Ah, the next generation come of age and everything changes for the warrior cats. Yet some things stay the same.

I had only read the first two books when I was little before abruptly stopping so this was all brand new for me, and I had no idea what would happen next. Okay, I actually had some idea, mainly the cats being forced to relocate from their home.

This change is status quo and territory is one I applaud Hunter because tthe authors have asserted from the beginning that they are willing to go there-kill off major characters, lose love interests, and yes, change the local because of forces outside their control. It’s realistic even though there aren’t happy endings sometimes but I believe it just adds to the intensity of the book. This is the wild, anything can happen and you have to be prepared.

These set differs from the first as it is a revolving door of POVs rather than the singular focus of Firestar. Brambleclaw (Tigerstar’s son), Squirrelflight, Leafpool (Firestar and Sandstorm’s daughters) and sometimes Stormfur (Graystripe’s son). Unlike Firestar’s POV where he was an outsider still finding his place in the shifting politics of the clans, these kids are right in the thick of it with parentage being a major point informing their decisions, personalities and actions.

Brambleclaw fears that he will be viewed as traitorous and dangerous as his father, Stormfur is still deriding for not being fully Riverclan and Firestar’s daughters must contend with their father’s legacy and kittypet origins. A great choice and provides a consistant source of conflict and development throughout.

It also reverts back to a idea mentioned throughout the first series-the clans should learn to unite and while the majority revert to the boundary lines in their new territory, Brambleclaw, Crowfeather, Leafpool, Squirrelflight, Stormfur and Feathertail are undeniably changed by their journey together. They’ll always be friends despite clan loyalty.

There was also more focus on the roles and rankings in the clans, particularly Leafpool and her journey to becoming a medicine cat which includes questioning some of its rules and a greater focus on the Starclan and its role for the cats as they journey into the unknown.

The world really expands. Not only with new allies (including a badger!) but different ways of surviving the wild like when the Chosen Ones meet the Tribe.

Now to the rankings:

1. Moonrise: Stormfur is such an interesting protagonist despite the little time he has in the series but when Hunter lets him, he really shines as he discovers a new way to live with the Tribe. A place where he may be accepted compared to the continuing distrust and taunts from his own clan because of his interclan origins. It also has a moving sacrifice scene and details the start of Leafpaw’s journey to becoming a medicine cat and the clans accepting that they must move on.
2. Twilight: What do you know. The other book where Stormfur has some more focus gets number two spot. But this isn’t Stormfur’s show as much as it is Crowfeather and Leafpaw whose Romeo-and-Juliet-esque romance culminates with them running away. The book really dives into the choice between love, loyalty and duty and the couple ending up asking hard questions if this is the right thing to do. Also Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw have been spending this series tiptoing around their feelings but Squirrelflight’s distrust of Brambleclaw because of his father/half brother makes her push him away for a more suitable mate. So rude but she experiences her own prejudice flung back at her face with Ashfur deriding her kittypet background.
3. Starlight: As I said above, despite how close they had come on their journey, now that their back in their new home, Squirrelflight distances herself from Brambleclaw. Hurt and worried, he starts getting closer with Hawkfrost as a way to appease his feelings that his brother is a good cat. Because if Hawkfrost is good, it means he is also good and everyone is wrong about judging them. However, that fallacy is under strain when there’s clearly a traitor within the clan and it seems like Hawkfrost is always the suspect, and Brambleclaw scrambling to defend him doesn’t put him in the best light. I loved the messy dynamics that only get messier when Leafpaw begins to question her path as she starts to fall for Crowfeather. There’s also some spiritual debate as Mothwing (Riverclan medicine cat) brings up the idea that maybe Starclan’s prophetic messages and dream messages are coincidence, shocking Leafpaw with her blasphemy.
4. Sunset: The finales are always good with everyone getting their neat ending, I just felt like it was too neat which is why it is at number 4 and I didn’t like the return of Tigerstar from beyond the grave (or above in Starclan). Even though his machinations with his sons was cool, I wanted there to be a different villain. Also why did he only believe his sons could take control of the clans and get his revenge, what about Tawnypelt?
5. Midnight: The intro sets the stage for the different POVs with Brambleclaw being particularly interesting as he tries to shed behind his insecurities of being Tigerstar’s son. I got real Lion King 2 vibes with him and Squirrelflight. I enjoyed the coming of age nature with the Chosen Warriors from each clan (Crowpaw, Brambleclaw, Stormfur and Tawnypelt) deciding to tackle the journey on their own without telling the clans like any good ragtag bunch, bonding in times of danger and dissolving the clan boundaries between them. It is nicely balanced with scenes back home as the clans at home question Starclan’s warnings.
6. Dawn: This book comes last because with the revolving POVs, I thought Crowpaw would be protagonist. He wasn’t which was slightly disappointing because I wanted to see how much Feathertail’s death affected him and see him grow past his bad teammate role (it would have also nicely bridged his grief to his burgeoning feelings for Leafpaw). Instead the focuses on Squirrelflight, Leafpaw and Brambleclaw as they journey to a new home, epic. While it was cool to see the clans teaming up on their long journey, I just really wanted the revolving POVs among the Chosen Warriors, we didn’t even get much Tawnypelt.