Quicksilver, Brimstone, and… the Solar Plexus?

The sequel of the Fae & Alchemy series by Callie Hart: Brimstone

When I first started reading the Fae & Alchemy series, I wasn't hooked. It felt too similar to my favorite series: ACOTAR written by Sarah J. Maas; another Fae and human, enemies to lovers story. However, when Hart left readers on a cliffhanger at the end of the first novel, it became my duty to read Brimstone upon its release.

Brimstone, authored by Callie Hart, was released in late 2025, and with my lackluster feelings toward the first novel, I didn’t want to outright purchase it–so I waited on my reliable Libby app to have the book ready for me. A few months later, when it was available, I finished it in a little over a week. All a testament to how well-written the second novel was.

“Is it actually important, or do you just think it is?”

A brief introduction into the Fae and Alchemy series: Saeris Fane, a human who is rough around the edges, travels through quicksilver from her desert land known as Zilveran, into the winterscape of Yvelia. While there, she falls in love with “shadow daddy”, Kingfisher. This leads to the second novel where Kingfisher and Saeris unite to save the world they love from tumbling down.

“Because what was a book, if not a portal into another realm, another time, another life even?”

This is EXACTLY what Callie Hart gives us in the new novel. It is revealed that not only is Saeris now part-fae, but also part vampire. Now, I know what you are thinking, and it is likely the same thought I had, which was, “Another trope?” And, you would be correct but…

Saeris’ vampirism isn’t truly the plot of the second novel, but rather a duality of character and allows readers to peek into another part of the realm in which she inhabits. Hart creates an entire new world we have to maneuver as readers. And, it is apparent in her language at the Blood Court, Saeris is not to be challenged! “I have spoken. It is done!”

Not only did Hart do a wonderful job at world-building, as most fantasy authors do, but also her character development for each character was quite robust. Let’s dive in:

““Umm. Yeah, I kinda need my tongue.” He took a deep breath and then sighed it back out. “People do seem to like it.”” 

One of the characters who we loved to hate in the first novel, and I particularly thought was a sleazeball, was Carrion Swift. However, in this sequel, we see Carrion develop into the warrior (and more) he is meant to be in the final chapters. Readers also get something we didn't know we needed until we had it: a Carrion and Kingfisher duo!

Originally, Kingfisher despises Carrion because of his less than savory experience with Saeris; now, we see the two men being friendly and reliant toward one another, even if it is in a snarky way. The bickering, quips, and nonverbals exchanged between them is definitely something readers are hoping to see continue into the third novel.

“Humans were not good at taming their feelings. They felt everything so rudely, right out in the open, with no awareness of how their reactions might affect those with finer senses.” 

Hayden Fane is brought into the world of the Fae and reintroduced to his sister as a new woman. Hayden is resentful and angry with his sister for leaving him behind in Zilveran and the “bad dealings” she allegedly had to secure her place with Queen Madra. Obviously, this isn’t true, but because Hayden is thrust into an entirely new world, he has many questions, which I believe will be his downfall. Therefore, due to his incessant whining and complaining, I don’t think we should get too attached to him.

“I held him tightly under one arm, humming a lullaby that my mother had sung to me as an infant quietly under my breath. Not to the fox. I wasn’t humming to the fox. That would have been weird. I just liked the song, and I had a feeling he did, too. There was nothing wrong with that.”

One final character that we cannot forget to mention is Onyx, our fox and savior. And, I don’t have a ton to say except, I truly thought he was going to turn into a person at some point and be released from his creature body. However, this didn’t happen; nonetheless, he is a little savior and one of my favorite characters.

…The Solar Plexus?

Anyone else notice how often the phrase “solar plexus” was used? This isn't even a phrase I hear/read daily, so why on Earth was it used so often within 700 pages? Laughable, but noticeable, and I cringed each time.

Summary

““If at any point you underestimate me…” He smirked, arching a dark copper eyebrow. “Then I’d say that was your mistake rather than mine. Wouldn’t you?”” 

Which is exactly how I felt after not purchasing Brimstone and Quicksilver when I had the chance because I thought Callie Hart would disappoint. She did not.

“Come now, Osha. Where else would an acolyte kneel to worship but at the altar of his god?”

Callie Hart does up the spiciness in this novel, so if you enjoyed the first, you will love the second. Enough said. 

“Bring it home with you.”

Exactly what I will do when the third book premieres.