Warriors books in order

Complete reading order for the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. 100+ books organized by arcs for optimal reading experience.

Main Series - Arc by Arc

The Prophecies Begin (The Original Series)

# Title Year Buy on Amazon
1 Into the Wild 2003 Buy
2 Fire and Ice 2003 Buy
3 Forest of Secrets 2003 Buy
4 Rising Storm 2004 Buy
5 A Dangerous Path 2004 Buy
6 Darkest Night 2004 Buy

The New Prophecy

# Title Year Buy on Amazon
7 Midnight 2005 Buy
8 Moonrise 2005 Buy
9 Dawn 2006 Buy
10 Starlight 2006 Buy
11 Twilight 2006 Buy
12 Sunset 2007 Buy

Power of Three

# Title Year Buy on Amazon
13 The Sight 2007 Buy
14 Dark River 2007 Buy
15 Outcast 2008 Buy
16 Eclipse 2008 Buy
17 Long Shadows 2008 Buy
18 Sunrise 2009 Buy

Omen of the Stars

# Title Year Buy on Amazon
19 The Fourth Apprentice 2009 Buy
20 Fading Echoes 2010 Buy
21 Night Whispers 2010 Buy
22 Sign of the Moon 2011 Buy
23 The Forgotten Warrior 2011 Buy
24 The Last Hope 2012 Buy

Dawn of the Clans (Prequel - read after Omen of the Stars)

# Title Year Buy on Amazon
25 The Sun Trail 2013 Buy
26 Thunder Rising 2013 Buy
27 The First Battle 2016 Buy
28 The Blazing Star 2016 Buy
29 A Forest Divided 2016 Buy
30 Path of Stars 2016 Buy

The Warriors series follows four clans of wild cats living in a forest near a human town. ThunderClan, WindClan, RiverClan, and ShadowClan maintain territories, follow the warrior code, and struggle to survive in a world threatened by humans, dogs, and each other. The cats believe StarClan watches over them—their warrior ancestors who give dreams and omens.

The Prophecies Begin (2003) introduced Rusty, a house cat who joins ThunderClan as Firepaw. He becomes Fireheart, then Firestar, and leads ThunderClan through seven years of prophecy, battle, and change. TheNewProphecy moves to the next generation and introduces the journey to a new home. Power of Three follows Firestar’s grandchildren. Omen of the Stars deals with rising darkness and the last of the initial prophecies.

Dawn of the Clans is the prequel arc showing how the Clans formed in the first place—how cats escaped kittypet life, founded territories, established the warrior code, and chose their names. Set hundreds of years before Firestar’s birth, the prequel explains why things are as they are but assumes you know how the story ends in Omen of the Stars.

A Vision of Shadows and The Broken Code continue the saga with new protagonists, new threats, and consequences from earlier arcs. Characters from earlier books appear as elders, leaders, or ghosts. The forest changes. New enemies emerge. The warrior code evolves.

Publication order reveals the story as it was written. The prequels are fascinating worldbuilding but lose impact if read before you know what they’re prequeling to. Readers overwhelmed by the scope can stop at any arc—each 6-book arc functions as a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end—though continuing provides satisfaction in seeing how later events reflect on earlier choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I read the Warriors series?

Read the main arcs in publication order: The Prophecies Begin (#1-3), The New Prophecy (#4-6), Power of Three (#7-9), and Omen of the Stars (#10-12). Skip Dawn of the Clans on first read—it’s a prequel arc set generations before the main series and contains spoilers. Read it after Omen of the Stars, or skip entirely if you’re satisfied with the main story.

Who is Erin Hunter?

Erin Hunter is a pen name shared by multiple authors. Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry, Victoria Holmes, Tui Sutherland, and Inbali Istris have all written under the name. The group coordinates story continuity across books, making Warriors a truly collaborative effort.

How many Warriors books are there?

Over 100 books published 2003-2026. The main series consists of 7 arcs of 6 books each: Prophecies Begin, New Prophecy, Power of Three, Omen of the Stars, Dawn of the Clans, A Vision of Shadows, and The Broken Code. Plus super editions, novellas, manga, and graphic novels.

What order should I read the additional books?

Complete each 6-book arc before reading its super editions. Novellas and manga can be read at any point after their corresponding main-series events. For new readers, focus on the main arcs first. The additional material is optional unless you’re a completionist.

Is the prequel arc necessary?

No. Dawn of the Clans explains the founding of the Clans generations before the main series begins, but it’s written assuming you know how the story ends. Read it after completing the main arcs for context on the founding and why the Clans behave as they do, or skip it if you’re not curious about that history.

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