Warriors (novel series) facts for kids
Boxed sets of the Warriors: The Prophecies Begin and Warriors: The New Prophecy series
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| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy, young adult fiction |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Published | 21 January 2003 – present |
The Warriors series, also known as Warrior Cats, tells exciting stories about groups of wild cats called Clans. These popular novels are published by HarperCollins and written by several authors, including Kate Cary and Cherith Baldry. They all write under the shared name Erin Hunter. The main ideas and plots for the series were first created by editor Victoria Holmes.
The series is made up of nine main story arcs, each with six books. These arcs include 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. Besides the main series, there are also longer "Super Edition" novels, shorter novellas, helpful guide books, and many manga and graphic novels. The Warriors books have been translated into many languages and have sold over 80 million copies around the world.
Contents
Creating the Warriors Series
How the Books Began
In 2001, the publisher HarperCollins asked editor Victoria Holmes to create a fantasy story about cats. Victoria Holmes, who wasn't a big fan of cats herself, asked Kate Cary for help because Kate loved cats. Kate Cary wrote the first two books of the original series, Into the Wild and Fire and Ice.
To keep up with the publishing schedule, Cherith Baldry joined the team and wrote the third book, Forest of Secrets. Kate Cary then wrote the fourth book, and Cherith Baldry wrote the fifth and sixth books. Victoria Holmes was in charge of creating the detailed storylines and characters. She also edited the finished books to make sure everything stayed consistent. Later, Tui T. Sutherland helped with editing the storylines before they were sent to Kate and Cherith to write the final books. Victoria Holmes later stepped back from her role with the Erin Hunter team.
What Inspired the Authors
The authors have shared that many other writers influenced their work. Cherith Baldry mentioned that Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and Ursula K. Le Guin were big inspirations for her. The official Warriors website also lists authors like Enid Blyton, Lucy Daniels, Ellis Peters, Tess Gerritsen, Kate Ellis, Lisa Gardiner, and Meg Cabot as inspirations.
Victoria Holmes said that the New Forest in southern England was the inspiration for the forest where the first series takes place. She also mentioned the films First Blood and The Avengers as sources of ideas.
The World of Warriors Cats
The Clans and Their Homes
The Warriors stories are set in a world where wild cats live in a forest, and later, around a large lake. These cats are divided into five main groups called Clans: ThunderClan, WindClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, and SkyClan. Each Clan has learned to live in its own special territory. Some Clans are even named for their unique skills.
Clans often have disagreements and sometimes fight with each other. However, they also care for one another. If one Clan is in danger, the others usually try to help. The Clans have a special way of naming their cats and organizing their groups, with names often showing a cat's rank.
StarClan and the Dark Forest
The Clan cats believe in a special group called StarClan. This group is made up of the spirits of cats who have passed away. These wise ancestors watch over the living Clans and sometimes send messages or guidance. After a Clan cat passes away, their spirit usually joins StarClan and lives in a beautiful, peaceful forest.
There is also a place called the Dark Forest, sometimes known as The Place of No Stars. This is a shadowy forest where the spirits of cats who were cruel or caused great trouble during their lives go. It's a place for them to reflect on their past actions.
Other Cats in the Wild
Cats who do not belong to a Clan are grouped into three types. "Kittypets" are housecats who live with humans and usually don't bother the Clans. "Loners" are stray cats who live by themselves outside Clan lands and sometimes help the Clans. "Rogues" can live alone or in groups, and they might try to cause harm to the Clans.
Main Warriors Story Arcs
The Prophecies Begin (2003–2004)
This first Warriors series has six books. It follows a former housecat named Fireheart. He is invited to join ThunderClan, one of the four wild cat groups in the forest. As Fireheart grows in the Clan, he works to stop the evil plans of ThunderClan's deputy, Tigerstar. Tigerstar first wants to take over ThunderClan, then all the Clans. Fireheart eventually becomes the leader of ThunderClan and is known as Firestar.
The New Prophecy (2005–2006)
In this second series, the Clans face a big threat when humans start to destroy their forest home with machines. A group of brave cats, including Tawnypelt, Crowfeather, Feathertail, Brambleclaw, Stormfur, and Squirrelflight, go on a journey to find a new home. The series also describes how the Clans travel to their new territories and the challenges they face to settle down again.
Power of Three (2007–2009)
This third series focuses on a prophecy about three cats who will have amazing powers. Three kittens are born, and two of them, Lionblaze and Jayfeather, have special abilities. Their sister, Hollyleaf, does not. The series explores their journey to understand their destiny.
Omen of the Stars (2009–2012)
This fourth series continues the story from Power of Three. The third cat in the prophecy is revealed to be Dovewing. The three cats learn that the spirits from the Dark Forest (cats who were cruel in life) are planning an attack on the living Clans. These Dark Forest cats, led by Tigerstar, are training living cats in their dreams for battle. The series ends with a huge battle involving all the Clans, StarClan, and the Dark Forest. Firestar bravely defeats Tigerstar's spirit, saving the Clans, but he loses his life in the process.
Dawn of the Clans (2013–2015)
This fifth series is a prequel, meaning it tells a story that happened before Into the Wild. It's about cats from a tribe in the mountains who leave to find a better home. They eventually form the Clans we know and discover the forest that became their first territories.
A Vision of Shadows (2016–2018)
This sixth series follows Alderheart, Violetshine, and Twigbranch. They work to help SkyClan, the lost fifth Clan, find a new home around the lake. They also face constant attacks from a group of rogue cats led by Darktail, who almost causes ShadowClan to fall apart.
The Broken Code (2019–2021)
This seventh series begins when Ashfur, a StarClan cat, breaks the connection between StarClan and the living Clans. He then takes over the body of ThunderClan's leader, Bramblestar. The main characters, Bristlefrost, Shadowsight, and Rootspring, must defeat Ashfur. They also need to fix the connection with StarClan, save Bramblestar's spirit, and change their Clans' laws to prevent future problems. The series concludes with Bristlefrost bravely defeating Ashfur, but sadly, she also loses her life during the battle.
A Starless Clan (2022–2024)
This eighth series focuses on Nightheart, Sunbeam, and Frostdawn, who are cats from different Clans. RiverClan faces a crisis when its leader and deputy pass away, and StarClan doesn't show them who the next leader should be. Also, there are growing disagreements among the Clans about the changes made to the warrior code in The Broken Code.
Changing Skies (2025–)
This ninth series began in 2025 with The Elders' Quest and Hidden Moon. Chasing Shadows was released in March 2026. It will continue with Guiding Light later in 2026 and two more books. The story follows Leafstar, the leader of SkyClan, Starlingpaw, a SkyClan apprentice, Tawnypelt, a senior ShadowClan warrior, and Moonpaw, a ThunderClan apprentice. In this series, the Clans struggle with humans moving closer to their territory.
Standalones
Super Editions
Super Editions are longer, standalone books in the Warriors series. The first Super Edition was Firestar's Quest, which tells about Firestar's journey to rebuild SkyClan, a Clan that had been lost for a long time. So far, 19 Super Editions have been published. The most recent, StormClan's Folly, was released in August 2025. Many Super Editions also include a special original English-language manga chapter at the end.
- Firestar's Quest (21 August 2007)
- Bluestar's Prophecy (28 July 2009)
- SkyClan's Destiny (3 August 2010)
- Crookedstar's Promise (5 July 2011)
- Yellowfang's Secret (9 October 2012)
- Tallstar's Revenge (2 July 2013)
- Bramblestar's Storm (26 August 2014)
- Moth Flight's Vision (3 November 2015)
- Hawkwing's Journey (1 November 2016)
- Tigerheart's Shadow (5 September 2017)
- Crowfeather's Trial (4 September 2018)
- Squirrelflight's Hope (3 September 2019)
- Graystripe's Vow (1 September 2020)
- Leopardstar's Honor (7 September 2021)
- Onestar's Confession (6 September 2022)
- Riverstar's Home (5 September 2023)
- Ivypool's Heart (3 September 2024)
- StormClan's Folly (26 August 2025)
- Darktail's Judgment (8 September 2026)
Field Guides
The authors have also created several "field guides." These books include short stories, lists, and artwork that help explain more about the Warriors world.
- Secrets of the Clans (29 May 2007)
- Cats of the Clans (24 June 2008)
- Code of the Clans (9 June 2009)
- Battles of the Clans (1 June 2010)
- Enter the Clans (26 June 2012)
- The Warriors Guide (8 August 2012)
- Warriors: The Ultimate Guide (5 November 2013)
- The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded (31 October 2023)
Original English-language Manga
Several series of original English-language manga were created by HarperCollins. These manga tell side stories in the Warriors universe. The manga series includes Graystripe's Adventure, Tigerstar and Sasha, Ravenpaw's Path, and SkyClan and the Stranger, each with three books. There is also a standalone book, The Rise of Scourge. Starting with A Shadow in RiverClan, these books are now called graphic novels and are single volumes. Many older manga volumes have also been re-released in color.
- Graystripe's Adventure (colored release on 8 August 2017)
- The Lost Warrior (24 April 2007)
- Warrior's Refuge (26 December 2007)
- Warrior's Return (22 April 2008)
- The Rise of Scourge (24 June 2008) (colored release on 12 March 2024)
- Tigerstar and Sasha (colored release on 8 July 2025)
- Into the Woods (2 September 2008)
- Escape from the Forest (23 December 2008)
- Return to the Clans (9 June 2009)
- Ravenpaw's Path (colored release on 26 June 2018)
- Shattered Peace (24 November 2009)
- A Clan in Need (23 March 2010)
- The Heart of a Warrior (3 August 2010)
- SkyClan and the Stranger (colored release on 28 May 2019)
- The Rescue (5 July 2011)
- Beyond the Code (22 November 2011)
- After the Flood (3 April 2012)
- A Shadow in RiverClan (2 June 2020)
- Winds of Change (1 June 2021)
- Exile From ShadowClan (7 June 2022)
- A Thief in ThunderClan (6 June 2023)
Graphic Novels
In September 2023, the official Warriors website announced that the first main series, The Prophecies Begin, would be turned into graphic novels by Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter. The first three volumes have already been released. In July 2025, it was announced that the second series, The New Prophecy, would also be adapted into graphic novels.
- The Prophecies Begin
- Volume 1 (16 July 2024)
- Volume 2 (8 April 2025)
- Volume 3 (30 September 2025)
- The New Prophecy
- Volume 1 (30 June 2026)
Novellas
Several shorter stories called novellas have also been written by Erin Hunter. They were first released as e-books. Later, they were collected into anthology books, with three novellas in each.
- The Untold Stories (2 July 2013)
- "Hollyleaf's Story" (3 March 2012)
- "Mistystar's Omen" (11 September 2012)
- "Cloudstar's Journey" (29 January 2013)
- Tales from the Clans (4 November 2014)
- "Tigerclaw's Fury" (28 January 2014)
- "Leafpool's Wish" (22 April 2014)
- "Dovewing's Silence" (4 November 2014)
- Shadows of the Clans (26 January 2016)
- "Mapleshade's Vengeance" (24 March 2015)
- "Goosefeather's Curse" (1 September 2015)
- "Ravenpaw's Farewell" (26 January 2016)
- Legends of the Clans (11 April 2017)
- "Spottedleaf's Heart"
- "Pinestar's Choice"
- "Thunderstar's Echo"
- Path of a Warrior (9 April 2019)
- "Redtail's Debt"
- "Tawnypelt's Clan"
- "Shadowstar's Life"
- A Warrior's Spirit (7 April 2020)
- "Pebbleshine's Kits"
- "Tree's Roots"
- "Mothwing's Secret"
- A Warrior's Choice (6 April 2021)
- "Daisy's Kin"
- "Spotfur's Rebellion"
- "Blackfoot's Reckoning"
Themes in Warriors Stories
The Warriors books explore many important ideas. They teach about friendship and taking responsibility. They also show that it's important to face challenges in life and that your inner character matters more than where you come from.
The stories often feature complex relationships and difficult decisions. They highlight themes of resilience, showing how the Clans help each other in tough times. Loyalty to your group and caring for your community are also very important themes. The books make you think about how nature and upbringing shape who you are.
Publication History
All Warriors books, except for some manga, have been published as hardcovers. Most are also available as paperbacks, audiobooks, and e-books. The audiobooks for The New Prophecy series are read by Nanette Savard, and her performance has been praised. The Omen of the Stars audiobooks are read by voice actress Veronica Taylor.
International Editions
The Warriors series was first published in the United States and United Kingdom. It is also sold in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. The books have been translated into many other languages, including Czech, Norwegian, Finnish, Japanese, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Korean. Fans of the series can also be found in places like Trinidad and Singapore.
Other Warriors Media
Official Website and Games
The Warriors website used to have screensavers, videos about how manga books are made, and quizzes. There were also browser games like the New Prophecy Adventure and the Warriors Adventure Game. The website was later redesigned and can now be accessed through browsers and an official mobile app. The new site includes new games, character profiles, and an updated family tree.
Film and Animation Projects
In October 2016, Victoria Holmes announced that Alibaba Pictures had bought the rights to make a Warriors film. David Heyman was set to produce it as a "live-action film with computer-generated characters," similar to Paddington. In May 2018, STX Entertainment joined to co-produce the film, with screenwriters Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger writing the script.
In January 2024, Coolabi Group, which includes Working Partners, signed a deal with Tencent Video to create an animated Warriors series.
Short Stories and Plays
Several short stories have been published, including "Spottedleaf's Honest Answer" and "The Clans Decide." Two short stories, "After Sunset: The Right Choice?" and "The Elders' Concern," were previously available through the old Warriors mobile app.
Victoria Holmes wrote a play called After Sunset: We Need to Talk, which premiered in April 2007. It shows a meeting between Leafpool of ThunderClan and Crowfeather of WindClan. Another play, Brightspirit's Mercy, was performed by high school students. This play is about Jaypaw, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf helping other Clans during a time of hunger. Three StarClan cats, Brightspirit, Shiningheart, and Braveheart, appear to them. These characters were created to honor the memory of a young Warriors fan and her parents.
Physical Merchandise
In the Chinese versions of the books, special "3-D trading cards" are included with each book. These cards show pictures of different characters, their names, and some information about them. In 2019, when the official Warrior Cats Hub app launched, various official Warriors merchandise items were also released.
Mobile Applications
In June 2011, an official iOS and Android app was released. It had lots of information about the books, characters, and settings, plus two exclusive short stories and a trivia game. This app was later removed. In 2019, an updated Warriors app called Warrior Cats Hub was released.
Online Games
An official roleplaying Roblox game, called Warrior Cats: Ultimate Edition, was released in May 2021. It has become one of the most popular branded games on the platform. As of January 2026, the game has been played over 675 million times.
See also
In Spanish: Los gatos guerreros para niños
 | Leon Lynch |
 | Milton P. Webster |
 | Ferdinand Smith |
