Review: Quicksilver by Callie Hart
So I read this book a few weeks ago and I really liked it. While it is a little bit like ACOTAR, I found it good and different enough that I'll definitely continue with the series. Moreover, and I cannot stress this enough, this book is so fucking funny. I was laughing out loud and loving every minute of it. The banter is HILARIOUS. Honestly, I was getting a bit sick of all the doom and gloom in fantasy lately. YES, THE WORLD IS IN DANGER, THE STAKES ARE HIGH, WE GET IT. Let us use humour as a coping mechanism and have some fun with it, please. Using humour to cope is something the main character, Saeris, does a lot. I'm very enamoured of her. She's very fuck-around-and-find-out, but in an entertaining way. It's about time we had a protagonist who is both brilliant and a dumbass. We need more of those in literature. Also, three cheers for a firstborn daughter. They could never make me hate you, queen. Kick ass and take names till kingdom come. And cuddle your pet fox. I want a pet fox. And I love, love, LOVE the found family in this. It reminds me of Six of Crows just a little bit. Lorreth, bard of my dreams - love your song, your sword and your soul. Carrion, my slutty chaotic bi king, I want to put a crown on your head. Ren, you're perfect, no notes, 10/10, you have the matchmaking skills of an indian auntie on steroids. Hope you find love someday. Te-Lena, I think you're the best thing since sliced bread, you could heal me any day of the week and your unnamed husband is a lucky, lucky man. Everlayne, you have done nothing wrong, ever, Princess of our hearts. But Danya: Why, girl? Why do you have such a chip on your shoulder? I can't tell if you're badly written or going to undergo some serious character development. Now, stuff that I have mixed feelings about but don't necessarily see as flaws: The worldbuilding could have been slightly better (I still liked it, though!). There are a few things I was really confused about while reading (like the quicksilver itself in the beginning), but on the whole I think it was an excellent attempt as what I believe to be the author's first foray into fantasy. I love the magic system and the twists and turns the story took. Because the book is clever and the foreshadowing was immaculate. I look forward seeing how Hart expands the world in the sequel. I do wish some of the side characters, particularly the female ones, had been fleshed out more. The book passed the Bechdel test, but I want more girl's girl content a la the valkyries in ACOSF. And, finally. I will say the MMC is very Rhys-coded. Not sure how I feel about that. You know, miscommunication king, control freak, keeps secrets to the extent that it causes problems, villain with a heart, self-esteem issues because of a very tragic past (the tragic past being almost a copy-and-paste of Rhysand's), tall, dark hair, pretty eyes. You know, the generic morally-grey love interest stuff. I like him, I do, but I couldn't stop thinking of Rhys. This was compounded because he has the same voice actor as Rhysand from the ACOTAR Graphic Audio production.
He's also named Kingfisher, which just makes me think of beer. Don't get me wrong, Kingfisher is a great character (don’t want to give spoilers), tropes notwithstanding. And I guess the spice is spicing. But the book shines on its' own, which I think is very important. The spicy scenes could have been fade to black instead and I'd still love it. Mostly, I had fun. I laughed, I shed a few tears, I blushed, I bit my nails in nervous anticipation and I absolutely felt like punching some of the characters in the face. And so on. I'd give it a solid 4 stars. Although, to be fair, at least one of those stars is for the absolute masterpiece that is The Ballad of Ajun Gate, Listen, if there's one thing that MAKES a fantasy book for me, it's a ballad. A folk song. A story in song. You get it. And the one in Quicksilver makes me want to learn how to play the lute. Thus: The Ballad of Ajun Gate To all those who’ll listen or haven’t been told, of the day the last drake woke and rose from the cold. Of the young warrior who came veiled in shadows and blood to defeat the foul creature and save those he could. Of the Fisher King, and the wolves at his back, who came howling in the night, together, a pack. The frost blessed the morning. The warriors faced their fate. And thus begins our tale, The Ballad of Ajun Gate. The drake, he did stir, Old Omnamshacry observing the world through ink-black, mad eyes. The drinkers of night pledged him death and decay. That he’d feast on his foes and the flesh he did flay. So long as he rose and he joined them in war, against the Fae who protected the sacred, blessed ore. With glittering sharp scales of gold and of red, the drake, he consented, and bidden, he fed. The Fae in their towers stood mighty. Stood proud. But soon they were scattered, their fear shouted loud. Dark wings shaded mountain and blotted the sun. And mad old ’Shacry, he watched them all run. The wolves scaled the summit with blades in their hands. The drake saw them coming, and knew where they’d stand So there he did meet them, and there they did clash. And Old Mad ’Shacry dressed the mountain in ash. His fire ran in rivers. It melted the snow. There was no escaping the glowing hot flow. With teeth bared and dripping, the drake trapped the Fae, laughing with cruelty above the warriors he’d slay. But the wolves held their ground, all dauntless and brave, determined to send Old ’Shacry to his grave. Swift came the chant, then, so all close could hear. A war cry of old that strengthened those near. The wolves ran the charge and at the head of the swell came the proud Fisher King bearing Nimerelle. The drake saw his courage and was filled with a rage the likes of which unseen in more than an age. But the king held his nerve and raised up his sword, and the wolves showed their courage ’fore the drake and the horde. Their ears rang aloud with the Kingfisher’s cry that those who stood with him might fall, but not die. For their sacrifice was great, and so was the cost. But those that they saved would e’er remember the lost. So they scaled the great drake, the last of his name. They did it for Ajun, Not glory, nor fame. And the drake knew his power. He started to gloat, but the King saw his chance and drove steel down his throat. The drake he did tremble and started to choke, his evil, rank maw filling up with black smoke. He thrashed and he bellowed did old Omnamshacry, but the reaper had claimed him, and bidden, he died. The Ajun were safe. The horde abandoned the gate. And thus ends the ballad of the king and his eight. ... God, I love this song. I want the book to be adapted to screen just so I can hear it being sung. Thanks for reading!
