Book Review: Graystripe's Vow by Erin Hunter (Warriors Super Edition #13)

Finally catching up to the modern Warriors timeline, huh? I'm gonna be blatant and say that Graystripe isn't a character in this series I cared about since book one of the first series. Ever since Fire and Ice he kinda got on my nerves most of the time and he simply faded into the background in the modern books. Will this Super Edition be able to change my mind on this cat? Let's see. Spoilers ahead.

With the Imposter now deposed, Squirrelflight is the temporary leader in ThunderClan, and the Clan seems to be torn in two over those who agree and disagree with this being the case. The lack of any word or sign from StarClan is also sending cats over the edge. Graystripe, now a seasoned elder, is growing disillusioned with his Clan, eventually leaving it behind to travel back to the old territories and find where his heart belongs.

To answer my question in the introduction: no, this book did not make me care about Graystripe. I still don't find him a particularly interesting character. However, I did care (somewhat) about his journey.

This Super Edition is quite interesting in that it's split up into two timelines: then (taking place after Firestar and Sandstorm left for their quest to restore modern SkyClan and Graystripe is now temporarily acting as its leader) and now (taking place in the modern era where elderly Graystripe goes on his quest). It doesn't do a whole lot with this concept, but it's definitely interesting. 

I honestly found the "then" timeline to be much more interesting than the "now" one, which is just old Graystripe traveling to the old territories and doing some stuff but eventually not really accomplishing anything relevant to our main story. He didn't even locate a sign of StarClan (in fact, he seems to have destroyed the Moonstone), he didn't bring peace to ThunderClan, he just kinda meandered around and went through his own (not very interesting) character arc of realizing where he belongs. The book tries to get the reader to buy that Graystripe might permanently leave ThunderClan because of how much it's changed, but I didn't take this concept seriously for a moment. 

Sure, in the modern timeline he did do some stuff (visiting Barley and establishing an unofficial Clan made out of current and past kittypets), but it doesn't at all seem relevant to the overarching plot of the current arc. This just wasn't all that interesting to read.

Now for the "then" sections, those were interesting. I liked seeing Graystripe struggle with the fact that he was now an acting leader, especially with the returning threat of BloodClan (albeit under a new leader). It was genuinely interesting to see him grapple with this conflict and doing what's right, especially when a defecting BloodClan member wants to help him but the Clan doesn't want her help. And, of course, our heroic leader Firestar isn't around to give Graystripe any advice. 

I'm not saying this part of the book was perfectly executed. It isn't all that relevant to the overarching current timeline (though it did show how he met Gremlin and establish his vow), but it was overwhelmingly more interesting than whatever was going on with current-day Graystripe. My biggest problem with the "then" parts of the book was the ending, however, it felt like such an anticlimax, with Fury just giving in like that after having been built up to be even more cruel than Scourge. She gets a flesh wound, accepts the Clan's help and terms and then scurries back to the city with the rest of BloodClan. What a letdown. 

So I liked parts of this book. I like it more than I dislike it, but's still far from my favorite book in the Super Edition lineup.

Rating: 3.5/5