Shad Brooks

Shad M. Brooks (born September 23, 1985) is an Australian YouTuber, fantasy author, and historical martial arts enthusiast widely known for his channel Shadiversity. Launched in the mid-2010s, his channel earned a massive following by exploring medieval history, castle architecture, weapons, and armor, as well as deconstructing fantasy tropes and the practicalities of sword combat in popular media. In 2019, he debuted as a published novelist with the dark fantasy book Shadow of the Conqueror (the first installment in his Chronicles of Everfall series), which later inspired a graphic novel adaptation. In addition to his primary educational and martial content, Brooks expanded into wider pop-culture reviews and social commentary through his second channel, Knights Watch, where he regularly critiques contemporary Hollywood films, fantasy adaptations, and entertainment franchises.