I decided to chill out for once and try a cozy fantasy. Marketed as such, The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst dutifully delivered on its warm and cheerful vibes on a magical little island that overflowed with so much kindness that it made me want to start talking to my neighbors. A rebellion against the…
Goooooood morning and/or afternoon, QTL readerss (depends on when you read this, of course). Today's puzzle features a site favorite. Let's hop to it! QTL Crossword: Allomancer? I Hardly Know 'Er! Puzzle Spoilers Below!! This week it's a Mistborn puzzle! Vin and Elend are chillin' on the grid. If you haven't jumped into Brandon Sanderson's…
Continue reading ➞ Quill To Live Crossword 3: Allomancer? I Hardly Know ‘Er!
The Fourth Consort is a new standalone science fiction novel from the currently red-hot Edward Ashton (writer of Mickey 7). The premise is relatively straightforward, but interesting. The dialogue is funny, but thoughtful. The book isn’t reinventing the wheel, but I still had a good time. Dalton Greaves is one of humankind’s first representatives to…
I had not heard of this book until a few weeks ago when I saw it within a large pile of books sent to us by various publishers. The cover, despite its overpowering simplicity, lured me in. The synopsis highlighting the U.S. losing a war with China was just icing on an already delicious cake.…
Continue reading ➞ Rule of Capture – This Land Was Not Made For You And Me
The Prison Healer ended on such an incredible twist that nothing could stop me from continuing the series. I HAD to know how Kiva’s story progressed, and I prepared myself for another story that would surprise me at every turn. Instead, The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni grew too big, too fast, and left the…
My first Guy Gavriel Kay foray took me to the glistening city of Sarantium, where political intrigue and nefarious plots abound. Each year, the QTL team participates in an end-of-year book club. Each member forces us to immediately read a book they think we are missing out on, and this was a selection for 2024.…
Anji Kills a King is a new debut from a well-known book reviewer. The talented Evan Leikam brings us this travel story. This short and laser-focused narrative feels very different from most of the other books I have read this year, but does that differentiation play to its benefit or detriment? This is a story…
Continue reading ➞ Anji Kills A King – A Short Murderous Hike
Welcome back, solvers! IT's time for another QTL Crossword on this gorgeous Memorial Day. I hope your day off (if you have one) is just swell. Today's puzzle is themed around one of QTL's collective favorite authors. Start solving! QTL Crossword: GG, K? Puzzle Spoilers Below!! We have a lot of go-to authors, but few…
Today, we travel to a mystical forest. Peter S. Beagle’s The Last Unicorn has long lingered on my shelf, glimmering like the luminous white coat of the eponymous creature. I pulled it down for a quick read and was soon immersed in a fairy tale full of momentum, like a unicorn galloping across the land…
I recently finished a big sci-fi book and was looking for something short and sweet to help me come back down from the stars. While Uncommon Charm by Emily Bergslien and Kat Weaver is certainly short, its sweetness is contained in a friendship growing quietly in the backdrop of a sinister family secret that is…
