A break from writing · 12:58pm Feb 6th, 2022
So... yeah, I know I said I would try to step up with writing, but the truth is... aside from a few first days of 2022, I hadn't wrote at all.
The reason behind that is, well, reading for a change. No video games, no work, but reading actual books.
I mentioned in one of the previous blogs that I returned to reading Warriors by Erin Hunter, a book series about wild cats living in the forest in 4 different Clans, after over 4 years of taking a break from the series after I couldn't make myself finish one book as it centered around two characters I didn't really like and them being a couple. But nevermind that for now. I finally decided to return to the series, and as I waited for new books to arrive I re-read the whole series. And... yeah, that's what I've been doing, I finally caught up at the point where I left off last week (meaning that within about a month and a half I read through over 30 books), and read through the few new books that already arrived. Now I'm waiting for the remaining one, including the entire 7th arc (six books), when I'll be caught up and will be waiting for the next book coming out in April.
So yeah, that's why I've been so busy. I mean, reading aside, even if I took an hour or so to write my own stories, I really wouldn't be able to. Warriors is amazing series, my favorite, and reading through all of it leaves me a bit... emotionally drained. Especially the last one I read, the ending devasted me. One of my favorite characters, one I knew through over 24 books, had died 
I needed a day to just... feel sad, you know?
Anyway, even though I'm "caught up" with the story at the moment as I wait for the final arc to arrive, I am still not writing. Why? Well, for starters, I am really emotionally drained right now, I don't think I could be very creative right about now. Next thing is that, while I am caught up with the story, I still have a few books I need to read/r-read. During my big re-read, I skipped over books that could be considered prequels and most of what could be considered side-stories. So right now I am reading those, just finished reading my favorite book from the series that takes place a few years before the start of the series. And I have a few of those "side-stories" that had just arrived still left to read. I've been putting it off because, well, I do know they are all depressing (actually, most of those books are). The one I'm going to read next tells a story from the past, about a female cat that was ostracized by her Clan for having kits with a cat from another Clan, then her kits drowned when she tried to take them to her mate's Clan, then was blamed by her mate for letting them die and was ostracized by him and his Clan. And so she became what we, humans, would call a serial killer, before she died and went to their version of Hell. So yeah, not a very happy read...
The series is full of stuff like that, some very unhappy shit, but in between there are plenty of good, too. The series approaches a LOT of issues you wouldn't normally see in books like those, and is a rollercoaster of emotions and I love the hell out of it for making me feel so much for all of those characters.
Actually... since most of you probably don't know anything about this amazing series, I'm thinking about making a blog post next talking about the world building in those books, maybe I would get you interested to give at least the first arc, the first 6 books a try. They actually feel like a complete series on their own, with a "clear" ending, as the authors hadn't expected to write anything further; as you can tell that hadn't worked out well, there's like 70 books now overall 
I hope you'll find the upcoming blog interesting, and at the very least you will understand how somebody can find the series - about freaking wild cats living in a forest fighting each other - interesting enough to do nothing but read it.
I hope I'll resume writing in March, I should be able to squize in a chapter or two before the new book comes out in April. Assuming the ending of the 7th arc won't be too devastating of course. I still remember how long it took me to get over the 3rd arc's ending... It was the most heartbreaking ending in the entire series. There were books that overall were more depressing, but that one had just such a sad, heartwrenching ending...
I actually own the book series and will ever be a fan of Bluestar.
I love the Warriors series. As much I would like more IP chapters, I prefer if you take your time and enjoy yourself.
Who? Briarlight? Longtail? I honestly can't think of many other characters that died in the recent series and actually make you feel emotionally sad for them.
Mapleshade did nothing wrong.png
5634157
Well she is one of the most popular characters^^ My personal favorite is Jayfeather, with Oakheart being 2nd favorite. Not sure who's 3rd though; used to be Thistleclaw, but then Spottedleaf's Heart came out and while I can still like a character that's paranoid, violent and murderous, what was going on THERE was a whole different thing
5634166
Thanks, though I'll always feel bad about slow progress of my stories
Oh, I didn't mean "in the recent series", it was Special Edition book: Squirrelflight's Hope
Admittedly, that death HAD to be in book with Squirrelflight's POV, but still, it's hard to let go of a character you knew so long, and who was so good, kind and loyal. The other deaths in that book were also tough... as well as watching my favorite couple almost break up AGAIN! Though I suppose it will balance itself, with their first break up in New Prophecies being both of their faults (because both of them were being big idiots), and the second break up being Squirrelflight's fault (not because of what she did but because she hadn't trusted Brambleclaw with it; the fact that it wasn't her secret to tell is no excuse), then they had to have a near break up with Bramblestar being at fault. Now everything will be fine (and I already had a few bits of spoilers for Broken Code that let me know that this won't exactly be the case because StarClan forbid my favorite ships in this series be happy!)
Also, I already knew about her and Briarlight's deaths, because that's what happens when you stop reading a series but occasionally see Facebook group posts or read youtube comments. But I was still sad about both. Briarlight's less, but even so, I had on good authority that she was meant to live a very long time (I exchanged messages with Vicky Holmes a few years ago on Facebook), so I had hoped she would at least die in Broken Code arc
I'm not quite sure if I would agree with that, but I believe she should have had at least a chance to be redeemed. If StarClan let f***king Ashfur in...
At least according to Warriors Wiki Frecklewish is in the Place of No Stars too, so that's a plus^^
5634187
My personal favourite character is Alderheart. What is it with the medicine boys that make them so likable
2nd favourite is also a Riverclan cat: Feathertail, especially after her rendition in A Shadow in Riverclan.
3er either Twigbranch or Ivypool
Yeah... I know they are cats and its hard to establish maturity and puberty and whatnot, and that they have to keep things family-friendly for the target audience, but their relationship was pretty much predatory, if not borderline pedophilic
Makes you wonder if her interest in Firepaw back in book 1, despite him being much much younger, was a result of this trauma.
Ah, THAT death. Honestly what I remember is being annoyed about the whole Starclan "trial", so by the end of the story my anger eclipsed the sadness of the loss.
That's the one after Hollyleaf's speech on the tree right? Oh boy, I still remember how angry Brambleclaw was. I honestly thought that was going to be their end for good.
I'm surprised to see someone whose favourite couple is Bramble-Squirrel. For what little I have seen of the fandom, it seems the consensus is that their relationship is quite volatile, especially after he became -star.
My favourite "couple" is Ravenpaw and Barley. Too bad they have to be careful about LGTB themes and can't confirm it despite obvious hints.
5634218
Alderheart is definitely a fun character and is among my faves^^ Man I was shipping him hard with Needletail when A Vision of Shadows had started, pity it didn't go far and we had that kittypet for the traditional storyline with medicine cats. A Shadow in RiverClan is among the books I am still waiting to arrive, unfortunately, but Feathertail was a pretty nice character in Midnight and Moonrise^^ And yeah, Twigbranch and Ivypool were great too, I'm happy how A Visions of Shadows turned out for them, both ended up with pretty cool mates (though Finleap needed a reality check in the 6th book; understandable since he was so young, happy it turned out well).
Actually, I should have known Squirrelflight's Hope would turn out so sad because of how A Vision of Shadows had ended. This might have been the arc with happiest ending ever! I don't think anybody even died in the last book (with the exception of Juniperclaw, but who cares about rogues)
Well yeah, that was the point. Though I am ashamed to admit it that when I first read that novel I hadn't caught on to it being EXACTLY what child predators say to their victims (partially because I hadn't really study the subject). However, they made a mistake of using two character that we had known for years what happens later in their life, and because of that they had to have Thistleclaw "get away" with this, which hadn't said a good message. It would have been better if they used a different character for such subject, like, that WindClan medicine cat that killed Bluestar's mother, nobody would care about him, and would add a religious figure abusing trust of minors to the mix. Could have Barkface or Deadfoot novella be about it, just another cat noticing his unhealthy interest in their littermate or something (because another fault of Spottedleaf's Heart was that it was from a victim's perspective).
Yeah, another reason why I am not very happy with Spottedleaf's Heart is because it puts such a shadow on their bond. Though to be fair that shadow was already being cast when in Bluestar's Prophecy they decided to show Spottedleaf being that much older (but then again, 3 year age difference is not that big)... I always interpreted their "relationship" as, well... it went like this: Firepaw has a slight crush on her as an apprentice (though doesn't realize it because he is super dense on such topics), which is not unusual for a teenager to have a crush like that, while Spottedleaf has only bare interest in him because of her prophecy. After her death, she feels responsible for him because it was her prophecy that brought him into the Clan and begins to visit him in his dreams to help him as best as she can. And because of that, overtime, she develops feelings for him, and during that time she starts to visit him he is already an adult cat so it's not creepy (aside from the whole dead thing). So really, their relationship really developed after her death. Which is what I had thought Spottedleaf's Heart would have been about, actually, about Spottedleaf in StarClan growing to love Firestar over time. But instead we got something that made everything creepy...
Well actually I am annoyed about that part too, but from what I understood it's something that StarClan does for EVERYBODY that dies, has to judge them at the moment of their death, except in most cases the cats don't get to add anything in their defense. I think that scene was more to show that it does matter that they break the Warrior Code than showing that those two might not have been allowed into StarClan.
One of the reasons why 3rd arc's ending was the most heartbreaking
And yeah, Brambleclaw was really angry. The whole matter aside, he hates lying and hiding truth; as a kit he had entire Clan hide the truth about his father until Firestar told him, and it had left a mark on him. It's a recurring theme of kithood affecting cats like this, like Crookedstar not liking cats to stare at him to the point he didn't want Willowbreeze to show affection towards him in front of others, or Raggedstar's rage towards Yellowfang for abandoning their kit. Anyway, it made Brambleclaw really hate lies, which is why Crowfeather calls him "an honest cat" back in Starlight and believes him when he says Tallstar changed deputies, and which is why when he actually does lie in Forgotten Warrior it's so mindblowing, and why he was so furious with Squirrelflight.
You know, I really don't understand why this ship gets THAT much hate? Through most of the books they work perfectly together, throughout entire Power of Three and A Vision of Shadows, and Bramblestar's Storm, the book where they get back together only at the literal end. The New Prophecy is where their relationship starts and where they have this very stupid fight, but they are both young. Omen of the Stars is where they don't talk and Brambleclaw is cold towards her, but the books make a point to mention that he never used his position as deputy to punish her in any way, and in the end he forgives her for lying to him. Hadn't yet read Broken Code but from I know I suspect that it doesn't reflect on their relationship in any way due to the specific aspect of the plot. Squirrelflight's Hope is the only book so far that shows the side of their relationship that so many people could actually rightly complain about, but although I agree that Bramblestar was at fault there, I can understand why he is like this, with the complicated situation with the other Clans and with StarClan demanding they'd be at peace and otherwise silent, and by how Squirrelflight's action can be seen by the other Clan (they even comment how it's good he "took back control of his Clan" at that meeting). That being said, yes, he was wrong, but he realized that and apologized to Squirrelflight; and the fact that he considered resigning as leader if she would have died showed just how much he blamed himself for it. (Although, just saying, if she had died he could just bring her body to Moonpool, give up his nine lives and have StarClan make her leader; if that had worked for Tigerheart there's no reason why it wouldn't work there. Erins better not forget this plotpoint if they'd plan to kill Squirrelflight off at some point!). Also despite their arguments, Bramblestar still defended her from their daughter when she was angry, and that has a huge plus from me.
Anyway, I love this ship for several reasons. One of them being that it encompasses two tropes I like. First being "two characters who hate each other growing to love each other", which I absolutely love (I just love the arguments those two had in Midnight
) and that can be seen in some of my writings. The other trope is "child of the main hero and child of the main villain fall in love later on in the story". However, I also love it is because how... "realistic" their relationship seem in comparison to others. I mean, the part where they actually argue, but later make up. Relationships require work to maintain, and eventually there are smaller or bigger arguments. Most relationships in Warriors either are almost perfect, with some small disagreements, or they just break up. But those two love each other too much to stay apart too long^^ They are basically Ross and Rachel of Warriors 
Yeah, I know my own country (Poland) would DEFINITELY not print those books if there were some LGBT themes. Still, in Ravenpaw's Farewell it's plainly stated that Ravenpaw and Barley love each other, to the point that Warriors Wiki has them listed as "partners". I wish they had a whole Special Edition instead of just a novella, though I suspect they wouldn't have been able to get away with their relationship as easily if it was such a long book.
There are a LOT of relationships I love in Warriors. Most, actually
I'm apparently a sucker for cat romance. Firestar&Sandstorm, Cloudtail&Brightheart, Bluestar&Oakheart (finally confirming in book that they ARE together in StarClan might have been the best part of Squirrelflight's Hope), Jayfeather&Half Moon, Lionblaze&Cinderpelt, Ivypool&Fernsong, Thistleclaw&Snowfur, Crookedstar&Willowbreeze... I could go further but I suspect I would end up naming all relationships xD About the only one I am not a big fan of is Tigerheart&Dovewing, and even so while I was re-reading Omen of the Stars I found myself thinking "Oh f*** they are cute together!" 
Good luck with reading and writing both!