SEA OF GHOSTS: CHAPTERS 6 - 8

          Well, that's the next three chapters finished and I'm telling you now. This book is amazing! The story takes the turns you expect it to turn away from and hits you at every arc. The character dynamics and motives are only deepening and the world Alan Campbell is crafting is only becoming more engrossing  There's something to be said about a book that I would usually avoid, completely wining me over in the first 8 chapters. Roll on chapters 9 to 11! 

Anyhow, as usual, my summaries and character notes are below.

WARNING: (SPOILER ALERT. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK,
DO NOT READ ON!)

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 6 SUMMARY 

• Granger, Creedy and Ianthe set back out to hunt for Trove.
• Creedy demands to hunt at Helt - they find an Olea worth thousands .
• Granger sits on roof with Ianthe and Hana. Ianthe describes powers, Granger gives them clothes.
• Creed wakes Granger - he found a potential buyer. A jailed collector.
• Creedy takes Granger to Imperial prison, he is let in and taken to the cell.
• Truan greets Granger, he is the potential buyer who owns the prison cell.
• Granger is told it's worth 25 gilders. As Granger leaves he is offered 50 gilders.
• Granger patronizes jailer and realises Truan is actually Ethan Maskelyne - Creedy lied.
• Granger flees, evades pursuers and forces a boat owner to take him home.
• Granger realises jail has been trashed, Ianthe is kidnapped and Hana lies in water.
• Hana says who took Ianthe, succumbs to her fate - Granger drowns her.
• Hookmen arrive to find Granger. Granger hides Hana and fights with Bartle - he loses.

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 7 SUMMARY

• Granger is taken to Ethan. Granger assault is prevented by guards.
• Granger is jailed to await trial and execution.
• Hana is hung to dry and die under Granger's cell - prompting cell escape attempt.
• Granger fakes suicide with mannequin. Guard checks on him, Granger holds him hostage.
• Granger escapes, reaches Hana and tries to end her life but is stopped by Bartle.
• Ethan is angered, checks on Granger in cell - he's hung himself for real, but attacks guard when awake.
• Ethan has Umnar sorcery - it disables Granger but only makes Ethan bleed.
• Granger is back in cell, Hana dies. They pose her body, making a mockery of her.
• Granger finishes letter to Haurstaf and throws it from cell - fisherman finds it.

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 8 SUMMARY

• Ianthe is captured. She inhabits the mind of a Submariner.
• He dove 5 fathoms to a city ruin - he finds a Dragon skeleton, a Bathysphere and a Skybarque.
• Ethan sent diver - Ianthe can see Hana if she finds similar Umnar - she knows it's lies, but restrains herself.
• Ethan uses unheard of (and rare) balm over brine burn - it heals instantly!
• Ianthe is taken to control room and talks with Ethan.
• Lucille, Ethan's wife, walks in with son Jotney and offers Ianthe generosity.
• Ianthe senses dragon approaching - the dragon owns the Umnar - it attacks and kills crew.
• Ethan speaks to it in Umnar. He kills it instantly with Umnar ammunition.

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, Chiseled face.
• Burn on his right shoulder - Sea Bottle water exposure.
• Weapon: Hand Cannons, Leadership
• Clothing: Imperial (Braces, Buckles, Dragon Bone). Whaleskin cloaks, goggles and gloves. Galoshes.
• Carries a Gem Lantern (Green, Blue?)

PRIMARY PROTAGONIST - HANA (MOTHER)

• 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, psychopathics 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.

ANTAGONIST? - 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.

ANTAGONIST? - EMPORER JILAK HU

• Elderly man.
• Emperor of Losott.
• Ghoulish in his looks - long, white face, powdery blue cheeks and a pointy chin.
• Thin, straw like, long silver hair.
• Relentless, cold and vengeful. 
• Misogynist.
• Weapons: The Haurstaf

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.

IDA (PEDESTRIAN) 

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

UMNAR GIRL  

• Young, timid Umnar girl.
• Lives in Umnar Ghettho.
• Owns a metal doll.
• Dark mysterious eyes.
• Tattered and dirty.
• Clothing: Wears filthy blood red tress and shes.

ARGUSTO (BOWMAN)

• Middle aged Umnar.
• Weapons: Bow, Arrows, Magic and Potions.
• Tied back white hair, sharp facial features.
• Wears soft makeup.
• 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

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

PRIVATE MERRAD BANKS

• Young adult male.
• Short, dark hair.
• Least chiseled in his looks - slender.
• The 'Scout' of the group.
• Independent, observant and intelligent.
• Colonel Granger's favourite.

ABLE SEAMAS GERHARD/SAWN TUMMEL

• Young adult males.
• Brothers - almost identical.
• Thin bodies and faces.
• Scruffy black hair.
• The comedy due of the Gravediggers.
• 'Snipers' of the group.

SISTER BRIANA MARKS (THE WITCH)

• Young adult female.
• Haurstaf witch (psychic) - Hu's top adviser.
• Slender and attractive - "striking".
• Dominating, ffriendly, selfless.

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.
• Copse like features -  skeletal, white skinned, withered skin and rotten

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

 NEXT POST: SEA OF GHOSTS: CHAPTERS 9 - 11