RIVER

While younger, apprenticed cats in feral-cat clans hone their skills, older cats mostly quibble over territories and rules.

The main plot follows the cats of RiverClan, who, after trying unsuccessfully to resuscitate dying leader Mistystar, send a patrol to retrieve Reedwhisker, their missing deputy. But the patrol cats instead find Reedwhisker’s mutilated corpse in a canyon. Was it just a fall onto rocks, or was a badger involved? Numerous subplots include—but are not limited to—the following situations involving younger cats: Flamepaw striving to capture prey, Frostpaw communing with dead ancestors, and Sunbeam struggling with angst-y friendship problems. A major theme involves changing the warrior code to include clan-switching whenever a feline Romeo-and-Juliet situation arises. Although the latter issue successfully resolves the earliest in the legion of subplots, those who read through to the end may feel cheated by RiverClan’s unresolved dilemma. The text maintains some of the charm of the series; the cats exhibit a balance of catlike and human behaviors, emotions, and vocabulary. Sadly, however, this book tries to pack too much into each chapter. Only die-hard fans will have the ability or will to cope with the barrage of characters from different clans plus their current dilemmas, on top of their backstories. A description of a mother cat being torn apart by ferocious dogs may be disturbing to sensitive readers.

For cat herders only.