Warriors (novel series)
Juvenile fantasy series by Erin Hunter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Warriors, also known as Warrior Cats, is a novel series about the adventures and drama of multiple Clans of feral cats. Warriors is published by HarperCollins and written by a team collectively known as Erin Hunter. The concept of the series was developed by Victoria Holmes, who wrote the storylines until her retirement in 2017.
Boxed sets of Warriors: The Prophecies Begin and Warriors: The New Prophecy | |
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| Genre | Fantasy, young adult fiction, children's[2][3] |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Published | 21 January 2003 – present |
| Website | warriorcats |
There is an extensive list of works in the Warriors series. There are currently nine sub-series ("arcs"), each containing six books: The Prophecies Begin, The New Prophecy, Power of Three, Omen of the Stars, Dawn of the Clans, A Vision of Shadows, The Broken Code, A Starless Clan, and Changing Skies. In addition to the main series, Super Edition novels, several novella trilogies, several volumes of original English-language manga, and graphic novels have been published. A website, a mobile app, and an official Roblox game also exist.
Warriors has received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the plotlines and suspense, but criticized the large character cast. Warriors has been nominated for multiple awards and has a dedicated online fanbase. The novels have a variety of themes, from politics to religion and economics. Warriors has been translated into 30 languages and has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.[4][5]
Background
Origins and Erin Hunter
In 2001, publisher HarperCollins asked editor Victoria Holmes to write a fantasy novel about cats. Holmes enlisted the help of Kate Cary and together they came up with enough content for a six-novel series.[2] Cary wrote the first two novels in the original series, Into the Wild and Fire and Ice.[6] After the first two novels, Holmes had to "speed up" to maintain the publishing schedule;[7][better source needed] Cherith Baldry joined the team and wrote the third novel, Forest of Secrets.[6] Cary wrote the fourth novel, then Baldry wrote the fifth and the sixth.[6] During the writing process, Holmes came up with "the detailed storyline and the characters" for the next novels.[7][better source needed] When Holmes finished creating a storyline, Tui T. Sutherland assisted in editing until both agreed on the storyline and it could be sent to Cary and Baldry to write the final novel.[8] Holmes would then edit the finished novels to "keep continuity",[6] before it would be published under the pen name Erin Hunter.[7][better source needed]
Due to medical reasons, Holmes stepped back from her involvement with the Erin Hunter team in 2017.[1] After 21 years, Cary left the Erin Hunter team to focus on "other projects".[‡ 1] The more recent books' storylines are written by five editors known as the "Story Team".[‡ 2][‡ 3]
Inspiration
The authors have named several other authors as sources of inspiration when writing the novels. In an interview, Baldry stated that the writers who influenced her the most are Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and Ursula K. Le Guin.[6] According to the official website, other authors who have inspired the writers include Enid Blyton, Lucy Daniels, Ellis Peters, Tess Gerritsen, Kate Ellis, and Meg Cabot.[‡ 4]
Holmes has cited the New Forest in southern England as inspiration for the forest where the first arc takes place, as it has a variety of different environments, including "dense ancient woodland, areas of cultivated pine trees, vast open heathland, and willow-shaded winding rivers."[9]
Setting and universe
The Warriors universe centers around feral cats who initially reside in a forest[10] and later around a lake.[11] The cats are split into five groups called Clans: ThunderClan, WindClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, and SkyClan. Each Clan has adapted to its own terrain, and some are named after their specialized abilities.[12] Relationships between different Clans are usually tense and the Clans often come into conflict with one another. However, the Clans also sometimes show concern for each other; the idea of one Clan being destroyed usually causes deep distress and prompts urgent action on behalf of all Clans. The Clans have a unique naming and hierarchy system, in that their names are determined by their rank in the Clan.[10]
The Clan cats have a faith system based on the concept of StarClan, a group of the spirits of the Clans' deceased ancestors, who provide prophetic guidance to the living Clan cats.[12] After death, the spirits of most Clan cats join StarClan and reside in a paradisaical forest similar to Heaven. As an opposite to StarClan, the Dark Forest is a never-ending forest, similar to Hell. The spirits of cats who caused great pain and suffering to others while alive reside there as a form of punishment.
Cats who live outside of the Clans are categorized into three groups: housecats, who are called "kittypets" by Clan cats[13][14] and generally do not pose a threat;[15] loners, stray cats who live outside of the Clan territories and who sometimes assist the Clans;[15] and rogues, who may live alone or in groups, and may intend to cause harm to the Clans.[15]
Series plot summaries
Warriors: The Prophecies Begin (2003–2004)
The original Warriors series consists of six books: Into the Wild (2003), Fire and Ice (2003), Forest of Secrets (2003), Rising Storm (2004), A Dangerous Path (2004), and The Darkest Hour (2004).[16] The series was subtitled The Prophecies Begin for the 2015 reprint.[‡ 5] The series's protagonist is a former housecat named Fireheart, who is invited to join ThunderClan,[1] one of four groups of wild cats in the forest. Throughout the series, he rises through the Clan hierarchy while trying to stop the treachery of ThunderClan deputy Tigerstar, who initially intends to usurp ThunderClan's leadership and later plans to take over all the Clans. Fireheart eventually becomes the leader of ThunderClan and takes on the name Firestar.
Warriors: The New Prophecy (2005–2006)
Warriors: The New Prophecy is the second sub-series, consisting of six books: Midnight (2005), Moonrise (2005), Dawn (2005), Starlight (2006), Twilight (2006), and Sunset (2006).[16] In this series, the Clans' survival is put at risk as humans begin to destroy their forest home with machinery. The series revolves around a group of cats consisting of Tawnypelt, Crowfeather, Feathertail, Brambleclaw, Stormfur, and Squirrelflight, who embark on a quest to find a new home for the Clans after their forest is destroyed. The series also details the rest of the Clans' subsequent journey to find their new territories and the struggles they face in establishing themselves again.
Warriors: Power of Three (2007–2009)
Warriors: Power of Three is the third sub-series, consisting of six books: The Sight (2007),[‡ 6] Dark River (2007), Outcast (2008), Eclipse (2008), Long Shadows (2008), and Sunrise (2009).[16] The series revolves around the search for three cats who are prophesized to have untold powers. A litter of three kittens is born. Two of them, Lionblaze and Jayfeather, possess supernatural abilities; their sister, Hollyleaf, does not.
Warriors: Omen of the Stars (2009–2012)
Warriors: Omen of the Stars is the fourth sub-series, consisting of six books: The Fourth Apprentice (2009), Fading Echoes (2010), Night Whispers (2010), Sign of the Moon (2011), The Forgotten Warrior (2011), and The Last Hope (2012).[16] Omen of the Stars continues the plot of Warriors: Power of Three; the third cat in the prophecy is revealed to be Dovewing. The trio learn throughout the course of the series that the cats of the Dark Forest, led by Tigerstar, are preparing an attack on the living Clans, and recruiting living cats to their cause by training them for battle in their dreams. The series culminates in a battle involving all the Clans, as well as StarClan and the Dark Forest. Firestar defeats Tigerstar's spirit, ending the battle in the Clans' favor, but dies in the process.
Warriors: Dawn of the Clans (2013–2015)
Warriors: Dawn of the Clans is the fifth sub-series, consisting of six books: The Sun Trail (2013),[17] Thunder Rising (2013),[18] The First Battle (2014),[19] The Blazing Star (2014),[20] A Forest Divided (2015),[21] and Path of Stars (2015).[22] Dawn of the Clans is a prequel arc set before the events of Into the Wild. It revolves around cats from a tribe in the mountains leaving in search of a better home. Ultimately, they form the Clans and settle in the forest from The Prophecies Begin.
Warriors: A Vision of Shadows (2016–2018)
Warriors: A Vision of Shadows is the sixth sub-series, consisting of six books: The Apprentice's Quest (2016), Thunder and Shadow (2016), Shattered Sky (2017), Darkest Night (2017), River of Fire (2018), and The Raging Storm (2018).[16] The series centers around Alderheart, Violetshine, and Twigbranch, as they try to help SkyClan, the lost fifth Clan, settle in a territory around the lake. Additionally, they face constant attacks from a group of rogue cats led by Darktail, who almost succeeds in disbanding ShadowClan.
Warriors: The Broken Code (2019–2021)
Warriors: The Broken Code is the seventh sub-series, consisting of six books: Lost Stars (2019), The Silent Thaw (2019), Veil of Shadows (2020), Darkness Within (2020), The Place of No Stars (2021), and A Light in the Mist (2021).[16] Ashfur, a StarClan cat, severs the connection between StarClan and the living Clans and possesses ThunderClan's leader Bramblestar. The protagonists Bristlefrost, Shadowsight, and Rootspring must defeat him, restore the connection with StarClan, save Bramblestar's spirit, and change their Clans' laws to prevent more tragedy from occurring in the future. The series concludes with Bristlefrost killing Ashfur, but dying in the process.
Warriors: A Starless Clan (2022–2024)
Warriors: A Starless Clan is the eighth sub-series, consisting of six books: River (2022),[23] Sky (2022),[24] Shadow (2023),[25] Thunder (2023),[26] Wind (2024),[27] and Star (2024).[28] It revolves around Nightheart, Sunbeam, and Frostdawn, cats from different Clans. RiverClan's leader and deputy die and StarClan does not show them who is to be the next leader. Additionally, there is growing unrest among the cats of the Clans regarding the changes made to the warrior code in The Broken Code. Eventually, Frostdawn chooses the RiverClan leader and peace is restored.
Warriors: Changing Skies (2025–)
Warriors: Changing Skies is the ninth sub-series, consisting of The Elders' Quest (7 January 2025),[29] Hidden Moon (4 November 2025),[30] Chasing Shadows (31 March 2026),[31] Guiding Light (6 October 2026),[32] and two unnamed installments. It revolves around Leafstar, the leader of SkyClan, Starlingpaw, a SkyClan apprentice, Tawnypelt, a senior ShadowClan warrior, and Moonpaw, a ThunderClan apprentice. In this sub-series, the Clans struggle with Twolegs encroaching on their territory.
Standalones
The authors have written Super Editions, field guides, and novellas.[1] The novellas were initially published solely as e-books before being published in anthology volumes of three novellas each.[‡ 7]
Several trilogies of original English-language manga were produced by HarperCollins and Tokyopop.[33][34] The manga were intended to be "side stories", shorter than regular manga due to publishing schedule restrictions.[33] Short manga sections have been included in the last pages of some Warriors novels as well.[33] With the shutdown of Tokyopop in 2011,[35] subsequent manga volumes, starting with A Shadow in RiverClan, have been published under the name HarperAlley.[36][34] Additionally, the original Tokyopop black-and-white manga have been republished in full color as standalone volumes.[34]
On 28 September 2023, the official Warriors website announced that the first arc, The Prophecies Begin, would be adapted into graphic novels by Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter.[‡ 8] The graphic novels were published between 2024 and 2025, and adapt The Prophecies Begin into three volumes.[37][38] The second arc, The New Prophecy, will be adapted into graphic novels by Gibson Twist and Sammy Savos.[‡ 9]
Reception
Critical reception
Main series
The first Warriors novel, Into the Wild, was generally well-received, with Booklist calling it "spine-tingling",[39] Sally Estes of the American Library Association calling it "thoroughly engrossing",[40] and Publishers Weekly calling it an "exciting ... action-packed adventure".[41] Mary Alpert of School Library Journal praised the authors for "creating an intriguing world ... and an engaging young hero".[42] Janice M. Del Negro, writing for The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, criticized the characters and imagined world as being "neither ... consistent nor compelling".[43] Cindy Welch, writing for Booklist, stated about Rising Storm that "Hunter once again tells a good, suspenseful adventure story", and "teens may find their own journey toward adulthood echoed in the protagonist's struggles and self-doubts".[44]
The large number of characters involved in Warriors has often been seen as a negative point; a School Library Journal reviewer compared the "huge cast" to that of a Greek drama,[45] and others wrote that it was "hard to follow",[46] and "a little confusing".[42] The characters have also been criticized as being "somewhat flat"[46] and "limited essentially to each individual's function within the Clan".[43]
Booklist stated that the cats are "true to their feline nature";[39] Kirkus Reviews commented that the books will "leave readers eyeing Puss a bit nervously",[47] and Publishers Weekly was left wondering "what dreams of grandeur may haunt the family cat".[41] However, this realism also means that Warriors contains a relatively large amount of violence,[42] with School Library Journal stating that it is "not for the faint of heart".[45] Several critics have compared Warriors to Brian Jacques's Redwall series;[39][43] however, SLJ commented that it was "not as elegantly written".[42] The New York Times called Warriors a "hit with young readers", specifically because of its "sprawling universe",[48] and it appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list for a total of 119 weeks, as of 23 November 2014.[49]
Manga, audiobooks and graphic novels
The manga has also earned praise: a reviewer for Children's Bookwatch wrote that Into the Woods "ends on a tense cliffhanger, leaving the reader in anxious anticipation for more [...] Into the Woods is especially recommended for cat lovers everywhere."[50] Its sequel, Escape from the Forest, was also well reviewed: a reviewer for Publishers Weekly said that readers would benefit from reading about Sasha leaving the powerful Tigerstar due to his "growing violence". The art was also praised, with the reviewer writing that "Hudson's artwork brings Sasha's emotional journey to life, showing each moment of fear, anxiety, contentment, and joy. The cat's-eye perspective of many of the panels, in addition, add a dramatic, energizing element to the book." The reviewer also wrote that "a twist at the end will leave fans eager for the next installment of Sasha's saga", and that the book would appeal to young adults trying to find their place in the world.[51] Lisa Goldstein writing for School Library Journal also gave the book a positive review, writing that the plot would attract new fans and appeal to old fans. Goldstein also wrote that "though the cover claims that this is a 'manga,' the straightforward illustrations are drawn in a simple, realistic style."[52] The New Prophecy's audiobooks are spoken by Nanette Savard; a reviewer for AudioFile wrote that "[h]er dazzling variety of voices (and tonal variety within voices) astonishes",[53] and another that "[h]er narration is crisp and clear, and she knows how amplify the drama by building tension".[54]
The graphic novel adaptations of The Prophecies Begin have received both praise and criticism from Kirkus Reviews. A review of Volume 1 wrote that the "vivid colors, dramatic action sequences, and appealingly expressive feline faces will grab readers' attention".[37] A review of Volume 2 criticised the difficulty of visually recognising characters, "particularly since the illustrators admit to adding a few extras".[55] A review of Volume 3 wrote that "the visual format suits the violent, dramatic storyline".[38] School Library Journal stated that the "unique and vibrant colors" would surely "help bring these stories to a new audience".[56]
Accolades
Into the Wild was nominated for the Pacific Northwest Library Association's 2006 Young Reader's Choice Awards;[57] it was also listed on Booklist's top ten fantasy books for youth in 2003.[40] In 2006, Warriors also received an honourable mention for the best book series for Publishers Weekly's "On the Cuff" awards.[58] The Sight was nominated for the best Middle Readers book in Amazon's Best Books of the Year (2007) and placed sixth out of the ten nominees, with six percent of the total votes.[59]
Cultural impact
Warriors is read by both adults and children.[3] Abby Hargreaves of Book Riot wrote that Warriors could be "the Redwall of the next generation" and is also comparable to The Chronicles of Narnia.[1] One of the authors behind Erin Hunter, Tui T. Sutherland, went on to write Wings of Fire, a similar book series about dragons.[1] Warriors has a large fanbase on the social media platform YouTube, with fans posting animations based on Warriors as early as 2007;[60] one example is an animated adaptation of Warriors, titled SSS Warrior Cats.[1] The 2017 video game Cattails "takes some inspiration" from a fan-made Warriors game, according to lead developer Tyler Thompson.[61]
Themes
Holmes has stated that "the characters do need to tackle issues that can be identified in twenty-first century life", citing Firestar's journey to be accepted into ThunderClan and Ravenpaw's shyness when in groups as examples.[2]
Critics's analysis
A reviewer for Publishers Weekly wrote that friendship and responsibility are taught to characters in the novels.[41] Charlotte Ahlin writing for Bustle stated that Warriors are "wildly complex novels filled with political intrigue, religious warfare, forbidden love, and violent cat death",[62] also calling it a "multi-layer epic".[63] Sarah Fimm, writing for The Mary Sue, stated that Warriors has themes like "complex political strife".[16] They also wrote that Warriors are "[t]ales of intrigue [...] and deep feline spirituality".[16] A review by Kirkus Reviews wrote that Exile from ShadowClan makes readers "ponder larger questions about violence, power, codes of law, community values, metaphysics, and individuals finding their niches".[36]
Studies
Two studies have analysed Warriors. The first, published in 2020, described that Warriors "explores themes of political and regional economics"[64] when ThunderClan help return WindClan to their forest home, resulting in a political alliance.[65] Territory is presented through "human and animalistic concepts".[66] Thus, loyalty to the Clan is also a theme.[67] The second study (2025) wrote that three main themes are "impact of natural hazards, preparedness and response, and resilience",[68] citing "floods, severe storms, fires, droughts, severe winter weather, and rockslides" as frequent examples of natural disasters.[68] The authors stated that religion plays a major part in Warriors, as StarClan warns the characters of dangers.[68] Themes of "motherhood, spirituality, loyalty, and destiny" are present.[68] Both studies agreed that the nature vs. nurture debate is a theme in Warriors.[69][3]
Other media
Cancelled film
In November 2016, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Alibaba Pictures had bought the production rights for a film adaptation of Warriors. With David Heyman as producer, it was set to be a "live-action film with computer-generated characters", similar to Paddington.[5] On 14 May 2018, it was announced that STX Entertainment had come on board to co-produce the Warriors film, with STX board member Gigi Pritzker working alongside Heyman. It was also announced that screenwriters Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger would write the screenplay for the movie.[70][71] The film was eventually abandoned.[72]
Animated series
On 25 January 2024, Coolabi Group, the parent company of Working Partners, announced that a deal had been signed with Tencent Video to create an animated adaptation of Warriors.[73] On 1 June 2026 The Hollywood Reporter revealed that A. C. Bradley and Rodrigo Blaas were attached to the production. The series will adapt The Prophecies Begin and has a tentative release date of 2028 in China and South East Asia.[72]
Physical media
In the Chinese translation of Warriors, 3-D trading cards have been included with the novels.[74] In January 2019, when the official Warrior Cats Hub app was launched, several pieces of official, licensed merchandise were released.[75] As of 2026, plushies and collectible figurines are in development.[76]
Mobile application
In January 2019, a Warriors app was released, called Warrior Cats Hub.[75]
