The Broken Code

"You've all heard about Shadowsight's vision by now. What I've been saying all along is true. StarClan is angry that so many warriors have broken the code. They've even given us a list of the worst offenders. I have a plan. The codebreakers must publicly take responsibility for their wrongdoings. They must atone!"

— The impostor at the emergency Gathering in The Silent Thaw, page 179

The Broken Code
Release date
9 April 2019
Authors
Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry
Books
Lost Stars, The Silent Thaw, Veil of Shadows, Darkness Within, The Place of No Stars, A Light in the Mist
Resources
Artwork • Characters
Chronology
Navigate to Warriors books for all arcs.
Preceded by:	A Vision of Shadows
Followed by:	A Starless Clan

The Broken Code is the seventh arc of the Warriors series. It follows the Clans by the lake, set after the events of A Vision of Shadows. The main characters are Shadowsight, Rootspring, and Bristlefrost and follows their struggles to bring back StarClan, who have gone mysteriously silent whilst Bramblestar's body has been taken over by an impostor.

Concept development

"But one thing we've never seen in the history of warriors is StarClan reacting to the cats not following the code. When we discussed it among the story team, we weren't even sure the cats' belief system allowed for StarClan to "punish" living cats for not following the rules. Which of course begged the question: What if they did? Or what if the cats believed this was happening, because something occurred that was so terrible, StarClan's punishment seemed the only logical explanation?"

―"Codebreakers: Brainstorming The Broken Code" on the Warrior Cats website

The seventh arc was first alluded on Kate's Blog on March 6th, 2018, where she confirmed she was already aware of the upcoming arc's villain. Kate reaffirmed on March 14th that the untitled seventh arc was in development, and on May 6th, Kate confirmed that Cherith was already working on the first book of the arc, titled The Broken Code. On June 5th, Kate confirmed that the first book would be titled Lost Stars, and she later teased that the arc would mark the return of a controversial character from the series' history. On October 22nd, Kate confirmed that she would be writing the second book, which she confirmed to be titled The Silent Thaw on November 21st.

On December 3rd, Kate accidentally revealed that a new character named Rootpaw would be one of the main protagonists, though this post was later deleted. On February 20th, 2019, Kate teased that the character who will receive the most character development will be "someone you'd never expect". The preview for Lost Stars was released on March 20th, 2019 on Kobo. Lost Stars was officially released on April 9th, 2019 alongside Path of a Warrior.

The arc's publication also coincided with the release of the new Warrior Cats website in 2019. In preparation for the release of Lost Stars, the Warriors website would release articles summarizing the story thus far from The Raging Storm, and would continue to do so before each new release in The Broken Code arc. The website would also publish articles announcing new releases, such as Lost Stars and Path of a Warrior. Around April 6th, 2019, the Warriors website posted a poll allowed fans to decide Rootpaw's warrior name, who would be receiving his name in the third book, with the options Rootspirit, Rootspring, Rootfall, and Rootwing. The option of "Rootspirit" incited controversy in the fandom, as some fans postulated that it was infringing on Brightspirit's unique name, who was named after a deceased fan. In response, Kate clarified that the "-spirit" suffix was meant to keep the fan's memory alive. Rootspring was the winning name.

On June 24th, 2019, the third book was revealed to be titled Veil of Shadows on Edelweiss, the catalog for HarperCollins. Around September 26th, 2019, the Warriors website published an article about their inspiration for the series. The Story Team revealed that the inspiration for the warrior code being a central theme of the arc was that the laws were often a common obstacle for the development of many characters, and that tackling the topic of codebreaking and problematic laws was a natural progression as they are always part of Warriors stories. This begged the question of what if the characters believed that StarClan was punishing them for not following the code as a result of a terrible action. The Silent Thaw was officially released on October 29th, 2019.

For previous arcs, new book information would be found in catalogs or book retailer websites, such as Amazon, Kobo, or Barnes & Noble in the United States. However, with the release of the updated Warriors website, it became the top website to break the news on upcoming books and provide extended previews. Veil of Shadows was the first, and the allegiances and first two chapters were posted around January 2020. In order to push their new mobile app, the Warriors website began revealing new releases only on their mobile app, including Darkness Within on February 10th 2020. This was reversed for the fifth book, The Place of No Stars, which was revealed on May 21st, 2020.

Veil of Shadows was released during the COVID-19 pandemic on April 7th, 2020, alongside A Warrior's Spirit. The excerpt for Darkness Within was released on the website on September 14th, 2020, and it contained the allegiances, prologue, and first two chapters. Darkness Within was released two months later on November 10th, 2020. The title of the sixth and final book, A Light in the Mist, was revealed on December 11th, 2020.

The excerpt for The Place of No Stars was released on the website on February 15th, 2021, and it contained the allegiances, prologue, and the first three chapters. The book released on April 6th, 2021 alongside A Warrior's Choice, which would be the final novella released to date. Spotfur's Rebellion and Daisy's Kin both took place within The Broken Code arc, with Spotfur's book detailing her motivation for the rebellion seen in The Silent Thaw and Veil of Shadows, and Daisy's book taking place following Veil of Shadows through the end of the arc. The final excerpt for A Light in the Mist was released on October 6th, 2021, and it also contained the allegiances, prologue, and the first three chapters. A Light in the Mist was released on November 9th, 2021.

Box set blurb

THERE IS A DARKNESS IN THE CLANS.

As the icy grip of leafbare tightens around the lake, the five warrior cat Clans face moons of cold and darkness—and far worse, the voices of their ancestors in StarClan have grown dim and silent. Only one medicine cat apprentice still hears them, in a strange vision that warns of a looming shadow within their borders. One that may threaten all five Clans... and the warrior code itself.

Summary

This arc follows A Vision of Shadows, and tells the story of how Ashfur betrays StarClan by severing their connection to the Clans, taking over Bramblestar's body, and nearly destroying the Clans, StarClan, and the Dark Forest. Ashfur manipulates Shadowpaw into killing Bramblestar to vacate the leader's body. After the possession, Bramblestar's ghost asks Rootpaw, a SkyClan apprentice, for help, while Bristlefrost acts as a double agent by spying on the false leader to help a rebellion. "Bramblestar" kills many cats and sets up a strict and harsh enforcement of the warrior code before he is defeated and imprisoned. His identity is revealed as Ashfur, a former ThunderClan warrior. Ashfur then corrupts the ghost of cats he killed and imprisons them in the Dark Forest. Bristlefrost, Shadowsight, and Rootspring lead chosen Clan cats called the Lights in the Mist, along with StarClan cats and some Dark Forest cats, to defeat Ashfur and his allies. Bristlefrost sacrifices herself and her spirit to defeat Ashfur for good. Bramblestar returns to his body, and the code is changed to prevent further abuse and to erase outdated and harmful laws.

Books

Lost Stars

During a harsh leaf-bare, the medicine cats discover that StarClan has gone silent on them with the Moonpool frozen over. Despite their silence, Shadowpaw mysteriously receives visions from an unknown cat. Believing that he is being guided by StarClan, Shadowpaw and Tigerstar convince ThunderClan that the only way to cure Bramblestar's unknown illness is to freeze out the fever, accidentally killing him. As ThunderClan mourns Bramblestar, he mysteriously comes back to life just before his burial. Bramblestar calls for an emergency Gathering, where he brings up the idea of persecuting those who have broken the warrior code. In SkyClan, Rootpaw discovers Bramblestar's ghost. Meanwhile, the new warrior Bristlefrost is determined to help her Clan during these unprecedent times.

The Silent Thaw

Rootpaw begins to commune with Bramblestar's ghost, who alerts him to the fact there is an impostor in his body. In ThunderClan, Bramblestar's impostor begins his reign over the Clan. He promotes Bristlefrost, a newly made warrior the job of assigning patrols, and begins exiling cats to make them atone for breaking the warrior code. Cats from all the Clans meet in secrecy, not convinced of Bramblestar's beliefs in the warrior code and his odd behavior. Rootpaw's father Tree lies at the meeting, claiming he is the one communing with Bramblestar's ghost and that the Bramblestar they know is an impostor. After Squirrelflight lies about where she went to atone, Bramblestar banishes her, appointing Berrynose as his new deputy. Rootpaw summons Bramblestar's ghost in ShadowClan's camp, convincing the cats there of the truth. On the way to the Moonpool, Shadowsight is attacked by two unknown cats.

Veil of Shadows

Shadowsight is attacked and left for dead at the bottom of a ravine. Bristlefrost sees Bramblestar and Berrynose come back covered in blood, but when she begins to question it, he calls for a Clan meeting and exiles Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Twigbranch for their half-Clan heritage. ShadowClan begins to provide sanctuary for the exiled cats. Squirrelflight decides to fake her death after Bristlefrost reports that the false Bramblestar is looking for her. An assassination attempt is made on Bramblestar's impostor by the rebels but fails. After exiling Berrynose for failing to help sufficiently, the impostor appoints Bristlefrost as his new deputy, though she later agrees to act as a spy for the rebels. Rootpaw finds and saves Shadowsight from death, and earns his warrior name, Rootspring. ThunderClan, RiverClan, and WindClan lead an attack on ShadowClan and SkyClan for housing the exiles, but when Harestar loses a life, the battle turns to the rebels' side and they capture the impostor. At the next Gathering, Squirrelflight reveals she figured out who the impostor is.

Darkness Within

The Clans find out that the impostor is Ashfur. They decide to send a patrol to ask the Sisters to try to find Bramblestar's missing spirit. The Sisters agree to help and journey back to the Clans. During the journey, Rootspring and Bristlefrost fall in love. Back in ShadowClan, Shadowsight is tasked with taking care of the imprisoned impostor, who begins to manipulate Shadowsight into freeing him so that Bramblestar's body may live. The Sisters perform a ceremony, but instead of seeing Bramblestar, the Clans see ghosts of the recently deceased in agony. They notice that Ashfur is making these ghosts suffer, so the leaders decide to kill Ashfur. Instead, Shadowsight releases Ashfur, which allows the dark tom to kidnap Squirrelflight and drag her through the Moonpool into the Dark Forest.

The Place of No Stars

At the Moonpool, the medicine cats agree to send Willowshine to dream herself into the Dark Forest to rescue Squirrelflight, though she is killed by Ashfur. Willowshine's spirit drags Rootspring through the Moonpool into the Place of No Stars, and the two discover the missing ghosts and Bramblestar's body trapped on an island guarded by Darkstripe. In ThunderClan, Lionblaze fumbles as the Clan's acting leader until Graystripe returns from his wander and assumes temporary leadership until Bramblestar and Squirrelflight return. Shadowsight dreams into the Dark Forest and meets Snowtuft, who explains that portions of the Dark Forest are disappearing. Shadowsight attacks Ashfur, distracting him long enough for Bramblestar and Squirrelflight to flee. Snowtuft, Rootspring, Squirrelflight, and Bramblestar help the latter reunite with his body before fleeing the island, though Rootspring is captured by Ashfur and his possessed spirits.

A Light in the Mist

Ashfur makes Snowtuft attack Rootspring, though Bristlefrost and Shadowsight dream themselves into the Dark Forest with the help from the Sisters to save Rootspring, Stemleaf, Spiresight, and Willowshine, though Snowtuft is killed. Realizing that a thick barrier blocks the Dark Forest from StarClan and both sides are disappearing, the group splits up to find more cats to help. In the living world, Shadowsight recruits Mistystar, Crowfeather, Graystripe, and Violetshine to venture into the Dark Forest, while Bristlefrost convinces the Dark Forest spirits Maggottail, Redwillow, and Sparrowfeather to fight to save their home. Rootspring is captured by Ashfur's army until Firestar possesses his body to kill Darkstripe. Realizing that hope can waver the barrier, a large enough gap is created for Firestar, Needletail, Onestar, Redtail, Silverstream, Larksong, and Feathertail to help from StarClan. They locate Ashfur and a battle ensues when Ashfur and his army of possessed rogue spirits arrive. Realizing that Shadowsight is in danger, Bristlefrost shoves Ashfur and herself into the dark water, causing them both to disappear from existence. Rootspring mourns her death since he planned on leaving SkyClan to be with her in ThunderClan. A tunnel is created in the barrier between the afterlives, with Juniperclaw tasked as the new border-guardian. Realizing how Ashfur manipulated the warrior code to his own whim, the StarClan spirits grant the Clans three moons to agree on changes to the warrior code. At the Gathering, Bramblestar names those who helped him as the Lights in the Mist.

Characters

Main characters

• Bristlefrost
• Shadowsight
• Rootspring

Major characters

• Bramblestar
• Tigerstar
• Tree
• Squirrelflight
• Ashfur
• Harestar
• Mistystar
• Leafstar
• Spotfur
• Stemleaf
• Lionblaze
• Jayfeather
• Alderheart
• Berrynose
• Spiresight
• Twigbranch
• Crowfeather
• Dovewing
• Snow
• Willowshine
• Mothwing
• Graystripe
• Darkstripe
• Snowtuft
• Maggottail
• Sparrowfeather
• Redwillow
• Leafpool
• Firestar
• Needletail
• Violetshine
• Silverhawk
• Juniperclaw

Supporting characters

• Puddleshine
• Needleclaw
• Dewspring
• Kitescratch
• Turtlecrawl
• Rosepetal
• Flipclaw
• Thriftear
• Hawkwing
• Cloverfoot
• Reedwhisker
• Sparkpelt
• Bumblestripe
• Finleap
• Breezepelt
• Icewing
• Harelight
• Thornclaw
• Sunrise
• Kestrelflight
• Fidgetflake
• Frecklewish
• Conefoot
• Dappletuft
• Stormcloud
• Blossomfall
• Cinderheart
• Finchpaw
• Sandynose
• Strikestone
• Frondwhisker
• Softpelt
• Mapleshade
• Thistleclaw
• Clawface
• Houndleap
• Rushtooth
• Lightleap
• Onestar
• Feathertail
• Silverstream
• Redtail
• Larksong
• Smokehaze
• Antfur
• Darktail
• Gray Wing
• Skystar

Important events

Book	Event
Lost Stars	A harsh leaf-bare descends upon the Clans, severing the connection with StarClan. Shadowpaw receives a message at the Moonpool, seemingly the only one who can still communicate with StarClan. Bramblestar dies, and begins acting strangely upon his revival.
The Silent Thaw	With newleaf approaching, the Clans are shocked to learn that StarClan remains silent. Bramblestar's impostor starts a tyrannical rule of ThunderClan, posing as its leader and punishing those who wrong the warrior code in the slightest. Several cats become aware that the real Bramblestar is a ghost, and desire to see the true Bramblestar back in his rightful place as ThunderClan's leader.
Veil of Shadows	The impostor continues his grip on ThunderClan by exiling those who object to him, which ThunderClan grows tired of. A group of rebels form, desiring to out the impostor and return Bramblestar to his body. After a battle, the impostor is exposed publicly to the Clans, imprisoned, and deposed, and Squirrelflight becomes aware of his true identity.
Darkness Within	After the impostor is revealed to be Ashfur, the Clans struggle to make a decision on whether to kill the cat possessing Bramblestar's body, or to keep him alive so Bramblestar could potentially return. After receiving help from the Sisters, they discover that Ashfur is making the ghosts of the fallen suffer, and the Clans decide to kill Ashfur. Ashfur escapes and kidnaps Squirrelflight into the Moonpool with him.
The Place of No Stars	The Clans organize a rescue to save Squirrelflight from Ashfur and the Place of No Stars They discover that Ashfur is trapping the spirits of the dead in the Dark Forest and keeping them under his control in order to take over the afterlives and the living world. Bramblestar and Squirrelflight escape Ashfur, with Bramblestar reuniting with his body, but Rootspring and Snowtuft are captured by Ashfur in return.
A Light in the Mist	Rootspring, Shadowsight, and Bristlefrost discover a border separating StarClan and the Dark Forest, causing them to slowly disappear. After cats from the living world, StarClan, and the Dark Forest team up to defeat Ashfur, Bristlefrost sacrifices herself to kill him, restoring StarClan's connection with the living world. StarClan and the living Clans reorder and change the warrior code.

Publication history

• The Broken Code (EN), HarperCollins (paperback box set), 9 December 2022

Trivia

Interesting facts

• Owen Richardson's cover illustrations for The Broken Code features prominent cat heads in the center, a style that appears to be in homage to Wayne McLoughlin's book covers for past arcs.
• Bristlefrost's sacrifice in the dark water in A Light in the Mist was meant to mirror her saving Rootpaw from drowning in Lost Stars.
• The hardcover editions of each book in this arc include posters on the other side of the cover jackets. The posters include a textless version of the book's cover art, and two significant quotes from the book.

See also

• Erin Hunter
• Warriors books
• Arcs
• The Broken Code arc
• Mistakes

External links

• Codebreakers: Brainstorming The Broken Code on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• The Journey So Far: Lost Stars on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• The Journey So Far: The Silent Thaw on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• The Journey So Far: Veil of Shadows on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• The Journey So Far: Darkness Within on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• What if…? on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
• The Journey So Far: The Place of No Stars on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• The journey so far: A Light in the Mist on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• The best of the broken on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• The cats of The Broken Code on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• Who are the cats on The Broken Code book covers? on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• The Broken Code characters - a visual guide on the Warriors official website (backup link)

Notes and references

Author references