Erin Hunter is inspired by a love of cats and a fascination with the ferocity of the natural world. As well as having a great respect for nature in all its forms, Erin enjoys creating rich mythical explanations for animal behavior, shaped by her interest in astronomy and standing stones.
I might be a college graduate but the Warriors series are my all-time favorite books. There is just something about them that makes me keep coming back for more.
This is the set of six books that begins a long list of "Warrior" books. I read "Into The Wild" with the Children's Books group here on Goodreads, enjoyed it, and gave it to my then-8-year-old grandson who promptly fell in love with the series. As he finished each book, he loaned it to me and I was captivated as well. For me, these key to these books is that they are and are not about cats. The characters in the books are cats and their behavior is that of cats in the way that they move, hunt for prey, etc. These cats, however, are highly intelligent and make life-changing ethical decisions, and for me, that was the heart of this series. I read the books much in the way that I would read science fiction - a different reality that tells us something about ourselves. As the protagonist moves from his life as a "kittypet" named Rusty to life as a clan cat in the forest to his ultimate destiny as Firestar, leader of Thunderclan, he makes choices that humans must also make. Loyalty to friends vs. obedience to rules. Protecting a loved one vs. allowing that loved one to fulfill her own destiny. The needs of the group vs. one's own needs. Love vs. group allegiances. Safety vs. opposing tyranny, even at the risk of one's own life and the lives of loved ones. While these themes are explored in many children's books, this multibook series is able to develop these themes very well using the clan structure of the cats to do so. The books are short enough and exciting enough to be quickly read by middle-grade readers, even reluctant readers. I thought that the books gained depth as the series progressed. My grandson, now 9, has moved on to more books in the series. I don't know how long he will follow the series, but I'm very glad that we could share these first 6 books. I now understand their popularity - it is well deserved.
This book is not just for cat lovers. A hypermodern interrogation of the journey into adulthood and the individual's role in society - the original Warriors series outshines its successors by focusing on the politics and structure of feral cat gangs, the inevitability of conflict, and what it means to be free. The gimmick of the characters being cats and the associated mystery of the human world is never leaned on too heavily. Instead, the world of these cat clans is steeped deeply in a rich mythos and filled with an expansive cast of characters. The sentient animal genre is extremely competitive but Warriors claws its way towards the top because it is willing to show a powerful truth of the consequences of heroism, villainy, and violence. Unlike many adventure and action novels aimed at a younger audience these books do not pull their punches. Characters die. They often die in extremely brutal ways. While the writing of Warriors is often straightforward and may be found lacking when compared to true giants like Redwall, its mirror of reality introduces a sense of real danger and allows the heroes to undertake their duty with solemnity that is missing from more archetypal and pristine adventure stories.
Re-read this as a part of my book club this month. Could not be happier that I did. Literally devoured it in a few hours. It's such an enjoyable plot. Loved it as a kid, love it as an adult
I first read this book in middle school and coming back to it, to see what books I used to read, is a very nostalgic experience. Even as an adult now, it's a fun read to get through with all of the plot twists and unexpected details. A lot of these characters I didn't realize how much I missed reading about them. Overall, this entire series gets a 5 stars because I still enjoyed reading it. I also think that this first series is very well thought out and planned. They set up a villain, but don't right away defeat that villain. There are other conflicts going on before they can get to that villain and I enjoy that when I compare this series to the others where I feel like they set up the villain and just.. meander around until we get to that one plot point. Going into the individual books...
Into the Wild - 5 stars Fire and Ice - 5 stars Forest of Secrets - 4 stars Rising Storm - 4 stars A Dangerous Path - 5 stars The Darkest Hour - 5 stars I think my favorite book is A Dangerous Path, while my least favorite is Forest of Secrets.
Into the Wild Overall, I don't really have any major complaints with this book. It's still an excellent start to the series and I definitely recommend it to anyone who has never gotten into Warrior Cats before as a starting point. I do wish that Spottedleaf and then Firepaw had a little bit more development. I can see a friendship there, but I never did believe that Firepaw had fallen in love with her. The main conflict of this book is the conflict between Windclan and Shadowclan because Brokenstar has driven them from their homes and overall isn't a great leader due to the fact that he doesn't like weak cats. He also has kits become apprentices too early. Fireheart learns about Tigerclaw's treachery from Ravenpaw. They then lead a patrol of warriors into Shadowclan and drive this leader out while Ravenpaw escapes to Barley's barn to get away from Tigerclaw. Firepaw and Greypaw are made into warriors at the end of this book.
Fire and Ice This book definitely still entertains me as much as the first time I read it. There's a lot of twists and turns with good pay offs. I just don't understand why Fireheart is surprised every time Tigerclaw is up to something. I feel like he should expect Tigerclaw to be up to something, especially when Cinderpaw gets injured on the Thunderpath, but he's very quick to forget and forgive. In this book, Fireheart and Greystripe are sent to help Windclan make it back home and along the way, make long lasting friendships with the Windclan cats. On their way home, Greystripe accidentally kills Whiteclaw which pretty much solidifies Leopardfur's dislike of Thunderclan for pretty much the rest of the series. They are given Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw as apprentices to mentor when they get home. The rest of the book deals with Greystripe's forbiden love to Silverstream and Fireheart meeting his kittypet sister Princess. (Later being given Cloudkit to take home with him) Much of this book deals with Fireheart arguing with Greystripe about seeing Silverstream and neglecting his duties. Personally, I think Greystripe and Silverstream are a cute couple. I just can't stand the way Fireheart and Greystripe bicker about it. Yellowfang also turns out to be Brokenstar's mother and during a raid of his rogues he gets injured. Bluestar renames him to Brokentail.
Forest of Secrets I still think it's very satisfying the way Tigerclaw's treachery is revealed and then he gets banished. Also the way Brokentail was killed by his own mother Yellowfang. However, I could recall a lot of details about this book and I just personally didn't find that very enjoyable. Despite that, it still holds up really well. I just think I've reread the first series too many times and like up to this one. Most of this book deals with Fireheart learning about the truth behind the events of the first book with Redtail's death. The other clans also find out about them sheltering Brokentail and are understandably furious about it. This is a cat who has caused a lot of pain to the different clans of the forest and while I know he's blind, I just don't know how and why Bluestar trusts him to just hang around. Silverstream also ends up dying and Greystripe takes his kits to Riverclan to stay.
Rising Storm This book is mostly about fireheart learning to be a good deputy for the clan. This book was good, but also a little bit forgettable. A lot of this book deals with Fireheart bickering with Cloudpaw and while I understand Cloudpaw is wrong about a few things, I just can't stand Fireheart bickering with him even when Cloudpaw is doing a good job around the camp. I also really love Bluestar's descent into madness and not trusting Starclan anymore after Tigerclaw betrayed her she just doesn't understand why Starclan didn't warn or help or them. At the end of the book, there is a fire that kills Yellowfang and makes Cinderfur into the new medicine cat. They also learn that Tigerclaw is now leader of Shadowclan after Nightstar died. Cloudpaw also gets taken by twolegs and returns the night of this fire. I kind of feel like they were starting to run out of room to fit events and that's why it was the night of his return.
A Dangerous Path I still really enjoyed reading this one. The only thing I don't enjoy is when fireheart keeps making choices that make sandstorm rightfully mad like not giving her an apprentice so he can keep an eye on Tigerstar's son Bramblepaw. On top of that, Greystripe keeps reminding him that she's a warrior in her own right so he doesn't have to protect her from Tigerstar, but for some reason Fireheart just decides to ignore that advice. Greystripe also comes home after he refuses to hurt Fireheart during a Riverclan battle. Dogs are also on the loose throughout the book and lead to the death of Swiftpaw, the injury of Brightpaw, and later the death of Bluestar. It turns out once again that Fireheart can't trust Tigerstar because for some reason Fireheart gives him all of the chances in the world, but he's the cause of the dog attack in the end. On a very minor note, Cloudpaw turns into Cloudtail.
The Darkest Hour I still think this was an excellent way to end the series, but I do wonder what it would have been like for Firestar to fight Tigerstar instead of Scourge. I still love Scourge as a villain, but it feels like he almost came out of nowhere. Also a lot of the details in this book are kind of dark in a way like the Bonepile on Riverclan territory where they threaten to kill half clan cats and when Tigerstar dies. Of course at the end of the series, Firestar drives Bloodclan out of the forest and all 4 clans are still thriving in the forest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Student review of Warriors Book #1: Looking for a good book to read? You’re in luck! The greatest book of all times has chosen you! Warrior Cats, the breathtakingly good series! Its the greatest book about a good vs. evil fight with heroes and villains battling for power! Read about great characters like Fireheart, Tigerclaw, and White Storm and Frost fur! Wait wait...hear this...cats killing each other, but also cats taken to the 100th level of awesomeness! Awesome scenes like, “Blinded by fury, he [Firepaw] prepared to sink his teeth into Clawface’s neck.” Read the Warrior Cats Series if you want to read a great book! A greatly awesome book for both genders and all ages has reached book stores and libraries. (D.)
This was an amazing series. I had always struggled with reading as a kid, and this was the first series to make me love it. I started reading them when I was in fifth grade, and I couldn't stop. It was a great introduction to the reading world and I highly recommend it to anyone who has a slight interest in the series. I've read every single book up until the end of the Omen of the Stars series. I don't regret a single second.
I reread my a lot of my favorite childhood book series recently and Warriors has held up well over the years. The books still make me laugh and cry as I followed Rusty a pet cat who became a feral cat in Thunder Clan. I loved the lessons about friendship, faith, being the outcast, and making hard choices in tough times. While it is a little confusing to keep track as cats’ names change with their ranks, there is a guide in the first few pages with a handy clan guide as well as a cat and human map. I know this series is written by multiple authors but that does not detract from the story itself. A great gift for any cat lover.
I love cats, for sure, but that didn't just make me love the book. It is an outlook on life and a refreshing experience to read! Seeing a point of view from that other than humans is something i've always been curious in! If you want to read a series of books that is different from others, series of books that will take you on a journey of life, death and revenge.. This is a book for you!
I can't put them down once I start. More than one I read cover to cover. Near the very end I couldn't get my next set of the Cat Warrior series soon enough. I sent a set to a girlfriend who also was convalescing.
I read this as a child and have only the vaguest recollections of Rusty aka Fire-kit/paw/etc, but I knew I absolutely loved this series :’) Gave me many hours of enjoyment as a kid.
This book already was so wholesome, it’s all from a cat’s perspective in the wild woods and I loved it. So much so I bought 2 other books from the series as well ✨
I read it within two days. Never got tired of it. Characters are written in a way that you can root for them. Also, there is more potential to it. So I might read the next book as well.
Never trust a fox. Looks like a dog, behaves like a cat.
First published way back in 2003, Into the Wild is part one of what equates to an episodic-esque set of novels by Erin Hunter called Warriors. I was pretty in love with these books as a kid, though as I got older I ended up getting rid of my copies only to purchase and return to the series as I near my 30s. And I have to say, I definitely have a nostalgic love for the orange kittypet turned Warrior. I have a stronger emotional attachment to this series than I ever realized.
Fire Will Save Our Clan
Kittypet Rusty's short life has consisted of a comfy home free of hardship. But it is also free of adventure and purpose. So, when he is presented with the opportunity to join the warrior clan cats of the forest, he takes it. Soon, he is given the name Firepaw and begins his journey to become a warrior. To do so, he must first prove to his new clan he is worthy of the life they have given him. With the help of his new friend, Greypaw, he will brave training, fierce battles, and the shadow of treachery that exists inside ThunderClan.
Soon he learns about the three other clans of the wild; River, Wind, and Shadow. Soon, Firepaw is making decisions that will shape not only his, but also the future of all clan cats. As the name Erin Hunter is a pseudonym for seven different authors throughout the series, Into the Wild was written by Kate Cary.
The World
What's interesting about these books is just how well the system of the world works. You very quickly find yourself understanding the ways of clan life and the systems by which they survive. For a middlegrade novel, this story is a bit more violent that you'd initially expect. Wounds and deaths are fairly commonplace throughout the book.
The overall themes are very mature, though not in a way that is inaccessible to young readers. And this continues to be true for the subsequent sequels. Important to note is that middlegraders who are easily upset by death, especially of animals, may struggle with this read. Looking back, I can say that overarching ideas made an impression on me. In general, though, the finer and darker details were a lot clearer this time around.
The series presents itself somewhat episodically, kind of existing in what presents to me as a season with six episodes. A lot of young reader books are like this, generally focusing on smaller plots that eventually lead to a grand finale.
Fire-
Firepaw is a fairly young cat, new to both clan life and the world in general. He has a lot to learn and shows this often with sometimes incredibly brash actions. Even so, he is thoroughly intelligent. It's easy to grow attached to the main characters, particularly Firepaw, Greypaw, and Ravenpaw. Even Bluestar and Lionheart, the clan leaders, evoke an emotional reaction. They sort of exist as caring authority figures, very reminiscent of mentors kids respect.
The focus of the first "episode" of Warriors centers around the evil deeds of one cat in particular, the monstrous Brokenstar. Clan leader for ShadowClan, this cat has dangerous ambitions that put all of the cats in the forest at risk. And while the cats of the forest focus their attention on him, Hunter expertly builds the series plot beneath the surface.
Firepaw's tale is impressively written. His journey is just beginning, with readers lucky to get a brilliant glimpse into his life and legacy. I had a lot of fun reading the books, as a child and even now. I'm certainly glad to have the novels back in my collection.
Style un peu simpliste, mais rapide à Lire. Il est difficile au début de suivre car on trouve beaucoup de noms proches entre les chats des différents clans, mais on se laisse vite happer par le quotidien du clan, les naissances, les décès. Les péripéties sont nombreuses meme si on devine beaucoup de dénouements à l'avance, le rythme balance entre vie paisible au camp et parties de chasse/lutte/aventure trépidantes. Les liens entre les chats sont forts et profonds, une véritable ambiance fraternelle nous suit tout au long du livre.
immer wieder eine schöne Serie bzw. Staffel und immer wieder bei bestimmten Stellen und dem Ende Pipi in den Augen ❤️❤️❤️ SternenClan sei Dank für diese Buchreihe 😻
Es una saga muy emocionante en cual ocurren muchas cosas importantes desde el inicio al final, te atrapa desde el principio y te lleva a querer saber más de la vida de nuestros personajes favoritos, siempre con el miedo de que no les pase nada, ya que te encariñas mucho con ellos, con su historias y sus luchas por defender su lugar, y hay acontecimientos que te ves venir que van a pasar y aún así no dejan de sorprenderte como ocurre todo, el final es muy intenso, la trama va muy deprisa sin rodeos y me gustó mucho.
Súper emocionante final de la primera colección de los gatos guerreros. Esta saga, al menos la primera historia (los primeros seis libros) tiene la característica de en ningún momento tener bajadas de acción. Además es súper emotiva durante todo el transcurso de la historia y siempre te deja con ganas de más. Los personajes son muy tiernos y combinan toda la riqueza de lenguaje corporal e inteligencia de la especie felina con algunos rasgos humanos que hacen más fácil todavía el meterse en su piel y experimentar todas las sensaciones y todas las aventuras por las que pasa este clan de gatos. Sinceramente inmejorable, de lo mejor que he leído.
The Warrior Cats series is about four clans of cats: Shadowclan, Thunderclan, Windclan, and Riverclan. It was published by Harper Collins. Though this book series is a very long one that will take up a lot of time, it’s worth it. Theres always a plot twist, or a sudden shocking moment. One moment there’s a peaceful gathering, the next there’s a huge battle going on. The first book of this huge series was published in 2003. Over 16 billion of them have been sold in a total, and no doubt the number is still rising. This series is no doubt one of my most favorite book series that I have read so far, and I have no doubts that it will continue to be. This series has been nominated for several awards, but has yet to win any major ones, and even so, I still recommend you read these books. Theres a lot of characters in this book series too. Firestar, Brackenfur, Leafpool, and Ravenpaw, just to name a few. Theres even an entirely forgotten fifth clan! A little bit of the plot of this book is that’ it’s about four clans of warrior cats who live in a forest. They face many problems such as vicious winters, starvation, illnesses, and being forced to move to new places. Theres even a little bit of forbidden love. Personally, what I like about this book it’s a very descriptive book, so you’re never thinking, "What the heck is a (insert object here)?” The author also didn’t ever forget about anything that’s going on so, nothing happens for example like one cat is heavily wounded and bleeding on the ground, and then two other cats are just talking and completely ignoring it. Something I think that they could have done a little bit better in the series would be to have given it a little bit more action. Each book of the Warriors series costs 17$. So if I had to give this book series a rating from one to a hundred, I’d give it a one hundred.
I got the first boxset when i was ten. i never read it though, because i was dealing with a lot throughout my childhood. I originally tried reading this 7 years ago when a family member had passed away and i couldn’t even get past chapter 3. something about a house cat abandoning their family was SO TRAGIC to me and it was just brushed over. Rereading it, i see now that it’s much bigger than that. It’s like a war novel, but with cats. We see over the course of many months that Firepaw (previous Rusty) has grown to love his lifestyle. He’s a feral cat at heart, and wants to live in the wild. he learns to love his clan and protect it with his life. For me, reading about all of the injuries is hard. i LOVE cats. I hate to see them hurt, which is why all the deaths are hard for me as well. I keep finding myself imagining them as anthropomorphic animals instead of actual cats. I’m personally finding it hard to get invested in this book the way i do romance (the genre i usually read) but i had these since i was a kid and knew i had to read them eventually. I’m slowly working my way through, and havent formed a serious enough opinion about the series to say if i love it or hate it yet, but it hasn’t hit my DNF pile yet so we’re good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.