Friends Talking Fantasy Podcast

With Charles out on paternity leave (congrats, Charles!), Dylan takes a crack at doing a full solo episode of Friends Talking Fantasy.

Dylan provides some early thoughts on Joe Abercrombie’s The Devils (spoiler: it’s really good), reflects on what it's like to reread Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch, and talks to himself about how The Will of the Many helped him break out of a reading slump.

Dylan also talks through some recent fantasy-world news, including the reported cancellation of The Wheel of Time and a very human but somewhat disgruntled blog post from George R.R. Martin about Winds of Winter (sort of)

The Friends journey into the brutal heart of Christopher Buehlman’s The Daughter’s War, the grimdark prequel to The Blacktongue Thief. They unpack the stark tonal shift between the two novels—where Buehlman trades snark for sorrow, and swagger for survival. The spotlight falls on Galva, whose stoic presence in The Blacktongue Thief is given heartbreaking depth as her backstory unfolds through war, trauma, and fractured family loyalties. From hive-minded goblins to the emotional cost of legacy, the hosts explore what makes The Daughter’s War such a powerful, if punishing, read—and why some readers might not be ready for just how dark this prequel gets.

Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@friendstalkingfantasy 

Sink your teeth into the wild world of revived dire wolves—yes, they were real—and the viral tweet that sparked “Dire Wolf Day.” From George R.R. Martin holding a genetically resurrected pup to speculation about military mammoths and Jurassic Park parallels, things get weird fast. The Friends also wade into the fandom frustration over The Winds of Winter and defend authors’ rights to, well, do other stuff. We round out the episode with thoughts on Patrick Rothfuss, a nod to Mark Lawrence’s latest projects, and a grateful look at your YouTube comments—coin flips, interruptions, and all.

Note from Charles: Audio is a bit rough from 2:06-5:20, sorry about that! Thank you for listening!

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendstalkingfantasy 

Join The Friends as they dive into the 2025 r/Fantasy Book Bingo Card! In this episode, we walk through some of the most exciting (and challenging) categories, offering fantasy book recommendations for each square. Whether you’re hunting for a perfect “Knights and Paladins” read or struggling to find a book with “High Fashion,” we’ve got you covered.

Highlights include:

⚔️ Knights and Paladins – Buhlman, Sanderson, and Grossman

💎 Hidden Gems – Angry Robot standouts like The Last Shield

📜 Published in the 1980s – The Black Company and Alanna

📖 Epistolary reads – Piranesi, The Martian, Time War

👨‍👧 Parent Protagonists – The Witcher, Saga, The Fifth Season

🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ Leads, Self-Published Hits, Short Story Collections, and more!

We also share our thoughts on the “Last in a Series” square (spoiler-free!), the mysterious “Not a Book” category, and how Severance or playing Catan might just count. Let us help you fill your card with fantastic reads! 

Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@friendstalkingfantasy 

Visit our Website: https://www.theftfpodcast.com/ 

We’re back and diving deep into the pages! 📚 In this episode of Friends Talking Fantasy, The Friends break down the 25 books Charles read during the podcast hiatus—ranking them from S-tier gems to DNF disasters.

From Brandon Sanderson’s newest standalones to chaotic fun like Dungeon Crawler Carl, poetic necromancy in Sabriel, and the genre-bending brilliance of The Tainted Cup, we cover fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and everything in between. Expect bold takes, bookish banter, and tier list drama.

🔮 Which book made the top?

😤 Which ones did we DNF without remorse?

🎧 Which audiobooks took over our car rides?

Get ready for a whirlwind tour of recent reads, surprising favorites, and a whole lot of hot takes. Don’t forget to like, comment with your top reads, and subscribe for more episodes!

After a four-month break, The Friends are back with a refreshed Friends Talking Fantasy—complete with a new video format! In this comeback episode, we catch up on life, talk future podcast goals (live episodes, maybe?), and kickoff a new Friends Pitching Fantasy.

Each host brings three fantasy books to the table, pitching them to determine the next reads for the show.

The six books discussed:

📚 The Daughters’ War by Christopher Buehlman

📚 Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch

📚 The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter

📚 The Ending Fire by Saara El-Arifi

📚 The Will of the Many by James Islington

📚 Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

Tune in to hear our thoughts on each pick, the plans for upcoming episodes, and some light fantasy banter along the way.

🎥 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@FriendsTalkingFantasy

🌐 Visit our website: friendstalkingfantasy.com

I (Dylan) provided an update on what's been going on and why we haven't had any episodes in a while. We will be back in due time!

Email us at [email protected] to let us know what you'd like to see from the show moving forward!

The journey of the Liveship Traders trilogy reaches its breathtaking conclusion in Ship of Destiny, and we’re here to dive deep into Robin Hobb’s masterful storytelling. Join us as we explore the incredible character arcs, unravel the mysteries of the Liveships and dragons, and discuss the powerful themes of freedom, identity, and legacy. Whether you’re a die-hard Hobb fan or a first-time traveler of the Rain Wilds, this spoiler-filled discussion will chart the full course of this unforgettable finale.

Visit our website: https://www.theftfpodcast.com/ 

In this episode of the Friends Talking Fantasy Podcast, we take a spoiler-free journey into the gripping world of Max Brooks’ World War Z. Join us as we explore the unique format of the book, presented as an oral history of the global zombie apocalypse, and discuss the major themes of survival, resilience, and global cooperation. We’ll share our impressions of how this realistic take on a zombie outbreak stands out within the genre and why it’s a must-read for fans of speculative fiction. Whether you’re a veteran zombie enthusiast or new to the apocalypse, this episode will have something for everyone—without spoiling the thrill of discovering World War Z for yourself!

Visit our website: https://www.theftfpodcast.com/ 

In this autumnal episode of Friends Talking Fantasy, Charles and Dylan dive into the perfect books to get you into those fall vibes. From spooky horrors to cozy fantasies, they explore the themes, settings, and characters that best capture the essence of the season. Whether you’re looking for eerie tales like Christopher Buehlman’s The Black Tongue Thief, a chilling Dracula retelling in A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson, or heartwarming reads like A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, this episode has a recommendation for every fall mood. Tune in for a celebration of all things fall, with fantasy books that pair perfectly with the crisp air and changing leaves.

Visit out website: https://www.theftfpodcast.com/ 

Books mentioned in this episode:

1. World War Z by Max Brooks

2. The Black Tongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

3. Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

4. A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

5. Evocation by S.T. Gibson

6. Fairytale by Stephen King

7. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

8. Monstrous by Marjorie Liu (illustrated by Sana Takeda)

9. The Bone Roots by Gabriela Houston

10. The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski

11. Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne

12. The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne

13. The Autumn Republic by Brian McClellan

14. The Fall of Dragons by Miles Cameron

15. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

16. Babel by R.F. Kuang

17. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

18. The Magicians by Lev Grossman

19. A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

20. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

21. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

22. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay