Verified
If you like grimdark, you should check this one out!
I feel as though I've glimpsed the tip of an iceberg... or rather a quill.Ketzer created an entirely unique planetoid, several nations inhabited by unique human species and a very original magic system (at least I've never come across anything like it before) and it's clear there are more stories to be set here in the future, but this novella ignores these potentially vast horizons to tell a very intimate story of an assassin that is mostly about trauma and how it shapes our lives even when we think it's lost hold on us.
Verified
Fast-paced assassin caper
“She craved the racing of her pulse at the kiss of danger, her brush with death, the intoxicating thrill that made her feel alive.”Dr. Shida Ketzer whips up a fast-paced assassin caper with stealth details and a deep backstory. Protagonist Quill is a mercenary assassin who we see work through her career, gathering friends, enemies, and experience (and memories). A flow of action spurs the story along, with many sequences of assassin missions going well - and chaotic. Quick-witted, resourceful, and armed with some sick magic gear, Quill’s artful way of sneaking, and quipping, make up some of my favorite scenes. Overall, I enjoyed Killer Quill’s passionate protagonist and the light but effective world-building the most.
Verified
Intricate and Intriguing
The way the world, politics, and culture all entwined so seamlessly was wonderfully balanced.Quill is a complex character that doesn't bore and doesnt miss the mark.The world building was moved with the story, never pausing it.The layers of culture and politics meshed well and lent a depth to the world around Quill, giving insight into a broader world that Ketzer has created.This will be a world to visit frequently!
Verified
The first Wisteraverse based Novella!
Killer Quill is a fun departure from the fantasy norm. No romanticism here, you won't find Quill pining for lost love on these pages. Instead, author Shida Ketzer bursts on the literary scene with this first write. A fast paced succession of clever ideas keep us completely engaged. Bet you've never read a novella where the main character dies in the first few pages! (Then is brought back to life by a sentient quill) but I digress. The plot careens at full throttle - action, nonstop.This book ends all too soon, leaving me thinking about Quill literally for days to come. My highest recommendation! Can't wait for more from the über talented Shida Ketzer
Verified
*no spoilers* A fantasy I didn’t expect to enjoy.
I thought I wasn’t into fantasy, but this one… it’s something different. It hooked me fast (dark, strange, beautifully vivid) and I fell deep, staying there until the very last page. Quill is the kind of character who lingers with you: murdered, resurrected, and bound to a power that’s both breathtaking and terrifying. The magic system feels fresh, the pacing sharp, and the world drips with atmosphere without slowing the story down.I also appreciate that the author is upfront about the book’s tone and content - inviting you to read the sample and check the trigger warnings before diving in. It’s a fair, thoughtful gesture, and honestly, once I stepped in, I couldn’t pull myself out.