Top 10 Best Warriors (Warrior Cat) Books

The Warriors series has a huge range, spanning epic conflicts, powerful friendships, and heart-wrenching betrayals that keep readers hooked from book to book. Some books dig deeper into fan-favorite leaders like Bluestar or Crookedstar, giving a glimpse into their struggles and decisions that shaped the clans.

Others have jaw-dropping moments in epic final battles that leave you needing a moment to process it all. Whether you're Team ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, or WindClan, there are books on this list that highlight each clan's values, strengths, and the rivalries that keep the forest alive with tension.

The Top Ten

The Darkest Hour

This book is beautiful. Just beautiful. I honestly feel bad for Fire and Sand, though. They have a huge fight, get back together, defeat an evil guy, go on FQ, and then have babies. If I have my timelines right, this all happened over only a year. One year.

Oh my god, this book. Perfect. A Dangerous Path too. Like that scene when Fireheart/star apologized to Sandstorm for being an idiot. Perfection. I personally like him better as Fireheart. Don't hate me, please.

The last book in the first arc surely deserves a spot in the top 10. The first arc is the best, tied together with one single and continuous plotline.
The Darkest Hour faced the challenge of satisfyingly wrapping up that plotline, and not only did it succeed, but it did so in a rather unpredictable way. Ignoring the trope of "good guy kills the bad guy, like he said he would from the beginning," the introduction of Scourge leaves the reader shell-shocked. The stakes that had been built up are replaced, and both the characters and the reader are left completely unprepared.
What the characters had been training for is not what they faced, and this made the book and its villains truly scary. The execution was masterful, the deaths meaningful, and the ending powerful. It leaves you with the perfect conclusion if you choose to stop reading there, as well as the perfect segue if you wish to continue.
Into the Wild

He was just a little bean in this book! It annoys me how he was only an apprentice for one book, though. Like, the three were apprentices for so many books!

I love this book. It's how the Warriors series began with Smudge and how he left. *I cried.* When Rusty left his friend and made new friends, and later saw him again in the book, I was so emotional. Yellowfang is such a great character! I just love this book - it's my favorite, even more than *The Darkest Hour*. That book was so intense.
I've only read the first series, but this one is still my favorite. I'm reading the series again, and I'm currently on this book. I love it so much. I sped through the books, and when I told all my friends, they loved them too. It was like a competition. One of my friends eventually got farther in the series than I did.
I just love this book so much that I had to share it with my friend. It's so intense! Also, Smudge is one of my favorite characters. I don't know if Firestar will remember him - I hope he does. This book is just so good to me. I love how it all starts. This book makes me cry from both happiness and sadness.
The plot twist when Tigerclaw betrays the clan - wow. I just love these books!
The Last Hope

The end of the story that they had been building towards. While the books that follow are beloved, and many are on this list, it is undeniable that this was the ending the series initially set out to tell. Personally, I liked the fact that Firestar was the fourth cat in the prophecy. His role in this book, his image on the cover, and his death truly tie together everything the reader has experienced up until this point.
While the subsequent books are beloved, what sets the first four arcs apart is that they feel like one complete story, rather than a story and its sequels. It is the success of this book that creates this feeling and provides a massive payoff for reading the first 23 books. It is an incredible feat how a battle, which usually lasts for only one chapter in Warriors, lasts for over half the book without becoming boring.
I don't think it's possible for me to read this book in one sitting because of the way it captivates me. The powers and skills that have been honed finally come to fruition, and every character is forced to fight for their lives. No character is safe, including the protagonists and cats that have already died. While The Darkest Hour is in my top 10 for providing a shocking ending in which Firestar doesn't kill Tigerstar, I enjoy The Last Hope for the opposite reason - the fact that he finally does. Personally, I believe this to be far better.
It would have felt cliché if Firestar had killed Tigerstar twice, and now he gets to rid him from the Clans forever, after he had poisoned the minds of so many, even in death. The battle between these two characters, which had been promised 23 books and 9 years earlier, finally came to life, and it delivered on what it promised.
Forest of Secrets

Dude, how is this still number four? This was even better than The Darkest Hour and Into the Wild. It even made me sadder than those two. I mean, I guess The Last Hope is good, but this should be at least in the number two spot.
Even my friend is reading it and she is liking it A LOT. She keeps renewing it from the library, and she's only on chapter three, but she's loving it!

This book is my favorite. To sum it up, I can't think of anything wrong with this book, and it is one of the few books that I read in two days (the others are The Darkest Hour, Into the Wild, The Blazing Star, and The First Battle, which are my top favorite Warrior Cat books). Now, the book itself is amazing, and even though I like more Warrior books than I hate, this one beats them all.
Crookedstar's Promise

Honestly, I think "Crookedstar's Promise" could be first in the top 10 saddest! Crookedstar is wrongly mistreated by his annoying mother, Rainflower. He's been cast aside by her almost all his life. Then he meets Mapleshade, and he believes everything will be okay. But it's not okay! Mapleshade makes everybody he loves die.
But in the end, in the manga excerpt, it's so sad, because Crookedstar is so brave. He says: "I may not have any loved ones anymore, but I have my clan, which I will take care of for the many moons to come." Crookedstar is a strong and brave leader who, like Mapleshade instructed him to, casts his own problems out of the way of his clan, but takes the time to satisfy his own small requests.
Bluestar's Prophecy

I'm honestly not surprised this book was rated within the top 10 of the series. It's clear that the angst and wonderful storytelling has affected the hearts of many, myself included.
It's one of the few Warriors books that focus on the emotional weight of the character itself instead of relying on plot points and battles to fill the gaps. We see through the eyes of a leader, one who had sacrificed herself for her Clan after being torn to pieces because of the weight of it, and it's spectacular how the writers go into depth of her character.

This book should be number one. Why is it ranked so low? It is my favorite. Anyone who hasn't read it must read it! There's death, there's life, and there's idiocy.
Fire and Ice

Okay, I just picked this book because this is where my Warriors obsession started. A long time ago, I read a Warrior's book. I don't remember which one, but I really liked it. Whenever I saw Warriors books at the library, I looked at them and tried to figure out which one was next, but I couldn't make sense of all the different series, so I just kind of gave up.
Then in May, after the pandemic started, my mom and I were looking for books to read on the online library. I love to read, so it was necessary to keep me stocked up on books. I saw Fire and Ice and remembered reading a Warriors book a long time ago and really liking it. So, I told my mom to get it, and she downloaded it onto my Kindle. I read the book and really liked it. This time, I actually kept going and read the rest of the first series except for Into the Wild. I didn't read that until I was already halfway through the New Prophecy. So, by that time, I was getting pretty obsessed with Warriors, but that was only the beginning.
Anyway, enough ranting. I don't think I would have picked this book for the list if it wasn't what started my current Warriors obsession, but it was good and deserves some praise. My favorite part that I can remember is probably when Fireheart saved Sandpaw, and it kind of started their relationship.
Sorry for the rant. If you made it this far and are reading this, thank you for putting up with me. I get carried away when I'm talking about Warriors. So, thanks again!
A Dangerous Path

This is by far the best book in the series - no, ever written. It's a mixture of action, grief, and rage, and I love the entire thing. I've read it like 10 times, and each time it got better. No, I don't care that Bluestar died. I didn't care for her, I still don't care for her, and although her death is sad, I cried more when she renamed Brightpaw Lostface than I did when she died.
Swiftpaw's death is sad too, as he's one of my favorite characters, but Brightheart's injuries are just - wow! I have an OC based off her, except she has a broken paw too. Yes, I gave her Brightheart and Cinderpelt's injuries and combined them. The point is, I love this book, and it's my favorite one in the series! -FierceheartOfThunderClan
Firestar's Quest

This book should be ranked higher on the list, as there was so much action and romance, and Firestar is the main character! (Firestar is the best, having saved all five clans and being an amazing leader.) There were so many new characters in this book, whose personalities were developed and improved. The suspense was intense. I just couldn't put this book down.

This is a very long book, and I read it in sections. It wasn't exactly a page-turner, and I struggled through until they reached SkyClan. It was very emotional, and I loved this book, but only for the part when they reached SkyClan. Sorry, Erin.
Midnight

This book introduced us to a story where Firestar isn't the main character (crazy, at the time).
This is easily the best book in the second arc and even better than some full arcs (ahem, ahem, A Vision of Shadows), which is saying something, as The New Prophecy is the worst arc.

I just love this one. It was the first Warrior Cat chapter book I read, and I just loved it. I love how Midnight was a badger, which I was not expecting. I love how Brambleclaw and Crowpaw fought but grew closer each time. I loved the end, where the cats were in shock when they saw Midnight. I thought Midnight was going to be... well, Midnight.

The Newcomers

?
The Elders' Quest

At first, I was skeptical. However, I actually am interested in it now.
Also, I think they're building a dam at the Moonpool. I haven't heard anyone else suggest what is happening.

Just read it. Great book. Moonpaw is so interesting. Plus, what's going on with Tawnypelt and Crowfeather? Fourth mate?
?
River

I just read this book, oh my gosh, I just love Nightheart so much!
He's my third favorite character, and no one can say that he's too grumpy. I love him the way he is, and anyone who says he isn't is so wrong because Nightheart is one of the best characters in the Warrior Cats books. GO NIGHTHEART!

Good book! Totally captivating!
I like Frostpaw so much, but Nightheart is an idiot show-off. Sunbeam is really cool but a little love-crazy. Definitely recommend.

The start of an amazing arc for Warrior Cats. Nightheart is our angsty teen, Sunbeam is our annoyed girl who just wants love, and Frostpaw is nervous yet determined to serve her clan. All three of them are interesting, even when Nightheart mentions he's not orange every other line.
Seeing Nightheart and Sunbeam's relationship start off was yet another relationship I actually enjoyed reading about.
-Sonshadow

The Contenders

The Forgotten Warrior

I like this book because, I mean, DUH! Who wouldn't? I missed Hollyleaf throughout most of the Omen of the Stars series, so I got really excited when Lionblaze and Jayfeather started to suspect Hollyleaf wasn't dead after all, and then they were right! Hollyleaf is back! Sadly, Hawkfrost kills her in the Great Battle soon after, which is a big bummer.

I really enjoyed this book. It was suspenseful, enticing, and Hollyleaf's redemption arc... oddly pleasing. I hated her so much! So, so much, and then boom, I liked her again? What?!
More importantly, I really liked the plot, and seeing how great the rift between WindClan and ThunderClan has become (yeah, Onestar). There was a lot going on in this book, which made it great.
Sunrise

Okay, this isn't my number one choice, but it's good anyway. It's really interesting (and maybe a bit disturbing) to read about what Hollyleaf thinks about Sol, and you know, everything. So there you have it.

My only problem with this book is how Hollyleaf runs away and doesn't face her problems like a warrior. However, it did make me cry when I read the end of the book, so thumbs up.

This is my favorite Warrior book because the plot is so interesting! My heart always starts pounding out of my chest when I read this book.
Dark River

This was one of my favorites when I read it. It was the second Warrior book I ever read. I loved the introduction to the tunnels near the lake and the history of Fallen Leaves and Rock! Also, it was great exploring more of The Power of Three's life!

This is such an underrated book. Every time I re-read it, it gets better. I used to think this was a tier, now it's S, maybe SS. I really enjoy the things with the tunnels, and the forbidden romance was good. The best part by far, though, is when Hollypaw went to RiverClan. It just clicked with me, I don't know why.
Path of Stars

To be completely honest, I don't remember this book extremely well. It likely wouldn't have made my list of top 10 and would have been replaced with potentially another Dawn of the Clans book. However, it made it for one very important reason. This is the only Warriors book that's made me really cry.
The story that this arc told was magnificent, and exactly what the readers needed to know about the formation of clan life. Its characters were well-rounded and lovable, its stories impactful, its relationships perfectly complicated. When it ended with Gray Wing's death, I couldn't hold it back. I didn't realize how much I loved him as a character until that moment. When his kits named the five warrior clans, it was enough to make a grown man cry.
I can't express how well this arc did in setting up the life of my favorite story, and the five clans. I love that it was told not from the perspective of a Clan leader, but primarily from a cat who was just trying to do his best to keep everybody he knew safe - and that meant the whole forest. This arc's challenges, like the fire and Gray Wing's asthma, had real consequences that I appreciated.
This book is here not only for itself, but for the whole arc, and my favorite arc, which is represented by its final installment.
The Blazing Star

It is the best book ever! I love the plot, and I love how brave everyone is in that book, especially Sparrow Fur! I loved the plan that Gray Wing came up with too! This is the best book ever!

Ugh! I like the plot and everything about this book, except for Star Flower. I really don't like her.

The Dawn of the Clans series is the best hands down because it didn't focus on a prophecy!
Sunset

I just finished reading this one, and it's one of the best of the New Prophecy. I loved when Leafpool discovered the meaning of the prophecy, Before there is peace, blood will spill blood and the lake will run red. Love it so much.

I found this book very exciting. The tension really builds up throughout the book between Brambleclaw and Hawkfrost. There's a classic border battle, a fight at the gathering, and then obviously the ending (even though it felt a bit rushed). Overall, a good amount of action.
Eclipse

I don't really know why I find this book so interesting, but I do. I guess it's just interesting to hear how a solar eclipse stopped a battle. It's also when Hollyleaf, Lionblaze, and Cinderheart get their warrior names. How is that not exciting?

I like this one a lot, especially when Lionblaze almost kills Heathertail. She is such a spoiled brat.

I loved how all the clans fought for the sake of ThunderClan. And they just stop when the sun disappears. I love that they don't know what it is.
Twilight

I am not so proud to say I'm an Ashfur fan. The whole thing with Brambleclaw, Ashfur, and Squirrelflight was interesting, and I don't enjoy the fact that the Erins had to make Ashfur dislikeable at the end to somehow make us accept Brambleclaw. I still don't enjoy Brambleclaw to begin with. It would be interesting if his clanmates refused orders from him because they were suspicious of him for being Tigerstar's son. But that whole thing never creates any drama.
The ending was amazing with Cinderpelt's death. Rest in peace, we miss you!

This is probably the book where I realized that Cinderpelt was my favorite character. I loved the scene where she tried to persuade Leafpool to stop seeing Crowfeather.
It's so sad and so well written. It's almost like Cinderpelt confesses that she loved Firestar. Her life was just so sad.
Long Shadows

You can really see the dedication and heart put into the fire scene within this book, especially when you consider that the entire Power of Three arc was based around it. It's no wonder this is one of the most iconic books within the series.
And gosh, does it deliver well! The angst, the shock, everything about it hits you hard when you're least expecting it! Everything else about the previous books, the mystery of the Tribe and the Ancients, the prophecy, all completely fizzle out and change because of one scene. It truly turns the arc upside down in the best way.

This is the best book ever! I thought Ashfur was up to something when he was training with Lionblaze, the best, but I never expected him to do this! Ashfur carried this book hard, and I would still have sympathy for him if he had not killed like 15 cats and then possessed their spirits. Those were good cats! Also, he took over Bramblestar's body! He did so much more, but let's get back to "Long Shadows."
The fire scene was amazing! Additionally, Firestar getting sick added so much depth to the story. Everything about this book was just on the spot! Also, Lionblaze, Heathertail, and Tigerstar were pretty cool! I liked the Jay's Wing subplot because it connected all the way back to "Dark River!" Anyway, great book. I would rate it 9/10.
Shattered Sky

I read this book when it first came out, and when I first read it, it instantly became my favorite. It likely still is. Wow, I don't even know what to say about this book. It was darker than most, which was an unexpected surprise. I was shocked by the lengths to which the publishers allowed Darktail and his rogues to go in this book, from holding hostages, making attempted escapees disappear, and even executing them.
The death of protagonists whom I thought would be with us for the rest of the arc, the hair-thin lines and narrow escapes which caused our characters to rally and win, and the dramatic reveals of claiming children and somehow giving two side characters a fight to the death. The main villain of this arc was defeated in book 3, and yet his influence destroyed the clans so much that they needed the second half of the arc to recover.
The dramatics of Warrior Cats have never been higher. The stakes have never been so big. At this point in the series, 2 clans had been overthrown, with more expected soon. Every little thing had to go right for our heroes to win, and that fact is not lost on the reader, forcing them to obsess over every word.
The Sun Trail

The first series I am reading is Dawn of the Clans because I need to know why and how the clans were created. I am reading it now, and for some reason, I accidentally read a little of The Starless Clan first. I still don't know why.
I think that Clear Sky is nice, right? I thought he was nice until I read these weird things people are saying, like Clear Sky is evil, Clear Sky is evil. And if he is, how and why?

This is the first Warrior Cats book I ever read. My cousin had two copies. I remember it sitting on my shelf for years, but the words were too small, so I didn't pick it up. However, I never once thought about throwing it away or donating it. I'm so thankful I didn't. Clear Sky, I never liked you. But Gray Wing, thank you for showing me the world of Warrior Cats.
Yellowfang's Secret

Yellowfang's Secret is literally my favorite book of all time. I remember when I first read it at 9 years old, reading it in the middle of the night in my hallway. Such good memories!
Yellowfang was a really sympathetic character in this, and this is the most exciting super edition the Erins made next to Crookedstar's Promise. I've read this three times. I can't get enough of Yellow and Broken and their troubles!

This is my favorite of all time because it was the first one I read. I was at school, trying to find a book with a lot of points that I liked, then Kennedi showed me this book, Yellowfang's Secret. I was like, oh my goodness, 18 points! (I was the top reader in my class). I needed to read that. I loved it! This one book made me addicted to Warriors.
Moonrise

So cool to get a point of view other than ThunderClan and see Feathertail and Stormfur's perspective.
Nice to see something different, and it introduced us to the Tribe of Rushing Water, so that's also cool.

I didn't like that the mountain cats treated Stormfur way better than the other traveling cats, when Feathertail was the REAL silver cat, and she died right when she was starting to be my favorite character. I liked the mountain cats, though (not because they treated Stormfur better than the other traveling cats). Their camp is so cool!
It's also pretty cool that they hunt hawks.
The First Battle

Probably my favorite book in the series so far. Lots of drama and turmoil. It's such an emotional rollercoaster reading about Clear Sky and Gray Wing. The quote, Kill me, kill me and live with the memory, then tell the stars that you won, was amazing and epic. This really showed the horrible reality behind every battle.
We've gotten used to the constant fights and battles in Warriors, but this was the very first, and it actually shows the terrible perspective of the cats indulging in such a serious fight that it killed many. It just really reminds you of how terrible and tragic each battle really is.

Dawn of the Clans is the best Warriors series in my opinion, and it narrowly beats Forest of Secrets and Path of Stars (and a few others) for the best book. So emotional, and the relationship between Grey Wing and Turtle Tail was developed even further.
Fading Echoes

Each mini-arc within the book was great, but for the most part, the book as a whole was still scene-setting. Still, it's one of the best for the OOTS arc.

This is where Ivypaw and Dovewing's relationship starts to slowly break apart!