The Redwall Series: by Brian Jaques

The setting is roughly medieval. While the characters are animals, they dress and behave more like people. The stories are filled with action and adventure, as well as mystery, and mouthwatering descriptions of grand feasts. There are always several groups of characters we follow who will eventually meet up, usually at an epic battle at the end. Usually someone dies, but not one of the main characters, except in Martin the Warrior, and always for a good cause, never pointlessly. There are villains you love to hate, true heros, and many many loveable characters. The values of honor and friendship, as well has helping those in need are strong themes in these books. While most of the main characters are male, these books are easily enjoyed by both boys and girls. The reading level is probably upper elementary for the most part, but they remain of interest even for adults. The timeline spanns many generations of the inhabitants of Mossflower woods and the fortress called Redwall Abbey. While most of the books could stand alone, they are linked by references to eachother and the appearance of the same characters in more than one book, often once in their youth, and then again later in their old age, and yet again as the heroes of old legends. One could read them in chronological order, but I would highly reccommend starting with either Redwall, or Mossflower.