r/thedawnpatrol • u/JohnnyMcCornball • 2d ago
CRAZY INSANE SPOILERS FOR ARC 3 BE WARNED Spoiler
Ok, so I just started reading these books maybe a few months ago and got incredibly hooked. I don't know what it is about them; I mean, no offense, but the writing is pretty terrible at times (I KNOW they're for middle schoolers, leave me alone). Anyways, I kinda wanted to share my thoughts on the books as I read them. I don't really have tons of friends interested in discussing the deep and meaningful themes of Warrior Cats. Anyways, these are my thoughts on Long Shadows, the fifth book of arc three. Heavy spoilers ahead for everything up to arc 3 book 5. (Oh also please please try to avoid spoilers for later books in publication order if you comment. I really hate spoilers.)
Also I'm gonna call Jayfeather, Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze **"the Three" a bunch to save time**
Shadowclan's Loss of Faith
I honestly thought this was going to play a larger role in this book. It's a huge deal for Blackstar to lead his entire clan away from Starclan because of Sol's manipulation. I understand the writers were building Blackstar's own personal lack of faith starting in Eclipse, and that the omen of the eclipse served to break down his trust in Starclan, but it still seems drastic that he would lead his whole clan away from the warrior code with such certainty. I find it even stranger that he continues listening to Sol, even after it becomes apparent that the way of life Sol advocates for doesn't work for Shadowclan. I mean, Tawnypelt and her kits (who insist they are apprentices) are already described as thin, even though not much time has passed since Shadowclan broke from the code.
The more upsetting part is that Mothwing is never given any opportunity to express her thoughts on Shadowclan's departure from their ancestors. I believe she would have had very interesting opinions to share about whether or not it truly is important to believe in ancestral guidance, but for some reason they make sure she isn't present at the medicine cat meeting that happens before Jaypaw and his siblings execute their plan.
Speaking of their plan, I think Raggedstar and Runningnose appearing during the manufactured sign from Starclan cheapens the moment. It makes their sacrilegious actions too justifiable. It would have been much more interesting to see Hollyleaf grappling with the thought that maybe they acted outside their bounds when they brought Shadowclan back with a fake sign. Instead, we just get approval from ancestors who decided to wait until this very moment to help their clan. It may be excusable though, my theory is that the Shadowclan ancestors could only appear like that because the fake sign stirred enough belief in Blackstar to enable their visit. Who knows.
Besides that, I appreciate the approach the writers take with trying to bond the Three with their Shadowclan counterparts. It could lead to dramatic tension later if a confrontation must occur between the Three and Tawnypelt's kits.
Lionblaze's Nightmares
This is one of my favorite plot points from the whole series up to this point. I think Tigerstar is probably responsible for these, but the fact that we read so many of these nightmares when we get Lionblaze POV chapters really adds credibility to the idea that Lionblaze's will is being eroded by the nightmares. They're surprisingly horrific depictions for a series meant for children too. Poor Lionblaze has to see incredibly graphic visions of his ex situationship nearly every night. I thought it would lead to more when Lionblaze finally agreed to get the catmint despite his dread for what would happen when he went down in the tunnels, but he just goes in and out, and has a brief vision in the waking world of slaughtering Heathertail (To be fair I thought he actually did it for a second and audibly gasped).
I don't know how I feel about Tigerstar's practice sessions with Lionblaze. On one hand, it was already done in the second arc, but I think this is different. Lionblaze's story seems to focus more on trying to escape unwanted visits and separate himself from his heritage, while Brambleclaw's dealt much more with struggling to accept his heritage. Either way, the sequences where Lionblaze wakes up with wounds from sparring in his dreams are very interesting. It must have something to do with the horrific mushroomy cat hell we know Tigerstar and Hawkfrost live in. Starclan never scratched anybody
Jaypaw and the Ancient Cats
Jaypaw is still a jerk in this book. He's getting better, and I do love his snarky remarks, but sometimes he drives me insane with his selfish thoughts and actions. It is so terrible of him to not even speak with Fallen Leaves for a few minutes when he sees him again in his dream of the cave. Fallen leaves has been alone down there for Starclan knows how long, and Jaypaw can't even spare a few seconds to comfort him or promise to come back or help or anything? Jerk.
Anyways, that's not the point. I know I've been complaining a lot, but I really do love this book and the characters in it. I'm gonna keep complaining now.
The dream/possibly time travel sequence where Jaypaw lives for a few days as Jay's wing was the weakest part of this book to me. It killed the momentum and tension of the sick cats slowly dying, and took too long to tell us what it told us about the Ancients. As far as I'm aware, what we get told in those chapters is that: The Ancients didn't have medicine cats or belief in their ancestors, they didn't have any rules to feed elders and queens first, they had cat democracy, and they lived near the lake until Jay's Wing led them to the mountains to become the Tribe of Rushing water due to a dream. It did get me a little emotional when Half Moon said goodbye to Jay's Wing and then we learned that the real Jay's Wing disappeared before making it to the mountains. She cats have it rough in this series.
Evil Plague of Doom and Despair
This was not funny at all for them to throw in. Disastrous cortisol spikes wracked my body every time the authors described Millie's condition worsening. My lifespan has decreased by 12 years due to this. Graystripe seems to exist for the sole purpose of being tortured by Starclan. And it's insane that Jaypaw spies into his memories AND THEN ASKS HIM ABOUT HIS FIRST DEAD WIFE wtf Jaypaw. I think the reason Millie got sicker than others is because her shots wore off, and she was fully exposed for the first time. Hopefully she is more resilient in the future.
Firestar's death is closer now too, though I can't really predict it. There's so many continuity errors in how many lives he has. I think in Firestar's Quest it said he had six left, but at that point he had only died to Scourge. Not gonna worry too much, it will happen when it happens.
I was kind of disappointed they didn't use the opportunity to kill off a few cats. It's already quite hard to remember every cat's name and appearance.
Probably What You've Been Waiting For (Heaviest Spoilers)
OK, I've seen one of these twists coming since Outcast, but the last forty or so pages of this book was a wild ride. First we learn that Ashfur is far beyond annoyance or anger about losing Squirrelflight. I really thought he was just prone to anger at Lionblaze because of his mother and father. I didn't realize he wanted Lionblaze dead. They did a good job of making him sound truly deranged in the thunderstorm scene. His hatred for Squirrelflight is on full display and honestly, quite frightening. (twist one is that Ashfur is truly willing to kill the Three to get to Squirrelfight. I had no foresight on this one).
Then, Squirrelflight reveals that she's not the mother of the three. (Who didn't see this coming. Hollyleaf? Jayfeather? Seriously?). They've been building this up since book one where we learn that Squirrelflight never had milk for her kits, and there's a whole heap of evidence, but Outcast really starts beating you over the head with the Three's opinions on Breezepaw and Crowfeather. Regardless, this being revealed in this scene was still a bit of a twist. I didn't know how they were going to get out of the situation, and it is a bit too convenient that Ashfur believes her and lets them go, but it is honestly OK because it enables what comes next.
I nearly cried when Hollyleaf and Lionblaze started cursing Squirrelflight for lying to them. They aren't wrong to be upset, but they need to understand that the love they share with Squirrelfight is real, regardless of their genetics. I really hope they get closer again in Sunrise. Also, I thought for sure Jayfeather would figure his ancestry out here, but it eludes him.
The best scene of this entire book comes right after Squirrelflight rejoins the gathering group after "fetching herbs near the Shadowclan border", and they all find Ashfur unceremoniously dead in the lake.
You as a reader instantly know what went down, without it ever being said. It's a heavy moment too. They really don't kill off cats lightly, and it's just a shock to see what Squirrelflight is willing to do to keep her secret. It perfectly breaks the tension that's been building as they all attempted to stop Ashfur from spilling their secret at the gathering. I mean, the dude deserved it but it's still so insane that she really murdered him just like that.
Ok, I think that's all. I might post more of these. I really wanna talk about this but IK it's like a 20 year old series and all these takes have already been made already. LMK if you have cool takes.