We are more than happy to welcome new authors to BookTok, especially when they come bearing gifts, like Kingfisher brought to us by Callie Hart. Bookworms’ appetite for romantasy is insatiable, we are here to discuss the first book of Fae & Alchemy series, titled Quicksilver.
If you are still on the Maas-coaster, though, have a look at our theories, or how the Maasverse is connected. Then again, if you wanna save a dragon, and ride a wingleader, find out what happened in Onyx Storm, or get lost in the infinite list of quotes of Fourth Wing.
Without further ado, let’s move on to this Quicksilver synopsis, a fantasy romance with high stakes, our favorite slow burn, enemies-to-lovers trope, and interesting world-building with a compelling magic system.
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We will keep it mild, but spoilers ahead, anyway!
In a kingdom where the aristocracy’s influence is yet again prominent, Zilvaren is a world of Death; surrounded by walls, two suns, no sunset, covered in sand, and divided into wards, almost all impoverished. To imagine the level of disaster, water is a privilege only the elites living in the central area, the Hub, have access to…
Saeris Fane is a trained thief who gambles her life daily searching for water. Her only family being her younger brother, Hayden, she feels responsible for saving him from any more misery. Their dream is to leave Zilvaren, and look for a new home where Hayden can study and be happy. However, they have no funding whatsoever.
When Saeris gets caught by one of Queen Madra’s guards, trespassing on the wards, she plays her cards carefully. Using the false rumor wanting the residents of the Third Ward carrying a mortal disease, she outsmarts the guard and takes the gauntlet he throws away, terrified it is contaminated by Saeris’ touch. This piece of treasure is Saeris’ ticket to freedom.
Until everything goes to hell…
Hayden is captured by guards carrying the gauntlet, after irresponsibly getting into a gambling fight. With Hayden compromised like this, Saeris comes forward, pleading guilty. She is dragged to Queen Madra’s castle, where she meets her Captain, Harron. He is as brutal as the Queen he serves. When Saeris is brought in front of the human Queen, she can tell that the rumors about the Undying Queen are true. She has ruled for many years, yet she has remained young, and beautiful. Any theories yet?
Apparently, Saeris’ reputation has reached the Queen’s ears, and she suspects her of carrying a long-forgotten fae line in her blood, somehow posing a threat to the Queen herself. It is not Saeris’ first time hearing about fae, but she thought they belonged to fairytales until now. So, she is coerced into talking, but she knows nothing. Harron fights her under his Queen’s command, and he is ready to unalive her, when Saeris unexpectedly reaches into her hidden power, and melts Harron’s sword. In fact, the material speaks to her. Or she is just dizzy from all that blood loss…
Harron does not give up, though. Saeris’ last hope is a sword stuck on a level further in the room. However, when she manages to pull it off, something unexplainable happens. A pool of silver appears at her feet, and a figure emerges from it. Death, Saeris guesses.
He takes care of Harron, and carries Saeris back into the pool. Now the exciting part begins…
Saeris wakes up in the Fae Realm. More specifically, in the Winter Palace, in Yvelia, ruled by Belikon. There, the only friendly face is Everlayne, the king’s daughter, and Renfis, a fae warrior who looks loyal to his king, but soon Saeris will figure that his loyalty lies elsewhere—in a certain man who looks like Death itself.
King Belikon wants Saeris to train, and learn to control the quicksilver—a powerful material that has the ability to open portals between the realms. Why would he need that? Well, as in every fantasy book, the world is at war, and controlling the quicksilver is a game-changer. Now, why ask it from Saeris? You guessed it, she is the only living Alchemist—and the most powerful one—her kind having become extinct long ago.
And there is only one man who has already jumped through the pool of quicksilver. Kingfisher is appointed to help her train. Well, the fact that it’s a king’s order does not mean he will make it easy for Saeris. He is insufferable, impatient, and sharp-tongued. But he carries a pendant that helps him control the quicksilver—a gift from his mother after he accidentally fell into quicksilver as a child, and since then, he has battled to keep his sanity. A nutjob in other words, but a very—very—alluring one.
Saeris strikes a deal with him: he goes back into the pool and brings her brother to her, and she will forge weapons with quicksilver for him. Mind you, this is not a simple deal, but a blood oath; one that can actually control its subject. Saeris walks into it without knowing Kingfisher will have that effect on her. Only for Kingfisher to come back with Carrion Swift, Saeris’ former lover… No, this is not a joke; Kingfisher followed Saeris’ scent and found the guy covered in it. Of course, he thinks their deal still stands.
When they travel to Kingfisher’s estate, Cahlish, Saeris will soon discover that Kingfisher and his loyal men are the only ones standing between the fae and the real threat; vampires. At the war camp, Saeris meets more people in Kingfisher’s cadre besides Ren, like Lorreth and Danya, learning more about Kingfisher’s past.
After he takes her to his mother’s village, their connection reaches a dangerous level. Attraction hits red, walls drop, and souls connect. Well, as do their bodies. Yeah, it is a steamy encounter. Their bond is no joke, as some strange tattoos appear on Saeris’ arms, marking a destiny that they are not ready to accept yet. Crying fated-mates tears.
Saeris needs to prepare thousands of rings that will protect Kingfisher’s warriors, but then the vampires strike again. Saeris fights alongside everyone, witnessing Kingfisher’s terrifying dark power firsthand. However, even if they hold the line, the king of Vampires shows himself, and he is not alone. By his side stands, Everlayne, a new member of Malcolm’s vampire family, and under his control. A Vampire Diaries flashback.
Kingfisher goes to face Malcolm alone, but soon Saeris, Lorreth, and Carrion will follow. A great battle of survival begins when they are all thrown into a labyrinth, one that Kingfisher knows well enough… It is revealed that he has a past with the vampires, one that gained him the title of Bane of Gillethrye. We will not spoil that for you, though. Only that Kingfisher had a deal with Malcolm that he couldn’t see through in the end, and the resolution of it is hidden in the labyrinth.
The team fights monsters, moving walls, Death himself, until Saeris has to face Malcolm alone… On the verge of death, she manages to outsmart him and find the only thing that can restore peace. But it is too late for her.
Well, at least the human part of her. What, did you think that Kingfisher would let her die like that? Now welcome a new Saeris, half-fae, half-vampire, a being so potent that she even attracts the attention of the gods themselves.
In the final pages of the first book of Fae & Alchemy, Saeris meets the God of Chaos, whose revelations are rather shocking. Let’s just say that Kingfisher sacrificed himself long before Saeris met him… Fear not, dear bookworm, the book does not end on a cliffhanger—not a big one at least. However, this blogpost will.
Need a good read to pass your time waiting for the release of the next book in Fae & Alchemy series? In case you are really into god wars, and impossible scenarios, then start reading our A Shadow in the Ember summary, Jennifer Armentrout’s prequel series starter, connected to our all-time favorite From Blood and Ash.
In Quicksilver, trust is rare and slippery, like holding water in your hands. Everyone’s got scars, secrets, and reasons to keep their guard up. Watching the walls slowly come down? Chef’s kiss and emotional payoff. Saeris has learned to depend on no one but herself, and Kingfisher knows better than to share his sins with a human who carries a fragile heart and body.
Nobody comes into this story clean, and Callie Hart makes sure you feel the weight of every bad choice. Redemption isn’t just a dream; it’s a war fought tooth and nail, and you’ll be rooting for them the whole way. Kingfisher is the misunderstood anti-hero, while Saeris holds the power to change the world, but all she wants to do is save one person; him.
It’s hot, dangerous, and addictive. The passion in Quicksilver doesn’t just burn, it consumes! It’s the kind of chemistry that leaves you breathless, questioning if love can really save two people this broken. It starts off as a mere attraction, getting under one another’s skin, but it soon escalates into something inevitable. Something that will either liberate or doom them both.
If you are a fan of dark, intense love stories, with a lot of potential in world building, and amazing, actually useful side characters, then Callie Hart’s book is a must! You may want to take a quick look at our list of top romantasy books, but make sure you add Quicksilver to your Amazon cart, Goodreads list, or any other alternative.
For more book reviews, recommendations, and main characters’ breakdown, visit our crewfiction, and do not forget to join our Tea & Cakes for your weekly dose of historical trivia, and everything new in romance.
Yes, Quicksilver is a spicy book, with explicit scenes and language. Saeris and Fisher’s connection starts off as pure lust—raw, and consuming—but then they begin to realize that their fates are intertwined in ways that they cannot define, like good enemies to lovers.
In Quicksilver, Hart’s writing style is intense, raw, and emotional, with sensual and gritty language that keeps the story grounded. She uses first-person narrative, with a confessional tone, drawing the reader into Saeris’ inner world. Hart chooses to build tension through slow revelations, inner monologues for emotional depth, and explosive breakouts.
Nikki Sheryee insists that she’s “up to no good” whenever she’s in the company of books. Armed with a degree in English Language and Literature, she wields the power of words like a mischievous wizard. Her lifelong dream? To be the editor who sprinkles magic dust on manuscripts! To Nikki, a book is more alive than a caffeinated squirrel on roller skates. Readers nurture it, cuddle it, scold it, and occasionally challenge it to a duel! But in the end, a book does its own thing, pulling at our heartstrings and revealing our inner human-ness. Nikki’s favorite pastime? Well, it’s none other than the noble art of daydreaming! And she wears her daydreamer’s badge with pride, sharing this delightful delusion with the crème de la crème of her friends.
