{{Short description|2007 novel by Erin Hunter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox book | name = Firestar's Quest | title_orig = | translator = | image = FirestarsQuest.jpg | caption = First edition cover | author = Erin Hunter | illustrator = | cover_artist = Wayne McLoughlin | country = United States | language = English | series = ''Warriors'' | genre = Children's literature<br>Fantasy novel | publisher = HarperTrophy | release_date = 21 August 2007 | media_type = Print (hardback & paperback) | pages = 510 | isbn = 978-0-06-113164-6 | congress = PZ7.H916625 Firs 2007 | oclc = 86090263 | preceded_by = The Darkest Hour | followed_by = Midnight'' (Chronologically) and ''SkyClan's Destiny'' (Plot-wise)'' }} {{portal|Novels}} '''''Firestar's Quest''''' is a volume in the ''Warriors'' novel series by Erin Hunter.
''Firestar's Quest'' follows Firestar, the leader of ThunderClan, one of the four Clans of cats living in a forest, as he goes on a journey to find the lost fifth Clan, SkyClan. After receiving dreams from the previous leader of SkyClan, Firestar and his mate, Sandstorm, leave ThunderClan to find and rebuild the lost tribe. At the end of the book, the Clan is rebuilt with a leader, medicine cat and territory. It is set between ''The Darkest Hour'' and ''Midnight''.
''Firestar's Quest'' returns to being written from Firestar's point of view as in the original ''Warriors'' series, after the subsequent series were written from the perspectives of other characters. The book allowed Erin Hunter to explore the old territories again, having moved to the lake territories in ''Dawn''. An excerpt of ''Firestar's Quest'' was released to promote sales of the book, which were very successful. The novel has also received positive critical reception.
==Concept and development== The first six books in the ''Warriors'' series are written from the perspective of Firestar, while the later ''Warriors: The New Prophecy'' and ''Warriors: Power of Three'' series are written from the perspectives of other cats. The authors chose to return to Firestar's perspective for the special edition. Cherith Baldry wrote ''Firestar's Quest'' and Gary Chalk illustrated the book.{{cn|date=February 2026}} Erin Hunter has said the novel was a chance to explore the old territories, which had been left behind in the ''Warriors: The New Prophecy'' series.
To promote the book, an excerpt was released online on the ''Warriors'' website,<ref name="Excerpt">{{cite web|url=http://www.warriorcats.com/bookquest.html |title=WARRIORS: Super edition: Firestar's Quest |work=www.warriorcats.com |access-date=25 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223205632/http://www.warriorcats.com/bookquest.html |archive-date=23 February 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and later at the back of the ''Warriors'' manga volume ''Warrior's Refuge''.
==Background== All ''Warriors'' novels are written by Erin Hunter, a pen name for four people: Victoria Holmes, who creates the storylines and edits, and Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry, and Tui Sutherland, who write the books in turns.<ref name="Authors">{{cite web|url=http://www.warriorcats.com/warriorshell.html|title=Frequently Asked Questions|work=www.warriorcats|access-date=13 April 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129121901/http://www.warriorcats.com/warriorshell.html|archive-date=29 November 2009}}</ref> Chronologically, ''Firestar's Quest'' takes place between the first two series: after the events of ''The Darkest Hour'' and before ''Midnight''.<ref name="Books">{{cite web|url=http://www.warriorcats.com/books.html|title=The Warriors Books|work=www.warriorcats|access-date=13 April 2008}}</ref> ''Firestar's Quest'' was put under the title ''Warriors: Super Edition'', as a special edition extra long book.<ref name="Alibris">{{cite web|url=http://www.alibris.com/search/books/subject/Juvenile%20Fiction%20Animals%20Cats|work=Alibris.com|title=Books on Juvenile Fiction > Animals > Cats|access-date=13 April 2008}}</ref>
==Synopsis== ''Firestar's Quest'' takes place between ''The Darkest Hour'' and ''Midnight''. The novel follows Firestar, leader of ThunderClan (one of four Clans of wild cats living in a fictional forest) on a journey to find a fifth lost Clan of the forest called SkyClan. Firestar and his mate Sandstorm journey upriver in order to rebuild the long-lost Clan. When they arrive at the Clan's former home, they meet Skywatcher, a descendant of SkyClan, who tells them about SkyClan's story, and shows them the Whispering Cave, they also find SkyClan's old home deserted, the caves strangely marked with tiny claw marks resembling those of rats. Firestar gathers together Leafdapple, Sparrowpelt, Sharpclaw, Echosong, Rainfur, Petalnose, Clovertail, Patchfoot, Shortwhisker, Cherrytail, Sagekit, Mintkit, Tinypaw, Rockpaw, and Bouncepaw. Eventually, Firestar re-establishes the Clan and helps the Clan fight the force that destroyed the ancient SkyClan: rats. Though SkyClan emerges victorious, the warrior Rainfur is killed and Firestar loses his second life. As Firestar and Sandstorm prepare to return home, Leafdapple is made the leader and renamed Leafstar on the Sky Rock, which is used to connect to the SkyClan ancestors. Sharpclaw is made deputy of SkyClan, and Echosong becomes the medicine cat.
In the epilogue, Sandstorm and Firestar's new kits are born. They decide to name one Squirrelkit (after her bushy, squirrel-like tail), and the other Leafkit (in honor of SkyClan's new leader, Leafstar). SkyClan blood runs through ThunderClan in cats such as Tigerclaw from his ancestor Cloudstar, a leader of SkyClan from when they lived alongside the other four Clans.
Before Firestar left the forest, a whole series of events happened that weren't shown in ''The New Prophecy''. Such events included the warrior Longtail losing his sight when a rabbit clawed his eyes, Willowpelt being killed by a badger, and Bramblepaw receiving his warrior name; Brambleclaw. Additionally, Sootpaw got a new mentor, Thornclaw. This book is also the origin of the prophecy "There will be three, kin of your kin, who hold the power of the stars in their paws." The prophecy was passed on to Firestar by Skywatcher.
==Publication history== HarperCollins published the hardcover edition of ''Firestar's Quest'' and released it on 21 August 2007.<ref name="Amazon.com">{{cite book|title=Warriors Super Edition: Firestar's Quest (Warriors) (Hardcover)|isbn=978-0061131646|last1=Hunter|first1=Erin|date=21 August 2007|publisher=Harper Collins }}</ref> The book had a 150,000 first release.<ref name="copies">{{cite web|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6461984.html |title=On Sale in August - 7/23/2007 |work=Publishers Weekly |access-date=25 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217221537/http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6461984.html |archive-date=17 February 2008 }}</ref> HarperTrophy, an imprint of HarperCollins, released the paperback version of ''Firestar's Quest'' on 13 May 2008.<ref name="Paperback">{{cite book|title=Warriors Super Edition: Firestar's Quest (Warriors) (Paperback)|isbn=978-0061131677|last1=Hunter|first1=Erin|date=13 May 2008|publisher=HarperCollins }}</ref> Russia has published a translation of ''Firestar's Quest''.<ref name="Russia">{{cite web|url=http://www.ozon.ru/context/detail/id/3639716/|script-title=ru:Послание|work=OZON.ru|language=ru|access-date=25 March 2008}}</ref> The German version of the book has also been released as both a hardcover and audiobook.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warriorcats.de/Die_Buecher/Band.7.Special_Adventure_Feuersterns_Mission.html|title=Band : Special Adventure Feuersterns Mission — WarriorCats.de|access-date=3 August 2010|archive-date=28 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728055450/http://www.warriorcats.de/Die_Buecher/Band.7.Special_Adventure_Feuersterns_Mission.html|url-status=dead|website=warriorcats.de}}</ref> The United States,<ref name="Paperback"/> the United Kingdom,<ref name="UK">{{cite book|title=Firestar's Quest (Warriors) (Hardcover)|id={{ASIN|0061131644|country=uk}}}}</ref> and Canada have English versions of ''Firestar's Quest''. Canada launched the book early on 9 August 2007.<ref name="Canada">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.ca/gp/switch-language/product/0061131644?language=en%5FCA|title=Warriors: Firestar's Quest (Hardcover) by Erin Hunter|work=Amazon.ca|access-date=25 March 2008}}</ref> ''Firestar's Quest'' ended up on many bestseller lists, including the New York Times Best Seller list.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}
===Sequel=== After the publication of the novel, Holmes confirmed the possibility of seeing SkyClan again.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}
''SkyClan's Destiny'', the third super edition and sequel tells of a civil war in SkyClan and was released on 3 August 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/Warriors-Super-Edition-Skyclans-Destiny/?isbn13=9780061699948&tctid=100|title=Warriors Super Edition: SkyClan's Destiny|access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref> SkyClan was also brought back in the ''SkyClan and the Stranger'' manga, including ''The Rescue'', ''Beyond the Code'', and ''After the Flood''. These detail how Sol lived in SkyClan for a time and shows how he came to have such a strong vendetta against the Clans.
==Critical reception== A reviewer from ''Children's Literature'' gave a very positive review, calling ''Firestar's Quest'' a "fantastic extension" to the Warriors series, and near the end of the review, the critic said ''Firestar's Quest'' showed that the ''Warriors'' books had evolved "from simply entertaining to thought provoking adventures".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Firestars-Quest/Erin-Hunter/e/9780061131677/?itm=1&USRI=firestar%27s+quest+warriors+super+edition#TABS|title=Firestar's Quest (Warriors Super Edition), Warriors Super Edition, Erin Hunter, Book — Barnes & Noble|last=Albright|first=Meagan|publisher=Children's Literature|access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref> A review by ''Booklist'' noted the longer length of the book and also praised the mission and new characters introduced in the book.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-33043702_ITM|title=Firestar's Quest.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)|last=Estes|first=Sally|date=15 September 2007|work=AccessMyLibrary|publisher=Booklist|access-date=14 July 2010}}</ref> ''Publishers Weekly'' also gave a positive review writing "Fans of the ''Warriors'' books will excitedly delve into ''Firestar's Quest'', the latest edition to Erin Hunter's bestselling series."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://catalog.dclibrary.org/vufind/Record/oc86090263/Reviews|title=Reviews: Firestar's Quest BETA|publisher=Catalog.dclibrary.org|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
{{Warriors (Erin Hunter)}}
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Category:2007 American novels Category:2007 English-language novels Category:Warriors (novel series) Category:American fantasy novels Category:Novels about cats Category:HarperCollins books Category:2007 children's books Category:American children's books