Mapleshade is a traitor. She has been meeting with a tom from another clan, against the warrior code. In her mind, she has done nothing wrong. Her clanmates do not know that she is carrying this RiverClan warriors kits. Frecklewishes brother recently died in a battle, and believes that he is the father of Mapleshade's kits. When Mapleshade does not correct her, she is convinced it's true, and spreads a rumor. Soon, when her kits are born, every one thinks that they are Frecklewishes brother, Birchface's kits. Mapleshade plans to reveal the truth about the kits when they have been fully accepted. The time comes sooner than she wanted, when her kits are seen swimming in the river. She is forced to admit her crimes, and is driven out of the clan. Desperate for a place for her kits to be safe, she crosses the stream to RiverClan during a flood, and her kits get washed away. Appledusk, the actual father of the kits, sees them, and with his patrol, rescues them. By the time they are safe, all three kits are dead. She is taken to their camp, where she is banished. Feverish and in a rage, she stumbles around until she decides that she must kill the medicine cat, because it is his fault she had to tell everyone. After she has avenged one kit, she kills another cat, then finally for her last kit, she kills Appledusk himself. In a fight with Appledusk and his clanmates, Mapleshade is killed, and goes to the Place of No Stars, where she vows to forever haunt Appledusk's clan.
I enjoyed this book, but it was very sad, and shocking. I felt sorry for her kits, and all the trouble ahead, but I never expected for them to die. And I certainly never expected her to become a murderer. This book definitely has a sinister feeling, but it is written very well. It also explains why, in later books, Mapleshade is so evil. She is considered one of the worst cats in history. ( )