The Nora Theory

The bookstagram hype got me once again, and I couldn’t be happier. Quicksilver by Callie Hart was showing up all over my feed, with rave reviews, so naturally I went straight to Kindle Unlimited. What I discovered was a sweeping fantasy that transported me straight into a phenomenally crafted world, with characters I fell in love with.

Saeris Fane has lived hard. In the slums of Zilvaren, water is scarce, and its quarantined people have to fight for everything they have. But Saeris will do anything to keep her and her brother alive. Including stealing from the Undying Queen’s guardians. When she finds herself in a tight spot, she inadvertently opens up a gateway to another realm that has been locked tightly for centuries. Death himself comes through and transports her to Yvelia, a Fae land of legend filled with things that Saeris had never even thought to imagine.

Her Alchemist magic is in high demand in this new land, and she mistakenly makes a deal with Kingfisher, the man she thought was Death. He’s a mysterious man haunted by his demons with an agenda of his own for her. But in order to make it home, back to her brother and all she holds dear, she has no choice but to help him.

Quicksilver is so different from the rest of Callie Hart’s stuff, which, up until now, was mostly in the new adult subgenre. One of my favorite things about the romance novel space is that it allows authors to make these creative jumps in what genre they’re writing — often with spectacular results, which is absolutely the case with Callie Hart.

Fantasy romances love a human girl in a fae world, and like usual Saeris is not just any human girl. Something is different about her. It is always a winning trope in a romantasy, partially because I think every reader, at one time or another, has hoped to be whisked away to a magical land with a magical palace.

This story features an enemies-to-lovers trope, but it’s really more reluctant allies-to-lovers. Which makes for lots of delectable snark and banter that is essential in these kinds of stories.

Quicksilver is a little bit of a slow burn but moves faster than I was expecting, especially once the action really starts to pick up. The main characters are angsty and moody, with lots of personality, and all kinds of secrets and damage. There is a found family element, and the main characters are supported beautifully by the characters around them in a way that reminds me of my favorite parts of Throne of Glass. This book has a completely different vibe and energy, but the found family element is just as wonderful.

One of the best things about this book is the magical system and world-building. Zilvaren has two suns, and it is never night. Yvelia has blood curses, shadow gates, and magical tattoos that come about in the most gorgeous way. It makes for a truly magical reading experience, and I was sad to see it come to an end. I will be preordering the next book in this series the second it’s available.

Writing: 5

Spice: 3