night0wl_23's reviews
137 reviews

To start: I think having Kenji as a main character was amazing, 10/10, why didn’t this happen 5 books ago? 

I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than the previous 5. Finally we’re getting some answers and world building, there is an actual plot outside of Juliette and Warner’s toxic romance, and because Juliette’s memories got wiped for 90% of the book she could actually be her own person outside of her relationships (even if that person was designed and manipulated by Anderson). 

The whole thing with J finding Anderson attractive grossed me out, it didn’t contribute to the story at all. And it annoyed me that all Warner had to do to get her to remember him was hug and kiss her. She doesn’t remember anything, no names no faces, not even mentions of her past spark any recognition, but “the feeling of his body, perfectly against mine feels right, the warmth of his skin familiar” is what makes her remember? It’s just kinda mid, cheap, boring. Whatever. 

Adding onto that, I get that she and Emmaline are like incredibly powerful and stuff, but simply being able to look at all the supreme commanders to kill them is a very cheap solution to a ‘battle’ that’s been hyped up for 5 books. 

Another thing that bothered me about this book is Warner’s character. I used to like him, he used to be a morally grey character that did horrible things because he had to. But now? The second J was kidnapped he lost all his character development. Where did the boy who wanted to be better go? 
He hates everyone, threatens to murder everyone all the time, and he’s just generally being an asshole to the people who want to help him. He and Kenji had finally started to become something resembling friends, just for it to be thrown out the window never to be seen again. 

The epilogue is truly what brought this book from a 3 to a 2.5 star.  After a series like this, I expect the epilogue to include at least some bits about the plans going forward, but no, this was just Warner being rude to service workers, insulting poor people (tf??), threatening to kill Kenji (J’s best friend!), and being incredibly controlling over what J should and shouldn’t do on her (their) wedding day. The man is a walking red flag, and I’m supposed to like him? Root for him and J? No thank you. 

The plot point of Adam giving up his powers to the Reestablishment to protect James was glossed over so quickly. And in the epilogue he’s suddenly super happy about life? His character is changed yet again to fit the narrative. 

The epilogue never even mentioned Nazeera and Kenji’s relationship, and I’m very disappointed. Nor did it mention how things are working out at the Sanctuary for Castle and his daughter Nouria. It never really mentioned anything about the actual aftermath and consequences of the fall of the Reestablishment for the world. Nothing about how the world is like now that Emmaline’s illusion is gone, no description of a hopeful ending or solution, because it was too busy repeating that Warner and J are getting married. 

We just prevented the end of the fucking world, we just stopped the oppressive dictator military government, but the main characters getting married is obviously more important than anything else.

This series has a big problem of introducing too many characters and then never giving them a purpose. Yes, they’re the ‘friends’ of our main character Juliette (despite her never talking to them, ever) but outside of that they’re just names and vague personality traits used for mostly pointless dialogue and the occasional plot driving. 

A massive ick I’ve had throughout reading this series is how Juliette never had any meaningful conversations or relationships with other women. The other women from Omega Point were all just quiet and in the shadows, and we never got to see her reconnect with Nazeera or the other supreme kids. It annoys me in a way I can’t really explain. 

Overall, this book had more plot than the entire series combined, the lack of romance made it readable, but the ending was rushed and not really satisfying, lacking a lot of answers. 

I didn’t like this series. This is not my cup of tea, and I’m so happy I’m done. 

I actually liked this book a bit more than the previous books in the series, but it’s still lacking in multiple ways. 

The plot and world building is still all over the place, and while it got more focus than in previous books it’s a little bit too late. As a reader, being 5 books into a series and getting surprised at world building information I should’ve had ages ago is just annoying. 

80% of the book is just fillers, a lot of it is just spiralling thoughts from J and Warner. The ‘action’ is over before it even starts most of the time, and these kids are carried by plot armour. 

Like I’m so sorry but that sounds so stupid. “Her mind was simply strong enough to stop her brain from losing its memories” what? That’s such a dissatisfying explanation. I get that she’s strong and powerful, but it’s so cheap to use that as a reason. 

The pacing is weird yet again. Somehow a lot happened in this book while nothing was happening at all, because it was mostly info dumping between page after page of J and Warner spiralling. Only good chapters were Kenji’s, but we only got those so we could see what he and Nazeera were up to.

Adding onto the pacing issue, the timeline was very confusing and difficult to follow. A lot that happened during the book was just told to us by the POV character long after it had happened, and I honestly don’t know why. It’s an odd choice to say the least.

Overall, my main issues are with the writing. The romance is starting to feel forced, and it’s still pausing the end of the world just so J and Warner can cuddle for a bit. The lack of world building and the pacing of the plot makes the story difficult to follow, and I’ve really struggled to understand the characters. 

It’s kind of entertaining I guess, but mid and boring considering the context of “dystopian end of the world with a revolution to overthrow the dictator government”. 

(This review includes spoilers, read at your own discretion)

I have mixed feelings about this book. The first half was just about finding Sol and bribing him back to Thunderclan, with a little sprinkle of Jayfeather investigating who the threes parents might be. 

Because of everything with Sol the first half was just incredibly slow, finding out who their parents are took so long, and all the consequences were crammed into the last 30 pages or so.

This isn’t the best book, but I enjoy the ending, I just wish it was given more time instead of being rushed :’) 

(This review includes spoilers, read at your own discretion)

So much happened in this book. The fake sign turned real sign, the green cough outbreak, Jaypaw meeting the ancient cats, the fire scene AND A MURDER! 

While I’m sad Sol’s takeover of Shadowclan was so short, and I hope we’ll see him again, his parting words with Hollyleaf was chilling. “Are you sure you know who the three are?” HE KNOWS!! He must know! And now he’s putting doubt in Hollyleaf’s head, making her obsess over the warrior code, the one thing making her ‘special’, even more. 

Jaypaw meeting the ancient cats as Jay’s Wing, sending them to the mountains to form the Tribe, Jaypaw starting the chain reaction that lead to this very moment IS SO COOL!! I can’t wait to see the ancient cats again. 

Also a little side note on the ancient cats,

I see you Dove’s Wing, I know who you are. The foreshadowing of Dovewing is fantastic.

The fire scene was simply amazing. Better than I remember, 10/10. Same with the aftermath, Lionblaze and Jayfeather trying to come to terms with it and figuring out what to do with Ashfur, meanwhile Hollyleaf is slowly losing her mind. The difference between the three, the two who know who they are and what makes them special, and Hollyleaf who just isn’t special is incredible. 

How far is one cat willing to go to protect the code? And what if the code is broken no matter what you do? UGH, Hollyleaf my beloved you will always be special to me. 

A couple of side notes:
- Heathertail is so based for letting Lionblaze get away with the catmint. “I fucking hate you, but my hatred is with you, not innocent sick cats.” 
- Firestar staying with the sick cats even after he died and is no longer sick, just to take care of them is so heartwarming. THIS is what those nine lives are for, to protect and help his clan. We don’t have enough leaders actually risking their lives for their clan mates, even though they have 9 to take from. 
- Silverstream watching over Millie from Starclan while she’s sick ))): Jaypaw telling Graystripe about it too, oh my heart 

(This review includes spoilers, read at your own discretion)

Hollypaw and Lionpaw knows! Finally! It’s honestly so interesting seeing how much changed once they knew about the prophecy. 

Lionpaw feeling like everything makes sense, while also being scared of his own powers and how they make him think during battle. 

Meanwhile Hollypaw is trying to figure out what makes her special, it must be how strongly she feels for the warrior code, right? She’s part of this prophecy with her brothers, both of whom know exactly what’s special about them, so this must be what’s special about her. UGH, it’s so interesting seeing the start of her spiralling in a new light.

And don’t even get me started on Sol, I simply adore him. How did he know about the eclipse? Was it always his intention to make the clans doubt Starclan, or did he just jump at the opportunity once he saw how tired Blackstar was? Did he actually know the prophecy or did he just play along and said what he thought the three wanted to hear? 
 
I have so many questions about him, such a mysterious, manipulative and interesting villain. 

And of course Jaypaw, my favourite main character. He’s finally getting around to being a medicine cat, stepping into his role and challenging Leafpool on her decisions. He’s the cat that helped Cinderpaw recover from her leg injury, and he keeps proving himself and growing, it’s amazing.

At the very end, when Hollyleaf, Lionblaze and Cinderheart got their warrior names, he allowed himself to feel jealous that they got to be warriors like he’s always wanted, and just a moment later he was proud of them, and cheered them on. He’s grown so much since the first book, they all have. They feel so much older already. UGH, I love The Power of Three.

(This review includes spoilers, read at your own discretion)

I honestly found this one a bit boring, I’ve never really liked the storylines outside of clan life. 

I didn’t like how the solution to the tribes problems was becoming more clan like either. The tribe has always been friendly and welcoming, so it sucks that they have to become hostile and protective of their territory. They’re not clan cats, and I really wished that this could’ve been a learning experience for the clans on conflict solving without fighting, rather than having the tribe change their ways. 

Also I feel so bad for Breezepaw, he’s literally just a teenager acting out because his dad is an asshole. He desperately needs some positive encouragement, and Crowfeather needs to grow the fuck up and stop taking out his anger and frustration on Breezepaw. 

(This review includes spoilers, read at your own discretion)

I simply adore Hollypaw, Lionpaw and Jaypaw as main characters. All three have their own things going on throughout the book, but they always end up in trouble together.

Just like the first book they feel young and inexperienced, but you can see them grow and test limits surrounding the warrior code, themselves and their relations to others. 

It’s so sweet seeing them learn from mistakes and grow as characters, and seeing them stick together despite fights and disagreement's. They’re an amazing trio and definitely my favourite main characters. 

Now onto the more rant-y bit of my review:

It’s unbelievable how Brambleclaw suspects that Lionpaw has learned fighting techniques from Tigerstar, and still manage to talk about his father positively. Brambleclaw knows what Tigerstar’s goal was by training him and Hawkfrost, he knows why and how Hawkfrost died, and yet he’s not worried seeing his son walk the same path? He knows, but instead of warning Lionpaw to stop and get away, he had a speech about how Tigerstar was a great warrior, just ‘a bit too ambitious’?? Insane. 

It’s also so annoying how everyone ignored Hollypaw “cause she’s an apprentice and inexperienced”, especially after she came home from Riverclan. She knows more about the situation than the rest of you, even if she promised not to tell. They could’ve at least heard her out, but they wouldn’t purely because she’s an apprentice. They only listened once Mousefur backed her up. 

Adding onto my previous point, while I really enjoyed seeing how Riverclan keeping their issues secret snowballed into a full on threat of war because of rumours and speculation - Windclan and Thunderclans fight over pray was so incredibly stupid.

“They’re hunting forest pray! Our pray!”  Thunderclan hunt rabbit if it’s on their territory, they always have, why shouldn’t Windclan learn to hunt all types of pray found on their territory? Thunderclan was so incredibly dramatic over nothing, and made shit worse by being so aggressive towards Windclan cats who weren’t even doing anything wrong. 

(This review includes spoilers, read at your own discretion)

I might be blinded by nostalgia, but I genuinely LOVED this book.

Jaypaw, Lionpaw and Hollypaw are amazing as main characters, I love their different personalities, struggles and worries, and their dynamics with each other and their clan mates.

Jaypaw with his struggles to prove that he’s not as helpless as everyone thinks. Hollypaw with her strong wish to serve and protect her clan in the best way. UGH, I love them both. 

The groundwork for Lionpaw and Heatherpaw in this book was also so lovely. Exactly what Leafpool and Crowfeather was missing in TNP. 

I really wish they had kept the day gathering as a tradition every new leaf to mark the anniversary of the journey (and then after a few generations, it would just mark the end of leaf bare), a missed opportunity. 

(This review includes spoilers, read at your own discretion)

I’m rereading the series and I’m just, shocked at the amount of details I don’t remember.

The three stars sign Leafpool had, Spottedleaf literally telling Leafpool that Cinderpelt is reincarnated as Cinderkit?? Oh my god?

The detail of Birchpaw warning Firestar about Blackstar, yet Ashfur told Leafpool and Squirrelflight the ‘truth’ (part of it at least). And Hawkfrost having the scent of Shadowclan??? UGH I love it! 

I still don’t like Brambleclaw though. I loved him through the journey, but the second the clans settled back down the sweet and kind cat just disappeared. He’s so gullible, and blinded by insecurities. 

Him calling out and blaming Leafpool for Shadowclan thinking they can move the border after she told Littlecloud how Cinderpelt died, which she had the right to do, during a CLAN MEETING?! Just for it to turn out that he’s the reason Shadowclan knew, cause he told Hawkfrost and Hawkfrost told Shadowclan. 

He kept projecting, kept being snappy and rude. Hell the book started with him thinking all the bad things he and Squirrelflight did to each other could just be forgotten, WHEN HES THE ONE WHO WAS MEAN TO HER!! SHE DIDN’T DO SHIT! The woman literally just called him out for being stupid, and he acted like an asshole to her in return.

Squirrelflight and Firestar are so much better than me, I would take way longer to forgive him for the bullshit he pulled. 

(This review includes spoilers, read at your own discretion)

I adored having Squirrelflight and Leafpool POVs, I love them so much and god I’m gonna miss it.

I had honestly forgotten how public Leafpool and Crowfeathers silly little illegal relationship was oh my god?😭

Brambleclaw is just,, ugh where do I start? For a man so incredibly upset over Squirrelflight judging him and Hawkfrost based on their father (which is she didn’t even do!), he sure as hell has no problem judging Daisy and her kits based on their origin as kittypets.
And he had the audacity to say all that to Firestar and Cloudtail! 
He’s so moody and annoying and incredibly punchable. Squirrelflight deserves so much better than him. 

Also, in my personal opinion, Cloudtail would never act like he did towards Brightheart in this book. He LOVES his wife, and Brightheart would never be jealous cause she knows that. The two of them would’ve helped Daisy out together, not fight over it ):
I obviously understand these character better than the authors /j