BOOK REVIEW: Fire and Ice {Warriors # 2: The Prophecies Begin} by Erin Hunter

”It’s not my place to judge you. Whatever you decide to do, I will always be your friend.”

Y’all I know Fire and Ice is geared towards kids, but I’m not gonna lie, I love Erin Hunter’s Warriors books. Blame it on my affinity for fantastical adventures or my unwavering adoration for felines, but this is just a brilliant series that all ages can really enjoy. And this particular tome showcases that.

Fire and Ice picks up directly where Into the Wild left off – opening just after Fireheart and Graystripe earn their Warrior status in ThunderClan. As their first mission, the two friends {one a former kittypet, the other Clanborn} are tasked with bringing WindClan back to their territory after being chased away by ShadowClan. The mission goes successfully, earning Fireheart and Graystripe a new opportunity: to train Warriors of their own.

In dire need of new Warriors within their Clan, Bluestar, the ThunderClan leader, names siblings Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw to serve as apprentices. Cinderpaw, a female with a fiery spirit {who reminds me so much of my kitten Liesel!} is assigned to Fireheart; while Brackenpaw, a timid yet tough little fella, earns an apprenticeship under the watchful eye of Graystripe. Thrilled at the chance to be mentors so early in their Warrior journey, Fireheart and Graystripe begin training immediately, and that’s precisely when things take a turn for the worst.

While on hunting patrol, Graystripe chases a vole onto thin ice, nearly drowning, and requiring rescue from a sleek she-cat known as Silverstream. A prestigious member of RiverClan, Silverstream catches Graystripe’s eye, leading the two young Warriors into a secret relationship that goes against Clan laws, and tests loyalties.

With Graystripe sneaking out for clandestine meetings with Silverpaw, Fireheart finds himself suffering from loneliness, and begins questioning his own loyalty to the clan – especially when he starts having flashbacks of his former kittypet life, and the siblings he left behind. Namely, a sister named Princess whom he has recently reconnected with. But when a series of attacks by ShadowClan warriors, accusations of ThunderClan spies invading RiverClan, and a terrible accident involving Cinderpaw take place, Fireheart and Graystripe must officially get their heads in the game, and make decisions that will impact not just their friendship, but their entire clan.

Fact: when I first started this series, I thought the premise of warrior cats was odd; but by the end of book one, I had fallen under the spell of such a far-fetched concept, and was thrilled to read Fire and Ice which exceeded my expectations.

This series is so character-driven. You truly empathize with the cats, and grow to love them in a very short period of time. Though many have dubbed Fire and Ice Graystripe’s story, I disagree to a certain extent, as I feel that Fireheart and his untold origins, along with his reservations about Warrior-hood, and reflections on his former life as a kittypet, is truly at the forefront. And then, of course, there’s Cinderpaw.

Give me more of this character now! Cinderpaw is endearing from the moment she prances onto the page. Her spunk and wildness {sometimes viewed as disobedience} are captivating; and the relationships she forms with both Fireheart, and ThunderClan medicine cat, Yellowfang, is thrilling to watch. Cinderpaw reminds me so much of my blind kitten, Liesel, which makes me love her even more.

Calling all cat lovers, this one’s for you!

Star Rating: *****


xx