If you were drawn to Ash’s fierce pragmatism and shifting loyalties as she navigates war and betrayal, you’ll find the mercenary Rodrigo Belmonte and physician Ammar ibn Khairan just as compelling. The Lions of Al-Rassan weaves together the fates of characters whose ethics are constantly tested by love, faith, and political ambition, offering the same nuanced exploration of what it means to be a hero in a fractured world.

If you loved how Ash spanned continents and centuries, blending alternate history with myth, you’ll be swept up by The Darkness That Comes Before. Bakker’s world is immense, with empires clashing, religions warring, and secrets echoing through time—much like Mary Gentle’s ambitious scope and intricate plotting.

If you were fascinated by the layers of Ash’s Europe—its alternate history, mysterious miracles, and detailed military culture—The Curse of Chalion will captivate you. Bujold builds a richly textured world where politics, faith, and magic intertwine, and every detail of Chalion feels as lived-in and real as Ash’s Burgundian battlefields.

If Ash’s tangled alliances, betrayals, and the tension between duty and loyalty hooked you, The Traitor Baru Cormorant is for you. Baru’s struggle to undermine an oppressive empire from within, using her wits and ambition, echoes Ash’s own battles with fate, faith, and the shifting tides of power.

Ash doesn’t flinch from the brutality of medieval warfare or the psychological toll it takes. In The Steel Remains, you’ll find the same unvarnished portrayal of violence and trauma, following Ringil Eskiath as he confronts monsters—both literal and human—in a world as grim and uncompromising as Ash’s own.