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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
In many ways, I really enjoyed this book. I thought the moor runner versus tunneler dynamics were intriguing, and Tallpaw's struggle to please his parents and make them proud while also following his own destiny was relatable. Talltail's adventures beyond the WindClan borders were great, and I especially enjoyed his friendship with Jake. I also liked the whole idea that Talltail had to follow his heart and go on a journey before realizing that WindClan really was his home, and home was where he belonged.
Unfortunately, I also felt the book was plagued with under-developed ideas. Based on what we saw in the book, it really did seem as if Palebird didn't love Talltail as much as Finchkit or her other four kits that came later. Yet, when Talltail became Tallstar, we're just supposed to accept that her mother's love for him was just as strong as her love for all her kits, even though she never showed it?
Also, I couldn't figure out what the rogues were all about. WindClan seriously allowed a band of rogues to stay with them all summer long just because "they've always come"?! They let the outsiders train with their apprentices, and share dens with their warriors and elders?! It just didn't make sense, having read the Warriors series and knowing how Clan cats supposedly feel about non-Clan cats.
Overall, a good story about how revenge isn't the answer, and home is where the heart is. As usual, it's especially satisfying to see cameos made by other known Warriors cats, and there's a real gem of a connection in this one, if you make it to the end.
Unfortunately, I also felt the book was plagued with under-developed ideas. Based on what we saw in the book, it really did seem as if Palebird didn't love Talltail as much as Finchkit or her other four kits that came later. Yet, when Talltail became Tallstar, we're just supposed to accept that her mother's love for him was just as strong as her love for all her kits, even though she never showed it?
Also, I couldn't figure out what the rogues were all about. WindClan seriously allowed a band of rogues to stay with them all summer long just because "they've always come"?! They let the outsiders train with their apprentices, and share dens with their warriors and elders?! It just didn't make sense, having read the Warriors series and knowing how Clan cats supposedly feel about non-Clan cats.
Overall, a good story about how revenge isn't the answer, and home is where the heart is. As usual, it's especially satisfying to see cameos made by other known Warriors cats, and there's a real gem of a connection in this one, if you make it to the end.
4.5 stars
I wanted a nice and easy read - and I finally finished this one. It's been on my tbr pile for a while now and I finally got around to finishing it- and I enjoyed most of it.
I loved the characters - well most of them anyways. I hated Sandgorse. I know that he died a hero and whatnot but I hated how horrible he was to Talltail - just because he wanted his son to follow his pawsteps and when Talltail didn't want that he started openly hating him - and I don't feel like that ever got properly resolved- yes they are on good terms when Talltail gets his warrior name and other warriors do tell him that Sandgorse loved him and was proud of him even though he didn't know how to show it - but I still hated Sandgorse and how horrible he was towards Tallstar.
Shrewclaw was another character I didn't really care about- he was obnoxious and annoying most of the book and when he died it didn't really have any proper impact on me even though I know I should've felt upset.
Palebird was a really interesting character though - we rarely get a character with pospartum depression and I know that she wasn't the best mom ever but she at least had a good reason for that - I actually enjoyed her character a lot.
I also didn't really like the way the conflict between rogues and Tallstar was resolved- I really liked the idea of rogues coming around every year hunting with clan and sharing stories - I wish that that came back in later book honestly- but I do feel like a better ending there would be if they came around the next year, Tallstar was still bitter towards them and then they have that confrontation, he changes his mind, he and Sparrow end up on good terms and then rogues decide that they aren't coming back - in the book Sparrow decides that for them all - and they all just accept it without complains, I feel like they didn't get a chance to say proper goodbyes to their friends - and they mention several times that they are good friends with Wind clan cats so that felt just a little bit odd to me.
On the other hand I really liked the conflict between the tunnelers and moor runners - that was interesting to see and different. I enjoyed seeing some older traditions that aren't present in other books.
Jake was precious though <3 I loved every single bit where Jake was in the story- I wish that he was in more books because he was such a great character- and that short manga at the end just made me tear up - he was precious, his and Tallstar's friendship was precious and I just wish that we got more of them together, they had such great chemistry and I love that it was because of Jake that Tallstar saw Firestar as his own son and why he was so fond of him defending him when needed and why he valued their friendship so much.
All in all I loved most of this book and I feel like it was a good book about Tallstar's life because it shows great character growth for him - he went from being bitter and letting grief take over his life to being a wise and great leader of his clan and this book was good in that regard.
I wanted a nice and easy read - and I finally finished this one. It's been on my tbr pile for a while now and I finally got around to finishing it- and I enjoyed most of it.
I loved the characters - well most of them anyways. I hated Sandgorse. I know that he died a hero and whatnot but I hated how horrible he was to Talltail - just because he wanted his son to follow his pawsteps and when Talltail didn't want that he started openly hating him - and I don't feel like that ever got properly resolved- yes they are on good terms when Talltail gets his warrior name and other warriors do tell him that Sandgorse loved him and was proud of him even though he didn't know how to show it - but I still hated Sandgorse and how horrible he was towards Tallstar.
Shrewclaw was another character I didn't really care about- he was obnoxious and annoying most of the book and when he died it didn't really have any proper impact on me even though I know I should've felt upset.
Palebird was a really interesting character though - we rarely get a character with pospartum depression and I know that she wasn't the best mom ever but she at least had a good reason for that - I actually enjoyed her character a lot.
I also didn't really like the way the conflict between rogues and Tallstar was resolved- I really liked the idea of rogues coming around every year hunting with clan and sharing stories - I wish that that came back in later book honestly- but I do feel like a better ending there would be if they came around the next year, Tallstar was still bitter towards them and then they have that confrontation, he changes his mind, he and Sparrow end up on good terms and then rogues decide that they aren't coming back - in the book Sparrow decides that for them all - and they all just accept it without complains, I feel like they didn't get a chance to say proper goodbyes to their friends - and they mention several times that they are good friends with Wind clan cats so that felt just a little bit odd to me.
On the other hand I really liked the conflict between the tunnelers and moor runners - that was interesting to see and different. I enjoyed seeing some older traditions that aren't present in other books.
Jake was precious though <3 I loved every single bit where Jake was in the story- I wish that he was in more books because he was such a great character- and that short manga at the end just made me tear up - he was precious, his and Tallstar's friendship was precious and I just wish that we got more of them together, they had such great chemistry and I love that it was because of Jake that Tallstar saw Firestar as his own son and why he was so fond of him defending him when needed and why he valued their friendship so much.
All in all I loved most of this book and I feel like it was a good book about Tallstar's life because it shows great character growth for him - he went from being bitter and letting grief take over his life to being a wise and great leader of his clan and this book was good in that regard.
When I saw the title of Tallstar's Revenge, I didn't have high hopes, as Tallstar never seemed to be a character to enact revenge on another cat, being to collected and logical. Now, having read the book, I see why it is widely regarded as one of the best books in the series. Dare I say, even the best.
The super edition deals heavily with grief and how one may be out of their right mind when dealing with it, along with the fact that very few people actually understand that when it came to dealing with such things. It also deals with the idea that love doesn't necessarily have bounds.
In summation, this book is everything that Bluestar's Prophecy should have been but wasn't. The descriptions of grief felt far more true to life, through Tallstar's general rage, along with this description:
Another positive of the book is the subtle depiction of a gay relationship without actually saying it due to being restricted. Talltail and Jake's relationship has a nice build to it and while I do wish that he would have pulled a Fireheart or Pinestar and visited Jake at some point despite it being frowned upon, it was good enough, and nice to have that within the book despite the slight longing that it actually said they were in a relationship.
On a related note, I also would have liked a bit more interaction with I feel similarly in regards to the path of him becoming leader - as he went from a new warrior to leader in a heartbeat. However, these are minor pacing complaints when in the grand scheme of the book, it was incredibly well done.
The super edition deals heavily with grief and how one may be out of their right mind when dealing with it, along with the fact that very few people actually understand that when it came to dealing with such things. It also deals with the idea that love doesn't necessarily have bounds.
In summation, this book is everything that Bluestar's Prophecy should have been but wasn't. The descriptions of grief felt far more true to life, through Tallstar's general rage, along with this description:
Spoiler
He could see Palebird outside the nursery staring into space, her eyes glazed. For a moment Tallpaw understood why she seemed so distant. If she didn't let herself feel anything, she might protect herself from her grief for Finchkit.Another positive of the book is the subtle depiction of a gay relationship without actually saying it due to being restricted. Talltail and Jake's relationship has a nice build to it and while I do wish that he would have pulled a Fireheart or Pinestar and visited Jake at some point despite it being frowned upon, it was good enough, and nice to have that within the book despite the slight longing that it actually said they were in a relationship.
On a related note, I also would have liked a bit more interaction with
Spoiler
Deadpaw as that segment felt incredibly pushed in last minute with little buildup. We hardly even knew Hopkit existed until the end, and that was a bit wrong.
Tallstar's gay, you can't convince me otherwise. It's in the text.
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was true Super Edition Quality. I don't care for the new series so much, but I always read the Super Editions, and never have I been disappointed. It was nice to visit the old forrest with all the old cats and places. A good book for any fan.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes