Ash and Sand
#394.30 of 664 ranked universes · full ranking
Books 3 books Status Complete 2017–2020 Reading commitment Medium Richard Nell Last reviewed 2026-08-29
Overview
A completed grimdark epic fantasy trilogy told across two rival cultures: the Southeast Asian-inspired island nation of Sri Kon (also called Pyu) and Ascom, a frozen wasteland modelled on the harsh, Nordic-influenced world of the Ascomanni. The story follows a barbarian prophet, a sorcerer prince, and a peasant-born priestess whose paths converge as their two very different worlds collide.
Grimdark, Epic fantasy · For Adult
Core Canon: Reading Order (3 works) counts toward ranking
Ash and Sand Richard Nell
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Kings of Paradise | 2017 | 1 | core | 4.16 (4,438 ratings) |
 | Kings of Ash | 2018 | 2 | core | 4.37 (2,733 ratings) |
 | Kings of Heaven | 2020 | 3 | core | 4.51 (2,191 ratings) |
Self-published grimdark epic fantasy trilogy blending Southeast Asian and Nordic-inspired settings (the island nation of Sri Kon/Pyu and the frozen wasteland of Ascom).
Quick answers
- How many books are in Ash and Sand? Ash and Sand's Core Canon is 3 books.
- What is the reading order for Ash and Sand? Publication order, starting with Kings of Paradise. Full list and years in the Core Canon table above.
- Is Ash and Sand finished? Complete (2017–2020).
- How much reading does Ash and Sand take? Medium reading commitment (estimated from 3 Core Canon books · ~1,684 pages).
- How is Ash and Sand ranked? #39 of 664 ranked universes on this site, based on 9,362 reader ratings across 3 Core Canon books. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #39?
Ranked #39 of 664 ranked universes.
- Average reader rating of 4.30 across 3 core books.
- A smaller readership (9,362 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- Less than 0.01 behind #38, Ranger's Apprentice (a finer tie-break level decides the order).
- Below the top-10 average of 4.45.
Why explore this universe?
Top-tier rated · 3 books · Complete · 9k ratings · Ranks #39 overall
Good choice if you want a moderate-length grimdark fantasy universe that's already finished, so there's no wait for the next book.
Reading order
Publication order (3 Core Canon books)
- Kings of Paradise (2017)
- Kings of Ash (2018)
- Kings of Heaven (2020)
Documented internal/story chronology is recorded for every Core Canon book here, and matches publication order exactly, with no divergence to show separately.
Awards (verified)
- No awards found for this universe.
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Suggestions computed from what Ash and Sand and each of these worlds have in common on record (subgenre, audience, shape, reading commitment and score), not a documented narrative connection.
- Empire of the Vampire Grimdark · Complete · Medium commitment · 4.42
- The Faithful and the Fallen Epic fantasy · Complete · Medium commitment · 4.38
- Shadow of the Leviathan Epic fantasy · Ongoing · Medium commitment · 4.35
- The Bound and the Broken Epic fantasy · Ongoing · Medium commitment · 4.33
Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 4.30 across 9,362 ratings on 3 Core Canon books. See Why is it ranked here? above for the full breakdown, or the full ranking.
How do we know this?
Admission: Admit Ash and Sand (Richard Nell) accepted 2026-08-29
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
- Series reader-rating page Tier 1
- Grimdark Magazine review Tier 3
Last reviewed: 2026-08-29
Rule: All three novels form one continuous trilogy and are Core Canon; no Expanded Canon material exists for this universe.