Ivypool's Super Edition is SHOCKINGLY Good - Sunny's Spiel | Warriors Analysis

A new super edition has arrived, this time centering around a fan favorite: Ivypool! And…it’s actually pretty good. Really fun, really good messaging, some- ahem- structural issues, but overall a great time with some buckwild ideas. Let’s dig into this one.
Article Mentioning 17th & 18th Super Editions: warriorcats.co...
Patreon: / sunnyfall
Paws of Stars Fanfiction: archiveofourow...
Contact Email: [e-mail]
Discord Server: / discord
End Card Song: Ponte de Abril - Steve Adams • Ponte de Abril

[@wygolvillage2637]

Honestly I kind of like the idea of Ivy's grief being more pronounced by how distant she was with Bris. Her kit is gone forever, and she didn't even get to be there for her when she was alive. Honestly I wish that was part of the direction they went since it makes a lot of sense for her as a character and retroactively justifies her absence in TBC to an extent.

[@namikkou]

@@wygolvillage2637 that was my exact thoughts reading the book, it would've made a lot more sense and also still very impactful

[@eshix4089]

The afterlife kind of reminded of the end of the Silverwing series.

[@imaginarylivingbody7154]

18:40 I am so disappointed you didn’t mention Whistlepaw grabbing a newborn kitten and swinging it around to get fluid out of its lungs. That was wild.

[@Snowstar837]

Yeah it was crazy!! I had to do something similar for a rat that was choking once. The centrifugal force will force out whatever is in their windpipe. They call it the "fling method" haha.

[@spectacularslowpoke6018]

About the Dovewing and Ivypool animosity, it is resolved… in a short story in the new ultimate guide. So that resolution is there, just in a book not many people will read.

[@sirbobthemarvelous]

The wildcats worshipping the earth air and water reminded me of the conversation in Dovewing's silence where Midnight and Rock talk about where their powers came from

[@shinymegaabsollover9757]

A lot of people are confused as to how Thunderclan and Windclan were able to be reformed since they are doubtful that the other clans would let them come back. I like to think that it’s similar to when Windclan was chased out in Into the Wild. They simply waited for the clans to come back. It’s not like Skyclan where the territory no longer existed, the cats just left. Also the mentioned blazing star prophecy is probably why they allowed them back. They probably fear the wrath of Starclan if they didn’t let Thunderclan and Windclan reform themselves.

[@frannie4310]

This book did what a traveling book is supposed to do: use the journey to change the character. I know it’s not perfect, but I really love how it talked about grief and death. The wildcat’s view on death/fading was very beautiful and comforting. I also love how they handled characters and interactions. It genuinely touched me in a way that a warriors book hasn’t done to me in a long time.

[@Tom-wb8pc]

I think an important aspect of Ivypool's character is that her trauma / grief are very heavily mixed into each other. While we might not get a lot of Ivy/Bristlefrost interaction, I think part of what she had to work through isn't just grief, but also the dark forest seeming to have a grasp on her, re-appearing when Bristlefrost was taken by it. Brokenstar was a big player in traumatizing Ivypool, as he was one of her 'mentors' and killed Beetlewhisker. While it was never covered in great detail beyond OotS, Ivypool's time in the Dark Forest was undoubtedly traumatizing, with her killing a cat, nearly killing Flametail, watching several cats die, and almost dying several times over. For years, she's been able to move on from those experiences and have a life again, but one day, the Dark Forest returns and her child runs in to help, like she had to do... and dies in the process. After years of putting the events of the past behind her, to have such a nightmarish place resurface one day only to steal away one more piece of your life would be haunting.

[@amblonyxx]

I think the lack of relationship between Ivypool and Bristlefrost could also be explained by that assumption that they'll live happily ever after in Starclan. We dont see a lot of parent kit interaction at the best of times, maybe they just always think they'll have that time in Starclan.

[@namikkou]

Beach and Slate were instantly one of my favorite characters ever. God i hope they come back because they are too good to NOT come back

[@randompeanut1156]

If they come back and they do not have the most beautiful she - cats by their side, we riot

[@Pebble_Kitty]

I almost kind of want them to have a secret half-clan romance with some she-cat from maybe Thunderclan or Shadowclan. They're stupid and adorable but that could woo plenty of she-cats(maybe Myrtlebloom is into idiots). And we need new blood.

[@GweenOfTea]

@@randompeanut1156with that bushy tail there’s no way they don’t

[@lilybethwalters4433]

My favorite part was that scene where Ivy goes full instant kill on the dog and her and Ice share a moment like shoot, those were forbidden battle moves. I just thought it was neat 😅

[@daydreamer8941]

I just imagine Tallstar in starclan being so peeved that at one point, Thunderclan/Windclan where an entire clan because that was his dream to have peace between the clans when they went to the lake territory

[@imaginarylivingbody7154]

2:50 One of the brothers flirting with DOVEWING made me laugh out loud.

[@--ivypool--]

Ivypool and Icewing are perfect examples of survivor's guilt, and the difference between coping or not.

[@strawberrycelia]

Yay Sunny likes it!! I was so hoping you would, I found so much to love in it ❤ when i was looking online I was sad to see a LOT of Ivypool hate for the book despite her feeling like a very realistic portrayal of grief to me. I understand she had her rough moments, but was THRILLED that she apologizes to her sister and is actually very kind to Dove by the end. I love the sisters, and seeing the hate for her was sad, because they are finally on the same page again! It made me so happy to see them working as a team.

[@xRaiofSunshine]

Ivypool can haz cheeseburger ‘3’

[@-w-1870]

The prophecy has finally been fulfilled

[@Mrdrprfr]

I mentioned this in your Discord and I thought I'd bring it up here too. I've seen a lot of people on Reddit and other forums complaining about Ivypool being unbearable, obnoxious, whiny, and abnormally aggressive in this book. But... isn't that the point? Ivypool is a mother who lost her own child, which is any parent's worst nightmare as is. But Bristlefrost can't even live in StarClan either. And worse still, she lost said child in the same place that's caused her so much pain and trauma in the past. Heck, Ivypool would've died to the Dark Forest herself if it wasn't for Hollyleaf. The case of Bristlefrost is exponentially worse than your average Warrior Cats death. Grief gets pretty ugly at times, and though I've never had a child myself, let alone lost one, I feel like Ivypool's reaction was totally realistic and understandable, even if other characters didn't deserve to be on the receiving end. As unfortunate as it is for her travelling companions, I think she absolutely has the right to be so hysterical about her loss. To call her whiny and unbearable just feels unfair to everything she's been through.

[@lalas181]

"Oh my God, can this character shut UP?! So whiny and annoying!" - the Warriors fandom when a she-cat has emotions besides murderous rage, apparently

[@Amanecer458]

@@lalas181 When a character has emotions in general

[@finn9396]

Bro you thought that REDDIT of all places has good opinions on women...?

[@Mrdrprfr]

@@finn9396 Fair point. r/warriorcats is just one of the main forums I visit, that's all.

[@viral4983]

Ive fallen in love with Icewing during this super edition! I really hope she is on track to become Riverclan's leader

[@LionSlashMeteorPowerShower]

The whole StormClan and European Wildcat storyline is just amazing, home run by the Erin's on that. We have an entire new lore to explore to this over 20 year old series, that hopefully the Erin's continue to dwell upon going forward.

[@kickingitwithlondyn9901]

The wildcats group is so cool and different I always thought if I was a warrior cats character I would want to be in skyclan or thunderclan but geez there clan seems interesting like you pick the first part of the name and your ancestors pick the second?!

[@Snowstar837]

I also like how all of the parts of their names are verbs/actions specifically

[@moonking643]

Ya know, why was Tallstar there? Has the same energy of Littlecloud being at Squilf's and Leafpool's trial

[@mrmacura3421]

This concept of "spirit mentors" isn't completely new. I don't remember which Arc it was (probably POT) but at some point the medicine cats talked about their individual "star clan mentor" or something like that. I think it was at the time when almost all of Leafpool's and Jaypaw's visions came only from Spottedleaf and Yellowfang. It clearly only was a passing idea since those "mentors" were only mentioned a couple of times but perhaps the authors plan to go back to this in the future.

[@mochasandwords6966]

Personally I really liked that Ivypool kept having to repeat lessons about grief and how to deal with it. Grief works that way for some people. Even when you think you're better, it can hit you like a truck a few days later and you can be back to square one.

[@ShadowsightSolos]

I agree, I haven’t finished it yet, but I already LOVE it. Beach and Slate are really fun characters Also, I’m glad we get more Rootspring content, I absolutely love and adore him.

[@Danmeilover69]

I loved almost everything about this book, all except for how porrly the wildcats were described. I had absolutely no idea what i was supposed to be picyuring until i watched Dawnmist's review of the book. I was also really hoping to see some lions or tigers, and to see Bright Gaurdian Akira's theory of a volcano. A volcano would be so cool to see in this series. But i did love this book, i loved the world-building, new lore, and new characters. I loved the wildcats culture so much! And Icewing continues to slay, even if she won't be Riverclan leader. I love to think of cats that fade or spirits are killed almost evolve to become essentially gods. They have this abstract, almost omniscent presence. Aware of everything and capable of affecting nature in very interesting ways.

[@Shadowfate93]

They were described fine. Exactly what wildcats look like. Perhaps the problem was you didn't know what wildcats were?

[@theaveragecomment1014]

@@Shadowfate93 I agree here

[@tinycatfriend]

i am OBSESSED with stormclan lore, ooohh man i can't wait to see where it goes

[@liveslex4548]

Same here I can't wait to read the se about it next year

[@Ivypool123]

same it was so interesting

[@sabbatage1870]

I love the fact that every Clan gone through their own "demise" at one point: WindClan and ThunderClan combined then left. Eventually some of them returning to form them again. WindClan again in Into the Wild with Firestar bringing them back. SkyClan driven out by twolegs, disbanded, then their descendants brought together by Firestar ShadowClan when Darktail demolished them, leaving the remains to join SkyClan before finding their missing members Actually, RiverClan never got "entirely" destroyed but they gotten pretty close because of Darktail and Splashtail (huh, two 'tail suffixes)

[@mayra3277]

Ohhh, great observation! And ShadowClan under Sol, when Blackfoot rejected StarClan, and ThunderClan under the impostor who kept exiling cats, and RiverClan and ShadowClan combining as TigerClan as well?

[@prcervi]

while i was right in betting on small wildcats, this is not what i was betting on for encountering situation i was betting on illegal exotic kitten mill, illegal sideshow circus is a bit easier a thing to pallet though so fair enough

[@ThatArtisticBookwormYT]

I haven't read it yet... But I think the answer to why Ivypool's Super Edition might be good is because the book shares a new story. The Super Editions that have been really bad have mainly told us a story we've already heard, or one we didn't need. But it sounds like Ivypool's book tells a story that hasn't been told and needs to be told for the plot.

[@GlacieThat1Dog]

i think the "skunk", the "weasel-bager" as the cat call it, is a honey badger. it fits the black and grey body separated by a white stripe description

[@Haven633]

google Greater Grison, i think that fits better. Weasel like body with the black and white coloring. The cats know what badgers look like, and honey badgers, while scary looking, still look like badgers

[@Haven633]

wait im thinking american badgers, honey badger could fit for sure!!

[@Anamizuki]

I can has cheezeburger reference! But seriously, it is nice that the wild cats' faith and ways are respected. It is one thing that the CHARACTERS are unable to see others as worthy, but the narration should know better.

[@deerlyqueery]

I could suspend my disbelief about a handful of cats leaving to make their own Clan but A WHOLE TWO CLANS COMBINING AND LEAVING BEING COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN?? Nah, no way. Other than that it was an interesting read tho, I loved how they handled Ivypool's grief and how they handled the idea of double death since that was always a strange bit of lore imo.

[@hollythecat410]

Perhaps the cats who didn’t agree with the creation of stormclan deliberately chose to forget as a way of “shaming” stormclan in some way?

[@captainsnake8515]

I think ivy not being able to handle her grief compared to fernsong being able to actually makes a lot of sense. If you look at their characterizations when they’re with each other, Fernsong is usually portrayed as being far more emotionally stable than her. For example, he comforted her when she was scared of the thunderpath in thunder and shadow. So it actually makes a lot of sense that he would be able to accept bristlefrost’s death.

[@arrow21OG]

I'm so happy that Icewing and Ivypool got good screentime together! Those two have been my fav characters for a while, so this book was a ton of fun for me to read! I kinda hope Icewing gets a super edition next, but I know that probably won't happen.

[@Twuwu]

I loved this book so much that it became my favorite book of all time. It was so emotional and impactful for me. It almost brought me to tears, and a book has never done that for me before. I love Warriors so much. 😻

[@TheAshfurApologist]

In my opinion, just because ivypool and bristlefrost's relationship during The Broken Code wasn't very highlighted, does not mean their relationship in this Super Edition was manufactured and whatnot. Warriors has never really been about family relationships, unless it's about being related to firestar of course. Bristlefrost being ivypool's daughter and interacting with her wasn't what her arc in TBC was about. We can assume they loved each other very much, without it being a focal point, just has been the case with other characters

[@Sunnyfall]

That's definitely a way to take it; it's just something that sticks out to me. This is far from a unique problem to Bristlefrost and her parents but Warriors not showing familial or friend relationships between their characters is something I've consistently had problems with (particularly under the new team) and the lack of those relationships sticks out in all instances where they try to draw attention to a relationship that they took no work to show before. It's something I couldn't personally ignore while reading this, but it didn't hurt my enjoyment of the arc by itself.

[@TheAshfurApologist]

​@@SunnyfallI too wish ivy and brist had a chance to develop their relationship during TBC, especially with the Erin's knowing bristlefrost wouldn't survive the last battle. Ironically that's literally why it doesn't bother me, because that's just how the Erin's operate. Not taking away anything you said though, because I pretty much completely agree with the characters needed to have their relationships built upon.

[@prcervi]

a good take, but we're still having to turn rain puddles of given story depth into something deep enough to make it past the ankles

[@amblonyxx]

I also thought that the reformation of Thunderclan and Windclan would come up as how Riverclan can reform without a leader.

[@nightinstarlight]

Something tells me the 18th super edition will pick up right where Ivypool’s heart ends

[@fairycat23]

I hope the school year is good to you! (Have you ever had a student recognize your voice? lol)

[@Laura-yl3de]

GIMME MORE LORE OF THE WILDCATS please 🥺🥺🥺

[@halcyonbuzz]

i do really like how the new team keeps plucking characters from the allegiances seemingly at random to give important roles. like outside of being a very minor dark forest trainee icewing was basically nobody for her first several arcs and now she's a major supporting character with a consistent personality and everything.

[@FernFlight-t1k]

Can we talk about how awesome pumpernickel's name is like omg

[@Misty-e5r]

The map is really cool! I wish it had a scale tho :) A Good Traveling book !

[@foreverawarriorcat4451]

Ivypool’s heart healed something in me.

[@actuallyafrog8270]

WAIT NO MY STORMCLAN IS NOW A CANON NAME NO NO I WAS SO ORIGINAL

[@FunDipOneDip]

I sadly cannot watch this video as I’m on AVOS

[@icicle6490]

I liked alot of things about this book but idk about ny thoughts about the forgotten death warrior thing but its also all new so alot of things can happen. Also i like the cat team the made to be the one to go on the quest

[@rabbitdosethings]

My god did this book me cry like a baby lol

[@jettash0720]

This sounds random but honestly, I can't recommend Bravelands enough. For me, it seemed to do a lot of things right that Warriors has struggled with for decades. I also think someone like you, who does good analysis on Warriors, would probably really enjoy that series. I would say so far the third arc is kind of lacking...but I'm also convinced someone from the higher-ups is trying to axe the series lol I will say though, them saying this is supposed to take place alongside Star but releasing it first is...a bit of an odd choice...? Maybe they had no control over the release, but if they did then that's...huh

[@bunnyzillaflowerzombie]

I have been waiting for is review😂😂😂

[@catenjoyer12]

Is it just me or do you have the same vocal inflection as Rebecca Parham from Let Me Explain Studios

[@raina1848]

This one was one of the best super editions I've read. Ivypool's emotional journey of learning to cope with grief and begin to heal was amazing to read. I wonder who will get a super edition next? Whistlepaw? Longtail? And maybe this is a strange pick, but maybe Sol?

[@Luiza-bl9qh]

Imagine that there is no deer, but there is Snow Leopard

[@shy_mudkips405]

I need to fi ish reading it but i will say i disliked the narrator for the audio book but besides that overall good book i like it and cant wait to see where it will lead

[@Ivypool123]

i bought the book yesterday and i read the book completely then i really liked it but i am a bit confused😂

[@GweenOfTea]

I saw this video, and immediately bought the book for myself, I agree that it’s one of the best modern super editions, if not the best modern super edition depending on what you consider modern

[@hannahcody0511]

mabey she feels guilty that she didn't spend more time with her kits while bristlefrost was alive. I wish the erins included that into the story to help it make more sence

[@Haven633]

i genuinely had to google "weasel badger" to figure out wtf the black gray and white thing was.. its a Greater Grison,, i think. it fits the description at least

[@hannahcody0511]

I still wish they didnt forget about Warriorclan

[@amblonyxx]

Yes! I'm so glad you covered this off your schedule, I really loved this book!

[@DanielCox-ge2nd]

Got here early!

[@hannahcody0511]

FROSTPAW DIES!!!!!?????

[@bladethewolfartist7095]

I think they're scottish wildcats not european. It makes more sense story wise being set in the uk, wild cats do mix with regular cats which has not helped with their already declining numbers approaching extinction levels of low for pure blooded scottish wildcats.

[@Bentley-r4o]

Ello

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

I won't be able to buy a book anytime soon, but wow, this sounds really good.

[@DragonArbock]

I legitimately think this is the worst warrior cats book to ever come out (besides Spottedleaf's Heart). Seeing people praise the mess Warrior Cats has made of the afterlife and their own lore is mind-boggling to me.

[@Sunnyfall]

I have seen a lot of people who are unhappy with that part of the book, but I don't personally agree. The lore of the Warriors afterlife was already complicated, tangled, and contradictory several times over, including by one of the team's most recent arcs. The lore introduced in this book actually seems to connect all of the lore from various periods in Warriors history together in a way that doesn't interrupt previous story themes and even opens the doors to new character arcs and stories in the future. I think this is one of the best decisions they could have made, given what they began with. I also just generally want the Warriors team to be encouraged to try new things that they're passionate about and that open up story ideas for them, because continuing on without ideas has led to some of what I consider the worst stories: the ones that tell us the same history or the same plots over and over again, often copy-pasting entire scenes from previous books, using the same old characters in new stories, or forcing characters they don't care about into a couple of molds they know how to write. This is a new direction and story that the team genuinely had passion about, and it shows in how much more fresh and engaging the story was to read. Not to mention, for this book they actually made a point of tying their new lore into the theming of their main character's arc, which made the story as a whole more cohesive.