SEA OF GHOSTS: CHAPTERS 15 - 17

WARNING: SPOILERS: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK.

          What is brine? Where do the Unmar get their power from? What is Trove? Where did the Dead Ship's power originate from? What is Ianthe? All these question were answered in the last three chapters and I have to say, I loved the answers! There's a building mythology here, one that goes deeper than the seemingly everyday fantasy novel I expected from Sea of Ghosts. What I got was a averagely paced three chapters that answers questions and highlight a history - there are bigger threats than Ethan, Hu or Marks. The Entropists.

     With these chapters enlightening me to the true scale of the world Alan Campbell has developed  I very much doubt this last chapter will conclude the story of Granger and Ianthe. I'm both pleased and frustrated by that possibility!

Oh and as a note, besides the Chapter summary, not much has changed character wise... everyone is the same mess they were in the previous chapters. However there were a few new characters introduced - all of which served there shallow purpose (Story telling, betrayal etc)

WARNING: (SPOILER ALERT. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK,

DO NOT READ ON!)

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 15 SUMMARY

• Granger wakes to find an Unmar station. He enters to find bones and humming rooms.
• Granger enters a tall room with defying gravity. He sees a pedestal and crystal and picks up a sword.
• Multiple copies of Granger appear, doppelgänger moving in unison and identical in appearance.
• Herian (Unmar) appears to explain sword and reveal truths about Brine and deal with entropaths
• An entropath starts to manifest as Granger beats Herian, fights wolfs and attacks invincible woman.
• Granger gets in Unmar chariot and tries to fly away – the entropath brings him down – they survive.
• He takes the crystal powering her, and escapes taking Herian with him
• Granger and Herian fly towards Awl – Granger wants to learn how to use the Replicating Sword.
• Ianthe stands in judgement of crimes – Regina and Constance are dead.– they accept her.
• Ianthe is taken to the Unmar dungeons to view leucomised Unmar and The Zoo to see free Unmar .
• She is taken to find an Unmar to practice on.

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 16 SUMMARY

• Ianthe and Marks arrive at Awl, where they take horse and carriage to Guild Palace.
• Sister Ulla tests Ianthe and puts her in a class in Guild.
• Ianthe is late for supper in feast room, Ulla is angry and Ianthe runs back to dorm upset.
• Ianthe struggles to sleep as other students converse, Aria wakes her up to see how she is.
• Ianthe is in test lab. Ulla asks her to kill frog with powers. Aria is outside and persuades her to leave.
• Ianthe and Aria get in fight with Regina and Constance. Ianthe accidentally disables them both with powers.
• Marks speak with Ethan about his Unmar theories. There could be another alien race angry at them.

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 17 SUMMARY

• Ethan sends letter to Lucille. Ethan receives coded letter telling him he is to be executed.
• Ethan escapes using flying lantern given by associate. He flies to an inn to meet Captain Howlish.
• Granger forces Herian to explain what each Unmar device did. Herian sleeps and Granger leaves.
• Ianthe is tasked with torturing Unmar inside the torture room with Marks.
• Ianthe fails and then refuses, tries but can’t leave, unleashing a catastrophic psychic energy.
• Marks, Mara, Ulla and other discuss Ianthe – they decide to examine and torture her.
• Ianthe wakes from nightmare to Aria – Aria helps her make an escape.
• Aria leads her to a torture room with Mara and locks the door – Ianthe betrayed her.

CHARACTER NOTES

NOTE: UPDATED AND NEW INFORMATION IS HIGHLIGHTED IN BOLD

PRIMARY PROTAGONIST - COLONEL THOMAS GRANGER aka. SWINEKICKER

• Middle aged man.
• Father of Ianthe.
• Once an Imperial, now a Prison owner.
• Dependable, strong build - worn over year (exposure to grime)
• Long dark hair, Chiselled face.
• Burn on his right shoulder - Sea Bottle water exposure.
• Weapon: Hand Cannons, Leadership
• Clothing: Imperial (Braces, Buckles, Dragon Bone). Whale-skin cloaks, goggles and gloves. Galoshes.
• Carries a Gem Lantern (Green, Blue?)
• (Post-Trial) Sword slices on right shoulder, on thigh through breaches, back of right rist.
• (Post-Trial) Sword puncture on left.
• (Post-Trial) Sharkskin burns on face and arms.
• (Chapter 12) Hair fallen out.
• (Chapter 13) Void flies wounds on ear and left elbow.

HANA (MOTHER) (DEAD)

• Middle aged woman.
• Mother of Ianthe.
• Long, jet black hair - covers most of face.
• Olive skin, pale blue eyes.
• Once beautiful. Now worn, aged, battered, bruised and cut.
• Dried bloodied bottom lip.
• Clothing: Boots. Peasant wear - torn and filthy. Shackles.
• ALT Clothing: Ankle length peach satin frocks - silvery sparkles (front). Fancy lace frills.
• Selfless, independent, strong, proud, hopeful.

PRIMARY PROTAGONIST - HANA (MOTHER DROWNED)

• Middle aged drowned..
• Once mother of Ianthe.
• Long, jet black hair - covers most of face.
• Pale skin, pale blue eyes.
• Corpse like - sharkskin, wounded, withered.
• Clothing: Worn ankle length peach satin frock - silvery sparkles (front). Fancy lace frills.

PRIMARY PROTAGONIST - IANTHE (DAUGHTER)

• 16 Years Old
• Daughter of Hana.
• Beautiful girl - slender
• Jet black hair, dark eyebrows - tapered to point.
• Olive skin, pale blue eyes, full lips, slender nose, tiny bump on nose.
• Stunted height.
• Clothing: Ankle length pink and yellow striped satin frock - puffy arms. Fancy lace frills.
• Weapons: Heightened senses.
• Angry, judgemental, resentful, strong, resilient.

ANTAGONIST - ETHAN MASKELYNE

• Middle aged man (50-60 Years old?).
• Egotistical, psychopathic, delirious and self-obsessed.
• Has Wife Lucille and son Jotney.
• Unofficial boss of Ethugra - extortionist.
• Tall, skeletal, scrawny neck, lean, green eyes and long cadaverous face.
• White hair - yellowed by brine exposure.
• Current and fashionable.
• Brine spots on back of hands.
• Clothing: Padded, gold tunic embroidered with steel wire.
• Weapons: Leadership, extortion, Hookmen, Blunderbuss, Void Flies.
• (Chapter 13): Unshaven, dirty, painfully gaunt, dark eyes.

LUCILLE MASKELYNE

• Middle aged woman.
• Wife of Ethans and mother of Jotney.
• 'Queen' like. Auburn hair, bright blue eyes, slender.
• Caring or manipulative? Good cop, bad cop?
• Pale arms (skin).
• Clothing: Simple white dress.
• (Chapter 13): Bruised and beaten.

ANTAGONIST - EMPORER JILAK HU

• Elderly man.
• Emperor of Losotto.
• Ghoulish in his looks - long, white face, powdery blue cheeks and a pointy chin.
• Thin chest, straw like, long silver hair.
• Relentless, cold and vengeful.
• Misogynist.
• Weapons: The Haurstaf, Transient Sword (Tangerine).
• Clothing (Events): Gold battle armour, Copper crown (Crystal Dragon Eyes), Long Red Cape
• Clothing: (Execution) Platinum Mail (shimmering), Crown (Dragon Eyes), Long Red Cape

ANTAGONIST - BARTLE (HOOKMEN LEADER)

• Middle aged (30-40 years old?).
• Greasy hair and wide brown teeth.
• Intimidating. 'Loan shark' like.
• Short but well built - musculus.
• Sharkskin covers most of forearms - cracked skin.
• Weapons: Harpoons, Gutting knives (various sizes, shapes and functions).
• Clothing: Bulky whalers oilskins.

ANTAGONIST - SOMAROL

• Unknown Age
• Great in size, no flesh on face - skull exposed.
• Inhuman skill/ movements
• Eye sockets. Nasal opening covered by brass plate.
• Clothing: Helmet - Executioners Mask
• Weapons: Rifle and Unmar Knife

IDA (CIVILIAN)

• Middle-aged woman.
• Independent, imaginative, curious, kind, brave, selfless.
• Upper class, elegant, traveller.
• Tall and slender.
• Clothing: Wears extravagant dresses.

UMNAR GIRL

• Young, timid Unmar girl.
• Lives in Unmar Ghetto.
• Owns a metal doll.
• Dark mysterious eyes.
• Tattered and dirty.
• Clothing: Wears filthy blood red dress and shoes.

ARGUSTO (BOWMAN)

• Middle aged Unmar .
• Weapons: Bow, Arrows, Magic and Potions.
• Tied back white hair, sharp facial features.
• Wears soft make-up.
• Clothing: Jewel studied attire, black breaches, sandals.
• Has dragon named Yva.

YVA (DRAGON)

• Extravagant dragon (once human).
• Umnar magic unveiled beastery form.
• Sixty feet long.
• White and silver plated suit of Armour.
• Wings glisten like a rainbow, burning red eyes, bared white teeth.
• Unhealthy addiction to sharkskin and sea water.

SERGEANT WILLIAM PATRICK CREEDY (DEAD - CHAPTER 9)

• Middle aged man.
• Brutish, big and brawny - has Boxers face
• Has war wounds - sharkskin jaw, missing/ fake blue eye and missing ear.
• Has Gravedigger tattoo on back of neck.
• Cocky, confrontational and berserk. Traitor.
• Weapons: Large Hand Cannon.
• Clothing: Imperial Outfit, Whale-skin cloaks, goggles and gloves.

PRIVATE MERRAD BANKS (DEAD - CHAPTER 10)

• Young adult male.
• Short, dark hair.
• Least chiselled in his looks - slender.
• The 'Scout' of the group.
• Independent, observant and intelligent.
• Colonel Granger's favourite.
• (Post-Trial) Cheeks  hollow, anaemic skin, bruised under eyes.
• Clothing: (Trial) Steel hauberks, boiled leathers, capped helmets, nose & cheek guards
• Weapons: (Trial) Standard issue short sword (Left Hand), bucklet (Right Hand).

ABLE SEAMAS GERHARD/SAWN TUMMEL  (DEAD - CHAPTER 10)

• Young adult males.
• Brothers - almost identical.
• Thin bodies and faces.
• Scruffy black hair.
• The comedy due of the Gravediggers.
• 'Snipers' of the group.
• (Post-Trial) Old and wretched (look ten years older) - rheumy eyes.
• (Post-Trial) Toothless, sagging, stubbled face.
• (Post-Trial) Corpse like.
• Clothing: (Trial) Steel hauberks, boiled leathers, capped helmets, nose & cheek guards
• Weapons: (Trial) Standard issue short sword (Left Hand), bucklet (Right Hand).

PROTAGONIST - SISTER BRIANA MARKS (THE WITCH)

• Young/ middle aged (6 Years later) adult female.
• Haurstaf witch (psychic) - Hu's top adviser.
• Slender and attractive - "striking".
• Dominating, friendly, selfless.
• (Post-Trial) Cynical, Callass, Judgemental, Superior Self-Image
• Has addiction to poppy water.
• (Post-Trial) Aged noticeably
• (Post-Trial) Frown lines
• (Post-Trial) Clothing: Long coat with tails.
• Clothing: (Trial) Steel hauberks, boiled leathers, capped helmets, nose & cheek guards
• Clothing: (Chapter 13) White padded, woollen tunic, White breeches, Spider silk blouse, Ruby Necklace
• Weapons: (Trial) Standard issue short sword (Left Hand), bucklet (Right Hand).

ADMINISTRATOR GRECH

• Old age (60-70 years Old?).
• Older, mustier, deformed spine, prominent nose like knuckle, eyebrows like clods of wool.
• Drag on foot.
• Clothing: Courtroom wig, Long black coat.

THE DROWNED

• All ages.
• Once humans - drowned by Trovers (more than likely).
• Exposed to poisoned and rising waters - bodies die, then personalities.
• Wander and follow eternally.

HERIAN (UNMAR  STATION OPERATOR)

• Old, withered Unmar .
• Short, stooped and grey.
• Leucotomy scar on head, prodigious nose, Tufts of yellow hair.
• Clothing: Old suit of mail too big for him, simple tin crown sitting on brow.
• Weapons: Rifle, Unmar Weaponry, Entropists.

ARIA (HAURSTAF STUDENT)

• Teenage Haurstaf student.
• Fat and ginger.
• Nice and caring.

CONSTANCE (HAURSTAF STUDENT)

• Teenage Haurstaf student.
• Tiny blonde imp, arrogance posture, blue eyes, pretty.
• Bully, evil, jealous, rebel, sick minded.

SISTER ULLA

• Old Haurstaf tutor.
• No larger than a child.
• Hair in grey knuckle behind head, restless eyes.
• Arms full of books.
• Bitter, angry, strict, relentless.

Sea of Ghosts (Gravedigger Chronicles 1) (2012) by Alan Campbell - £5.62

NEXT POST: SEA OF GHOSTS: CHAPTERS 18 - EPILOGUE