Sunset (Warriors)

Infobox Book
name = Sunset
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = First edition cover, featuring Hawkfrost in the center image. [http://www.warriorcats.com/warriorshell.html The official Warriors website uses this portion of the image for the image of Hawkfrost.]
author = Erin Hunter
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = HarperCollins
release_date = December 26, 2006
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 320 pp
isbn = ISBN 978-0060827694
preceded_by = Twilight
followed_by = The Sight "Sunset" is the sixth and final book in Erin Hunter's "" series.

Publication history

"Sunset" was released as a hardback on December 27, 2007.cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Sunset-Warriors-New-Prophecy-Book/dp/0060827696|title=Sunset (Warriors: The New Prophecy, Book 6) (Hardcover)|work=Amazon.com|accessdate=2008-05-03] A Russian translation was later released.cite web|url=http://www.ozon.ru/context/detail/id/3149220/|title=Закат|work=OZON.ru|language=Russian|accessdate=2008-05-03]

Plot summary

The fight between Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight is over and Squirrelflight loves Brambleclaw again. Ashfur is jealous of the way his former mate rejects him as Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight are mates now. Squirrelflight is hurt by the way Ashfur is hostile towards her and Brambleclaw cannot say anything to comfort her. The doubts between them were cured by the sign Leafpool received about Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight walking with their paws intertwined into the sky. After moons (months) of waiting, Brambleclaw manages to convince Firestar that it is time to appoint a new deputy, despite lack of evidence that the current deputy, Graystripe, is alive or dead, with the help of Sandstorm. StarClan sends Leafpool a dream to show that Brambleclaw is best fit to be deputy despite the fact that the young warrior has not had an apprentice yet. Brambleclaw visits Tigerstar and Hawkfrost his half-brother in his dreams for advice on how to become leader and for battle training.

During the plot of the story, several minor issues emerge. Fox traps are discovered and Berrykit gets his tail stuck in one and loses his tail. Because of that, Daisy takes her kits back to her former home but is later convinced to come back. Other Clans try to take ThunderClan's and WindClan's territory. In addition, it seems that something has happened in the Tribe of Rushing Water (the mysterious tribe met by the cats who set out to complete a prophecy in "Moonrise") because Stormfur and Brook have arrived from the Tribe and are unwilling to return to the Tribe, but refuse to explain why. Stormfur and Brook go back to RiverClan, but are quickly sent back to ThunderClan because of the cold and ambitious RiverClan warrior Hawkfrost.

Leafpool grieves over the death of her dead mentor Cinderpelt. With her relationship with Crowfeather gone, she now replaces Cinderpelt as the medicine cat. StarClan reveals to her that a kit in the nursery, Cinderkit, is the reincarnation of Cinderpelt.

The prophecy "Before there is peace, blood will spill blood and the lake will run red" is fulfilled when Hawkfrost manages to play a trick to tempt Firestar to the river, where the ThunderClan leader is caught within a fox trap. Brambleclaw is forced to choose between loyalty to his Clan and power. He chooses loyalty, and sets Firestar free, but to do so, he has to kill his half-brother. As Hawkfrost dies, he tells Brambleclaw that there is a traitor who helped him in ThunderClan.

Critical reaction

"Sunset" managed to secure #2 on the New York Times Bestseller List (children’s series section), first place being held by Lemony Snicket's final book in "A Series of Unfortunate Events".HarperCollins Authortracker email, Erin Hunter. Feb. 8, 2007] It also received praise with Barnes and Noble, which said the book had an "addictive bite". A review from "Children's Literature" compared the novel to a soap opera, with conflict after conflict. These conflicts, the reviewer noted, added depth to the novel. The reviewer closed by saying that while not well written and difficult to understand without knowledge of previous books, it still was entertaining. A second review, also by "Children's Literature", was lukewarm, saying it had a "steady pace" but could be "more frustrating than satisfying" for readers.cite web|url=http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780060827717|title= Sunset (Warriors: The New Prophecy Series #6)|work=Barnes & Noble.com|accessdate=2008-01-13]

References