The Darkest Hour

The Darkest Hour is the sixth book in The Prophecies Begin arc, formerly known as the Original arc. Firestar is the cat depicted on the original and reprinted cover.Revealed on Facebook messenger with the Erin Hunter marketing team It features Firestar as the main protagonist, and Tigerstar is featured in the prologue.
==Dedication==
:This book is for Vicky Holmes and Matt Haslum,
:who helped find Fireheart's destiny.
:Thank you.
:Special thanks to Cherith Baldry
==Blurb==
:Fire Alone Can Save Our Clan...
:ThunderClan's darkest hour is upon them, as Tigerstar's quest for power plunges the forest into terrible danger. In order to save his friends, Firestar must uncover the meaning of an ominous proclamation from StarClan:
:"Four will become two.
:Lion and tiger will meet in battle,
:and blood will rule the forest."
:The time has come for prophecies to unfold, and for heroes to rise....
==The praise==
"Action-packed. Certain to please any young reader who has ever wondered what dreams of grandeur may haunt the family cat."
:::::::::::-Publisher's Weekly
"A suspenseful adventure story that urges readers onward."
:::::::::::-ALA Booklist
==Detailed plot description==
:Tigerstar travels with Boulder to make a deal with Scourge, leader of a group of alley cats from Twolegplace who call themselves BloodClan. Although surprised by how small Scourge is, Tigerstar offers him a share of the forest territory in return for BloodClan helping him to become leader of all four Clans.
:Fireheart becomes the leader of ThunderClan, receiving his nine lives and the name Firestar from StarClan. His leadership ceremony is interrupted near the end when a hill of bones appears in his dream, followed by a river of blood. Bluestar, former leader of ThunderClan, gives him this prophecy: Four will become two. Lion and tiger will meet in battle, and blood will rule the forest. Upon returning, Firestar turns his suspicions to Darkstripe, a former ally of Tigerstar, who has been showing signs of alliance with ShadowClan. Later, Firestar finds Sorrelkit poisoned with chewed up deathberries in her mouth. She later recovers and reveals that Darkstripe fed the berries to her, telling her they were a treat, so she would not tell Firestar about a meeting she'd witnessed between Darkstripe and Blackfoot, the ShadowClan deputy. Darkstripe is exiled from ThunderClan and is suspected to join his former ally, Tigerstar, in ShadowClan.
:At the next Gathering, Tigerstar proposes to unite the other three Clans with ShadowClan to form one larger Clan, TigerClan, and reveals that Leopardstar has already agreed to join RiverClan with ShadowClan. ThunderClan and WindClan refuse the proposal, and Firestar begins to tell the cats of Tigerstar's treachery, but he is stopped as clouds move in, covering the moon, and lightning flashes. Tigerstar interprets this as a sign from StarClan that the meeting is finished.
:Graystripe worriedly wants to check on his kits in RiverClan, Stormpaw and Featherpaw. As Firestar and Graystripe go to leave, they bump into Ravenpaw, who had come to pay his respects to Bluestar. Ravenpaw joins them on their mission. The three cats go to RiverClan and find not only Graystripe's kits, but Mistyfoot and Stonefur being held as prisoners. Tigerstar accuses them of being half-Clan cats and therefore traitors. He orders Stonefur to prove his loyalty to TigerClan by killing the two apprentices, but Stonefur refuses, and is ordered to be killed by Darkstripe. Despite being half-starved and weakened from his imprisonment, Stonefur is able to overpower Darkstripe until Blackfoot jumps in and finishes him off. Stormpaw and Featherpaw are taken back to their prison. Ravenpaw convinces the guard, Jaggedtooth, that he is a RiverClan cat and that Tigerstar has a message for him, and while the guard leaves, the group attempts to escape with the prisoners, but are caught by a TigerClan patrol. The rescuers and the prisoners are saved by a ThunderClan patrol consisting of Cloudtail, Sandstorm, and Thornclaw. TigerClan later that day attacks WindClan and Tigerstar kills an apprentice, Gorsepaw, as a warning while surrounded by his warriors so no cat could reach them.
:When time runs out for Tigerstar's offer to join TigerClan, Firestar and Tallstar prepare to fight. They are shocked by the appearance of BloodClan, a "Clan" from Twolegplace. Tigerstar orders BloodClan to fight for him, yet they make no move. Scourge tells Tigerstar that he is the only cat in charge of BloodClan. Firestar takes the chance to make an impression on Scourge by announcing to the cats of every Clan Tigerstar's bloodthirsty history. Hearing everything, Scourge decides that there will be no battle and he will think about what Firestar had said. Enraged by Scourge's refusal to cooperate, Tigerstar attacks him. Scourge counters his attack and slays Tigerstar easily by slicing him open from chin to tail with his enormous claws, which are reinforced with dog teeth. This devastating blow wipes out all of Tigerstar's nine lives at once. Scourge then gives all of the forest Clans three days to either leave or fight BloodClan for their home in the forest. To face this danger, the four Clans unite and call their alliance LionClan, going into battle against BloodClan. During the battle, Darkstripe ambushes Firestar and intends to kill him to avenge Tigerstar, but is in turn killed by Graystripe. Meanwhile Whitestorm, the ThunderClan deputy, is killed by the BloodClan deputy Bone. Grief and sadness sweeps over Firestar like a wave, seeing his deputy and friend die in front of him. Whitestorm's last wishes were to appoint Graystripe as deputy of ThunderClan, saying that Graystripe was always Firestar's rightful deputy, with which Firestar complies.
:At the end of the battle, Firestar loses his first life to Scourge. He is revived by StarClan, much to Scourge's shock, and kills the BloodClan leader. After Scourge's death, the BloodClan cats scatter in confusion and fall back with no motivation to keep fighting. The last to go are followed in pursuit by Tallstar and a few of his Clanmates. The Clans disband and become independent once more, and the balance of power in the forest is returned to normal.
==Trivia==
===Mistakes===
*A compiled list of the errors present in The Darkest Hour can be found here.
===Author statements===
*According to Vicky, the series was always intended to end in a climatic fight between Firestar and Tigerstar; however, one of her colleagues insisted Tigerstar should be killed by another cat and Vicky liked the questions his version left for the characters.
*The Darkest Hour is one of Vicky's favorite Warriors books.Revealed on Vicky's Facebook 
:*Reading Guide, June 2007 
:*Teaching Guide, March 2008 
==Publication history==
*The Darkest Hour (EN), HarperCollins (hardcover), 5 October 2004
*The Darkest Hour (EN), HarperCollins (library binding), 5 October 2004Revealed on amazon.com
*Битва за лес (RU), OLMA Media Group (hardcover), 2006, translated by Veronica MaximovaRevealed on ozon.ru
*어둠의 시간 (KR), Gimm-young (paperback) 30 January 2007, translated by Kim Lee-seonRevealed on gimmyoung.com
*ファイヤハートの旅立ち (JA), Komine Shoten (hardcover), 17 November 2007, translated by Yukako TakabayashiRevealed on komineshoten.co.jp
*The Darkest Hour (EN), HarperCollins (paperback), 4 February 2008Revealed on harperreach.com
*The Darkest Hour (EN), HarperCollins (UK) (paperback), 4 February 2008Revealed on iesltd.ie
*Une sombre prophétie (FR), Pocket Jeunesse (paperback), 6 March 2008, translated by Aude CarlierRevealed on pocketjeunesse.fr
*黑暗時刻 (TW), Morning Star (paperback), 15 December 2008, translated by Gao Zimei (高子梅)Revealed on a Morning Star blog post
*A Dangerous Path & The Darkest Hour (EN), HarperCollins (hardcover), 2008Revealed on books.google.com Revealed on goodreads.com 
*力挽狂澜 (CN), China Children's Publishing (paperback), March 2009, Zhao Zhenzhong (赵振中)Revealed on book.douban.com
*Битва за лес (RU), OLMA Media Group (e-book), 20 April 2009, translated by Veronica MaximovaRevealed on books.google.com 
*ファイヤハートの旅立ち (JA), Komine Shoten (paperback), 20 May 2009, translated by Yukako TakabayashiRevealed on komineshoten.co.jp
*Stunde der Finsternis (DE), Verlagsgruppe Beltz (hardcover), 2009, translated by Friederike LevinRevealed on beltz.de
*Битва за лес (RU), OLMA Press (hardcover), 2009, translated by Veronica Maximova
*Une sombre prophétie (FR), Pocket Jeunesse (paperback; pocketbook), 7 October 2010, translated by Aude CarlierRevealed on placedeslibraires.fr
*Pimeyden Hetki (FI), Art House (hardcover), 17 August 2011,Revealed on bookplus.fi translated by Vesa-Matti PaijaRevealed on kauppa.tietosanoma.fi
*Vuurproef (NL), Fantoom (hardcover), 15 November 2011, translated by Huberte VriesendorpRevealed on amazon.com
*Den mørkeste time (DK), Sohn (hardcover), 12 October 2012, translated by Jens ChristiansenRevealed on gucca.dk
*Une sombre prophétie (FR), 12-21 (e-book), 18 October 2012, translated by Aude CarlierRevealed on placedeslibraires.fr
*Iskušenje tame (HR), Znanje (paperback), 2013, translated by Jana MerlinRevealed on kgz.hr
*L'hora de la foscor (ES), La Galera (paperback), 19 November 2013, translated by Armand CarabénRevealed on amazon.com
*La hora más oscura (ES), Salamandra (paperback), 22 November 2013, translated by Begoña Hernández SalaRevealed on amazon.com
*A Hora Mais Sombria (PT), WMF Martins Fontes (paperback), 1 January 2014, translated by Marilena MoraesRevealed on amazon.com.br
*L'ora più buia (IT), Sonda (e-book), 10 January 2014, translated by Maria Teresa MilanoRevealed on amazon.it 
*L'ora più buia (IT), Sonda (hardcover), 29 January 2014, translated by Maria Teresa MilanoRevealed on amazon.it
*Vuurproef (NL), Fantoom (paperback), 13 May 2014, translated by Huberte VriesendorpRevealed on bol.com
*Pimeyden hetki (FI), Art House (paperpack), June 2014Revealed on tietosanoma.fi
*The Darkest Hour (EN), HarperCollins (paperback; reprint), 17 March 2015
*Mørkets time (NO), Juritzen jr. (paperback), 28 May 2015, translated by Tora Larsen MorsetRevealed on juritzen.no
*Mørkets time (NO), Juritzen jr. (e-book), 11 June 2015, translated by Tora Larsen MorsetRevealed on ebok.no
*A Hora Mais Negra (PT), Planeta (paperback), July 2016, translated by Ana SaragoçaRevealed on wook.pt
*Vremuri întunecate (RO), Galaxia Copiilor (paperback), 13 December 2016, translated by Ioana VăcărescuRevealed on all.ro
*Stunde der Finsternis (DE), Julius Beltz GmbH & Co. KG (audiobook), 21 February 2017, translated by Friederike Levin and narrated by Marlen DiekhoffRevealed on beltz.de 
*Stunde der Finsternis (DE), Gulliver von Beltz & Gelberg (paperback), 4 April 2017, translated by Friederike LevinRevealed on beltz.de
*Czarna godzina (PL), Nowa Baśń (paperback), 14 August 2017, translated by Katarzyna KrawczykRevealed on empik.com
*力挽狂澜 (CN), China Children's Press (paperback), 1 September 2017, translated by Zhao ZhenzhongRevealed on amazon.cn
*The Darkest Hour (EN), HarperCollins (audiobook), 10 October 2017
*The Darkest Hour (EN), HarperCollins B and Blackstone Publishing (audio cd), 10 October 2017
*Czarna godzina (PL), Nowa Baśń (e-book), 16 October 2017, translated by Katarzyna KrawczykRevealed on nexto.pl 
*Cycle I - Livres 4-5-6 (FR), Pocket Jeunesse (paperback; 3 in 1 special edition), 19 October 2017, translated by Cécile Pournin and Aude CarlierInformation from librairedurance.fr
*Nestundā (LV), Zvaigzne ABC (hardcover, e-book), 13 March 2019, translated by Ieva ElsbergaRevealed on books.apple.com
*짙은 어둠의 시간 (KO), Garamchild (paperback), 10 July 2019, translated by Seo NayeonRevealed on blog.naver.com
*Une sombre prophétie (FR), Lizzie (audiobook, audio cd), 12 March 2020, translated by Aude Carlier and narrated by Erwann ZamorRevealed on Lisez.com
*Une sombre prophétie (FR), Pocket Jeunesse (paperback; pocketbook reprint), 19 March 2020, translated by Aude CarlierRevealed on placedeslibraires.fr
*Une sombre prophétie (FR), 12-21 (e-book), 19 March 2020, translated by Aude CarlierRevealed on placedeslibraires.fr
*짙은 어둠의 시간 (KO), Garamchild (e-book), 10 June 2020, translated by Seo NayeonRevealed on blog.naver.com
*Czarna godzina (PL), Storyside (audiobook), 6 August 2020, translated by Katarzyna Krawczyk, narrated by Maciej KowalikRevealed on storytel.com
*Vuurproef (NL), Storyside (audiobook), 30 June 2021, translated by Huberte Vriesendorp and narrated by Sinem KavusRevealed on storytel.com
*黑暗時刻 (TW), Morning Star (paperback; 10th Anniversary), 1 December 2021, translated by Gao Zimei (高子梅)Revealed on iread.com.tw
*Битва за лес (RU), Storyside (audiobook), 21 December 2021, translated by Olga Korchagina and narrated by Ilya SlanevskyRevealed on storytel.com
*Mørkets time (NO), Juritzen jr. (audiobook), 16 December 2021, translated by Tora Larsen Morset and narrated by Elisabeth VatnRevealed on ebok.no
*Czarna godzina (PL), Nowa Baśń (paperback; reprint), 2 April 2022, translated by Katarzyna KrawczykRevealed on Nowa Baśń's Instagram
*Vremuri întunecate (RO), Storyside (audiobook), 24 October 2022, translated by Ioana Vacarescu and narrated by Marius IftimoviciRevealed on thalia.de
*A hora mais sombria (PT), Storyside (audiobook), 11 April 2024, translated by Marilena Moraes and narrated by Guilherme TeruyaRevealed on storytel.com
*Thời Khắc Tăm Tối (VI), NXB Hội Nhà Văn (paperback with flaps; reprint), April 2024, translated by Nguyễn Minh ThưRevealed on netabooks.vn 
*짙은 어둠의 시간 (KO), Storyside (audiobook), 1 May 2024, translated by Seo Na-yeon (서나연) and narrated by Kyeong-A Cho (조경아)Revealed on storytel.com
*Най-тъмният час (BG), Storyside (e-book), 23 August 2024, translated by Marianna PanovaRevealed on storytel.com 
*Най-тъмният час (BG), Storyside (audiobook), 23 August 2024, translated by Marianna Panova and narrated by Ivan Panayotov
*Czarna godzina (PL), Nowa Baśń (audiobook; reissue), 21 November 2024, translated by Katarzyna Krawczyk and narrated by Wojciech ChorążyRevealed on nexto.pl 
==Gallery==
===US covers===
OS-6.jpg|English Language EditionReleased in North America & United Kingdom
OS-6-FC.jpg|English Language EditionTextless Cover
OS-6-FLF.jpg|English Language EditionFront Flap
OS-6-FLB.jpg|English Language EditionBack Flap
OS-6-2.jpg|Alternate English Language EditionReleased in North America & United Kingdom
OS-6-UCP.jpg|English Uncorrected EditionReleased for Reviewers
SPE-3.png|English Paper-over-board Special EditionReleased in North America
OS-6-RR.jpg|English Reprint Language EditionReleased in North America
OS-6-FC-RR.png|English Reprinted Language EditionTextless Cover
OS-6-A.jpg|English AudiobookReleased in North America
OS-6-CD.jpg|English Audio CDReleased in North America
===Foreign covers===
OS-6-UK.jpg|English Language Paperback EditionReleased in United Kingdom
OS-6-UK3.jpg|Alternate English Language Paperback EditionReleased in United Kingdom
OS-6-UK2.jpg|Alternate English Language Paperback EditionReleased in the United Kingdom
OS-6-UK-RR.jpg|English Language Paperback Edition ReprintReleased in the United Kingdom
OS-6-BG.jpg|Bulgarian Language E-book EditionReleased in Bulgaria
OS-6-BG-A.jpg|Bulgarian AudiobookReleased in Bulgaria
OS-6-ES2.png|Catalan Language EditionReleased in Spain
OS-6-ZH-TW.jpg|Traditional Chinese Language EditionReleased in Taiwan
OS-6-ZH-TW-FC.png|Traditional Chinese Language EditionTextless cover
OS-6-ZH-TW-RR.jpg|Traditional Chinese Reprint Language EditionReleased in Taiwan
OS-6-ZH-TW-RR-FC.png|Traditional Chinese Reprinted Language EditionTextless Cover
OS-6-CN.jpg|Simplified Chinese Language EditionReleased in China
OS-6-CN2.jpg|Alternate Simplified Chinese Language EditionReleased in China
OS-6-CN3.jpg|Alternate Simplified Chinese Language Edition<Br>Released in China
OS-6-CN4.png|Simplified Chinese & English Bilingual EditionReleased in China
OS-6-CN5.png|Simplified Chinese Phonetic and Illustrated EditionReleased in China
OS-6-CN6.png|Simplified Chinese Phonetic and Illustrated EditionVolume 2
OS-6-CN-CM1.png|Simplified Chinese Language Magazine EditionReleased in China
OS-6-CN-CM2.png|Simplified Chinese Language Magazine EditionIssue 2
OS-6-CN-CM3.png|Simplified Chinese Language Magazine EditionIssue 3
OS-6-HR.png|Croatian Language EditionReleased in Croatia
OS-6-CZ.jpg|Czech Language EditionReleased in the Czech Republic
==See also==
*A Dangerous Path & The Darkest Hour - Special Edition version of A Dangerous Path and The Darkest Hour
==External links==
* 
*
*
==Notes and references==
cs:Nejtemnější_hodinade:Stunde der Finsternises:La hora más oscurafi:Pimeyden hetkifr:Une sombre prophétieit:L'ora più Buianl:Vuurproefko:짙은 어둠의 시간pl:Czarna godzinapt-br:A Hora Mais Sombriaro:Vremuri întunecateru:Битва за лес (книга)sv:Ödets timmauk:Темні часиzh:力挽狂澜
Category:Books
Category:The Prophecies Begin arc
Category:The Darkest Hour