A blazing, brilliant continuation that deepens the magic and sharpens the stakes
With Brimstone, the second volume in the Fae & Alchemy series, Callie Hart has once again written a truly magnificent book. This sequel does exactly what the best second installments should do. It answers just enough questions to feel deeply satisfying while deliberately opening new doors, new mysteries, and new dangers that leave the reader ravenous for more. The story feels like a careful alchemical reaction: truths are revealed drop by drop, pressure builds steadily, and by the end, everything combusts into a cliffhanger that refuses to be ignored.
Brimstone by Callie Hart
Series: Fae & Alchemy #2
more Volumes: Quicksilver
Genre: Adult, Dark Fantasy, Demons, Dragons, Epic Fantasy, Fae, Gods, Magic, Romance, Vampires, Witches
Published on 18. Nov 2025 by Hodderscape
Pages: 672
Format: Hardcover, Special Edition
ISBN-13: 9781399753364
Language: English
Source: Waterstones
Link to Goodreads
My rating: | Spice:
Duty. Blood. Honour. Power.
Saeris Fane doesn't want power. The very last thing she needs is her name whispered on an entire court's lips, but now that she's been crowned queen of the Blood Court, she's discovering that a queen's life is not her own. A heavy weight rests upon her shoulders.
Her ward - and her brother - need her back in her homeland . . . but the changes that have strengthened Saeris have also made her weak. Born under blazing suns, Saeris will surely die if she makes her way home through the Quicksilver. Which means that, once again, she must send someone else in her stead . . .
'Keep your mouth shut. Stick to the shadows. And for the love of all seven Gods, do NOT crack any jokes.'
Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate has defeated armies and survived all manner of horrors, but traveling back to Zilvaren with Carrion Swift might just be the death of him. The male just will not shut up. Hidden dangers await them down the narrow alleyways of the Silver City. Unfolding secrets pose impossible threats. Fisher must wrangle the smuggler and accomplish his goals quickly if he wants to see his mate again.
A darkness falls across Yvelia. The realm and their friends are in danger. Together, Saeris and Fisher will pass through fire and brimstone to save them.
Buy here: Amazon*
More Books by the Author: Quicksilver
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Brimstone ♦ Callie Hart
A Review
Opinion
One of the greatest strengths of Brimstone lies in its character development, particularly that of the FMC, Saeris Fane. Her evolution throughout this volume is remarkable and refreshingly grounded. Faced with immense power, a transformed body, and newfound physical strength, Saeris does not crumble under the weight of her circumstances, nor does she allow her abilities to inflate her ego. Instead, she approaches her transformation with resolve and curiosity. She embraces what she has become and commits herself to understanding and controlling her power, her magic, and herself. Watching her grow into her role, especially after being crowned queen of the Blood Court, is both empowering and emotionally rewarding. The burden of duty never feels abstract; it presses down on her in every choice she makes, reminding the reader that crowns are rarely worn lightly.
Chapter 1 – Hell's teeth
The strange creature staring back at me wasn’t a woman. Not anymore. Once she might have been, but now she was a Fae-vampire hybrid, touched by the Gods.
Hart’s writing style once again pulled me effortlessly back into this world. From the very first pages, the prose carries a familiar rhythm, like slipping back into a half-remembered dream that immediately sharpens into focus. There are a few slower sections scattered throughout the novel, but they never feel indulgent or unnecessary. On the contrary, these quieter moments are carefully placed, serving to deepen tension, enrich the political landscape, and prepare the ground for what follows. Suspense is not rushed here; it is cultivated. In several instances, hints of secrets or partial solutions are revealed, yet the full truth remains just out of reach. As a reader, I found myself turning pages with growing anticipation, knowing that clarity was coming, but not quite yet. That restraint is a mark of confident storytelling, and Hart handles it beautifully.
The dual narrative threads work especially well in this volume. While Saeris grapples with queenship and sacrifice, the journey undertaken by Kingfisher alongside Carrion Swift adds both tension and much-needed contrast. Their trek through the Silver City is fraught with danger, secrets, and sharp-edged banter that keeps the pacing lively even when the stakes are dire. The humor never undercuts the seriousness of the mission; instead, it highlights just how perilous the situation truly is. Every narrow alley and whispered threat reinforces the sense that the world beyond Saeris is unraveling just as quickly as the one around her.
Chapter 23 – Your mistake
“Perfect.” Carrion sounded unfazed by the turn of events. “You scared him unconscious. That’s just . . . perfect.”
The larger setting, from the ominous pull of the Quicksilver to the growing darkness over Yvelia, feels increasingly alive and volatile. The realm itself seems to breathe, react, and suffer alongside its characters. As revelations stack upon revelations, the story makes it clear that no corner of this world is untouched by what is coming.
Much has been said by other readers about the ending, with some finding it confusing. Personally, I found it electrifying. This is not a cliffhanger designed merely to shock; it is one that recontextualizes everything that came before it. It demands reflection, speculation, and emotional investment. Rather than leaving me frustrated, it left me utterly hooked, my mind already racing with theories and possibilities for what the third volume might bring.
Conclusion
Brimstone is a powerful, emotionally layered sequel that respects its characters and its readers. It expands the mythology, deepens the stakes, and delivers a heroine whose strength is measured not just by power, but by restraint, determination, and heart. I cannot wait to see where this story goes next, and I will be counting the days until the third volume is released.
Brimstone ♦ Callie Hart
Trilogy
| Quicksilver (#1) | Brimstone (#2) |
| unknown title |
About Callie Hart
Callie Hart is a USA Today bestselling author of dark romance novels. She is an obsessive romantic who loves throwing a dark twist into her stories. Her characters are imperfect, flawed individuals who dictate when she eats, sleeps, and breathes. She loves to travel and often pens her books when she’s on the road, drawing inspiration from her surroundings.
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