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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Gosh I was worried going into this, knowing before hand what I was in for with Spottedleaf’s Heart. And yeah it was exactly what I was told it would be which is why this got a lower rating than I would regularly give a warriors book. Our side of that first story it’s a great read!
Now since this is a collection of three novellas aka short stories, I’ll break this up into the different stories.
🐈
Spottedleaf’s Heart:
2/5
Thistleclaw is a piece of shit and it’s really obvious what the authors had in mind with him from the begining and that’s just plain creepy. I mean you’re a full grown adult warrior, you shouldn’t be mischievously lusting after a girl who’s still a kitten.......even cats in the real world don’t do that.
Thistleclaw is so very predatory “prove it to me!” “Follow me to a shady location in the middle of the night!”. The elders literally warn the young one to stay away. Like this is a lot of ew. At least the book and authors make it clear he is not a good guy at all. The dark forest makes that clear. Of course Thistleclaw thinks his a “nice guy” and doing the right thing but screw him.
Spottedleaf’s is done fantastically and it’s very clear where her destiny lies to the reader; she just has to open her eyes and see it! Sweet and kind hearted to the core.
It was rather painful to read about Bluefur’s kitting, knowing what’s going to eventually happen. Having the whole Bluefur scene where she makes her choice was touching and heartbreaking.
The timing between chapters is flawless! And at points quite humourous.
It’s nice to see Tigerpaw’s and Tiny’s first meeting from a different point of view.
I rather wish this hadn’t been written at all as it tranishes one of the books best and most beautiful characters. As far as I’m concerned it’s not canon.
Pinestar’s Choice:
4.5/5
The amount of foreshadowing is a bit excessive.
Jake is an utter dear but is sadly absent for the vast majority of the book; which was the exact opposite of what I was looking forward to! Seeing Jake for the first time made me squeal! Like yes I want to see my queer cat boy. Father to two of my favourite characters! For so long I’ve wanted to know the story behind this boy. But come on authors! You guys had a chance to really get into Jake and Pinestar, yet you didn’t.
Pinestar is shown being both noble and weak, selfish and selfless. He’s at war with himself to such a degree that things have to change. What happens with his tom kit just feels like a slap to the face and reality being a dick to him.
Pinestar’s final announcement feels rushed and really needed more chapters. This part was the only place where the pacing of the book(s) was really off.
The ending is so darn sweet!
I honestly wanted this to be a super edition rather than a novella, as I want more Jake. I want the authors to have the balls to actually fully delve into the one canon gay couple they currently have! Rather than just mentioning them in passing and never out right saying their mates.
Thunderstar’s Echo:
5/5
Oh the tension! It never lets up at all, if this were a full book that would be awful but in a novella it’s quite alright.
As expect from a story set in the time of Dawn Of The Clans, this was dark and depressing. Filled with guilt, uncertainties and loss. Ow just a lot of ow, even the happy moments have a pang of hurt and loss.
Lightning tail is such a strong good cat, fantastic role model. The affects of him are always and forever felt by his clan mates.
Thunderstar is a leader with his doubts and lucky has the smarts and self awareness to not carry the burden all by himself. He is wiser than he knows and he’s far less broken than he thinks.
The halfway point is wrenchingly sad and it knows it. Making you feel every little aspect of it. Thankfully it ends off the story with joy, wonder and some hope.
🐈
Cover:
The cover design fits in well with the rest of the novella sets and the red tint is quite eye pleasing. The overall tone of cover is a dark moody one, which suits these stories. All of them are marked by sadness and death.
All these titles are pretty uncreative for their particular stories but for a children’s book that’s not much of a problem.
Over all, the first two stories tied together spectacularly. Both featuring Mapleshade and both being more or less about ending up in a different destiny than what you first walked. The second and third story also tied together as both involved the creation of a new warrior code.
I’d recommend reading this one for Pinestar’s Choice alone and possibly just skip Spottedleaf’s Heart.
Now since this is a collection of three novellas aka short stories, I’ll break this up into the different stories.
🐈
Spottedleaf’s Heart:
2/5
Thistleclaw is a piece of shit and it’s really obvious what the authors had in mind with him from the begining and that’s just plain creepy. I mean you’re a full grown adult warrior, you shouldn’t be mischievously lusting after a girl who’s still a kitten.......even cats in the real world don’t do that.
Thistleclaw is so very predatory “prove it to me!” “Follow me to a shady location in the middle of the night!”. The elders literally warn the young one to stay away. Like this is a lot of ew. At least the book and authors make it clear he is not a good guy at all. The dark forest makes that clear. Of course Thistleclaw thinks his a “nice guy” and doing the right thing but screw him.
Spottedleaf’s is done fantastically and it’s very clear where her destiny lies to the reader; she just has to open her eyes and see it! Sweet and kind hearted to the core.
It was rather painful to read about Bluefur’s kitting, knowing what’s going to eventually happen. Having the whole Bluefur scene where she makes her choice was touching and heartbreaking.
The timing between chapters is flawless! And at points quite humourous.
It’s nice to see Tigerpaw’s and Tiny’s first meeting from a different point of view.
I rather wish this hadn’t been written at all as it tranishes one of the books best and most beautiful characters. As far as I’m concerned it’s not canon.
Pinestar’s Choice:
4.5/5
The amount of foreshadowing is a bit excessive.
Jake is an utter dear but is sadly absent for the vast majority of the book; which was the exact opposite of what I was looking forward to! Seeing Jake for the first time made me squeal! Like yes I want to see my queer cat boy. Father to two of my favourite characters! For so long I’ve wanted to know the story behind this boy. But come on authors! You guys had a chance to really get into Jake and Pinestar, yet you didn’t.
Pinestar is shown being both noble and weak, selfish and selfless. He’s at war with himself to such a degree that things have to change. What happens with his tom kit just feels like a slap to the face and reality being a dick to him.
Pinestar’s final announcement feels rushed and really needed more chapters. This part was the only place where the pacing of the book(s) was really off.
The ending is so darn sweet!
I honestly wanted this to be a super edition rather than a novella, as I want more Jake. I want the authors to have the balls to actually fully delve into the one canon gay couple they currently have! Rather than just mentioning them in passing and never out right saying their mates.
Thunderstar’s Echo:
5/5
Oh the tension! It never lets up at all, if this were a full book that would be awful but in a novella it’s quite alright.
As expect from a story set in the time of Dawn Of The Clans, this was dark and depressing. Filled with guilt, uncertainties and loss. Ow just a lot of ow, even the happy moments have a pang of hurt and loss.
Lightning tail is such a strong good cat, fantastic role model. The affects of him are always and forever felt by his clan mates.
Thunderstar is a leader with his doubts and lucky has the smarts and self awareness to not carry the burden all by himself. He is wiser than he knows and he’s far less broken than he thinks.
The halfway point is wrenchingly sad and it knows it. Making you feel every little aspect of it. Thankfully it ends off the story with joy, wonder and some hope.
🐈
Cover:
The cover design fits in well with the rest of the novella sets and the red tint is quite eye pleasing. The overall tone of cover is a dark moody one, which suits these stories. All of them are marked by sadness and death.
All these titles are pretty uncreative for their particular stories but for a children’s book that’s not much of a problem.
Over all, the first two stories tied together spectacularly. Both featuring Mapleshade and both being more or less about ending up in a different destiny than what you first walked. The second and third story also tied together as both involved the creation of a new warrior code.
I’d recommend reading this one for Pinestar’s Choice alone and possibly just skip Spottedleaf’s Heart.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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
1 star for Spottedleafs heart
4 stars for Pinestars choice
4 stars for Thunderstars echo
4 stars for Pinestars choice
4 stars for Thunderstars echo
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
So, these were all really good. It was cool and refreshing to see Thistleclaw wasn’t always a bloodthirsty psycho 100% of the time. I did find Spottedpaw and his relationship weird though, the age difference between them would have been HUGE. Also, Spottedpaw’s personality in the story seems the opposite of Spottedleaf’s portrayal in the books, but I enjoyed the read anyway.
I think the piece on Pinestar was my favorite. I can only imagine how I’d feel as Shanty’s owners if one of my cats died that way, and how Pinestar must have been a “sign” to them, and how honest he was with himself and how much courage it took to admit it to the clan.
I think the piece on Pinestar was my favorite. I can only imagine how I’d feel as Shanty’s owners if one of my cats died that way, and how Pinestar must have been a “sign” to them, and how honest he was with himself and how much courage it took to admit it to the clan.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Pedophilia
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes