Aquasilva
#11683.35 adjusted 3.58 for sample size in the official ranking · full ranking
Books 4 books Status Unfinished 2001–2007 Reading commitment Medium Anselm Audley Last reviewed 2026-11-04
Overview
Aquasilva is a fantasy world created by British author Anselm Audley, who began the books at school; the first, Heresy, appeared in 2001 from Simon & Schuster UK. The planet is a stormy waterworld of islands and maritime cities where the Domain, a priesthood devoted to Fire, holds power and treats other magic as heresy. The Aquasilva Trilogy (Heresy, Inquisition, Crusade; 2001 to 2003) follows Cathan, an adopted count's son who joins the resistance. Vespera (2007) is set forty years later in the port city of Vespera. Nothing further in this world has been announced.
Epic fantasy · For Adult
Core Canon: Reading Order (4 works) counts toward ranking
Aquasilva Trilogy Anselm Audley
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Heresy | 2001 | 1 | core | 3.41 (646 ratings) |
 | Inquisition | 2002 | 2 | core | 3.38 (482 ratings) |
 | Crusade | 2003 | 3 | core | 3.25 (415 ratings) |
Cathan of Lepidor resists the fire-worshipping Domain on the waterworld of Aquasilva.
Vespera Anselm Audley
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vespera; First released as an electronic edition in 2007. | 2007 | 1 | core | 3.17 (66 ratings) |
A standalone novel set forty years after the trilogy, in the port city of Vespera.
Quick answers
- How many books are in Aquasilva? Aquasilva's Core Canon is 4 books.
- What is the reading order for Aquasilva? Publication order, starting with Heresy. Full list and years in the Core Canon table above.
- Is Aquasilva finished? Unfinished (2001–2007).
- How much reading does Aquasilva take? Medium reading commitment (estimated from 4 Core Canon books).
- How is Aquasilva ranked? #1168 in this site's official ranking, based on 1,609 reader ratings across 4 Core Canon books. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #1168?
Ranked #1168 in the official ranking.
- Average reader rating of 3.35 across 4 core books.
- A smaller readership (1,609 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- 0.14 behind #1167, Sour Cherry.
- Below the top-10 average of 4.46.
Why explore this universe?
Modestly rated · 4 books · Unfinished · 2k ratings · Ranks #1168 overall
Good choice if you want a moderate-length epic fantasy universe.
Reading order
Publication order (4 Core Canon books)
- Heresy (2001)
- Inquisition (2002)
- Crusade (2003)
- Vespera (2007)
Documented internal/story order
- Heresy (2001)
- Vespera (2007)
- Inquisition (2002)
- Crusade (2003)
Awards (verified)
- No awards found for this universe.
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Suggestions computed from what Aquasilva and each of these worlds have in common on record (subgenre, audience, shape, reading commitment and score), not a documented narrative connection.
- Blood and Stone Epic fantasy · Unfinished · Medium commitment · 3.45
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- Black Jewels Dark fantasy / Epic fantasy · Ongoing · Medium commitment · 4.15
- Saga of Pliocene Exile Epic fantasy · Complete · Medium commitment · 4.13
Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 3.35 across 1,609 ratings on 4 Core Canon books. See Why is it ranked here? above for the full breakdown, or the full ranking.
How do we know this?
Admission: Canon Extension: 20 universes from the candidate register; 2 candidates ruled out accepted 2026-11-04
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
- Anselm Audley - books page Tier 2
- Wikipedia - Anselm Audley Tier 2
- infinity plus - Aquasilva review Tier 2
- Rising Shadow - Vespera Tier 2
Last reviewed: 2026-11-04
Rule: Core Canon = the Aquasilva Trilogy, Heresy (2001) to Crusade (2003), plus the sequel novel Vespera (2007).