#sf said

[springstrike]

Almost a Warrior Cat!

[candy8448]

Just finished reading varjak paw for the first time because i found both of them long ago in a charity shop and i needed an easy book to get me back into reading not fanfiction and this book was always warrior cats adjacent

Anyway this book is beautiful and adorable, i love the illustrations, love Holly she is so big sister coded. This was perfect, cant wait to read the next book, so glad i finally read it after intending to for the longest time since warriors was my main hyperfixation years ago i love them

My favourite thing is how hilarious the cover is. Its just "This cat 👈 must learn to fight 💢👈" and its the face of the most chubbiest softest adorable innocent cat to ever exist

[art-of-tek]

Tam from Varjak Paw!

Ref used

[inukoinu-k9]

this xenofiction hyperfixation has gone on since i was a toddler and made me into a furry since then. and because of that, i've been making a whole list of xenofictional books that i can try in the future (i've been paranoid and scared that warriors might come to an end soon so i made that list just in case) ive been gathering many books and book series for a few years now and i know that there's still a shitload of books that feature talking animals as protagonists. so, if any of you erin hunter or wings of fire fans want more suggestions than just talking cats and dragons, dm me!

[unfoldingdark]

That evening, Varjak dreamed.

Illustration © Dave McKean

[shebpaw]

Other Animal Fantasy Books I Think People Should Know About

So, I’m a forever huge fan of animal-centered books and I like spending a horrible amount of time looking for them, buying.renting them, and never reading them. BUT, I have read a lot of them and I honestly REALLY REALLY want more people to read them, too!

You got your Warriors and Watership Downs and Redwalls and they’re all good, but today, here’s some lesser-known ones!

1. Tailchaser’s Song - Tad Williams

If you’re fresh off Warriors and want something similar, this is the book for you! I’ve always loved books that are self-contained in one volume, and Tailchaser’s Song does it really really well! It’s a short-ish epic about a cat looking for his gf and getting caught up in a world-ending scheme by these evil demon cats. Very well written with a really interesting world and lore system. 

Also, in my opinion, it does almost everything right that Warriors does wrong (there’s no LGBT+ sadly but this was published in 1985 so eh you can’t have everything). 

There’s also a movie in production? Kind of? It’s sort of been on and off for a few years, but I’m still holding out hope! 

2. Varjak Paw & The Outlaw Varjak Paw - S.F. Said

Moving right along with cat protags, we have Varjak Paw and it’s sequel The Outlaw Varjak Paw. Like Tailchaser, it’s got it’s own “magic” system but more so with cat martial arts. Varjak Paw is a descendant of a line of cats with the ability to use this art and has to stop a guy who’s making cat zombies. It’s reading level is around middle school-ish but it’s still really enjoyable! 

There was gonna be a movie, made by the Jim Henson Company, but it was scrapped. Ah, well. 

3. The Sight & Fell - David Clement-Davies 

If you were/are the “wolf kid”, you’ll be all over this duology like I was! Clement-Davies is one of my favorite authors, and I’ve read The Sight twice now and I’m starting a third read! Specifically, I love the system of animals being blessed with the ability to see through the eyes of birds. Fell is less of a sequel as it is a companion novel/spin off. The Sight is otherwise pretty self-contained, but I’d HIGHLY recommend Fell, too. 

If you enjoy Cartoon Saloon films (Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, Breadwinner), these books have a very similar tone. 

4. Firebringer - David-Clement Davies  

Another Clement-Davies book, I know. But, this is the last one, I swear! I’ve mentioned Firebringer before, specifically as an uncommon animal protag. I can definitely see why writers would shy away from writing an epic about deer, seeing as they don’t exactly stand for courage. But, Clement-Davies managesto keep deer in character while making them heroic! It’s a “the chosen one” story and reads like a Disney movie for the most part, but that’s not to it’s loss! Another self-contained book, it has a satisfying opening, middle, and conclusion. This book is especially dear to me and I will jump at the chance to recommend it! If any book deserves a movie adaptation, it’s this one!  

Also, before I stop talking about Clement-Davies, he was writing another book called “Scream of the White Bears” about polar bears which, unfortunately, will never see the light of day due to lack of funds. It makes me really sad, and I really think he deserves the funds to keep writing, so please support him if you like his work! 

5. The Last Dragon Chronicles - Chris D’Lacey 

This one is sort of cheating because the dragons aren’t the main protagonists, but I highly HIGHLY recommend this series. It starts out tame and gradually flies off the handle in terms of storytelling! The books are long but TRUST ME, they do get good. Also, living clay dragons and polar bears! 

6. Bambi: A Life In The Woods - Felix Salten  

Now, I know what you’re thinking “Sheb, everyone knows Bambi! It’s a Disney classic-” NO! No, you DON’T know Bambi! Not if you haven’t read the book! Yes, the Disney film is pretty close, but there are HUGE parts missing that are awesome and should be read. 

“But Sheb, Bambi isn’t exciting or epic, it’s a boring movie about deer-” Shut! The MOVIE is like that. The book? Bruh, you gotta read it. Disney did Bambi DIRTY on that aspect. 

ALSO ALSO ALSO, Felix Salten was a Jewish man who narrowly escaped the full extent of the nazis’ wrath. Bambi: A Life in the Woods was among the books banned and burned by the nazis simply for being written by a Jewish man. So, if you feel particularly petty towards nazis, another reason to read this book! Piss off their ghosts by reading a boring book about deer they tried to erase from history! 

Also, reading banned books is just a good practice in general. 

7. DarkWing - Kenneth Oppel

You guys remember SilverWing? Not me! Never read it (I will soon though, gimme a bit)! But, I HAVE read this prequel thingy! It’s not just bats, its prehistoric bats! I’ve never heard people mention this book when they talk about SilverWing, and that’s a crime. Another self-contained story (sorta, it is a prequel of sorts), I LOVE this book! There’s dinosaurs, prehistoric barn owls, snakecats, and hyenas? DarkWing slaps and deserves as much attention as SilverWing, is what I’m saying. 

I’m working through more books like these (SilverWing, Sword Bird, Ratha’s Creature, Poppy, Wild Road), but these are the one’s I’ve finished! 

In conclusion, read Bambi or I’ll break into your kitchen and eat your oyster crackers. 

[noahfuckingdies]

My boooookkksss.

[godzilla-reads]

By her side prowled a dozen street cats, thick-necked and bristling, grimy as the city itself. They were bigger than the white cat, but somehow they looked like soft little kittens beside her.