Planet: Fantasy Book Podcast

Published in 1995 by American author Robin Hobb, this is the first book set in the universe of the Realm of the Enderlings, which is composed of a staggering 19 books. Assassin’s Apprentice currently sits at 4.1 stars out of 5 on GoodReads, a rating composed from over 331,000 ratings. Article mentioned: https://fanlore.org/wiki/The_Fan_Fiction_Rant

Published in 2015 by American Author Pierce Brown, Golden Son is the sequel to the novel Red Rising, making it the second book in the Red Rising saga. The novel continues the story of Darrow as he seeks to infiltrate and destroy from within the society that oppressed his family and killed his wife. The novel has a rating of 4.46 stars out of 5 on GoodReads, which places it slightly above the first book. It placed #6 on the New York Times best-seller list, and won the 2015 Good Reads choice award for science fiction. The rating was accumulated from over 259,000 ratings.

Published in 2020 by American author P. Djèlí Clark, Ring Shout is a historical southern gothic fantasy/horror novella that was nominated and won multiple awards and categories, including the 2020 Nebula Award for best novella. It was also nominated for the best horror category of 2020 on GoodReads.com. The story occurs in 1922 Macon, Georgia, where a monster butcher and his demon minions called “Ku Kluxes” are growing in power and influence within the human world and only the protagonist Maryse Boudreaux, a young black woman chosen by ancestral spirits, can thwart their plans. The book is rated 4 stars out of 5 on goodreads, a rating averaged from over 34,000 reviews.

Published in 2007 by American author Dan Simmons, The Terror describes an arctic adventure that descends into death and, obviously, terror. Based on the real-life story of what is called ‘The Franklin Expedition,’ Dan Simmons imagines a story that, for all we know, could have actually happened to the two ships and the 129 souls aboard. The Terror is rated four stars on Goodreads, a score that was taken from over 61,000 ratings. 

Published in 2018 by American author Christopher Ruocchio, Empire of Silence is the first book in a series of six called the Sun Eater series. The story is described by the author as a space opera, as readers follow an exiled young prince named Hadrian as he flees the path chosen for him by his governor father and instead seeks to create his own life among the stars. The book is rated 4 stars out of 5 on GoodReads, gathered from over 11,000 ratings. #suneater #empireofsilence #christopherruocchio #fiction #bookreview #books #booktube #scifi #fantasy

 Published ten years ago in 2014 by American author Pierce Brown, Red Rising is the first of the Red Rising Saga, a series of six books, with the seventh book, called Red God, expected to be released some time next year in 2025. The first book follows a young male protagonist named Darrow as he transitions from an existence as little more than a subterranean slave into an elite citizen fighting for glory within a wilderness gladiatorial arena. If that sentence is strange to you, now you know how I feel as I read the story. The book is rated 4.2 stars out of 5 on GoodReads, a review accumulated from over 41,000 reviews. #scifi #redrising #piercebrown #fiction

Published in 2001 by American author Lois McMaster Bujold, The Curse of Chalion is the first in a series called the ‘World of the Five Gods,’ which consists of four novels and eleven novellas. The story follows the exploits of a ruined man named Cazaril as he finds himself entangled in a complex succession plot as the secretary of a princess in line to inherit the throne of the land of Chalion. Curse of Chalion currently sits at 4.1 stars out of 5 on Goodreads, which was accumulated from over 38,000 ratings. This review is accompanied by art from the series on my Youtube channel, and if you like this podcast, please like and subscribe on Youtube and Spotify. #fantasy #books #chalion #bujold #bookreview

Published in 2023 by American author Martha Wells, Witch King is the story of a man named Kaii searching for both friends and answers. After he awakens from a magical underwater stasis, Kaii travels the world with his friend Ziede, a witch with the power to control air spirits, and together they search for her wife and brother-in-law. Along the way, they encounter magical warriors who threaten to thwart their plans and flashbacks tell the story of Kaii’s demonic origins and the means by which he was imprisoned. Witch King is currently rated 3.7 stars out of 5 on GoodReads, a rating taken from over 13,000 reviews. I have to admit, I almost did not finish this book. I attempted to read it before I read Jade City but I stopped reading around page sixty to read that book instead. But I was intrigued enough by the beginning of the book to come back to it a few weeks later and I am glad that I did, for reasons I’ll cover in this review. The New York Times rated this book as one of the top ten fantasy books of 2023 and I have to admit, I just don’t see it. I give Witch King two stars out of five, and here is why.

Published in 2017 by Canadian-American author Fonda Lee, Jade City is a fantasy novel set in an Asian-inspired island nation amid boiling political strife and street war between the country’s two largest family clans. Included on Time’s 2022 list of the best fantasy books of all time, Jade City is the first of a gangster trilogy called the Green Bone Saga. The book currently sits at 4.1 stars out of 5 on Goodreads, a score accumulated from over 59,000 ratings. #fantasty #urbanfantasy #bookreview #storyart #jadecity #fondalee #books #booktube

Published in print in 1971 by American author William Peter Blatty and adapted for film in 1973, The Exorcist represents a benchmark in American entertainment. Audiences of the film were left horrified, disgusted, and entertained by the grotesque Catholic horror story crafted a narrative about twelve year old Reagan McNiel’s helpless descent into the throes of demon possession and the brave priests that rallied for her cure. Although the film stands out as a more significant cultural moment than the novel for Americans, it is a near identical adaptation of Blatty’s book, in which the author sought to perfect the plot of the 1968 horror film Rosemary’s Baby. Voices in the contemporary culture decried the film and it’s shocking scenes of blasphemy and many cities and countries banned the film altogether. The book currently sits at a high rating of 4.2 stars out of 5 on Good Reads, a rating that was accumulated from over 230,000 ratings.  #horror #horrorbooks #books #bookreviews #scary

The Fall of the House of Usher is a 2023 American miniseries loosely based upon the events described in multiple Edgar Allen Poe stories and poems. The series follows the meteoric rise and devastating fall of the Usher family, their pharmaceutical business, and other wealth-building projects. Each member of the family comes face to face with a mysterious woman who provides a cryptic warning to change their ways before each of the children and grandchildren face a gruesome death. The show received great reviews, Rotten Tomatoes reports that 90% of critics gave the series a favorable review, along with 80% of the audience. #HORROR #NETFLIX #REVIEW #MIKEFLANAGAN #STREAMING

Nine Princes in Amber is a 1970 Fantasy novel written by famous American fantasy author, Roger Zelazney. The book is the first of a ten-book series known as the Chronicles of Amber, which was written over a period of twenty years. Set halfway between the real-world planet Earth and the magical world of Amber, The plot follows an amnesiac prince as he seeks to return to Amber, depose one of his brothers as king, and claim his birthright to the crown. In 2023, it was announced that Stephen Colbert was involved in bringing the Chronicles of Amber to film as executive producer, so stay tuned for more news about that in the media. The novel is rated four stars out of five on Good Reads, a score that was accumulated from over 57,000 ratings. #fantasy #books #bookreviews

Published in 2010 by American author Brent Weeks, The Black Prism is a fantasy novel set in a world in which a minority of people called “drafters” are able to harness magical power from all the colors of the light spectrum. The book currently sits at 4.2 stars out of 5 on Good Reads, and that is averaged from over 121,000 ratings. #fantasy #books #Bookreview #horror #scifi

Published in the year 2000 by American author Jim Butcher, Storm Front is the first is a series of novels called The Dresden Files, which follows the exploits of a Chicago wizard with the terrible name of Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Harry acts as a wizard-for-hire and a paranormal consultant for the Chicago Police Department. The series is currently comprised of 17 novels, and Storm Front is currently sitting at 3.9 stars out of five on Good Reads, composed from 347,000 ratings with over 20,000 reviews.

Project Hail Mary is a 2021 Science fiction novel written by American author Andy Weir, author of the The Martian. The novel is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Good Reads, a review drawn from over 511,000 reviews. Production of a film adaptation starring Ryan Gosling is set to begin in 2024. Set in the very near future, Project Hail Mary follows one man’s attempt to save the world from impending global disaster. The Earth’s sun is beginning to dim and world governments put forward their best and brightest to develop drastic solutions to save the world from almost certain destruction.

The Shadow of the Gods is a 2021 fantasy novel published by Enghlish author and real life armor and castle enthusiast, John Gwynn. Set in the fictional Norse country of Vigrid, the story follows 3 main protagonists through their own winding narrative of loss, revenge, and independence. The book is currently sitting at 4.2 stars out of 5 on Goodreads, and that accumulated from over 33,000 reviews.

Published in 2014, Revival is a horror novel by Stephen King that features themes like loss of faith, American religion, and life after death. The book currently sits at a rating of 3.8 stars out of 5 on Good Reads based upon over 123,000 ratings.

Today on Planet: Fantasy, Between Two Fires is a novel by author Christopher Buehlman that features a stand-out genre that I call "Theological Fantasy." Highly recommended as a must-read Halloween fantasy book, Between Two Fires features devilish origins to the European Black Plague. We will discuss the life of Christopher Buehlman, as well as the development of book. I'll review the plot (with spoilers), as well as discuss the lore of the work, as well as my thoughts on the ideas and theme present in the novel. Ep. 5

Today on Planet: Fantasy , Mistborn: The Final Empire is a novel by author Brandon Sanderson that features a unique magic system that stands out among fantasy readers. The first of a unique trilogy among the famous Cosmere series, Mistborn embraces and adapts the fantasy genere. We will discuss the life of Brandon Sanderson, as well as the development of book. I'll review the plot (with spoilers), as well as discuss the lore of the work, as well as my thoughts on the ideas and theme present in the novel. Ep. 4

Today on Planet: Fantasy, If It Bleeds is a novel by Stephen King featuring three short stories and one novella. The stories include "Mr. Harrigan's Phone," "Life of Chuck," "If It Bleeds," and "Rat." We will discuss the life of Stephen King, as well as the development of book. I'll review the plot (with spoilers), as well as discuss the lore of the work, as well as my thoughts on the ideas and theme present in the novel. Ep. 3

Today on Planet: Fantasy, Lovecraft Country is a novel by Matt Ruff that explores magic, science-fiction, space travel, and cosmic horror with the backdrop of the segregated Jim Crow United States. This novel blends humor, racism, and sorcery into an unique and entertaining work. We will discuss the life of Matt Ruff, as well as the development of book. I'll review the plot (with spoilers), as well as discuss the lore of the work, as well as my thoughts on the ideas and theme present in the work. Ep. 2

Today on the Planet: Fantasy Show, Anne Rice's Interview With The Vampire debut novel set the standard for renewed interest in vampire lore and stories. I'm Mozez and I'll discuss the the life of Anne Rice the author, the context and development of the book, review the plot with spoilers, discuss the movie adaptation, discuss the internal lore, and give additional thoughts on this classic fantasy horror novel. Ep. 1