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Warriors: A Vision of Shadows #1
The Apprentice's Quest
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2016)For many moons, ThunderClan, ShadowClan, RiverClan, and WindClan have lived in peace in their territories around the lake. But now they must decipher a mysterious prophecy—a message that will send one young medicine cat apprentice on a quest to determine the fate of all the warrior Clans.
Full of epic adventure and thrilling intrigue, the beginning of this fifth Warriors series is the perfect introduction for readers new to the Warriors world, while for dedicated fans, it’s a long-awaited return to the era of Bramblestar’s ThunderClan, after the events of Omen of the Stars.
Full of epic adventure and thrilling intrigue, the beginning of this fifth Warriors series is the perfect introduction for readers new to the Warriors world, while for dedicated fans, it’s a long-awaited return to the era of Bramblestar’s ThunderClan, after the events of Omen of the Stars.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
1383 people are currently reading
6899 people want to read
About the author
Erin Hunter
281 books10.6k followersErin Hunter is the pseudonym of five people: Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry, Tui T. Sutherland, Gillian Philip, and Inbali Iserles, as well as editor Victoria Holmes. Together, they write the Warriors series as well as the Seekers and Survivors series. Erin Hunter is working on a new series now called Bravelands.
Erin Hunter is inspired by a love of cats and a fascination with the ferocity of the natural world. As well as having a great respect for nature in all its forms, Erin enjoys creating rich mythical explanations for animal behavior, shaped by her interest in astronomy and standing stones.
Erin Hunter is inspired by a love of cats and a fascination with the ferocity of the natural world. As well as having a great respect for nature in all its forms, Erin enjoys creating rich mythical explanations for animal behavior, shaped by her interest in astronomy and standing stones.
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March 26, 2017A NEW WARRIORS SERIES?!
September 23, 2015
NO, NO THIS IS NOT OK! I finally finish this amazing book series, content with the fact that the clan will live peacefully and I cant treasure it in my heart, BUT NO THEY HAD to make another series, where everyone I know is dead or old. IDK about new cats, I want all the old cats. I could have died a happy man if they just ENDED IT or at least have started on another group of cats. This is NOT OK.
June 10, 2017
First, here is my before-reading commentary/review.
After Reading
Well. I didn't have high expectations for this book, but I would say they were met.
The Good
~ Alderpaw. I loved his unsure, hesitant personality because it was a contrast from the often bold and brash main characters we usually get. Alderpaw was just unsure enough to be relatable, but not enough to feel annoying or stupid.
~ Bramblestar's leadership - I felt like he was finally a sure, strong leader.
~ Bob the cat.
The Bad
~ The cryptic-going-in-circles plot. I felt that by the end of the book not much had really been accomplished. We kept circling around the same ideas and I was getting annoyed by it.
~ The lack of old characters. Obviously, we meet some new characters in this book, but was it so bad of me to hope for a mention of how Ivypool was, or who the father of Heathertail's kits was? I also had really high hopes of meeting the rest of the familiar SkyClan cats.
~ How annoying every ShadowClan cat had to be. The ShadowClan apprentice gang, (as I have come to call them) really bugged me, (for their entire five pages of page time) though Needlepaw eventully redeemed herself. Rowanstar and Tigerheart made me want to punch something, mostly because I felt they were being even more bull-headed and arrogant then usual.
~
I will be interested to see how the series goes. The death of was probably the thing that gave me the most emotion during the book.
I didn't hate this first book, but it was hardly my favorite. I'm predicting that Alderpaw is going to end up being the ShadowClan meddie cat for at least a while, Littlecloud is extremely old and there was a healthy dose of forshadowing scattered throughout.
After Reading
Well. I didn't have high expectations for this book, but I would say they were met.
The Good
~ Alderpaw. I loved his unsure, hesitant personality because it was a contrast from the often bold and brash main characters we usually get. Alderpaw was just unsure enough to be relatable, but not enough to feel annoying or stupid.
~ Bramblestar's leadership - I felt like he was finally a sure, strong leader.
~ Bob the cat.
The Bad
~ The cryptic-going-in-circles plot. I felt that by the end of the book not much had really been accomplished. We kept circling around the same ideas and I was getting annoyed by it.
~ The lack of old characters. Obviously, we meet some new characters in this book, but was it so bad of me to hope for a mention of how Ivypool was, or who the father of Heathertail's kits was? I also had really high hopes of meeting the rest of the familiar SkyClan cats.
~ How annoying every ShadowClan cat had to be. The ShadowClan apprentice gang, (as I have come to call them) really bugged me, (for their entire five pages of page time) though Needlepaw eventully redeemed herself. Rowanstar and Tigerheart made me want to punch something, mostly because I felt they were being even more bull-headed and arrogant then usual.
~
I will be interested to see how the series goes. The death of was probably the thing that gave me the most emotion during the book.
I didn't hate this first book, but it was hardly my favorite. I'm predicting that Alderpaw is going to end up being the ShadowClan meddie cat for at least a while, Littlecloud is extremely old and there was a healthy dose of forshadowing scattered throughout.
February 22, 2020
I found Erin Hunter quite a while ago when she was part of a team in the programme 'Eggheads' I researched her books and discovered she has written very many of them for children. Some are stand alones but others form part of a series.
I'm a sucker for animal stories whether for children or adults. I began to read them now and then and loved them. They are obviously easy reading being aimed at 8 to 12 year olds but they are quality books too. I now have quite a collection of these books which are divided into series or stand alone books about one particular cat.
All of her wild cats are members of different clans. This one is the first of the series "A Vision of Shadows" and I will be reading the rest of them. This can be read as a stand alone but the story was attractive enough to encourage me to want to read the rest of this series.
The main character is Alderpaw - a young 'medicine cat' who is the narrator and has visions. He uses herbs amongst the clan to heal the sick and the author describes what each of the herbs are good for. Alderpaw and a few other cats set off on a quest which forms the bulk of the story. The author does not flinch from difficult topics such as death. I recommend these books to all who like cats and are happy to enjoy children's books too.
I'm a sucker for animal stories whether for children or adults. I began to read them now and then and loved them. They are obviously easy reading being aimed at 8 to 12 year olds but they are quality books too. I now have quite a collection of these books which are divided into series or stand alone books about one particular cat.
All of her wild cats are members of different clans. This one is the first of the series "A Vision of Shadows" and I will be reading the rest of them. This can be read as a stand alone but the story was attractive enough to encourage me to want to read the rest of this series.
The main character is Alderpaw - a young 'medicine cat' who is the narrator and has visions. He uses herbs amongst the clan to heal the sick and the author describes what each of the herbs are good for. Alderpaw and a few other cats set off on a quest which forms the bulk of the story. The author does not flinch from difficult topics such as death. I recommend these books to all who like cats and are happy to enjoy children's books too.
December 31, 2017
I LOVE the Warriors series, but... I think Erin Hunter needs to stop writing. They're getting predictable and they all basically have the same plot. Mysterious prophecy, chosen Thunderclan warriors/apprentice who needs to figure out the prophecy, etc.
Oh, and of course the chosen one is a blood relative of Firestar. Don't get me wrong, I love Firestar, but it's getting a little old.
I really liked the introduction of Skyclan. Will they bring Skyclan to the lake?! I had actually been hoping to have Skyclan in the main series (not just a stand-alone novel like Firestar's Quest) But again, I think after this series, Erin needs to stop while she's ahead or the books will not be good anymore.
Oh, and of course the chosen one is a blood relative of Firestar. Don't get me wrong, I love Firestar, but it's getting a little old.
I really liked the introduction of Skyclan. Will they bring Skyclan to the lake?! I had actually been hoping to have Skyclan in the main series (not just a stand-alone novel like Firestar's Quest) But again, I think after this series, Erin needs to stop while she's ahead or the books will not be good anymore.
August 21, 2024
A cat goes on a quest to fight evil.
To be honest, there were so many cats with similar names, I lost track of who was who, even with the roster.
To be honest, there were so many cats with similar names, I lost track of who was who, even with the roster.
October 8, 2015
If you want to figure out everybody's names on your own, don't read this review!
Dewpaw: Dewnose, Amberpaw: Ambermoon, Snowpaw: Snowbush, Fernpaw: Fernsong, Hollypaw: Hollytuft, Sorrelpaw: Sorrelstripe. Just so you know, Lilyheart and Snowbush have kits: Larkkit (tom) and Honeykit and Leafkit (she-kits)! Heathertail and Breezepelt's kits are named Brindlekit and Smokekit.
Dewpaw: Dewnose, Amberpaw: Ambermoon, Snowpaw: Snowbush, Fernpaw: Fernsong, Hollypaw: Hollytuft, Sorrelpaw: Sorrelstripe. Just so you know, Lilyheart and Snowbush have kits: Larkkit (tom) and Honeykit and Leafkit (she-kits)! Heathertail and Breezepelt's kits are named Brindlekit and Smokekit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2024
De jonge leerling Elspoot van de Donderclan is geen goede jager. Hoe hij het ook probeert, steeds ontsnappen de prooien hem. Maar dan krijgt hij een visioen. Hij vertelt het aan de medicijnkat, en na overleg met leider Braamster, wordt beslist dat Elspoot leerling medicijnkat wordt. Maar visioenen krijgen is niet genoeg om medicijnkat te zijn, en Elspoot moet nog veel leren over het behandelen van zieke en gewonde katten. Dit blijkt echter geen probleem te zijn.
Dan krijgt hij weer een visioen. Er wordt uit opgemaakt dat Elspoot, zelfs al is hij nog maar een leerling, op zoek moet naar de Hemelclan, want die zit blijkbaar in moeilijkheden. De expeditie moet 'omarmen wat ze in de schaduwen vinden zodat de hemel opklaart'.
Zandstorm, de vroegere partner van Vuurster, en nu een oudste, gaat ook mee op de tocht. Want zij is de enige die de weg naar het gebied van de Hemelclan kent.
Een groot deel van de rest van het boek gaat over deze tocht vol gevaren. En aangekomen in de kloof, wacht een teleurstelling: de Hemelclan is uiteengevallen, en verdreven door agressieve zwerfkatten zonder enige vorm van krijgscode.
Ontmoedigd vatten de Donderclankatten de terugweg aan, eigenlijk ontsnappen ze aan de kwaadaardige zwerfkatten.
Tijdens de reis terug worden Elspoot en Naaldpoot, een kat van de Schaduwclan die hen gevolgd was en dus de reis meegemaakt heeft, gescheiden van de andere katten, omdat ze door een stroom meegesleurd worden over een waterval. Ze overleven het echter; meer nog, als ze al dicht bij hun territorium zijn, vinden ze (in een rioolbuis?) twee kittens, die totaal uitgehongerd zijn. De moeder is waarschijnlijk gegrepen door een auto op de nabijgelegen autobaan.
Ze nemen de kittens mee, want misschien zijn zij 'wat in de schaduwen te vinden was'?
Omdat er twee clans betrokken zijn bij de redding van de katjes, wordt er op de Grote Vergadering beslist dat de Donderclan en de Schaduwclan allebei een kitten mogen adopteren.
Dit vraagt natuurlijk om een vervolg, want het is een zware beslissing om de twee katjes van elkaar te scheiden...
Het is leuk om verdere avonturen van de clankatten te lezen, maar ik had het soms toch wat moeilijk met dit boek. Ik vond het bij momenten saai, maar dan kwam de spanning er toch weer in, en naar het einde toe wilde ik zeker weten hoe het zou aflopen. Maar ik vond het einde onbevredigend, en met zoveel open vragen: Gebeurt er nu nog iets met de echte Hemelclan? En wat staat de clans nog te wachten met de kittens? Hoe zal de relatie tussen Elspoot en Naaldpoot evolueren? Want eigenlijk weten we niet veel van Naaldpoot, hoewel ze toch een belangrijke rol speelde in dit verhaal.
Waarschijnlijk zal ik wel wijzer worden bij de volgende delen van deze serie...
Dan krijgt hij weer een visioen. Er wordt uit opgemaakt dat Elspoot, zelfs al is hij nog maar een leerling, op zoek moet naar de Hemelclan, want die zit blijkbaar in moeilijkheden. De expeditie moet 'omarmen wat ze in de schaduwen vinden zodat de hemel opklaart'.
Zandstorm, de vroegere partner van Vuurster, en nu een oudste, gaat ook mee op de tocht. Want zij is de enige die de weg naar het gebied van de Hemelclan kent.
Een groot deel van de rest van het boek gaat over deze tocht vol gevaren. En aangekomen in de kloof, wacht een teleurstelling: de Hemelclan is uiteengevallen, en verdreven door agressieve zwerfkatten zonder enige vorm van krijgscode.
Ontmoedigd vatten de Donderclankatten de terugweg aan, eigenlijk ontsnappen ze aan de kwaadaardige zwerfkatten.
Tijdens de reis terug worden Elspoot en Naaldpoot, een kat van de Schaduwclan die hen gevolgd was en dus de reis meegemaakt heeft, gescheiden van de andere katten, omdat ze door een stroom meegesleurd worden over een waterval. Ze overleven het echter; meer nog, als ze al dicht bij hun territorium zijn, vinden ze (in een rioolbuis?) twee kittens, die totaal uitgehongerd zijn. De moeder is waarschijnlijk gegrepen door een auto op de nabijgelegen autobaan.
Ze nemen de kittens mee, want misschien zijn zij 'wat in de schaduwen te vinden was'?
Omdat er twee clans betrokken zijn bij de redding van de katjes, wordt er op de Grote Vergadering beslist dat de Donderclan en de Schaduwclan allebei een kitten mogen adopteren.
Dit vraagt natuurlijk om een vervolg, want het is een zware beslissing om de twee katjes van elkaar te scheiden...
Het is leuk om verdere avonturen van de clankatten te lezen, maar ik had het soms toch wat moeilijk met dit boek. Ik vond het bij momenten saai, maar dan kwam de spanning er toch weer in, en naar het einde toe wilde ik zeker weten hoe het zou aflopen. Maar ik vond het einde onbevredigend, en met zoveel open vragen: Gebeurt er nu nog iets met de echte Hemelclan? En wat staat de clans nog te wachten met de kittens? Hoe zal de relatie tussen Elspoot en Naaldpoot evolueren? Want eigenlijk weten we niet veel van Naaldpoot, hoewel ze toch een belangrijke rol speelde in dit verhaal.
Waarschijnlijk zal ik wel wijzer worden bij de volgende delen van deze serie...
May 10, 2021
5 stars
Very good book. Nice start to a new series in the Warriors Universe. RIP Sandstorm. Hope she and Firestar are happy together again. Liked the introduction of Bramblestar and Squirrelflights's kits, Alderpaw and Sparkpaw. Wonder if Twigkit and Violetkit will be okay. Hope the clans will be able to save SkyClan.
Can't wait to read Thunder and Shadow!!!
Very good book. Nice start to a new series in the Warriors Universe. RIP Sandstorm. Hope she and Firestar are happy together again. Liked the introduction of Bramblestar and Squirrelflights's kits, Alderpaw and Sparkpaw. Wonder if Twigkit and Violetkit will be okay. Hope the clans will be able to save SkyClan.
Can't wait to read Thunder and Shadow!!!
April 21, 2016
Well then. This book did not go well.
I went into this book full of apprehension.
I felt like the Last Hope was a great way to end the main series with Bramblestar's Storm rounding it out and giving us a little glimpse on future clan life.
Sure, despite not enjoying the DoTC arc, it was something different and unique.
This?
This I felt was completely unneeded.
I feel like the meeting went like this:(And I think Vicky is not involved with the story now so...)
Editor: So we need a new Warriors series...OH! Remember that clan that was part of two special editions and played a part in the Dawn arc?
One of the Erins: Uh, you mean SkyClan?
Editor: Yeah them! Let's do something with them in it!
One of the Erins: So like the clan cats visit them or something?
Editor: Yeah...BUT let's get rid of SkyClan and make it a kind of pointless journey! Oh and have a cat from ShadowClan go along because we can't say ThunderClan is our favorite clan.
One of the Erins: But...that makes no sense...
Editor: Just do it!
And that's how I feel like how this book came to be.
One of the biggest issues in my opinion is the reuse of so many of the previous plot threads. A. Firestar's kin is important. B. ThunderClan gets all of the credit(this is even touched upon by some of the other cats. C. Other clans argue about ThunderClan's specialness. D. There is a quest to save someone/something. E. HINTS AT ANOTHER FORBIDDEN ROMANCE.
Yes, the last one is in all caps because it is seriously an overused plot thing. Sure this time it is different as we have a male medicine cat as one of the two but still. No. Enough of this crap.
Character-wise...Sparkpaw was okay? She's Squirrelflight pretty much. Alderpaw I liked as a character by himself. He's that awkward anxious kid and I liked him by himself. The story he was in though just was bleh.
The one character I had a huge problem with? Needlepaw.
Oh Needlepaw.
How I wanted to stab you with a needle.
Her appearance on the journey to save SkyClan felt so random. Just a quick point, she apparently saw them on WindClan territory(which is on the opposite side of the lake compared to ShadowClan). She's also rude as the Dark Forest even to her own clan(which really made me go eh?). Cause ShadowClan is pretty much Slythern and loyal to each other to a fault.
During the whole journey, she never grew on me. Alderpaw liking her just made me get annoyed even more. I would rather have some more Sparkpaw as compared to her.
Ending discussions/death spoilers in the tag:
So yeah, overall...not off to a great start.
What I really wished is that we got another clan POV. Stop focusing on ThunderClan. If it was about another clan with ThunderClan in the background it might have been interesting. With the current way? It feels ridlcious and repetition of previous events.
However at least we have no magic powers....yet.
Read
September 9, 2018Cat hell is when you swear you’re not gonna keep reading a cat series you’ve read since you were like 7 years old but here you are in your 20s catching up on the latest completed series while spending $15.99 on the “complete guidebook with never before seen backstories of your favourite cats”............
None of the books can beat the first 6 though. Or the old forest cats. This series needed to end in like 2008 honestly but this crack is next level and I’m weak
None of the books can beat the first 6 though. Or the old forest cats. This series needed to end in like 2008 honestly but this crack is next level and I’m weak
April 19, 2020
Well, I'm disappointed that I started accidently started the Vision of Shadows series on the second book, because I missed out on an amazing book. A great way to start off an amazing series.
March 15, 2022
I enjoyed reading it. Definitely one of the better Warriors books from this era. Probably better than all of Dawn of the Clans tbqhwyimho.
July 9, 2016
This is my least favorite Warriors book, and considering that the Erin’s have written over 100, that’s quite a feat.
I’m in no way trying to hate on the series, and I know a lot of people who follow my reviews love this series. I’m a fan myself, in fact I wouldn’t even be a reader without these books, but I, as a reviewer, am giving my honest opinion.
Let’s get onto it; for 90% of this book I was falling asleep.
When you write nearly 100 books set in the same world there comes a point when the plots are no longer original and begin to feel repetitive.
When is it going to be time to stop? For the last five years I’ve been hearing, “this is the last Warriors book”, or this is going to be last arc. At this point I think it borderlines on taking advantage of the readers by writing a very large number of books per year that are only subpar quality merely to get the money. 17.99 per book is a lot of money, and it’s not fair to expect the readers to pay that 5-8 times per year for a book of this quality.
At this point don’t we already know everything about the clans? We’ve seen the storyline found in The Apprentice’s Quest too many times to count… Basically it’s apprehensive apprentice becomes medicine cat, with a side of quest… Certainly didn’t feel like anything new to me.
The new characters are flat and uninteresting. Needlepaw is the only character with a personality at all. Despite this being a 300 page book I still care nothing about the main character, Alderpaw. He doesn’t have any personality besides being insecure . They didn’t even bother with their mentors, who literally say like 10 lines in the whole book despite coming on the quest with them.
Plot wise, this entire book is mere set up for the actual plot. It’s part of the money grab: not enough material for another 6 books? That’s totally fine, just do a short one of pure set up to push as much money out as possible.
I will admit that in the last fifty pages the plot picked up significantly, though it was not enough to make up for the rest. There were actually a couple deaths, which I was not expecting at all.
Overall, while I will always be grateful to the Warriors series for sparking my love of reading, these books are getting tedious, even for me. I recommend stopping after The Last Hope.
I’m in no way trying to hate on the series, and I know a lot of people who follow my reviews love this series. I’m a fan myself, in fact I wouldn’t even be a reader without these books, but I, as a reviewer, am giving my honest opinion.
Let’s get onto it; for 90% of this book I was falling asleep.
When you write nearly 100 books set in the same world there comes a point when the plots are no longer original and begin to feel repetitive.
When is it going to be time to stop? For the last five years I’ve been hearing, “this is the last Warriors book”, or this is going to be last arc. At this point I think it borderlines on taking advantage of the readers by writing a very large number of books per year that are only subpar quality merely to get the money. 17.99 per book is a lot of money, and it’s not fair to expect the readers to pay that 5-8 times per year for a book of this quality.
At this point don’t we already know everything about the clans? We’ve seen the storyline found in The Apprentice’s Quest too many times to count… Basically it’s apprehensive apprentice becomes medicine cat, with a side of quest… Certainly didn’t feel like anything new to me.
The new characters are flat and uninteresting. Needlepaw is the only character with a personality at all. Despite this being a 300 page book I still care nothing about the main character, Alderpaw. He doesn’t have any personality besides being insecure . They didn’t even bother with their mentors, who literally say like 10 lines in the whole book despite coming on the quest with them.
Plot wise, this entire book is mere set up for the actual plot. It’s part of the money grab: not enough material for another 6 books? That’s totally fine, just do a short one of pure set up to push as much money out as possible.
I will admit that in the last fifty pages the plot picked up significantly, though it was not enough to make up for the rest. There were actually a couple deaths, which I was not expecting at all.
Overall, while I will always be grateful to the Warriors series for sparking my love of reading, these books are getting tedious, even for me. I recommend stopping after The Last Hope.
July 30, 2017
So. There's a standalone Warriors installment where Firestar goes in search of a missing fifth Clan, Skyclan, and he saves them and teaches them to be a Clan because they are just a mess; Skyclan's early days of coexistence with the other Clans is chronicled in the Dawn of the Clans arc, where the other Clans shape them into a proper Clan, because they are just a mess. Now it seems we have another arc doing the very same thing.
And what kind of ending was that? It was basically a scenario where those two mothers took King Solomon up on the proposition of splitting the baby in half. What are you doing, Erin Hunter? What are you DOING?!
I more or less gave up on the Gathering Darkness arc of Survivors because stupidity of so many characters was getting on every last nerve, and though this arc isn't there yet, I'm really hoping this does better. I have long had a soft spot for the Warriors saga all through the plot holes and errors, and seeing this series being so bad that even my generous rating system is giving it an average score just makes me sad. I really, really mean it when I say I hope this gets better.
And what kind of ending was that? It was basically a scenario where those two mothers took King Solomon up on the proposition of splitting the baby in half. What are you doing, Erin Hunter? What are you DOING?!
I more or less gave up on the Gathering Darkness arc of Survivors because stupidity of so many characters was getting on every last nerve, and though this arc isn't there yet, I'm really hoping this does better. I have long had a soft spot for the Warriors saga all through the plot holes and errors, and seeing this series being so bad that even my generous rating system is giving it an average score just makes me sad. I really, really mean it when I say I hope this gets better.
January 8, 2022
I LOVED this book. It is a begging to a terrific series. The only one thing I was sad about was that my favorite cat died. But otherwise a great book.
July 26, 2025
After a lengthy interlude to read special editions, novellas, and manga, I’m back to the regular series, featuring TWO cats on the every cover, two for the price of one, let’s GOOOOOO.
New prophecy + new journey is just a good, solid way to start a series, looking forward to this.
New prophecy + new journey is just a good, solid way to start a series, looking forward to this.
June 15, 2018
Good (better than expected)
I rated this book 4.5 stars after me finding out these books, against popular belief in my class, are good
I rated this book 4.5 stars after me finding out these books, against popular belief in my class, are good
April 12, 2016
Basically nothing happens. Or, to be more accurate, same thing that happened at the beginning of The new Prophecy.
It's boring to read the same thing ALL OVER again. Alderpaw is basically Brambleclaw and Needlepaw is a second Squirrelflight. To make it worse, Molewhisker, Cherryfall and Sparkpaw are boring as hell, not nearly as interesting as Crowpaw, Feathertail, Tawnypelt and Stormfur.
So yeah, save your time for now. I'll read the next one because I want to know what happens with... well you know what if you read the book. But if the next one is also repeated stuff I'll just drop this arc.
It's boring to read the same thing ALL OVER again. Alderpaw is basically Brambleclaw and Needlepaw is a second Squirrelflight. To make it worse, Molewhisker, Cherryfall and Sparkpaw are boring as hell, not nearly as interesting as Crowpaw, Feathertail, Tawnypelt and Stormfur.
So yeah, save your time for now. I'll read the next one because I want to know what happens with... well you know what if you read the book. But if the next one is also repeated stuff I'll just drop this arc.
December 12, 2019
Premise: Ever since the Great Storm, the four Clans by the lake have lived in harmony. In the midst of this period of peace, Alderpaw – the son of ThunderClan leader Bramblestar and his deputy Squirrelflight – begins his apprenticeship. The young tom is nervous and unsure of himself. But one night, he receives a vision from StarClan that could change not only his future, but that of all the Clans as well. Before he knows it, Alderpaw finds himself going on a quest to find what he saw in his vision. Little does he know, however, of the darkness he'll also find.
Story/Writing: It's always fun starting a new arc, even as it is bittersweet to end another. I must admit though, after the world-changing end of the "Omen of the Stars" arc, I couldn't help but wonder how the Erin Hunter team was going to top something like that. Then I realized that I was probably being unfair. I need to accept this arc for what it is (or will be). I was also curious because, unlike the previous arcs in this series I've read, I didn't know much at all about this arc other than that it's about SkyClan taking their rightful place among the warrior Clans again. Not to mention, this is the first arc in the series where Firestar is not leader of ThunderClan. But maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm here to review this one book, not the whole arc it's part of. And I gotta say…this is probably the most solid first entry in an arc in this series I've read in a long time. Not that the other first entries in other arcs aren't great, but this one to me really stood out. Maybe that's because I didn't know too much about it going in. But now that I know what I know, I cannot WAIT to read the rest! First off, as I said before, this is the first arc in the series (chronologically) where ThunderClan is not led by Firestar. But that's not necessarily a bad thing! Firestar couldn't have had a better successor in Bramblestar. And I definitely got a sense of how much time had passed since the Great Battle when Firestar sacrificed his last life (almost two years). Things feel different – but not the bad kind of different. It felt like I was reading the beginning of a new era in ThunderClan's history, one in which Bramblestar is the leader. As for the story itself, I thought it was just fantastic! The journey of going to SkyClan's territory in the gorge doesn't feel like a retread of "Firestar's Quest" – not in the least because Darktail and his rogues have stolen the gorge by the time the questing cats get there. It really did feel like it's own thing. Another thing I thought was even better was that I genuinely found myself wondering what the prophecy could mean. I mean, I knew it was about SkyClan's return, but beyond that I didn't know much else. And then something happens toward the end that I did not see coming! Not that it's revealed in this particular book. But I connected things in this book to what I'd read in previous titles, and I got SO excited! I cannot wait to see how it all adds up in future titles!
Characters: I thought this book had a wonderful mixture of old characters and new characters! It really felt like a mingling of generations of much more well-known characters kinda passing the torch, so to speak. That said, the new characters really have won me over and I can't wait to read about how they'll grow and change in the future!
Alderpaw – Given how much of the series I've read now, one of my favorite things about it is that the main characters in each arc feel distinct and interesting in their own way. And I can happily say that Alderpaw has really endeared himself to me! Not to mention it's also kinda refreshing knowing that he and his sister truly are the children of Bramblestar and Squirrelflight – whereas Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and Jayfeather turned out to be the children of Crowfeather and Leafpool. Anyway, given what he experiences and learns and such in this book alone, I know Alderpaw has great potential and has a very bright future ahead of him! Despite his legendary lineage – being the grandson of both Tigerstar and Firestar – from the beginning, and even a little by the end, he's clearly a shy and introverted character who lacks confidence in himself. And yet never does that lack of confidence feel forced or is used as an excuse to keep him from growing. He has plenty of admirable traits, even if he doesn't always think so. He's brave, kind, heartfelt, and sincere. He wants to make his parents and his Clan proud. He's a very soulful protagonist that I don't remember having read about in this series prior to this. For at least half the book, he struggles to find his place in ThunderClan. Even when he becomes a medicine cat apprentice he doesn't immediately prove he's a natural, which I really liked. That said, he's not a pushover. He can more than stand up for himself and gets better at it as time goes on. Yet he's also humble. He knows when he's made a mistake, and even if he tends to mull over it and worry about it a bit too much, he's at least honest about it. My heart broke for him when he felt he was responsible for Sandstorm's death, and later thought he'd failed in his quest to help SkyClan. But even more so, I was rooting for him to finish what he started all the way through…and that may not even be done yet! Bottom line, I really got into Alderpaw's character and I can't wait to see where he goes (in all ways)!
Sparkpaw – I liked Sparkpaw almost as much as I liked her brother! Her name definitely fits her sparkly personality – not to mention she's the granddaughter of Firestar, and therefore a spark from his fire – and she's definitely her mother's daughter as well. That said, she's not just a carbon copy of her mother or her brother's shadow. It's obvious she was born to be a warrior, given how she makes two catches on her first day as an apprentice. I also liked that, while she is seriously talented and skilled in hunting and fighting, she doesn't lord it over her brother. If anything, she's very sweet and sympathetic toward him (they are the other's only surviving sibling, after all), even if she is sometimes oblivious of his feelings. And wherever Alderpaw goes, she goes – especially if it means adventure and even danger! Not to mention she makes for a pretty sweet bodyguard for him. That said, she can be bossy and a bit of a know-it-all, as well as a bit too fiery and daredevil-natured for her own good. But she's also a new apprentice, and clearly has a bright future ahead of her as a ThunderClan warrior (provided she doesn't get any life-changing injuries, that is). I guess the best way to put it is that she's bizarrely both mature and immature at the same time, and in the most delightful way! I hope she gets to continue accompanying her brother on more adventures, yet I hope even more that she continues to grow as a great character in her own right!
Needlepaw – Talk about first impressions! I confess, when Needlepaw was first introduced, I didn't really know what to think of her. Like Sparkpaw, her name definitely fits her, given her sharp wit and tongue. Which surprised me because at first I thought she was kinda an airhead. At first, she came off as rude and seemed to disrespect everyone, even her own Clan leader and Clanmates. Plus there's her tendency to find her way around rules if not openly flaunt them. And yet, despite these otherwise off-putting traits, I found her surprisingly likable! Not only that, she ends up playing a crucial part in the success (yes, success) of Alderpaw's quest in more ways than one. She saves him and the others from one of the foxes; she convinces Alderpaw that telling his companions of SkyClan's existence and the reason for this quest is the right thing to do; she buys them some time to escape from Darktail and his rogues by calmly feigning innocence; when she and Alderpaw get separated from their companions, she puts them on the right track by asking a kittypet for directions; and perhaps most importantly, her insistence in exploring the tunnel beneath the Thunderpath leads to the discovery of Twigkit and Violetkit. As brave as Alderpaw can be, were it not for Needlepaw's bold and blunt nature, things could've turned out much differently (arguably worse) for him and his quest. In addition to that though, I also thought their friendship was rather touching, even if it did seem to lead toward romance. On the one hand, I like that it's a male medicine cat who might be falling a female warrior this time. But on the other hand, we've already had a relationship like this with Crowfeather and Leafpool. And we all know how "well" that turned out. That said, I ultimately thought Needlepaw was cool and I'm curious to see what kind of warrior she'll be.
Sandstorm – She may die about halfway through the book, but I seriously want to give credit where credit's due. Sandstorm's role in this book could not have been more perfect, nor could have there been a more fitting way for her to go, sad though it was. That said, it was really sad but also beautiful. Reading about her character grow from a stuck-up apprentice to a formidable warrior has been such a joy. Of course, she keeps her signature stubbornness to the end, but it's that stubbornness that made her so devoted. Even if she should've let Alderpaw treat the infection like he should have, she knew the perils this quest would present for an elder like her. But as she said, she wanted to die doing something important for her Clan, if not all the Clans. Not to mention she provides her grandson with invaluable help and advice. It's also a wonderful come-around from "Firestar's Quest." Now that Firestar was gone, she was the only cat with any memory of the modern SkyClan. So even if she was a bit old to make the journey there again, it made sense. I loved the relationship between her and Alderpaw. Like I said, it very much felt like a grandmother and her grandson. And even though she did die, it's great knowing that one of my favorite couples in the series is finally reunited together again! May you find eternal happiness in StarClan, Sandstorm! You deserve it!
Darktail – Man, even before Alderpaw and his party arrived at the gorge, I was nervous, 'cause I knew they were gonna find Darktail and his rogues there instead, and that Darktail might put on a heck of an act. I'm just happy that Alderpaw discovered the ruse before it was too late! Once again, Darktail proves himself to be a formidable new adversary, just as he was in "Hawkwing's Journey." He's ruthless, brilliant, and will not hesitate to violently kill someone unless he has a very good reason (to him, at least). He clearly subscribes to a "survival of the fittest" mentality, going so far as to blame SkyClan themselves for being driven from their home in the gorge. He doesn't hesitate to slap someone when it's obvious they're getting sick, nor does he have no second thoughts about slitting the throat of a ragged and feeble warrior. While neither were surprising, given I already read about his heinous nature in "Hawkwing's Journey," but those scenes were still pretty tough to get through. Once again, I do wish we got a little bit more of his backstory and his motives. But even if I do never get more than I've gotten so far, I will not deny that Darktail is a vicious foe who's obviously going to make a lot of trouble for the Clans!
Various Other Characters – While not featured too much in the book, I loved how Squirrelflight and especially Bramblestar once again proved themselves to be great parents, especially considering that they're actually raising their own children this time! I loved the scenes between Bramblestar and his son. Not only is he a wise and fair leader; he's also a loving and caring father, encouraging his children to reach their potential but not scorning them when they make mistakes. Speaking of which, I thought Cherryfall and Molewhisker were good mentors for Sparkpaw and Alderpaw respectively, even if Molewhisker doesn't mentor Alderpaw for long. Cherryfall is obviously proud of her apprentice, but just like Sparkpaw, she doesn't lord her good fortune over her brother Molewhisker. Speaking of whom, I liked how Molewhisker seemed mature for his age – a sort of strong and wise warrior who only speaks when he needs to, outside of the occasional moment when he gets frustrated. Moving on from that, it's clear that Jayfeather's age is starting to catch up to him, as he does kinda feel more cranky than before. And while I will admit, it is odd to have Leafpool back as a medicine cat, it's also good to see her doing what she's meant to do once again. I got so nervous yet excited when Alderpaw came across Mistfeather. He may not have featured much in "Hawkwing's Journey" or in this book, but I felt so sorry for Mistfeather and knew he was probably unintentionally left behind when SkyClan left the gorge. Not to mention he fought bravely despite his seriously lacking state. And even if he did die a warrior's death, it was still awful to read about him being utterly murdered in such a horrific way. Speaking of characters from "Hawkwing's Journey," when Alderpaw and Needlepaw first came across Violetkit and Twigkit, I wondered along with them if the kits had anything to do with the prophecy. And once I thought of that, I remembered that Hawkwing and Pebbleshine were separated, and that Pebbleshine was pregnant with Hawkwing's kits at that time. My mind then reasoned that Violetkit and Twigkit must be the children of Hawkwing and Pebbleshine. I go SO excited and thought that if it was true, then it was brilliant! That said, if it is true, then where was Pebbleshine? She wouldn't just abandon her kits like that. But she also can't be dead. I'm hoping her novella or another book down the line explains that, partly 'cause I want it to be true so bad! That said, that was probably the saddest scene in the book, when Violetkit and Twigkit get separated! I knew it was coming, but when they start crying for each other, I was close to crying myself. Still, I look forward to what their characters turn out to be. If nothing else, I hope they turn out to be well-adjusted!
Overall: This was a wonderful start to the "Vision of Shadows" arc and the era of Bramblestar's ThunderClan! I really got into the new characters and their stories, and I cannot wait to see the return of SkyClan after such a long time of having them separated from the other Clans! That said, I can only imagine how the other Clans will react when they learn of SkyClan's existence. If there's anything I know of this series, it's that huge secrets can have huge consequences/ramifications when revealed. Still, I cannot WAIT to see how it all turns out!
Story/Writing: It's always fun starting a new arc, even as it is bittersweet to end another. I must admit though, after the world-changing end of the "Omen of the Stars" arc, I couldn't help but wonder how the Erin Hunter team was going to top something like that. Then I realized that I was probably being unfair. I need to accept this arc for what it is (or will be). I was also curious because, unlike the previous arcs in this series I've read, I didn't know much at all about this arc other than that it's about SkyClan taking their rightful place among the warrior Clans again. Not to mention, this is the first arc in the series where Firestar is not leader of ThunderClan. But maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm here to review this one book, not the whole arc it's part of. And I gotta say…this is probably the most solid first entry in an arc in this series I've read in a long time. Not that the other first entries in other arcs aren't great, but this one to me really stood out. Maybe that's because I didn't know too much about it going in. But now that I know what I know, I cannot WAIT to read the rest! First off, as I said before, this is the first arc in the series (chronologically) where ThunderClan is not led by Firestar. But that's not necessarily a bad thing! Firestar couldn't have had a better successor in Bramblestar. And I definitely got a sense of how much time had passed since the Great Battle when Firestar sacrificed his last life (almost two years). Things feel different – but not the bad kind of different. It felt like I was reading the beginning of a new era in ThunderClan's history, one in which Bramblestar is the leader. As for the story itself, I thought it was just fantastic! The journey of going to SkyClan's territory in the gorge doesn't feel like a retread of "Firestar's Quest" – not in the least because Darktail and his rogues have stolen the gorge by the time the questing cats get there. It really did feel like it's own thing. Another thing I thought was even better was that I genuinely found myself wondering what the prophecy could mean. I mean, I knew it was about SkyClan's return, but beyond that I didn't know much else. And then something happens toward the end that I did not see coming! Not that it's revealed in this particular book. But I connected things in this book to what I'd read in previous titles, and I got SO excited! I cannot wait to see how it all adds up in future titles!
Characters: I thought this book had a wonderful mixture of old characters and new characters! It really felt like a mingling of generations of much more well-known characters kinda passing the torch, so to speak. That said, the new characters really have won me over and I can't wait to read about how they'll grow and change in the future!
Alderpaw – Given how much of the series I've read now, one of my favorite things about it is that the main characters in each arc feel distinct and interesting in their own way. And I can happily say that Alderpaw has really endeared himself to me! Not to mention it's also kinda refreshing knowing that he and his sister truly are the children of Bramblestar and Squirrelflight – whereas Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and Jayfeather turned out to be the children of Crowfeather and Leafpool. Anyway, given what he experiences and learns and such in this book alone, I know Alderpaw has great potential and has a very bright future ahead of him! Despite his legendary lineage – being the grandson of both Tigerstar and Firestar – from the beginning, and even a little by the end, he's clearly a shy and introverted character who lacks confidence in himself. And yet never does that lack of confidence feel forced or is used as an excuse to keep him from growing. He has plenty of admirable traits, even if he doesn't always think so. He's brave, kind, heartfelt, and sincere. He wants to make his parents and his Clan proud. He's a very soulful protagonist that I don't remember having read about in this series prior to this. For at least half the book, he struggles to find his place in ThunderClan. Even when he becomes a medicine cat apprentice he doesn't immediately prove he's a natural, which I really liked. That said, he's not a pushover. He can more than stand up for himself and gets better at it as time goes on. Yet he's also humble. He knows when he's made a mistake, and even if he tends to mull over it and worry about it a bit too much, he's at least honest about it. My heart broke for him when he felt he was responsible for Sandstorm's death, and later thought he'd failed in his quest to help SkyClan. But even more so, I was rooting for him to finish what he started all the way through…and that may not even be done yet! Bottom line, I really got into Alderpaw's character and I can't wait to see where he goes (in all ways)!
Sparkpaw – I liked Sparkpaw almost as much as I liked her brother! Her name definitely fits her sparkly personality – not to mention she's the granddaughter of Firestar, and therefore a spark from his fire – and she's definitely her mother's daughter as well. That said, she's not just a carbon copy of her mother or her brother's shadow. It's obvious she was born to be a warrior, given how she makes two catches on her first day as an apprentice. I also liked that, while she is seriously talented and skilled in hunting and fighting, she doesn't lord it over her brother. If anything, she's very sweet and sympathetic toward him (they are the other's only surviving sibling, after all), even if she is sometimes oblivious of his feelings. And wherever Alderpaw goes, she goes – especially if it means adventure and even danger! Not to mention she makes for a pretty sweet bodyguard for him. That said, she can be bossy and a bit of a know-it-all, as well as a bit too fiery and daredevil-natured for her own good. But she's also a new apprentice, and clearly has a bright future ahead of her as a ThunderClan warrior (provided she doesn't get any life-changing injuries, that is). I guess the best way to put it is that she's bizarrely both mature and immature at the same time, and in the most delightful way! I hope she gets to continue accompanying her brother on more adventures, yet I hope even more that she continues to grow as a great character in her own right!
Needlepaw – Talk about first impressions! I confess, when Needlepaw was first introduced, I didn't really know what to think of her. Like Sparkpaw, her name definitely fits her, given her sharp wit and tongue. Which surprised me because at first I thought she was kinda an airhead. At first, she came off as rude and seemed to disrespect everyone, even her own Clan leader and Clanmates. Plus there's her tendency to find her way around rules if not openly flaunt them. And yet, despite these otherwise off-putting traits, I found her surprisingly likable! Not only that, she ends up playing a crucial part in the success (yes, success) of Alderpaw's quest in more ways than one. She saves him and the others from one of the foxes; she convinces Alderpaw that telling his companions of SkyClan's existence and the reason for this quest is the right thing to do; she buys them some time to escape from Darktail and his rogues by calmly feigning innocence; when she and Alderpaw get separated from their companions, she puts them on the right track by asking a kittypet for directions; and perhaps most importantly, her insistence in exploring the tunnel beneath the Thunderpath leads to the discovery of Twigkit and Violetkit. As brave as Alderpaw can be, were it not for Needlepaw's bold and blunt nature, things could've turned out much differently (arguably worse) for him and his quest. In addition to that though, I also thought their friendship was rather touching, even if it did seem to lead toward romance. On the one hand, I like that it's a male medicine cat who might be falling a female warrior this time. But on the other hand, we've already had a relationship like this with Crowfeather and Leafpool. And we all know how "well" that turned out. That said, I ultimately thought Needlepaw was cool and I'm curious to see what kind of warrior she'll be.
Sandstorm – She may die about halfway through the book, but I seriously want to give credit where credit's due. Sandstorm's role in this book could not have been more perfect, nor could have there been a more fitting way for her to go, sad though it was. That said, it was really sad but also beautiful. Reading about her character grow from a stuck-up apprentice to a formidable warrior has been such a joy. Of course, she keeps her signature stubbornness to the end, but it's that stubbornness that made her so devoted. Even if she should've let Alderpaw treat the infection like he should have, she knew the perils this quest would present for an elder like her. But as she said, she wanted to die doing something important for her Clan, if not all the Clans. Not to mention she provides her grandson with invaluable help and advice. It's also a wonderful come-around from "Firestar's Quest." Now that Firestar was gone, she was the only cat with any memory of the modern SkyClan. So even if she was a bit old to make the journey there again, it made sense. I loved the relationship between her and Alderpaw. Like I said, it very much felt like a grandmother and her grandson. And even though she did die, it's great knowing that one of my favorite couples in the series is finally reunited together again! May you find eternal happiness in StarClan, Sandstorm! You deserve it!
Darktail – Man, even before Alderpaw and his party arrived at the gorge, I was nervous, 'cause I knew they were gonna find Darktail and his rogues there instead, and that Darktail might put on a heck of an act. I'm just happy that Alderpaw discovered the ruse before it was too late! Once again, Darktail proves himself to be a formidable new adversary, just as he was in "Hawkwing's Journey." He's ruthless, brilliant, and will not hesitate to violently kill someone unless he has a very good reason (to him, at least). He clearly subscribes to a "survival of the fittest" mentality, going so far as to blame SkyClan themselves for being driven from their home in the gorge. He doesn't hesitate to slap someone when it's obvious they're getting sick, nor does he have no second thoughts about slitting the throat of a ragged and feeble warrior. While neither were surprising, given I already read about his heinous nature in "Hawkwing's Journey," but those scenes were still pretty tough to get through. Once again, I do wish we got a little bit more of his backstory and his motives. But even if I do never get more than I've gotten so far, I will not deny that Darktail is a vicious foe who's obviously going to make a lot of trouble for the Clans!
Various Other Characters – While not featured too much in the book, I loved how Squirrelflight and especially Bramblestar once again proved themselves to be great parents, especially considering that they're actually raising their own children this time! I loved the scenes between Bramblestar and his son. Not only is he a wise and fair leader; he's also a loving and caring father, encouraging his children to reach their potential but not scorning them when they make mistakes. Speaking of which, I thought Cherryfall and Molewhisker were good mentors for Sparkpaw and Alderpaw respectively, even if Molewhisker doesn't mentor Alderpaw for long. Cherryfall is obviously proud of her apprentice, but just like Sparkpaw, she doesn't lord her good fortune over her brother Molewhisker. Speaking of whom, I liked how Molewhisker seemed mature for his age – a sort of strong and wise warrior who only speaks when he needs to, outside of the occasional moment when he gets frustrated. Moving on from that, it's clear that Jayfeather's age is starting to catch up to him, as he does kinda feel more cranky than before. And while I will admit, it is odd to have Leafpool back as a medicine cat, it's also good to see her doing what she's meant to do once again. I got so nervous yet excited when Alderpaw came across Mistfeather. He may not have featured much in "Hawkwing's Journey" or in this book, but I felt so sorry for Mistfeather and knew he was probably unintentionally left behind when SkyClan left the gorge. Not to mention he fought bravely despite his seriously lacking state. And even if he did die a warrior's death, it was still awful to read about him being utterly murdered in such a horrific way. Speaking of characters from "Hawkwing's Journey," when Alderpaw and Needlepaw first came across Violetkit and Twigkit, I wondered along with them if the kits had anything to do with the prophecy. And once I thought of that, I remembered that Hawkwing and Pebbleshine were separated, and that Pebbleshine was pregnant with Hawkwing's kits at that time. My mind then reasoned that Violetkit and Twigkit must be the children of Hawkwing and Pebbleshine. I go SO excited and thought that if it was true, then it was brilliant! That said, if it is true, then where was Pebbleshine? She wouldn't just abandon her kits like that. But she also can't be dead. I'm hoping her novella or another book down the line explains that, partly 'cause I want it to be true so bad! That said, that was probably the saddest scene in the book, when Violetkit and Twigkit get separated! I knew it was coming, but when they start crying for each other, I was close to crying myself. Still, I look forward to what their characters turn out to be. If nothing else, I hope they turn out to be well-adjusted!
Overall: This was a wonderful start to the "Vision of Shadows" arc and the era of Bramblestar's ThunderClan! I really got into the new characters and their stories, and I cannot wait to see the return of SkyClan after such a long time of having them separated from the other Clans! That said, I can only imagine how the other Clans will react when they learn of SkyClan's existence. If there's anything I know of this series, it's that huge secrets can have huge consequences/ramifications when revealed. Still, I cannot WAIT to see how it all turns out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2019
*This review was originally published on RachelPoli.com
BOOK COVER
The covers for the series as a whole got a make-over. The covers all look gorgeous and even though these are “new” for earlier books, this is the first edition cover for A Vision of Shadows. I really like the colors and think the art style is beautiful.
FIRST THOUGHTS
After reading Omen of the Stars, I hopped right into this series since I’m trying to catch up on the books before the next series comes out.
PLOT
Alderpaw and his sister Sparkpaw are Bramblestar (the clan leader) and Squirrelflight’s kits. They’re made into apprentices at the beginning and begin their warrior training. Except, poor Alderpaw is a terrible “warrior.” His fighting skills are lacking and he has yet to catch a single piece of prey. He’s worried about what good he would be for his clan if he can’t defend it or catch food.
So, Bramblestar and the two medicine cats, Leafpool and Jayfeather, decide to make Alderpaw a medicine cat apprentice. Shortly after, he begins to have visions from StarClan and must go on a quest to help SkyClan from long ago.
I enjoyed this particular plot because it’s not every day you meet a protagonist who “can’t” do what they’re supposed to – at least, not in this series. I was certainly intrigued by his story and how he would fit into his clan throughout.
CHARACTERS
Alderpaw makes a great main character. He has a lot of anxiety and is very self-conscious which makes me feel bad for him and root for him all the more. His sister Sparkpaw is an interesting character, though she’s a bit of a know-it-all and can be a snob. I’m looking forward to seeing how their relationship plays out throughout the next few books.
WRITING STYLE
The Apprentice’s Quest is an easy read and definitely a page-turner at some parts. The book is just shy under 300 pages, which is the typical length. The plot and characters are interesting enough and easy to follow along with.
OVERALL
This was a great beginning to a new series of Warriors books. I’m looking forward to reading book two and seeing where Alderpaw goes from here.
Favorite Quote:
“And from the way you described Mistfeather, all ragged and skinny, the attack didn’t happen just yesterday.” -Erin Hunter, Warriors: The Apprentice’s Quest (A Vision of Shadows 1)
BOOK COVER
The covers for the series as a whole got a make-over. The covers all look gorgeous and even though these are “new” for earlier books, this is the first edition cover for A Vision of Shadows. I really like the colors and think the art style is beautiful.
FIRST THOUGHTS
After reading Omen of the Stars, I hopped right into this series since I’m trying to catch up on the books before the next series comes out.
PLOT
Alderpaw and his sister Sparkpaw are Bramblestar (the clan leader) and Squirrelflight’s kits. They’re made into apprentices at the beginning and begin their warrior training. Except, poor Alderpaw is a terrible “warrior.” His fighting skills are lacking and he has yet to catch a single piece of prey. He’s worried about what good he would be for his clan if he can’t defend it or catch food.
So, Bramblestar and the two medicine cats, Leafpool and Jayfeather, decide to make Alderpaw a medicine cat apprentice. Shortly after, he begins to have visions from StarClan and must go on a quest to help SkyClan from long ago.
I enjoyed this particular plot because it’s not every day you meet a protagonist who “can’t” do what they’re supposed to – at least, not in this series. I was certainly intrigued by his story and how he would fit into his clan throughout.
CHARACTERS
Alderpaw makes a great main character. He has a lot of anxiety and is very self-conscious which makes me feel bad for him and root for him all the more. His sister Sparkpaw is an interesting character, though she’s a bit of a know-it-all and can be a snob. I’m looking forward to seeing how their relationship plays out throughout the next few books.
WRITING STYLE
The Apprentice’s Quest is an easy read and definitely a page-turner at some parts. The book is just shy under 300 pages, which is the typical length. The plot and characters are interesting enough and easy to follow along with.
OVERALL
This was a great beginning to a new series of Warriors books. I’m looking forward to reading book two and seeing where Alderpaw goes from here.
Favorite Quote:
“And from the way you described Mistfeather, all ragged and skinny, the attack didn’t happen just yesterday.” -Erin Hunter, Warriors: The Apprentice’s Quest (A Vision of Shadows 1)
April 30, 2018
This was a great book, just as good as the other Warriors books, but I felt like they should have stopped at The Last Hope It was just such a good ending to the series.
Now besides my misgivings, Squirrelflight has always been my favorite cat, so I did enjoy this. (she wasn't in it much, but, well, you know what I'm talking about if you've read it.)
I'm not sure what I think of Needlepaw.
Overall it was a very good book. I did wish it could have held more of my favorite characters. It was mostly just Alderpaw, Sparkpaw, Molewhisker, Sandstorm, Needlepaw, Leafpool, Jayfeather, and Cherryfall. That was just a matter of opinion though.
Now besides my misgivings, Squirrelflight has always been my favorite cat, so I did enjoy this. (she wasn't in it much, but, well, you know what I'm talking about if you've read it.)
I'm not sure what I think of Needlepaw.
Overall it was a very good book. I did wish it could have held more of my favorite characters. It was mostly just Alderpaw, Sparkpaw, Molewhisker, Sandstorm, Needlepaw, Leafpool, Jayfeather, and Cherryfall. That was just a matter of opinion though.
March 27, 2025
The arcs keep getting worse and I tell myself I'm going to stop reading but then get right back on with my bullshit. 🤡 The series really falls off with this one I can't believe how boring it was the only saving grace is the few cats I like that are still alive and they aren't even the main characters at this point, so I can't even follow along with them. This arc is going to test me idk if I can finish but I kind of want to read them all I've come so far, but it's like watching a beloved childhood friend slowly burn to a crisp!! How does this have four stars! 😭
March 11, 2022
I’ve missed reading the main series, the books go so much quicker and have less drawn out boring parts. I really like Alderheart, he seems like the first anxious main character in the series, the rest have always been go getters with different personalities. I loved this book so much and I can’t wait to keep reading!
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June 1, 2022imma stop rating these books, because i'm unsure how i feel so yeah.
March 16, 2023
Still loving these audiobooks. They are an amazing de-stresser.
February 24, 2022
Needlepaw (Needletail) is soooo BOLD AND BRAVE. She is a bit like Ivypool. I already like her. Who is like Ivypool is impossible not to be my favorite.
March 21, 2022
I really liked the character in this story. With all the other books the main cats were always really good at fighting and hunting, but this one struggled with all of it.
One thing I didn't like was that it seems Alderpaw likes Needlepaw, which happens with a lot of characters,
Leafpool, Lionblaze, and Dovewing. But other than that I liked it
One thing I didn't like was that it seems Alderpaw likes Needlepaw, which happens with a lot of characters,
Leafpool, Lionblaze, and Dovewing. But other than that I liked it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2017
Found this at my library... It was pretty good, but it was a bit boring in some areas. :)
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