Escapists Anonymous

Sam and Dan review Harbour of Hungry Ghosts by Eliza Chan. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. Join us as we dive into Harbour of Hungry Ghosts, an action-packed historical fantasy adventure set in colonial Hong Kong. With its monster-hunting heroine, supernatural threats, and relentless action, we explore why the novel feels rem...

Sam and Dan review The Knave and the Moon by Rachel Gillig, the second book in the Stonewater Kingdom duology. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. Join us as we return to the Stonewater Kingdom to explore whether The Knave and the Moon delivers a satisfying conclusion to the story begun in The Knight and the Moth. We discuss the...

Sam and Dan review Moss'd in Space by Rebecca Thorne. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. Join us as we venture into cosy sci-fi with Moss'd in Space, a warm, low-stakes story that puts relationships, banter, and emotional comfort ahead of dramatic twists and high-stakes jeopardy. We discuss what defines a successful co...

Sam and Dan review A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang. **SPOILER ALERT:** This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. Join us as we explore this dark folkloric family saga, following three generations whose lives are shaped by colonial legacy, generational trauma, and the ways pain, memory, and silence echo through families. We discuss...

Sam and Dan review The Mistral by Felix Mosse. **SPOILER ALERT:** This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. Join us as we dive into The Mistral, an ambitious debut epic fantasy that takes us back into the sprawling worlds, magic, politics, and religion of high fantasy. We explore its huge cast of characters, shifting perspectives, and expansive magic...

Sam and Dan review Nonesuch by Francis Spufford. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. Join us as we dive into Nonesuch, a richly written urban fantasy set against the backdrop of London in 1939. We explore Spufford’s wonderfully lived-in depiction of the city, the looming threat of war, and the novel’s exploration of class, fascis...

Sam and Dan review Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovsky. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. Join us as we explore Green City Wars, a unique sci-fi adventure set in a world of genetically modified animals, ambitious world-building, and complex philosophical ideas. We discuss how Adrian Tchaikovsky blends science fiction with soc...

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...

Sam and Dan review I Hear a New World, the second book in the Long London series by Alan Moore. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. Join us as we return to the strange and surreal world of Long London to discuss whether I Hear a New World lives up to the promise of The Great When. We explore the novel's shifting structure, d...

Sam and Dan review Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. Join us as we venture into the world of cosy fantasy, discussing what makes the genre so appealing and whether this feline-filled magical adventure delivers the charm readers are looking for. We explore the balance...

Sam and Dan review Dream of the Jet Black City by Pablo Valcarcel Castro. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. Join us as we explore Dream of the Jet Black City, a fantasy novel packed with ambitious ideas, unique world-building, and a fascinating blend of dream magic, song-based powers, and divine influence. We discuss the streng...

Sam and Dan review Nevernight by Jay Kristoff. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. Join us as we dive into one of modern fantasy’s most divisive titles. While Nevernight shows flashes of brilliance through its rich world-building and vividly realised setting, we found ourselves increasingly frustrated by a series of creative choi...

Sam and Dan review books 3–5 in the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch: Whispers Underground , Broken Homes , and Foxglove Summer . SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading these books before listening. Join us as we continue our journey through the series, with Sam reading these entries for the first time and Dan revisiting one of his all-time favourite...

Sam and Dan discuss Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. If you’re planning to read this book, we’d recommend doing so before listening. In this episode, we take on the first entry in Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson — though not in the way we usually do. Dan didn’t finish the book, and we'll find out exactly why! We explore what ma...

Sam and Dan review Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. Join us as we delve into Matt Dineman's latest offering, Operation Bounce House, exploring its mix of action, humour, and thought-provoking themes. We unpack how this sci-fi novel comments on contemporary issues like dehumanisatio...

Sam and Dan review Godstorm, by Solitaire Townsend. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. Join us as we explore Solitaire Townsend’s debut novel, Godstorm, a fresh take on alternate history fantasy grounded in climate science. We unpack the world-building, character development, themes of agency and environmentalism, and the narrat...

Sam and Dan review Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee, book 3 in the Green Bone Saga. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. Join us as we dissect the sprawling "Jade Legacy" by Fonda Lee, exploring the highs, lows, and missed opportunities across this ambitious final instalment of the trilogy. We discuss the storytelling choices, c...

Sam and Dan review Jade War by Fonda Lee, book 2 in the Green Bone Saga. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. In episode 2 of our three-episode exploration of the Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee we dive into the sequel, Jade War. We examine the widening of the world as the clan conflict requires political and economic moves to be mad...

Sam and Dan review Jade City by Fonda Lee. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. This is the first episode in our three-episode exploration of the Greenbone Saga by Fonda Lee. We explore the intricate world-building, the unique magic system involving Jade, and the complex dynamics of the clans in the fictional city of Kekon. We dis...

Sam and Dan review A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. In this episode, Dan and Sam delve into the world of cosy fantasy with Sangu Mandana's "A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping." They discuss the book's unique charm, its exploration of them...

In this episode, Sam and Dan delve into two books, "Alice with a Why: Return to Wonderland" by Anna James and "Hecate: The Witch" by Nikita Gill.  SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading these books before listening. We explore the themes of reimagining classic stories and mythology, discussing how these modern retellings bring new perspecti...

Sam and Dan review the Dissolution by Nicholas Binge. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading these books before listening. In this episode, Dan and Sam dive into the sci-fi techno thriller, Dissolution, by Nicholas Binge. They discuss the characters, the presentation of the relationships, the somewhat shallow and convenient introduction of both technology and...

In this episode, Dan and Sam host the second annual Escapists Anonymous End of Year Awards for 2025. They reflect on the books they've read throughout the year, discussing categories such as Best Character, Best World Building, Biggest Flop, Biggest Surprise, and Best Book. They share their personal favourites and disappointments, highlighting standout moments and characters from various book...

Sam and Dan review the first two instalments of Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London Series. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading these books before listening. In this episode, Dan and Sam dive into the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch, discussing the first two books: 'Rivers of London' and 'Moon Over Soho'. They explore the...

Sam and Dan share their thoughts on Alchemised by SenLinYu. SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening. In this episode, Dan and Sam discuss their experience with 'Alchemised' by SenLinYu, which they both decided not to finish. They explore the reasons behind their decision, including the book's pacing, character developme...