Quicksilver, book one in the Fae and Alchemy series is a book I am sure any romantasy reader of this time is familiar with by now. Even if you have not read it— you likely have it on your TBR, or you know someone who has read it, or you saw it recommended on TikTok or Bookstagram, and so on and so forth. Well friend, I read it so you can decide if you want to or not! (And I will keep it spoiler free!)
To begin, the story starts off with a giant wham! of a scene, dumping us right into the view point of the main character Saeris Fane. I won’t give out any spoilers, but let’s just say that this main female character is not your damsel in distress or girl who is going to curl up in a corner and wait for a man to step in. In fact, if a man dare try, I am pretty sure she would spit in his face. The world we are dropped into is harsh and not like any other story that I have read recently. And frankly, like Hunger Games, this is one world I am okay with staying in a book. Not one part of me would want to partake in this world that Callie Hart has built.
….With one exception. The amount of muscular, and drop-dead gorgeous men described in this book might make any woman reconsider.
Quicksilver is filled start to finish with action and suspense. These poor people—or Fae— can’t get through hardly a meal or night sleep without something trying to kill them. This led me to two very conflicting feelings. My first feeling was holy moly, I am mentally exhausted for them! There is so much information and action it is hard to feel any sort of break from the constant barrage of high paced conflict. But then I realized that I had read a couple hundred pages in a single sitting without even noticing and I went— okay! You absolutely get swept up in the story, and the constant movement helps you feel melded with the characters, because this is the life they are living! There isn’t a breather, there isn’t time to sit around and be lax. It is life or death, and you feel that every step of this book.
This is a book you either love for the spice or the complete opposite. As someone who can take it or leave it, there were times where it felt like sex for selling sake, but hey, it is a romantasy so they kind of go hand in hand. The romance, and therefore sex, is a large part of the allure and plot. I will give her this, Callie Hart can write a sex scene! However, when I read this again I will probably flip through those scenes and get back to the story line that entranced me. And I will reread this book, probably sooner rather than later seeing as the third book is in process to come out in the near future.
All in all, if you like fantasy with a large romance plot line, strong characters who have some serious flaws to work through, unique monsters, an incredibly immersive world, and a plot line that will keep you guessing, this book will be right up your alley!
Up next, we are going to keep moving through Callie Hart. Brimstone, book two of the Fae and Alchemy series I am looking at you! See you in April!
Pull up a chair and let’s find your next favorite story!
