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Shadow

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This article is about Shadow, the third book in the A Starless Clan arc; you may be looking for either Shadowstar, the first leader of ShadowClan, or Thunder and Shadow, the second book in the A Vision of Shadows arc.
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
"ShadowClan shouldn't be taking over RiverClan, it's no wonder that the RiverClan cats resent it. Though I do believe that Tigerstar means well, and he doesn't want to take RiverClan over for good, just guide them while they find a new leader."
— Nightheart about Tigerstar in Shadow, page 178



Shadow is the third book in the A Starless Clan arc. On the cover, Frostpaw is in the front, Tigerstar is on the far left, with Leafstar sitting to the right to him.[7] It features Nightheart, Sunbeam, and Frostpaw as the main protagonists, with Berryheart in the prologue.

Dedication

Special thanks to Cherith Baldry

Blurbs

Erin Hunter's #1 bestselling Warriors series continues! Discover more thrilling adventures in this third book in the Starless Clan arc.
A crossroads for the Clans—and the warrior code!
The warrior code now allows a cat to formally change Clans, but ShadowClan's newest arrival feels increasingly unwelcome—and though ShadowClan warrior Sunbeam thinks every cat deserves a chance, one of the loudest voices of opposition is her own mother. Meanwhile medicine cat apprentice Frostpaw scrambles to help RiverClan stay afloat under the watchful eye of a second Tigerstar, and the shadow of growing conflict looms over them all...
This [eighth] epic Warriors series is full of action, intrigue, and adventure—a perfect introduction for new readers and for long-time fans eager to discover what unfolds after the events of The Broken Code.

The praise

"A mixed bag that starts off well. [...]"
-Kirkus Reviews[8]

Detailed plot description

Looking for a shorter overview? Find one here!

Berryheart is nearly drowned by Darktail in the lake, though she summons her determination to save her Clan to trick him into thinking she's dead. After the Kin's leader leaves her for dead, Berryheart swims across the lake to RiverClan's territory, and she vows that ShadowClan will never be tricked by another outsider again.
Several moons later, RiverClan begins to recover from ShadowClan's attack. Tigerstar, now the supervising leader, starts organizing patrols, though RiverClan is quick to blame Owlnose for stepping down from leadership and putting them into this predicament. Icewing, a senior warrior, stands up for the younger tom, and Tigerstar places her and his deputy Cloverfoot in charge of the camp duties while he returns to ShadowClan. When Sunbeam and the other ShadowClan warriors return home, she's shocked to see Nightheart confessing his love for her and his intentions to join ShadowClan. While Gullswoop, Blazefire, and Spireclaw are pleased for Sunbeam, the brown-and-white tabby she-cat is mortified that Nightheart didn't inform her first. Nightheart apologizes, but vows to do his best to prove himself, even if Sunbeam decides she just wants to remain friends. Berryheart scolds her daughter for falling in love with a ThunderClan tom, and Sunbeam feels conflicted arguing with her. At the emergency Gathering, Leafstar angrily snaps at Tigerstar for taking over RiverClan by force, but he insists he merely wishes to help until they can find a proper leader, though Leafstar argues they will revisit ShadowClan's occupation at the next Gathering. When Tigerstar announces that Nightheart has decided to join ShadowClan, Berryheart and Finchlight advocate that there should be three challenges instead of one.
Frostpaw begins to seriously doubt her connection with StarClan, and she asks Shadowsight about his own experiences. While disappointed that he can't communicate with his ancestors, Shadowsight is still pleased to be a healer for his Clan. She later confides with Icewing that she is unable to speak with StarClan, and the white she-cat confronts Mothwing for keeping it a secret. The next morning, Icewing informs Tigerstar and the rest of the Clan, much to RiverClan's dismay. Tigerstar decides that Frostpaw should train as a warrior apprentice instead, much to her delight to finally be free. Several of her Clanmates disagree with his decision, including Splashtail, Duskfur, Graypaw, and Mistpaw, but Frostpaw insists this is her choice. Tigerstar chooses Harelight for her mentor, and he immediately supports and defends her from the others' scathing remarks. Her training with Harelight gives her newfound confidence and happiness. Frostpaw confesses her love to Splashtail. While Splashtail also has feelings for her too, the brown tabby tom is disinterested and still views her as a medicine cat apprentice, though Frostpaw maintains faith that they'll one day be mates.
In ShadowClan, Fringewhisker prepares for the first of her final two tasks as organized by Berryheart: an obstacle course through the trees and across a ravine near the SkyClan border. However, Fringewhisker's attacked by a snake on a fallen log across the ravine, though she manages to escape unscathed and complete her task. However, Nightheart and Sunbeam note how unfair the task was since Berryheart did not inform Fringewhisker about the snake that lived there. Sunbeam encourages her friend to take note of Fringewhisker's accomplishment: to think creatively, take your time, and accomplish the task at hand. For Nightheart's first task, Berryheart instructs him to catch several frogs for the Clan. While the black tom initially struggles catching the wily amphibians, he lures several to a ditch by using flies as bait since he was only instructed to catch the frogs and not kill them. While Tigerstar is pleased with his creativity, Berryheart's frustrated by his loophole and vows to make his next task harder. When Sunbeam spends two days guarding RiverClan's camp with Lightleap, Berryheart confronts Nightheart for his disloyalty to ThunderClan and his intentions with her daughter. Dovewing later takes Nightheart to say goodbye to his Clanmates in ThunderClan, much to his chagrin, and several of his Clanmates are hostile towards him. Bramblestar, meanwhile, is vacant and disinterested as he was at the Gathering.
Fringewhisker's final task is to navigate her way out of a cave, and her new Clanmates congratulate her when she finally emerges. Sunbeam and Nightheart briefly argue about the latter's dedication to completing his tasks, but Nightheart later notices Berryheart, Whorlpelt, Yarrowleaf, Snowbird, and several other ShadowClan cats slipping out of camp that night. The pair follow them to the greenleaf Twolegplace at the border with RiverClan where they discuss ShadowClan's occupation of RiverClan with Splashtail, Mallownose, and Duskfur. Splashtail vows RiverClan will find a new medicine cat soon. After another successful battle training session with Harelight, Frostpaw's happy for what the future may bring. While chatting with Lizardtail and Splashtail, the latter gets a stone stuck in his paw and Frostpaw helps clean his wound. This prompts a discussion from Frostpaw's littermates and Splashtail how she shouldn't have given up her medicine cat training, though Frostpaw sharply insists she's now training to be a warrior. Hoping to get closer to Splashtail, Frostpaw stays and hunts with him by the river. Splashtail admits he just needs time to accept her as a warrior, but isn't totally convinced about her choice to switch paths.
Sunbeam confronts her mother about her secret meeting with the RiverClan cats, but Berryheart vows that she won't let an outsider harm ShadowClan again after Darktail killed her daughter Needletail. Sunbeam begins to have her own doubts about Tigerstar's takeover of RiverClan, especially witnessing first-handedly how the RiverClan cats detested having ShadowClan cats in their own camp. For Nightheart's second trial, Berryheart tasks him with stealing a Twoleg pelt from the occupied greenleaf Twolegplace, and she shrugs off Blazefire's concerns about a dog. Nightheart sneaks into the pelt-den and successfully steals a scrap of Twoleg cloth when a small dog charges at him. Nightheart races away towards the treeline, but Berryheart scolds him for not being stealthy enough. Nightheart wonders if Berryheart set him up, but Tigerstar insists the black tom has passed his second trial. At the Gathering, the Clans argue about ShadowClan's presence in RiverClan; Leafstar's prepared to fight, but Harestar and Bramblestar disagree. Squirrelflight argues with her leader when he abruptly suggests she should lead instead. The Gathering ends when clouds briefly wisp over the moon.
Troubled by Bramblestar's behavior and experiencing a nightmare of ThunderClan attacking, Nightheart visits ThunderClan's camp in the early morning before his third trial. Bramblestar is pleased to see his kin and reveals he's been experiencing vivid recollections about his time in Dark Forest that have been haunting him daily. He's beginning to doubt his ability to properly lead, and Nightheart encourages him that stepping down would allow his strong deputy to take his place. As he leaves, Nightheart begins to doubt his decision to leave his kin in ThunderClan. He's nearly late for his third trial in ShadowClan: to fight off some rats, catch three pieces of prey, and collect one egg from a pigeon's nest. Nightheart readily accomplishes the first two parts, but he falls from the tree, failing his trial and attempt to join ShadowClan. Sunbeam realizes he failed his task on purpose and accuses him of using her feelings. Nightheart apologizes, insisting his Clan needs him. When he returns to ThunderClan, Bramblestar announces his intentions to step down to an elder with Squirrelflight taking his place, the pair planning to visit the Moonpool the following night. As the soon-to-be leader, Squirrelflight allows Nightheart to rejoin the Clan. After experiencing a nightmare with Nightheart falling in love with another she-cat and realizing Tigerstar's plans to increase ShadowClan's presence in RiverClan, Sunbeam decides to leave ShadowClan to be with Nightheart in ThunderClan.
While hunting with Harelight by the river, Frostpaw experiences a vision of a cat murdering Reedwhisker and throwing his body into the ravine where he was later found. Reedwhisker's spirit warns her of a darkness in RiverClan, and Frostpaw concludes that a RiverClan cat killed him because Reedwhisker appeared to have recognize his attacker. The gray she-cat reflects over Reedwhisker's words for the next several days. After Scorchfur ingests a mouse with a thorn imbedded into it, Cloverfoot suspects there is a group of RiverClan cats plotting against their leadership. Frostpaw confides with Splashtail about her vision, and the brown tabby instructs her to speak to another medicine cat to validate her vision. That night, Frostpaw sneaks over to WindClan to speak with Whistlepaw, the WindClan medicine cat apprentice, when she is abruptly attacked.

Trivia

Mistakes

A compiled list of the errors present in Shadow can be found here.
End of spoiler warning

Publication history

  • Shadow (EN), HarperCollins (hardcover), 4 April 2023[5]
  • Shadow (EN), HarperCollins (e-book), 4 April 2023[5]
  • Shadow (EN), HarperCollins (audiobook), 4 April 2023, narrated by MacLeod Andrews[5]
  • Shadow (EN), HarperCollins B and Blackstone Publishing (audio cd), 4 April 2023, narrated by MacLeod Andrews[6]
  • Skygge (NO), Juritzen jr. (paperback), 8 June 2023, translated by Tora Larsen Morset[9]
  • Skygge (NO), Juritzen jr. (e-book), 8 June 2023, translated by Tora Larsen Morset[9]
  • 影瘴迷心 (CN), China Juvenile and Children's Publishing House (paperback), 1 February 2024, translated by Xuan Liu (玄柳)[10]
  • Schatten (DE), Beltz & Gelberg (hardcover), 7 February 2024, translated by Friederike Levin[11]
  • Schatten (DE), Julius Beltz GmbH (e-book), 7 February 2024, translated by Friederike Levin[12]
  • Schatten (DE), Beltz & Gelberg (audiobook), 7 February 2024, translated by Friederike Levin and narrated by Claudia Gräf[13]
  • Shadow (EN), HarperCollins (paperback), 2 April 2024[14]
  • Unknown (TW), Morning Star (unknown), Summer 2025[15]

Gallery

US covers

Foreign covers

External links

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Revealed on the dedication page of Shadow
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Revealed on the inside right flap of Shadow
  3. ↑ Revealed on the copyright page of Shadow
  4. ↑ Revealed on amazon.com
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Revealed on harpercollins.com (backup link)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Revealed on amazon.com
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Exclusive Title and Cover Reveal: A Starless Clan #3 on the Warriors official website (backup link)
  8. ↑ Revealed on Kirkus Reviews (backup link)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Revealed on bokkilden.no
  10. ↑ Revealed on jd.com
  11. ↑ Revealed on instagram.com
  12. ↑ Revealed on beltz.de (backup link)
  13. ↑ Revealed on beltz.de (backup link)
  14. ↑ Revealed on harpercollins.com
  15. ↑ Revealed on an announcement by Morning Star (backup link)
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