There are very few cosy fantasies that I enjoy. Gam Gam is one of them. I liked The Wishing Stone (Gam Gam 2) and I found it a little darker with more at stake. Other books that gave me a similar vibe: Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell (320 pg) - A cute, queer (asexual) romance between a girl and a shape-shifting horror that eats people. Small Miracles by Olivia Atwater (250 pg) - A fallen angel must corrupt a mortal with petty temptations to pay off a gambling debt. This one is less dark and a little more fun. Your Blood and Bones by J. Patricia Anderson (113 pg) - A pair of kids run from home as they painfully mutate into monsters. Less cosy, surprisingly dark, and heartfelt. Hills of Heather and Bone by K.E. Andrews (412 pg) - A necromancer goes on the run with her husband to find a safe place to live. Sweet and sombre with a splash of darkness.

Ooh, this sounds really neat. Thanks for the review, Niko!

I don't like that sanderson was openly dishonest about the cosmere sruff. He should have just told ppl this would end up being a multi world story... That really rubbed me the wrong way as i got further into the series

Hey if you & Andrew both like it, what would be a name for that? “ Approved by the Wizard Enclave” I will put this one on my TBR for sure!

I just finished Empire of Grass and absolutely loved it! As you mentioned since I know the world already this series is even better than Memory, Sorrow & Thorn! I think both series should be read as one. I also loved The Heart of What Was Lost too! That novella gives you a richer look at the Norns!

Brandon Sanderson is the Katy Perry of fantasy

I'm sure you make good points that I probably agree with but I DNF'd this video once I heard that you didnt finish the book. Even IF you believe that your opinion would have been the same if you HAD finished it, I just can't bring myself to value your thoughts if you havent taken the time to finish it.

I've been struggling to get through Wind and Truth since release. It feels like when a show suddenly shifts tone and focus going into a new season with new writers. Like the wind fell out of the sails in the final leg of the journey.

Oh man, too may good choices there. Three Musketeers is one of my all time favorites. I've read a few of the others, but I'd love to read more classics (it would give me an excuse to read several I own, but haven't gotten to).

It's a fair analysis, I think. Sando is great, but there are choices he makes that pull me out of the story --I do appreciate his emphasis on mental health, but it sometimes really lacks nuance IMHO. I also get impatient with his pacing.

Yay on Foamfollower ! Donaldson may not do likeable protagonists but he can sure do lovable support characters. My "thing" is loyal characters, Samwise, Fitz, Caz from Curse of Chalion 😊

your timing could not be more perfect :D I'm currently using the free trial but couldn't find any recommendations by peope with a similar taste in books to me. We men of ash and shadow and the blood stones sound right up my alley, thanks ^^

The dynamics of age and house lore is choice swashbuckling “matter of fact” radness.

Like chronicles of? Missed it

God I hate going on Reddit. Reading his books are like that now.

I was gifted this series for Christmas, so this is a timely look at the books! I'm not sure when I'll get to them, but hopefully I'll enjoy them as much as you did.

It’s almost as if he doesnt respect his audience? And is just jumping out books.

You perfectly captured what makes this series such a blast. Great review, Niko! I'm glad this one was such a hit for you 😁

Wooooooo glad it hit on the whole!! That fun, quick, zany change-up was what I thought you could use these days (I could use it again myself honestly).

Brian Lee Durfee has a “ My Conn Iggulden Collection” video. I too was convinced to read Darien by Ben and I really started enjoying the book about half way through! I have not purchased the last two yet… I do love popcorn reads and Outlaw by Angus Donald is the most perfect popcorn read! I am going to do a re-read on audio as I got it on sale… I never do re-reads, just LOTR and the first 3 books of WOT when Rosamund Pike did the new narration.

With the way Amazon dominates the market, if the eBook is on there, there's a good chance it's on KU. You'll see this more so on Indie authors, I think, since trad pub can usually make up the profit loss of going wide through volume.

aww i liked the book of secrets, like a mix match magical religious book, why not a funny name i liked each book; 1,2,3 more than the last. so far 4 was the slowest for me to get through but the info was enticing and Elliot connected things so interestingly. then 5 was better than 4, like she read my mind and gave me more of what i wanted. [spoilers] unfortunately the cataclysm map is a spoiler i think. there was one in the past and its possible for another. her world building above and below and inbetween should be talked about more!

im on book 6 now and i love the series! i agree, i want more people to talk about it. the world building really got me hooked on reading other fantasy authors i also ending up liking; janny wurts and robin hobb and i just finished wheel of time because of the series. im going to finish the series and then i know itll be one i reread

How can you have an opinion on a book you only read 80 pages 😂

Oh no! I just pulled my books from KU so I could go wide. Sorry, only 14 great reads available on KU.

So many awesome indie books on KU!! Thanks for the Riven Earth shoutout, Niko! You the man! 🙌🏼

Book of the New Sun on ebook would definitely be useful for how many esoteric words Wolfe uses, you can easily do the press and hold thing to see a definition while reading. Probably good for War of Light and Shadow as well.

As someone who has only read the first two books of the Stormlight Archive, I’m surprised that many of you are only now noticing issues with his writing. His YA style of writing and dialogue was especially evident in Shallan's chapters. Although I did enjoy the books-especially the climax-I don’t think they are the masterpieces that many people have hyped them up to be. I’ve been a prolific reader since childhood, so from my frame of reference, his writing comes off as a little above average at best compared to truly brilliant pieces of literature I've read. I was genuinely shocked to see people comparing it to other fantasy series like "A Song of Ice and Fire." That seems downright crazy to me. The first two books were okay and worked well as a duology, so I’ve left them at that. I have no motivation to read further, especially because everyone claims that the first two books were his best. I can’t help but wonder how much of a nosedive the others would be. Based on the reviews of the new book, it seems the decline has indeed occurred. Every single negative review mentions criticisms I had with the first two books, which are even more evident now. Sanderson has always seemed to me like just a good writer-that’s it. He has never struck me as impressive or phenomenal. For instance, J.K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter series as a children's book/borderline YA, but her prose was VASTLY superior. So, the fact that Sanderson's writing seems akin to YA isn’t even the main issue. In the end, it just felt like it wasn’t aimed at my age demographic.

I haven't read any of those books, but I do have Black Stone Heart on my Kindle. Will have to read it one of these days. Speaking about KU, my all time favourite character is Ruka, in the Ash and Sand trilogy by Richard Nell. It's on Kindle Unlimited, but I had bought the books. Easily in my top five favourite authors/series joining Erikson, Williams, Wurts, Kay.

Yes! Performances of a Death Metal Bard is such a great novella. I loved it so much. Oh gosh, I just came here to find out what great books were on KU. Didn't expect to see Dark Bloom here. Thank you! I'll be getting into Wistful Ascending soon on audio. I'm really excited for it!

Interesting list. My favorites are all from The Wandering Inn lol (Erin, Ryoka and Pisces) after those three it gets hard to make a list but I love all the cast. I can name Leez, Maruna and Asha from Kubera (manwha, more fantasy fans should read this btw). Ruka from Ash and Sand. Arthur Morgan(Red Dead Redemption 2), Gintoki(Gintama), Saul Goodman and Brad (Lisa the Painful). Maybe Khraen maybe too, but I need to know where his characters will end up. One day I'll read WOLAS, I know for sure it will be a favorite of mine.

It's always the traumatised broken sad boy characters for me hahahah. I love this list! Definitely some shared faves, but also a lot of ones I have yet to meet myself!

Maybe my favorite story of all time. Maybe. Glad you enjoyed it! -T

Arabian Nights, 1984, and Frankenstein are my votes.

Brandon Sanderson is Taravangian confirmed?

He drags shit out for no reason. There were at least 2 points where kaladin could have said the 4 ideal but didn’t. Had the character grow the. Regress multiple times and then out of left field decided to make him focus on mental health and being a therapist…really weird and made the character boring. The moash character development seems forced and unnatural

Wow this was super! These are my top 10 fantasy characters of all time: Mat Cauthon Prince Orso Tyrion Lannister Aragon Mara of the Acoma Hanuvar Maquin Merlin from Warlord Isgramuir Geralt Simon may overtake Isgramuir when I finish Osten Ard!! I also love Gandalf but if I had to pick one from Middle Earth it has to be the King!!

Right with you on Kaladin and Fitz and Carl/Donut as some of my favs! And Mat too but I think I connected with Rand more so. Harry Dresden and Alex Verus would be up there for me, along with Hadrian Marlowe - just something about these long first-person series for me where I’ll get so attached to the POVs.

I agreed with a couple of these,,but No freaking way is there no Waylander. I believe Waylander is my favorite all time character, and I still believe the ending of his character is one of the best of all time.

Love seeing Jined make the list! Thank you Niko!

Yaaaas, Qantaqa 😎 Best wolf

Niko, you should have made a favorite duos video so you wouldn’t have had to cheat including Carl and Donut together. That way you follow the rules AND you get an extra video topic out of it. Plus it opens up a spot on the list for your true favorite character in Crown of Stars, Hugh. 😜 One of my favorite characters which would probably surprise a lot people since I don’t really enjoy the series that much is Death from Discworld. It’s a tragedy how little page time he gets.

Ooh this was fun! Sad boy characters are great. Recently got my hands on the Hanuvar book 1 audio. Can't wait to get into it

No Malazan? Shorter list suggestion - happy Donaldson characters. Need to reread those thus year, almost one with 3 in Gap Cycle. It gets better as the series moves on.

This book was at times painful but the ending was well worth it

🔥🔥🔥

Oh and I forgot to mention but the Decameron is not erotica, though it does have erotic scenes (for 1350). The sex stories I recall are typically more meant to be ribald comedy (also it's a pretty funny book overall.) It actually influenced Canterbury Tales and has a similar setup but is about a bunch of nobles holing up in a villa while the historically real Black Death is happening and telling tales to pass the time. I think that edition you have might have McWilliams' translation, which is generally considered one of the best.

I love this poem so much!

Good list! I think you should read Morte de Arthur, Robinson Carusoe and Candide

I enjoyed this, and I read it awhile ago, and can't remember what version, or who translated it. I would have to go look. I read it on My kindle, and only have it on there. Great Video 👍😁👍