Book Review: Brimstone by Callie Hart
Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Audiobook, Fae, Vampires, Fantasy Romance, Fiction, Magic, Adult
Pages: 672
Format: Physical & Ebook | Libby
Rating: 
Check out my review of Quicksilver first!
Initial Thoughts
I won’t lie. While it was always my intention to read Quicksilver and then Brimstone, I only picked it up when I did because I was going to the midnight release of Brimstone and wanted to be prepared. The ending of Quicksilver was fine, but honestly, if I hadn’t already owned Brimstone, I probably wouldn’t have read it immediately.
This release was very popular, so I was hopeful it would be good—and that I would like it more than Quicksilver. If you read my Quicksilver review, you know I gave it a favorable four deer-star rating. But for Brimstone, I wanted more.
The Plot (Spoiler-Free!)
From being called a street rat to now Queen, Saeris has come a long way, far from her home in Zilvaren. As a vampire queen, fae, and alchemist, her power is slowly becoming unmatched. But first, she must learn to harness it, master it, and control it.
Navigating her new role, the politics of the vampire court, and mysterious new runes branding her skin, Saeris faces unimaginable pressure. Meanwhile, the Black Rot waits for no one. Yvelia is in danger, and Saeris and Kingfisher are the only two who can save the realm and their friends.
Kingfisher and Carrion Swift venture to Zilvaren to retrieve Saeris’ brother, Hayden, but their journey is far from easy. Reluctant allies turned friends (okay, maybe acquaintances?), Fisher and Swift face new dangers and old enemies along the way.
What I Liked
Onyx remains my favorite character—nothing anyone says will change that. At this point, he’s Saeris’ emotional support fox, and I love it. We all need a cute, fuzzy companion who brings joy and comfort.
On a more serious note, seeing Saeris assume her role as queen was badass. Most FMCs in fantasy are like, “I can’t do this, I don’t want this,” but while Saeris didn’t want it, she didn’t let the vampires know. Chapter 1 girly is saying, “I am your queen, and you will bow to me.” Yesssss, period.
Saeris and Kingfisher spend a portion of the book apart, and usually I’m counting down until the FMC and MMC reunite (I’m looking at you, New Moon), but here, I didn’t mind. Both had their own arcs and challenges.
Carrion and Kingfisher scenes were my favorite—they’re hilarious and a lot of fun. Even the scorpion scenes (which gave me mental trauma) added to the dynamic.
I loved Kingfisher’s POV. With part of the book taking place away from Saeris, we would have missed a lot without it.
And, spoiler alert, I’m thrilled Kingfisher’s real name isn’t actually Kingfisher. That name never worked for me.
The ending delivered a jaw-dropping moment, but honestly, I want jaw-dropping moments sprinkled throughout the book, not just one massive twist at the end.
Also, honorable mention for this quote:
“Because what was a book, if not a portal to another realm, another time, another life even.”
What Didn’t Work for Me
The italics—bro, they’re overused. That much emphasis is unnecessary!!!
Also, how many times do we need to be reminded that Saeris and Kingfisher are mates?! It was too much.
Another thing: the Hazarzx’s gender identity was inconsistent. It was mostly genderless in this book and in Quicksilver, but then it suddenly switched to “he.” That flip-flop threw me off.
Overall, the story was fine, but I wasn’t fully invested. This book took me a long time to finish—not because of the length, but because it didn’t hold my attention. It almost put me in a mini reading slump, so I read other books in between to keep momentum.
Final Thoughts
Is my review all over the place? Maybe. But I do recommend this book if you enjoyed Quicksilver. I feel conflicted because while I didn’t have the best reading experience, I can absolutely see other people loving it. There were moments I enjoyed, but for me, this was a solid three deer-star read.
Tell me—am I tripping, or does anyone else feel the same? Let me know!
If you’d like to support The Reading Deer, you can purchase Brimstone here.
