Quicksilver )Fae & Alchemy #1) by Callie Hart

Great book! Loved it! This book grabbed me by the throat almost immediately and I also refused to let go of it!

We follow Saeris, a thief who is very good at surviving in a brutal world where power and magic collide on the daily.  Naturally, things go wayward the second she gets tangled up with Kingfisher, who is exactly the kind of morally grey Labrador that keeps you coming back for more even though he’s like “stay away from me, I’m dangerous.”  Their dynamic is full of back & forth banter.  At times I did find myself thinking “are you two going to make out or stab each other?  I don’t care which just do something!”

The world itself is dark, gritty, and full of secrets that slowly unravel as the story goes on. There are political games, shifting alliances, all whilst we learn about this strange magical liquid called Quicksilver.

One thing I really took notice of was how well developed the characters were.  They felt layered, flawed, and genuinely strong in their own ways rather than just existing to push the plot along.  Many could easily have their own side quest as everyone involved felt important.

The audiobook also needs a special mention.  The narration absolutely elevates the story. The voices bring out the sarcasm, tension & darker themes of the story perfectly.  Some scenes felt like a performance rather than just someone reading a book at me which let’s be honest, is what you really want out of an audiobook.

All I can say is bring on the sequel!  I need more!

Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Published: 4th June 2024