I'm Dark-O and this is your gateway to fantasy worlds and sneaker culture. Here I will review and discuss sci-fi and fantasy books, as well as some non-fiction. And while I'm journeying through these epic tales, I'll also keep your style grounded with the latest drops and classic staples of sneaker culture. Join me for a unique blend of imaginative escapes and real-world drip!
I don't do alcohol either. Except plain water I drink camomile tea, so not sure what book goes with it. 😅 Neon lights: "The Tainted Cup" UK edition. Weird fascinating plants, sign me in. Bouncer: "The Butcher of the Forest" DJ's choice: "Race the Sands" Sarah Beth Durst Disco Ball: "The Dead Djinn Universe" especialy "A Master of Djinn" by P. Djèlí Clark Dance Floor Diva: "Black Sun" - Rebecca Roanhorse Guest list: Susanna Clarke, if her health permits and Ken Liu VIP Entrance: "Blood Over Bright Haven" M. L. Wang. I trully hope that now with the trad publishing it will be really popular. Midnight reads: "Behind Closed Doors" by B. A. Paris because something similar (not as teriffying, but still) hapened to my mother in law... After Party: "Speaking Bones" by Ken Liu Late night conversations: "Piranesi" by Sussana Clarke, my husband knows 2 quotes + the most uniqe hall from the House ( the 192nd western hall - I have a framed print from Etsy) without reading the book, that's how much I talk about it 😂 P.S. in my edition of "Killing Moon" in the extras N. K. Jemisin interviews herself. I highly recomend you to try finding that. The book was interesting enough, but those answers were the cherry on top. I adored "The Broken Earth" , especially "The Fifth Season". I read a Romanian translation.
Piranesi is awesome and Clarke would be an great person to have a chat with. Sorry her health isn't the best. Now, I must find that edition of Killing Moon that you have because that interview sounds absolutely amazing!
Great answers bestie I keep wanting to get to Dresden. I’ve read a bit and do love it…. so many books!!!!!! 😂 You can steal all you want from me. I have this book 13:01 bestie!!! This is why we are friends and you get it it’s not all that clear in the world of serial killers. We have to do something serial killer together.
Great tag, Darko. I need to do this one too. I loved your answer about N. K. Jemison. I love that you like her as a person and respect what she’s doing even though you haven’t taken to her novels. I’ve only read two of hers, but I do like her very much. Hope you’re doing well, my friend. 🥰
Thank you so much Pat! I hope to give her another try, as my reading palette has matured a bit since I last attempted to read her books, so maybe now I can better appreciate them.
Awesome video Dark O. Moving into some serial killer books huh? I was so disappointed when Mind Hunters was cancelled on Netflix. It was a fantastic show. I'm glad The Spear got another nod in this video. Cheers.
Oh man, I just finished the Red Rising saga and I absolutely adored lightbringer. I didn't care as much for Dark Age so I had the highest hopes for LB. It was such a wonderful experience. Hail reaper!
Awesome answers, that serial killer book sounds messed up. I'm curious to try it, but in recent years I've lost the stomach to read/watch real life crime stuff, so not sure I'd manage it to be honest. I actually answered this tag over on Brian's channel when he posted it, I'll share the answers here also! - Cocktail Hour - SC - Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - Neon Lights - anything with a Raymond Swanland cover! - The Bouncer - JG - Faithful and Fallen - DJ's Choice - GGK - Lions of Al-Rassan - Disco Ball - BS - The Way of Kings - Dance Floor Diva - HM - Lud-in-the-Mist - greatest fantasy book of all time - Guest List - China Mieville - fascinating conversations guaranteed - VIP Entrance - HM - Lud-in-the-Mist - Dance Battle - Butters from Dresden Files vs. King's Crucible from Crucible of Chaos - Midnight Read - literally every single Dresden Files book until I caught up to the 14th that was out at the time - After Party - China Mieville - The Scar - broke fantasy as a genre to read from for FOUR YEARS for me. - Late Night Conversations - Harry Potter
@@OnlyTheBestFantasyNovels I love that Faithful and the Fallen is on your list as The Bouncer. You’ll appreciate my next vid whenever I get around to editing it lol.
@@KindlesandKicks I like the sound of that, lol. I already recorded videos with my thoughts on the entire series, and they're probably going to be my first semi-negative videos on the channel, lol. Debating whether to even post them though - I like keeping my space as positive as possible and only talking about books I enjoyed.
@@OnlyTheBestFantasyNovels wow guys you surprise me Faithful and the fallen didn’t work for you. It was my real introduction to fantasy and what started this whole book tube fiasco 🤣 I wish I could convince you both otherwise 😂 I’m joking btw your opinions are your own 🫶
@@throughthepages_with_dee I get the appeal with it, so not knocking the taste of anyone that likes it. Gwynne plays to his strengths in those and that part goes off well, I just know what I look for in my books and it didn't manage to hit any of the marks.
Ever since you told us one of your favorite Black characters is from "Malazan", I decided to try the first book, but in my first language as everyone says it is so complicated.
Hey Fenix! Thank you for commenting and subscribing. You may reach me at the following: twitter.com/kindlesandkicks KindlesandKicks@yahoo.com Discord: Darko_au_Bellona
Awesome video Dark O!! One of my favorites is definitely Quick Ben, another is Jabari Onai from The Burning Series by Evan Winters . Oh, also Josh Hutchins from Swan Song is a fantastic character and one of my favorite characters in any book I read all year.
Thanks bro! I wanted to put Tau from the Burning Series on here, but have not read the second book yet. I hope Evan Winters finished the trilogy soon. Swan Song just became a lot more interesting.
Happy (belated) Juneteenth!! Wonderful video to celebrate 🤩 I am ashamed to admit that I hadn't even fully realised that some of these characters were Black (or insinuated to be Black), but I love them all the more for it! Especially Belina is just a hoot, I adore her!! Some of my personal faves would be Sylah from The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi, Sistah Samurai from Sistah Samurai by Tatiana Obey, Tayen from No Heart for a Thief by James Lloyd Dulin and Rasia from Bones to the Wind by Tatiana Obey!
Awesome video. I'm always looking for diverse POVs I loooove Binti, Akata too ❤ Karina from A Song of Wraiths and Ruin (west African) ALSO Tristan Strong, YA and so fun. Quick Ben is brilliant but it's a comment to the density of Malazan that I had no idea he was black 😳🤦♀️ My favorite is fantasy of the spec-ops variety but adore Top Simms from Joe Ledger. Really appreciate this list and all but Light Bringer I've either read or they're in my queue. 🙌🏼🤓
Thank you for the list. Piranesi's mother was Ghanian. My other favorite characters: Lauren Olamina from the "Earthseed" duology by Octavia E. Butler Vincenza "Vintage" from "The Winnowing Flame by Jen Williams Fatma from "A Master of Djinn" by P. Djeli Clark Xiala from "Between Earth and Sky" by Rebecca Roanhorse Victoire from "Babel" by R. F. Kuang
Wow! Thank you so much for these new books and characters I need to delve into. Appreciate the clarification on Piranesi as well. Always enjoy getting your recommendations!
QUICK BEN!!!! He is just the best! Next to TATTERSAIL that is 😂 DANA!!!! 14:32 you didnt let me down here bestie she is the bomb! 15:37 tell me tell me???? Obviously!!! I knew it 16:03 haha how were you not going to say Dean and he handsome! Great list hunny and so cool to give voice you may end up adding a character from invisible man to that list yet I’m reading a book you will love called the Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow it’s hocus pocus meets witches of east wick, meets dark Disney fairy tales. Rabin from @onlythebestfantasynovels put me on to it. The character Cleo Quinn is a female of colour who is a journalist and a witch 😃 it’s so so good bestie Love you ❤
Thank you bestie! Love you more! Alicia knows all the cool books. That sounds awesome!!! I almost included Invisible Man, but wanted to finish the book first. He's definitely going on the list when I update it.
Amazing vid!! Quick Ben let’s gooooooooooooooooooooooooioooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Right with you on loving Red Seas more than Lies, and that pirate Captain is def one of the reasons why that book rocked! Piranesi is a super superstar, and Kip was easily one of the best things about Lightbringer. So lovable. Love the Dean Thomas shout out! Goes to show the importance of diverse rep but especially in kids books so everyone can feel seen. Have you not read Rage of Dragons yet? Tau is straight 🔥🔥🔥
Tau almost made the list. If I did honorable mentions he would've been there, but I've only read the first book in the series and waiting for Evan Winter to complete the trilogy.
@@KindlesandKicks ah you’ll be waiting a while for him to finish cuz it’s 4 books planned! Book 2 Fires of Vengeance was a really cool evolution of the story
You can pick almost any favorite character from Malazan and put in this list, as most of the characters in the series are black. 😊 Definitely all the Malazans and all the Tiste Andii. Anomander Rake for the win.
Your shit is 🔥 Oh, and the list is awesome as well. If I may, I’d add my favorite Black character to your list: Susannah Dean from Dark Tower. She is amazing and unique and all-round kick ass woman. Btw, she is wheelchair bound. Susannah ❤
This is a fantastic video! Dean Thomas is bloody brilliant. Best Quidditch commentator ever. Thanks too for explaining Juneteenth. I live in NZ, it's not a thing here. I know that it IS a thing, and that its a celebratory one, but never knew what the story behind it was. One of my favourite authors is likely a little out of your preferred reading, she's a mixed race Samoan Indian lady who primarily writes romance/paranormal-romance/urban-paranormal though she's begun branching into contemporary mystery thrillers as well, and she lives right here in New Zealand. Nalini Singh. *Very* few of her characters are traditionally 'white'. In one of her contemporary romance series her characters are all from Pacific Island heritage, and these are BIG men, rugby playing men, who don't conform with traditional notions of 'handsome'. In that particular series, she also has an amputee as one of the main characters. In her paranormal romances her characters come from cultures as diverse as India, Morocco, and Russia with all the differences of body type and colouring imaginable. With every new culture she represents, she brings a family 'tone', a tradition of spices, holidays, endearments, and clothing, without attempting to highlight any of it - those things are simply a part of a character and their personality. The reason I wanted to tell you all of that, is because that level of inclusion - you know, like how people EXIST in the real world - simply deserves to be shared. *EVEN* as a very white woman who just turned 50, I appreciate how necessary these books are, and I LOVE them. I love being able to see a world where racism simply isn't there, and I wish heartily that non-white lead characters weren't still noteworthy even in these genres - the least constrained by reality.
Derri, I totally agree with your eloquently expressed sentiment. And I always appreciate learning about new, diverse authors and stories that add a more color to the literary world. Nalini Singh sounds absolutely brilliant and I am very much intrigued now.
Amazing list! I couldn’t agree more about Zamira Drakasha, who also made Red Seas Under Red Skies my favorite of the three books. You’ll be happy to learn you’ll get much more Quick Ben in future Malazan books, including Memories of Ice. Happy Juneteenth!
Brilliant, Darko! I knew Octavia Butler would be near or at the top of your list. I am planing to read more of her this summer. I know you're not a big N.K. Jemison fan, but she has some great characters of color too. I hope you're doing well, my friend. I always feel better after I watch one of your videos.
Thank you so much Pat! I really wish I liked Jemisin before, if for no other reason than to enjoy more Black characters in fantasy. I need to give her other books a try, and not write her off just because I didn't like the first book in Broken Earth. I always appreciate your wonderful comments. You've made my day Pat! Thank you again!
@@KindlesandKicks I read her two-part Great Cities series. It took me a while to get into, but I ultimately did like it. Have you read any Victor Lavalle? I’m not exactly sure how to even characterize him-part horror, part supernatural fantasy-but he has some really interesting characters too. I just read him for the first time. How about Percival Everett? He’s not a fantasy writer, but wow! I think he’s one of the most important writers writing now. I’m a little obsessed….So good chatting with you, my friend! 😊
Have you read Mistborn? Thought I'd see Sazed on the list. Orlando Jones really knocked it out the park, that scene with Anansi on the boat is one of the most powerful pieces of acting I've ever seen. I absolutely knew Dean Thomas would be somewhere in the top 3, ha. Great video as always man. My wife saw your shirt while I was watching the video and wants to get me one because I'm always harassing her with Spongebob lines 😂
I love Sazed but it never occurred to me, to put him on this list. I also pictured him looking similar to Dhalsim from Street Fighter, who is Indian. But an argument can definitely be made for him being Black. When I do this list again, I will consider him. OMG, you wife is absolutely right! It's actually entire set, with shirt and shorts LOL.
@@KindlesandKicks now that you mention it I can definitely see Sazed also matching that profile. I'm going to start re-reading the entire Cosmere very soon, so I guess if Sando ever mentioned anything definitive either way, I'll spot it! LOL, why am I not surprised it's a set 😂
Great unique video, Darko. Love me some Quick Ben. And agree to Dana! I'd like to add Tau among other characters from Evan Winter's The Burning series. Missed your content and glad to see ya back at it. 🍻👟
Hi!- great list! If this one hasn’t popped up on your radar, try the “Seasons of Plenty” trilogy from Colin Greenland. The main character is Tabitha Jute; a gender-swapped and race-swapped Han Solo!
Great video, and great way to commemorate this day! I couldn't agree more with you about Quick Ben, and though Deadhouse Gates doesn't feature him, get ready for more of the best mage in Malazan. I just finished Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower today, and I'd like to add Lauren Olamina from that amazing story to the conversation. Thank you for the video!
I can’t stop recommending this book. I read it earlier this year and I was just in awe of how creative of a writer Simon Jimenez is. I don’t read as much as i would like, but I just can’t remember the last time I was speechless at somebody’s ability to interweave and guide you through a very complex and layered story so well. I’m still in awe.
Thanks for doing my tag! I love hearing everyone's answers. When I taught 4th grade, my students loved reading Goosebumps for their silent reading time, and I had a big classroom collection. I also agree with your opinion on 50 Shades. :)
Really weird packaging indeed, but I am glad they arrived safely! I think I would feel like I'd forgotten to put on shoes if I'd wear these, lol. They look good tho!!
Thanks for sharing this Dark-o! I’ve never heard of these. I’m not a big sock guy, but they look like a good option for a lot of people. I wear barefoot shoes.
