Brimstone is the second book in Callie Hart’s Fae & Alchemy series, and it leans fully into its role as a darker continuation of the Quicksilver story.
Returning to a series always comes with a bit of risk. Will it still feel sharp? Will the characters click back into place? Will the world pull you straight in, or will you spend half the book trying to remember who everyone is and why they matter?
Brimstone, for the most part, gets this balance right. When it doesn’t, it recovers quickly. This darker, heavier continuation leans hard into atmosphere and emotional tension, even if the pacing wavers briefly along the way.
The characters remain the strongest pull. The core cast carries the story with ease, and their dynamics still work beautifully on the page. As with many ongoing series, a couple of the less prominent characters blurred together for me between books. I had to pause and mentally reshuffle who was who. It never derailed the story, but I would’ve benefited from a quick re-read of Quicksilver before picking up Brimstone.
Brimstone truly shines in its atmosphere. The world feels dense and oppressive in the right places, and the sense of place is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Ammontraieth, in particular its Library (always my favourite setting), stands out as fully realised rather than simply described. You can feel its weight pressing in on the characters and shaping the story as it unfolds. If you read as much for mood as for plot, Brimstone delivers.
The writing itself is confident and controlled. Descriptions land without tipping into excess, dialogue feels purposeful, and emotional moments are given space to breathe. There is a clear sense that the author trusts the reader, which I always appreciate. Nothing feels over-explained, and this benefits the story.
Plot- and pacing-wise, some early-to-mid chapters feel a little slow. Momentum dips briefly. Thankfully, it finds its footing again and finishes strong. The slower stretch did not affect my overall enjoyment, but it was noticeable, especially in a book that is otherwise well-paced.
There is still plenty here to keep you turning pages. Questions are raised at a steady pace, and while not every thread grabbed me equally, enough of them did to maintain interest. This book clearly functions as a bridge in the series rather than a standalone high point, and it leans into that role knowingly. As part of the wider Fae & Alchemy series, this instalment feels deliberately transitional, focused more on tension and groundwork than on explosive payoff.
There was one minor logical issue early on: a secondary character appeared to be in two places at once. The author has since acknowledged this as an editing oversight rather than an intentional choice. Once past that moment, the internal logic holds, and nothing else distracts from the story.
Callie, I’m ready for the next instalment.
My Rating: 4.5 / 5
TL;DR
Atmospheric, emotionally engaging, and confident in its world-building, Brimstone respects the reader’s investment even when the pacing is not flawless.
