Challenge Corner discussion

Do not touch the sword.

Do not turn the key.

Do not open the gate.

In the land of the unforgiving desert, there isn’t much a girl wouldn’t do for a glass of water.

Twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange powers she possesses, or the fact that she has been picking pockets and stealing from the Undying Queen’s reservoirs for as long as she can remember.

But a secret is like a knot.

Sooner or later, it is bound to come undone.

When Saeris comes face-to-face with Death himself, she inadvertently reopens a gateway between realms and is transported to a land of ice and snow. The Fae have always been the stuff of myth, of legend, of nightmares…but it turns out they’re real, and Saeris has landed herself right in the middle of a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed.

The first of her kind to tread the frozen mountains of Yvelia in over a thousand years, Saeris mistakenly binds herself to Kingfisher, a handsome Fae warrior, who has secrets and nefarious agendas of his own. He will use her Alchemist’s magic to protect his people, no matter what it costs him… or her.

Death has a name.

It is Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate.

His past is murky.

His attitude stinks.

And he’s the only way Saeris is going to make it home.

Be careful of the deals you make, dear child.

The devil is in the details...


N.B. Quicksilver contains depictions of graphic violence/adult situations and is therefore recommended for readers 17+. For a full list of tropes and TWs, please visit the author's website.

**This BOTM thread will be open until March 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

Chapter 5: (view spoiler)[ umm ok what just happened? She unleashed the fae into the world but it seems like the fae was shocked it was her who did it. I wonder what that could mean. Also the queen is insane. I cannot wait to know more about these characters (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10: (view spoiler)[ ok so she obviously can control the quicksilver. I bet shes part fae. Im glad we finally got to know why fisher wears the pendant but i still want to know about his relationship with the king. Is he the kings son. (hide spoiler)]

I forgot to add my comments as I read them so, I'm adding them from my notes in my kindle!

Chapter 26: (view spoiler)[ While I am all for women warriors, this Danya woman drives me up the wall. Her anger is going to her killed or people close to her killed.

Also, glad Saeris is finally opening up about her past. What happened to her mother was horrific! It's crazy how people turned on one of their own knowing how hard it was to survive. I can't imagine a child witnessing what she did. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 41: (view spoiler)[ Well crap, it's all kind of blowing up isn't it? A triumvirate? I knew the fae king was up to something, he was too skeezy to not be, but never would have imagined he was working with Malcolm and Madra. So they just want to take over all the realms and need the Alchemist to do it? I don't think that's going to happen. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ ok so most of this book was filler. It didnt really pick up until about the 60% mark and from there it really shined. I love all the reveals - from the trimuvirte to Carrion being a fae prince, i mean who would have guessed that one? I am very intrigued to see where this one goes so ill definitely pick up the second one (hide spoiler)]

5 chapters in and I am hooked!

I forgot to keep doing my updates but suffice to say it’s been good enough to read 300 pages tonight and stay up til 2am. Actual updates tomorrow!

ok so thoughts as I am 80% through (view spoiler)[ Saeris is an awesome saucy FMC. I like that she toes the line of bad-A warrior chick and still having vulnerabilities and fears Kingfisher at first. I know that the trope is enemies to lovers but the author did such a great job of creating the relationship (or lack of) between them in the beginning that I almost thought the trope would be for her and Carion! thank goodness no, although he is great comedic relief during the war camp chapters. instead we got ourselves a broken hero and that's just as lovely as a morally grey character. and the spice!

Saeris creating the sword and ring within a day of each other was unexpected, though a ring was much easier than the sword. i don't see how they are going to save Everlayne seeing as they have like 5 hours but we will see what the witch can do to help and how these relics will end up being used. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

i'm so glad i read this book. 5 stars!

Finished (view spoiler)[ yo all the twists at the end! Carion is the missing heir?! the quicksilver was actually the gods talking to her?! she is the next queen of the vampires?! can't wait for the next book! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I am not checking any spoilers, but I am worried this won't live up to the hype...

I'm still planning on reading this one. Hopefully, I'll get to it soon!

I think I may jump in for a reread with audio this time around.

I started last night and am already loving it.

Jessica wrote: "I started last night and am already loving it."

🎉🤗 (when do you think Goodreads will add liking to their posts lol)

Kim wrote: "I forgot to keep doing my updates but suffice to say it’s been good enough to read 300 pages tonight and stay up til 2am. Actual updates tomorrow!"

This is me I'm always so bad at doing it for audiobooks and I've been listening.

Very interested in what you think of the audio. I read the book when it first came out and hoping to listen to the audio this month.

Audiobook updates?! I can barely even try lol. I’m like well not getting BR points for that 😂😂

I have the ebook too so I'm going to use it to recreate my reactions lol

Starting this one today! It's a reread for me but I'm doing the audiobook this time around because I'm curious.

I really liked the audiobook. I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on reading it versus listening. Sometimes it makes a huge difference for me and others not at all.

Chapter 12

I'm really enjoying the audio. I wasn't sure about it for the first chapter or so. I think the voice of Saeris was throwing me off and I was afraid I wasn't feeling as into as I did when I read the book but I'm completely sold now.

(view spoiler)[The tension between Saeris and Kingfisher in this chapter turns me into a puddle! I fucking love him.

I'm really enjoying this reread. I'm very much a vibe reader and this is exactly what I needed. I was hesitant to read it again after so long. I thought my opinion would change as I gave it 5 stars the first time around, but I don't see it changing, not yet anyway. (hide spoiler)]

Starting this one finally. Listening to the audio and reading along :)

Chapters 1-8
(view spoiler)[ Okay the first chapter I wasn't sold but I was like oh well this seems like a fun easy read so who cares. But by the time she was brought to Yvelia I was sold. I loved Everlayne and Ren from the start, but I took some time to warm up to Kingfisher. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 9-12
(view spoiler)[ Okay Onyx the fox is my favourite character lol. So cute. I like that it wasn't going well at first since he is a wild animal, but when they are that cute how can you not want them as pets? (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 13-22
(view spoiler)[ Damn I was not expecting that to happen so quickly but I was not disappointed. I highlighted this specifically because I was dying over her lame ass excuse of moving the furniture around to the fire sprite, like please girl that was never going to fly even without the pheromones. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 23-28
(view spoiler)[ And similarly I made a note to talk about this because I was cracking up over her reaction to Carrion figuring it out for her. I loved this moment because the solution was obvious but she didn't think of it and that was so real, I felt that. Then her annoyance about it was so relateable. The Quicksilver itself is fascinating and I enjoyed the bargains. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 29-35
(view spoiler)[ By this point I was like I swear to god we'd better learn what Annorath Mor means soon. With the tattoos I figured it was something like this, but it would have been nice if for once Kingfisher communicated. I do love how Saeris just like runs to him and goes what the fuck man. She's amazing that way. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 36-Finished
(view spoiler)[ Well damn okay, what a wild ride. That whole last bit with the maze took me by surprise. I'm so glad Layne is okay and it was very interesting to have that interlude with the Gods. I have no idea what's going to happen next but I'm excited to see when the next one comes out. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 1-9 => (view spoiler)[She has to be Fae, right? I feel like this is like so many other fantasy series right now. She's either part Fae, or all Fae she just doesn't know it because of whatever reason. I'm curious how this will play out though... (hide spoiler)]

Jamie wrote: "Chapters 1-9 => [spoilers removed]"

I'm a little nervous and excited that you've started!

Jessica wrote: "Chapters 1-8
[spoilers removed] ..."

Chapters 9-12
(view spoiler)[Onyx really is the best! I loved how they came to be friends! (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 13-22
(view spoiler)[Right?! The moving furniture excuse was ridiculous! (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 23-28
(view spoiler)[Carrion is one of my top characters in the book. He brings such a fun levity to the book that's needed.

I really liked that Quicksilver is almost its own person. Love that it can bargain for what it wants. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 10-18 => (view spoiler)[ I loved that she kept Onyx, haha. I'm really curious what she is. She's clearly not human.

I'm also curious about this relationship with Kingfisher and Saeris. It was easy to see that Kingfisher had some feelings when he thought that Saeris wanted Carrion. And she clearly wants him but is fighting it.

She has really bad luck right now though. It seems she's always getting injured but escapes death. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 36
(view spoiler)[UGH...Danya is the worst. (hide spoiler)]

Started this with the audio

The audio is definitely as great as I heard it would be

Took me a couple of chapters to get interested if I'm being honest

=> chp 12
It looks like I had way more to say than I expected myself to at this moment. I'm equally surprised

I'm petty, very petty:p
(view spoiler)[
So basically in Zilvaren they do not have night, the suns are out all of the time, yet she uses "midnight" to describe colours 3 times before seeing "midnight" in Yvelia... how does she know what midnight looks like.
This is me being extremely petty I know, but it's a slight that is niggling at me. (hide spoiler)]

Unto more serious things now


Map
(view spoiler)[
I appreciate authors who don't put maps or don't reveal everything in their maps.
This map has several spoilers, most notably the dragons.
Obvs as in most fantasy books since we saw a dragon skeleton then dragons are part of the world and they'll be there, just not confirmed. (hide spoiler)]


Saeris
(view spoiler)[
So Saeris definitely has fae blood in her.
1 theory is that she is the Daianthus heir who was stuck in Zilvaren.
2nd theory is that she is a descendant from that heir with human parent, hence her appearance.
3rd theory is that the gods decided to make her part fae part human.

If she is fully fae or part fae, her features might change later on.
She might have some magic hiding her identity that she isn't aware of.

She's an okay FMC so far. She's feisty and I like that.
Will see how she is later on.

If she is the first alchemist in centuries, then why do all the fae hate her? Yes she's human, but she's basically their only chance....
Also what happened to all the alchemists? And why didn't they document their work - priceless crucial life-saving knowledge-? Was it burned or hidden somehow? Something is going on here.... (hide spoiler)]


Kingfisher
(view spoiler)[
The narrator is sexy as hell. I had to say it.
But Kingfisher is a major asshole. There's no way around it.

I don't have many thoughts yet, but I am assuming that at some point Saeris will be able to call for the quicksilver and then she will be able to remove the quicksilver from his eye and he will get his sanity and control back?

Wondering if he was sabotaged by the king.
Why did he have to travel without his pendant? What was so important or urgent to take that risk? And how did it happen?

How did he get this name? Kingfisher is silly and definitely not his name. So how did he get it.
Who else is not giving their real name.

Is he the only one with the canines from centuries ago that are "vampire-like" or do others have them?
Do they still work?
He did say he "bites"... (hide spoiler)]


Saeris-Kingfisher
(view spoiler)[
I can see the chemistry and tension brewing, so they have that going for them.
The kiss was a bit premature for me. I needed more tension before they get to it. It did take me by surprise.
But Fisher is an a-hole. The things he's saying to her are just bad. He called her bitch or alluded to it several times...
(hide spoiler)]

Zilvaren, Yvelia, and Worldbuilding
(view spoiler)[
Could Madra have imprisoned the Daianthus heir and is using their magic or blood to keep her young and powerful?
Fisher said at some point that drinking human blood maintained fae immortality. Is Madra doing that?
Harron said that she won't let him die.
Is she using magic on her soldiers?

I also am guessing that Zilvaren is not that important in the grand scheme of things? since it's simply not on the map and doesn't have a map of its own.

When Fisher was 10 means it was 1723 years ago. That's when the quicksilver was stilled and the portals closed.
But it seems that Madra has reigned for around a thousand years as confirmed on several accounts.
Is this another slight? or something intentional?
Because there's over 700 years unaccounted for...

Could the sword be that of Fisher's father? is that why it called to him? or was it the quicksilver that called to him?
And why is the sword with the king now...
What is it about this specific sword?
(hide spoiler)]


Side characters
(view spoiler)[
I love Layne and Renfis. Is there smtg going on between them?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 19-27 => (view spoiler)[I can see he appeal with Kingfisher. He has that broody air about him and I love that. You can tell that he cares about Saeris.

I love that they can talk to one another in each others minds.

I'm wondering if this bite solidified the mate aspect. I am curious about how this will play out.

The tattoos she's getting I'm guessing are her starting to get her gifts and also solidify that she isn't human. I don't think anyone has actually told her this yet?? (hide spoiler)]

Haha Grace. I hope the reviews you've read that were swaying you not to read it aren't affecting the way you feel about the book.

The petty comment...
(view spoiler)[I see where you're coming from with the use of midnight however, it's not something I noticed or really care about haha. I reread the few times she uses the word midnight and I see it as describing the colour black which to me is valid. They have the ability to put blankets or coverings on the windows to make it dark. Regardless, I see it as describing a colour without a time associated with it, as in it doesn't matter that it never gets dark there. I'm not sure that makes sense haha. (hide spoiler)]

You've definitely got some fun and interesting ideas. I hope you enjoy how everything plays out!

This book has some of my favourite side characters. I feel incredibly invested in several of them!

I tried to avoid actually reading reviews, so I don't really know why people don't like it, I just know there's a division.
Luckily that isn't affecting me because I don't know the complaints.
the only thing I heard was (view spoiler)[ that it's unoriginal and it took famous tropes and just mashed them together, and while I can see that, I mean it's fantasy so duh, that's not something that I am considering "unoriginal" at this point nor am I particularly seeing repetition, so that review fails atm. (hide spoiler)]

first 4-5 chapters were a bit rough
but I am enjoying it and invested

I also know it's extremely petty on my side that comment, it just niggled at me 😂

Jamie wrote: "Chapters 19-27 => ..."

(view spoiler)[Ah so fun! I loved him! He's broody and grumpy and it's great haha.

I also really enjoyed that they could talk to each other that way. (hide spoiler)]

Grace wrote: "I tried to avoid actually reading reviews, so I don't really know why people don't like it, I just know there's a division.
Luckily that isn't affecting me because I don't know the complaints.
the ..."

(view spoiler)[Ugh...I get it. I can see how that could be valid but the reality is so much fantasy is similar. These famous tropes are going to be used again and again. Yes, it's nice to do something different but for me, if the plot is captivating, I can feel the chemistry and the author manages to make me feel attached to the other characters as well, then I'm ok with it. (hide spoiler)]

Grace wrote: "I tried to avoid actually reading reviews, so I don't really know why people don't like it, I just know there's a division.
Luckily that isn't affecting me because I don't know the complaints.
the ..."

I don't think it's petty at all, you've got an editors eye.

Jessica wrote: "I don't think it's petty at all, you've got an editors eye..."

She definitely needs an editor btw.
The first 2 chapters were so wordy and had so much description that was unnecessary crammed in paragraphs; it was tiring.
It got better after that thankfully.

Brittni wrote: "Chapter 36
[spoilers removed]"

YES!!!

Chapters 28-36 => (view spoiler)[I'm going to need these two to accept this bond, and become this bad ass couples that's going to kick some ass and take some names.

I really love Kingfisher. Like he's on my top 5 book boyfriends I think. There is something about him that pulls at my heart and I just want all the good things for him. (hide spoiler)]

Jamie wrote: "Chapters 28-36 =>..."

I love this!!! (view spoiler)[I'm genuinely so glad you're seeing what I see in Fisher. I just want him to have everything in life! He's very much top 5 for me I think.

This book truly just took me away from life for a little. I was so sucked in and loved it haha. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 37-end => (view spoiler)[I loved this. I don't even know if I have words to describe exactly why, but this hit something for me.

I absolutely love Kingfisher. I want him to have it all. I want the next book to allow her to have kids, because we need baby Kingfisher's. I need him to start to love life again and there to be happiness around him. Seriously, I love him.

I enjoyed Saeris. She had her moments at first, but I think she's the perfect mate for Kingfisher. I'm a little frustrated she waited so long to accept it, but I can see how this worked.

I loved that we got some explanation as to why she wasn't fae from Zareth. So many questions answered once she talked with him. I am curious where this will go in the next book.

And she's now the Queen?!?!?!? This might be interesting...

Can't wait for the next book! (hide spoiler)]

=> chp 26

(view spoiler)[
Okay Kingfisher is no longer an asshole hahaha he just was an asshole in the forge in the winter palace.
I love him, and love how both of them are becoming more and more vulnerable together.

Also, he is a MAN.
It's interesting to see this reluctant leader (Fisher) x willing martyr (Saeris) dynamic.
They both have leadership skills, and their conversations show how perfect they are for each other.
She is definitely breaking his boundaries.

I wonder if she does have magic, still believe she has some link to royalty fae bloodline.
But, it's also interesting to see that Carrion was taught these things and made to memorise them about fae. Wondering what that is about...

I loveeeee the side characters.
I don't mean to make connections
But Archer is giving Dobby vibes
and Lorreth is giving Elisaf vibes from A Fate of Wrath & Flame

There's something unique about Onyx. He is rare. Does he have magic? Can he help Saeris in any way?

I don't think Malcom is the ultimate villain of the series, but he definitely is one.
Did Belikon send Fisher to Malcom?
And I was right in a way, Belikon did make Fisher travel through quicksilver without his pendant. How many times? Why?

I also love that she saved him too.
Because she got hurt and he saved her several times, so her stepping up and saving him from Danya was a move to restore and equate power that I appreciate.

Definitely loving this more at this point (hide spoiler)]

I love love love, even if it was a bit lacking in some places terms of writing.

(view spoiler)[
I cannot wait to see where the story will go, but yeah Kingfisher has great potential to make it top book boyfriends list.
I love both of them!
And her truning vampire and being the queen?

Honestly, I kinda knew halfway through that Carrion was the Daianthus heir. It was the part where he had all these books. It's obvious he's preparing to come back.
I just needed the confirmation.

And the moment the 3 said they're a triumvirate, I knew that the book is ending with either Saeris or Fisher being king/queen.
It kinda clicked you know? Carrion will take Belikon's place, and I thought Saeris will take Madra's since she's human, and Fisher will take Malcolm, I thought he will be the one to turn vampire, so Saeris turning actually surprised me.

And I did expect the Gods to be part of the story but I didn't expect them to be in this book, nor that Zareth tried to keep Saeris and Fisher away from each other, nor that Saeris will be half fae half vampire.
I am positively surprised by this.

I related to what Jess said about Carrion finding the solution to bind the quicksilver and make relics lol
Yeahhh it was so clear and I feel Saeris' frustration but I also didn't think about it until like 3 pages before Carrion suggested it.
I thought it would be the blood that makes it bind but alas.
I also think that should have been further confirmation about Carrion's real identity.

And the romance is top notch. Perfectly done and there''s tension until the last minute.
Both their delcarations and vulnerabilities are amazing. I can't wait to see what's in store for them!!
(hide spoiler)]

Jamie wrote: "Chapters 37-end => ..."

wholeheartedly agree with every word especially (view spoiler)[wanting them to find a cure/solution for her to be able to bear children again.
Definitely need their babies!! (hide spoiler)]

Brittni wrote: "Chapter 36
[spoilers removed]"

YESS.!!
(view spoiler)[I am so happy Lorreth got the sword and not her. She is awful! (hide spoiler)]