Craft Sequence Essays
Welcome to our archive of articles and essays about the Craft Sequence. Scroll for all of our articles, 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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![Tara Abernathy, Dead Country, and me - a sort of review](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/6228b66f-1a76-4241-8469-c90b85a81d71/Tara%2C+DC%2C+me.png)
Tara Abernathy, Dead Country, and me - a sort of review
Dead Country narrows the focus of the sprawling Craft Sequence in to our first main character: Tara Abernathy. This is sort of a review, but mostly a love letter to Tara, her arc, and how it mirrors the experiences of readers - with some added necromancy.
![What will happen in Dead Country and the Craft Wars Trilogy?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/1677801225905-MEOXZZN1HBHC0U1K2EAC/What+will+happen.png)
What will happen in Dead Country and the Craft Wars Trilogy?
We are DAYS away from the (US) release of Dead Country, the first Craft Sequence novel in six years and the start of the Craft Wars, a capstone trilogy for the current storyline.
Which means only one thing.
It’s time for WILD speculation. Read on for 16 theories of what we might see in Craft Wars!
![What's the deal with the space spiders?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/edb8eb94-13fd-46af-9e15-5995dbba812f/space+spiders.png)
What's the deal with the space spiders?
In Quechal mythology, the skazzerai are demonic spiders at the end of the universe spinning webs between the stars. We have evidence they’ve visited the world of Craft before ‘to eat’ - and it looks like they’re going to play a part in the CRAFT WARS endgame. So, what’s the deal with the space spiders?
![Words, belief and the fabric of reality | How Magic Works in the Craft Sequence](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/1736013491004-8D8LNXQHEKR8HMFS6Y7C/THS+articles+2024%281%29.png)
Words, belief and the fabric of reality | How Magic Works in the Craft Sequence
Shaping reality and underpinning all magic in the Craft Sequence are words and belief. We take a deep dive into how this works in the Craft Sequence with examples from across the series.
![Everything we know about 'Dead Country' (and Craft Wars)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/1737385073237-EN09UWNAAU8OEAG6F7QO/dc.png)
Everything we know about 'Dead Country' (and Craft Wars)
A new Craft Sequence book (and trilogy!) has been announced - check out this article for every single detail we have about Dead Country and the Craft Wars trilogy.
![OFFICIAL Craft Sequence Timeline (translated)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/1655578576738-YB93SBCK89H87CJW3DM1/official_timeline.png)
OFFICIAL Craft Sequence Timeline (translated)
The OFFICIAL Craft Sequence timeline, translated from the German timeline in the cover of Drei Viertel Tod.
![Gal, the Knights of Camlaan, and the Queen](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/863176df-1561-43af-8277-6e3f5d0d226b/gal+2.0.png)
Gal, the Knights of Camlaan, and the Queen
In ‘honour’ (cough) of the Platinum Jubilee, let’s do a deep dive into everyone’s favourite Camlaander, GAL.
Who – and what – is she? What are the Knights of Camlaan? Will we see her again? And what is her secret heritage?
![What we learned about CRAFT SEQUENCE - Gladstone March AMA](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/1923f9d0-530c-4c12-9dcd-69e7211ab517/ama.png)
What we learned about CRAFT SEQUENCE - Gladstone March AMA
Everything we learned about the CRAFT SEQUENCE from Max Gladstone’s March 2022 Reddit AMA.
![Everything we know about the GRIMWALDS](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/68e3c32d-9267-481a-8911-e93ad8fa49c4/grimwalds.png)
Everything we know about the GRIMWALDS
The Grimwald family have their (literally) shadowy fingers (in every proverbial pie in the Craft Sequence. Although they only show up in ‘person’ in two books, their small roles are absolutely essential to the plot and to the state of the Craft world.
Who or what are they? What do they want?
![Who's who: Elayne, Temoc, and the King in Red](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/4765e265-b6b4-4b43-9ba8-dde9d3601c69/ww+2.png)
Who's who: Elayne, Temoc, and the King in Red
Elayne Kevarian, Temoc Almotil, and the King in Red are the three most powerful characters we’ve seen in the Craft Sequence so far. A Craftswoman, the final Eagle Knight, and the Deathless King of Dresediel Lex shape the world and will do almost anything to win their battles.
![LAST EXIT review - a visceral, electric reflection of our world](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/f5b9cf80-5b92-456d-8b98-28be9a2710a5/exit.png)
LAST EXIT review - a visceral, electric reflection of our world
LAST EXIT is a visceral, electric reflection of our world, its crushing despairs and glimmers of hope, wrapped up in a fast-moving plot and fantastical alternative worlds. At the same time an indictment of our world, a call to action to improve it, and a crescendo of hope that maybe we actually can, this is possibly Gladstone’s best writing yet.
![Basics of the Craft and Applied Theology | How Magic Works in the Craft Sequence](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/02e20890-6300-461b-9e3e-f02603d56cc5/Stage+3+-+HS+Article+graphics.png)
Basics of the Craft and Applied Theology | How Magic Works in the Craft Sequence
How does magic work in the Craft Sequence? Two forms of magic, the Craft and Applied Theology, work on many of the same principles with some key differences - one is the magic of the people, and one is the magic of the gods. Part one of a series.
![Masterpost: How magic works in the Craft Sequence](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/c5ed40ac-94f8-4441-b39a-5f2944964b71/hmw.png)
Masterpost: How magic works in the Craft Sequence
Masterpost of all articles in the ‘How magic works’ series.
![5 reasons to read Craft Sequence (+1 reason not to)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/c86856b8-3e96-401e-b334-0ece25405125/opt_5reasonstoread.jpg)
5 reasons to read Craft Sequence (+1 reason not to)
Why read the Craft Sequence? There are too many reasons to list, but we’ve rounded up our top 5 reasons to read the Craft Sequence - plus one reason not to.
![Mapping Alt Coulumb (Part 1)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/1638652409910-7EQVKTL27G5N88JYNRX8/opt_mapping_ac_1.jpg)
Mapping Alt Coulumb (Part 1)
Alt Coulumb is the primary setting for two Craft Sequence novels, but no map exists of the city. We’ve gone through every detail available in the books to create possibly the first ever map of Alt Coulumb, with only a little artistic licence to fill in some of the gaps.
![Who's who: Tara, Caleb, and Kai](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/4f053232-187d-46da-8352-826978afe9b2/tck.png)
Who's who: Tara, Caleb, and Kai
Who are Tara Abernathy, Caleb Altemoc, and Kai Pohala? Often considered the protagonists of their respective books, they play similar roles introducing readers to story, location, and a form of magic. Ultimately, their decisions and character arcs will change the course of history in their world.
![Review: Full Fathom Five (Spoiler Free)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/1737387149377-DTRC7TMDW752MW1LC1BB/ff5.png)
Review: Full Fathom Five (Spoiler Free)
Poets, prophets and priests get mixed up in tangled web of murdered gods, bad investments, and nightmares. Full Fathom Five features some of Gladstone’s most beautiful prose alongside brilliant characters and a strong plot that moves the whole series forward.
![Everything we know about 'Last Exit' (UPDATED)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/1631472233095-PALJSVVM8O7RACERI4GU/opt_lastexit.jpg)
Everything we know about 'Last Exit' (UPDATED)
Max Gladstone’s newly-announced book Last Exit may not be part of the Craft Sequence, but we are so excited we’re going to cover it anyway.
![Review: Two Serpents Rise (Spoiler Free ish)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/e2d86236-d520-44b3-9891-09257b5e82e2/2sr.png)
Review: Two Serpents Rise (Spoiler Free ish)
Shadow demons in the water, a fugitive father, and an enigmatic cliff runner interrupt Caleb Altemoc’s night of gambling – and may bring down one of the most important cities in the world of Craft. The weakest entry to the series, but it still has some great moments and characters.
![What genre is the Craft Sequence?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/610b1a5a6699574b4ad470ee/1631472333691-3ISNUY6MXWVPCHI7HK9Y/opt_genre.jpg)
What genre is the Craft Sequence?
Neat categorisation helps sell books - but the Craft Sequence is notoriously hard to define. So, what genre actually IS the Craft Sequence? We have some thoughts…
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