I loved every minute of this. Kingfisher is everything you could want in an angsty mmc. The chemistry they had was absolute fire. This is a book I can not stop recommending.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

dnf @ 30% and i wish i stopped sooner — was i truly reading the same book as the rest of the reviewers who raved about how good this was? the writing dragged on for so long that i felt as if i had read over half of the book in the first 15% despite literally nothing happening.

i feel nothing for any of the characters — where are their personalities (aside from being snarky and sarcastic), what are their backgrounds, what are their goals?

this was supposedly a slow burn romantasy but from the glimpse i had, it’s certainly not. other reviewers can attest to that.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC for early review.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

5⭐, even though this was undeniably too long, under-edited, and romantasy trash.

After not liking When the Moon Hatched, I was due to fall for one of the other multitude of fae spicy romantasy stories that are doing their rounds on TikTok, and this filled the blank I needed for my A-Z challenge, so here we are.

Saeris is annoying. She's bitchy, and whiny, and ridiculously horny for a man (sorry, *male*) that has done nothing but growl at her and belittle her. But she is somehow able to speak to the magical substance called Quicksilver, and is basically an untrained alchemist who the Fae utilize to make protective charms against the evil vampires. Yes, there's evil vampires, but there's also not-evil vampires, like Kingfisher, the stepson of the Fae king and beloved war hero. Fae vampires, yep. It has all the pitfalls of the usual TikTok favourites. Kingfisher is a massive douchebag and so gruff and mean that it's hard to feel anything but spite towards him for a long while, but he's undeniably hot and he and Saeris definitely need to fuck it out. There's plot, there's some body horror (the Quicksilver residing in Kingfisher's eyeball being sentient was the coolest thing in the whole book), there was a jumpscare where I thought Saeris had slept with a half sibling for a second, and there's a badly wrapped up conclusion and too many repetitive library scenes.

This lacked cohesiveness, real Fae intrigue, real vampire intrigue, and a heavy handed editor. However, it did have an insanely fucking adorable arctic fox companion, so I'm helpless. When's book two.

I heard so much chatter about this book, I simply could not go on without knowing and BOY it did not disappoint! Do yourself a favor and pick this up immediately!

Kingfisher this, Kingfisher that. Why are we not talking about Carrion F*cking SWIFT!

I found some of this book predictable, but still very enjoyable. It follows Saeris as she falls through worlds where everything she thought she knew gets turned upside down. There’s a unique alchemical magic system, found family, lots of banter, and some 🔥 scenes.

When it comes to Kingfisher himself, he has a filthy mouth, he’s morally grey, and not to mention mentally unhinged. (Props to the audiobook narrator 🤤) Saeris gives us the classic “but I can fix him” (and everything else).

Carrion however… The plot twists, the banter, the <i>jokes</i> this man provided to the book. I’ll leave it at that and let you discover him yourself.

The cliffhanger! I’m excited to see what lengths Saeris will go to in order to save a world she didn’t know existed in the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for providing me an eARC of this book!

I had heard so much about Quicksilver and Callie Hart, I went in with high expectations and I have to say that my expectations were met. I throughly enjoyed the story. I’m excited for our readers to enjoy it too!

I have nothing but praise to say about Quicksilver. I went in thinking I might enjoy myself, I might have a good time, maybe get a little fae smut. I sure wasn't expecting this masterpiece.

Let's start with the characters. (I'm tagging for spoilers but I'm warning again that the following will be spoilery.)
-Saeris is a badass. We've all seen thieving FMCs in fantasy books, and you'd think it would be overdone by now. (Don't get me wrong; sometimes it most definitely is.) But Saeris felt like a unique character. She wasn't necessarily a *good* thief. We saw her steal one thing, and she got caught only hours later. No, her real talent is in a forge, and personally, that was a skill that I haven't seen in an FMC before. It opened the door for the plot to develop beautifully. Saeris was sarcastic and brave and incredibly strong for all she'd been through and all she carried over the years. I felt a true emotional connection to her and am incredibly eager to see where the next book takes her.
-Kingfisher. GOSH I loved him. His complexities were extremely well-done. I sometimes have a hard time with true enemies-to-lovers or general hate-to-love banter because I find it hard to move past certain lines (see his comment to Saeris about her acting like a "bitch in heat"). But in this case, I got it. All of the awful things he said, all of his cruelties, were to protect himself and those around him. How can he make someone hate him? By saying and doing only the vilest things he could, that's how. And once we got past all of that, it was impossible to not fall in love with him. Nothing was more attractive than seeing Fisher feel and then express it (see Fisher telling off Carrion over a dumb thing he said about Saeris and saying he should call her Majesty).
-Carrion deserves his own note here because he was my fucking favorite I don't CARE. He was our comedic relief. He was our playboy we loved to hate. He was our surprise attack that NO one saw coming (probably). He made me laugh out loud more times than I could count and I was here for it from the moment he realized someone had lost his boot.
-Ren and Lorreth were the epitome of loyal brothers. I find that I don't have much more to say on the matter, but I thought their characterizations were beautiful in their own rights.
-Everlayne probably deserves a note for existing as someone who played an important part in Saeris' acclimating to the fae's existence in general, but she kind of was more of a prop in book one, totally set up to be a tool or to die as someone emotionally important to the primary characters but not primary enough that we'd miss her much if something happened. I expect we'll be getting more of her in the next book so I'm looking forward to that.
-Special acknowledgment here for Archer the fire sprite for hearing Saeris and Fisher get it on for the first time and bringing Saeris apple juice afterwards because "intimate relations with Kingfisher can be very strenuous." I died three times over with this one.

So now let's talk about the writing. I was a huge fan of the detail in this book. The battle scenes felt, well, like an actual war instead of snapshots of a war. There were real stakes, real risks, and I felt the weight on each of our heroes' shoulders. The pacing was fantastic. For such a large book, I was afraid I'd feel like a lot of it was dragging, but I didn't feel that at all. Everything felt purposeful, important, or engaging in some way. It also helped that I felt fully immersed in Saeris' perspective, as well as the conversations she was involved in or privy to. The writing was evocative and had me stressing, squealing, kicking, and cackling the whole time. And that ending? Perfection. I wouldn't have changed a thing about any of it.

This is such an easy 5 stars for me to give. Quicksilver is only the first book, but it's already jumped to my top favorite fantasy series list and I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

SO GOOD! Even though this was a classic romantic fantasy, I felt like it did something different for the genre. I loved the banter, the characters (even the side ones), and the lore. Incredible, can't wait for the second one.

This book had a strong start but I dnf'd at 70% because the plot wasn't interesting enough and the characters felt one-dimensional. I love romantasy and shadow daddies but this was just not it for me.

Book: Quicksilver
Author: Callie Hart
Series: Fae & Alchemy
Length: 624 Pages
Overall Rating: 5 Stars
Blog Rating 5 Saltire Flags

In the land of the unforgiving desert, there isn’t much a girl wouldn’t do for a glass of water.

Do not touch the sword.
Do not turn the key.
Do not open the gate.
Death has a name.
It is Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate.
His past is murky.
His attitude stinks.
And he’s the only way Saeris is going to make it home.
Be careful of the deals you make, dear child.
The devil is in the details...

This book centers around 24 year old Saeris Fane.
She is a pickpocket but she also has magic that she has kept hidden. She is really,really, great at keeping secrets. She has lived a cruel life living in the 3rd Ward of the roasting city of Zilvaren. This is where the people are suffering, plus there are water rations where everyone is starving and dying of thirst! Furthermore, the 3rd Ward water is contaminated by their evil thousand year old ageless Queen Madra. Unknown to this evil Queen that 3rd Ward Saeris siphons from the Queen’s own water supply being the good thief she is!

However Saeris is caught after stealing from the Queen’s guard to feed and keep her brother fed and protected. However things get a lot more severe and deadly when Saeris is caught. She is brought to the queen's palace to a strange hall with a sword planted in a frozen pool of silver, the queen demands Saeris Fane’s death! Her guard listens to his Queen giving her a fatal wound that his Queen demanded to hear her screams!

Dying Saeris pulls the sword from the pool of silver, and Quicksilver responds to her call for help. It liquifies and out of it comes the most handsome creature she ever saw who she thought was death. but it is a fae warrior Kingfisher who saves her but hates her at the same time. He calls her Osha a weak little butterfly. Furthermore she is taken from the only life she has ever known and her life is about to change forever in Yveilia! As Kingfisher also believes she is an alchemist that can make relics from the Quicksilver to save his people! Is this even possible? Read and discover Saeris and Kingfisher’s fate.

I loved this book so much though it did lag a little bit in the beginning. I am so happy I kept going because it was an absolute masterpiece. Even with the brutting Kingfisher I still ended up loving him in the end. If you love characters like Rhysand from ACOTAR and Xaden from The Empyrean series, then you will love Kingfisher too. The world building was absolutely mindblowing in this dark fantasy. The spice level was on overload which I couldn't get enough of. The banter was also just fantastic too. This book is worth all the hype it's getting on BookTok and other book platforms in my opinion and I absolutely can not wait for the second book in this series! A book I highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I received an advance readers copy from Forever publishing. I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair, review and blog through netgalley. All words, thoughts, ideas are my own.

This had so many good ingredients. Lots of tension and excitement. Just feeling a bit like the market is oversaturated with the same tropes and characterizations.

This will be my favorite book of 2024! It has everything I love in a fantasy romance...Morally gray characters, interesting magic, fantastical creatures, found family perfection, and a plot that has me turning the pages well into the night. Book two can't come fast enough!

I really enjoyed how unique this story was and it felt like taking a breath of fresh air. I liked that it had similar traits but was ultimately a whole new story. The characters were lovable and easy to follow along. I’m so excited for the second book!

I’ve been in a romantasy slump for quite a while now because every time I pick up a new romantasy book there’s no plot and just the same overused tropes that I’m so bored with, but this book was very unique. Mind you I’m not saying it doesn’t have tropes, but the overall plot was so unique and the world building was so interesting that it had me in a chokehold, in other words I finished this in one sitting. It had an interesting magic system, especially with the alchemy where I don’t see that used in many romantasy books so that was interesting to see. My main critique is that there were times in the book that I kept skip reading because it was so drawn out and almost felt like filler where I didn’t discover much of the plot, but then the ending was super hectic, so maybe if the pacing was better the ending wouldn’t have felt so rushed, or even kept some stuff for the second book rather than revealing it all at the end. I also want to add that the book reminded me of Gild by Raven Kennedy based purely off of the vibes and feelings I was getting while reading. Overall a pretty great read!

Quicksilver is a story set against a backdrop of a sun-scorched desert and a realm of ice and snow, the story takes you on a whirlwind journey with twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane, a character defined by her resilience and resourcefulness. Hart’s narrative style quickly draws readers in, inviting them to explore the depths of Saeris’ struggles and the weight of her hidden powers.
Saeris is a captivating protagonist, adept at adapting to her harsh surroundings while hiding the true nature of her abilities. Hart skillfully weaves her intricate backstory into the present narrative, revealing Saeris’ past of petty theft from the Undying Queen’s reservoirs and her desperate need for survival in a land where water is as valuable as gold. This sense of urgency propels the plot forward, making her encounter with Death himself not just a pivotal moment but also a catalyst for a series of events that will irrevocably change her life.
The transition from Saeris’ arid homeland to the frigid mountains of Yvelia is beautifully portrayed, contrasting the oppressive heat of the desert with the eerie beauty of the icy realm. It is in this new world that Hart introduces readers to the Fae, who are both enchanting and dangerous—a theme explored throughout the narrative. The Fae, often relegated to the realms of myth and nightmare, come to life in vivid detail, enriching the world-building and providing a strong foundation for the conflict that unfolds.
At the heart of the story lies the complex relationship between Saeris and Kingfisher, the enigmatic Fae warrior whose motives are as obscured as the mist surrounding his kingdom. Their bond, forged in secrecy and necessity, is fraught with tension and uncertainty. Hart expertly navigates the dynamics of power, trust, and betrayal, keeping readers on their toes as the layers of Kingfisher’s character are slowly peeled away. His character is a compelling blend of charm and danger, and his connection to Saeris adds an intriguing romantic tension to the story.
Overall, this book is a captivating story, it's a masterful blend of fantasy, romance, and suspense, showcasing Hart’s ability to create a rich, immersive world filled with compelling characters. If you enjoy tales where the lines between good and evil are beautifully blurred, and secrets threaten to unravel, this is a book I would highly recommend!

Definitely a top romantasy of the year for me. I devoured this book. From the opening scene, I was hooked. It’s fast paced and action packed with court politics and incredible magic. I loved her main character. She was so bad ass and I cannot wait to see her power grow.. I will say the Romance took me until about 75% to really get on with. I felt like the very beginning of it was very lust driven and not actually romantic but it definitely got there at the end.

I was really hoping that this lived up to the hype because it's a long romantasy book, and those aren't actually very common. It's not good though, the writing is just painful at times, and I could not stand the main FMC. This feels like the KU version of Fourth Wing, so if that's what you're looking for then this is it.

This book is a wild ride! The main characters were both ✨chefs kiss✨

Quicksilver drops your right into the centre of the action with our FMC, Saeris being a badass thief, only to have possibly the worst day possible. Including almost dying. And getting carried into another world. She gets kidnapped again, and then is a bit of an idiot with some deals she makes, but, she gets called out for being an idiot so I don’t mind 😂

“Don’t call her Sunshine.”
“Why not?”
“Because she is moonlight. The mist that shrouds the mountains. The bite of electricity in the air before a storm. The smoke that rolls across a battlefield before the killing starts. You have no idea what she is. What she could be. You should call her Majesty.”

Kingfisher. Holy. Smokes. This fae male could rival Rowan. He’s also 100% an ass at first, but he definitely grew on me, and once you know his backstory… well let’s just say his red flags make a lot more sense and I will happily simp over him as a book boyfriend. But only in a fictional world.

This had all the vibes of a true fantasy book, with really interesting world building, a mix of fae, vampires and humans, but with that romance edge that just makes me become immediately obsessed too. I really want everyone to read it so that we can talk about it

Read if you love:
💕 he has a cute nickname for her
⚔️ she can hold her own in a fight
🖤 enemies to lovers
✨ soulmates
🤕 he has a tortured past
🔥 dirty talk

3.5

I'll be honest, I hate the cover on this one. I know I'm not alone there. That guy does not look anything like I would imagine Kingfisher to look. I think it just has that KU/indie published look (a little cheap) and would benefit from an updated cover if it's being traditionally published.

I went into this story with kind of low expectations, based on some opinions from people who I generally tend to agree with, but I actually ended up enjoying it quite a bit. I think that the concept is really pretty solid. I like the magic system, the world building, the side characters, and the pacing. But some of the execution in this story was pretty chaotic.

Our protagonist was fine. I think she made some pretty reckless decisions from the very beginning, but I think the author does a good job of establishing the dire stakes that she grew up in that made her that way. Her motives are always clear so while I don't always agree with her, I at least understand her. That isn't really the case with Kingfisher. I don't think any of the explanations really justify the way he behaves towards her and even more baffling is that she's still attracted to him while he's being a monster to her on purpose. His afflictions were pretty confusing actually. Once he softens up a little bit, I think the romance has good chemistry and the smut was pretty hot.

I like the alchemy element. I liked her progression into finding her power. I really enjoyed the scene where she forges the sword, it was pretty badass.

I think I was on board for everything right up until maybe 80%. I think the whole ending was pretty chaotic. I did finish the book around 3 AM, so I could have just been delirious at that point, but I could not make sense of the 3 rulers working together, and Malcolm's mustache twirling monologues, and then all the action in the labyrinth, and then the Gods all of a sudden. It was so much in such a short period of time. When it ended, I really had trouble visualizing where the story is going to go from here.

I think I will read the sequel but it's not something I'm highly anticipating. I will definitely be recommending this book to customers though. I understand why it's been so popular with the romantasy readers and it was definitely an entertaining read.