Dark River (Warriors: Power of Three #2)

Warriors has been my all-time favorite series since I first began the Into the Wild, yet the repetitive and sometimes laborious plotlines of The New Prophecy made me think that it may be time to stop. What has urged me on? The brilliance of the newest Warriors series, Power of Three! Dark River is by far the best Warriors book since The Darkest Hour, and I'm so happy! Although The New Prophecy featured seemingly repeats of characters from the original series, Dark River is fresh and new. I am never bored by the three new protagonists (especially Jaypaw...I find his talents and defiant nature interesting and exciting!) Although Lionpaw's relationship with Heatherpaw could have been a repeat from Graystripe and Silverstream, Leafpool and Crowfeather etc., Erin Hunter made it unique by adding the underground tunnels as an engaging and ultimately terrifying meeting place for them. I have to say that I have yet to be as interested in Hollypaw's subplots, but I hope to be in future books. Lionpaw and Jaypaw are the main focus in Dark River. The true story begins as Lionpaw struggles with his feelings for the WindClan apprentice Hollypaw while Jaypaw becomes distratced from his medicine cat duties by a mysterious stick washed up from the lake covered in strange markings. Lionpaw and Heatherpaw discover a secret entrance to an underground labyrinth of tunnels through which a trickling river flows. Intrigued, they decide to meet each night in the tunnels secretly. Jaypaw is troubled by the mysteries the stick seems to hold, and frequent, unidentified voices calling out to him in his mind. Hollypaw's main subplot is her invesitigation of Lionpaw's nightly disappearances and her fear for her brother, as well as her snooping into the business of RiverClan, which has recently settled on the island because Twolegs are attacking their original camp. WindClan fears that they may try to steal their territory, and ThunderClan fears that, in turn, WindClan will steal theirs. Eventually, two WindClan kits disappear. WindClan blames ThunderClan, and launches an attack. Lionpaw and Heatherpaw know that the kits are actually in the underground tunnels, and launch a rescue mission along with Breezepaw, Jaypaw, and Hollypaw, who follow. Frequent rain has swelled the river, and the tunnels begin to flood. Jaypaw, guided by the voices of the the ancient cats who once stalked the tunnels, leads the cats to the kits. They just barely escape with their lives in a thrilling climax, ending the tensions between WindClan and ThunderClan. This amazing, unique, and clever installment is a marvelous read for any Warriors fan. I am pleased to say that I will cotinue to follow the lives of Jaypaw, Lionpaw, and Hollypaw for the next four books!