Side Quest

by Stephanie K. Clemens

Listen, this was supposed to be simple. Kaelin professional assassin, expert brooder, collector of emotional scars had one mission. Kill the king. Straightforward. Efficient. The sort of thing you can check off before lunch.

But somewhere between the exploding Ale Trials, the cursed inn, and the incident with the goat. (Why are there so many goats?) Kaelin accidentally acquired a travel Tobias, a bright-eyed mage with a suspiciously soft heart and a tendency to monologue about feelings. A Brug, a non-binary orc with a lute and lyrics. Oh, and Timber—the world’s most judgmental dog, who communicates entirely through eyebrow movements and existential sighs.

Now, Dear Reader, our dear assassin finds herself knee-deep in other people’s problems, which, as it turns out, are harder to stab than advertised. There will be quests. There will be chaos. There will be . . . feelings (and Kaelin’s tragic attempts to avoid them).

Will she save the realm? Probably, but not intentionally. She might just save herself—between side quests, snark, and the occasional dagger to the heart (metaphorical or otherwise).

Side Quest is a cozy, chaotic fantasy for anyone who’s ever tried to stay on mission and ended up adopting a mutt, a mage, and a moral compass instead.

429 pages, Paperback

Published March 4, 2026

About the author

Stephanie K Clemens is known for many things: an author, photographer, dog mom, instagrammer, adventurer, teacher, lawyer, and more. When she’s not sitting behind her laptop she can be found on some adventure. Most of the time it’s a road trip with her two doggos, but recently it has been in the pages of a book.

Reviews

[Mothy Donnell]

This may have just been my mood at the time, but this was a DNF at page 30 for me. I thought the writing style used too many asides - the vibes were similar to A Series of Unfortunate Events but it felt forced and also a bit out of place with a 30-year-old protagonist. By 30 pages, it seemed like a lot had happened but also that nothing had happened and the narrator was all over the place so they lost me.

[Kathie Bennet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Side Quest by Stephanie K. Clemens is an engaging and immersive story that captures the spirit of adventure, self discovery, and unexpected journeys. The narrative pulls you in with its relatable characters and evolving stakes, making each twist feel meaningful.

What stands out is how the story balances personal growth with action, creating a journey that feels both entertaining and reflective.

Overall, it’s a compelling read that reminds us that sometimes the detours in life lead to the most important discoveries.

[Katie Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. I love her writing. I was laughing through the book on how she describes things.