Shows
Lord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewBLOOD OVER BRIGHTHAVEN BY M L WANGM L Wang is a leading light in the world of fantasy and not just because of her excellent writing. She started by penning novels in the genre for Young Adults but has since written two books for a more mature readership that explore complex issues that resonate with the world we live in. The first to be published was Sword of Kaigen but I much prefer her later work, Blood Over Brighthaven.----more----
And while you are here, have a look at A Jade Treasury. One of my own books about the legends and myths surrounding...
2026-02-0104 minLord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewTHE QUANTUM GRAVITY SERIES BY JUSTINA ROBSONOne of the most underrated writers in fantasy has to be Justina Robson. Her Quantum Gravity series is better written and more absorbing than a lot of books in the genre that have sold more copies. Definitely worth a look.----more----
And while you are here, have a look at A Jade Treasury. One of my own books about the legends and myths surrounding Jade, the Stone of Heaven. To ancient cultures all over the world it was sacred. In China, Confucius raved about it; wars were fought over it and cities were offered in exchange for...
2026-01-2602 minLord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewGLORY ROAD by ROBERT HEINLEINWhile Robert Heinlein is considered one of the 'big three' of Science Fiction, he also wrote a couple of excellent fantasy novels, mixing wry humour with first class story telling. Glory Road is a classic that has aged well and is just as enjoyable today as it was when it was first published more than sixty years ago. A must for all lovers of Fantasy.
And while you are here, have a look at A Jade Treasury. One of my own books about the legends and myths surrounding Jade, the Stone of Heaven. To ancient cultures all ov...
2026-01-1804 minLord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewTHE BLOODSWORN SAGA by JOHN GWYNNEOne of the most delightful trilogies to hit the bookshops in the last few years has been the Bloodsworn Saga by John Gwynne. Grim, dark, and bloody, it borrows from Norse mythology and the author adds his own brand of magic and mystery to create an unforgettable series, The Shadow of the Gods, The Hunger of the Gods and The Fury of the Gods.
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Click on the link to buy the first in the trilogy, The Shadow of the Gods. If you buy through my website I make a tiny commission but it doesn’t a...
2026-01-1103 min
Lord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewUNDER HEAVEN BY GUY GAVRIEL KAYIn this weeks episode we look at Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay. It is probably the best fantasy novel inspired by Chinese history and mythology that has been written by a writer from the West.
And while you are here, have a look at A Jade Treasury. One of my own books about the legends and myths surrounding Jade, the Stone of Heaven. To ancient cultures all over the world it was sacred. In China, Confucius raved about it; wars were fought over it and cities were offered in exchange for a piece of...
2026-01-0505 minLord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewThe Shadow of the Torturer by Gene WolfeThis week we look at the work of Gene Wolfe. His series the Book of the New Sun is widely admired by authors of the fantasy genre. Each volume is carefully crafted with not a word out of place. But it is not for the faint hearted....----more----
And while you are here, have a look at A Jade Treasury. One of my own books about the legends and myths surrounding Jade, the Stone of Heaven. To ancient cultures all over the world it was sacred. In China, Confucius raved about it; wars were fought over it an...
2025-12-2904 min
Lord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewSTORMBRINGER BY MICHAEL MOORCOCKA writer who has faded into the background somewhat in recent years is Michael Moorcock. He was a prolific author in the 1960s, 70's and 80s and his influence on the modern fantasy genre should not be underestimated. One of his greatest creations was the crimson eyed albino, Elric, who wielded the sentient and malevolent sword, Stormbringer, the drinker of souls.----more----
You can buy the book by clicking on the link below. I make a tiny commission if you do so. It does not affect the price you pay and all proceeds go towards the making...
2025-12-2204 minLord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewTHE BLACK COMPANY BY GLEN COOKOne of my favourite series is The Black Company by Glen Cook. First published in the 1990s, the books became best sellers a second time twenty years later when they were reissued. This is in part I think due to the fact that truly high quality Grimdark novels are rare as hen's teeth. And lets be fair. When Glen Cook first published these books the term Grimdark hadn't yet been invented.
You can buy the book by clicking on the link below. I make a tiny commission if you do so. It does not affect the price y...
2025-12-1503 minLord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewTHE BROKEN SWORD BY POUL ANDERSONThis week we take a look at The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson. A must for any fan of Grimdark fantasy and Norse saga. ----more----
You can buy the book by clicking on the link below. I make a tiny commission if you do so. It does not affect the price you pay and all proceeds go towards the making of these podcasts.
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2025-12-0803 minLord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewLEGEND BY DAVID GEMMELL
LEGEND BY DAVID GEMMELL.
One of the best authors of epic fantasy has to be David Gemmell. His debut novel, Legend, is one of the best debut novels ever written in the genre and launched the career of a writer who, was a master of plotting and storytelling.
Click on the link below or the cover to order your copy. If you order through this podcast I make a tiny commission which does not affect the price you pay. Any money I make goes towards making these podcasts.
BUY THE BOOK HERE
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2025-12-0105 minLord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewAMERICAN GODS BY NEIL GAIMANAmerican Gods by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman has quite rightly been lavished with awards and praise for his work, His comic series, The Sandman, has been made into a very stylish television series. As has the novel American Gods, which many consider to be his best work so far. ----more----
You can purchase a copy of American Gods by clicking the link below. I receive a tiny commission if you buy the book in this way. It does not affect the price you pay and all proceeds go to producing this podcast.
https://am...
2025-11-2404 min
Lord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewTHE FIRST BOOK OF LANKHMAR BY FRITZ LIEBERWhile tales about swords and sorcery have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years, the genre as we know it, only began to take shape about a century ago with Rober E Howard’s Conan the Barbarian. There were a few others writing in a similar style all those years ago and most of those have been forgotten. But not Fritz Leiber. His tales about two morally ambiguous thieves who lived in the city of Lankhmar remain as fresh today as they did when they were first written.----more----
You can purchase a copy of th...
2025-11-1704 minLord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewTHE CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANTThere are few writers in the fantasy genre who come anywhere close to Stephen Donaldson when it comes to world building. He creates a world with unforgettable characters and utterly distinctive creatures. While most writers stick to elves, dwarves, wizards and the like, he goes that extra mile to allow the reader to suspend disbelief and lose themselves in the stories he writes. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant are a prime example.
----more---- Lord Foul's Bane
This link will take you to a place where you can buy the first volume in the Chronicles of...
2025-11-1003 minLord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewTRAVELLER IN BLACK BY JOHN BRUNNERThe latest episode in my fantasy book review. A podcast aimed at those who love fantasy and science fiction but have run out of things to read. A place to discover hidden gems that seem to have been lost in time, as well as the best that is on offer from modern writers. It's not a review so much as my desire to share the books that I have enjoyed in more than half a century of reading SFF.
2025-11-0302 minLord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewBLOOD SONG BY ANTHONY RYANOne of the best writers of fantasy to emerge in the twenty first century has to be Anthony Ryan. He is a prolific author who, like many others who became best-selling authors, struggled to get published. He forced his way onto the scene by publishing his first novel, Blood Song, himself. It sold enough copies to grab the attention of a major publisher, and he hasn't looked back since.
BUY THE BOOK HERE
AND WHILE YOU ARE HERE......... YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER.......
Diving into the legends and myths surrounding jade, the Stone o...
2025-10-2704 minLord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewTHE BEST OF ANN RICEAnn Rice is not always a writer associated with the fantasy genre. She is better know for horror. Her Vampire Chronicles are well known. But she produced a wonderful book that perhaps no one else would even attempt, yet alone succeed in writing. ----more----
AND WHILE YOU ARE HERE......... YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER.......
Diving into the legends and myths surrounding jade, the Stone of Heaven. To ancient cultures all over the world it was sacred. In China, Confucius raved about it; wars were fought over it and cities were offered in exchange for a p...
2025-10-2104 minLord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewTHE BEASTMASTER BY ANDRE NORTONAndre Norton may be best known for her Witchworld series of fantasy novels but an earlier work, the Beastmaster, is just as good if not better.
2025-10-1403 minLord Yamas Fantasy Book ReviewTHE FIRST LAW TRILOGYAn overview of one of the best fantasy trilogies to be published in recent years. The three books of the First Law series are a must for any lover of fantasy who like their fantasy grimdark alleviated by wry humour.
2025-09-2804 min