and "twoleg" which mean housecat and humans respectively. In the book, instead of using "said", Cary uses the word "mewed".[7] In response to a question at the Q&A section of the forum, Holmes explained that the cats' names come "in two parts, either or both of which can reflect something about the cat's appearance, personality, or habits". However, the names must also be part of the world the cats know; Holmes originally gave Tigerclaw the name Hammerclaw until one of the editors pointed out the cats wouldn't know what a hammer is.[8] For the names, Kate Cary says that she takes in inspiration for the names from "sight, sounds and scents the cats would experience". At the same time, more names become available as the cats’ world becomes more diverse.[4]
Publication history
Into the Wild was first published as a hardcover book by HarperCollins on 9 January 2003 in Canada.[9] The book was released on 21 January 2003 in the United States,[10] and in February 2003 in the United Kingdom.[11]Into the Wild was released in paperback form in the US on 6 January 2004.[12] On 4 September 2007, the book was released as an eBook,[13] and on Amazon's Kindle.[14] The book was one of the first to be in HarperCollins' "Browse Inside" program where twenty percent of the novel is available online. For a limited time, the complete novel was also available online.[15] The paperback version sold 150,637 copies in 2008.[16]
Fire and Ice was first published in hardcover by HarperCollins in the US on 27 March 2003.[17] The paperback version was released on 1 June 2004,[18] and an e-book version was released on 9 September 2007.[19] An English Kindle edition is also available.[20] The novel was published in Canada on 20 May 2004,[21] and was released in the United Kingdom in June2003.[22]
Forest of Secrets was first released in the US as a hardcover on 14 October 2003.[23] It was then released as a paperback on 5 October 2004[24] and as an e-book on 4 September 2007.[25]Forest of Secrets has also been published in the UK as a hardcover and paperback[26] and in Canada as a paperback.[27]
Rising Storm was first published as a hardcover in the US on 6 January 2004.[28] The book was later published as a paperback on 15 February 2005[29] and as an e-book on 4 September 2007.[30] In the UK, the book was first released on 2 October 2006 as a paperback.[31] The Canadian version released early on 8 January 2004.[32]
A Dangerous Path was first published in the US as a hardcover on 1 June 2004.[33] It was then published as a paperback on 24 May 2005[34] and an e-book on 13 October 2009.[35]A Dangerous Path was also published in the UK as a paperback on 2 April 2007[36] and in Canada as a hardcover on 20 May 2004.[37]
The Darkest Hour was first released in the US on 5 October 2004, as a hardcover.[38] It was later released as a paperback on 4 October 2005,[39] and as an e-book on 4 September 2007.[40]
In the Warriors universe, there are four Clans of feral cats that live in a forest: ThunderClan, RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan. Each Clan is adapted to its own types of prey and members usually possess (or are taught) special skills which suit the territory's terrain. The authors based the forest on the New Forest in southern England.[3] In addition to the New Forest, Loch Lomond, the Scottish Highlands, and the Forest of Dean inspired the fictional locales in the novel.[41][42]BloodClan is a group of stray city cats introduced in The Darkest Hour. This group of cats is not considered to be a true Clan because they do not believe in the warriors' spiritual ancestors, StarClan, or the warrior code, a set of rules followed by all Clan cats. BloodClan cats are thus seen as a group of rogues (non-Clan cats who do not respect the Clan cats' rules).[43]
StarClan is a group of all of the Clans' deceased ancestors who gives guidance to the Clans. After death, most Clan cats join StarClan. StarClan is said to be represented by Silverpelt (the Milky Way), and each individual star represents the spirit of a single dead warrior. Their guidance to the Clans is often given through dreams and other signs and omens. Often, this occurs when medicine cats go every half-moon to the Moonstone, a large piece of quartz in an abandoned mine, to communicate with StarClan. In an author chat, Hunter said that StarClan can "just get glimpses of" the future, which they occasionally pass on.[44]
Synopsis
Warriors: The Prophecies Begin follows a pet cat named Rusty who dreams about the forest that lies beyond the neighbourhood he lives in. One day, he ventures into the forest and is invited to join ThunderClan, one of four groups of wild cats in the forest. He accepts the invitation and receives the apprentice name Firepaw. Later, Firepaw receives his warrior name, Fireheart, and discovers that Tigerclaw, the deputy of ThunderClan, wishes to kill ThunderClan's leader Bluestar in order to succeed her and become leader himself. Eventually, Fireheart becomes deputy of the Clan after Tigerclaw tries to kill Bluestar, fails, and is banished from ThunderClan. Bluestar later dies, sacrificing her life to protect the Clan from dogs sent by Tigerclaw, now Tigerstar, who became the leader of ShadowClan after his banishment. Fireheart then becomes the leader, receiving nine lives and the name Firestar. Tigerstar then attempts to take over all four Clans, telling them that the leaders will rule together. Leopardstar, leader of RiverClan, agrees, but Firestar and Tallstar, leader of WindClan, refuse. Tigerstar tries to use BloodClan, a vicious group of city cats, to take over the Clans, but BloodClan leader Scourge kills Tigerstar (taking all nine of Tigerstar's lives at once by slicing him from neck to tail) and decides to take over the forest for himself. The four Clans unite and fight BloodClan. Firestar loses the first of his nine lives in battle against Scourge, but he kills Scourge after returning to life, defeating BloodClan, and saving the forest.
ThunderClan's medicine cat, Spottedleaf, receives a prophecy from the spirits of their ancestors, StarClan, stating that "Fire alone can save our Clan." Rusty, a house cat, runs into a ThunderClan apprentice, Graypaw, in his backyard. Bluestar and Lionheart, Graypaw's mentor, watch Rusty's reaction: he does not run away, but instead fights back against Graypaw. This leads them to invite Rusty to join ThunderClan. Though Rusty accepts, he is not welcomed by most of the Clan on account of his past life as a housecat. Rusty loses his collar after a fight, and Bluestar gives Rusty a new name: Firepaw. He forms a strong bond with fellow apprentices Graypaw and Ravenpaw, but discovers that Tigerclaw, an ambitious member of the Clan, murdered the previous deputy in an attempt to become Clan leader. Tigerclaw realizes that his apprentice, Ravenpaw, watched the murder and might spill the secret, so he plans to kill Ravenpaw. To prevent this from happening, Firepaw and Graypaw lead Ravenpaw to a barn outside Clan territory where he is safe and has company, living with a loner named Barley. Tigerclaw realizes Firepaw knows his secret, but is still trusted by the Clan. A few days later, Frostfur's kits are stolen by the ShadowClan leader and his warriors. Firepaw leads a rescue party to search for the lost kits in ShadowClan territory and emerges victorious. As the kits were reclaimed because of Firepaw, Bluestar gives Firepaw his warrior name, Fireheart, along with making Graypaw a warrior, giving him the name Graystripe.
Fire and Ice begins with Fireheart and Graystripe performing a traditional silent vigil after their promotion to warrior status in Into the Wild. Fireheart and Graystripe are then tasked with locating WindClan, which had been driven out of their territory. They find the cats under a tangle of Thunderpaths (roads), and succeed in bringing them home. During a hunting patrol, Graystripe almost drowns after chasing a vole onto thin ice and falling in the river separating RiverClan and ThunderClan. He is rescued by Silverstream, a RiverClan warrior, with whom he falls in love. This inter-clan love is against the warrior code, a code of honor that all warriors must follow. Fireheart discovers their relationship, and unsuccessfully attempts to discourage them from seeing each other.
Tigerclaw sets a trap for Bluestar by the Thunderpath, intending to kill her, and thus bringing him closer to becoming leader. Instead, apprentice Cinderpaw gets hit by a monster (cars) and becomes crippled with a permanent limp. This prevents her from becoming a warrior, so she trains under Yellowfang to become a medicine cat.
Fireheart is reunited with his sister, Princess, a kittypet living in a Twolegplace (a human town). Princess gives Fireheart her oldest kit, Cloudkit, to take into the Clan as a new apprentice. Although Fireheart agrees to accept the kit, his Clanmates, with the exception of Frostfur and Graystripe, are reluctant to accept him because of his kittypet blood.
Fireheart is determined to uncover the truth about the Clan deputy, Tigerclaw, whom he believes is untrustworthy. To do this, he must risk losing the trust of his leader, Bluestar, as she might suspect Fireheart himself as a traitor.
Meanwhile, Fireheart's best friend, Graystripe, risks the trust of his entire Clan as he continues having a forbidden love affair with Silverstream, who is from RiverClan. Silverstream eventually dies while giving birth to Graystripe's kits when they come early. ThunderClan then learns about his forbidden love with Silverstream and feel that they cannot trust Graystripe anymore.
Later, Tigerclaw leads a band of rogues into ThunderClan camp, pretending to defend the Clan. During the battle, Tigerclaw corners Bluestar in her den and tries to kill her. Fireheart arrives just in time to save her, and Tigerclaw is defeated. Bluestar is deeply shocked and shaken by Tigerclaw's mutiny, though she manages to announce his exile from the Clan. With Bluestar having regained her trust over the cat that had exposed Tigerclaw's treachery, Fireheart is made deputy. The announcement of the position is made after moonhigh, which is against Clan tradition. Fireheart is unsure whether he will be a good deputy, but he is sure that he has not seen the last of Tigerclaw.
Fireheart is now ThunderClan's new deputy, but the previous deputy, Tigerclaw, still haunts Fireheart's dreams. Bluestar also begins to become distrustful of the Clan after Tigerclaw's betrayal.
One day, Bluestar, accompanied by Fireheart, goes to speak with StarClan at Mothermouth, an abandoned quarry mine. On the way there, a patrol of WindClan warriors, led by Mudclaw, stop them before Bluestar is able to explain why they are trespassing. The ThunderClan leader later fears that StarClan sent WindClan to stop them from going to Mothermouth and speaking with StarClan, which causes her to slip into further paranoia.
In the summer months, Fireheart struggles with his disrespectful nephew and apprentice, Cloudpaw, who goes to a Twoleg (human) for food and is one day abducted by them. Fireheart and Sandstorm rescue Cloudpaw, who is found near the barn where Ravenpaw and Barley live. Cloudpaw is accepted back into the Clan, since Fireheart keeps it a secret that Cloudpaw went to humans for food.
Meanwhile, the forest gets hotter and hotter, and a fire sweeps through the forest, destroying ThunderClan's camp and taking the lives of two elders, Patchpelt and Halftail, as well as Yellowfang, ThunderClan's medicine cat. At the end of the book, it was revealed at a Gathering of Clans that both Nightstar and Cinderfur of ShadowClan have died from a sickness, and that Tigerstar is the new leader of ShadowClan.
When a pack of dogs begins to run wild in the forest, Fireheart, deputy of ThunderClan, suspects that Tigerstar, ShadowClan's new leader, is behind it. To find out, he asks Brightpaw, who gets mauled by the dogs, if she remembers what happened. Brightpaw can only remember the words "Pack, pack, kill, kill". A trail of dead rabbits is then found leading to the camp, ending with Brindleface in front of the camp, who had been killed by Tigerstar. Brindleface's death shocks everyone, and after her burial, the Clan is evacuated from their camp to Sunningrocks. Fireheart and the senior warriors decide that a patrol of cats will attempt to lead the dogs over the edge of a nearby gorge, drowning the dogs. The plan works: each cat successfully leads the pack closer to the gorge. Fireheart, the last in line, keeps a good distance between him and the pack leader, until Tigerstar appears and pins Fireheart down. As the dog leader gets dangerously close, Tigerstar leaps away, leaving Fireheart to be killed by the pack. As Fireheart struggles against the dog, Bluestar slams into the dog, who releases its grip on Fireheart. The dog and Bluestar are thrown over the side of the gorge.
Fireheart leaps down the cliff to the river and dives in to save Bluestar. Bluestar's secret RiverClan children, Stonefur and Mistyfoot, discover Fireheart struggling in the river and help drag Bluestar to the bank. There, Bluestar pleads with her kits to forgive her for lying to them about their parents, and they forgive her. Bluestar then tells Fireheart that he is now the leader of ThunderClan, and that "you are the fire that saved my Clan". After fulfilling the prophecy told by Spottedleaf in Into the Wild, she loses her final life.
Fireheart is filled with grief, and Mistyfoot asks if she and Stonefur can help carry her back to camp and sit vigil for her.
Firestar is now the leader of ThunderClan, and he receives his nine lives from StarClan. During this process, Bluestar tells him the prophecy "Four will become two, Lion and Tiger will meet in battle and blood will rule the forest." Tigerstar then attempts to unify all four Clans claiming that it would help the Clans survive. While Leopardstar of RiverClan agrees, Tallstar of WindClan and Firestar both refuse to join this alliance, which Tigerstar has called "TigerClan". Accompanied by Ravenpaw, who is on a visit to ThunderClan, Graystripe and Firestar go to RiverClan and find that Graystripe's kits, Stormpaw and Featherpaw, and Bluestar's kits, Mistyfoot and Stonefur, are being held prisoner as traitors due to their half-Clan blood. Firestar, Graystripe, and Ravenpaw manage to rescue Mistyfoot, Stormpaw, and Featherpaw, but Stonefur is brutally killed while protecting Featherpaw and Stormpaw.
In an attempt to convince Tallstar and Firestar to join his alliance, Tigerstar reveals to them his alliance with BloodClan, a vicious group of rogues in the nearby town. When both leaders still refuse, Tigerstar orders BloodClan to fight for him, but they do not do so. Scourge tells Tigerstar that he is the only cat in charge of BloodClan, and after Firestar tells everyone of Tigerstar's bloodthirsty history, and that he cannot be trusted to divide power, Scourge decides that there will be no battle. Enraged, Tigerstar attacks Scourge, but Scourge slays him easily by cutting him open from chin to tail, ending all nine of Tigerstar's lives at once. Scourge then gives all of the forest Clans three days to leave; otherwise, they will have to fight BloodClan to remain in the forest. To face this danger, the four Clans unite, forming an alliance which is known as "LionClan". The battle is won when Firestar kills Scourge, though he loses one of his own nine lives in the process. Without its leader, BloodClan scatters. With the forest returned to normal, the four Clans become independent once more.
Themes
A prominent theme in the series is that of forbidden love. One of the most drastic examples of this is when Graystripe falls in love with Silverstream, who is in another Clan. This inter-clan relationship between cats is forbidden by the warrior code.[45] Non-belief, as when Cloudtail does not believe in StarClan, is also significant in the storyline.[46] On the other hand, Holmes said that another central theme of the series is "faith and spirituality" in StarClan.[47] All books in the series heavily feature the influence of StarClan, not just as the cats think of them, but also in terms of prophecies delivered by StarClan which inevitably come true. Thus the existence of an afterlife and the influence of spirits who have passed on and yet retain their earthly identities is integral to the plot.
Another theme notes that characters can be a mix of good and evil. Holmes has said that she is fascinated by these "shades of gray" in personalities. Her example of this was when Bluestar, an outwardly noble and honourable cat, gave up her kits, thus fueling her own ambitions and preventing an evil cat from taking power. Another example she gave of this is how Tigerstar, despite all of his faults, is still courageous and fiercely loyal.[48] Similarly, Holmes has also connected the theme to Brambleclaw and how nobody knew whether he was good or evil.[49] A third major theme, often referred to as nature versus nurture, explores whether a cat is born with a set destiny, or if other things can shape their future. This theme ties into the "shades of gray" theme.[44]
A reviewer for Publishers Weekly noted that friendship and responsibility are taught to characters in the novels,[50] while booksforyouths.com had a reviewer who pointed out the idea that, just as Clan cats shun house cats for their soft life, people should realise that it is necessary to experience hardships in life.[51] A Storysnoops review noted that one of the themes was that "it doesn't matter where you come from, only who you are inside".[52] Other themes that have been pointed out deal with family, loss, honour, bravery, death, loyalty, and following rules.[44][50]
Holmes also dealt with human themes such as "starting at a new school (Rusty joining ThunderClan),... being bullied by someone who should look after you (Tigerclaw bullying Ravenpaw)",[53] and fitting in.[5] Holmes has said that one of the good things about writing a book about cats is that "we can tackle difficult human issues such as death, racial intolerance, and religious intolerance [without seeming so heavy]".[48]
Another theme dealt with is power: this is explored in the character of Tigerclaw, who is determined to take over ThunderClan even after being banished from the Clan for trying to do so. Booklist notes that "teens may find their own journey toward adulthood echoed in the protagonist's struggles and self-doubts".[54]
A Bookloons reviewer notes that The Darkest Hour "stresses the importance of caring and community". This is shown to be true as the Clans need to work together in order to defeat BloodClan despite normally being enemies with one another.[55]
Critical reception
The first book of the series, Into the Wild, was generally well-received, with reviewers calling it a "spine-tingling",[56] "thoroughly engrossing"[57] and "exciting... action-packed adventure".[50] One reviewer praised the authors for "creating an intriguing world... and an engaging young hero", although the number of characters was seen as "a little confusing",[58] but another criticised the characters and imagined world as being "neither... consistent nor compelling".[59] As one reviewer noted, the characters are "true to their feline nature",[45] with the realism including a fair amount of violence.[5][58] This has led some critics to jokingly comment that the books will "leave readers eyeing Puss a bit nervously"[60] and wondering "what dreams of grandeur may haunt the family cat".[50] However, the characters have also been criticised as being "somewhat flat"[61] and "limited essentially to each individual's function within the clan",[59] while another reviewer criticized the use of "'he mewed', 'she purred', and 'the warrior mewed', which pass for cat talk", stating that it "grows old fast".[7] Several critics have compared Warriors to Brian Jacques' Redwall series,[45][59][62][63] though one commented that it was "not as elegantly written",[58] while another reviewer, writing for Fantasy Book Reviews, noted similarities between Into the Wild and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.[64] An interviewer described the plot as "Shakespearian: a mad leader, intra-clan betrayal, war, star-crossed lovers, death".[4]Into the Wild was nominated for the 2006 Young Reader's Choice Awards,[65] but lost to Christopher Paolini's Eragon.[66] It was also listed on Booklist's Top 10 fantasy books for youth in 2003[67] and was a Book Sense 76 Pick.[68]
Fire and Ice received mixed reviews. The novel was well received by a reviewer for Voice of Youth Advocates, who observed that "Hunter works hard at incorporating authentic cat mannerisms and behaviors" and that "although more sophisticated teens might be put off by the coy dialogue attributes, younger readers probably will not notice and will be caught up in Fireheart's adventures".[69] On the other hand, a reviewer for Children's Literature found the plot to be "flat, repetitious, much too long, and in the end unsatisfying except perhaps to devoted cat lovers or readers who revel in invented worlds".[69]School Library Journal observed that readers unfamiliar with the first novel would find this one difficult to follow and that the "characterizations of the animals are somewhat flat, although it is possible to tell them apart, and the plot's twists and turns seem mapped out and predictable".[61]Kirkus Reviews praised the increased tensions, noting that "Hunter's world keeps getting more finely drawn, and her characters more complex" though readers may be disappointed that Fireheart fails to resolve his "conflicting responsibilities".[63][69]Booklist likewise praised the novel's tension, noting that the "characters remain true to their feline natures, adding to the plausibility of events in this tension filled story".[63]
One reviewer, commenting on Forest of Secrets, compared the "huge cast" to that of a Greek drama,[70] and a reviewer for Booklist praised the novel's plot elements, which created "another dynamic episode sure to please series fans".[45] A reviewer for Horn Book Review praised the author's ability to balance the conflicts and everyday lives of the Clan cats,[71] and a reviewer for Children's Literature wrote that the book "is filled with intrigue and adventure".[72] The series' realism also means that it contains a relatively large amount of violence, with one critic stating that it is "not for the faint of heart".[70]
Rising Storm was mostly well received by critics. In one review by Booklist, the reviewer calls the novel suspenseful, also noting how the story echoes the journey to maturity.[54] Another review, by VOYA, noted that while the books lacks humor and depth, there was still appeal in the hidden world of the warrior cats.[73] A BookLoons review particularly praised the ending, calling it a cliffhanger.[74] However, Children's Literature was not as positive, saying it was getting hard to remember all of the characters' relatives and leaders.[73]
A review by Horn Book Review for both Rising Storm and A Dangerous Path was positive, writing "The fourth and fifth entries in the series continue the development of the complex, dynamic characters".[54]
A Dangerous Path received a positive reception from Bookloons, with a reviewer praising the rising tension in the book.[75] A reviewer for Booklist called the book exciting and praised the fast pace, writing "Hunter maintains the established characterizations of her sentient cats, who still retain their feline natures. With compelling intrigue and fast-paced actions, this is one of the most exciting books in the series".[76]
The Darkest Hour received universal praise, and is regarded as one of the best books of the series. It garnered praise from Hilary Williamson, who wrote: "The Darkest Hour is the best yet in this thrilling series of feline adventure, that also stresses the importance of caring and community".[55]Booklist calls The Darkest Hour "tension-filled".[77]
Editions
All of the books in Warriors: the Prophecies Begin have been published as hardcovers and as paperbacks. Warriors: the Prophecies Begin was first published in the United States and United Kingdom.[3] The editions published of the first five books of the first series—Into the Wild to A Dangerous Path—in the United Kingdom had slight variations in cover design from their United States counterparts.[11]Warriors is also sold in New Zealand,[78] Australia,[79] and Canada. Translations from English into other languages such as Czech, Lithuanian, Finnish, Japanese, French, Russian, Chinese and Korean have been published more recently.[80] The sub-series has been published in Korea and Germany.[49][81] The first two books have been printed in Poland[82] and Italy.[83] In the Chinese translation of the series, "3-D trading cards" are packaged in each book. These cards feature pictures of the cats on the centre of the bookcover with the Chinese and English names, and biographical information on the back. Cards included in the Warriors sub-series feature Firestar, Bluestar, Tallstar, Graystripe, Tigerstar, and a collage of the 5 previous cats.
Into the Wild has been released and translated in twenty countries[84] including German, Britain, France, Russia, Japan, Korea, China, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Portugal, Hungary, Brazil, Norway and Greece. In Germany, the book has also been released as an audiobook.[85] The Chinese version was released on October 31, 2008, with a 3-D card of Firepaw.[84]
Other languages that Fire and Ice has been released in include German,[86] Japanese, French, Russian, and Korean.[46] A Chinese version has also been released that includes a 3-D card made of stereoscopic lenticular prints featuring Bluestar.[87]
Forest of Secrets has also been translated into other languages such as German,[88] Japanese, French, Russian, and Korean.[46] The Chinese version was released on 30 November 2008 and is packaged with a 3-D trading card featuring Tallstar.[89]
Rising Storm has also been translated into other languages such as German,[90] Japanese, French, Russian, and Korean.[46] The Chinese version was released on November 30, 2008, and also includes a 3-D trading card of Graystripe.[91]
A Dangerous Path has also been published in foreign languages such as German,[92] Japanese, French, Russian and Korean.[46] The Chinese version was published on 31 December 2008 and is packaged along with a 3D trading card of Tigerstar.[93]
The Darkest Hour has also been published in German,[94] Chinese,[95] Japanese, French, Russian, and Korean.[46]
Related Research Articles
Warriors is a series of novels based on the adventures and drama of multiple Clans of feral cats. The series is primarily set in fictional forests. Published by HarperCollins, the series is written by authors Kate Cary and Cherith Baldry, as well as others, under the collective pseudonym Erin Hunter. The concept and plot of the pilot series were developed by series editor, Victoria Holmes.
Into the Wild is a fantasy novel about the lives of fictional cats, written by a team of authors using the pseudonym Erin Hunter. The novel was published by HarperCollins in Canada and the United States in January 2003, and in the United Kingdom in February 2003. It is the first novel in the Warriors series. The book has been published in paperback and e-book formats in twenty different languages. The story is about a young domestic cat named Rusty who leaves his human owners to join a group of forest-dwelling feral cats called ThunderClan, adopting a new name: Firepaw. He is trained to defend and hunt for the clan, becomes embroiled in a murder and betrayal within the clan, and, at the end of the book, receives his warrior name, Fireheart, after a battle with another clan. The novel is written from the perspective of Fireheart.
Fire and Ice is a children's fantasy novel, the second book in the Warriors series, written by Kate Cary under the pen name of Erin Hunter. The plot centers around Fireheart and Graystripe, newly promoted warriors of ThunderClan, which is one of the four groups of feral cats living in the wilderness. Fireheart learns that his best friend Graystripe has fallen in love with Silverstream, a warrior from RiverClan, even though it is against the cats' "warrior code".
Forest of Secrets is a children's fantasy novel, the third book in the original Warriors series, written by Cherith Baldry under the pen name of Erin Hunter. The plot is about Fireheart, a ThunderClan warrior, attempting to prevent his best friend Graystripe from falling in love with Silverstream, whom Graystripe is not allowed to fall in love with. Silverstream later dies giving birth to Graystripe's kits. When RiverClan claims the kits, Graystripe makes the difficult decision to join RiverClan. Fireheart also becomes deputy after Tigerclaw, the deputy, attempts to kill the leader, Bluestar. The main theme of the book is forbidden love. Forest of Secrets takes place in a fictional forest based on many natural locations.
Rising Storm is a fantasy novel, the fourth book in the Warriors series, written under the pen name of Erin Hunter. Rising Storm was written by Kate Cary. The series follows the adventures of four Clans of wild, anthropomorphic cats. The plot follows Fireheart, newest deputy of ThunderClan, struggling to complete his duties as deputy, while still knowing that the previous deputy, Tigerclaw, is lurking in the forest somewhere, seeking revenge against Fireheart and his Clan.
A Dangerous Path is a fantasy novel, the fifth book in the Warriors series, written under the pseudonym of Erin Hunter. This individual book was written by Cherith Baldry. The story centers around Fireheart, deputy of ThunderClan, as he attempts to keep his Clan safe with the help of his ailing leader, while fighting off outside threats such as dogs and enemy Clans.
The Darkest Hour is a children's fantasy novel, the sixth and last book in the original Warriors series by Erin Hunter, featuring the fictional character Firestar, a cat. The series revolves around a group of wild cats living in four Clans, ThunderClan, RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan. It was published on 1 October 2004, by HarperCollins. The story chronicles the events directly after A Dangerous Path and leads to the final battle for the forest.
Midnight is a fantasy novel, the first book in Erin Hunter's Warriors: The New Prophecy series. Following The Darkest Hour and Firestar's Quest, and preceding Moonrise, it was released 10 May 2005. The novel centers on a group of feral cats living in four Clans: ThunderClan, RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan.
Dawn is a children's fantasy novel, the third book in the Warriors: The New Prophecy series. Dawn was written by Kate Cary under the pen name of Erin Hunter. It was published on 27 December 2005 by HarperCollins. The book follows the adventures of the four warrior cat Clans after five questing cats return to the forest with a grave message to find a new home. Together, the Clans cross a mountain range and meet another group of cats, the Tribe of Rushing Water. At the end, a new territory is found beside a lake.
Starlight is a children's fantasy novel, the fourth book in Erin Hunter's bestselling Warriors: The New Prophecy series. The hardback was released on 4 April 2006 and in paperback on 27 March 2007.
Sunset is a fantasy novel, the sixth and final book in Erin Hunter's Warriors: The New Prophecy series. The book begins with the group of cats known as ThunderClan rebuilding its camp with the help of its old friends Stormfur and Brook following a badger attack in Twilight. As the book progresses, Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight overcome a previous conflict and fall in love again, but Brambleclaw continues to visit the spirit of his evil father Tigerstar in his dreams. Brambleclaw manages to convince ThunderClan leader Firestar to choose a new deputy to replace the long missing Graystripe and is surprised when he is chosen. Brambleclaw's half-brother Hawkfrost attempts to kill Firestar in order that Brambleclaw might become leader of ThunderClan, but Brambleclaw saves Firestar and kills Hawkfrost, fulfilling the prophecy "Before there is peace, blood will spill blood and the lake will run red".
Warriors: Power of Three is the third arc in the Warriors juvenile fantasy novel series about anthropomorphic feral cats. The arc comprises six novels which were published from 2007 to 2009: The Sight, Dark River, Outcast, Eclipse, Long Shadows, and Sunrise. The novels are published by HarperCollins under the pseudonym Erin Hunter, which refers to authors Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry, Tui Sutherland and plot developer/editor Victoria Holmes. Power of Three details the experiences of protagonist of the first series Firestar's three grandchildren, initially known as Jaykit, Hollykit, and Lionkit, whom a prophecy foretells will have "the power of the stars in their paws". The arc's major themes deal with forbidden love, the concept of nature versus nurture, and characters being a mix of good and bad. Though the novels have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List and have been nominated for several awards, none of the novels in Warriors: Power of Three have won a significant literary award.
Warrior’s Refuge is the second in an original English-language manga trilogy based on the best-selling book series Warriors by Erin Hunter. The manga was published by the distributor Tokyopop, and was released on 26 December 2007 along with Dark River, the second book in Warriors: Power of Three. It follows Graystripe and Millie as they journey to find ThunderClan. It is drawn by James L. Barry.
Firestar's Quest is a volume in the Warriors novel series by Erin Hunter.
Warrior's Return is an original English-language manga volume written by Erin Hunter as part of the Warriors series. It is the third and final in a trilogy following Graystripe, a fictional wild cat trying to find his Clan. It was released on 22 April 2008. It is drawn by James L. Barry.
Bluestar's Prophecy is a children's fantasy novel in the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. This is the second Warriors Super Edition, the first being Firestar's Quest. The book follows Bluestar from birth until her eventual rise to leadership in ThunderClan. It was published by HarperCollins and released on 28 July 2009. It was released in China on 31 July 2010.
A Clan in Need is one of three entries in a spin-off original English-language manga series based on the Warriors novel series. The book was published by Tokyopop on 23 March 2010 and drawn by James L. Barry under the pen name Erin Hunter.
Warriors: The New Prophecy is the second arc in the Warriors juvenile fantasy novel series about cats, who live in four established clans and follow a code to keep the peace between them from breaking apart completely. The arc comprises six novels which were published from 2005 to 2006: Midnight, Moonrise, Dawn, Starlight, Twilight, and Sunset. The novels are published by HarperCollins under the pseudonym Erin Hunter, which refers to authors Kate Cary and Cherith Baldry and plot developer/editor Victoria Holmes. The New Prophecy details the Clans' journey to a new home when humans destroy their original territories. The arc's major themes deal with forbidden love, the concept of nature versus nurture, and characters being a mix of good and bad. Though the novels have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List and have been nominated for several awards, none of the novels in Warriors: The New Prophecy has won a significant literary award.
Warriors: Omen of the Stars is the fourth arc in the Warriors juvenile fantasy novel series about feral cats who live in Clans. It is made up of six novels published by HarperCollins from 2009 to 2012: The Fourth Apprentice, Fading Echoes, Night Whispers, Sign of the Moon, The Forgotten Warrior, and The Last Hope. The novels were written by Erin Hunter, a pseudonym that refers to authors Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry, and Tui Sutherland, as well as plot developer and editor Victoria Holmes. Omen of the Stars details the experiences of Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Dovewing, who, as part of a prophecy, have special powers. The arc's themes deal with forbidden love and the effect that being different can have on relationships. Though the Warriors series has appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list, none of the novels in Warriors: Omen of the Stars have won a significant literary award.
1 2 3 "Kirkus review: Into the Wild". Kirkus Reviews. 71 (1): 61. January 2003. Retrieved 2008-08-21. Hunter debuts with a suspenseful animal adventure that will leave readers eyeing Puss a bit nervously.
1 2 3 4 "Into the Wild (book review)". Publishers Weekly. 23 December 2002. Retrieved 21 August 2008. In the first exciting installment of the Warriors fantasy series [...] the stage is set for more action-packed adventure.
↑ "Hunter, Erin. Into the Wild". Booklist. 15 February 2003. Retrieved 21 August 2008. In this first spine-tingling episode in the planned Warriors series [...] sure to appeal ... to followers of Brian Jacques' ongoing Redwall series
1 2 3 Alpert, Mary (1 May 2003). "Hunter, Erin. Into the Wild". School Library Journal. Retrieved 21 August 2008. The author has created an intriguing world with an intricate structure and mythology, and an engaging young hero. [...] The supporting cast of players is large and a little confusing [...] This is not as elegantly written as Brian Jacques's "Redwall" series
1 2 3 Del Negro, Janice M. (1 March 2003). "Book review: Warriors: Into the Wild". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 56 (7): 277. Retrieved 21 August 2008. The author's attempt to create a hierarchical warrior-clan society falls a bit short: neither the imagined world nor the characters within it are consistent or compelling. Characterization is limited essentially to each individual's function within the clan, and the cast therefore remains cartoon cats engaged in territory marking [...] while the pace occasionally flags there are a lot of bloody tooth-and-claw battles here that may engage readers of the Redwall series.
↑ "Into the Wild". Kirkus Reviews. 71 (1): 61. January 2003. Retrieved 21 August 2008. Hunter debuts with a suspenseful animal adventure that will leave readers eyeing Puss a bit nervously.
1 2 Rawlins, Sharon (1 October 2003). "Forest of Secrets". School Library Journal. 49 (10): 167. Retrieved 21 August 2008. This exciting book is not for the faint of heart as it is often violent [...] It is reminiscent of Greek drama, with its huge cast of characters
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