Escapists Anonymous
The Fantasy Fiction Book Club and peer support network for fantasy literature fanatics.
Two friends, Sam and Dan, explore the epic worlds of fantasy fiction literature as they select books to deep-dive into. Read along with us and join in the conversation on our social media @escapistsanonymouspod.
Episodes will include spoilers, so make sure you've read the sections that we're covering.
If you're a fan of Joe Abercrombie, Patrick Rothfuss, Peter V. Brett, Brent Weeks, Terry Pratchett, Tolkein, Raymond D. Feist, Brandon Sanderson, Ben Aaronovitch and other authors that would fit in this list, join the Escapists Anonymous community of fantasy enthusiasts.
Escapists Anonymous
#59 Brandon Sanderson & Peter Orullian: Songs of the Dead (DNF)
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Sam and Dan discuss Songs of the Dead by Brandon Sanderson and Peter Orullian.
SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening.
Join us as we discuss why Songs of the Dead became a rare DNF (Did Not Finish) for both of us. We explore where the novel falls short, from its overly complex magic system and difficult-to-connect-with characters to a world that never quite feels as compelling as its ambitious premise suggests.
We also dive into the challenges of collaborative writing, questioning how much Brandon Sanderson's influence can be felt throughout the novel and whether the partnership ultimately works. Along the way, we discuss the integration of music and magic, the effectiveness of the world-building, the portrayal of London as a setting, and why the story struggles to establish meaningful stakes and relatable protagonists.
From fantasy tropes and genre conventions to the balance between originality and readability, we unpack why this was a book we couldn't bring ourselves to finish—and what we think other fantasy authors can learn from it.
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