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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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.
Tara Abernathy’s Story So Far
Angry witch girl desperate to make her mark on the world. Jaded graduate of the Hidden Schools. Reluctant priestess of Seril. Rebel Craftswoman fighting the system that made her. Friend. Daughter. Saviour. Lover. Tara Abernathy is many things including, arguably, the main character of the Craft Sequence. As we approach the publication of Dead Hand Rule, let’s take a look at Tara’s story so far.
Temoc Almotil’s Story So Far
A fallen hero, last surviving priest, deeply flawed father, and freedom fighter-slash-terrorist, Temoc Almotil plays a complex role in the series so far. Most recently we saw him freed from prison by Dawn, and becoming one of her faithful. As we approach the publication of Dead Hand Rule, let’s take a look at Temoc’s story so far.
The Blue Lady’s Story So Far
The newest deity on the scene, the Blue Lady was born in the caldera of Kavekana, found speech through Seril, and freedom through her Prophet Thief Izza. The Blue Lady represents those who have fallen through the cracks of Craft society - but can she stand against the might of the skazzerai? As we approach the publication of Dead Hand Rule, let’s take a look at the Blue Lady’s story so far.
Cat Elle’s Story So Far
Blacksuit, recovering addict, accidental priestess. Catherine Elle has a troubled start in the series, barely outrunning her demons and also being a cop in a hivemind police force. She’s trying to do better on both counts. As we approach the publication of Dead Hand Rule, let’s take a look at Cat’s story so far.
Mal Kekapania’s Story So Far
Mal starts the series as Caleb’s manic pixie dream girl, tries to destroy Dresediel Lex, appears to die but does not, and ends up as a far more rounded and sympathetic character. We last see her as a prisoner of the King in Red, but I doubt other characters will be satisfied for her to stay that way. As we approach the publication of Dead Hand Rule, let’s take a look at Mal’s story so far.
Kai Pohala’s Story So Far
Priestess-slash-offshore-investment-banker, Kai Pohala is a freight train in human form, determined to build a better world whether the world wants her to or not. She becomes a priestess of the Blue Lady, is the first person (it seems) in the Domain to go to space, and battles an ancient ghost for control of her own mind. As we approach the publication of Dead Hand Rule, let’s take a look at Kai’s story so far.
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