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Titles in Order of Publication:
WARRIORS: POWER OF THREE #1: THE SIGHT
Erin Hunter
HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060892013
ISBN-13: 9780060892012
Ages 10-up
384 pages
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• Click here to buy from Amazon.com
The stories of a whole new generation unfold in the first book of the Warriors: Power of Three series, as Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw's offspring --- Lionkit, Hollykit and Jaykit --- mature from fluffy kittenhood. However, their ThunderClan leader, Firestar, has had an ominous, possibly prophetic dream in which an old warrior tells him, "There will be three, kin of your kin, who hold the power of the stars in their paws." Firestar fears that the three have arrived in the form of Lionkit, Hollykit and Jaykit --- and he's not at all sure it's good news for the Clan.
Meanwhile, the three kittens get themselves into many scrapes, including an ill-advised fox hunt. Jaykit happens to be blind from birth but with his acute other senses feels capable of being a fierce warrior, although his elders inform him that his dream is impossible.
Jaykit is further deflated when, at his naming ceremony in which he becomes Jaypaw, he is apprenticed to poor old one-eyed Brightheart. How insulting! Hollykit is renamed Hollypaw and is delighted to be apprenticed to medicine cat Leafpool, although she begins to question her calling after encounters with stinky herbs and sickly cats. Firestar chooses Ashfur to mentor Lionkit, now named Lionpaw. Lionpaw is enthralled with his lessons on hunting prey and patrolling his Clan's border.
Jaypaw is depressed. His siblings are challenged by their new roles, but Jaypaw continues to feel patronized and overprotected. He slips away alone, using his powerful senses of hearing and smell to form a mental map of the terrain. But Jaypaw stumbles into grave danger. Have his actions confirmed others' low opinions of his abilities?
When Hollypaw and Lionpaw attend their first Gathering, Hollypaw stuns her brother by casually laying out brilliant battle plans. Lionpaw also makes an interesting connection with a lovely Windclan warrior apprentice named Heatherpaw. At the Gathering, tensions rise between ShadowClan and ThunderClan, but the entire group is shocked when unexpected intruders appear. The new arrivals stir up controversy and ignite yet more jostling for power and loyalties within ThunderClan. Meanwhile, Jaypaw and Hollypaw continue their search for their true destinies.
THE SIGHT will enthrall many Warriors fans, who will be intrigued by the strivings of the newest ThunderClan characters. Jaypaw in particular is an interesting character who refuses to consider himself disabled because his eyes don't work; in fact, he doesn't need eyes for his particular visions. Battles, mayhem, politics, romance…it's all right here!
--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)
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WARRIORS: POWER OF THREE #2: DARK RIVER
Erin Hunter
HarperCollins
Hardcover: 9780060892050
Paperback: 9780060892074
Ages 10-up
368 pages
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As Lionpaw, Hollypaw and Jaypaw head out for the Gathering, Jaypaw is irritable. His siblings are puzzled, since this is his very first Gathering. Doesn't his urge to do everything the other cats do, in spite of his blindness, cause him to be excited about going to such an important event?
Lionpaw is definitely excited about the Gathering. He cannot wait to see Heatherpaw from the WindClan. But when he does meet up with her, he pretends not to care, disappointing Heatherpaw with his cool attitude. And when he notices how happy she is to see Jaypaw at the Gathering, Lionpaw can't help but feel jealous. Things get even more complicated when the WindClan apprentice, Breezepaw, joins them. He seems a little too familiar with Heatherpaw for Lionpaw's liking.
Lionpaw forgets about Heatherpaw, though, when RiverClan joins the Gathering. Leopardstar and all the members of her Clan do not look happy. Yet, when given the opportunity to share, Leopardstar says all is well. What is going on?
Heatherpaw suggests that she and Lionpaw meet in secret. She needs to discuss a plan she has with him. Hollypaw knows that Lionpaw is going somewhere in the night, but she doesn't know why. She's struggling with her own personal moral dilemma. There are new ShadowClan kits that are related to her. If ShadowClan and ThunderClan fight, will she have to battle her relatives? She knows that the warrior code dictates that she must be loyal to her Clan, but how can she actually hurt cats who share her own blood?
Hollypaw is also worried about Lionpaw, who is sleepy and cross. Her brother is obviously hiding something, but when she goes to Jaypaw with her concerns, he won't even discuss it with her. And although he acknowledges that something is not right with RiverClan, he isn't helpful enough to help her puzzle it out. When he says he thinks he can find out at Moonpool, the gathering of medicine cats at half-moon, Hollypaw feels concerned. Jaypaw, of course, just brushes off her worry.
Hollypaw finds Lionpaw playing with Heatherpaw in the middle of the night. She threatens to tell Brambleclaw unless the meetings stop, since the warrior code states that the cats are not to mix with other Clans. Her hints about his disloyalty infuriate Lionpaw, causing a rift between the siblings.
At Moonpool, Jaypaw has a near-drowning incident. While unconscious, he enters the RiverClan medicine cat Willowpaw's dream. In it, he learns that RiverClan is in trouble and must find a new home or they will perish. When he shares this with Leafpool, she admonishes him for spying on someone else's dreams. She urges him to tell only Firestar. Jaypaw hates keeping secrets, so he is torn about not being able to inform others in his Clan.
Jaypaw isn't the only sibling with secrets. Lionpaw has one of his own, and soon he is lying to his Clan in order to keep it. As the siblings are tried and tested, they find themselves questioning their own loyalties even as they wonder this: If RiverClan is in trouble, aren't they all?
DARK RIVER is another action-filled and emotion-packed installment in Erin Hunter’s well-loved series. The many fans of Warriors will embrace it and eagerly look forward to OUTCAST, the third Power of Three book, which will be released in April.
--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)
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WARRIORS: POWER OF THREE #3: OUTCAST
Erin Hunter
HarperCollins
Hardcover: 9780060892081
Paperback: 9780060892104
Ages 10-up
320 pages
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Jaypaw remembers experiencing the presence of ancient cat warriors near him at Moonpool and attempts to speak with them again. The young warrior apprentice suspects that the ancient warriors could enlighten him, explaining the prophecy he heard in Firestar's dream: "There will be three, kin of your kin, who will hold the power of the stars in the paw." But, alas, the ancient warriors do not respond to Jaypaw's entreaties.
Now, though, Jaypaw must find herbs for his medicine cat mentor, Leafpool. He complies, but it’s obvious that his mind is not on his job, and he inadvertently frightens away a thrush being stalked by warrior apprentices. Meanwhile, his brother, Lionpaw, wishes that it was time for his assessment as a warrior; he’s tired of being just a warrior apprentice. On the other hand, Jaypaw knows he will not be a true medicine cat until Leafpool dies --- and he would never wish for that.
Hollypaw is distracted by thoughts that someday the Clan may expect her to find a mate and have kits. She knows she’s not ready for those kinds of responsibilities, especially since she mostly wants to put her energy toward being an excellent warrior. In fact, her true secret ambition is to be Clan leader, and she definitely can't imagine combining that position with motherhood. As she ponders her future, Hollypaw is fascinated with the tales that Brook tells of growing up in the Tribe of Rushing Water. Hollypaw wishes she could visit Brook's tribe, but is sure she will never travel to the far distant mountains in which they make their home.
When Jaypaw at last is able to communicate with Rock, one of the ancient cats, he doesn't get the clear-cut answers about his destiny that he seeks. However, he learns from others that the Tribe of Rushing Water is in peril --- and he knows that somehow this will affect his future. Lionpaw is also hearing tales of the Tribe of Rushing Water mountain home, from Stormfur. He longs to explore the area, knowing that he's seen only a very small part of what the world has to offer.
When strange cats approach ThunderClan, Brook knows them. They are Tribe of Rushing Water warriors Talon and Night. The two strangers request Stormfur and Brook's return to the mountains, to help save the Tribe. When ThunderClan rallies to help, Lionpaw, Jaypaw and Hollypaw are determined to go as well. When Firestar finally agrees, they are thrilled. But they have no way to guess the perils and the rewards they'll encounter on their quest.
OUTCAST will thrill Warriors fans with its trademark thrilling adventures and warm emotions as Lionpaw, Jaypaw and Hollypaw continue to grow and change through tough challenges and interactions with others. Readers will count the days until the next epic and entertaining Power of Three installment is available.
--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)
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WARRIORS: POWER OF THREE #4: ECLIPSE
Erin Hunter
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060892111
Ages 10-up
336 pages
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The three apprentices --- Jaypaw, Lionpaw and Hollypaw --- along with traveling companions Stormfur, Brook, Tawnypelt, Squirrelflight, Breezepaw and Crowfeather, have been on an astounding journey to the mountains. Now they have begun their trip home at last. Hollypaw is homesick and feels like they've been gone forever. However, she is still recovering from the news that Stormfur and Brook will only accompany the group to the foothills since they have decided to remain in the mountains.
Hollypaw is frustrated with Lionpaw's casual attitude toward their prophecy and their powers. She wants to know exactly what the prophecy means, but Lionpaw urges her to get on with her life in the real world. Lionpaw also irks her by casually wondering if their great powers put them above the warrior code, a suggestion that causes Hollypaw to feel a great sense of overpowering dread. That ominous feeling is heightened when Lionpaw hints that he believes his great power may be enormous physical strength, enabling him to win any fight. Jaypaw cautions them to keep their powers secret; he doubts their Clanmates would be glad to know that they have more power than StarClan. Meanwhile, they must attend to their hunting chores as they travel toward home.
Back in ThunderClan camp, the apprentices can't help noticing a general undercurrent of unease. WindClan warriors have been crossing their border to hunt in ThunderClan territory. Their thievery of prey and increasing hostility angers ThunderClan. Although some warriors hunger for a violent battle with WindClan, Firestar wishes for a peaceful outcome. He commands a group to travel to WindClan's camp in order to warn Onestar that ThunderClan will increase border patrols and that they will not tolerate being disrespected.
After the talk with WindClan, Hollypaw and Lionpaw disagree drastically on what action should be taken against the thieves. Again, Hollypaw is filled with foreboding about her hot-headed brother and the future. Will the siblings' opposing philosophies lead to problems she can't even bear to consider?
Meanwhile, more immediate problems need their attention. As ThunderClan warriors patrol, Hollypaw glimpses a stranger, a cat resembling a lion. Soon after, Jaypaw has an urgent premonition that something dark is heading toward them. Suddenly, Sol, the mysterious stranger, arrives in ThunderClan camp with a terrible warning for the Clan…of oncoming emptiness and darkness that will change life for the Clans forever. Sol also has news for Jaypaw about the mystical powers he and his siblings are gifted with, and the awe-inspiring repercussions in store for them in the future. But meanwhile, ThunderClan's camp is under attack…and then the sun vanishes.
ECLIPSE is another gripping fantasy thriller filled with portents, secrets, relationships and battles. The apprentices' internal conflict surrounding their prophecy and power continues to be an intriguing thread. What their destiny means for the future of the Clans is balanced by the ever-escalating conflict between the Clans. Warriors fans will devour ECLIPSE and then begin counting the days until the fifth Power of Three volume, LONG SHADOWS, is available.
--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)
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WARRIORS: POWER OF THREE #5: LONG SHADOWS
Erin Hunter
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060892142
Ages 10-up
336 pages
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New warrior Hollyleaf is unsettled. She's having nightmares that are symbolic of the darkness lying over the Clans. ShadowClan no longer attends the gatherings and has declared through their leader, Blackstar, that they no longer believe in the power of StarClan. How can this be? How can an entire Clan turn their backs on the warrior code?
When her fellow warriors suggest that ThunderClan can't even consider being friends with ShadowClan because of their lack of belief, Hollyleaf wonders about the fate of ThunderClan cats, such as Cloudtail, who have never believed in StarClan. When she approaches ShadowClan's border with a group of fellow warriors, she's relieved to see ShadowClan warriors who fought with ThunderClan in the recent battle.
But when Hollyleaf tries to be friendly, the ShadowClan border patrol group is hostile, telling the ThunderClan cats that they can't come onto ShadowClan territory. ShadowClan even accuses ThunderClan of stealing prey from their land even though the ThunderClan warriors are still on their own land. The discussion turns heated, leading eventually to the ShadowClan warriors sneering at the warrior code and at StarClan.
Hollyleaf is stricken when she hears their terrible comments. She decides she needs to save ShadowClan. Otherwise, there no longer will be the four Clans. Meanwhile, the ShadowClan warriors declare that Sol and his predictions will save ShadowClan, giving them a much brighter future. The discussion ends with a tussle --- and the sure knowledge, in Hollyleaf's mind, that Sol will destroy the Clans unless they can find a way to stop him.
Hollyleaf's littermate, Jaypaw, chafes at his mundane duties as medicine cat. He’s getting bored with finding healing herbs and picking ticks off his Clan mates. When Hollyleaf urges him and their brother, Lionblaze, to help her find some way to intervene with Sol's influence over ShadowClan, at first he’s just annoyed with her. He even suggests the Clans would do well to do more questioning of their established beliefs.
Lionblaze is angry with Sol, too --- partly because he promised to help the three siblings with their prophecy, but then abandoned them to be with ShadowClan. At this point, Jaypaw chooses not to tell his littermates how he knows they are the three of the prophecy. He doesn't want to tell them about his dreams, in which he visited with the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Jaypaw even suggests that he and his littermates should visit Sol, much to Hollyleaf's shock at the very idea of trespassing on ShadowClan's land. Trespassing would break the warrior code, after all. But, somehow, her brothers talk her into believing that breaking the warrior code is justified if it's the only way to save ShadowClan.
The three sneak out through the dirtplace tunnel in the quiet of the night. They spy on ShadowClan, watching a meeting in which Sol speaks to the gathered ShadowClan cats. Jaypaw is horrified to hear Sol telling them that StarClan should have no powers over living cats. Sol suggests that, since StarClan didn't tell the Clans about the solar eclipse, it meant that the ancients either didn't know about it or they didn't care about the living cats. As Jaypaw listens, he has a vision that frightens him horribly. Because suddenly he knows they are in the gravest danger.
Warriors: Power of Three fans will be thrilled with this latest installment. LONG SHADOWS is filled with ominous foreboding, battles, secrets, lies, murder, and the reverberations of prophecy --- all the ingredients for yet another engrossing Warriors read. At tale's end, readers will begin urgently counting the days until book #6, SUNRISE, is available.
--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)
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WARRIORS: POWER OF THREE #6: SUNRISE
Erin Hunter
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060892173
Ages 10-up
352 pages
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Readers should prepare for an emotional and shocking conclusion to the Power of Three series. As the story opens, the ThunderClan warrior Ashfur has been murdered. Leafpool, in tending the warrior's body, has inadvertently stumbled upon a clue. She knows who murdered Ashfur, but wishes with all her heart that she hadn't discovered the truth. She also knows she can never let anyone else find out the true identity of the killer, for reasons that aren't entirely apparent to the reader until close to the end of the book.
ThunderClan is in an uproar over their warrior's murder, of course. Since his body was found near the WindClan border, most in the group are certain he was killed by someone in WindClan. But Firestar believes the murderer is a member of his own ThunderClan --- and certain ThunderClan cats know what he believes is actually the truth. A pall of secrecy and lies settles upon the Clan.
Lionblaze is in a particularly uncomfortable situation. He knows a WindClan cat did not kill Ashfur. But since he was Ashfur's apprentice, he is subjected to constant questions and speculation from his Clanmates about the warrior's death.
Meanwhile, Lionblaze, Hollyleaf and Jayfeather struggle with their new knowledge about their heritage. They now know that Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw are not their parents. Then who are their parents? Why did Squirrelflight lie to them? What is the secret that guards the true identity of their family? They each wonder if they are true ThunderClan cats. After all, they could be anything, even kittypets. Even more worrisome, their entire lives have been built around the prophecy they have long believed pointed to them:
There will be three, kin of your kin…
who hold the Power of the stars in their paws.
Now Hollyleaf, Jayfeather and Lionblaze know they may not be "kin" of ThunderClan at all. The prophecy may well have nothing to do with them. Without this lofty purpose guiding the course of their lives, the three feel adrift and rootless.
ThunderClan's suspicions about the murder change. As they begin to suspect that the identity of the murderer may not lie close by after all, Firestar gathers a group of travelers to find and bring back their suspect. While Lionblaze and Hollyleaf join the searchers, Jayfeather stays behind. As he cares for the elder cat named Mousefur, he asks questions about the period of time around his and his siblings' birth. Mousefur happens to offhandedly say something about a certain elusive herb that was given to her by mistake around that time, and Jayfeather is drawn further into his investigation. He begins to gather one clue after another, piecing together the puzzle of the trio's parentage.
When the truth about Jayfeather, Hollyleaf and Lionblaze's parents is revealed, the reader may well be stunned. But that is just one of the astonishing events in store for fans, as the book concludes with an enormous (and yet fitting) shocker.
Warriors devotees are likely to reel from the series' climax. However, they will be relieved to discover an intriguing cliffhanger on the final page. Yes, fans can relax with a great sigh of relief at this news: the Warriors saga will continue in a brand new series called Omen of the Stars. The first book, THE FOURTH APPRENTICE, will be available in November 2009.
--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)
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