Shifting Shadows

Bravelands #4

by Erin Hunter

Heed the call of the wild...discover the third book in this action-packed, New York Times bestselling animal fantasy series from the author of Warriors!

Set in the African savannah and told from three different animals' points of view, Bravelands will thrill readers who love Spirit Animals and Wings of Fire, as well as the fans who've made Erin Hunter a #1 nationally bestselling phenomenon.

A false leader has been destroyed--but Bravelands is still in grave danger.

Stinger's death should have brought peace to the land; but no Great Parent has stepped forward, and now the fate of Bravelands hangs in the balance. With a mysterious threat lurking in their midst, all members of the Great Herd must find the strength to walk the right path or risk the end of Bravelands forever.

Genres: Fantasy, Animals, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Chapter Books, Young Adult

336 pages, Hardcover

First published May 7, 2019

About the author

Erin Hunter is the pseudonym of five people: Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry, Tui T. Sutherland, Gillian Philip, and Inbali Iserles, as well as editor Victoria Holmes. Together, they write the Warriors series as well as the Seekers and Survivors series. Erin Hunter is working on a new series now called Bravelands.

Erin Hunter is inspired by a love of cats and a fascination with the ferocity of the natural world. As well as having a great respect for nature in all its forms, Erin enjoys creating rich mythical explanations for animal behavior, shaped by her interest in astronomy and standing stones.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my….

This was dark and so dang good. I never thought I was going to be this invested in the series, but it continues to blow me away. My heart is breaking for Bravelands as they attempt to get things back to normal. I’m not sure what’s wrong with Titan, but he’s not like a regular lion anymore and I’m not sure what’s possessing him. Overall, I can’t say too much about this one because it’s a sequel but if you’ve ever considered picking up this series, I highly recommend that you go for it. It’s worth a read!

[Axellesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wat een prachtig deel terug! Dit deel is mijn favoriet in de serie tot zo ver. Wil je weten waarom? Neem dan zeker een kijkje naar op blog: https://axellesbooks.wordpress.com/20...

[Thomas Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still dark, still pretty good, still a little more dramatic than nescessary.... I liked it. Erin Hunter is apparently fine with explaining baboon brutality, down to the flinging aside of every "bloody body" as well as describing both cannibalistic lions and wild dogs who hunt animals to only eat their hearts.
Throughout most of the book I was just thinking how many problems would be fixed if the characters would just think for one minute longer. It's frustrating!
It is still a good book, though. Mostly because of nostalgia, I think...

[shannon✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one a lot! It was so action packed and I liked how some things turned out to be, I must say there were a lot of things I didn’t see coming. Now that I finished this book, I do wonder what will happen next and how the story will progress.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really, really good. I think Thorn is my favorite perspective. I wish Fearless would stop acting so much like his name should be Brainless. Hopefully things get better in the next book.

[Amanda Tuinstra ( Liefde voor boeken Amanda) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recensie volgt op m'n blog

[shalea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! It kept me on the edge of my seat! It was so fun figuring out what would happen before it did, which I know bothers a lot of people, but I love it! Although, there was still some things that I was so shocked about! If you want to hear me talking more in depth about my feelings, look at my updates for the book. They are mostly at the end, but I think they are funny to read 😂 Anyways, Erin Hunters, I love you guys with all my heart, but WHY THE HECK did you have to wait until FEBRUARY to release #5??? Also, I found out why the next one is titled what it is, and I just can't wait to read it oh my gosh.

[Willemijn jufwillemijnopallstars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Door mijn interview met Erin Hunter (Gillian Philip) wist ik al een beetje dat deze serie van 6 eigenlijk 2 trilogieën zijn. Dit is dan het eerste deel van de tweede trilogie. En zo voelde het ook een beetje. Er wordt heel veel spanning opgebouwd, deel 5 wil je ook weer heel snel lezen!

Doorn zit met een knoop in zijn maag. Hij heeft een geheim dat ie met niemand kan en wil delen. Gelukkig heeft hij zijn vrienden nog waar hij door afgeleid wordt. Ook heeft hij het weer druk met zijn partner Berry.

“Doorn viel tussen de takken door en maaide wild om zich heen op zoek naar houvast, dat steeds net buiten zijn bereik lag.”

Sky heeft het moeilijk met het feit dat de nieuwe Opperouder zich nog niet gemeld heeft. Het was haar taak om deze te vinden en omdat ze niet meer met de Grote Geest kan praten, weet ze zeker dat er een nieuwe is. Ze moet hem of haar alleen nog zien te vinden. Dit gaat ook weer niet zonder slag of stoot. Sky moet dingen opgeven om te bereiken wat ze wil en heeft te maken met vrij veel tegenslagen in dit boek. Toch slaat ze zich er weer doorheen.

Fier wil nog steeds wraak nemen op Titaan, zijn wraakgevoel wordt steeds groter na alle acties die Titaan heeft uitgevoerd. Fier heeft zijn eigen groepje leeuwen waar hij nu mee leeft. En dat gaat best goed, ookal zijn ze een rare combinatie. Valorie, de zus van Fier gedraagt zich de laatste tijd wel een beetje vreemd. Ze is vaak weg bij de groep. Fier vertrouwt het niet helemaal.

“Zwijgend kropen de vijf leeuwen in een sierlijke choreografie naar voren. Fier bracht zijn schouders omlaag, zodat hij ver onder de topjes van de grashalmen bleef.”

Alle personages maken in het vierde deel van Bravelands veel mee. Ze overwinnen angsten, kiezen voor zichzelf en zorgen voor hun vrienden. Het voelt ook echt alsof je met ze meegroeit in de boeken. Ze zijn elk boek een beetje ouder (en meestal ook wijzer). De hele serie is ook zeer leerzaam: niet opgeven.

Het boek heet: De Schaduwen, dieren worden zomaar gedood en achter gelaten. De dode dieren stinken. Wie heeft dit gedaan? En stopt dit ooit? Het werd voor mij niet helemaal duidelijk wie die Schaduwen nu waren, wel dat alle dieren bang voor ze waren en terecht.

Ik ben heel benieuwd naar hoe het verhaal verder gaat en hoe het gaat eindigen. Gaat het Fier uiteindelijk lukken om Titaan te verslaan? En wat staat Sky en Doorn te wachten in de volgende delen?

[Critter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as the new arc started. There is a new enemy that has appeared in the Bravelands that is terrorizing the inhabitants. However, I didn’t feel as intrigued by the new threat as I could have been. I do hope the next book goes more in depth with it a little more. This book also felt more brutal than the past books, which wasn’t necessarily bad, but it did shock me at times. The world building was still amazing in this book. It shows more about the lives and customs of the elephants along with features the world from some other viewpoints. I love getting to know the animals of the Bravelands and their customs and lives.

[Sting Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This was a really good book, but there were some slow parts that didn't quite reach 5 stars.
I would totally recommend though!

[KSena · Rating 4 out of 5]

And so… Me and kiddo have finished off the last of the Bravelands books that have been translated to swedish.

I will say one thing. This team of authors, the Erin Hunter team? They are REALLY good at writing tension. Holy shit.

I mean, the other series had tension in them too, but in this one they really upped the ante! I guess it’s because it’s on the African savanna and there’s both prey and predator animals that have various leads. It creates a tension the other stories could not. Because in those we ONLY followed predator animals. Plus in the particular part the Great Leader is missing, and the savanna is more chaotic than normal.

I really liked the various leads. The young lion Fearless set out for revenge, but also so helpful to his friends. Friends who could have been prey had he not grown up with them. And how he struggles to lead a pack even though he is far too young to do so. I also liked the lion that’s the son of the Big Bad Lion. Despite having such a name, Ruthless, is a total sweetheart. I love him. At least now. In the beginning of the book, maybe not so much. But damn did he grow on me in this book.

Thorn the baboon was a really nice character to. Friends with Fearless since they were very young. And he is SUCH a good hero, really. The best sort of heroes is those that don’t want to be a hero… but ends up doing heroic things anyway. In that way, he is quite perfect. And a hero has to have supportive friends. I really like Thorn’s friends Mud and Nut. Nut especially, since he used to be a bad guy, and now is not. Which makes him a bit spicy when he speaks, and I love that.

And there’s Sky, the elephant. She’s just… good. A little bit dull a character, to be frank. But important to the story to. I was actually happy to see her make a mistake, because that made her less perfect and more relatable.

And that’s just a few characters! There’s the vultures to, and my goth-heart can’t help but love them. The cheetahs… the buffaloos… I could go. There’s a myriad of characters on the savanna and we get to meet quite a lot of them!

I also like how they’ve incorporated real life things in the story, for example the musth that effects male elephants and turns to the gigantic insane murder-mashines! True actually. They attack everything when effected.

So yeah, surprisingly good. I suppose I’ll have to track down the next book for kiddo whenever it’s released in swedish.

[Sarah Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Theme Song: Paint It Black but specifically this cover of it.

The main feeling I got while reading this installment in the Bravelands series is a creeping sense of dread. I mean this in the best way possible. Shifting Shadows takes its time setting up its main antagonists, while still leaving enough unanswered questions to keep the reader in suspense. The odds gradually stack up against the protagonists but there's enough of a glimmer of hope that it isn't completely bleak. It kind of reminds me of the Warrior Cats Super Edition, Hawkwing's Journey.

I did find Thorn and Fearless very frustrating. Fearless is stuck deep in an angsty teenager phase that strains basically every positive relationship in his life, and Thorn spends much of the book running away from responsibility. I get that they are probably going to grow from this but it's still a very frustrating experience to read. However, it does make the ending very satisfying.

On a more positive note, am I the only one who ships Keen and Fearless? I love the way they play off each other and how they always have each other's backs.

[Lena Westman - Lenas böcker och annant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Älskade Flyende skuggor av Erin Hunter lika mycket som de tre tidigare böckerna i Bravelands-serien. I den här boken fortsätter äventyren för de olika djuren på savannen. Denna delen var väldigt mörk. Det händer en hel del hemskheter så den är väldigt spännande. Samtidigt är det som vanligt vänskap och lojalitet mellan djuren som står i centrum. Boken är helt fenomenalt skriven. Man blir helt uppslukad av handlingen så fort man börjar läsa. Kan bara varmt rekommendera både denna boken och övriga böcker i serien till både barn som vuxen.

[Icer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good continuation of the series. Read books 1-3 first! Although the first 3 books were obviously designed as a trilogy and the end of book 3 could have been a 'happy ending' for most of the characters, I was quite impressed that they very quickly changed it back to the main characters having as many (new) problems as before. But it didn't feel cheap because the new problems were partial consequences of the characters' own decisions, rather than the direct doing of the 'bad' characters.
At the beginning I was a bit bored but soon got invested in the story again. I actually care about all the mains now too, whereas I was mainly only caring about Thorn, the baboon, in the first trilogy.
SPOILERS SECTION
As in the previous trilogy, Thorn is the really interesting character. If we thought his plot was tied up before, well so much for that! Of course at the end of Book 3 it's implied he will be the next Great Father. At first Thorn doesn't believe it, and assumes that if he refused, the Great spirit will choose someone more qualified. Since he procrastinates so much, and also about whether to nominate for leader, then when there is an attack on the troop by the enemy baboon troop, the vultures take off with him! Thorn refuses the ceremony and takes a long time to manage to get back to the troop. They assume he's dead and he comes back just as the leadership election is in progress. It's too late for Thorn to nominate for leadership. So like in real life there isn't just a happy ending and if you procrastinate, problems are solved 'for you' but not necessarily in an optimal way. But his girlfriend Berry has nominated for leadership, and wins so it's fine, right?
With a war on and all, though, Berry starts acting like a more legal version of her father Stinger (the evil dictator/murderer/Antichrist last arc) since where is she supposed to get ideas from?
But it's hard to see Berry as a bad character. Thorn never tries to advise or disagree with her, and nobody else does either, her only advice seems to come from some 'bad' Highleafs on the council. There is no Starleaf to advise her. Mud is trying to become a Starleaf, but fails the initiation test on purpose because he doesn't want to advise Berry that she is the 'wrong leader' either. Then of course Berry's mother is killed by the enemy troop. Berry admits to Thorn that maybe she isn't making the 'right' decisions but she is just trying to do the best she can as leader, she has limited insight but so does everyone else. Then when Thorn responds that she should listen to him now since actually he's the new Great Father, him never mentioning this before, it's unsurprising that she doesn't take it well. Especially as that's what Stinger falsely claimed last arc, that he was Great Father and thus had perfect insight, so why should she even believe him? So Berry more or less breaks up with him, and Thorn has to leave entirely after he sabotages their planned killing of the murderous leader of the enemy troop, who surrendered and is in captivity (so it would break the Code). Although, to be fair to Thorn, there would never have been an easy way to break the 'news' to Berry. Will Berry and Thorn get back together by the end of the arc? Will Berry become super evil? We can only wait.

Sky, the elephant, was sort of boring in the first trilogy. Here she soon becomes more interesting because she quits her herd, even though that is unheard of, since she wants to live with Rock, the male elephant she previously met. Instead of being a straightforward romance plot, we soon find out Rock is an outcast and when Sky finds out why they break up. Sky then starts living with her brother and the male elephant society, and it's interesting to see a different part of the elephant society. I expect Sky and Rock will get back together by the end of the series but in the meantime we have to wonder when and how that could happen.

Of course Fearless, the lion, has been the partial cause of his own problems throughout much of the series. But if we remember that these are lions, not humans, I was actually more sympathetic to him this book. The main problem for Fearless is that his pride of, we assume, sub-adult lions, has a large adult lion, Mighty, join as his sister Valor's mate. Fearless reluctantly lets him join but it isn't like a formal alliance. So for real lions, a pride can have more than one male 'leader', but if a coalition of males have a pride, either they form a sort of alliance or are related. If some strange bigger 'Mighty' lion just joins, (which wouldn't really just be allowed) you can expect a leadership challenge one day. Fearless was right to be paranoid. To the extent the lions resemble human society though, Fearless needs any ally he can to fight against Titan! And most of the other lions liked Mighty because Fearless isn't a very good leader. So of course Fearless is sort of a spoiled brat and quits the pride. Still, he has his 'real friends' Keen and Ruthless join him. And even Ruthless' baby sister, Menace, has been rescued from Titanpride and is with Sky. I'm wondering whether she will become another enemy or maybe even a canon love interest for Fearless!

Anyway, if you liked Warrior Cats or other animal fantasy do try this series. It's a lot better than the other 'Erin Hunter' brand spinoff series.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting book with a deep if how the Fearlessflock lives and whats happend with Powerful and Fearless sister Valiant/ Brave/ Valorous.

It's also cool to follow with Sky and her adventure, and when she fell in love with somone....and they been lifemates....
But something happend then....a secret was revealed from Skys brother and his group. A secret as change everything....

CLIFFHANGER!!!!

[Abdullah Usman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very enjoyable book and thoroughly action packed.


It was dark as always and there were many things i didn't see coming. It really was a real page turner and maybe better than some warrior books.

[Grace Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing ending to cliffhanger

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the third book in this series was rather disappointing, my expectations were, inevitably, a bit low for this fourth installment. However, Bravelands has more or less bounced back! I enjoyed this book. It's a bit typical, rushed even, but it sets the stage as a brilliant transition book to future stories. Since the first story arc wrapped up with the death of Stinger, it was about time that a new plot line was introduced.

Thorn as the Great Parent was an interesting choice and his denial of his role was a little repetitive and annoying, but in the end it worked out rather nicely that he decided to embrace his powers and the role it came with. (Perhaps a little deus ex machina work, but not altogether that bad.) The twist of Berry turning a bit evil and ultimately rejecting Thorn when he stopped her from breaking the Code was unanticipated, but I like that the author chose to take Berry's character in this direction. Otherwise, things may have been a little to easy and perfect for Thorn once he accepted his fate.

In terms of Fearless, his storyline was rather dull this time around. He's a naive and easily swayed young lion that causes a lot of trouble for himself, like exiling him from his own pride simply because he couldn't take the idea of competition. However, the turn to the Dark Side by Titan was both ominous and solidified his role as Scar from the Lion King, but in a more grim and horrifying way. Ritualistic cannibalism is suggested, which makes me wonder why these books is even in the children's section to begin with, and it seems that there is some larger dark force at work, much like there was before. This time, it seems, Titan will be the one to ultimately be taken out. The epilogue was well-written and you could basically feel that poor bird's fear of the lion who came out of the shadows and proceeded onwards. He is just pure evil, and getting more deranged.

In the last book, Sky Strider got on my nerves a bit. Well, the whole book got on my nerves a bit, to be honest. This book opened up a new pathway for her. First, with leaving her herd (bad idea), then joining up with Rock (bad idea #2), and then finding her brothers who then had to fight off a bunch of scary lions (bad idea #3). The elephant marriage ceremony seemed to come a little out of nowhere, but the whole idea that Rock killed a former flame during "rage" is honestly beyond my mind why they would include that in a children's book. Oh well. However, I have to say that I love the fact that Sky has adopted three tiny baby cats! How sweet! The baby cheetahs are a bright spot in this book that I really appreciated, and Menace, the baby lion, I think will be a good addition. Suddenly, you have this bizarre family of elephant taking care of three cubs. Cute!

[Brittney Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Rating: 4.5 stars

Note: This is the 4th book in the Bravelands series so this will not be an in-depth review.

If you have been following my reviews for a while, then you know that last year I read 100 books. After succeeding at that goal, I entered into a massive reading slump so as a result, I haven’t been reading as much, but I finally managed to get to one of my anticipated releases for May, Shifting Shadows, the 4th book in the Bravelands series by Erin Hunter, and it was just as engaging and exciting as the 1st 3 books.

The best thing about these books is the world-building as it is very intricate. Each species in Bravelands has a unique hierarchy and mythos, but they also have an overarching system that connects them together into a community. I really appreciate all the thought that went into creating this world as most middle-grade authors would not put as much effort into their world-building.

The only slight problem that I had with this book is the fact that the new villain/menace is not explained very well, and I hope that gets better in later books.

All in all, it was a great addition to the series. 4.5 stars!!!!!!!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'd probably give this one 4.4 stars.... but still not 5. I was reluctant to start reading Shifting Shadows, and for about the first third of the book, I wasn't all that enthused about it. I was irritated the entire time because Thorn wouldn't accept his responsibilities and Fearless was being a little punk. But the book itself kept me reading the Bravelands series, and I'll continue on to the 5th book.

At this point in the books, I find myself yearning for somebody to take action. It feels like Sky is sorta carving her own path, and sorta letting other animals choose her path for her. Thorn seems passive (but he's awfully active in avoiding his duty as the Great Father) and Fearless is arrogant but largely insecure. The thing is, I know that's the point of this book. The authors are doing this to extend the series, but at times it gets a little old. Still adore this series though, and wish I had it when I was a kid.

[⁸¹ Bella ⁴ (oscar's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. I had to take a little pause in the middle though, because it had gotten boring. But I came back!!

I like how Berry becomes Crownleaf, but I feel like the power was getting to her. She was acting a lot like Stinger, with the Crown Guard... "The strong sturdy branches that protect the troop".. it's right there in what she said. I do like the new name though. Dawntrees.

Don't even get me started on Sky though. I hate her chapters. I was tempted to skip them, but I didn't because then I would have missed the info of Rock becoming her life-mate. And how he killed River. Like, what? Rock has changed! A real life-mate would stay with him forever, no matter what he did. Also, he had the Rage. You can't blame him. And he did stay with you when you confessed to killing Stinger, right? Plus you didn't even have the Rage then!!! You just DID IT.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH SKY??? I hate how she abandons Rock. It's one of my biggest Pet Peeves.
THAT ARROGANT BLOWFISH.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just as I expected, I loved seeing all the main characters again and seeing how they have developed in just one book is really interesting, especially for thorn with The burden he is carrying.

The looming darkness and the mystery surrounding Titan is one I can’t wait to explore in more detail in the coming books.

This book didn’t have the most enthralling plot if I’m honest and the action was minimal however I understand it was needed to set the ideas for the coming books which I can’t wait to read

[piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly, I quite honestly would have enjoyed this more if it was the start to a new arc. The first three books were hands down my favorites, and it could have all been left at that. This book quite plainly left me frustrated. Though I must say that the writing was pretty amazing. I rated this book four stars because Fearless acted like a mousebrain most of the time, the Erins kept killing off fairly important charterers, and Berry is beginning to act like Stinger. But I must confess that I'm looking forward to Fearless getting a relationship (hopefully)!

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seemed like a filler

After all the excitement of the previous book, this one just seemed like filler.

Literally all that happened in this book was everyone running away. Sky ran from her herd, Thorn ran from his troop, and Fearless disowned his own Pride for some reason...

I really enjoy the change from domestic animals to wild animals in Erin Hunter novels, and I just hope the books that follow pick up more. I would hate for this series to end at just six books.

[brooklenn leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the third book a little more, but I’m flabbergasted that at four books, I’m still completely interested and intrigued and entertained! I’m not a series person and usually after book two of a series I’m over it. But I love these characters and the plot keeps getting better and I find myself thinking about these books throughout the day. I’m so excited you-know-who is the great parent! I’m so intrigued to find out what happens with Berry, and as always Sky is a gem and a pure soul and I love her to pieces!

[Go · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was mostly about inner struggle concerning Thorn and Fearless. Fearless was so insecure and petulant and Thorn was apprehensive to reveal that he was the new Great Father. They are both noble creatures that Bravelands needs. I did not care for this book as much as I liked the last three. It was slower and did not seem to further the storyline along as quickly as I had expected it too. I still enjoyed it though. My daughter still LOVES this series.

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series keeps getting better and better. Now there's a new force of darkness and Bravelands is struggling because of the lack of a Great Father. Even when the Great Father arises, so much damage has been done. Sky Strider has found herself in charge of several cubs, Thorn is fighting his destiny, and Fearless is making rash decisions based off of pride and vanity. I am so excited for book five to come out. Erin Hunter is killing it with this series.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravelands, Book 4: Shifting Shadows in the third book by Erin Hunter that I've read in 2019, behind Bravelands, Book 3: Code of Honor and Survivors: The Gathering Darkness, Book 6: The Final Battle. And like those other two books, I rated this one 5 stars. Yes, I loved it that much! It was so good! Now I'm looking forward to reading the fifth book in the Bravelands series, Bravelands, Book 5: The Spirit-Eaters.

[Regan Helmick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great book in the Bravelands Series!! This was the first series that I read that I had to wait for the next book to come out so I sat around for a long time just waiting for the books to come out. But I was super happy when this book came out. Even though I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first three, I still liked it a lot. I would recommend this series to anyone that loves animals.

[Andrea Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Just amazing! I couldn't find a single criticism for this read! Hunters writing is flawless and her plot was very well thought out. Her characters are heroic, brave, and self sacrificing. I finished this book in 1 night thanks to the character driven plot and thrilling story line! Best book I've read of Hunters so far!