Deep in the heart of the forest, four clans of warrior cats coexist in uneasy harmony -- but uncertain times are upon them, and dangers threaten the precarious balance of the forest.

Fireheart is a ThunderClan warrior cat now, but his troubles are far from over. As the chill of winter sets in, the cats of rival RiverClan grow restless, while WindClan is weak and facing threats from all sides.

As tensions build to an explosive climax, Fireheart faces not only imminent battle, but betrayal from within his own Clan.

ANNOTATION

Fireheart, a full-fledged warrior cat, must confront questions of loyalty and identity as he faces the possibility of betrayal from within his own forest clan.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Fireheart is a ThunderClan warrior cat now, but danger still lurks in the forest — and possibly closer than he thinks. With the chill of winter setting in, the cats of rival RiverClan are growing restless, while WindClan is weak and facing threats from all sides.

As tensions build to an explosive climax, Fireheart faces not only imminent battle, but betrayal from within his own Clan.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Barbara L. Talcroft

In a wooded area through which both a river and a highway run, live four rival clans of feral cats, who spend most of their time training, fighting, and killing prey. The main enemies of each clan are the other clans and a few rogue cats who want revenge, but we never see any other animals that can't be eaten by a cat, except for some brief glimpses of humans. In this second book of the "Warriors" series, the furry hero is Fireheart, recently become a warrior, but born a pet cat and trying to prove his loyalty to the wild clan. A feline Romeo-and-Juliet romance develops, Fireheart visits his pet kitty sister, while each camp keeps a "medicine cat," who gathers herbs and looks after the kits. Where all the kittens come from is something of a mystery, since we never see any sexual activity in the crowded dens. Favoring idioms like "Hi," "Okay," and "Nice moves," the cats talk a great deal, kill a prodigious number of birds, mice and moles, and go on endless patrols, generally behaving more like human guerillas than wild cats. The story is flat, repetitious, much too long, and in the end unsatisfying except perhaps to devoted cat lovers or readers who revel in invented worlds (there is even an otherworldly "Star Clan"). Despite its elaborately worked out environment (with maps) and a detailed cat hierarchy, this tale falls far short of being a feline Watership Down. 2003, HarperCollins, Ages 10 to 14.

VOYA - Lynn Rutan 0060000031

The premise of this series is that cats prefer the free life in the wild to that of being a house cat. As a reviewer who has been acquired by five stray cats determined to leave the wild, that idea is a major hurdle. Another hurdle is reading sentences such as, "'Mrrrrr! It feels nice!' mewed Cinderpaw," or enduring Fireheart's conflicted loyalty to his "kittypet" roots. If readers can overcome those obstacles, they will find that this second book in the Warriors series is a fast-paced animal adventure. In the first book, Into the Wild (HarperCollins, 2003), the young cat Fireheart left his life as a kittypet and joined the wild ThunderClan cats. Having completed his apprenticeship, Fireheart now assumes the responsibilities of a full-fledged warrior cat, facing such challenges as rescuing another Clan living in a hostile area, crossing the Thunderpath, surviving the time of leaf bare, and fighting rival Clans in fierce battles. Fireheart struggles both to prove that he is as good as any Clan-born cat despite his roots and to define where his loyalties lie. Hunter works hard at incorporating authentic cat mannerisms and behaviors. Although more sophisticated teens might be put off by the coy dialogue attributes, younger readers probably will not notice and will be caught up in Fireheart's adventures. Recommend this series to fans of animal fantasies such as Redwall and Dark Portal. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P M J (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2003, HarperCollins, 336p,

School Library Journal

Gr 5 Up-After having left his life as a kittypet, apprentice Firepaw of the ThunderClan has been given his warrior name of Fireheart and his first mission-to find the WindClan and assist them back to their traditional hunting grounds. While he and his friend Graystripe are successful in their quest, Fireheart knows that trouble is brewing, and he isn't sure that the ThunderClan's deputy can be trusted. As events escalate, a warrior from RiverClan is accidentally killed, an apprentice is injured, and Fireheart brings into the Clan a kittypet kitten-his nephew-without thinking of the consequences. Finally, he must decide who to trust and who to fight. Readers not familiar with the first book may find this one hard to follow. Hunter provides a directory that tells which cats are in which clans, but it is cumbersome to flip back and forth. The characterizations of the animals are somewhat flat, although it is possible to tell them apart, and the plot's twists and turns seem mapped out and predictable. Librarians with a readership for Into the Wild (HarperCollins, 2003) will probably want this volume; others can pass.-Lisa Prolman, Greenfield Public Library, MA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Hunter ratchets up the tension in the return of the house pet turned feral warrior. Renamed Fireheart, the brave feline has little time to revel in his acceptance by Thunderclan before he and his best friend Graystripe must retrieve the refugee WindClan cats. But success leads to tragedy as Graystripe inadvertently kills a RiverClan warrior. Bad feelings are exacerbated by rumors of poaching in rival territories. Clan discord has private echoes as Graystripe falls for a RiverClan warrior, while Fireheart is torn between duty to his Clan and affection for his "kittypet" kin. Beneath this swirl of clashing loyalties runs the dark thread of Fireheart¿¿¿s continuing suspicions of ThunderClan¿¿¿s ambitious deputy leader. Hunter¿¿¿s world keeps getting more finely drawn, and her characters more complex. While the focus is upon inner turmoil and inter-Clan intrigue, Fireheart still appreciates the pleasures of the hunt and the fury of battle, although readers may share his disappointment that combat fails to resolve his conflicting responsibilities. With enough backstory for newcomers to find their way, established fans will be on edge for the next title. (chart of allegiances) (Fantasy. 11+)