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Quick answer: If you grew up on Warriors and want adult versions, try Watership Down, Tailchaser's Song, Duncton Wood, The Plague Dogs, Animal Farm and Redwall. They give you animal societies, rival groups and epic journeys with more mature themes.
Erin Hunter's Warriors series follows clans of wild cats in the forest, with prophecies, rivalries and loyalty. Many readers who grew up with Firestar and Bluestar want similar stories with older characters. These 15 books include animal epics for adults, classic animal fiction and some nonfiction about cats. Some contain violence and grief.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watership Down | Richard Adams | Adult | the classic animal epic |
| Tailchaser's Song | Tad Williams | Adult | readers who want cats |
| Duncton Wood | William Horwood | Adult | readers who like epics |
| The Plague Dogs | Richard Adams | Adult | readers who want a dark story |
| Animal Farm | George Orwell | Adult | readers who want an allegory |
| Redwall | Brian Jacques | Teen/Adult | readers who like clan wars |
| Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Capture | Kathryn Lasky | Teen/Adult | readers who like owls |
| Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf | Kathryn Lasky | Teen/Adult | readers who like wolves |
| The One and Only Ivan | Katherine Applegate | All ages | animal lovers |
| The Hundred and One Dalmatians | Dodie Smith | All ages | readers who love dogs |
| The Wind in the Willows | Kenneth Grahame | All ages | readers who want comfort |
| The Jungle Book | Rudyard Kipling | All ages | readers who want adventure |
| Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH | Robert C. O'Brien | All ages | readers who like clever animals |
| Fantastic Mr Fox | Roald Dahl | All ages | readers who want a quick read |
| The Soul of an Octopus | Sy Montgomery | Adult | readers who want true animal stories |
1. Watership Down by Richard Adams
A band of rabbits flees their warren in search of a new home. Epic, vivid and sometimes violent.
Best for: the classic animal epic.
2. Tailchaser's Song by Tad Williams
Fritti Tailchaser, a young cat, searches for his missing friend in a world of feline myth. Williams's first novel, rich and gentle.
Best for: readers who want cats.
3. Duncton Wood by William Horwood
Moles in a hidden society face a dark ruler. Long, mythic and moving.
Best for: readers who like epics.
4. The Plague Dogs by Richard Adams
Two dogs escape from a laboratory and try to survive. Sad and thoughtful.
Best for: readers who want a dark story.
5. Animal Farm by George Orwell
Animals revolt against their farmer and create a new tyranny. Short, clear and sharp.
Best for: readers who want an allegory.
6. Redwall by Brian Jacques
Matthias, a young mouse, defends Redwall Abbey from the rat Cluny. Feasts, battles and riddles.
Best for: readers who like clan wars.
7. Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Capture by Kathryn Lasky
Soren, a barn owl, is kidnapped and taken to a sinister school. Dark and exciting.
Best for: readers who like owls.
8. Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf by Kathryn Lasky
A deformed wolf pup is left to die and survives with a bear. A wolf-fantasy series.
Best for: readers who like wolves.
9. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
A silverback gorilla in a mall tries to save a baby elephant. Short chapters and poetry.
Best for: animal lovers.
10. The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith
Pongo and Missis rescue their puppies from Cruella de Vil. Warm and adventurous.
Best for: readers who love dogs.
11. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad share adventures on the riverbank. Cozy and funny.
Best for: readers who want comfort.
12. The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
Mowgli grows up with wolves, a bear and a panther. A classic of adventure.
Best for: readers who want adventure.
13. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
A widowed field mouse seeks help from intelligent rats. Adventure with science fiction.
Best for: readers who like clever animals.
14. Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl
Mr. Fox outwits three farmers to feed his family. Short and clever.
Best for: readers who want a quick read.
15. The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
A naturalist befriends octopuses at an aquarium. Warm and curious nonfiction.
Best for: readers who want true animal stories.
How to Choose
For epics, start with Watership Down or Duncton Wood. For cats, read Tailchaser's Song. For clan fights and prophecy, try Redwall or Guardians of Ga'Hoole. For a short allegory, choose Animal Farm. A simple plan is to follow an animal epic with a lighter story such as The Wind in the Willows. Several books here include animal death and violence. If you want to keep that sense of community and rivalry, read slowly and watch the groups. For lighter reading, try animal fantasy in short doses, and consider the audiobooks, which add character voices.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Warriors for adults?
It is written for ages 8 to 12, though adults enjoy it too.
How many Warriors books are there?
There are more than 100 novels, manga and special editions.
Which book is the closest for adults?
Tailchaser's Song is the closest for cats, and Watership Down is the classic animal epic.
Is Watership Down too sad?
It has violence and loss but also hope and adventure.
Where can adults start with animal fantasy?
Watership Down is the most famous, and Tailchaser's Song is a good cat story.
Are there cat books for adults without fantasy?
Yes, try Cat Sense by John Bradshaw, a science-based look at how cats think.