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absurtiddy's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sharlappalachia's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of the most disappointing books I've ever read.
After The Last Hope, I followed it up by reading The Sun Trail, and then Thunder Rising, and my all-time favorite Warriors book, Tallstar's Revenge, which was very well written and a very compelling read. After it, I had high hopes for Bramblestar's Storm, which I was excited over because I wanted to see the changes in the Clan after the Great Battle, only to be severely let down.
The nonexistent plot revolves around Bramblestar, who has very little knowledge on how to lead a Clan, despite having been a deputy for seasons. A flood causes ThunderClan to have to evacuate their camp and live in the tunnels, which is dumb planning, since in Dark River the tunnels flooded after a single rainfall. However, the tunnels were impossibly un-flooded. An apprentice dies later on. Characters like Thornclaw were terribly out of character. Three kittypets take shelter in the Clan, and a very dull "romance" blooms between Bramblestar and a kittypet called Jessy.
Jessy was where most of my problems in the book came from. She's an attention seeking, shallow character who distracted Bramblestar from everything and was basically the most uninteresting subplot I've ever read.
Also, Erin Hunter makes waaaay too many mistakes in this. Like the way Graystripe claimed Stonefur and Mistystar to be his kits. That sent me over the edge.
In conclusion, the idea for this story-one with an actual plot, that would be personal and exciting, like Tallstar's Revenge-would have been much more enjoyable and less painstaking.
After The Last Hope, I followed it up by reading The Sun Trail, and then Thunder Rising, and my all-time favorite Warriors book, Tallstar's Revenge, which was very well written and a very compelling read. After it, I had high hopes for Bramblestar's Storm, which I was excited over because I wanted to see the changes in the Clan after the Great Battle, only to be severely let down.
The nonexistent plot revolves around Bramblestar, who has very little knowledge on how to lead a Clan, despite having been a deputy for seasons. A flood causes ThunderClan to have to evacuate their camp and live in the tunnels, which is dumb planning, since in Dark River the tunnels flooded after a single rainfall. However, the tunnels were impossibly un-flooded. An apprentice dies later on. Characters like Thornclaw were terribly out of character. Three kittypets take shelter in the Clan, and a very dull "romance" blooms between Bramblestar and a kittypet called Jessy.
Jessy was where most of my problems in the book came from. She's an attention seeking, shallow character who distracted Bramblestar from everything and was basically the most uninteresting subplot I've ever read.
Also, Erin Hunter makes waaaay too many mistakes in this. Like the way Graystripe claimed Stonefur and Mistystar to be his kits. That sent me over the edge.
In conclusion, the idea for this story-one with an actual plot, that would be personal and exciting, like Tallstar's Revenge-would have been much more enjoyable and less painstaking.
chamomiledaydreams's review against another edition
3.0
I have very mixed feelings about this super edition. Overall, I enjoyed listening to it, and I was especially enamored with the mentor-apprentice dynamic between Spiderleg and Amberpaw. But most every major plot point left me feeling dissatisfied, with the lingering sensation that something was wrong. For example, when Bramblestar decides to intervene with ShadowClan to help his sister, I was torn between thinking, "That's sweet," and, "Isn't that super against the warrior code, and doesn't it undermine Bramblestar's past attempts to insist that his loyalties lie with his clan rather than his kin?"
Another plot point I am torn over is Dustpelt dying because he cannot live without Ferncloud, rather than finding a healthy way to cope with his grief. It hurt me, not just in the sense of, "Oh no, there go my fictional cats," but also in the sense that, "The message is really that grief-stricken people should just die in order to cure their pain, huh..." which I know is a gross exaggeration of Dustpelt's narrative on my part, but these sorts of messages hit very close to home for me, so I am prone to inflating them out of proportions. It baffles me that this series doesn't explore how loss would hit differently since every cat knows that they will be reunited with their loved ones in StarClan. Why should Dustpelt grieve if he knows for certain that he'll see Ferncloud again soon? I understand the regret of, "She died too young," but what's the use in getting so distraught when it's only a matter of time before that grief is replaced with reunion?
Next, I am simultaneously amused and baffled by Jessy's decision to leave ThunderClan because she doesn't want to get in the way of Bramblestar and Squirrelflight's relationship. I understand why the pairing of Bramblestar and Squirrelflight is contentious, and I would be interested in reading a version of events where both cats realize they do not have to be tied to one another romantically, despite their long history, and reconcile as friends and co-workers rather than as the feline equivalent of husband and wife. As things stand in this novel, there is a tension between Bramblestar and Squirrelflight that I strongly dislike, especially when it constantly manifests as the characters demanding, "Why didn't you tell me this?" and hissing, "You're making a stupid decision." Anyway, I was more interested in Jessy's arc (and Squirrelflight's) than Bramblestar's, so it bothered me that both female characters based their life-changing decisions around him. Let the girls live and be happy, please!
Still, I enjoyed the many callbacks to Firestar and how kittypets play a large part in this story. I loved Jessy's enthusiastic character and wished that she had stayed in ThunderClan, in part so I could see what sort of name Bramblestar would choose for her (especially since the prefix Storm was already taken). I also liked how this story was more original, in the style of "Crowfeather's Trial" rather than "Bluestar's Prophecy." (Don't get me wrong, I love "Bluestar's Prophecy," but I'm currently more interested in completely new stories than different points of view for well-known events.) So, overall, there are things I liked a lot and things that make my head hurt to think about for too long. A decent super-edition, though not one of my favorites.
Another plot point I am torn over is Dustpelt dying because he cannot live without Ferncloud, rather than finding a healthy way to cope with his grief. It hurt me, not just in the sense of, "Oh no, there go my fictional cats," but also in the sense that, "The message is really that grief-stricken people should just die in order to cure their pain, huh..." which I know is a gross exaggeration of Dustpelt's narrative on my part, but these sorts of messages hit very close to home for me, so I am prone to inflating them out of proportions. It baffles me that this series doesn't explore how loss would hit differently since every cat knows that they will be reunited with their loved ones in StarClan. Why should Dustpelt grieve if he knows for certain that he'll see Ferncloud again soon? I understand the regret of, "She died too young," but what's the use in getting so distraught when it's only a matter of time before that grief is replaced with reunion?
Next, I am simultaneously amused and baffled by Jessy's decision to leave ThunderClan because she doesn't want to get in the way of Bramblestar and Squirrelflight's relationship. I understand why the pairing of Bramblestar and Squirrelflight is contentious, and I would be interested in reading a version of events where both cats realize they do not have to be tied to one another romantically, despite their long history, and reconcile as friends and co-workers rather than as the feline equivalent of husband and wife. As things stand in this novel, there is a tension between Bramblestar and Squirrelflight that I strongly dislike, especially when it constantly manifests as the characters demanding, "Why didn't you tell me this?" and hissing, "You're making a stupid decision." Anyway, I was more interested in Jessy's arc (and Squirrelflight's) than Bramblestar's, so it bothered me that both female characters based their life-changing decisions around him. Let the girls live and be happy, please!
Still, I enjoyed the many callbacks to Firestar and how kittypets play a large part in this story. I loved Jessy's enthusiastic character and wished that she had stayed in ThunderClan, in part so I could see what sort of name Bramblestar would choose for her (especially since the prefix Storm was already taken). I also liked how this story was more original, in the style of "Crowfeather's Trial" rather than "Bluestar's Prophecy." (Don't get me wrong, I love "Bluestar's Prophecy," but I'm currently more interested in completely new stories than different points of view for well-known events.) So, overall, there are things I liked a lot and things that make my head hurt to think about for too long. A decent super-edition, though not one of my favorites.
saman78's review against another edition
4.0
Went back to my roots, and it was just as good as it was ten years ago!
maloniponi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Why did Bramblestar just like…totally fall in love with Jessy. Like dude, Squilf is so much better. The lake flooding wasn’t horrible as a trope but idk. Bramblestar not knowing how to lead besides doing what Firestar did is embarrassing and dumb. Idk Squilf deals with it. Bramblestar is just, boring. I feel like Squilf and Bramble will just keep fighting and it’s so annoying like at least just have a Crowfeather and Nightcloud moment. This book just kept going and going and going my god.
haley_b's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
samurottdoge's review against another edition
5.0
Really like this Superedition, was something different than your everyday warriors book
However I admit it was slow but a good read, especially nearer to the end when Frankie becomes Stormpaw (love his character btw) and when we are revealed through the manga at the end that Squirrelflight is having kits
Also the prologue helps convey how not all starclan cats know everything and can predict the future
However I admit it was slow but a good read, especially nearer to the end when Frankie becomes Stormpaw (love his character btw) and when we are revealed through the manga at the end that Squirrelflight is having kits
Also the prologue helps convey how not all starclan cats know everything and can predict the future
leonajasmin's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the idea of the 'antagonist' in this book, and there was some amazing writing near the beginning of the storm. The evacuation of the camp chapter was one of my favourite chapters in the Super Editions, to be honest. It felt like an actual Clan of warriors working together than a bunch of cats just living in a camp while a few do all the heavy lifting like it does in the main books. In fact, this was a strength of the whole books- some of the minor characters were getting character development!
But this book felt far too long otherwise. Meeting Jessy and then meeting Frankie and Minty felt like the same chapter repeated with just a few minor edits. And while I understand the relationships Bramblestar has with his bordering leaders, they got a bit dull after a while. There was also some pretty poor editing, especially at the end.
Overall, the first 1/3 was really enjoyable, as were a few scenes intermingled in the latter 2/3, but it was pretty dull for the most part.
But this book felt far too long otherwise. Meeting Jessy and then meeting Frankie and Minty felt like the same chapter repeated with just a few minor edits. And while I understand the relationships Bramblestar has with his bordering leaders, they got a bit dull after a while. There was also some pretty poor editing, especially at the end.
Overall, the first 1/3 was really enjoyable, as were a few scenes intermingled in the latter 2/3, but it was pretty dull for the most part.