clancatlab1. The Prophecies Begin — 6 books
- Into the Wild
- Fire and Ice
- Forest of Secrets
- Rising Storm
- A Dangerous Path
- The Darkest Hour
Warrior Cats Books in Order
New to Warrior Cats? Start with Into the Wild, then follow the main series in order. As of October 29, 2026, the official catalog lists 9 arcs and 52 released main-series books. Dawn of the Clans is a prequel, though it was published as arc 5.
Book list checked October 29, 2026
The short answer: start with Into the Wild
For a first read, begin with Into the Wild, book 1 of The Prophecies Begin. Finish that six-book arc, then move to The New Prophecy, Power of Three and Omen of the Stars. Dawn of the Clans was published as the fifth arc, though its story takes place much earlier. The official reading guide recommends starting with Into the Wild and reading Dawn of the Clans after Omen of the Stars.
All 9 main-series arcs in reading order
Read the books within each arc in number order. The counts below cover released main-series novels only.
| # | Arc | Released books |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Prophecies Begin | 6 |
| 2 | The New Prophecy | 6 |
| 3 | Power of Three | 6 |
| 4 | Omen of the Stars | 6 |
| 5 | Dawn of the Clans | 6 |
| 6 | A Vision of Shadows | 6 |
| 7 | The Broken Code | 6 |
| 8 | A Starless Clan | 6 |
| 9 | Changing Skies | 4 |
2. The New Prophecy — 6 books
- Midnight
- Moonrise
- Dawn
- Starlight
- Twilight
- Sunset
3. Power of Three — 6 books
- The Sight
- Dark River
- Outcast
- Eclipse
- Long Shadows
- Sunrise
4. Omen of the Stars — 6 books
- The Fourth Apprentice
- Fading Echoes
- Night Whispers
- Sign of the Moon
- The Forgotten Warrior
- The Last Hope
5. Dawn of the Clans — 6 books
- The Sun Trail
- Thunder Rising
- The First Battle
- The Blazing Star
- A Forest Divided
- Path of Stars
6. A Vision of Shadows — 6 books
- The Apprentice’s Quest
- Thunder and Shadow
- Shattered Sky
- Darkest Night
- River of Fire
- The Raging Storm
7. The Broken Code — 6 books
- Lost Stars
- The Silent Thaw
- Veil of Shadows
- Darkness Within
- The Place of No Stars
- A Light in the Mist
8. A Starless Clan — 6 books
- River
- Sky
- Shadow
- Thunder
- Wind
- Star
9. Changing Skies — 4 released books
- The Elders’ Quest
- Hidden Moon
- Chasing Shadows
- Guiding Light
False Dawn is announced as book 5 for March 30, 2027. It is not part of the 52 released books above.
Publication order vs. story timeline
Dawn of the Clans comes fifth in publication order but first in the story timeline. New readers can follow the published order from Into the Wild, as the official guide recommends. Readers who want the earliest setting can start with The Sun Trail.
Main-series story timeline
| Story order | Arc |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dawn of the Clans |
| 2 | The Prophecies Begin |
| 3 | The New Prophecy |
| 4 | Power of Three |
| 5 | Omen of the Stars |
| 6 | A Vision of Shadows |
| 7 | The Broken Code |
| 8 | A Starless Clan |
| 9 | Changing Skies |
Extra books take place at different points in the story. Some reveal events from later arcs, so this table covers the main series only.
Extra books: what the official catalog includes
The official catalog lists character stories, novellas and illustrated books separately from the main series. Some entries are collections or alternate editions, so the counts below refer to catalog listings.
Super Editions — 19 books
These longer books follow individual cats and stories beside the main arcs. They are optional for a first pass, but their place in the story and their spoilers differ. For example, the official guide puts Bramblestar’s Storm after Omen of the Stars and before A Vision of Shadows; it recommends reading Firestar’s Quest after at least Midnight because it has minor Midnight spoilers.
- Firestar’s Quest
- Bluestar’s Prophecy
- SkyClan’s Destiny
- Crookedstar’s Promise
- Yellowfang’s Secret
- Tallstar’s Revenge
- Bramblestar’s Storm
- Moth Flight’s Vision
- Hawkwing’s Journey
- Tigerheart’s Shadow
- Crowfeather’s Trial
- Squirrelflight’s Hope
- Graystripe’s Vow
- Leopardstar’s Honor
- Onestar’s Confession
- Riverstar’s Home
- Ivypool’s Heart
- StormClan’s Folly
- Darktail’s Judgment
Novellas — 9 individual entries
The catalog also lists novella collections separately. A collected edition does not add a new story to the individual entries.
- Hollyleaf’s Story
- Mistystar’s Omen
- Cloudstar’s Journey
- Tigerclaw’s Fury
- Leafpool’s Wish
- Dovewing’s Silence
- Mapleshade’s Vengeance
- Goosefeather’s Curse
- Ravenpaw’s Farewell
Novella collections — 7 listings
- The Untold Stories
- Tales from the Clans
- Shadows of the Clans
- Legends of the Clans
- Path of a Warrior
- A Warrior’s Spirit
- A Warrior’s Choice
Manga and graphic novel adaptations
The catalog's Manga section contains 21 listings, including individual installments, collected volumes and two editions of The Rise of Scourge. The separate Graphic Novel Adaptations section retells main-series stories in four listed volumes. Do not add those listings to the 52 main novels.
Manga catalog — 21 listings
- Warriors: Graystripe’s Adventure
- The Lost Warrior
- Warrior’s Refuge
- Warrior’s Return
- The Rise of Scourge (full color)
- The Rise of Scourge
- Into the Woods
- Escape from the Forest
- Return to the Clans
- Warriors: Ravenpaw’s Path
- Shattered Peace
- A Clan in Need
- The Heart of a Warrior
- Warriors: SkyClan and the Stranger
- The Rescue
- After the Flood
- Beyond the Code
- A Shadow in RiverClan
- Winds of Change
- Exile from ShadowClan
- A Thief in ThunderClan
Graphic Novel Adaptations — 4 volumes
- The Prophecies Begin, Volume 1
- The Prophecies Begin, Volume 2
- The Prophecies Begin, Volume 3
- The New Prophecy, Volume 1
Field Guides — 7 listings
Field guides explain parts of Clan life and history rather than forming another novel arc. Enter the Clans combines material from Secrets of the Clans and Code of the Clans; the catalog also lists the original and updated editions of The Ultimate Guide separately.
- Secrets of the Clans
- Cats of the Clans
- Code of the Clans
- Battles of the Clans
- Enter the Clans
- The Ultimate Guide
- The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition
Where should you start?
I'm new to Warrior Cats
Read Into the Wild, then finish The Prophecies Begin in order. Continue through the other arcs in the main-series table.
I want the earliest story setting
Start with The Sun Trail in Dawn of the Clans. The official guide suggests Into the Wild for first-time readers.
I finished a main arc and want more
Choose a super edition or novella tied to cats you know. Check the official reading guide for spoiler-sensitive placement before jumping ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first Warrior Cats book?
Into the Wild is book 1 of The Prophecies Begin and the place the official reading guide recommends for new readers.
How many Warrior Cats main-series books are there?
As of October 29, 2026, the official catalog lists 52 released main-series books across 9 arcs: eight complete six-book arcs and four released books in the ongoing Changing Skies arc. Extra books are listed separately on this page.
Should I read Warrior Cats in publication or chronological order?
If you're new, follow the published arc order and start with Into the Wild. For a story-timeline read, Dawn of the Clans goes first, even though it was the fifth published arc.
What is the latest released main-series book?
Guiding Light is the fourth released book in Changing Skies. False Dawn has been announced as book 5 for March 30, 2027, but is not counted among the released books here.
Do I need the super editions to start?
No. Start with the main series. Super editions add character stories, and some contain spoilers for later novels, so check where a title fits before reading it.
Are manga and graphic novel adaptations included in the 52 books?
No. The 52-book count is for released main-series novels only. The official catalog places manga and graphic novel adaptations in separate categories.