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daisypath · 3 years

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My thoughts on Darkness Within

Spoilers ahead! (I know it came out a while back now but if it took me this long to read it, other people might appreciate the warning too)

Also this is really long and ramble-y

I didn't like it very much :/

ok like. why was bristlefrost on the journey to find the Sisters in Darkness Within? Okay obviously, she was there to spend time with Rootspring, but other than that her role in the plot was so minimal. I don't remember her doing anything uniquely helpful for that story line. She was literally just following Rootspring around and trying (and mostly failing) to comfort Spotfur.

(Also why was Spotfur there. Oh my god she's grieving why did they send her on this mission)

I personally found Darkness Within very boring, mostly because two of the three main characters were in the exact same story line. And only one of those two had any impact on that storyline.

Think of how cool it would have been if Bristlefrost had been in Thunderclan for the whole book. And we had actually gotten to see more of the fallout of the Imposter's reign. And how Squirrelflight is doing. AND how Lionblaze is doing! I would have loved to get a better sense of his emotional state and decision to kill his father's body. Like how did he come to that conclusion? That seems like a pretty major character beat to happen off screen.

Bristlefrost being in Thunderclan, especially a Thunderclan which is falling apart around her ears, would be a great chance for her to actually bond with literally any of her clanmates and to actually show the loyalty that is keeping her away from Rootspring, away from a half-clan relationship.

If Bristlefrost's story in this book was about her trying to help her Clan, instead of about padding after Rootspring like a lovestruck puppy, it could have given her some much needed agency and given the book a darker tone.

Shadowsight's chapters in this book, while a welcome reprieve from RootBristle roadtrip nonsense, was pretty depressing and repetitive. They seem out of place. Throughout the RootBristle roadtrip, they are treating it as more of a vacation than a challenging journey. Maybe if Bristlefrost's chapters were focused on Thunderclan's struggles and Rootspring's chapters were more focused on the difficulty of the journey, than Shadowsight's chapters would be less tonally dissonant? And maybe Rootspring's success in finding the Sister's and working to convince them to help would be more impactful?

so Shadowsight's chapters are also repetitive. like not a lot changes in the clans while Root and Bristle are away. And I think that things should change. If Bristle had been in Thunderclan for this whole book, than we could even have several perspectives on the events in the clans and really flesh out the politics of this period.

God this book didn't make me feel anything other than like. frustration. I think that this series and these characters have so much potential. and yet...

Okay and now, side characters.

Mothwing: what the heck did they do to her. why is she acting like this. so unlikable what the hell. I think it is possible for her to fill this role in the story, as basically taking away Shadowsight's status as a medicine cat without her being so... irrational and cruel. While she isn't right to be suspicious of Shadowsight and his role in Bramblestar's death, I don't think that is an entirely unreasonable suspicion. it could have been done better is what I'm saying.

Needleclaw: what the HECK did they do to her. I mean, I understand that being anti-half-clan-relationships is the norm in warriors society, but she is really anti-half-clan-relationships in this book. She seemed so kind and supportive in earlier books. and while she isn't herself a half-clan cat, her father is from outside the clans, and her mother was raised in Shadowclan, so this all seems quite out of character. She doesn't seem to be warning Root away from Bristle from a place of concern for him, but from a place of prejudice. it's weird and bad!

Spotfur: spotfur sweetie I'm so sorry about all this. She has no reason to be on this journey, truly. she is just miserable most of the time. she should be allowed time to grieve and rest. And how are Bristlefrost and Spotfur suddenly friends. I'm not sure they have ever spoken one-on-one before? Spotfur doesn't really give any impression that she reciprocates Bristlefrost's feelings of friendship. In fact, she doesn't seem to have any feelings other than sadness about Stemleaf's death (and i'm still so upset that stemleaf died btw). The way that Bristlefrost treated Spotfur was mostly so patronizing. i always got the impression that Bristle didn't feel compassion, but pity. and throughout the roadtrip, whenever Bristle tried to comfort Spot, she often had an ulterior motive of trying to get Spot to do some form of work (hunting, gathering bedding, walking). if they were both in Thunderclan for this book, and Bristlefrost didn't have that ulterior motive, and so much of her time wasn't taken up with pining after Rootspring, then they could have built a good dynamic. Imagine if Spotfur had some expressed resentment for Bristlefrost because of the part she played in Stemleaf's death and Bristle actually faced consequences? for her actions? wouldn't that be wild?

I don't have a lot else to say but here's a few tidbits:

It is annoying that they constantly point out that Jayfeather is blind. I get it.

also, why doesn't Shadowsight have seizures anymore? weird.

Mistystar is terrible right now. She is a half-clan cat herself. she should understand that the code is unjust better than most.

Also, half-clan relationships and kittens aren't even explicitly banned by the code. has anyone else noticed that?

Lionblaze. As I said, I think his opinion about all this business is underdeveloped. yeah. ok.

I understand why Puddleshine would bow before Mothwing, being younger and less experienced, but Tigerstar, Dovewing (and Cloverfoot)? like way to show that you have no spine or faith in your son/medicine cat :/

God I hope Bramble stays dead. And that Squirrel gets to be leader. Or better yet, Ivypool. Or better yet, someone who isn't an ex-main character. I like that Harestar, complete nobody, gets to be leader of Windclan. I just... am so sick of the nostalgia bait in these dumb books. give me something new for heaven's sake.

well. now to read Place of No Stars. I hope that it is any good.

#wc #not gonna maintag this cuz i don't like when people look at me or my posts #god it is hard being so anxious and also having so many opinions. listen to me! stop listening to me! thats how i feel #maybe if i make my posts long enough #no one will have the patience to read through them\#and i will not have to face the Mortifying Ordeal of Being Known

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