New Power

Three grandchildren of Firestar hold the power of the stars in their paws.

Warriors: Power of Three is the third arc in the Warriors juvenile fantasy novel series about anthropomorphic feral cats. The arc comprises six novels published from 2007 to 2009: The Sight, Dark River, Outcast, Eclipse, Long Shadows, and Sunrise. The novels are published by HarperCollins under the pseudonym Erin Hunter. Power of Three follows the adventures of the grandchildren of first series protagonist Firestar: Jayfeather, Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze (initially known as Jaykit, Hollykit, and Lionkit). A prophecy predicts the three kits will have "the power of the stars in their paws." The novels have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List and have been nominated for several awards, although none of the novels in this arc have won a significant literary award.

Quick Facts

Books spanned: 6 (The Sight, Dark River, Outcast, Eclipse, Long Shadows, Sunrise)
Preceded by: Warriors: The New Prophecy
Followed by: Omen of the Stars

Lore & Background

Warriors is written by Erin Hunter, a pen name for four people: Victoria Holmes, who creates the storyline and edits, and Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry, and Tui Sutherland, who write the books in turns. The series follows four Clans—ThunderClan, RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan—of feral cats. The Clans believe in StarClan, a Clan made of the spirits of their ancestors. In a previous series, Warriors: The New Prophecy, the Tribe of Rushing Water was introduced.

The Tribe, another group of wild cats, inhabits a mountain range and believes in their own set of ancestors, the Tribe of Endless Hunting. The Tribe has a Stoneteller, cave-guards, and prey-hunters, who each serve a different function. The Stoneteller leads the Tribe, heals the ill and wounded, and communicates with the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Jayfeather, originally Jaykit and then Jaypaw, is a blind gray tabby tom with blue eyes, and the brother of Lionblaze and Hollyleaf.

He is a medicine cat apprentice in ThunderClan. Jayfeather can sense the emotions of other cats and enter their dreams, where he can actually see—his blindness does not carry over into the dream world. He is characterized as proud and sarcastic, especially when he feels other characters are judging him for his blindness. Hollyleaf, originally Hollykit and then Hollypaw, is a black she-cat with green eyes, and the sister of Lionblaze and Jayfeather.

She is a warrior in ThunderClan. Hollyleaf is characterized as an ardent follower of the warrior code and tends to have an inflexible interpretation of the code. Lionblaze, originally Lionkit and then Lionpaw, is a golden tabby tom, and the brother of Jayfeather and Hollyleaf. He is a warrior in ThunderClan.

Lionblaze is especially talented in fighting skills and invincible against anyone he fights. Unaware of the Dark Forest's sinister intentions, he secretly receives dangerous training from the deceased Dark Forest warriors Tigerstar and Hawkfrost.

Reader's Guide

Arc: Warriors: Power of Three (books 1–6 of the arc, published 2007–2009). The central conflict follows the three grandchildren of Firestar—Jayfeather, Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze—as they discover their prophesied powers. Key turning points: Jaypaw and Hollypaw trade roles (Jaypaw becomes medicine cat apprentice, Hollypaw becomes warrior apprentice). Jaypaw learns he can sense emotions and enter dreams.

Lionpaw receives training from Tigerstar and Hawkfrost in the Dark Forest. Lionpaw befriends Heatherpaw but ends the friendship to remain loyal to the warrior code. Jaypaw finds a stick marked with scratches and learns in a dream the fate of Fallen Leaves, a cat who drowned in the tunnels beneath WindClan territory. Characters who rise: Jayfeather (from blind apprentice to medicine cat with unique powers), Hollyleaf (from medicine cat apprentice to warrior), Lionblaze (from apprentice to warrior trained by Dark Forest spirits).

Continuity link: Power of Three follows Warriors: The New Prophecy and is set after the events of Sunset. The prophecy given to Firestar in Firestar's Quest drives this arc, and its third cat is only identified in the next one, Omen of the Stars.