Well researched fantasy that is often closer to the truth of the colonialist empires of our past that one would like to admit. Seth Dickonsons worldbuilding ideas are just delicious from the marines of the masquerade to the cancrioth (which is just the coolest concept I have read about in years). The cultural space of the ashen sea seams plausible and fluid with cultures intermingled and fluid. This is a refreshing contrast to „classical“ fantasy world were culture and heritage are often monolithic and unchanging over centuries. Together with the broken earth trilogy this is one of the best fantasy series of the new century.