Post by applefeather on Apr 27, 2017 20:05:52 GMT -5
So I reread Bluestar’s Prophecy and Crookedstar’s Promise back to back yesterday and today and wow, if you haven’t done this, I recommend it highly. Firstly, they take place at the same time, so comparing the events that happened in each to their opposite is fun in itself.
These cats are foils if I’ve ever seen it. Both holding the same destiny, to become leader of their respective Clans, by overcoming an obstacle (Crookedstar and his deformity and Bluestar and Thistleclaw), with their own personal mistakes to shape them in the process (Crookedstar and leaving to the barn for a moon and Bluestar and Oakheart) while existing during the same time.
I loved experiencing the struggle of possession of Sunningrocks from both sides, somehow rooting for both Clans at once. Bluestar still is my absolute favorite cat ever, but Crookedstar holds a soft spot in my heart too.
Not to mention, wow, I always forget how poignant the imagery is in the earlier books. Here’s an excerpt from Bluestar’s Prophecy that had me near tears
The mothers in this book are so different, it’s amazing. Rainflower, Crookedstar’s mother, is loving and doting at first, but after Stormkit’s accident, she is cruel and neglecting. Moonflower, on the other hand, is loving throughout her entire relationship to Bluestar. Yet, their deaths are almost equally painful in the presence of their respective child.
Now onto siblings. Both close to their siblings, Bluestar and Crookedstar only want the best for their kin. When Snowfur starts showing interest in Thistleclaw, Bluestar is naturally worried because of his vicious tendencies. And yet she still loves her sister, (while internally very hesitant) still encouraging her when she finds out she is pregnant and taking care of Whitekit after Snowfur’s untimely death (after a brief, intense grieving period). Crookedstar and Oakheart are incredibly similar to the sisters. When Oakheart begins courting Bluestar, Crookedstar is wary, not quite sure what is going on, but still suspicious. After Bluestar brought Mistykit and Stonekit to RiverClan, Crookedstar isn’t happy, but he doesn’t betray his brother by revealing his secret and keeps his kits in the Clan. The loyalty they have to their siblings is remarkable.
One might think with all these similarities, the books are too similar to enjoy separately, but that is not the case. Each book is different enough to be its own journey, but alike enough to enjoy comparing. And doing this gave me enough nostalgia to start a reread of the entire series, so I've got that to look forward to now.
These cats are foils if I’ve ever seen it. Both holding the same destiny, to become leader of their respective Clans, by overcoming an obstacle (Crookedstar and his deformity and Bluestar and Thistleclaw), with their own personal mistakes to shape them in the process (Crookedstar and leaving to the barn for a moon and Bluestar and Oakheart) while existing during the same time.
I loved experiencing the struggle of possession of Sunningrocks from both sides, somehow rooting for both Clans at once. Bluestar still is my absolute favorite cat ever, but Crookedstar holds a soft spot in my heart too.
Not to mention, wow, I always forget how poignant the imagery is in the earlier books. Here’s an excerpt from Bluestar’s Prophecy that had me near tears
Pelt bristling, eyes wide, Snowfur streaked after them, over the oily Thunderpath. Bluefur froze. A monster was roaring straight at Snowfur. Without slowing down, it slammed into her body. Bluefur heard the dull thump, then the howl of the monster as it thundered away, leaving Snowfur’s body lying like a wet leaf at the edge of the Thunderpath.
The mothers in this book are so different, it’s amazing. Rainflower, Crookedstar’s mother, is loving and doting at first, but after Stormkit’s accident, she is cruel and neglecting. Moonflower, on the other hand, is loving throughout her entire relationship to Bluestar. Yet, their deaths are almost equally painful in the presence of their respective child.
Now onto siblings. Both close to their siblings, Bluestar and Crookedstar only want the best for their kin. When Snowfur starts showing interest in Thistleclaw, Bluestar is naturally worried because of his vicious tendencies. And yet she still loves her sister, (while internally very hesitant) still encouraging her when she finds out she is pregnant and taking care of Whitekit after Snowfur’s untimely death (after a brief, intense grieving period). Crookedstar and Oakheart are incredibly similar to the sisters. When Oakheart begins courting Bluestar, Crookedstar is wary, not quite sure what is going on, but still suspicious. After Bluestar brought Mistykit and Stonekit to RiverClan, Crookedstar isn’t happy, but he doesn’t betray his brother by revealing his secret and keeps his kits in the Clan. The loyalty they have to their siblings is remarkable.
One might think with all these similarities, the books are too similar to enjoy separately, but that is not the case. Each book is different enough to be its own journey, but alike enough to enjoy comparing. And doing this gave me enough nostalgia to start a reread of the entire series, so I've got that to look forward to now.