Warriors: A Vision of Shadows #5: River of Fire audiobook

"Hey Larksong, I killed the leaf!" ~ Finpaw

This book was the best book of the series. It was so sad. First Briarlight dies:( I cry. Than Jayfeather finally seems to enjoy something:) I cry happy tears. But than Rowanstar (claw) dies:(. And finally Dovewing moves to Shadowclan.:(. I hope the 6th book is really good!

** spoiler alert ** I want to like this book more than I did. There was so much that they put into 275 pages, meanwhile they spent several hundred on Tigerheart's feelings in his super edition, that was loathsome. I'm upset that they chose to ditch Rowanstar just because they wanted a second Tigerstar. I'm upset that they're ruining Alderheart's character for no reason by making him fall in love with a sexy cat lady that he met once. It's so frustrating that they feel the need to create conflict rather than build his character through his hard work. We finally got more character development with Jayfeather showing that he's not just angry all the time. They killed off Briarlight just because they were tired of writing about a disabled character and couldn't do anything else with her so rather than have her as a background character like the 3000 other cats they just decide to kill her off. Genuinely upset at how they've taken this set of 6 books, you can tell how much it's changed, and I love the new writing, but not the changes to old characters. Should have set it in the future with all the past characters in StarClan rather than ruin them with unnecessary add ons. Again, it was a good book but it's easier to point out the flaws than the accomplishments.

** spoiler alert ** River of Fire is a.m.a.z.i.n.g!! Sure, some parts of this book were rubbish, but this book was outstanding!Things that were rubbish:1.) The thing between Alderheart and Velvet... no thank you2.) Briarlight's death. That was harsh. Briarlight has been with me through this whole sub series! She was special to me!Things I liked: 1.) The name Twigbranch. Personally, I find that full of meaning. 2.) The thing between Violetshine and Tree! Props to Hawking for pointing that out!3.) How the storm and fire brought the Clans together!I'm not sure how I feel about Tigerstar as a leader. Or how he was brought up from the dead. Wow. Just wow. WHY DID ROWANCLAW HAVE TO DIE??? That battle was amazing, though!!!! I was surprised that there were still more rogues!Just to point this out: I FULLY TRUST YARROWLEAF NOW! She is a great mother! ((POO ON YOU NETTLE!))Ooooooooooooh! Jayfeather…. wow man. Your speech was deep! I am starting to love Jayfeather now!Leafstar: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU??? At first I loved her, and thought she was a sane cat, but now I'm not too sure! Fuzzball is so cute!

This one was really great, there was so much going on which helped keep the story moving. I loved fuzz ball, he was the perfect short term character, and I was sad to see him go. Also Briarlight should NOT have died, her character was so great and didn’t deserve that end.

Super good! I couldn't put it down!

I'm amazed, Jayfeather actually became kinda adorable in this one. I didn't want to punch him every time he was on the page!

** spoiler alert ** So much happened in this book and I really was not prepared for it! First off! The Erin Hunters are trying to kill me slowly…. Because I’ve not been a fan of them making characters I like, into characters I want to smack upside the head! Like why did you have to do Sparkpelt so dirty like that! I know she has always been hotheaded and quick to react and judge but, I feel like before this book she was somewhat able to see reason and be understanding… Like I was waiting for her and Twigbranch to have a heart to heart or something while Sparkpelt was mentoring her but no, she was just a miserable little turd the whole time and was so hard on poor Twigbranch. Obviously I am happy they kind of made up or at least respect each other but it was still really annoying. I am still not over the whole Rowanstar thing, like that was just…. I can’t even put it into words because he was such a respectable cat. That being said I am so glad that he was able to die a leaders death because he deserved that. And speaking of death…. My sweet, beautiful Briarlight…. Oh did I cry…. I was not ready for that and poor Jayfeather! Blaming himself…. She will be missed.I am so proud of Twigbranch! She finally found somewhere she belongs! I can’t wait to see her thrive even more in ThunderClan! And I’m also happy Violetshine is happy in SkyClan, though I have no idea what she sees in that tom Tree…. He’s something else.Sorry I know this review is all over the place but I just had so many thoughts and feelings over this book lol. But one more thing! I was getting so stressed with the whole Alderheart and Velvet story line…. Like please no more forbidden medicine cat romances, my heart can’t handle them because they never turn out well…. Like ever!

Not only for junior readers, but adults who love storiesabout cats will love these books. I've been reading thisseries from the very beginning and I've never beendisappointed. Full of adventure, thrills, love, humor, andsadness. It's an absolutely amazing series! I always findmyself lost in each new book and when it ends hopingthe next one will arrive soon. Erin Hunter is an amazingauthor!!!!

The Erin's have finally given us Jayfeather whump. Nothing serious thank goodness (I fear when they kill Jayfeather off now), but several amusing scenes that should make you laugh and smile.That's all you should need to read this book.

Very interesting, everything is starting to calm down. I think the fire was an allusion to Firestar bringing everyone together.

** spoiler alert ** Premise: SkyClan has returned to live alongside the other Clans once more, but that restoration might have come at too high a price. By merging with SkyClan, it seems ShadowClan has succumbed to collapse following the anarchy brought about by Darktail. RiverClan as well continues to stay in isolation. ThunderClan medicine cat Alderheart knows that three Clans cannot fulfill the will of StarClan. And with a cataclysmic storm approaching, he and his allies must quickly find a way to revive the two fallen Clans – or risk all five Clans being lost forever.Story/Writing: Pardon the following pun, considering the title, but things are really starting to heat up for the Clans! One thing I particularly love about this series (along with pretty much everything else about it) is that each of the titles in each arc are good stories on their own while also setting up important things for the ones following them, whether it be the immediate next one or another further down the line. I do confess I sometimes have to look up the general story of a book I just read on the wiki to sort of refresh my memory. In my defense though, I do have a generally decent memory, and it usually takes two to three days to read these books. Anyway, just like "Darkest Night" before it, "River of Fire" does a really good job at having us care equally about the general (or maybe not so general) issues the Clans are facing as well as the personal trials individual characters are going through. And once again, the authors prove they know how to plan far ahead. Just because Darktail and his rogues are gone doesn't mean everything's cool again. It does however give serious credit to Darktail as a villain in that his reign of terror led to the (temporary) downfall of two warrior Clans. Speaking of which, whether or not you agree with the characters' decisions that also contribute to the state of their Clans in this book, just about every decision is understandable. RiverClan was utterly ravaged by Darktail and he also won over so many ShadowClan cats to the point where it's become a shell of its former self, which of course leads to the merger of ShadowClan and SkyClan. That was even more depressing to read than RiverClan's insistence on remaining isolated. Even if ShadowClan doesn't have the best reputation, they're still one of the five Clans. And to read about them basically giving up and declaring ShadowClan is no more was just disheartening. But on the bright side, it does make you feel the serious weight of the consequences of things that happened in previous books. At the same time, there's this real sense of urgency to bring back the two fallen Clans to fulfill the will of StarClan – as well as frustration toward those in power keeping this from happening, whatever their intentions. And it's the way this sense of urgency and frustrated is conveyed that makes the ultimate return of RiverClan and ShadowClan so satisfying and cathartic in the end!Characters: The way the characters are written in this book is one big reason this book in particular works so well. Outside forces are only half the reason why RiverClan cuts itself off and ShadowClan falls briefly. There are also complex dilemmas going on inside, both among those in authority and the ones whom those in authority are meant to lead. It really is surprising how human the characters feel in this book in particular, given the main characters aren't even quote-unquote "human."Alderheart – At this point in the arc, over a year has passed since Alderheart went on his quest to find SkyClan as a young apprentice, only for him and Needletail to bring back two orphaned kits instead. The arc still has one book left, but it's obvious that ThunderClan's youngest medicine cat has grown so much since those early days. He reminds me a lot of Gray Wing from the "Dawn of the Clans" arc. His kindness and compassion stretches beyond the boundaries of his Clan and there's almost no length he won't go to in order to help the ill and injured – a good example being the scene when he goes to retrieve watermint for his bellyache-stricken Clanmates from right next to the border with the still-isolated RiverClan. Not to mention how he ends up being the one solely in charge of caring for the sick ThunderClan cats when Leafpool and Jayfeather fall ill along with them, leaving him to work tirelessly for all three of them. Yet he does it with dedication, passion, and skill. His connection with StarClan is arguably one of the strongest in the series from any medicine cat. Even if he doesn't always know what their prophecies mean, he understands the basic will of StarClan – namely that there must be five Clans around the lake. Probably my favorite thing about him though is his relationships with his loved ones, particularly with Twigpaw and Velvet. You can tell how much Twigpaw has meant to Alderheart ever since he and Needletail first found her and Violetshine in the tunnel. But what really makes this book for me is his paradoxically platonic romance with Velvet. Not only did it feel refreshing to see a male medicine cat struggle with having feelings for a kittypet of all she-cats. It makes you see how devoted he is to his Clan and how seriously he takes things like responsibility and love, in all its forms. He deserves every bit of Jayfeather's praise.Twigpaw – I was kinda surprised how much I got behind this character, given she probably takes a bit too many risks – such as going to the Moonpool all by herself and crossing Clan boundaries to discuss a way to bring back ShadowClan with her sister. And she does sometimes come across as naïve and idealistic. But regardless of her weaknesses and mistakes, you know she's very serious about the risks as well as aware of the potential consequences. And as Bramblestar states during her warrior ceremony, her idealism and the way she cares about all the Clans are also what will make her a particularly strong warrior. Not to mention her struggle with going back and forth between ThunderClan and SkyClan. Her kin are in SkyClan, but it was ThunderClan who raised her. The uniqueness of this challenge of loyalties is conveyed from the moment she returns to ThunderClan at the beginning. My heart went out to her in that chapter where she has that day that I think all of us have had at least once, where everything that can go wrong for her does. Yet I was also rooting for her when she risked her life to save that RiverClan apprentice from the fire and when she and Finpaw worked together to pass their assessments. And it's times like those as well as the hard work she invests in her training that have you celebrating with her by the time she is made a warrior at the end. I know she has a great future ahead of her and I can't wait to see what StarClan has in store for her!Violetshine – Like her sister, I know that Violetshine is also destined for great things as a warrior, if her portrayal in this book is any indication. If anything, she may even go down in Clan history as one of the great warriors from SkyClan's earliest days around the lake. Her dilemma about where she belongs may not be as serious as Twigpaw's and she may be slower to act. But it clearly matters to her and she ends up displaying great caution and wisdom for her age. She obviously is loyal to SkyClan, but she also cares about the restoration of ShadowClan despite her complicated relationship with them, even though she's not always aware of it. She's one of the first to acknowledge, if only to herself, that this compromise between SkyClan and ShadowClan clearly isn't working. When Sleekwhisker and Yarrowleaf come seeking refuge, she remembers all too clearly how they were both closely allied with Darktail, and how Sleekwhisker in particular helped when Darktail tried to drown Needletail. Yet she also wants to be open-minded and remind herself that there are ShadowClan warriors who regretted their decision to follow him sooner or later. In the end though, it goes to show that our heads are easier to trick than our guts. Fortunately, Violetshine has not just her sister to urge her to take action. Her budding relationship with Tree also inspires her, if unintentionally. Not that she relies too much on him though. She doesn't wait for him when she helps to fight back against Sleekwhisker, Nettle, and their kittypet allies. In the end, Violetshine was the warrior SkyClan needed at this point in their history, to remind them that they no longer live on their own now but have to learn to live with the other four Clans again.Leafstar and Rowanclaw – If this series has proven anything to me, it's that while the strength of a Clan's warriors as a whole do make their Clan what they are, it's the responsibility of a leader to see that they channel that strength in the right direction. And depending on what kind of a leader a Clan has, it could mean their greatness or downfall. These two outcomes are very well portrayed side by side between Leafstar and Rowanclaw respectively. Leafstar will undoubtedly go down in the history of the warrior Clans as one of the greatest leaders from any Clan ever. She's already accomplished a great deal in her life and career at this point. But even a leader's learning never ends. It shows great grace and wisdom on her part by allowing what's left of ShadowClan to live with SkyClan. But it's also that wisdom that's needed to make hard decisions. Even if you don't agree with her turning Sleekwhisker and Yarrowleaf away, you have to admit it is understandable and not a decision she makes lightly. These two cats were allies of the one who betrayed her Clan and viciously drove from their home in the gorge, resulting in them wandering aimlessly for over a year until they finally found their new home by the lake. Still, even she has to be reminded of the will of StarClan and that while it's very understandable that she wants to keep her Clan intact after everything they've suffered recently, it's not her choice whether ShadowClan remains fallen or rises again. Speaking of which, while I do have serious respect for Rowanclaw and how much he's grown as a character since the Clans first came to the lake, it was sad to read about his downfall as a leader. And while I agree that he's not solely responsible, his unwillingness to act on righting things that were wrong with his Clan obviously played a huge part in their collapse. He's a well-meaning but flawed former leader. Yet it's also clear that his recent experiences have given his wisdom, despite the fact that it is too late to act on that wisdom in many respects. He owns up to his culpability and the fact that he's no longer qualified to be a leader, both because his Clan is too small and because he's now very aware of his weaknesses. Yet he still cares about his Clan too much to turn them over to a rogue lifestyle and convinces Leafstar to allow his Clanmates to live with SkyClan. This shows a surprising amount of humility from a ShadowClan cat, to the point where it's legitimately moving when he sacrifices his life to save his mate and Yarrowleaf's kits.Tree – I love the occasional strange/weird character, so imagine my pleasant surprise when Tree ended up being probably one of the most unique characters in the series. Both in terms of his personality and in the role he plays. While he does appear to be simply lazy and indecisive early on, he does explore his options and it does become clear that he doesn't want to make the wrong decision. The roles of warrior and medicine cat are both too restrictive for his talents. Not only does he have an interesting and one-of-a-kind hunting strategy. He has a serious way of words. Not in a way that's manipulative but in a way that quickly and clearly explains both sides of an argument without inbuilt Clan prejudices and mindsets getting in the way. I thought it was great that he and Leafstar finally figured out a place for him as a Clan mediator whose responsibility is to settle all sorts of disputes in a way that a leader may not have the time or energy to do themselves. Plus, I really liked his budding relationship with Violetshine. They were about as cute as Twigpaw and Finpaw were together, knowing and building off of each other's strengths and weaknesses. And whether they stay friends or become mates, I'm cool with either!Various Other Characters – Given the little amount of knowledge I had of this book going in, it was refreshing to see twists and turns in characters I didn't see coming. For example, I was willing to give Sleekwhisker and Yarrowleaf a chance – particularly Yarrowleaf given she was a new mother. But the suspicions I shared with Violetshine proved right when Sleekwhisker tried to get revenge on Rowanclaw by killing Tawnypelt, mocked him for being unwilling to put his life on the line for his mate, and nearly allowed Nettle to nearly murder his own kits. Despite the annoyance from the other Clans and the admittedly poor timing of it all, I'm glad Mistystar recognized the wisdom of RiverClan's return after the fire. Better late than never! I'm also glad that Finpaw has worked just as hard as Twigpaw to become a warrior! Fuzzball was surprisingly endearing. Velvet in particular was a kind, sweet, and thoughtful cat. I felt the love between her and Alderheart and the sadness that there was no way they could be together. But that of course didn't stop her from giving him the thyme plant from her housefolk's garden! And speaking of all that, that was one of my favorite scenes in the book, when Jayfeather and Alderheart have that rather touching conversation the night before Velvet and Fuzzball leave. Both toms have felt the sting of desiring love that they couldn't have. And given how Jayfeather isn't the most affectionate cat, you know that when he does praise a cat, he thinks highly of them and he means what he says. Speaking of Jayfeather though, I can't believe Briarlight is now dead! She was such a bright and inspiring spot in ThunderClan. And to think, she initially didn't think she could contribute much to her Clan! That said, it's great to know that she'll once again be able to run and leap to her heart's content in StarClan. And last but not least, Dovewing and Tigerheart (Or should I say, Tigerstar II?!) are back! And not only did they brought the rest of ShadowClan back with them, they also brought their kits! I cannot wait to read the super edition "Tigerheart's Shadow" to see how that all went down. And even if Dovewing has now gone to live with ShadowClan, I'm glad she's sticking to her decision, even in the face of the lukewarm homecoming she received from ThunderClan.Overall: I had a complete and utter blast reading this book! It was such a treat in how it managed to build off of the previous book and build up for the next, while also being its own good story. I can't wait to see how it all goes down in the end and what that will mean for the Clans after!

** spoiler alert ** Mä oon ensinnäkin tosi surullinen, koska Varpuloiste kuoli... Mä en jotenkin kestä sitä ajatusta.. Mutta tää oli ainakin parempi kuin Synkin yö, tai no, alku oli vähän tylsä... Mutta heti kun myrsky alkoi, ja muutenkin tuli enemmän actionia, se oli parempaa luettavaa!ps. Jotenkin musta tuntuu, ettei soturikissoista huomaa miten hyviä ne on, ennen ku on lukenu kirjan? :D

Re-read: I agree with my earlier rating - this book is much more enjoyable than others in this series, although some characters are immensely irritating and are not handled well (Velvet, for example.)