Dramatis Personae

Major characters

To appear in this section, all characters must have been a major character in at least two books. Meaning of ‘major’ is up to my discretion.

ABELARD

Appears in: Three Parts Dead, Four Roads Cross, Dead Country (briefly), Wicked Problems

Initially introduced as a junior priest in the Church of Kos, he is present when Kos died, and is fairly traumatised throughout that book. Precious cinnamon roll with a chain smoking habit (which is not unhealthy as a priest of Kos, promise). Following his resurrection and the Kos reveal at the end of the book, Abelard becomes a living saint with a personal line to his god. He wrestles with this new special status, and ultimately comes to terms with it. He is close friends with Tara Abernathy and Cat Elle (the latter being a childhood friend). In Wicked Problems he is a much more self-assured, but still awkward, slightly older priest-slash-saint with a deep faith in his god. He goes on a quest with Caleb Altemoc, which is a pretty fun dynamic all round.

CALEB ALTEMOC

Appears in: Last First Snow, Two Serpents Rise, Four Roads Cross (briefly), Wicked Problems

Chronologically, we see him first as a 7 year old who enjoys playing (and counting) cards. He has been insulated from his father Temoc Almotil’s religious fanatic past and bloodthirsty church, but after the Skittersill Rising Temoc carves priestly scars into his skin and gives him powers he doesn’t particularly want to have. Raised from that point by his mother, Mina, we see him again as Risk Manager at Red King Consolidated - and part-time gambler. He is still covered in religious glyphs that allow manipulation of the Craft and Applied Theology but hasn’t used them much until Two Serpents Rise. In that book he falls for manic pixie dream girl (and religious terrorist) Mal Kekepania, and ultimately nearly dies saving the city. He then founds the Two (or Twin, depending on the book) Serpents Group, a Concern-slash-holy-order that’s trying to fix war damage. Plan A always seems to be to throw himself into danger as a sacrifice. He works closely with his friend Teo Batan and the King in Red, Kopil. In Wicked Problems we see him in action, doing his self-sacrifice-to-save-the-world thing. He goes on a quest with Abelard, becomes a temporary priest of Kos, and reunites briefly with Mal.

I couldn’t fit it in above, but he also calls Elayne Kevarian ‘Auntie Elayne’, which is everything.

CATHERINE ELLE

Appears in: Three Parts Dead, Four Roads Cross, Full Fathom Five

Blacksuit (AKA cop AKA sort of priest of Justice) and vampire bite addict just trying to get through life. Childhood friend of Abelard, and they reconnect in Three Parts Dead. Following the resurrection of Seril, she is part of the reformation of the Blacksuits and becomes a priestess of Seril whether she likes it or not. She spends Four Roads Cross fighting demons both literal and metaphorical, and has serious sexual tension with Raz Pelham. Cat shows up unexpectedly in Full Fathom Five, appearing to be a washed up addict on the run from her goddess, but secretly on a mission for Seril to recover Her property from Kavekana’ai. She bonds with Izza Jalai, before breaking into the mountain with Kai Pohala and Teo Batan. We haven’t seen her on-page since, but have heard that Tara helped her negotiate a mortgage prior to Dead Country, and that Abelard sent her and Raz information in Wicked Problems. Highly likely to appear in Craft Wars #3.

DAWN

Appears in: Dead Country, Wicked Problems

Orphaned, frightened teenager with a terrifying natural ability for the Craft locked up inside her. We know very little of her life before Dead Country, when Tara Abernathy comes across her in the Badlands as Tara returned to Edgemont. Dawn’s childhood was spent wandering Northern Kath with her father taking up odd jobs here and there. Her education is patchy. After her father’s death, she was taken in by a family at Blake’s Rest, but that seemed to end badly based on her reaction to seeing a member of that family midway through Dead Country. Tara teaches her the rudimentaries of the Craft, which Dawn picks up unusually quickly. By the end of the book, Tara and Dawn confront a powerful Craft-god who tries to eat Tara - and to save her mentor, Dawn melds with the Craft-god. Tara tries to take her down, and Dawn runs from the might of Seril. On the run, Dawn visualises the new part of her mind as a serpent named Sybil, and spends Wicked Problems gaining power and followers while Tara et al try to chase her down. She gets a massive power-up at the end of the book, and flies off with her followers (the Arsenals) into the Badlands to seemingly raise all the magical remnants from the God Wars.

ELAYNE KEVARIAN

Appears in: Last First Snow, Three Parts Dead, Four Roads Cross (briefly), Full Fathom Five, Wicked Problems

Badass Craftswoman at Kelethres, Albrecht, and Ao, representing the King in Red and Tan Batac in their attempts to remake the Skittersill. Veteran of the God Wars, with a historical connection to Temoc Almotil, whose life she saved at Liberation. She goes through something of a crisis of conscience throughout Last First Snow, and ends the book on bad terms with Kopil and Temoc, but popping in to support Mina and her young son Caleb. Year later, she hires Tara Abernathy to help represent the Church of Kos after Kos’ death. An old enemy of Denovo, she plays the long game to get revenge. Cool, calm and collected - at least on the surface - with an underappreciated humour. She offers Tara a permanent job at the end of the Kos case, and remains in contact with her. She briefly appears to consult with Tara in Four Roads Cross, but we only properly see her in Full Fathom Five when she appears on Kavekana to interrogate Kai Pohala and investigate the death of Seven Alpha on behalf of the Grimwalds. She has a key role in instigating reform of the priesthood by supporting Kai’s play against Jason Kol. Tara thinks about Elayne a few times throughout the next couple of books but we don’t see Elayne until midway through Wicked Problems, when she is representing Ajaia’s priesthood and fights against the gray men. She hangs out with Mina and Caleb, meets Dawn, and flies in to help save the day at the climactic battle.

IZZA JALAI

Appears in: Full Fathom Five, Ruin of Angels

Refugee street kid who fled from the Gleb after her community was massacred. She spent time in Agdel Lex before escaping brutal repression by the Wreckers, and fled to Kavekana. Living day to day and thaum to thaum, she becomes the storyteller of street kid gods - gods who keep dying. When her final god, the Blue Lady, dies, she plans to leave the island but gets caught up with a runaway Cat Elle who appears to be escaping from Seril. Izza meets Kai, and learns that her gods are actually built in the Kavekana’ai pool and are being killed; with the help of Kai, Teo, and Cat (working on their own missions) she saves the Blue Lady from the pool and becomes Her first priestess. As the Prophet Thief, Izza builds the religion on Kavekana, and it spreads across the world, which she only learns when she heads back to Agdel Lex to help Kai in Ruin of Angels. She helps marshal forces against the Wreckers, and become the Woman Who Ate The Wastes, gaining more power for the Blue Lady. It’s unclear where she is now.

KAI POHALA

Appears in: Full Fathom Five, Ruin of Angels, Wicked Problems

Priest-slash-offshore-banker for the Sacerdotal Order of Kavekana, building idols and worshipping them on behalf of wealthy pilgrims. Loves her island home, but doesn’t see the issues and stratification of society until she meets Izza and uncovers a plot by her boss to kill idols which become sentient gods. She becomes a priestess of the Blue Lady alongside her day job. Trying to diversify her Order’s investment portfolio to get away from some of the dodgier clients, she ends up in Agdel Lex and gets embroiled in a plot by her sister that ultimately takes down Iskari authority over the city. She goes to space (cool!) as part of this plot, and also records something from beyond the stars on behalf of Tara - skittering legs. Skazzerai. Years later, she’s sued by the priesthood of Ajaia after the whole spirecliffs incident, and joins Tara, Caleb, Abelard and Jax in hunting down Dawn and helping save the world. Oh, and she has a massive crush on Tara (which appears to be reciprocated).

KOPIL, THE KING IN RED

Appears in: Last First Snow, Two Serpents Rise, Four Roads Cross (briefly), Wicked Problems

Deathless King of Dresediel Lex and Chief Executive of Red King Consolidated, Kopil is a Craftsman who has gone full skeleton but not managed to rid himself of his PTSD or his drama queen tendencies. He has a bad history with Temoc from the God Wars and before, when Temoc’s priesthood sacrificed Kopil’s lover Timas. He also (mostly) killed Seril, so there’s bad blood (ichor?) there. After fire bombing the Skittersill, he falls out with old war buddy Elayne Kevarian. After Caleb and Teo (his former employees) set up the Two Serpents Group, he becomes one of their major donors, despite thinking they’re bleeding heart naifs. He develops respect for Tara Abernathy in a brief interaction, and she writes to him about the whole Dawn situation. He’s been watching out for the skazzerai for years, and is probably one of the best placed to help fight back - if he can get over his ego and trauma long enough to fight the right enemy.

RAZ PELHAM

Appears in: Three Parts Dead, Four Roads Cross

Vampire pirate (vampirate) and old friend of Elayne Kevarian. Captain of Kell’s Bounty, unwittingly part of Alexander Denovo’s plot to take down Kos. Saved a couple of times by Tara Abernathy. He sticks around Alt Coulumb and runs sting operations with Cat Elle (with whom he has a lot unresolved sexual tension) and the Blacksuits (with whom he does not). Has mysterious vampire baggage, which he deals with along with resolving said sexual tension with Cat. Last time we saw him, he was granted asylum by Seril Undying and is geographically stuck in Alt Coulumb while the vampires under the sea want him to join them.

SERIL UNDYING

Appears in: Three Parts Dead, Four Roads Cross, Full Fathom Five (briefly), Ruin of Angels (briefly) Dead Country (briefly), Wicked Problems

Lady of Alt Coulumb, goddess of the moon, consort of Kos Everburning, thought to have been killed in the God Wars. Revived in Three Parts Dead. Doesn’t quite understand privacy or physical matter, but does try to support her priestesses and her children (AKA gargoyles). She regained some strength by having the rights to Alt Coulumb’s skies returned to Her, and a shard of Her being retrieved from the pool in Kavekana’ai - and through this shard, she’s the mythological mother of the Blue Lady. She helped Tara and Kai in the battle for Alikand, including transporting Kai back from space via the moon roads. She scared off Dawn and Sybil at the end of Dead Country, and has been hunting them down ever since (to Tara’s displeasure). Via her gargoyle and somewhat avatar Shale she intervenes in Chartegnon, rescuing Kai and Tara from the Opera House and catacombs respectively.

SHALE

Appears in: Three Parts Dead, Four Roads Cross, Dead Country (briefly), Wicked Problems

Gargoyle, child of Seril, spy, poet, and fashionista. Been on the run since she ‘died’ in the God Wars, returning to Alt Coulumb in Three Parts Dead with his flight of gargoyle pals. Able to change form into a startlingly attractive young man. Initially views Tara as his nemesis because she stole his face, but they develop a grudging working relationship that turns into actual friendship through the series. Temporarily sacrificed himself to Firekeeper in order to free Caleb Altemoc and save his goddess in Four Roads Cross. Uses his spy skills to protect Tara from behind the scenes in Chartegnon, ultimately saving Tara and Kai from the Iskari and helping them escape from Clarity.

TARA ABERNATHY

Appears in: Three Parts Dead, Four Roads Cross, Ruin of Angels, Dead Country, Wicked Problems

Starts the series as a junior Craftswoman and recent graduate from the Hidden Schools out to prove herself. Stands up against injustice no matter the consequences, including trying to take down exploitative professor Alexander Denovo. Uncomfortable with the ethical sacrifice of working for a Craft firm, she turns down Elayne Kevarian’s job offer to become in-house counsel for the Church of Kos. Reluctant priestess of Seril. Doesn’t know her limits, and plays to win no matter the game. Building connections to try and stave off the end of the world, she ends up working with the Iskari in Agdel Lex, bound by contracts to work on a project she doesn’t believe in, so she can listen to sounds from beyond the stars. Skirting the edges of her contract to work with Kai and the delvers, she battles the God Wastes and helps save the city. For two years, she searches for evidence of the skazzerai and what might be coming for the Domain, but finds very little concrete - until she is recalled to her hometown for her father’s funeral. She begins to tutor Craft prodigy Dawn and ultimately uncovers some of Denovo’s work: he captured something of a Craft-god and tortured it. The Craft-god tries to eat Tara, until Dawn melds with it to save her; Tara tries to kill Dawn, but she escapes. Convinced that the risk Dawn poses is entirely her fault, she tries to hunt her down alone, but Tara’s friends and colleagues marshal around her for the adventure epic that is Wicked Problems. Rebel Craftswoman, reluctant priestess, with the weight of the world on her shoulders.

TEMOC ALMOTIL

Appears in: Last First Snow, Two Serpents Rise, Wicked Problems

The last Eagle Knight, trying to singlehandedly reform the Quechal religion and chart a new path for peace after years alone in the wilderness. Married to Mina with a young son, Caleb. Enemy of the King in Red, saved in the battle for Liberation by Elayne Kevarian. Chooses to go on the run after the Skittersill Rising. Sort of helps Caleb save the city from the Serpents by trying (and luckily failing) to sacrifice Teo. Locked up in Shenshan Prison in the Shining Empire for most of the ensuing time, until rescued by Dawn and the Arsenals. On their shared mission against the skazzerai, he becomes a fanatical devotee to her cause.

TEO BATAN

Appears in: Last First Snow, Full Fathom Five, Wicked Problems

Caleb’s best friend who will call him out on his shit (though he never listens). Contract manager at Red King Consolidated. Mostly estranged from her rich slumlord parents she’s mostly estranged from (see: Tan Batac in Last First Snow). Artist girlfriend, Sam. Survives a sacrifice attempt, which gives her access to some small amount of priestly powers. Works with Caleb in the Two Serpents Group. Works with Cat Elle to retrieve the shard of Seril from Kavekana’ai, posing as a potential pilgrim to Kavekana’ai. Dragged into the big plot of Wicked Problems by Caleb showing up at her doorstep in the middle of the night to borrow her golem-wagon (car). Had a torrid affair with ullamal player Zolin (incorrectly named as Tollan in Wicked Problems).

Important but less major characters

AEV

Appears in: Three Parts Dead, Four Roads Cross

Leader of the gargoyles / children of Seril. Works closely with Tara Abernathy. Will fight to the death to defend her goddess.

ALETHEA VANE

Appears in: Ruin of Angels, Wicked Problems (referenced)

Co-founder of Dreamspinner, happy to be funded by the Iskari and to destroy Alikand in favour of Agdel Lex. Ex-partner (business and sexual) of Ley Pohala. After Ruin of Angels, seems to have gone to work for Eberhardt Jax.

ALEXANDER DENOVO

Appears in: Three Parts Dead, Four Roads Cross, Dead Country (sort of)

A well-respected Craftsman teaching at the Hidden Schools after being blacklisted from major firms due to his unethical experiments in mind control. Academia is more okay with this, and protects Denovo over his students (like Tara). Wants to become a god. Misogynist. Killed by Elayne Kevarian, another former victim, in a way that can never be traced. While alive, he researched action networks and mindsculpting, and through his work captured the being that became Sybil by the Crack in the World.

BLUE LADY, THE / SEVEN ALPHA

Appears in: Full Fathom Five, Ruin of Angels, Wicked Problems (briefly)

An idol in the pool of Kavekana’ai that seemed to come to life; actually a mask for the real goddess in the pool, who was freed by her prophet Izza Jalai and became the Blue Lady. Goddess of the forgotten, the unwanted, the thieves and the refugees and the street kids, She played an integral role in the battle against the God Wastes, gaining power from the dying god remnants there. Not quite sure what she and Izza are up to at this point, but anticipate they’ll show up soon.

CARDINAL GUSTAVE

Appears in: Three Parts Dead

Senior priest of Kos who calls Elayne Kevarian to represent the Church. Up to Something with Denovo, and ultimately killed by his hubris.

CHEL PAXIL

Appears in: Last First Snow

One of Temoc’s close allies in the Skittersill who joins the negotiating committee. Hopeful for the future, but not naive. Willing to compromise and try to see other points of view. Killed in the fire bombing of Chakal Square, raised by Quechal gods as an angel, only to die again.

CLARITY

Appears in: Wicked Problems

Ancient vampire working with Eberhardt Jax, taking down potential weapons against the skazzerai. Can fly.

CONNOR CAVANAUGH

Appears in: Three Parts Dead (referenced, not by name), Dead Country

Tara’s old classmate - and new love interest. A quiet, helpful, generous man who is injured by edge storm, and saved when Tara destroys the Raiders’ curse. Left in Edgemont when Tara was rescued by Seril.

CORBIN RAFFERTY

Appears in: Four Roads Cross

Aggressive alcoholic man in Alt Coulumb, father of three girls. Gets caught up in Madeline Ramp’s plan to steal Denovo’s skull.

DAPHNE MAINS

Appears in: Three Parts Dead (referenced), Four Roads Cross, Dead Country (referenced), Wicked Problems (referenced)

Tara’s friend from the Hidden Schools, formerly catatonic due to Denovo messing with her mind. Revived by Madeline Ramp with a demon inside her in order to help take down Tara. Dies for good.

EBERHARDT JAX

Appears in: Ruin of Angels, Wicked Problems

Hot trans billionaire working with Dreamspinner and the Iskari to send a probe into space. Ambitious, but conflicted in Agdel Lex; far less conflicted when we next see him in Wicked Problems. Up to Something Bad with Clarity and the gray men.

EDMOND MARGOT

Appears in: Full Fathom Five

Poet from Iskar, unintentional prophet for the Blue Lady, martyr for her cause.

ELLEN RAFFERTY

Appears in: Four Roads Cross, Dead Country (referenced)

Teenager, middle of three sisters. Prayed to Seril, was rescued by Shale, and became something of a lay priestess.

EVANGELINE BESCOND

Appears in: Ruin of Angels

Lieutenant in the Rectification Authority. Searching for Ley, and the knife she stole.

GAL

Appears in: Ruin of Angels

Knight of Camlaan, living up to the good side of the legends and going against the bad. Beautiful, dangerous, literal.

GAVRIEL ‘GABBY’ JONES

Appears in: Four Roads Cross

Journalist / singer in Alt Coulumb. Formerly of Dresediel Lex until she witnessed the Skittersill Rising and its brutal suppression. Investigating reports that Seril and Her children have returned.

GAVVI FONTAINE

Appears in: Ruin of Angels

Iskari banker who invited Kai to Agdel Lex. Constantly high to hide that she’s working with Ley Pohala against the Iskari Rectification Authority.

GRAFTON CAVANAUGH

Appears in: Dead Country

Connor’s father and John’s best friend. Loathes the Craft in general, and Tara specifically. Angry and spiteful, but has a softer side shown when he embraces his lover, Pastor Merrott.

GRIMWALD

Appears in: Four Roads Cross, Full Fathom Five, Wicked Problems

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ISAAK BONVENTURE

Appears in: Ruin of Angels

Izza’s childhood friend. Massively augmented to be super strong, and also reptilian. It’s a thing. Diehard believer of the Blue Lady.

JASON ‘JACE’ KOL

Appears in: Full Fathom Five

CEO (for lack of a better turn) of the Sacerdotal Order of Kavekana. Claims to be working for the greater good, but killing idols that become sentient.

JOHN ABERNATHY

Appears in: Three Parts Dead, Dead Country

Tara’s gentle father. As a young man he left home searching for adventure, and found both love and war. Teacher. Recently killed by Raiders when saving Connor’s life.

KAL ALAXIC

Appears in: Last First Snow, Two Serpents Rise

Priest turned Craftsman, CEO of Heartstone - and thorn in Kopil’s side. Found and used the Serpents. Clearly evil plans. Adopted Mal Kekapania and Allesandre Olim to raise them as warriors in his cause.

KOS EVERBURNING

Appears in: Three Parts Dead, Four Roads Cross, Wicked Problems

Fire lord of Alt Coulumb, stayed neutral in the God Wars and has reaped the benefits since. Lover of Seril (not a euphemism). A nice kind of god. Metaphorically burned by the betrayal of Cardinal Gustave in Three Parts Dead and leaning rather heavily on Abelard. Through Abelard, used Caleb Altemoc as a general purpose saint against the gray men.

LEY POHALA

Appears in: Ruin of Angels, Wicked Problems (referenced)

Kai’s sister. Founder of Dreamspinner, a start-up in what we’d call tech and the Domain calls art. Has backstabbed a lot of people. Ultimately helps save the city and gets back with Zeddig Hala for good (appears to be considering adopting a child, to Kai’s horror).

MADELINE RAMP

Appears in: Four Roads Cross

Opposition Craftswoman trying to take down Seril. Close colleague of Alexander Denovo, trying to continue his work.

MAJOR, THE

Appears in: Last First Snow

Armoured, faceless, militant leader who ideologically clashes with Temoc. Trans. Willing sacrifice for the gods.

MAL KEKAPANIA

Appears in: Last First Snow (referenced), Two Serpents Rise, Wicked Problems

Craftswoman for Heartstone. Cliffrunner and adrenaline junkie. Daughter of two people who were killed in the Skittersill Rising. Motives and loyalties supposed to be mysterious but plainly bad in her first outing. Caleb is slightly obsessed with her. Thought to have died at the end of Two Serpents Rise, but survived and became a mercenary for hire. Hired to steal the skazzerai shard at the spirecliffs, and abducts Dawn when she claims the shard. Becomes a believer in Dawn and her power, leading the Arsenals. Captured by the King in Red at the end of Wicked Problems. Considered by the Quechal religion to be married to Caleb Altemoc.

MAKO

Appears in: Full Fathom Five

Blind and scarred God Wars veteran living above a poetry slam bar at the beach. Secret identity as being formerly the god Makawe.

MATT ADORNE

Appears in: Four Roads Cross, Dead Country (referenced)

Egg seller in the Paupers Quarter Market. Friendly with Tara Abernathy. Becomes embroiled in the Seril Matter by helping out his neighbour’s daughters. Father of two sons.

MINA ALMOTIL

Appears in: Last First Snow, Wicked Problems

Archaeologist / anthropologist who met Temoc in the wilderness and convinced him there was a place for him in the post-God Wars future. Raised their son, Caleb, mostly alone after Temoc went on the run after the Skittersill Rising. Still in love with Temoc.

PASTOR MERROTT

Appears in: Dead Country

The relatively young priest of Edgemont. Open to Tara and the Craft. Appears to be in a relationship with Grafton Cavanaugh.

RAYMET HAAZ

Appears in: Ruin of Angels

Grad school friend of Zeddig’s, part of her crew pulling heists in the dead city but not from the same background. Academic. In love with Gal.

SYBIL

Appears in: Dead Country (sort of), Wicked Problems

Embodiment of the Craft-god that merged with Dawn, shaped like a serpent of various sizes, usually invisible to everyone except Dawn.

TAN BATAC

Appears in: Last First Snow, Two Serpents Rise (referenced)

Slumlord turned real estate tycoon, represents financial interests in the Skittersill.

VALENTINE NGOYE ABERNATHY

Appears in: Three Parts Dead, Dead Country

Tara’s formidable mother. Chased from her home in Alt Selene by God Wars horrors, finding peace in her husband’s small hometown. Teacher. In Alt Coulumb at the end of Dead Country, but not seen since.

ZEDDIG HALA

Appears in: Ruin of Angels, Wicked Problems (referenced)

Daughter of an ancient High Family of Alikand, trying to regain her family’s legacy by delving into a dangerous, dead city and take down the Iskari occupying force.