Here is my review of
A Thief in ThunderClan (some things did come up later on as well as yesterday but I finally had some time to read it today).
To preface this, I've seen some people say that this book was boring, pointless and whatnot. While they are obviously entitled to that opinion, I feel like those who like/love Brightheart as a character, the BrightCloud ship or/and the past ThunderClan cast in the forest territory setting (or just ThunderClan in general, like I do) did largely enjoy her book overall even if the actual thief reveal was disappointing for most (understandably so).
Without further ado, here is what I liked/loved:
- The art
- All BrightCloud interactions (because they are awesome together)
- Various older ThunderClan character appearances (Ashfur, Ferncloud, Willowpelt, Dustpelt, Longtail and so on)
- Sisterly moments between Brightheart and Cinderpelt
- Longtail getting some focus
- Longtail's shocking injury and Willowpelt's funeral getting showcased as graphic scenes (no pun intended)
- Rainpaw being precious through it all
- Ferncloud also being precious (also her design because I adore it just like in ASiR)
- Ashfur giving Graystripe the side-eye at least three times (on page 112, 128 and 131)
- Some of the expressions were simply hilarious
And here's what I didn't like:
- The thief's identity
To explain this, I did like the owl design. But it just felt rather underwhelming (and then there's also the fact that owls are usually not scavengers although some do eat roadkill on occasion). I just feel like, if it had to be birds, a group of crows would just have been cooler, in my humble opinion. Not only because they are indeed scavengers and have been sighted/recorded to steal prey from other animals or even attack cats but also because they are usually prey to (Clan) cats and it could've been interesting to see them attack/defend against a patrol of cats.
Another option for the thief could've been to just make it revolve around BloodClan again since they show up not long afterwards anyways (in the Then portion of
Graystripe's Vow which takes place after AThiTh in terms of the timeline as well as during
Ravenpaw's Path which takes place not long after the birth of Squirrelflight and Leafpool). Or even make it be a dog. Although that would've been traumatizing for Brightheart.