Warriors: A Starless Clan #1: River

I've read through all the Warriors Cats Series books (including the eBook exclusives) and I can say that this book is as good as the others I can't wait for the next book to be released

I have no idea what they are trying to do with this arc, this book had the weirdest direction of any book they have written so far. I was curious about how they were going to handle the events of the last arc but after finishing I have no ideas about the main event to come, which I am guessing is a good thing but this is definitely not a good place for new readers to start with. If you didn't read the last arc, you will not understand anything going on here. I like the new cast of characters well enough, better than the last arc. Flamepaw is way edgier than Root is and stands up for his beliefs. Sunbeam is mature and sweet and the most relatable cat I have followed so far. Frostpaw...poor Frostpaw, what a mess she walked into. I am definitely going to read more but this first book had a lot going on with little resolution and a very cryptic cliffhanger. I am intrigued.

(No spoilers) Just got this on release day! Can’t wait to see what happened after the Broken Code! Great for anyone starting Warriors. Very good plot so far I am enjoying the characters! Super quick shipping! Really like the new arts for the chapters! Excellent condition upon arrival. Great addition to the collection! Well, go and start a new adventure for yourself! - Thanks for reading. (After the ending, I am dying to read Book 2 Sky… This book will change how we’ve seen Warriors for so long… It was really good.👍)

I’m not sure who is ghostwriting these books anymore, but I feel they have improved in recent years (even if you could argue the series jumped the shark recently too). They are simply less boring and more willing to take some risks with the lore and characters. This one picks up right where the last series ended, to the extent that newcomers won’t find themselves terribly invested. But I don’t think this book is for new readers, it feels geared towards fans who have read the entire series. I tend to judge warrior cats on how well it works as pulp fiction, and this one has success at that. Cliffhangers for every character, unsolved murders, and steadily building tensions. It feels awful brisk, but it leaves you wanting to buy the next one. Flamepaw is the best grumpy cat character since Jayfeather, very entertaining to read. Sunbeam is kind of stupid but in an endearing way. Frostfur just feels like a victim of horrible circumstances, similar to what happened with Bristlefrost in the last arc and then Violetshine in an even earlier arc. I really appreciated that none of the characters had a kits perspective to start; that is always such a boring way to start the book. Some of the nuances in the writing are poor. For example, cats are referred to as using paws instead of their jaws to grasp and move heavy objects, or even that a cat put a paw on another’s shoulder for comfort. Kind of a problem when the whole series is based on the perspective of realistically proportioned domestic cats; writing them like humans feels lazy, but many later warrior cats books have these issues. The language of the cats is also very causal and modern at this point: not a huge problem, but sometimes ruins the mood of serious scenes. Overall pretty good for warrior cats, not as insane as the first book of the last arc, but a worthy successor.

After being disappointed with A Light In the Mist, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this book. The protagonists had distinct personalities and were easy to sympathize with, and the plot was more original than the previous series. It was also good to have a RiverClan point of view for once. I have high hopes for this new series and will be eagerly awaiting the next book.