4 Answers2026-07-08 02:56:24
Honestly, a lot of people will tell you to start with the very first book, 'Into the Wild'. And that's fine, it's the classic starting point. But I tried that with a friend last year and she just couldn't get into it—the writing felt a little too simple for her, she's used to more complex stuff. I ended up telling her to jump ahead and begin with the second arc, 'The New Prophecy', specifically 'Midnight'. The stakes feel higher right away, the journey concept is immediately gripping, and the characters are a bit more developed. She blasted through that whole series and then went back and read the original 'Warriors' arc with way more appreciation because she was already invested in the world.
Starting with 'The New Prophecy' skips the sometimes slower clan-establishing stuff and gets you straight into a big, dangerous mystery. You might miss some references, but nothing crucial, and the books do a decent job filling you in. It's like a backdoor into the fandom that works surprisingly well.
5 Answers2025-08-31 15:19:39
There's something magical about handing someone their first Warriors book, so I'd tell them to start simple: read the original arc first. Begin with 'Into the Wild' and follow that first six-book set through to 'The Darkest Hour' before jumping around. That builds core characters and loyalties in the way the authors intended, and it preserves the emotional punches that hit later arcs.
After the original arc, I like following publication order: 'The New Prophecy', then 'Power of Three', then 'Omen of the Stars'. Once you've finished those, slot in 'Dawn of the Clans' if you want the prequel backstory; I usually read that after 'Omen' so the origin pieces feel like rewarding explanations. Sprinkle in the super editions like 'Firestar's Quest' or 'Bluestar's Prophecy' after the arcs that reference their events, and treat the novellas and manga as tasty side-trips whenever you want more depth without losing the main storyline. Reading that way kept me hooked from book one and meant every reveal landed hard.
4 Answers2026-07-08 01:10:02
Finally got around to cataloging my whole shelf of these things. The core saga everybody talks about is the original 'Warriors' series, which started with 'Into the Wild'. That's 'The Prophecies Begin'. After that, it's 'The New Prophecy' (beginning with 'Midnight'), 'Power of Three' ('The Sight'), 'Omen of the Stars' ('The Fourth Apprentice'), and 'A Vision of Shadows' ('The Apprentice's Quest'). The latest main arc is 'The Broken Code' ('Lost Stars'), followed by the currently publishing 'A Starless Clan' beginning with 'River'.
But that's just the spine of it. You've got the 'Dawn of the Clans' prequel series way before everything, which is actually a fantastic entry point. Then there are the 'Super Editions' focusing on single cats, like 'Firestar's Quest' or 'Bluestar's Prophecy', which slot in at specific times. Plus a ton of novella collections and 'Field Guides'. It's a whole ecosystem. The official website has a timeline, but honestly, half my reading order came from piecing together forum posts from ten years ago.
4 Answers2026-07-08 01:43:58
The Warriors series situation is a genuine maze at this point. Asking for 'how many books' feels like asking how many stars are visible—it depends where you stand and what you count. If we're talking the mainline 'arcs,' it's several distinct sets: the original 'The Prophecies Begin' (6 books), 'The New Prophecy' (6), 'Power of Three' (6), 'Oathbreaker'—wait, 'Omen of the Stars' (6), then 'A Vision of Shadows' (6), 'The Broken Code' (6), and the currently ongoing 'A Starless Clan.' So that's seven completed multi-book arcs, plus the new one.
But then the 'Super Editions,' which are hefty single-character deep dives, add another... fifteen or sixteen? I lost track after 'Leopardstar's Honor.' Don't forget the 'Novellas' (those three-book packs like 'Tales from the Clans'), the 'Field Guides,' and the mangas. A straight number is almost meaningless; you need a map. For a new reader, just the first arc is a solid commitment. The total count easily brushes past 90 individual titles if you include every single publication. It’s a sprawling universe, and counting them feels like herding cats.
5 Answers2025-08-31 03:25:13
There are 48 core novels in the main 'Warriors' saga — that comes from eight epic arcs with six books each. The arcs start with 'The Prophecies Begin' and move through 'The New Prophecy', 'Power of Three', 'Omen of the Stars', 'Dawn of the Clans', 'A Vision of Shadows', 'The Broken Code', and 'A Starless Clan'. If you’re counting just the numbered arc books, that’s the clear, tidy total.
Beyond those, the world is much bigger: there are dozens of Super Editions, novellas, field guides, and a whole line of manga. Super Editions like 'Bluestar's Prophecy' or 'Ravenpaw's Farewell' give long standalone stories, while the novellas fill in side characters and moments. Add in guides such as 'Secrets of the Clans' and the various manga miniseries, and you’re looking at many more titles — easily pushing the complete Warriors reading list well past 70 books. I love recommending people start with a single arc and then binge the rest, because once you meet these cats, it’s hard to stop.
4 Answers2026-04-09 14:35:26
Navigating the 'Warriors' series can feel like herding cats at first—there are so many books! I'd honestly start with the original arc, 'Into the Wild.' It introduces ThunderClan and the forest dynamics so perfectly. After that, just follow the publication order: 'Fire and Ice,' 'Forest of Secrets,' etc. The later arcs like 'The New Prophecy' build on the foundation, and jumping around might spoil major twists.
I made the mistake of reading 'Bluestar's Prophecy' (a super edition) before finishing the first arc, and wow, did it ruin some surprises. The side books are fantastic, but save them for after the main arcs. Also, the manga and novellas add flavor but aren't essential—treat them like bonus content for when you're already invested. My friend binge-read the whole series in chronological order once, but honestly, publication order keeps the emotional beats intact.