Moonrise (novel)
Second book in the Warriors: The New Prophecy series.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Moonrise is the second book in the Warriors: The New Prophecy series, a children's fantasy novel about four groups of wild cats called Clans. The pen name Erin Hunter covers authors Cherith Baldry, Kate Cary, Tui T. Sutherland, and series editor Victoria Holmes. Wayne McLoughlin created the cover art. The story picks up with six cats—Brambleclaw, Squirrelpaw, Crowpaw, Feathertail, Stormfur, and Tawnypelt—making their way back to their forest home from the ocean. On the return trip, they travel through the mountains and encounter a new group of felines, the Tribe of Rushing Water, who are being terrorized by a mountain lion named Sharptooth. The Clan cats eventually agree to help the Tribe eliminate this predator.
The novel has been released in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats. It has been translated into French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, German, and Polish. Reviews in *Booklist* and *Horn Book Review* praised the plot and cliffhanger ending, while a *Kirkus Reviews* critic found the character names confusing and disliked the writing style. For two weeks, *Moonrise* held the number two spot on *The New York Times* Best Seller list for children's chapter books.
The authors drew inspiration from UK locations. The fictional forest where the four Clans live is based on England's New Forest, and Loch Lomond also influenced the setting. The works of J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis served as additional inspiration. Cherith Baldry noted that writing the death of Feathertail at the end of the book was challenging because it had to be handled appropriately for a younger audience. The narrative is written in alternating third-person limited perspective, except for the prologue, which uses third-person objective. The point of view shifts between Stormfur, traveling with the questing cats, and Leafpaw, who experiences the forest's destruction back home.
The pseudonym Erin Hunter was chosen so that individual novels in the series would not be separated in libraries. Victoria Holmes picked the name Erin because she liked it, and Hunter because it fit the feral cat theme. This also placed the books near those of Brian Jacques, an author the writers admired. *Moonrise* was first published as a hardcover by HarperCollins on 25 July 2005 in Canada, and 2 August 2005 in the US and UK. The paperback followed on 25 July 2006, and the e-book on 6 November 2007. Foreig
- published
- 25 July 2005 (hardcover, Canada); 2 August 2005 (hardcover, US and UK)
- author
- Erin Hunter (pseudonym for Victoria Holmes, Cherith Baldry, Kate Cary, Tui T. Sutherland)
- genre
- Children's fantasy novel
- series
- Warriors: The New Prophecy, book 2
- publisher
- HarperCollins
- cover_artist
- Wayne McLoughlin
Lore & Background
Moonrise continues the quest begun in Midnight, as six cats—Brambleclaw, Squirrelpaw, Crowpaw, Feathertail, Stormfur, and Tawnypelt—return home through a mountain range. There they encounter the Tribe of Rushing Water, a new group of cats being terrorized by a mountain lion named Sharptooth. The Clan cats agree to help, leading to a confrontation in a cave where Feathertail sacrifices herself by dislodging a stalactite, killing both herself and Sharptooth. The remaining five cats then continue their journey home, while back in the forest the Clans face destruction from human intrusion.
The novel is written in alternating third-person limited narrative, except for the prologue which uses third-person objective perspective. Point-of-view shifts between Stormfur and Leafpaw. Series editor Victoria Holmes drew inspiration from locations such as the New Forest and the Scottish Highlands. Cherith Baldry noted the difficulty of writing Feathertail's death in a way suitable for the younger target audience.
Reader's Guide
Moonrise is significant as the second installment of the Warriors: The New Prophecy subseries, expanding the Warriors universe by introducing the Tribe of Rushing Water and their distinct culture. The book received mostly positive reviews from Booklist and Horn Book Review, which praised the plot and cliffhanger ending, though Kirkus Reviews criticized the confusing character names and writing style. It reached number two on The New York Times Best Seller list for children's chapter books for two weeks and ranked 121st on USA Today's bestseller list. The novel has been translated into French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, German, and Polish, and was released in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats. Its legacy includes being recommended to fans of Harry Potter and noted for its magic, fantasy, and heroic adventure.
Did You Know?
- The Tribe of Rushing Water is first introduced in Moonrise.
- Feathertail's death at the end of the novel was considered difficult to write for the younger target audience.
- The book held the number two spot on The New York Times Best Seller list for children's chapter books for two weeks.
- The pseudonym Erin Hunter was chosen so that individual novels would not be shelved separately in libraries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Moonrise?
Moonrise is the second installment in the Warriors: The New Prophecy arc, a children's fantasy novel following six Clan cats as they journey back to their forest home after a sea voyage. It was published by HarperCollins in 2005 under the shared pen name Erin Hunter.
Who are the actual authors behind Moonrise?
The book was written by a team of four writers—Victoria Holmes, Cherith Baldry, Kate Cary, and Tui T. Sutherland—who collectively publish under the Erin Hunter pseudonym. Wayne McLoughlin provided the cover illustration.
What is the main plot of Moonrise?
Brambleclaw, Squirrelpaw, Crowpaw, Feathertail, Stormfur, and Tawnypelt trek through mountainous terrain on their way back to the forest, where they come across the Tribe of Rushing Water, a group of felines living in a very different way from the Clans. Their encounter sets up the central conflict of the series.
When was Moonrise released?
The hardcover edition first appeared in Canada on 25 July 2005, followed by simultaneous US and UK releases on 2 August 2005. It was published by HarperCollins.
Where does Moonrise fit in the Warriors series?
It is book two of the six-novel The New Prophecy arc, picking up directly after River and serving as the bridge between the ocean adventure and the climactic battles that follow. The story focuses heavily on the cats' mountain journey and their first contact with the Tribe of Rushing Water.
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