Book Review- Tallstar's Revenge, by Erin Hunter

Book review: Tallstar's Revenge, by Erin Hunter
Spoilers alert!

Synopsis:

     A desperate quest for revenge.
Tallpaw is a loyal WindClan app­rentice who is eager to protect his Clan. But before Tallpaw can complete his apprentice training, a tragic incident leaves his father dead—and Tallpaw consumed by a burning desire for vengeance. Even as he earns his warrior name, Talltail, he cannot see past the anger in his heart.
Though it goes against everything he has been taught, Talltail puts his loyalty to WindClan aside and travels far from home in search of justice for his father. But Talltail's new life outside the laws of the warrior code is filled with danger . . . and he is forced to decide how much he is willing to sacrifice for revenge. 

 Book Review:

     Erin Hunter is, honestly, one of my favorite authors. I have read all the Warriors books, but only just figured out that this one came out a while ago. When I checked it out of the library, I had high expectations for the story.
     Typically, the Warriors Super Edition books tell the story of one cat's life, from kithood to leader or medicine cat or whatever. This one tells the story of Tallstar's rise to power, and his quest for revenge. Hence the title, Tallstar's revenge.
      When Tallstar was an apprentice, his father went into one of the underground tunnels with Sparrow, a rogue cat. The tunnel caved in while they were in it, and only Sparrow made it out alive. For this, Tallpaw hated Sparrow, and viewed him as the cat who killed his father. Which is understandable. I would think that too. 
      The first half of the book tells about Tallstar's kithood and apprenticeship. Tallpaw felt like he had to prove himself to his father because he didn't become what his father wanted, which I found kind of foolish. I mean, cats keep telling him, oh, it doesn't matter what your father thinks, yada yada yada, and even Tallpaw came to this realization himself, but he wouldn't stop feeling the need to prove himself. Just buck up, cat!
     Joining up with Jake, a "kittypet" from Twolegplace, Talltail hunts the rogue who "killed" his father. Half of the second half of the book is dedicated to Talltail's quest for vengeance, and when finally presented with the opportunity to kill Sparrow, he realizes that Sandgorse saved Sparrow's life, and thus, couldn't kill him. So the book should be renamed The Quest For Revenge That Lasted For Like One Quarter Of The Story. 
     Catchy.
     Seriously, after he DOESN'T get his revenge, he goes back to the Clan and gets an apprentice, and then skips directly to his leader naming ceremony in StarClan, which seemed kind of fast to me.
     But I loved Erin Hunter's style of writing, and the plot IS engaging and exciting. I suppose that if Talltail had killed Sparrow, than it would have "corrupted" him, and he wouldn't probably have become leader. And I get that he had to become leader before the end, hence the time-lapse between getting an apprentice and going to the Moonstone. Also, at the end, I absolutely LOVED the connection to Firestar.
     I did enjoy the book, and I will keep reading the series for as long as they keep coming out.
     So, all in all, I recommend this book for anyone 11 and up.
     Four out of five stars.