Warriors is a series of several books, organized into multiple arcs, featuring the adventures of feral cats living in self-supporting groups called Clans in the forest—ThunderClan, ShadowClan, RiverClan, and WindClan. Later, the fifth Clan, SkyClan, is introduced. The Clan cats mark their borders, defend their land from enemy cats, adhere to the warrior code—a set of rules each Clan cat must follow—and train their young to survive in the forest. They believe the spirits of their dead reside in StarClan, who send prophecies and signs to guide their living descendants. Each series follows one to four point of view characters as they struggle to grow up and survive the dangers that threaten their Clan, both outside of their borders and within.
The series was first released in 2003 and is created by Working Partners and Coolabi[1] and is published by HarperCollins[2] under the pen name Erin Hunter. Kate Cary[3] and Cherith Baldry[4] are the primary ghost writers, with Victoria Holmes formerly editing the overarching plot, and she,[5] Tui Sutherland,[6] Clarissa Hutton,[7] and Dan Jolley[8] working on supplementary material.
Depending on how you count the books (as the novellas are comprised of three short stories), the series is comprised of 96 to 110 to 117 published books.[9] The series also includes several short stories and plays, official essays, a Roblox game, a Warriors Adventure Game, an official website, and an animation production in development. As of 2024, the series has sold over 70 million copies and has been translated into 38 languages,[10] including Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Catalan, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Israeli, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese,[11] and Original and Unified English Braille.[12] The series is also a New York Times Bestseller, with The Silent Thaw, River, and Sky notably recent books hitting that list.[13][14][15]
Main storyline[]
The Dawn of the Clans arc[]
- "We trust the Teller of the Pointed Stones to know where our future lies. We will follow the path of the rising sun, but we will always carry the mountains, and all of you, in our hearts."
- ―Shaded Moss The Sun Trail, page 38
The Prophecies Begin arc[]
- "It was a message from StarClan. Fire alone can save our Clan."
- ―Spottedleaf to Bluestar about StarClan's prophecy Into the Wild, page 5
The New Prophecy arc[]
- "Darkness, air, water, and sky will come together and shake the forest to its roots. Nothing will be as it is now, nor as it has been before."
- ―Bluestar Midnight (book), page 1
The Power of Three arc[]
- "There will be three, kin of your kin, who hold the power of the stars in their paws."
- ―Skywatcher to Firestar The Sight, page 2
The Omen of the Stars arc[]
- "After the sharp-eyed jay and the roaring lion, peace will come on a dove's gentle wing."
- ―Yellowfang The Fourth Apprentice, page 65
- Within the fandom, Omen of the Stars is seen as the end of an era. The Last Hope marked the series' ten year anniversary and it ended with the death of a legacy character. The series took a brief break before working on Dawn of the Clans with a new editorial team.[blog 1]
- The Fourth Apprentice
- Fading Echoes
- Night Whispers
- Sign of the Moon
- The Forgotten Warrior
- The Last Hope
The A Vision of Shadows arc[]
- "Embrace what you find in the shadows, for only they can clear the sky."
- ―Firestar The Apprentice's Quest, page 18
- The Apprentice's Quest
- Thunder and Shadow
- Shattered Sky
- Darkest Night
- River of Fire
- The Raging Storm
The Broken Code arc[]
- «His pelt began to prickle as he felt the heat of a fire burning close by, though he couldn't see it or hear the crackle of flames. Ash fluttered in the sky, swirling around him and settling in tiny gray flakes on his pelt.»
- —Shadowpaw's vision Lost Stars, page 53
- Lost Stars
- The Silent Thaw
- Veil of Shadows
- Darkness Within
- The Place of No Stars
- A Light in the Mist
The A Starless Clan arc[]
- This eighth arc takes place three moons after The Broken Code. It continues the trend of having three protagonists in different Clans, but is the first to feature a recurring RiverClan point of view with Frostpaw; Sunbeam of ShadowClan and Flamepaw of ThunderClan are the other protagonists. The Story Team wanted to hear from a young RiverClan member during "a moment of serious upheaval" when "major decisions could fall into the paws of an apprentice, who isn't at all sure she is ready for that level of responsibility."[19] This arc does not feature Barnes and Noble exclusive chapters, nor does it open with a prophecy from StarClan. The books feature an unique naming system with each book referring to one of the five Clans.
Untitled Series 9[]
- An untitled arc nine is currently in production. The Warrior Cats website teased that the arc would feature a central character who "will be an old friend whose adventures we’ve been following since the very first WARRIORS arc."[20]
Super Editions[]
- "Because you're the only cat who can help us. You must rebuild SkyClan before it is lost forever."
- ―Cloudstar to Firestar Firestar's Quest, page 85
- Super Editions are longer, special volumes that explore specific times or characters of the Warriors timeline. They are part of the same plotline as the main books, but are not released in chronological order. Occasionally, reading the corresponding Super Editions will aid readers in understanding the full story in certain arcs, such as A Vision of Shadows and The Broken Code. The Super Editions are written by Kate Cary[21] and Cherith Baldry[22] with Vicky outlining the stories. Vicky's last Super Edition was Bramblestar's Storm.[23]
- Firestar's Quest
- Bluestar's Prophecy
- SkyClan's Destiny
- Crookedstar's Promise
- Yellowfang's Secret
- Tallstar's Revenge
- Bramblestar's Storm
- Moth Flight's Vision
- Hawkwing's Journey
- Tigerheart's Shadow
- Crowfeather's Trial
- Squirrelflight's Hope
- Graystripe's Vow
- Leopardstar's Honor
- Onestar's Confession
- Riverstar's Home
- Ivypool's Heart
Novellas[]
- "I was happy then, before I knew the truth, she thought. But that life is over now."
- ―Hollyleaf Hollyleaf's Story, chapter 5
- The novellas are short stories, usually only ten chapters long, about a specific character or moment in the series. The novellas originally were exclusive eBooks until they were released in paperback in packs of three books. They are not released in chronological order. Most of the novellas were written by Victoria Holmes[5] and Clarissa Hutton,[7] though Vicky retired after Legends of the Clans.[23] Cherith Baldry began to help with the novellas and she wrote Pebbleshine's Kits[24] and Daisy's Kin.[25] The last novella set was published in 2021.
The Untold Stories[]
Tales from the Clans[]
Shadows of the Clans[]
Legends of the Clans[]
Path of a Warrior[]
A Warrior's Spirit[]
A Warrior's Choice[]
Warriors graphic novels[]
- The Warriors graphic novels, formerly called the mangas, are illustrated stories from the Warriors series. They are written by Dan Jolley,[26] and are illustrated by James Barry,[26] Bettina Kurkoski,[27] and Don Hudson.[28] The graphic novels were formerly printed in grayscale and divided into three issues. In 2017, Graystripe's Adventure was reprinted in full color with all three issues in one volume. The other arcs he illustrated, Ravenpaw's Path, SkyClan and the Stranger, and The Rise of Scourge were also later released in full color. Starting with A Shadow in RiverClan, the graphic novels were originally published in color. In 2024, a rendition of The Prophecies Begin was released in a serialized graphic novel arc.
Graystripe's Adventure[]
- "My name is Graystripe. I'm a warrior of ThunderClan. I lived my whole life with my Clanmates in the forest until the Twolegs came. They captured me and made me live in a Twoleg nest. I didn't think I'd ever escape, or see my Clan again. I was lost. But then I met Millie, a kittypet who helped me. She saved my life. And now the two of us have set out to find ThunderClan. No matter how long it takes, or how far we have to go."
- ―Graystripe Warrior's Refuge, page 10
- The Lost Warrior
- Warrior's Refuge
- Warrior's Return
- Graystripe's Adventure (full color compilation)
Tigerstar and Sasha[]
- «But even as Tigerstar haunts my thoughts, I realize that he no longer haunts my heart. I'm not afraid of him anymore. Plus, he was wrong about me. Dead wrong. I'm not nothing. I'm Sasha.»
- —Sasha Escape from the Forest, page 71
Ravenpaw's Path[]
- "We have seen that you and Barley are in trouble. Listen to us. You have as much right to live on the farm as the Clans have to live in the forest. That is your home."
- ―Bluestar to Ravenpaw Shattered Peace, page 87
- Shattered Peace
- A Clan in Need
- The Heart of a Warrior
- Ravenpaw's Path (full color compilation)
SkyClan and the Stranger[]
- "We have to trust him. That's what being a Clanmate is all about."
- ―Leafstar about Sol Beyond the Code, page 24
- The Rescue
- Beyond the Code
- After the Flood
- SkyClan and the Stranger (full color compilation)
The Prophecies Begin[]
Stand-alone graphic novels[]
- The Rise of Scourge
- A Shadow in RiverClan
- Winds of Change
- Exile from ShadowClan
- A Thief in ThunderClan
Field Guides[]
- "The story of the beginning of the warrior Clans has been passed down by cats of all Clans, from elder to warrior, from warrior to apprentice, from queen to kit. The story is never the same twice, and parts grow uncertain, or they become suddenly clear in the telling. There are some cats who walk dimly, their names and deeds lost in the sweet fog of the elders' den, for the warrior Clans have roamed the forest for moons beyond counting..."
- ―Narrator on the Clans Secrets of the Clans, page 1
- Secrets of the Clans
- Cats of the Clans
- Code of the Clans
- Battles of the Clans
- The Warriors Guide
- The Ultimate Guide
- The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition
List of books by chronology and release[]
List of upcoming books by release[]
Book | Arc | Release | Author |
---|---|---|---|
Wind | A Starless Clan | 2 April 2024 | Cherith |
The Prophecies Begin (volume 1) | Graphic novel / The Prophecies Begin (graphic novel arc) | 16 July 2024 | Natalie Riess, Sara Goetter |
Ivypool's Heart | Super Editions | 3 September 2024 | Cherith |
Star | A Starless Clan | 5 November 2024 | Kate |
Super Edition #18 | Super Editions | 2025 | TBA |
The Prophecies Begin (volume 2) | Graphic novel / The Prophecies Begin (graphic novel arc) | TBA | Natalie Riess, Sara Goetter |
Series 9: Book #1 | Series 9 | TBA | Cherith |
Series 9: Book #2 | Series 9 | TBA | TBA |
List of cancelled titles[]
- Allegiances of the Clans[31]
- According to Vicky, this book was slated to be about "the tangled romantic, political and platonic relationships in the Clans’ history" set to be released in 2011.[31] She wasn't sure exactly why it was canceled, but suspected that "HarperCollins didn’t feel there was enough extra material to fill an entire book."[32]
Trivia[]
- The working title of The New Prophecy series was Warriors: The Next Generation, a nod to Star Trek: The Next Generation.[33]
- Vicky once thought that there could be more Field Guides[34] but has since changed her mind.[35]
- Vicky has announced on her Facebook wall that a film studio called Alibaba Pictures has bought the right to make a film for Warriors.[36] They have teamed up with producer David Heyman.[37] However, the film was canceled in 2024,[38] though an animation series by Tencent Video is currently in production.[39]
See also[]
External links[]
- The structure of Warrior Cats: how to read the books on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- The story team on "20 years of Warrior Cats" on the Warriors official website (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Revealed on Coolabi.com
- ↑ Revealed on HarperCollins.com (backup link)
- ↑ Revealed on the dedication page of Into the Wild
- ↑ Revealed on the dedication page of Forest of Secrets
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Revealed on the dedication page of Hollyleaf's Story
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Revealed on the dedication page of Secrets of the Clans
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Revealed on the dedication page of Thunderstar's Echo
- ↑ Revealed on the dedication page of The Rise of Scourge
- ↑ 96 is counting the novella paperbacks as one book, 110 is including the individual novellas only, and 117 is including the individual novella stories and the novella paperbacks
- ↑ Revealed on Coolabi Group signs groundbreaking development and production deal with Tencent Video for Warrior Cats on Coolabi.com (backup link)
- ↑ Please refer to the publication and gallery sections for Into the Wild for all the covers and known translated languages so far
- ↑ Revealed on The Braille Bookstore.com (backup link)
- ↑ Revealed on New York Times.com (backup link)
- ↑ Revealed on New York Times.com (backup link)
- ↑ Revealed on New York Times.com (backup link)
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook (screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed in an :Author Chat (backup link)
- ↑ Unexpected Storylines on the Warriors official website
- ↑ Revealed on A Return to RiverClan on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- ↑ New Year’s resolutions from the Story Team on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- ↑ Revealed on the dedication page of Bluestar's Prophecy
- ↑ Revealed on the dedication page of Firestar's Quest
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Revealed on Vicky's Facebook (screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed on the dedication page of Pebbleshine's Kits
- ↑ Revealed on the dedication page of Daisy's Kin
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Revealed in The Lost Warrior, page title
- ↑ Revealed in The Rise of Scourge, page title
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Woods, page title
- ↑ Revealed on the dedication page of Cats of the Clans
- ↑ Revealed on the dedication page of The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 Revealed in Erin Hunter Chat 6
- ↑ Revealed in Erin Hunter Chat 7
- ↑ Unexpected Storylines on the Warriors official website
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook(screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
- ↑ Revealed on AV Club.com (backup link)
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook (screenshot)
- ↑ Official Warrior Cats animation announced! on the Warriors official website (backup link)
Author references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 James Noble, August 28, 2020. James confirms Gray Wing was supposed to die earlier, revealed through email.