Craft Sequence Essays
Welcome to our archive of essays about the Craft Sequence. Scroll for all of our essays, or go wherever suits you:
Relatively spoiler free essays if you’re new to the series / partway through and don’t want to spoil yourself
Spoilerific essays if you’ve read the series and want to delve deeper
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Grails and knights and the Serpents
Caleb and Mal are apparently “twin grails” and factor into the vampires’ plan - but what does that mean? How does it link in with the knights we’ve met across the series, immortality, and the Twin Serpents?
Wedding outfits for Craft characters
I was in a wedding earlier this year, which naturally means it’s time to give Craft Sequence characters wedding outfits. Featuring kilts. You know you want to read it.
World Map part 2 - the Old World
I’ve got more speculative blob-maps for you, this time looking at the Old World. It’s almost twice as long, despite fewer textual sources. Enjoy.
World Map part 1 - Northern and Southern Kath
Nine books in, yet no world map for the Craft Sequence. I am here to change this. Today, let’s look at Northern and Southern Kath. Beware terrible blob-maps.
How many Dead Hand Rule predictions did I get right?
Prediction update time! I did terribly for Dead Country, great for Wicked Problems, but what about Dead Hand Rule??
In Defence of Dawn
Before starting this essay, I had a vague sense I need to reconsider Dawn and her role in the story. Through the process of writing it, I have entirely changed my perspective on her. Let me take you on the same journey.
Masterpost: Untangling the ending of Dead Hand Rule
Masterpost of all “Untangling Dead Hand Rule” essays. Spoilers abound.
Untangling Dead Hand Rule: what happens AFTER the skazzerai arrives
In the final part of ‘Untangling Dead Hand Rule’, we look at what happens AFTER the ancient space skazzerai arrives: why the herald HAD to be who it is, why Elayne is eternally a badass, and the importance of Saint Abelard.
Untangling Dead Hand Rule: within the Argent Library
In part 3 of ‘Untangling Dead Hand Rule’, let’s examine what exactly is going on within the Argent Library. We’ll look at the stories of Kai, Mal, Dawn, and Tara.
Untangling Dead Hand Rule: what happens to Caleb, Izza, Temoc, and the King in Red?
In part 2 of ‘Untangling Dead Hand Rule’, we recap the final battle and look in depth at what happens to Caleb Altemoc, Izza Jalai, Temoc Almotil, and the King in Red.
Untangling Dead Hand Rule: setting the scene for the endgame
Attacked by vampires. Drowning in a market terminal. Tortured by a psychic attack. Imprisoned in skazzerai iron chains. These are just a few of our characters’ fates at the climax of Dead Hand Rule. But what is actually going on? Is there somebody pulling the strings?
Demographics of POV characters (UPDATED 2026)
A nerdy deep dive into demographics of POV characters in the Craft Sequence (updated for Dead Hand Rule).
POV Distribution in the Craft Sequence (UPDATED 2026)
With 50 POV characters across 9 books, who has the most narrative page-time in the Craft Sequence so far? Who are the ‘main’ characters, and what does that mean for the story?
Belladonna Albrecht: an icon, a legend, the moment
Belladonna Albrecht is one of the most iconic characters to come out of the Craft Sequence, and that’s saying something. We’ve finally seen her on page, and she is everything I wanted and more. Read on to learn about the woman, the myth, the legend.
One month of DEAD HAND RULE
Dead Hand Rule has been out in the world for a whole month! So I had to celebrate. This isn’t quite a review, nor is it as in-depth an analysis of the book as I want to write. Instead, it’s a loving ramble about many of the things I love about Dead Hand Rule (with far more to come later).
Top 10 details from Man in the Middle
I can never get enough of the Craft Sequence, and when I discovered this short story I was THRILLED. In honour of Halloween, here are ten of my favourite details from this spookyish horrorish short story.
Elayne Kevarian’s Story So Far
Everyone’s favourite Craftswoman, Elayne Kevarian, requires no introduction. So let’s jump right in. As we approach the publication of Dead Hand Rule, let’s take a look at Elayne’s story so far.
Seril Undying’s Story So Far
Moon Mother, Green-Eyed, Consort of Kos and Lady of Alt Coulumb, Seril Undying starts the series seemingly, well, dead. But she “gets better” and becomes the deity we come to know best throughout the series as she is a bit more hands on with mortal happenings. As we approach the publication of Dead Hand Rule, let’s take a look at Seril’s story so far.
Teo Batan’s Story So Far
Teo is perfectly happy in her life, when her best friend Caleb drags her into an apocalyptic plot that ends with Teo almost becoming a human sacrifice. Oops. They co-found a non-profit to fix the world, Caleb continues to exasperate Teo with his antics, and she ends up being the catalyst to saving the day time and time again.
As we approach the publication of Dead Hand Rule, let’s take a look at Teo’s story so far.
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