"Firestar will learn that my time is not yet over. He may have seven lives left to lose, but I will stalk him through my sons until every one has been ripped from him. This is one battle that he will not win."

— Tigerstar vowing revenge in Sunset, page 5

Sunset is the sixth book of The New Prophecy arc.^[5] Hawkfrost is the cat depicted in the center of the original cover.^[10] Firestar is the cat depicted on the reprinted cover.^[11] It features Leafpool and Brambleclaw as the main protagonists, with Darkstripe in the prologue.

Dedication

To Rod Ritchie,

who first figured out what really goes on beyond the garden fence...

Special thanks to Cherith Baldry

Blurb

Before there is peace, blood will spill blood...

Soon after the cats reached their new home by the lake, ThunderClan's medicine cat Leafpool received an ominous warning from StarClan: Before there is peace, blood will spill blood, and the lake will run red. As the Clan slowly recovers from a devastating badger attack, Leafpool can't help but wonder... do her prophetic dreams mean there are even worse dangers still in store for the warrior cats?

At the same time, shadows of the past continue to haunt the forest as some old friends struggle to find their place, others appear to be lost forever, and an old enemy finds a new way to resurface in a quest for dark revenge. A sinister path is unfolding, and the time is coming for certain warriors to make the choices that will determine their destiny... and the destiny of all the Clans.

Praise

"Action-packed. Certain to please any young reader who has ever wondered what dreams of grandeur may haunt the family cat."^[3]

-Publishers Weekly

"A suspenseful animal adventure."^[3]

-Kirkus Reviews

"In the sixth book in the popular Warriors: The New Prophecy series, evil lurks in the form of Firestar's dead enemy, Tigerstar. He walks in the dark place, plotting Firestar's death and the assumption of power by his own sons. One of Tigerstar's sons is Brambleclaw, now Firestar's good friend; the other is Hawkfrost, who shares his father's hatred. Will Brambleclaw turn on his friend? As series fans will expect, the action here proves as compelling as the relationships between cats and the dynamics among the Clans."

-Sally Estes, Booklist

"A suspensful adventure story that urges readers onward."

-ALA Booklist

Readers Love Warriors

Text from the book jacket

"Every book is heart-stopping!"

-Emma, Age 13

"I can't believe how amazing these books are. Right from the one series into another--the excitement just keeps going!"

-Sara, Age 13

"I just can't wait for the next one!"

-Boberton, Age 12

"These are amazing books! It feels like you're right there inside with Brambleclaw and the others! Brambleclaw, you will make a great deputy! I can't wait for him to become leader!"

-Katie Cookson, Age 11

"Warriors are so awesome! Don't stop writing Erin Hunter!"

-Amy, Age 10

"I like Warrior Cats! I play the games on warriorcats.com!"

-Lucas Hodgdon, Age 5

"I think all of the Warrior Cat books are awesome and just can't wait for the next!"

-Emily Scuderi, Age 12

"This is the best book series in the world! I don't know what I would be reading if I hadn't read 'Into the Wild'! NEVER stop writing Erin Hunter! :0)"

-Kelsey Matheson, Age 10

Detailed plot description

Looking for a shorter overview? Find one here!

Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight's fight is over. Their love for each other has become stronger than before, but Brambleclaw must choose once and for all if he will follow in his father's pawsteps or reject the power that Tigerstar promises and concentrate on being a loyal warrior in ThunderClan.

Tigerstar continues to visit Hawkfrost and Brambleclaw in their dreams. Tawnypelt, their sister, has also visited the Dark Forest, although she firmly rejects Tigerstar's offer of power. Tawnypelt says that she wants to earn power and respect by being a loyal warrior and serving ShadowClan the best that she can.

In addition, it seems that something has happened in the Tribe of Rushing Water. Stormfur and Brook are unwilling to return to the Tribe and do not say why. Stormfur and Brook go back to RiverClan, but Hawkfrost has them thrown out of the Clan. After taunting Stormfur on to attack him, which he does, Leopardstar exiles Stormfur for his disregard for the warrior code. Brook leaves RiverClan with him. Brambleclaw, who witnessed the exile, takes Stormfur and Brook back to ThunderClan, and Firestar lets them stay as long as they want. Firestar doesn't get all the support he wants from his Clanmates, but having Graystripe's son in the Clan, Firestar is not as devastated about his capture.

After moons of waiting and persuasion from Brambleclaw and Sandstorm, Firestar admits to himself that Graystripe isn't going to return. When the Clan begins to challenge the weary leader for accepting cats that do not belong to ThunderClan, referencing Daisy, her kits, Stormfur, and Brook. Firestar appoints a new deputy, Brambleclaw. The decision is first met with objection, because Brambleclaw had never mentored an apprentice. The matter is soon cleared when Firestar declares that his new deputy will mentor Berrykit when he comes of age.

As for Cinderpelt, all of the Clans are grieving for her. Leafpool finds herself struggling between grief and betrayal, for she has not seen Cinderpelt in the ranks of StarClan. During a visit to the Moonpool, Spottedleaf comes to Leafpool in a dream and shows her that Cinderpelt has been reborn in the form of Cinderkit, a fluffy gray she-kit, who is one of Sorreltail's four kits.

Leafpool also realizes that after overhearing a fight between Mothwing and Hawkfrost, and then receiving a vision from Spottedleaf, that had Hawkfrost planted the moth's wing outside of Mudfur's den back in the forest, the sign which made Mothwing a medicine cat apprentice, so he could use Mothwing to become leader.

Fox traps have also been discovered in the forest, and cats are warned to avoid and also spring them if they see any. Two known victims of the traps are Berrykit, who loses part of his tail as a result of getting it caught, and Firestar.

When Firestar is found caught in a fox trap, Hawkfrost urges Brambleclaw to kill the ThunderClan leader, as it is part of Tigerstar's plan for Hawkfrost and Brambleclaw to take over the four Clans. After struggling with his desires, Brambleclaw refuses to kill Firestar and he frees him from the trap. Because Brambleclaw has betrayed their father's plans, Hawkfrost attacks Brambleclaw, but Brambleclaw kills Hawkfrost with the trap's sharp stick. Before he dies, Hawkfrost claims to Brambleclaw that he had help with his plan and that their fight is not over. This leads Brambleclaw to think that there is a traitor in ThunderClan, though nothing is revealed when the book ends. After Hawkfrost's death, Brambleclaw expects to be exiled by Firestar, for the latter had just seen his deputy on the verge of killing him. Firestar, however, praises Brambleclaw for what he did.

With that, the prophecy "Before there is peace, blood will spill blood and the lake will run red" is fulfilled. Leafpool realizes this when she and Squirrelflight reach Firestar and Brambleclaw, after following Ashfur's fear-scent to the lake. Brambleclaw and Hawkfrost are half-brothers, thus they share the same blood and are kin, and as he stumbles down to the lake, blood pours from Hawkfrost's neck, turning the waves red.

Trivia

Interesting facts

• After Hawkfrost's death, Brambleclaw hears his brother whispers, "We will meet again, my brother. This is not over yet."^[12] Vicky explained that this line is inspired by the film Gladiator and Juba's line bidding farewell to Maximus.^[13]

Mistakes

• A compiled list of the errors present in Sunset can be found here.

Guides

Activity, reading, and teaching guides are produced by HarperCollins as additional material for certain books. Teachers and librarians could use these guides as activities in the classroom or library. Additionally, anyone could download the pdfs and print them for themselves. Below lists the guide(s) for this book.

• Reading Guide, June 2007 (backup link)
• Teaching Guide, March 2008 (backup link)

Publication history

English editions

• Sunset (EN), HarperCollins (hardcover), 26 December 2006^[5]
• Sunset (EN), HarperCollins (library binding), 26 December 2006^[14]
• Sunset (EN), Harper Audio (audiobook), 26 December 2006, narrated by Nanette Savard^[5]
• Sunset (EN), HarperCollins (paperback), 25 September 2007^[15]
• Sunset (EN), HarperCollins (e-book), 6 November 2007^[16]
• Sunset (EN), HarperCollins UK (paperback), 29 September 2011^[17]
• Sunset (EN), HarperCollins UK (e-book), 29 September 2011^[18]
• Sunset (EN), HarperCollins (paperback; reprint), 17 March 2015^[5]
• Sunset (EN), HarperAudio (audiobook; reissue), 4 June 2019, narrated by MacLeod Andrews^[5]
• Sunset (EN), HarperCollins and Blackstone Publishing (audio cd; reprint), 4 June 2019, narrated by MacLeod Andrews^[7]
• Sunset (EN), HarperCollins UK (audiobook), 17 April 2023, narrated by MacLeod Andrews^[19]
• Sunset (EN), HarperCollins UK (paperback; reprint), 2023^[20]
• Sunset (EN), HarperCollins UK (e-book; reissue), 2023^[21]

Foreign editions

• Закат (RU), OLMA Media Group (hardcover), 2007, translated by Veronica Maximova and Leonid Nasyrov^[22]
• 日落和平 (TW), Morning Star (paperback), 30 August 2009, translated by Han Yichen (韓宜辰)^[23]
• 日落和平 (CN), Future Publishing House (paperback), January 2010, translated by Han Yichen (韩宜辰)^[24]
• 日落和平 (CN), Future Publishing House (paperback; first edition, third printing), February 2010, translated by Han Yichen (韩宜辰)^[25]
• 日落和平 (CN), Future Publishing House (paperback; second edition), April 2010, translated by Han Yichen (韩宜辰)^[26]
• 日落和平 (CN), Future Publishing House (paperback; first edition, fifth printing), June 2010, translated by Han Yichen (韩宜辰)^[27]
• 日没 (JA), Komine Shoten (hardcover), 5 October 2010, translated by Yukako Takabayashi^[28]
• Coucher de soleil (FR), Pocket Jeunesse (paperback), 3 March 2011, translated by Aude Carlier^[29]
• Sonnenuntergang (DE), Beltz & Gelberg (hardcover), 12 March 2012, translated by Friederike Levin^[30]
• Coucher de soleil (FR), 12-21 (e-book), 18 October 2012, translated by Aude Carlier^[31]
• 日没 (JA), Komine Shoten (paperback), 7 March 2014, translated by Yukako Takabayashi^[32]
• Auringonlasku (FI), Art House (hardcover), 7 October 2014, translated by Nana Sironen^[33]
• Zonsondergang (NL), Fantoom (hardcover), 20 January 2015, translated by Huberte Vriesendorp^[34]
• 日落和平 (CN), Future Publishing House (paperback; third edition), June 2015, translated by Han Yichen (韩宜辰)^[35]
• Sonnenuntergang (DE), Beltz & Gelberg (paperback), 8 February 2016^[36]

Gallery

US covers

Foreign covers

External links

• Sunset on Warriors official website (backup link)
• Who are the cats on The New Prophecy book covers? on Warriors official website (backup link)

Notes and references

1. ↑ Revealed on the dedication page of Sunset
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Revealed on the inside right flap of Sunset
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Revealed on the back cover of Sunset
4. ↑ Revealed on the copyright page of Sunset
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7} Revealed on harpercollins.com (backup link)
6. ↑ Revealed on audible.com (backup link)
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Revealed on amazon.com
8. ↑ Revealed in Mothwing's Secret, chapter 5
9. ↑ Revealed in Mothwing's Secret, chapter 6
10. ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
11. ↑ Revealed on Facebook messenger with the Erin Hunter marketing team
12. ↑ Revealed in Sunset, page 299
13. ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook (screenshot)
14. ↑ Revealed on amazon.com
15. ↑ Revealed on harpercollins.com
16. ↑ Revealed on amazon.com
17. ↑ Revealed on harpercollins.co.uk (backup link)
18. ↑ Revealed on harpercollins.co.uk (backup link)
19. ↑ Revealed on harpercollins.co.uk (backup link)
20. ↑ Revealed on the copyright page
21. ↑ Revealed on the copyright page
22. ↑ Revealed on ru.wikipedia
23. ↑ Revealed on morningstar.com.tw
24. ↑ Revealed on the copyright page
25. ↑ Revealed on the copyright page
26. ↑ Revealed on the copyright page
27. ↑ Revealed on the copyright page
28. ↑ Infromation from komineshoten.co.jp
29. ↑ Revealed on amazon.fr
30. ↑ Revealed on beltz.de
31. ↑ Revealed on 12-21editions.fr
32. ↑ Infromation from hanmoto.com
33. ↑ Revealed on risingshadow.fi
34. ↑ Revealed on bol.com
35. ↑ Revealed on the copyright page
36. ↑ Revealed on amazon.de
37. ↑ Revealed on juritzen.no
38. ↑ Revealed on ebok.no
39. ↑ Revealed on tietosanoma.fi
40. ↑ Revealed on lisez.com (backup link)
41. ↑ Revealed on artemisyayinlari.com (backup link)
42. ↑ Revealed on bol.com
43. ↑ Revealed on beltz.de (backup link)
44. ↑ Revealed on Salamandra
45. ↑ Publication date revealed on amazon.es
46. ↑ Revealed on beltz.de
47. ↑ Revealed on blog.naver.com
48. ↑ Revealed on all.ro
49. ↑ Revealed on amazon.com
50. ↑ ^{50.0 50.1} Revealed on amazon.it
51. ↑ Revealed on swiatksiazki.pl
52. ↑ Revealed on ginza.se
53. ↑ Release date revealed on a Facebook post by ACCA
54. ↑ Translators revealed on acca.ua (backup link)
55. ↑ Revealed on wsoy.fi
56. ↑ Revealed on amazon.it
57. ↑ Revealed on blog.naver.com
58. ↑ Revealed on bokus.com
59. ↑ Revealed on storytel.com
60. ↑ Revealed on books.apple.com
61. ↑ Revealed on morningstar.com.tw (backup link)
62. ↑ Revealed on thalia.de
63. ↑ Revealed on albatros.cz (backup link)
64. ↑ Revealed on play.google.com (backup link)
65. ↑ Revealed on empik.com
66. ↑ Revealed on gildia.pl

e Warriors books
The Prophecies Begin (novel arc)	Into the Wild • Fire and Ice • Forest of Secrets • Rising Storm • A Dangerous Path • The Darkest Hour
The New Prophecy (novel arc)	Midnight • Moonrise • Dawn • Starlight • Twilight • Sunset
Power of Three (novel arc)	The Sight • Dark River • Outcast • Eclipse • Long Shadows • Sunrise
Omen of the Stars (novel arc)	The Fourth Apprentice • Fading Echoes • Night Whispers • Sign of the Moon • The Forgotten Warrior • The Last Hope
Dawn of the Clans	The Sun Trail • Thunder Rising • The First Battle • The Blazing Star • A Forest Divided • Path of Stars
A Vision of Shadows	The Apprentice's Quest • Thunder and Shadow • Shattered Sky • Darkest Night • River of Fire • The Raging Storm
The Broken Code	Lost Stars • The Silent Thaw • Veil of Shadows • Darkness Within • The Place of No Stars • A Light in the Mist
A Starless Clan	River • Sky • Shadow • Thunder • Wind • Star
Changing Skies	The Elders' Quest • Hidden Moon • Chasing Shadows • Guiding Light • False Dawn • Changing Skies, Book #6
Super Editions	Firestar's Quest • Bluestar's Prophecy • SkyClan's Destiny • Crookedstar's Promise • Yellowfang's Secret • Tallstar's Revenge • Bramblestar's Storm • Moth Flight's Vision • Hawkwing's Journey • Tigerheart's Shadow • Crowfeather's Trial • Squirrelflight's Hope • Graystripe's Vow • Leopardstar's Honor • Onestar's Confession • Riverstar's Home • Ivypool's Heart • StormClan's Folly • Darktail's Judgment • Super Edition #20
Novellas	The Untold Stories (Hollyleaf's Story • Mistystar's Omen • Cloudstar's Journey) • Tales from the Clans (Tigerclaw's Fury • Leafpool's Wish • Dovewing's Silence) • Shadows of the Clans (Mapleshade's Vengeance • Goosefeather's Curse • Ravenpaw's Farewell) • Legends of the Clans (Spottedleaf's Heart • Pinestar's Choice • Thunderstar's Echo) • Path of a Warrior (Redtail's Debt • Tawnypelt's Clan • Shadowstar's Life) • A Warrior's Spirit (Pebbleshine's Kits •Tree's Roots • Mothwing's Secret) • A Warrior's Choice (Daisy's Kin • Blackfoot's Reckoning • Spotfur's Rebellion)
Graystripe's Adventure	Graystripe's Adventure (The Lost Warrior • Warrior's Refuge • Warrior's Return)
Tigerstar and Sasha	Tigerstar and Sasha (Into the Woods • Escape from the Forest • Return to the Clans)
Ravenpaw's Path	Ravenpaw's Path (Shattered Peace • A Clan in Need • The Heart of a Warrior)
SkyClan and the Stranger	SkyClan and the Stranger (The Rescue • Beyond the Code • After the Flood)
The Prophecies Begin (graphic novel arc)	Volume 1 • Volume 2 • Volume 3
The New Prophecy (graphic novel arc)	Volume 1 • Volume 2 • Volume 3
Power of Three (graphic novel arc)	Volume 1 • Volume 2 • Volume 3
Omen of the Stars (graphic novel arc)	Volume 1 • Volume 2 • Volume 3
Stand-alone graphic novels	The Rise of Scourge • A Shadow in RiverClan • Winds of Change • Exile from ShadowClan • A Thief in ThunderClan
Field Guides	Secrets of the Clans • Cats of the Clans • Code of the Clans • Battles of the Clans • Enter the Clans • The Ultimate Guide • The Warriors Guide • The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition
Special Editions	Into the Wild & Fire and Ice • Forest of Secrets & Rising Storm • A Dangerous Path & The Darkest Hour • Midnight & Moonrise • Dawn & Starlight • Twilight & Sunset
Educational guides	The World of Warriors Educator's Guide • The World of Erin Hunter Educator's Guide
Short stories, plays, and essays	After Sunset: We Need to Talk • After Sunset: The Right Choice? • Beyond the Code: Brightspirit's Mercy • The Elders' Concern • Spottedleaf's Honest Answer • The Clans Decide • Why is Jaypaw Blind? • Tigerstar: Heart of Evil? • The Curtain Falls: Choosing Which Cats Would Die • Unhappily Ever After? Ending the Doomed Romances • The Truth About Midnight • The Death of Bright Stream • The Longest Night • The Disappearing Herbs • A Fear of Fire • The Hidden Prophecy • Beyond the Fence • An Icy Plunge
Extras	Back covers • Box sets

e Sunset chapters
Prologue • Chapter 1 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 3 • Chapter 4 • Chapter 5 • Chapter 6 • Chapter 7 • Chapter 8 • Chapter 9 • Chapter 10 • Chapter 11 • Chapter 12 • Chapter 13 • Chapter 14 • Chapter 15 • Chapter 16 • Chapter 17 • Chapter 18 • Chapter 19 • Chapter 20 • Chapter 21 • Chapter 22 • Chapter 23