Forest of Secrets

Forest of Secrets is the third book in the Original arc. The cat on the cover is Fireheart, though he is mistakenly depicted with yellow eyes.

Dedication

 * To Shrödi, hunting with StarClan,
 * and to Abbey Cruden,
 * who has met the real Fireheart

The Blurb

 * Allegiances are shifting among the Clans of warrior cats that roam the forest. With tensions so delicately balanced, former friends can become enemies overnight, and some cats are willing to kill to get what they want.


 * Fireheart is determined to find out the truth about the mysterious death of brave ThunderClan warrior Redtail. But as he searches for answers, he uncovers secrets that some believe would be better left hidden.

UK book blurb variation

 * The warrior cats are hungry, waiting for a thaw in the snow. Tensions run high and friends become enemies overnight. Fireheart is determined to find out the mysteries that lie at the heart of his adopted Clan. But as he searches for answers he discoverers an ugly truth that some cats are willing to kill to get what they want.

The Praise

 * "Hunter adds to the mix a devastating flood, shifting alliances between clans, treachery within and without ThunderClan, and attempted murder - a combination that makes for another dynamic episode sure to please series fans."
 * - Sally Estes, ALA Booklist


 * "This exciting book is not for the faint of heart as it is often violent. It is reminiscent of Greek drama, with its huge cast of characters (a chart of allegiances is included), intrigues, divided loyalties, star-crossed lovers, and parents murdering their offspring. Fans of the series will lap it up while impatiently awaiting the next entry."
 * - Sharon Rawlins, School Library Journal


 * "The author deftly balances the major conflicts with descriptions of daily life as a forest-dwelling cat. This third book in the series is as engaging as the first two."
 * - Horn Book Review


 * "Hunter moves forward with a sure hand in the third installment of this fast-moving series. The story is suspenseful; the feline characters are engaging."
 * - Voice of Youth Advocates

Detailed Plot Summary

 * ThunderClan is recovering after the recent battle with RiverClan and ShadowClan, although they are starving as prey is scarce in leaf-bare. Fireheart's friendship with Graystripe is rekindled.


 * Fireheart still does not trust Tigerclaw, the fierce ThunderClan deputy, and decides to uncover the truth about him. First, he visits Ravenpaw to ask him about the battle at Sunningrocks, and Ravenpaw confirms that Redtail was killed by Tigerclaw, not Oakheart.


 * In order to be positive that Redtail was killed by the claws of Tigerclaw, Fireheart sneaks over to RiverClan, where the warriors tell that Oakheart's death was an accident, contradicting Tigerclaw's version of the story. Graypool, a RiverClan elder, reveals that Stonefur and Mistyfoot, two RiverClan warriors, are not her kits, even though all of RiverClan, Stonefur, and Mistyfoot believe she is. It is revealed to him that Oakheart claimed to find them in the forest, and had asked Graypool to care for them, saying that he couldn't just leave them there. Graypool, however, sniffed them, and sensed that they were ThunderClan kits, and she knew that Oakheart knew this as well. At the time, however, they do not know who the parents of these two kits are. Thinking through what had been revealed to him, Fireheart also suspects that Cinderpaw's accident was the result of a trap set for Bluestar set by Tigerclaw.


 * Besides continuing his investigations, Fireheart must also carry out his warrior duties, cover for Graystripe, whose affair with Silverstream is in full steam and supervise Brackenpaw's training, put up with his disobedient nephew Cloudkit, and face Tigerclaw's continuous hostility.


 * Soon, newleaf arrives and the snow starts to melt. The river floods and two of Mistyfoot's kits are taken away by the water, but Fireheart and Graystripe rescue them and take them home. They learn that RiverClan is in trouble, forced to leave their camp and having nothing to eat. The two warriors offer to hunt for RiverClan and take them prey in secret, but they are eventually noticed by Tigerclaw, and Bluestar punishes them, putting an end to their actions.


 * At the next Gathering, Nightstar announces that ThunderClan is sheltering Brokentail, and this causes an uproar, with Shadowclan and WindClan declaring war on ThunderClan. The next day, they invade the ThunderClan camp, but they are forced to retreat. Allegiances are shifting between the Clans, with WindClan siding with ShadowClan, and ThunderClan siding with RiverClan.


 * Graystripe continues to meet with Silverstream in secret, and soon he finds out that Silverstream is pregnant with his kits. She begins kitting at Sunningrocks, but something goes wrong. She dies, despite Cinderpaw's efforts to try to save her. However, the two kits survive and are taken in by ThunderClan. The whole of ThunderClan now knows about Graystripe's affair, and they distrust him. RiverClan demand the kits for themselves, and Bluestar promises an answer for later. Bluestar also admits to Fireheart that Mistyfoot and Stonefur are her own kits, and that she decided to give them away to RiverClan so she could become deputy, believing that this was best for ThunderClan.


 * Cloudpaw is apprenticed to Fireheart. They are on a hunting mission when they notice Tigerclaw leading a band of rogues to attack ThunderClan's camp. Fireheart runs back to the camp, but the rogues arrive before him, and most warriors are away on patrols. During the chaos, Tigerclaw corners Bluestar in her den, trying to kill her, but Fireheart arrives just in time to save his leader and drive Tigerclaw away. A RiverClan patrol arrives and help ThunderClan defeat the rogues. Bluestar is shaken and unable to believe Tigerclaw's mutiny, though she manages to announce his betrayal to the Clan, and Fireheart also reveals what he learned about the Sunningrocks battle. Tigerclaw is exiled and swears revenge. Meanwhile, Yellowfang kills Brokentail by feeding him deathberries.


 * Bluestar announces Fireheart as the new Clan deputy, although she does this after moonhigh, breaking the Warrior Code. An omen of a piece of fresh-kill turning to crowfood makes Fireheart wonder if it means Bluestar's leadership rotting away.


 * At the end of the book, Bluestar agrees to surrender Silverstream's kits, and Graystripe decides to join RiverClan; he wants to to be with them and he is not trusted any more in ThunderClan. Fireheart is left heartbroken as he recalls all the adventures that he and Graystripe had been through together, and thinks about how lonely he will be with his best friend gone forever. Fireheart then returns to the ThunderClan camp as their newly appointed Clan deputy.

Trivia

 * This is the first Warriors book written by Cherith Baldry.
 * Victoria Holmes stated that Forest of Secrets was the book that made her become genuinely attached to the characters and their world.
 * It is suspected Fireheart is on the cover, but Fireheart has green eyes, and the cat on the cover has yellow.
 * It is also said within the book that Sandstorm has pale yellow eyes.

Publication History

 * Forest of Secrets (EN), HarperCollins (hardcover), 14 October 2003
 * Forest of Secrets (EN), HarperCollins (paperback), 5 October 2004
 * Лес секретов (RU), OLMA Media Group (unknown binding), 19 September 2005, translated by Veronica Maximova
 * Forest of Secrets (EN), HarperCollins Children (paperback), 3 April 2006
 * Bí Mật Trong Rừng (VI), Da Nang (unknown binding), December 2006, translated by Huong Lan
 * 비밀의 숲 (KR), Kyobo (unknown binding) 31 January 2007, translated by Kim Yi Seon
 * ファイヤハートの戦い (JP), Komine Shoten (hardcover), 19 April 2007, translated by Yukako Takabayashi
 * Forest of Secrets (EN), HarperCollins (e-book), 4 September 2007
 * Titkok Erdeje (HU) Egmont Pannónia (paperback), 2007, translated by Andrea Márton
 * Les mystères de la forêt (FR), Pocket Jeunesse (paperback), 6 March 2008, translated by Aude Carlier
 * 秘密之森 (ZH), Morning Star (unknown binding), 1 November 2008, translated by Gao Mei
 * Paslapčių miškas (LT), Garnelis (unknown binding), 2008, translated by Danguole Žalytė
 * ファイヤハートの戦い (JP), Komine Shoten (hardcover), 20 February 2009, translated by Yukako Takabayashi
 * 疑云重重 (ZH), China Children's Publishing (paperback), 1 March 2009, unknown translator
 * Geheimnis des Waldes (DE), Verlagsgruppe Beltz (hardcover), April 2009, translated by Klaus Weimann
 * Geheimnis des Waldes (DE), Verlagsgruppe Beltz (audiobook), November 2009, translated by Klaus Weimann, narrated by Marlen Diekhoff
 * Salaisuuksien metsä (FI), Art House (unknown binding), April 2010, translated by Vesa-Matti Paija
 * Geheimen (NL), Fantoom (hardcover), 16 June 2010, translated by Huberte Vriesdorp