I think Brackentail is actually one of my favourite characters.
I've matured a lot since I first read the books so I can now look at the situation from a less-childish point of view.
He grows so much throughout the story and he genuinely goes from being Star's enemy to one of his closest friends. Star and Brackentail's relationship is similar to Will and Horace's from Rangers Apprentice (I'm on the second book of that series and I'm hooked!)
Plus I'm a sucker for redemption arcs
Brackentail is in love with Morningleaf so of course there's gonna be some conflicting feelings there, but it all works out in the end (especially since Ms Alvarez still hasn't told us which ship is gonna win) because he and Star don't let their affection for Morningleaf drive a wedge between them. I read a draft of a chapter which I wrote maybe a year ago? It was set right after Windborn, Star took Morningleaf somewhere private to ask her a question and Brackentail warned Star without talking to him to back off.
Now that I've grown I know that is definitely not how Brackentail would react. He'll accept his own actions and eventually move on, not continue to fight for her and make an enemy of Star again.
So my favourites list (not exactly to order since I'm having some trouble with placing them) for now:
Bumblewind (always and forever) and Star
Brackentail and Graythorn
Morningleaf, Echofrost and Dewberry
Shadepebble and Flamesky! :>
uhhhhhhhhhhhh Darkleaf! and Dawnfir (both underrated)
Hazelwind
Brackentail is my favorite!!! Then Echofrost, Bumblewind, Morningleaf, Star! Not in that exact order but Brackentail is my absolute fav! I cried for so long when Bumblewind died. I read late into the night and I thought I was prepared for it. But when he died I was not prepared. I cried so much! And whenever they mention him in ROTR (Echofrost and the herd) I get so sad
Ive definitely matured to the point that i lowkey dont ship Starleaf or Brackenleaf. I feel like both of those ships are kindof a childish crush and as they grow i think theyd realize their feelings werent that strong. i see all of them as really good friends and i see morningleaf as a strong independent mare. i dont think she needs a ship tbh. shes a girlboss by herself. So im a Morningleaf x Morningleaf shipper. a Star x TBD shipper. and a Brakentail x TBD shipper. also star x morningleaf are 100% soulmates wether that is romantic or platonic (bestfriends). i think maturing is realizing that we forced a lot of these ships and while a lot of them were really good(bumbleberry) some of them werent that strong (starleaf/brakenleaf). and i know mrs alverez sortof has 3 scenarios floatinf around (brakentail and morningleaf happen, star and morningleaf happen, and morningleaf is on her own) but im also not a super big fan of brakentai (ofc i adore him hes just not one of my favs). i think he had a super good heart and ofcourse redeemed himself, but he was always a follower he never spoke out or really did much in his own. maybe i just havent read the books in a while but i feel like i dont know him very well. like star and morningleaf have huge personalities and you get to know them throughout the books. idk brakentail is kindof a mistery.
i am so sorry if that is confusing. its like 1am right now and im typing on my phone which never turns out well lol.
Yes, I love Brackentail!!!!!! He's so relatable, and the fact that he acknowledges that he made mistakes, but doesn't try to justify them is just icing on the cake. He can be a bit annoying at times, but if someone isn't, then they're a robot. Simple as that.
Brackentail is one of my favs too. Its so sad, but also happy, and I really have conflicting emotions concerning his character. On your 5th fav, Darkleaf, YES she one of my favorites! She stood up to Frostfire, when everyone else was scared to. Now I'm going to have to go reread the series....
Yeah, I had kinda the same realization when I reread Starfire a while back. I have to say Brackentail is one of the most... human(?) characters