Queens of Fantasy Podcast

The Queens embark on the beginning of the end by reading the first three chapters of our final book in the series,  The Other Wind by Ursula Le Guin . Theories and threats to riot are made, the Queens wonder at the round-about terms for women who love each other, and call for Tenar to be shown the respect she deserves. For the game this episode, the Queens are sending out Postcards from Earthsea,...

We continue our journey into short stories around Earthsea by finishing book five, Tales from Earthsea . Expect an unexpected (and rather passionate) rant from Queen Tay on the danger of bovine companions. And, not to be outperformed, Queen Marissa monologues about a rose, Shakespeare, and symbolism. We're traveling the sky and sea in this one, so come prepared for home safety tips, discussions of...

The Queens get a look around other times and places of Earthsea with book five, Tales from Earthsea , a collection of short stories. We get to see the creation of the school on Roke, a conversation about mercury that no one asked for, teenaged love, and an old friend while he was young and hot. Queen Marissa gets excited by a romance, Queen Tay gets upset over dirty feet, and both Queens stumble o...

The Queens finish out the fourth book in Ursula Le Guin 's Earthsea Series , Tehanu . In this episode, both Queens are confronted with multiple reenactments of their literal nightmares. Queen Tay wishes one theory had been correct so she wouldn't have to see a certain character, while Marissa kicks her feet with glee at the long overdue commencement of a relationship. We're following our favourite...

The Queens pick up the fourth book in Ursula Le Guin 's Earthsea Series , where we take a a deeper look at the life of women in this world, meet new characters, say goodbye to old ones, and try to hold it together through the saddest section we've read yet. Queen Marissa won't stand disrespectful interference of burial rituals, Queen Tay gives a PSA for men to do dishes, and both were very confuse...

Ready to sail to the true farthest shore? In this episode, we finish off the third instalment in Ursula Le Guin 's Earthsea Series , and we catch every singed hair along the way. Queens Tay and Marissa find themselves waiting around for Ged to finish monologuing, watching out for Ged's barbed words, and hoping that Arran has never missed a gym day. Queen Tay looks out for Rand of all people in Ear...

Eighteen years have passed, and it is time for another Earthsea adventure! We meet new characters, begin a new quest and new questions are raised for Queen Tay like how many people know Ged's true name? And what is with people kissing other people's eyes? Queen Marissa is jotting down an old woman's poetic rant as she backs away slowly and the Queens discover their Celtic tree zodiacs. So climb ab...

It's time to escape the Tombs of Atuan... and not a moment too soon. Queens Tay and Marissa watch the darkness as our two characters navigate the underground. Queen Marissa wonders whether Sparrowhawk is speaking metaphorically or literally, Queen Tay has science questions she needs answered, and they both wish they could hug our main characters. Dim your lights and join us as we finish traversing...

The Queens crack open the second book of the Earthsea Cycle and are introduced to a new set of characters on a new island. As we explore our new setting, Queen Marissa is intrigued by rituals and disturbed by a father's love or lack there of. Queen Tay wants clarification on the structure of a particular item and both Queens have the same incorrect mental image of the Undertomb. Don't let go of th...

One book down, five more to go! In this episode, your fave Queens finish off A Wizard of Earthsea , the first installment in the  Earthsea Cycle Series . Expect discussions on why a gull is not the ideal escape bird, the description neither Queen will forgive Le Guin for forcing us to read, and our continual wonder on how Ged becomes a proficient (let alone, remarkable?) wizard. Queen Tay bonds wi...

Hello and welcome to the second season of the Queens of Fantasy podcast! We dive in to Ursula Le Guin's world of Earthsea, with Queen Tay challenging characters to summon her spirit and see what happens, throwing out some theories as we go. Queen Marissa has to watch her tongue for spoilers for the moment, but shares in Tay's feelings about how Ged greets the dragons. Queen Al is with us in spirit...

Your Queens welcome you back to court to pay your fealty as they embark on their next adventure! Listen along as Queens Marissa and Tay get a lay of the land for their next book series, The Earthsea Cycle . They start by discussing the author, Ursula Le Guin , including her many, many, many accomplishments, as well as the basics of the world of Earthsea. Your Queens also give you your first homewo...

The Queens finish their very first side quest by completing Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki ! In the finale of this chaotic alien-demon-violin-donut-shop novel, your favourite Queens learn new facts about koi fish, converse about the technological limits of toad-faced demons, and discover what it means to be comfortable in one's own skin. Queen Tay is shocked at a teenager's night on the to...

The Queens embark on their very first side quest! In this episode, we're reading Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki . We're also finding out everything we ever wanted to know about violins, devils, aliens, and donut shops in California. As we follow the twists and turns of this truly chaotic story, expect Queen Marissa to nerd out about violins, Queen Tay discuss an impactful moment, and Queen...

Your favourite Queens have a new project: Side Quests. Side Quests are small excursions from our main series and include standalone novels as well as duologies. In this episode, you'll learn all about our upcoming Side Quests, including how to participate and where to learn more! You can support our project by donating here. If you'd like to join our discord server, you can do so here. Find us on...

Another cycle of the Wheel of Time has come and gone and, like the Wheel of Time, we offer an ending. Listen along as your Queens of Fantasy wrap up all their very final thoughts on the whole series. Queen Marissa has one last feminist rant for you to enjoy, Queen Tay enjoys one final look over all her theories, and Queen Al enjoys talking about the entire series without worrying about spoilers. Y...

Welcome to the Wheel of Time Series Finale! If you're here, you've listened or read along with us on this long journey and have finally reached the end. In this episode Queens Marissa and Tay go over their full series reviews and and full series character rankings, Queen Tay is exasperated by some unanswered questions, Queen Marissa provides some interesting stats and Queen Al reminds us how hard...

The Wheel of Time turns, and so has the final page of this series for your Queens. In this episode, Queens Tay and Marissa finally become fully-fledged Aes Sedai as they read the last words in this epic fantasy series. Queen Marissa shares secret lore about the magical city of Toronto, Queen Tay refuses to believe that a character's death is a non-death, and Queen Al finally breathes a sigh of rel...

The Last Battle has finally come! ⚔️ In a chapter containing 200+ pages, the Queens finally get to read the infamous chapter in Wheel of Time Lore. All three Queens rail against Gawyn's terrible decision-making, while Queen Marissa sits in suspense over her second favourite character. Queen Tay watches each character death with excitement, until one character takes it too far. And Queen Alix start...

The Last Battle is rapidly approaching, and our Queens are here for the build-up. As they barrel towards a battle to end them all, the Queens become increasingly concerned about the constantly shortening length of Nynaeve's hair. They debate whether or not they can take the Dark One seriously and Queen Tay wishes a different verb was used to describe a specific scene with Rand and the Dark One. Pe...

The Queens are rapidly approaching the end of The Wheel of Time – and, in this section, we can see the end barrelling at us. All three Queens aim their pitchforks at Gawyn, who is acting particularly silly in this segment. Queen Al attempts to hold her spoilers for the rest of the series, while Queen Tay tries to understand why our army generals are suddenly making mistakes. Queen Marissa, in turn...

For the last time, the Queens begin a new Wheel of Time book. In this beginning of the end, the Queens rage over theories that should have been right, decide they don't love the legendary shower and might end up defending some female Forsaken. Queens Al and Marissa give us a biology lesson on twins, and Queen Tay cries over Caemlyn's horses and brings out her map. Prophecies are unpacked while Que...

The penultimate book is officially done, and your Queens are feeling a type of way about it. As Queens Marissa and Tay delve into their newest theories, Queen Al bites her tongue about all the things she wishes she could spoil. Queen Tay wonders at length about some of the newest enemies and monsters we come across, while Queen Marissa basks in the glory of always being right about romances. Expec...

Are you ready for all the action? Your Queens of Fantasy are back, and they're diving into part three of book 13. Queens Marissa and Tay argue over exactly how much dislike of Gawyn is appropriate, Queen Alix bites her tongue while trying not to accidentally spoil the ending that we're so close to, and each of the Queens is baffled by what counts as a proposal in Randland. Expect to read about one...

The Queens are at it again, this time reading part 2 of book 13. Queens Marissa and Tay argue over exactly how bad Gawyn is. Queen Al manages to hold her tongue, even as the other two get closer and closer to the end. Expect new Aes Sedai tests, old rivalries, a growing disdain for a certain Queen who cannot be stopped, a lingering question of where their goofy rogue went off to, and a budding rom...