If you are looking to purchase this, then chances are you will have read the other five. If not, then this review may contain *spoilers*. I am forever accidentally coming across warrior spoilers and it's my own fault for looking at books before it's time to read them!
This series of six books has (for my anyway) been the best book journey I have ever embarked upon. Partly because I love cats, and partly because I love a good, emotionally driven story with characters that can build such a strong level of empathy, it's often hard to hold back the tears! This book is probably the best out of the six, simply because it is the grand finale and you will see the prophecy 'only fire can save the clan' unfold. At the end of the last book, you will know that after Bluestar's brave but tragic death, Fireheart is destined to become leader and for me one of the best parts in the book is when Firestar travels to Highstones to share dreams with StarClan and receive his nine lives. Finally, you get to witness the monumental occasion and meet some of the StarClan cats! It's so magical and moving and it's lovely to be briefly reunited with all those dear cats that were lost to us in previous books. With their glittery pelts and eyes filled with star shine, Firestar is in awe of his warrior ancestors and the ceremony begins....now I would hate to spoil this magic moment so I won't go into any more detail about it!
These books are also beautifully spiritual in their own way, with StarClan being accepted as not some tale for kits, but the spirits of the warriors who have passed over and now watch over the forest and the four clans. You realise that StarClan are not responsible for all the bad things that have happened in the forest and even though Bluestar felt they had abandoned her clan, they didn't send the dogs nor the fire nor 'allow' any cat to die. These things happen, just like in real life when tragedy strikes and people bemoan a vengeful and mean God. It doesn't mean the spirits don't care, but they don't control everything. They can send help in the form of prophetic dreams and guidance and lend inner strength to enable the weary warriors to go on fighting for survival - but they do not (as some cats think) rule the forest.
You will also meet Scourge in this final book, and he is a very nasty piece of work indeed! This book can be very brutal in parts and features some of the more gruesome death scenes but it's all part of the Warrior's universe. A lot happens in this book and it happens fast, and at times I almost found it hard to carry on as it was so savage and nail bitingly tense, right up until the bitter-sweet ending. A true masterpiece in its own way. Admittedly they are not literary classics and the writing is simplistic but none the less they are spell binding and never, ever dull!
I am now reading Firestar's quest which follows on a few moons after this book finishes. It's very good although a little slow initially, but it is a super edition and Firestar has a lot of soul searching to do and he is torn between loyalty to his clan and the needs of other, mysterious cats who invade his dreams with their terrified wailing and fear........