Draft:Warriors: A Starless Clan

*Warriors: A Starless Clan*
	River Sky Shadow Thunder Wind Star
Author	Erin Hunter
Illustrator	Owen Richardson (covers)
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre	Children's literature Fantasy
Publisher	HarperCollins
Published	5 April 2022 – present
Preceded by	Warriors: The Broken Code

Submission declined on 26 June 2025 by Lijil (talk).

This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of books). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.

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Declined by Lijil 34 days ago. Last edited by Lijil 34 days ago. Reviewer: Inform author.

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Comment: Thanks for your contributions to Wikipedia. We can't accept this draft yet because 1) you haven't shown there is significant coverage of the book series in multiple, independent sources. Please read WP:NBOOK to see what you have to show to demonstrate that a book (series) is notable (= merits a wikipedia article). You do link to two reviews, and if these are reviews that discuss the books and don't just mention they exist, and the reviews are in reliable sources (not blogs etc) then that's enough to show the book series is notable - but you haven't provided links and you don't describe what the reviews say. 2) At the moment this draft is mostly just a plot summary. Have a look at MOS:NOVELS to see what a Wikipedia article about a novel or book series should include. 3) Some of the text looks like it might be AI-generated - please write the article completely by yourself, summarising what reliable secondary sources say about the book. The plot summary can be your own, based on the book itself, but we need to have secondary sources about how hte book series was received. If you can fix these things, please resubmit the draft! Lijil (talk) 06:01, 26 June 2025 (UTC)

Warriors: A Starless Clan is the eighth and current story arc in the Warriors series by Erin Hunter, first published on 5 April 2022. This arc explores the aftermath of StarClan's reformation in The Broken Code, focusing on growing tensions between the Clans as their ancestral spirits cease providing guidance. The story follows multiple protagonists including Sunbeam (ShadowClan), Frostpaw (RiverClan), and Nightheart (ThunderClan) as they navigate political unrest, forbidden relationships, and a mysterious sickness affecting medicine cats. The arc is notable for being the first to title books after Clan names rather than prophecies, reflecting its focus on inter-Clan conflict.

Development

Following the spiritual upheaval in The Broken Code, author Kate Cary stated in a 2022 blog post that the team wanted to explore "how the Clans function without StarClan's direct intervention." Editor Victoria Holmes described the arc as "a return to ground-level Clan politics" reminiscent of early series arcs, but with more sophisticated character dynamics.

The decision to name books after Clans came from fan feedback requesting clearer faction perspectives. Each novel alternates between three main POV characters:

Sunbeam: A ShadowClan warrior caught between loyalty and love

Frostpaw: A RiverClan medicine cat apprentice experiencing visions

Nightheart: A ThunderClan rebel challenging Clan traditions

New illustrator Owen Richardson introduced a distinctive visual style for covers, using:

Monochromatic color schemes (e.g., River features blue tones)

Clan symbols hidden in negative space

Broken star imagery reflecting the arc's title

Publication history

River

Released on 5 April 2022,^[1] this novel debuted at #3 on the New York Times Young Adult Bestseller list. It established Frostpaw's visions of a "starless future" and RiverClan's leadership crisis after Mistystar's death. The paperback released on 6 December 2022 with an exclusive bonus chapter.

Sky

Published on 1 November 2022,^[2] this installment focused on SkyClan's isolationism under leader Leafstar. Controversially, it revealed Sparkpelt (Squirrelflight's daughter) opposing Nightheart's rebellion.

Shadow

Released on 4 April 2023,^[3] this book depicted ShadowClan's internal coup against Tigerstar II. It became the series' fastest-selling book of 2023, with first-week sales exceeding 50,000 copies.

Thunder

Published on 7 November 2023,^[4] this novel featured Nightheart's temporary exile from ThunderClan and his relationship with Sunbeam. The cover's lightning-struck oak tree symbolized broken traditions.

Upcoming Releases

Wind (scheduled for 2 April 2024)

Untitled Book 6 (expected November 2024)

Translations are ongoing in German (Beltz & Gelberg) and French (Pocket Jeunesse), with Japanese editions planned for 2025.

Setting and characters

The arc introduces several new elements to the Warriors universe:

The Great Oak: A central meeting place that becomes contested territory

Moonpool Sickness: A mysterious illness affecting medicine cats' connection to StarClan

Clan-Specific Narratives: Each book emphasizes one Clan's perspective while advancing the overarching plot

Major characters

Frostpaw: RiverClan's medicine cat apprentice whose erratic visions may be manipulated

Nightheart: ThunderClan warrior who rejects his "destined" name and mate

Sunbeam: ShadowClan warrior torn between Nightheart and her Clan

Tigerstar II: ShadowClan leader facing rebellion from traditionalists

Ivypool: ThunderClan deputy struggling to maintain order

StarClan appears rarely and inconsistently, often speaking in riddles or not at all. The Dark Forest is mentioned but remains inactive.

Synopsis

River

After Mistystar's death at an unprecedented age, RiverClan splits over the succession between her deputy Reedwhisker and outsider Curlfeather. Frostpaw receives visions implying Reedwhisker's murder, but StarClan refuses to confirm them.

Sky

SkyClan refuses to participate in inter-Clan gatherings, citing distrust after The Broken Code. Frostpaw discovers Curlfeather may have faked her StarClan visions to seize power.

Shadow

ShadowClan traditionalists led by Berryheart challenge Tigerstar II's leadership, claiming he's too sympathetic to other Clans. Sunbeam's forbidden friendship with Nightheart becomes public, forcing her to choose sides.

Thunder

Nightheart leaves ThunderClan after being pressured to mate with Sparkpelt's daughter Finchlight. He temporarily joins ShadowClan, exposing cultural differences between Clans. Frostpaw's mentor Fidgetflake dies from the Moonpool sickness.

Themes

Political Instability: Explores leadership legitimacy without StarClan's endorsement

Generational Conflict: Young cats rejecting arranged mates and predetermined roles

Epistemological Crisis: Characters struggle to discern truth without spiritual guidance

Cultural Relativism: Highlights contrasting Clan customs through Nightheart's exile

Critical reception

The arc has received praise for its mature storytelling:

Publishers Weekly called Shadow "a masterclass in political intrigue"^[5]

Kirkus Reviews noted the arc "successfully modernizes the series' themes for Gen Z readers"^[6]

Some fans criticize the slower pacing compared to The Broken Code (School Library Journal)

Notably, River was nominated for the 2023 Goodreads Choice Award in Middle Grade & Children's Books.

References

^ River (Hardcover). HarperCollins. 5 April 2022. ISBN 978-0063050074. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
^ Sky (Hardcover). HarperCollins. 1 November 2022. ISBN 978-0063050104. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
^ Shadow (Hardcover). HarperCollins. 4 April 2023. ISBN 978-0063050135. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
^ Thunder (Hardcover). HarperCollins. 7 November 2023. ISBN 978-0063050166. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
^ "Review: Shadow". Publishers Weekly. 20 March 2023.
^ "Review: Sky". Kirkus Reviews. 15 October 2022.

Category:Warriors (novel series) Category:Fictional cats Category:HarperCollins books Category:2022 book debuts Category:Ongoing book series

[1] River (Hardcover). HarperCollins. 5 April 2022. ISBN 978-0063050074. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)

[2] Sky (Hardcover). HarperCollins. 1 November 2022. ISBN 978-0063050104. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)

[3] Shadow (Hardcover). HarperCollins. 4 April 2023. ISBN 978-0063050135. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)

[4] Thunder (Hardcover). HarperCollins. 7 November 2023. ISBN 978-0063050166. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)

[5] "Review: Shadow". Publishers Weekly. 20 March 2023.

[6] "Review: Sky". Kirkus Reviews. 15 October 2022.

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