Post by tollfarok on Jan 12, 2024 17:18:57 GMT -5
I decided to read it, since it has so much discourse surrounding it and I wanted to make my own opinion on it. I went in as neutral as I could, ignoring any opinions I have on every character.
The battle started and Flurry told Squirrelflight to not tell the others about the kits. The battle could have been avoided if Squilf would've told the others (as in not only her clanmates) about them quick enough. I don't want to blame anyone for this, it's just that... I don't even know.
(I'm sorry if there are any mistakes in my grammar, or if there are typos. I wrote this in one sitting, I tried to read it as much as I could to find any mistakes in it)
Starting with the first chapter, the beginning was cute, I didn't think too much of it, buuut it went down after that. I completely think Squirrelflight was in the right. Her suggestion was great.
After the gathering their argument was real bad, obviously. None of them should've said what they did. I understand Squirrelflight's side, and how it was just a really impulsive thing to say, but I wouldn't have said that. Bramblestar's response was gross. Buuut I also see his side, too, I'm currently reading his SE and it makes me understand how he feels about all this. It doesn't excuse how out of pocket his response was, though.
Squirrelflight goes with Leafstar to explore the new territory. They should've talked about it and planned for it more... They could have taken Hawkwing with them, or some other warriors that they could trust, who wouldn't tell Bramblestar. I know it wouldn't have helped fight off the Sisters, but going off, just the two off you is just stupid.
Bramblestar's decision to run every decision through him would be completely fine, if it wasn't for how he did it. Like, seriously? Ask who's going to be in the dawn patrol the night before??
This will show up throughout my whole "review"; I don't like how Squilf was jealous at Sparkpelt for expecting. I know she can't help it, it's just... No, I can't bring myself to say it's okay
Sunrise is taken to camp. I don't even want to talk about this. Why would Bramblestar need StarClan's approval to save a wounded cat, if you're just going to lie about it during the gathering?
I think Tigerstar was somewhat reasonable, but also not. This is probably an error, but did they forget that in the forest ShC lived in a marshland (I know Tigerheart wasn't alive then, but the hell??). Strikestone's ear is shredded so bad that he became deaf in one ear. Strikestone is one of the (or maybe the only one) who's still alive from his siblings' kin.
When visiting ShadowClan, Squirrelflight talked with Dovewing. Dovewing was right about scaring away the Sisters, but it's also crazy that Tigerstar couldn't wait for 1-2 moons, which could have been a moon, since in warriors kits tend to open their eyes in the first few days (Bluestar's Prophecy, chapter 1). Buuut then we also find out later on that Moonlight needed help with birthing, so honestly nevermind it.
Chapter 18, Sparkpelt's kits are born and Larksong is dead. Honestly, this whole chapter pissed me off.
I have no idea what it is about this that makes me so angry, I literally can't explain.
Squirrelflight blinked at her sister. “Did you tell her about the kit that died?”
“Yes.” Leafpool’s gaze glistened.
“How did she react?”
“I don’t think she took it in.” Distress glittered for a moment in Leafpool’s eyes.
“Has she seen the other two yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Has she asked after them?” Squirrelflight's pelt prickled nervously. What if Sparkpelt could only
associate the kits with Larksong’s death? She might never learn to love them properly.
“She’s only woken once,” Leafpool told her.
“And she didn’t mention them?”
Leafpool’s eyes rounded sympathetically. “She’s been sick.”
“Kits should be with their mother.” Squirrelflight’s thoughts whirled. Daisy would comfort them and Sorrelstripe would feed them, but the kits should have Sparkpelt’s love.
“They are safe,” Leafpool told her. “That’s most important now. It’s best they don’t have Sparkpelt’s milk until the poison is out of her system.”
Squirrelflight shifted her paws. “What if she doesn’t bond with them?”
"She will.” Leafpool held her gaze steadily. “It takes more than loss and separation to stop a mother from loving her kits. I know that more than any cat.”
“Yes.” Leafpool’s gaze glistened.
“How did she react?”
“I don’t think she took it in.” Distress glittered for a moment in Leafpool’s eyes.
“Has she seen the other two yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Has she asked after them?” Squirrelflight's pelt prickled nervously. What if Sparkpelt could only
associate the kits with Larksong’s death? She might never learn to love them properly.
“She’s only woken once,” Leafpool told her.
“And she didn’t mention them?”
Leafpool’s eyes rounded sympathetically. “She’s been sick.”
“Kits should be with their mother.” Squirrelflight’s thoughts whirled. Daisy would comfort them and Sorrelstripe would feed them, but the kits should have Sparkpelt’s love.
“They are safe,” Leafpool told her. “That’s most important now. It’s best they don’t have Sparkpelt’s milk until the poison is out of her system.”
Squirrelflight shifted her paws. “What if she doesn’t bond with them?”
"She will.” Leafpool held her gaze steadily. “It takes more than loss and separation to stop a mother from loving her kits. I know that more than any cat.”
I have no idea what it is about this that makes me so angry, I literally can't explain.
I've never really liked the Sisters, but as I said in the beginning I was putting that thought on the side. I couldn't help the dislike for them coming back, though. Moonlight is absolutely disgusting for the way she acts towards Tree. Makes it even worse if you've read Tree's Roots.
Before the battle with the Sisters. Squirrelflight and Bramblestar are arguing. I understand both of their point of views, but I have some things I agree with, and some things I disagree with.
”Can I count on your support tomorrow?” There was hostility in his mew. “You are my deputy, after all.”
“And your're mate.” Her pelt pricked uneasily. What did he expect her to say? “But that doesn’t
mean I have to support you in everything. I can’t support you when I don’t agree with you.”
“You’re my deputy. I expect you to support me no matter what,” he snapped. “How can the Clan trust my decisions when you constantly challenge me?”
...
“You think I don’t care about ThunderClan?” Thorns seemed to pierce Squirrelflight’s heart. “Of course I care! I care about them, and I care about you! More than anything! But you don’t seem to respect me anymore—not as your mate, not as your deputy—and I don’t know why.”
“Of course I respect you.” Bramblestar’s mew softened. “But you don’t seem to agree with anything I say or do. I have a Clan to lead. How can I lead them when the cat I care most about thinks I’m doing everything wrong?”
Squirrelflight gazed at him through the darkness. “Do you really believe you’re doing the right thing by attacking the Sisters?”
“I’m not attacking them! I’m just making sure they leave.”
“But you must know there’ll be a battle if you show up.”
Bramblestar’s eyes flashed. “I don’t know anything of the kind, and I’m not responsible for how Moonlight might react. I know that you’re worried, but I’m not going there to fight. I don’t want the Sisters to be hurt. I will do everything in my power to make sure we move her without bloodshed.”
“And your're mate.” Her pelt pricked uneasily. What did he expect her to say? “But that doesn’t
mean I have to support you in everything. I can’t support you when I don’t agree with you.”
“You’re my deputy. I expect you to support me no matter what,” he snapped. “How can the Clan trust my decisions when you constantly challenge me?”
...
“You think I don’t care about ThunderClan?” Thorns seemed to pierce Squirrelflight’s heart. “Of course I care! I care about them, and I care about you! More than anything! But you don’t seem to respect me anymore—not as your mate, not as your deputy—and I don’t know why.”
“Of course I respect you.” Bramblestar’s mew softened. “But you don’t seem to agree with anything I say or do. I have a Clan to lead. How can I lead them when the cat I care most about thinks I’m doing everything wrong?”
Squirrelflight gazed at him through the darkness. “Do you really believe you’re doing the right thing by attacking the Sisters?”
“I’m not attacking them! I’m just making sure they leave.”
“But you must know there’ll be a battle if you show up.”
Bramblestar’s eyes flashed. “I don’t know anything of the kind, and I’m not responsible for how Moonlight might react. I know that you’re worried, but I’m not going there to fight. I don’t want the Sisters to be hurt. I will do everything in my power to make sure we move her without bloodshed.”
The battle started and Flurry told Squirrelflight to not tell the others about the kits. The battle could have been avoided if Squilf would've told the others (as in not only her clanmates) about them quick enough. I don't want to blame anyone for this, it's just that... I don't even know.
Leafpool and Squirrelflight died. Now this is a part I hate, but I kind of think people have overreacted it. I was expecting the trial to be something more intense? But it was really pointless. Like, if they just talked between themselves (the StarClan cats) before the trial they wouldn't even have to hold it. I really thought that it was going to be worse, I'm not saying it's bad, it did make me somewhat upset, but I don't necessarily think it was so bad?
What I was glad about is someone (Firestar) finally telling Squirrelflight to think before the speaks. In my eyes she's always been impulsive and quick to jump to conclusions, so it was a relief.
Leafpool made me so sad. Everything about seeing he run StarClan breaks my heart. She's so happy and calm at last. Her vigil was so sad, and thinking about the Lost Stars extra scene after that is so </3.
“Tell Jayfeather and Lionblaze that I always loved them with a mother’s love and I always will. Tell them I’m sorry for the lie. I was trying to protect them, not hurt them. I’ll never forgive myself for the pain I caused, and I’ll be watching over them, and you.” She ran her tail along Squirrelflight’s spine. “Even when you feel I’m a long way away.”
I'm glad Squirrelflight and Bramblestar fixed their relationship by the end.
This is so far the only super edition I've read, that had a manga at the end which I didn't like, it was just eh
One thing I forgot: I hate how they never acknowledge the three as their kits. For this, I don't care that Bramblestar doesn't bring them up, but Squirrelflight doesn't think about them as her kits until up to being in StarClan.
My overall thoughts: I actually enjoyed it alot, the writing was probably the most enjoyable part for me (I love Kate Cary's writing). It was somewhat good to see her thought process as a grown, more experienced warrior, rather than a young prickly apprentice... Even though most of her personality traits hasn't changed. My opinion on Squirrelflight hasn't changed at all, I still don't like her, but I understand that she's a complex character, and I appreciate it.