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in: Books, A Starless Clan arc, Thunder (book)
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Thunder

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This article is about Thunder, the fourth book in the A Starless Clan arc; you may be looking for either Thunderstar, the first leader of ThunderClan, or Thunder and Shadow, the second book in the A Vision of Shadows arc.
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
"Don't say that. Warriors should never prey on Clanmates. Especially vulnerable ones. It goes against everything the Clans stand for. You may have been naive, but you've never been clueless. I've traveled with you, remember? You're one of the bravest, strongest cats I know. Splashtail took advantage of you because he's a rogue. There's no way you made it happen."
— Nightheart to Frostpaw in Thunder, page 248



Thunder is the fourth book in the A Starless Clan arc. The cats depicted on the cover are Sunbeam in the front, Finchlight behind her on the left, and Sparkpelt on her right.[7] It features Frostpaw, Nightheart, and Sunbeam as the main protagonists, with Riverstar in the prologue.

Dedication

Special thanks to Kate Cary

Blurb

Erin Hunter's #1 bestselling Warriors series continues! Discover more epic adventure in this fourth book in the Starless Clan arc.
Frostpaw was told to trust no cat, but a brutal attack has left her gravely injured, and she'll need to depend on someone. When help arrives in the form of a young warrior, she convinces him to protect her as she follows StarClan's cryptic directions toward the roots of RiverClan, where Riverstar has promised she'll find the answers she's been so desperately seeking.
Back at the lake, the tension between ShadowClan and its neighbors might be easing, but the peace is fragile. Until StarClan's chosen leader is found, the slightest push could lead the Clans back into outright war.
Packed with action and intrigue, this [eighth] Warriors series is a perfect introduction for new readers, while long-time fans will be thrilled to discover what unfolds after the events of The Broken Code.

Detailed plot description

Looking for a shorter overview? Find one here!

In StarClan, Shadowstar, Skystar, Thunderstar, and Windstar question Riverstar about Frostpaw's future, though Riverstar is determined that she will be the one to save her Clan. Still reeling from her brutal attack, Frostpaw groggily wakes up as Whistlepaw, the WindClan medicine cat apprentice, begins to treat her severe neck wound. Frostpaw insists that she cannot return to her Clan, so Whistlepaw takes her to the horseplace where Smoky and his two kits, Coriander and Little Daisy, attempt to care for her. Frostpaw makes Whistlepaw vow to not tell Kestrelflight or her Clanmates, fearing that whoever attacked her might return. However, Frostpaw's condition rapidly deteriorates, and Smoky alerts his Twolegs about Frostpaw. Frostpaw's wounds are treated by Twolegs, and they also leave a strange scar on her flank. She has a dream of Riverstar encouraging her to help her Clan. She decides to travel to the Moonpool to speak with StarClan.
In ThunderClan, Sunbeam is warmly welcomed by Nightheart's kin and friends, much to Nightheart's pleasure. Squirrelflight is prepared to leave for the Moonpool, and she invites Nightheart to join them. She promises to name Ivypool her deputy if StarClan accepts her as leader, and Ivypool is accepted by the Clan. Nightheart stands guard while Squirrelflight, Bramblestar, and Alderheart speak with StarClan, but clouds cover the moon. In ThunderClan's camp, Berryheart angrily arrives and demands for her daughter to return to ShadowClan, but Nightheart's kin defends Sunbeam. In the morning, Squirrelflight, Bramblestar, Alderheart, and Nightheart begin heading back to camp when they run into a SkyClan patrol. Squirrelflight suggests for Nightheart to return to camp alone so they can try again at the Moonpool. Ivypool's first task as deputy is to plan Sunbeam's three trials for her to become a full member of ThunderClan. Her first task is to teach Spotfur's kits, Bristlekit, Graykit, and Stemkit, how to work as a team and catch enough prey for the elders. The kits catch four voles, and Sunbeam passes her first trial. However, she is disheartened to learn that Nightheart left midway through to return back to the Moonpool.
In her dreams, Riverstar tells Frostpaw that StarClan will help her choose RiverClan's new leader, but she must first make a journey by following the rising sun. Riverstar also advises that she will have to learn to trust her unknown companion, who will accompany her on this journey. While guarding Squirrelflight, Bramblestar, and Alderheart, Nightheart finds Frostpaw nearby. Frostpaw recognizes him as her companion as Riverstar foretold, and she convinces him to accompany her on her journey to save RiverClan, though Nightheart feels guilty for abandoning Sunbeam. Frostpaw is initially distrustful of Nightheart. However, after they are attacked by otters, Frostpaw begins to open up to him. They navigate through a Twolegplace, and Riverstar eventually tells Frostpaw to search for a tree the color of a salmon's flesh. After crossing over a river, they discover a group of cats surrounding a tree covered in soft pink light. A Twoleg arrives to feed them. The group of cats introduce themselves as the Cats of the Park, passing down stories of Riverstar saving them from a vicious group of rogues and coming back to life. Bee teaches Frostpaw how to meditate to clear her mind, and Riverstar appears to Frostpaw that she needs to learn how to let others support her.
Back at the lake, Squirrelstar, Brambleclaw, and Alderheart return to camp, and their Clanmates warmly welcome them. Squirrelstar tells Sunbeam privately that StarClan informed her that Nightheart will return, though Sunbeam wonders about her place in ThunderClan if Nightheart is gone. At the emergency Gathering, Squirrelstar announces her new leadership and RiverClan mentions Frostpaw's disappearance. Squirrelstar brings up Nightheart's suggestion of having Tree help to find peace between RiverClan and ShadowClan with the former's occupation. Four days later, Squirrelstar returns from the first talks with news that Tigerstar still wants to keep his warriors in RiverClan. Sunbeam suggests speaking with Dovewing to perhaps convince Tigerstar, though the ShadowClan queen is offended by this idea. Sparrowtail urges Sunbeam that she can return to RiverClan after Berryheart's future plan succeeds. Sunbeam's second trial is to safely remove a large boulder from the top of the stone hollow before it can fall and damage the camp. Ivypool assigns Cherryfall, Bayshine, and Alderheart to help Sunbeam. While Sunbeam disagrees with Cherryfall's solution of just letting the boulder fall into camp, the four cats eventually manage to pull it away from the ledge, and Ivypool congratulates Sunbeam for navigating through differing opinions.
A quarter-moon after they've arrived, Frostpaw is still struggling how to meditate and relax, so Bee suggests playing with Nightheart, Molly, Waffle, and Wasp. She's pleased to remember how it feels to be safe. Another quarter-moon later, Frostpaw finally accepts who attacked her on WindClan's territory: Splashtail. Frostpaw feels like a fool for trusting him, but Nightheart, Rook, and Waffle reassure her. After several more days of meditating, Frostpaw tells Riverstar that she's ready to hear what he's been holding back. Riverstar sends her a vision of Curlfeather and Splashtail plotting Reedwhisker's death so they can be leader and deputy, and Frostpaw realizes that her mother is in the Dark Forest. Recognizing that she's learned everything that she's needed to learn, Frostpaw and Nightheart return back to the Clans, with Waffle and Wasp joining them.
Sunbeam and Finchlight discuss how peace might soon be achieved between RiverClan and ShadowClan, with Tigerstar steadily agreeing to decrease the amount of ShadowClan warriors in RiverClan's camp. Duskfur has been assigned by her peers as RiverClan's temporary leader until StarClan appoints a new one, with Splashtail as her deputy. Sunbeam still worries for Nightheart, who has been missing for nearly a moon. She begins her third and final trial: following a set of clues around ThunderClan's territory. Lionblaze, Sparkpelt, Jayfeather, and Cherryfall provide her with the next clues at key locations, though Cherryfall purposefully provides Sunbeam the wrong clue. She manages to figure out the right answer, and Sunbeam is welcomed as a full warrior of ThunderClan. At the Gathering, Berryheart openly challenges Tigerstar's position as leader, but Puddleshine speaks out against her opinion. Berryheart leaves ShadowClan, with Sparrowtail and Hollowspring joining her. Duskfur announces that Podlight is their newest medicine cat after receiving a dream from Riverstar that Splashtail should be their new leader. In the back of the crowd, Frostpaw worries what will happen to her Clan, but Nightheart reassures her that they won't let Splashtail get away with this.

Trivia

Interesting facts

  • Kate originally stated she would begin writing this book in 2022.[blog 1] However, Kate then later said she would begin writing this book after she finished Riverstar's Home, which she was still writing as of November 2022.[8]
  • On March 7th 2023, fans were invited to submit apprentice name suggestions for a new character to be featured in this book.[9] Wafflepaw was the winner.[10][11]

Mistakes

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

Publication history

  • Thunder (EN), HarperCollins (hardcover), 7 November 2023[5]
  • Thunder (EN), HarperCollins (e-book), 7 November 2023[4]
  • Thunder (EN), HarperAudio (audiobook), 7 November 2023, narrated by MacLeod Andrews[4]
  • Thunder (EN), HarperCollins (audio cd), 7 November 2023, narrated by MacLeod Andrews[6]
  • Torden (NO), Juritzen jr. (paperback, e-book), 7 November 2023, translated by Tora Larsen Morset[12][13]
  • Donner (DE), Beltz & Gelberg (hardcover), 17 July 2024, translated by Anja Hansen-Schmidt[14]
  • Donner (DE), Julius Beltz GmbH (e-book), 17 July 2024, translated by Anja Hansen-Schmidt[15]
  • Donner (DE), Beltz & Gelberg (audiobook), 17 July 2024, translated by Anja Hansen-Schmidt and narrated by Claudia Gräf[16]
  • Thunder (EN), HarperCollins (paperback), 5 November 2024[17]
  • 雷光破云 (CN), China Juvenile and Children's Publishing House (paperback), 13 January 2025, translated by Xuan Liu[18]
  • Unknown (TW), Morning Star (unknown), Summer 2025[19]

Gallery

US covers

Foreign covers

External links

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Revealed on the dedication page of Thunder
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Revealed on the inside right flap of Thunder
  3. ↑ Revealed on the copyright page of Thunder
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Revealed on harpercollins.com
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Revealed on a brochure for edelweiss.com
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Revealed on amazon.ca
  7. ↑ Revealed on the Exclusive Title and Cover Reveal: A Starless Clan #4 on the Warriors official website (backup link)
  8. ↑ Revealed on the Warriors Hub Q&A on the Warriors official website (backup link)
  9. ↑ Revealed on the Warriors Instagram (screenshot)
  10. ↑ Revealed on the Warriors Instagram (screenshot)
  11. ↑ Revealed in the results for We asked you to nominate your pet to be featured in Thunder, and here is the shortlist of real names. Vote for your favorite! poll on the Warriors official website (screenshot)
  12. ↑ Revealed on kattekrigerne.no (backup link)
  13. ↑ Revealed on bokkilden.no (backup link)
  14. ↑ Revealed on a kulturkaufhaus.de
  15. ↑ Revealed on a kulturkaufhaus.de
  16. ↑ Revealed on beltz.de (backup link)
  17. ↑ Revealed on Edelweiss.com
  18. ↑ Revealed on weixin.qq.com (backup link)
  19. ↑ Revealed on an announcement by Morning Star (backup link)

Author references

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