Long Shadows(yet again)

As we all know, the highly anticipated fifth book in the Po3 series made its debut to store shelves today. 

I had the pleasure of walking into a Barnes & Noble and going to to the very back(Where all the kiddie books happen to be), feeling a bit self-conscious walking through the children's section, and then there it was.

Layed out in stacks of green was my one true desire.

Power of Three book No. 5, LONG SHADOWS, withy all its Sol-ey cover greatness.

Man, was that cool. 

Anyway, I was engrossed in the book from the time I left the store, and I finished it in about 2 and a half hours.

And I was jumping up and down and practically screaming like a japanese schoolgirl(Embarrasing, I know).

I've decided to come out of hiatus for a day or two and write about my new book. I just couldn't stay away.

Since this is a new book, I'm going to let everyone that hasn't read it and doesn't want to be spoiled know that this will spoil it to the very core for you. STOP READING NOW.

If you aren't one of those respectable people, please keep reading.

Now, Long Shadows was gripping from the very begging. 

Do you ever experience a book or a movie(Or videogame, for that matter) that had you holding your breath, and it was hard to make out the words on the page?

Long Shadows did that to me. I was glued to the page as I read about Ashfur trying to kill Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze in the fire, and it was like I was there, everything drowned out but Ashfur and Squirrelflights words.

When Jayfeather, at this point Jaypaw, went back in time to the Ancients and discovered his counterpart Jay's Wing, and his love Half Moon, and Stone Song, and Furled Bracken, and everybody else, I was riveted to the ink and paper of that lovely green book.

Now that I've gushed some, I can get down to business.

When Jaypaw was given his warrior name, it was, as widely expected, Jayfeather. 

Now, why The Three don't know who their real mother is, I think Vicky dropped us a hint, as does Dovey(Please don't kill me for using your theory, D).

Look at their names.

Hollyleaf. Leafpool.

Jayfeather. Crowfeather.

If that isn't a clue, then I'm a mouse, in the words of Jayfeather.

And, sticking to the theorizing of many Warriors fans, Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf aren't Squirrelflight's kits.

I found this surprising. I had previously thought that only Holly and Jay were not her kits, and Lion was hers and Brambleclaw's.

BUT: She did say: "They aren't my kits.", but all three were on the stick, about to die.

I think she said this because they were going to die, and she didn't want them to. Don't get me wrong, I still think that H & J aren't her kits, but what about Lionblaze? 

If she hadn't have said that, they would have all died, right?

But what if Lionblaze was her kit, hmmm?

I know what you're thinking: Well, she said that, and she wouldn't lie to them, and she also had chance to tell him after the incident, ect, ect.

Well listen to this.

Vicky doesn't always make everything make sense. She drops hints, like with the names of H & J. 

Any smart cat who knew Leafpool, like Firestar, would have seen that, right? 

No, because she(Vicky) was dropping hints.

I think, and I may be wrong, but I think that she does this now. Let us read the part again.

        "Squirrelflight raised her head, her gaze locked on Ashfur's crazed

         eyes. 'Kill them then,' she meowed. 'You won't hurt me that way.'

         Ashfur opened his jaws to reply, but said nothing. Hollyleaf and

         her brothers stared at their mother. What was Squirrelflight say-

         ing? Squirrelflight took a step away from them, and glanced

         carelessly over her shoulder. Her green eyes were fiercer than

         Hollyleaf had ever seen them, with and expression she couldn't

         read. "If you really want to hurt me, you'll have to find a better way

         than that," Squirrelflight snarled. "They are not my kits."

Well, there it is. Ashfur was about to kill them then and there, and she said that, and it totally disconcerted Ashfur, as we see in the next chapter.

       "'You're lying.' Ashfur's voice was choked with disbelief. 'No, I'm not.'

        Squirrelflight spoke softly, but her intensity pierced through the

        crackle of the flames. 'Did you see me give birth? Did I nurse them?

        Stay in the nursery until they were apprenticed? No.' 'But I-' Ashfur

        began, then fell silent..."

    

       "...'I fooled all of you, even Brambleclaw,' Squirrelflight went on

         Scornfully. 'They are not mine.' 'And no cat in the Clan knows?'

         Ashfur's disbelief was changing into uncertainty. 'No. They're all

        as blind as you are to the truth.'..."

See? Ashfur is bewildered by this, and he doesn't kill them, instead plotting to give her away at a gathering.

I think vicky drops us the hint right here.

 

       "...'Squirrelflight?' Hollyleaf's voice quivered; Jayfeather could sense her                      disbelief  warring with fear. 'That's not true, is it? We are your kits,

         aren't we?'... 'I'm so sorry,' Squirrelflight whispered. 'I should have told

         you the truth a long time ago.' 'What do you mean?' Lionblaze demanded..."

And it goes on with even more misery and sadness on Hollyleaf's and Squirrelflight's parts.

I think that Squirrelflight was only saying this to protect Lionblaze, as stated before.

Later on, he(Lionblaze) wonders what Tigerstar will think of him not being his grandson, but Tigerstar only says that he doesn't have to worry about the prophecy anymore. Why would TS go on training him when he's not even related to him, hmm?

I think this was put in place just to catch fans off guard. I mean, the whole thing was pretty much already figured out, and I'm guessing Vicky will want something else to surprise her fans with, right?

Well, we'll see. 

Until next time,

Ember