A Dangerous Path (Warriors)

Infobox Book |
name = A Dangerous Path
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = First edition cover
author = Erin Hunter
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = Warriors
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Avon
release_date = June 1, 2004
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 336 pp
isbn = ISBN 978-0060525651
preceded_by = Rising Storm
followed_by = The Darkest Hour "A Dangerous Path" is the fifth book in the "Warriors" series, written by Cherith Baldry and Kate Cary under the pen name of Erin Hunter. This individual book was written by Cherith Baldry.

The plot is centered around Fireheart, a cat who gave up his life as a kittypet (a house cat) to join ThunderClan, one of the four Clans of feral cats living in the wild. It takes up where the previous book left off, and presents the events as taking place during leaf-fall (autumn).

Plot summary

The cats of ThunderClan face a grim future as disasters, disagreements and bad omens shake them; the other Clans plan to drive out from their territories, or even to have them all killed. Fireheart, the recently appointed deputy struggles to keep the ThunderClan cats together, and he even breaks traditions in order to avert catastrophes.

Tigerstar, the new leader of ShadowClan and former treacherous deputy of ThunderClan, has let loose a pack of terrible, bloodthirsty dogs into the forest. Throughout the book, there are multiple signs of the dogs, the most noticeable on being the time when two apprentices attempt to find out what was tresspasing on their land. One of these two apprentices is killed, and the other one is ravaged so that she loses one ear and one eye. Bluestar has lost faith in StarClan and thinks that she can only trust Fireheart and Whitestorm. She suspects everyone of treason and even accuses Fireheart of it. With so many secrets already, even more are being revealed - for instance, Bluestar is the mother of the RiverClan warriors Mistyfoot and Stonefur, and her mate was Oakheart, the former RiverClan deputy. Fireheart makes a plan to get rid of the dogs, but Tigerclaw stops him. Bluestar loses her last life while saving Fireheart. Moments before her death, Bluestar reminds Fireheart of the ancient prophecy of Starclan: that fire will save the Clan. Bluestar reveals to Fireheart that all along he was the fire that would save the Clan.

Cats on the cover may be Fireheart and Bramblepaw.

Critical reception

"A Dangerous Path" has received a positive reception. A BookLoons review praised the rising tension in the book.cite web|url=http://www.bookloons.com/cgi-bin/Review.ASP?bookid=3166|title=A Dangerous Path: Warriors #5 by Erin Hunter|work=BookLoons Reviews|accessdate=2008-01-04] Booklist called the novel "compelling" and "fast-paced" in its review.cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Path-Warriors-Book/dp/0060525657|title=A Dangerous Path (Warriors, Book 5)|work=Amazon.com|accessdate=2008-01-04]

Footnotes