Long Shadows (Hunter novel)

Long Shadows is a novel in the Warriors series, a set of children's fantasy books about feral cats, written by Erin Hunter. It is the sixth and final book in the second series, The New Prophecy.

Plot Summary:

The novel focuses on Brambleclaw's struggles with his ambition and his relationship with his father, the evil Tigerstar, who appears to him in dreams. Firestar grapples with a mysterious prophecy foretelling a deadly battle. The tensions between the different clans increase as resources become scarce. Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw experience further strain in their relationship. The book culminates in a fire caused by Ashfur, who attempts to kill Firestar's adopted daughters, Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze. Ashfur reveals to all the Clans that Squirrelflight is not the real mother of the three, and that Brambleclaw is not their father, causing chaos and division. Hollyleaf kills Ashfur to keep the secret and runs away from the Clans.

Characters Introduced:

• This section primarily details development of existing characters, with no notable new main characters introduced. The focus is on the development of Brambleclaw, Firestar, Squirrelflight, Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Ashfur.

Themes:

Key themes explored in Long Shadows include:

• Family: The complexities of blood ties versus chosen family, and the impact of parentage on identity.
• Secrets and Lies: The consequences of keeping secrets and the corrosive effect of lies on relationships and communities.
• Loyalty and Betrayal: The tension between loyalty to one's Clan and the potential for betrayal, and the moral dilemmas that arise.
• Ambition and Power: The allure of power and the dangers of unchecked ambition.
• Identity: The struggle to define oneself and to understand one's place in the world, especially in light of revealed secrets.

Reception:

Like other Warriors books, Long Shadows was generally well-received by its target audience, contributing to the continued popularity of the series.