Starlight (Warriors)

Starlight  

First edition cover
Author(s) Erin Hunter
Cover artist Wayne McLoughlin
Country United States
Language English
Series Warriors: The New Prophecy
Genre(s) Children's literature
Fantasy novel
Publisher HarperTrophy
Publication date April 4, 2006[1]
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages 352
ISBN 978-0060827625
OCLC Number 86112121
Preceded by Dawn
Followed by Twilight

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 April 4, 2006[1] and the paperback on March 27, 2007.[2]

Contents

Plot summary

The Clans have just discovered the lake as their new home. The four clans temporarily set up a camp by the lake shore and decide that the next day they will sort out territories and a Gathering place. During a meeting, Firestar calls up Squirrelpaw and gives her the warrior name Squirrelflight. The next day, the leaders call upon the four remaining cats that went on the journey, (Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight, Crowfeather, and Tawnypelt) as well as Mistyfoot of RiverClan to explore all around the lake and find camps for each clan.

The cats quickly come across a spot that seems ideal for RiverClan. Continuing on, they find a coniferous forest which seems to suit ShadowClan. Desperate to prove herself by finding ThunderClan a camp, Squirrelflight runs ahead and accidentally falls down a large circular stone hollow. She recovers and then realizes that it would be a perfect place for the ThunderClan camp. The cats later cross a moorland which Crowfeather thinks would suit WindClan. The five cats return and announce their findings to all of the other cats. The Clans decide to leave the next day.

After the Clans move into their new camps, Barkface, the WindClan medicine cat, goes to Firestar and tells him that Tallstar is dying. Firestar asks Brambleclaw to follow him, as well as Onewhisker, at Tallstar's request. Tallstar tells them that he does not wish for Mudclaw, the WindClan deputy, to lead WindClan, and wishes to switch Onewhisker as deputy. He dies soon after telling the cats. The next morning, Firestar and Onewhisker announce this to the other clans, much to Mudclaw's anger. Onewhisker appoints Ashfoot as his deputy, although he has not yet received his lives and name. The medicine cats worry if there is another Moonstone here for Onewhisker to do so.

During Gatherings and times when the clans are together, Brambleclaw has been spending more time with Hawkfrost which doesn't sit well with Squirrelflight. Brambleclaw has a dream which he sees Tigerstar and Hawkfrost. Tigerstar praises the two of them for their courage with this ordeal and tells him that he has great plans for them. There is also much tension erupting in WindClan which seems to be divided in two: Mudclaw's supporters and Onewhisker's supporters. ThunderClan fears something is coming from this.

One night, Spottedleaf comes to Leafpaw and tells her to follow her. Sorreltail accompanies Leafpaw, and the two of them go far up on ThunderClan's territory near the border with WindClan. Spottedleaf takes Leafpaw to her destination: a pool of water which reflects the stars and moonlight. Leafpaw sees all of the cats of StarClan and realizes this could be the new Moonstone. Bluestar tells her that this place, the Moonpool, is where medicine cats will come to share tongues with StarClan. She goes back to tell Cinderpelt, and the two of them tell all of the other medicine cats. Later, during the half moon, Leafpaw receives her full medicine cat name, Leafpool.

The next day, Mistyfoot rushes into ThunderClan and says that Mudclaw and Hawkfrost have been meeting at night. She then says that Hawkfrost and a patrol went out at dawn that day and hadn't returned, and she suspects they've gone to attack Onewhisker's followers in WindClan. Firestar assembles a patrol to accompany him to fight, and sure enough, a battle has started on WindClan territory. Leafpool is left behind with a couple other ThunderClan warriors in the camp. Two ShadowClan warriors invade and almost kill Leafpool when Crowfeather comes to her rescue. Crowfeather confesses he loves her, and she realizes she loves him too. During the battle, Brambleclaw fights Mudclaw. Although Mudclaw has the advantage over Brambleclaw, Hawkfrost saves Bramblelcaw. Mudclaw claims that he and Hawkfrost had an agreement: Mudclaw would take over and make Hawkfrost the deputy, despite him being RiverClan. Hawkfrost denies this when lightning suddenly strikes a tree crushing Mudclaw and makes a bridge to an island, making it the new Gathering place.

Critical reception

Starlight has been successful in gaining a good reception among critics. School Library Journal called the novel "a fine rendition".[2] A Children's Literature reviewer commented that the viewpionts of the characters were "cleverly written".[3] AudioFile praised the narrator for the audiobook version of Starlight.[2]

Formats

Starlight has been released as a paperback.[2] It also was the first of the Warriors series to be released as an audiobook.[4]

References