I recieved an e-ARC of this book in exchange of my honest review.

This book was very intriguing, it has some topics that are attractive to me, this book really sold it with the plot, so it was so great to have read this book, and enjoyed it a lot

The little child in me was filled with excitement and aspiration as I read the synopsis. Having a
fantasy island such as the Insula Mirabilis was the dream of every fantasy dreamers. The
ultimate utopia for gamers and adventurers as such.

Dr. Addie Cox was just having her regular day teaching when she was approached by a well-
suited woman. What she needs from Dr. Addie was not clear. The only clear thing is that she
needs Dr. Addie to come with her and had donated a sum of money to the department of Dr.
Addie just to show that it is a matter of urgency. Addie was not to be bribed as she thinks so, but
the money would benefit a lot of people in her department, so she comes with the woman and is
greeted with an NDA before meeting the person who needs her, Harris Lang. A billionaire tech
guy who funded the fantasy island. Harris Lang showed a picture of a unicorn to Dr. Addie
saying that is not a drawing but a true unicorn roaming on an island, the Insula Mirabilis. She
was needed to be a guide to the journey to get the island back from its developers who have
mutinied. Dr. Addie was still puzzled why she was picked but everything sounded different when
the name Dominic Brand was mentioned. He was Dr. Addie`s ex, the one that led her to the
world of Lang. She then agrees to cooperate as she wants to see the unicorn and intrigues what
was the reason Dominic had done such a thing. My only problem with the story is that it was too
fast. Everything is happening too fast. But that’s just it. Even though the ending was like what
you have had imagined. Everything else was likable and made with wonders. From the journey
to the quests and puzzles to solve. It was indeed a fantasy island.

“This is how the stories always go.” An ending just like any other quests that involve mutiny.
Acceptable but rather had a different ending. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this as it brings
me to a world full of mythical creatures, dungeons, castles, and quests that I can only
experience in games.

Questland by Carrie Vaughn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Carrie Vaughns trek into LitRPG territory is a solid run even if it feels like a half-attempt to legitimize the sub-genre by giving it fairly extensive SF roots, a real-world base, and economic "reasons".

Of course, most of the LitRPGs I've read don't bother with any of that. They just go straight into the adventure and let us have all the *ding* level-ups we want, letting us revel in the adventure and learn the basic gaming rules as we go with easy-to-follow diagrams. :)

Vaughn's is more along the lines of Ready Player One, but with a more devoted eye to direct LoTR mythology and normal myths that aren't limited to '80s schwag. I LIKED that. I even liked the idea that a PHD in Literature got the leading role.

So what didn't I like? The plot. Maybe the first half was okay because it's standard journey stuff, but once we got into the evil corporation arrogance and the rats trying to steal all the company cheese, I either wanted it to go out with a big bang or defy my expectations. It did neither.

It wasn't bad, but it didn't wow me, either.

Literature professor and geek Addie Cox is summoned by billionaire Harris Lang and given an opportunity she can['t refuse: accompany a special forces team as they infiltrate the fantasy theme park Lang is developing. Insula Mirabilis has been cut off from the mainland by a force shield for five months; obviously something has gone very wrong. Addie's former boyfriend is the lead developer on the project, and Land hopes that she can get through to him.

When the team arrives, they find marvels: sphinxes, unicorns, dragons both playful and terrifying. They also discover that their maps are out of date, the safety protocols have been turned off, some of the developers have gone native, and did I mention the dragons?

This isn't quite fantasy (none of the magic is real, although Addie sometimes has trouble remembering that). It's closer to very-near-future science fiction, although it isn't quite that, either. Mostly it's just fun.

A decent fantasy tale. I didn't grow many of the characters which reduced my enjoyment. But I think this will work for some fantasy fans. It includes an imaginative plot and good pacing and action.

Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!

Having been an avid reader of the Kitty series, I was very happy to receive the ARC of this new book by the great Carrie Vaughn.
I enjoyed this book, action-packed and written in the utterly enjoyable style the author is known for. However, it has its flaws too, The tech required probably some additional research to be more credible, but characters are really great. At the end, a recommended quarantine read.

Huge thanks to #netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing #questland (my first ARC ever! Yaaaay!) in exchange for an honest review!
4.5
It’ll hit the shelves on 22 Jun 2021 and if you’re obsessed with fantasy literature this will be just your cup of tea! There is a wealthy man, and he decides to turn an island into every fantasy reader’s dream place with dragons, castles, unicorns, etc. with a bunch of geek and nerd (aka tech so advanced that seems like magic). But at some point (before its opening) he loses touch with the island, so he decides to send a group of mercenaries and our protagonist (Dr. Addie Cox – Professor of Literature) to figure out what’s going on and take control of the island back. Imagine Westworld, Ready Player One, Jurassic Park and add all of your fantasy references wasted ‘till now and mash them together to find sth base of that novel! If it’s not sth appeals to you I honestly don't know what would!
I have some minor issues with it and with zero knowledge of D&D, I guess I miss lots of references but, without them, it would be a total 5 star read but still It was a great beginning for a new year! First of my problems with that is; I’d love to know side characters better, especially Torres and Rucker. They felt shallow and robot-like. Secondly, Addie acts so out of character in the last part that I couldn’t help myself to felt distanced from the developments while annoyed by her. And lastly, when you have that much source I imagine you can create things in a wider range, not %85 LOTR based. I would like to see more worlds in it. For example; there could be something from Indian mythology, Dune, The Wheel of Time, or Discworld.

Basic premise, billionaire CEO pays for an island and then gets scientists and engineers to implement tech so advanced it seems like magic. But then they lose contact with the island. Enter Dr. Addie Cox who is a professor of literature, combining the deep classics with modern fantasy to help a team of mercs figure out what happened.

Also don't there is always a reason someone is your ex.

Its Fantasy Jurassic Park and I'm here for that. I enjoyed the references as well as the fact that it wasn't masturbatory with them like some novels can be. Great pacing and it keeps the idea of what is real and does it matter brought up.

One issue I had with it was the representation of some of the military folks. Every SEAL I have met is a giant nerd.

Slight spoilers, I would take that dragon. Like, I'm coming at you like a spider monkey for that bracer.

**Thank you Netgalley and publisher for giving me an electronic ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

The premise of this book is what drew me to it. I felt that it had a lot of potential, but it didn't feel as flushed out as it could be. I liked the idea of a fantastical island, however it's as if the pieces of the puzzle (which is the book), didn't fit at all.

Tech meets fantasy when a billionaire tech genius creates an island where technology is indistinguishable from magic. It looks like a dream come true, except his team starts a mutiny and he thinks only Addie Cox can help him get his island back.

I was really excited to read this book. I admit I absolutely love fantasy worlds like Narnia and Middle Earth. Did this story live up to my expectation? No, not really to be honest. Let me explain why:

First, I want to point out that it took me really long to get interested in the characters. I had trouble keeping them apart for the first 80 pages, and the story didn't make me feel like I wanted to get to know them. Also, I think Addie was just not that likable to me. I wanted to like her, but just couldn't. Also, the character-building for Dominic was just not enough

The first few problems the team ran into after arriving on the island, moved way too fast for me. After 150 pages the story started moving a bit slower, but that was not for long because the last 50 pages moved really fast again. Just too fast for my liking. I did not have the time to really get invested in what was happening in the story because before I knew it, the moment was gone.

What I obviously loved were all the tropes from fandoms that I knew, that got mentioned. But at the same time, it felt like so many things I already knew, that I missed some original elements. Maybe if a few original elements had been put on the island, I would have liked it more.

It also felt like the same thing just happened over and over again. Addie got herself in trouble and she had to be saved. Only the end was different, but to me, that came out of nowhere and it should have had more of a buildup.

I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
This was quite interesting but it lacked a certain stability that I was hoping for.

The best way I can describe this book is Jurassic Park meets Dungeons and Dragons.
Professor Addis Cox is recruited by reclusive billionaire Harris Lang to help reclaim a private island off the coast of the Pacific Northwest where he's been developing the ultimate fantasy land. The staff based on the island have mutinied and no one is sure who can be trusted. The team must navigate the islands puzzles, creatures and advanced technology to reach Tor Camelot and bring down the energy shield separating the island from the world.

I loved this book, Its like Ready Player One with regard to the constant fantasy references, but is more similar in plot to Jurassic Park 3. Professor Addie Cox is a great main character wellrounded and grows over the course of the story. The other team characters aren't as well developed, but still enjoyable.

My only complaint is I wish the story was a little longer. It would give us time without some more puzzles and the employees.


I highly recommend you try this out.

In Questland, Carrie Vaughn sets up an island where technology has brought magic to life, a perfect setting for a live D&D campaign. Unfortunately, the workers who built the island see themselves as characters, and don't realize that they need to stop playing the game when there becomes potential for people to get hurt for real. When the owner and visionary of the island loses contact with it, he hires a small team to regain it: four mercenaries and Addie, the main character, chosen primarily because her ex-almost-fiance is the one suspected of the probable mutiny that cut off the communication between the island and the outside world.

The main idea behind Questland was solid, but the characters--Addie, specifically--weren't quite right. Most notably, Addie keeps going off like a kid in a candy shop. She knows the island isn't right and the mission is to avoid as much as possible and just shut it down, but instead of following orders, she heads toward whatever fantastical adventure is in front of her. Some of this would be in line with her character, but chasing through the woods for a glimpse of a unicorn without telling her team? Gaping at the fantastical is one thing, forgetting they can KILL you is quite another.

Beyond that, Addie's defining background is that she is a survivor if a school shooting, but it isn't really used much. It's addressed plenty as Addie's reason for jumpiness, but it's not used in a way that feels real once she gets to this fantastical island. Perhaps it's more realistic this way, but it didn't feel vital to the story.

Lastly Harris Lang, the owner of the island, wasn't explored as much as he could have been. Addie meets him at the beginning of the story and he sets a death trap at the end, but his motivations aren't looked at, which was dissapointing.

Its characters could be more realistic, but overall Questland was a fun read.

Interesting premise, but not what I was expecting at all.

I really struggled with this one. I am a big fan of fantasy novels, adventure stories, and all things dungeons and dragons. The premise gave me the idea that this would be an epic adventure from the perspective of characters in a tabletop role-playing game, but in reality it was quite different.

Perhaps it was the military aspect, or the fact that I could not get attached to any characters, but I just did not enjoy this story, as much as it pains me to say.

It may be the fact that I was expecting something else that lead me to not feel like I was getting what I wanted. It could also be that I had just finished reading Ready Player Two before this one (with a vague similarity of people adventuring through “virtual” realities on a quest) that was a different level of writing entirely.

I personally could not wrap my head around this one, but I hope some people will enjoy this book as it is an original idea with fun references to the world of fantasy tabletop role playing games.

Thanks to the netgalley team and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book. I appreciate the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Questland by Carrie Vaughn is about Professor Adrienne "Addie" Cox going to Insula Mirabilis where something has gone terribly wrong. Harris Lang created the island as a place to prove that once technology is advanced enough it is the same as magic. But when he losses all communication with the island and Addie's ex-boyfriend might be the cause, he has her join a team to restore communication with the island.

I feel that having the book told from Dominic's point of view would be better. Addie is not a bad point of view character as, like her, the reader is fascinated by the island. Insula Mirabilis is supposed to be a great place for nerds and nerds will be the ones most interested to read this book. But, at the same time, it never feels like she has an impact on the plot. She is needed for being a nerd, but she also tends to run into trouble. When she reunites with Dominic it is all because she wandered from the group to look at something pretty.

Dominic has a very big impact on the plot to the point the book couldn't have happened without him. His character is also very intriguing. He has a big heart and is more than ready to act on what he sees as being for the greater good. He feels that all technology invented on the island shouldn't be used for anything else but creating a fantasy setting. At the end of the book his big heart makes him make sure none of his co-workers get blamed for his various mistakes.

He isn't all good as his one fault is his ego. This makes him not think through things clearly and is what cause his various mistakes. As Addie broke up with him and we see from her point of view, we don't see a kind picture of the man.

The end of the book teases a possible sequel. By the end of the book we don't get that clear a picture of Harris Lang so a possible sequel could delve more into him. Was he a misunderstood genius? Did he want Insula Mirabilis for the technology and a fantasy tourist attraction was just a cover?

Insula Mirabilis is a fascinating place. There are unicorns, mazes, dragons, elves, and various other things that should make every fantasy lover extremely happy. Addie, unlike me, preferred unicorns. Lang was able to get her interest by showing her a unicorn his employees had created.

The island is broken into three factions and, of course, readers will get to visit every one of them. One faction is lead by "King" Arthur who is the most timid of the group leaders. Another faction is the dwarfs who live underground and use wargs as mounts. The final group are the elves who are lead by Dominic. They are the most extreme at playing into their roles which, I guess, makes them the 'bad' faction. This due to the book dismissing all of the employees as crazy for enjoying themselves on a fantasy island.

I would recommend Questland by Carrie Vaughn for those who enjoy all things fantasy.

For everyone who loved Ready, Player One but then wished they'd gotten into Dungeons and Dragons, here comes Questland. With chapter titles like "Wisdom Save" and "Critical Fail", this book is charming and light. A good quick read to be read with a cup of tea (of course!).

The first part of this book is absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, about 3/4s of the way through, I got really tired of waiting for the main character to grow a spine. She finally did, thank god, but it got kind of painful there for a bit. Other than that, highly recommended to be given to any gamers you know and, especially, any female gamers.

What a unique read! I have honestly never read anything quite like this. It's like Westworld meet Game of Thrones meet Jurassic Park, but in a really cool way. I'm also such a fan of non-stereotypical female heroines and in this case I love a nerdy, smart female lead! I feel like this book had such promise. I do feel however, that there was something missing. Whether it's a certain type of drama or intrigue, or maybe the plot just didn't quite fit the setting, either way, I can't quite put my finger on why this book is mildly unsatisfying. Maybe I just wanted more!

#Questland #NetGalley #MustRead2021
I have read Carrie Vaughn before, but not like this one. Questland has a pop culture nerd vibe to it that is absolutely charming. It takes this book to a different level when reading it. If you enjoy books that have "references" to other iconic things then this is a must read for you!

I received an ARC of Questland by Carrie Vaughn through #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. I kept on expecting real magic to show up - I don't think it's a spoiler to say that it doesn't.

Some fun geeky nostalgia, and I'd enjoy spending more time with these characters.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of QUESTLAND by Carrie Vaughn in exchange for an honest review. An infamous billionaire recruits literature professor Dr. Addie Cox for a secret mission to a island of the coast of the United States. In Jurassic Park style, the billionaire bought the land and set it up as an elaborate amusement park. This project would allow people to LARP in a realistic Dungeons & Dragons type setting. To emulate the magic of the game, the billionaire enlisted elite scientists, programmers, and visionaries to build devices, creatures, and villages to fuel the narrative. However, the workers mutinied, shut off outside communications, seized control of the island, and killed some Coast Guard personnel in the process. Addie must accompany a security force of ex-military mercenaries, breach the island’s perimeter, contact each of the department heads, deliver messages from the boss, and discover who lead the mutiny and ordered the actions that killed the Coast Guard personnel. The billionaire suspected Addie’s ex-boyfriend was the culprit, so Addie finds herself roleplaying bait. Will Addie’s immersion and wonder in the fantasy world result in her going native or will she be able to accomplish her mission?

I enjoy this author’s Kitty Norville series and love urban fantasy, so I was excited to gain access to this ARC. QUESTLAND did not disappoint. I recommend this book to fans of roleplaying games, to fans of urban fantasy, and to fans of cozy mysteries featuring a modern SEAL-type team performing a mission in a D&D type setting.

#Questland #NetGalley