In a world where water is life and every sip is precious, Saeris Fane survives by stealing and hiding from the ruthless Undying Queen Madra. But everything changes when she unknowingly steals from a royal guard and opens a portal to another world. Suddenly, she finds herself among the long-forgotten Fae, believed to be nothing more than myth, and becomes entangled in Kingfisher’s war against the vampires.
My Thoughts (Spoiler-Free):
Overall, I enjoyed Quicksilver, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it didn’t offer much originality compared to other popular fantasy books. It took me a while to fully immerse myself in the story—roughly the first 30% felt slow and somewhat disconnected. Events unfold, but their significance only becomes clear later. However, once the story picks up, it becomes an engaging and enjoyable read.
The book combines several familiar fantasy elements—Fae, vampires, portals between worlds, and meddling gods—and for the most part, it works well. However, many aspects of the story reminded me strongly of ACOTAR, and the male lead, Kingfisher, carries serious Fourth Wing vibes. If you’re a fan of those series, you’ll likely enjoy this book.
A More Honest Review
It took me quite some time to get into Quicksilver. The first 30% of the book feels slow and disconnected, introducing two vastly different worlds and a large cast of characters without clear connections between them. It’s difficult to see where the plot is headed initially. However, once Kingfisher is properly introduced, things start to improve—the banter between the two main characters really carries the story forward.
Kingfisher himself feels like a close cousin of Xaden Riorson from Fourth Wing: he wields shadows, is brooding and mysterious, distrusted by nearly everyone, and has an attitude that deserves a book of its own. When Saeris and Kingfisher finally interact one-on-one, the ACOTAR comparisons become even more apparent—especially during the dinner scenes. At one point, I half expected the famous "Your hair looks clean" line. There's also a village celebration scene that mirrors ACOTAR, albeit with more spice. Even the classic hidden mating bond trope makes an appearance, plus the transition from human to fae,
While it's true that most fantasy books draw inspiration from one another, these similarities felt a bit too familiar at times, bordering on déjà vu.
As the romance between the main characters develops, so does the plot—finally. We learn that the war between the Fae and vampires has left the Fae on the losing side because their king abandoned them. However, one major plot hole stood out to me: why didn’t Kingfisher explain what was happening sooner? He’s the only one who knows the truth, and while he's unable to explicitly reveal certain details, he could have at least tried to communicate with those who still trust him. Instead, he remains enigmatic and keeps everyone in the dark. This lack of transparency feels frustrating, and yet, when the truth finally comes to light, no one seems particularly upset with him.
Several pivotal moments, like Everlayne’s kidnapping and Kingfisher’s self-sacrificing departure, were perfect opportunities for emotional confrontations—but instead, the characters simply accepted everything without much pushback. This made the resolution feel too convenient and less impactful than it could have been.
The Ending:
The book closes with several intriguing revelations that set the stage for book two:
- Saeris is revealed to be half Vampire, half Fae, and the new queen of the vampires.
- The seemingly comic-relief character (and potential love triangle addition) turns out to be the long-lost heir to the Fae kingdom.
- The mating bond between the leads is now in place and could potentially spell the end of the universe.
With all these twists, I’m curious to see where the next installment will take us!
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