Warriors: Omen of the Stars #1: The Fourth Apprentice

By Erin Hunter
HarperCollins, $16.99, 302 pages

The newest book in the Warriors saga begins the fulfillment of prophesy.  Lionblaze and Jayfeather know that they are meant to share a great destiny, but the third cat of the prophesy remains to be discovered.  But for now, a more imminent danger faces all of the clan cats: the lake is drying up, and every cat is suffering.  When Lionblaze’s new apprentice, Dovepaw, discovers that there is a blockage upstream, a patrol of cats from all four clans goes to investigate.  What will they find?  Can they save the clans by bringing back the water?

The Fourth Apprentice is a delightful new chapter in the exciting world of Warriors.  The cats featured in these stories are well-developed characters, free-thinking and humanistic while remaining steadfastly feline.  The plot draws the reader in quickly, as tension mounts between the clans and circumstances become ever more dire.  The sense of urgency here is real.  The arid landscape of the former lake is vivid, as is the lushness of the forest and the chaos of human territory.  The ending is satisfying, but leaves the reader with unfinished business to look forward to in the sequel.

Reviewed by Holly Scudero