Here’s the thing about Brimstone by Callie Hart: I love the characters. I really, truly do. Saeris and Kingfisher are everything, Carrion keeps revealing new layers I wasn’t expecting, and there are individual scenes in this book that absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way.

But it took me almost two months to finish it. And for me, that’s the tell. When a book is hooking me, I can’t put it down. When it isn’t, I find reasons to. Brimstone had too many plots running at once — I could feel the story pulling in different directions and it slowed everything down. The ending in particular left me with a lot of feelings, none of them entirely resolved.

So: I didn’t dislike it. I just didn’t love it. And I still very much love Saeris and Kingfisher, so I’ll be reading book three. Sometimes a series earns that even when a single installment doesn’t fully land.

★★★ — three stars, honestly, but the characters alone make it worth it.

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The Book

We’re deeper into Yvelia now, and Saeris is not who she was at the start of Quicksilver. Something has shifted — she’s darker, sharper, and the world around her is asking more of her than she was ever prepared to give. The stakes are higher, the court politics are messier, and there are genuinely stunning moments scattered throughout.

Kingfisher is still that male. The strong, brooding type who shows you who he is through what he does rather than what he says, and I am never not here for that. The moments where he and Saeris are actually together — including in the dream world, where things get unexpectedly tender — are some of the best in the series so far.

And then there’s Carrion. I came into Brimstone thinking I had a read on him, and I was wrong. He has far more honor than he lets on and is so much deeper than he shows most people. He doesn’t like to be seen — not really seen — and in this book we start to scrape the surface of what that means. The scene where both Fisher and Carrion are present and it becomes clear they both love her, just differently? I’m still thinking about it. Carrion saying he’s not in love (understanding what he means by that, and feeling sad for him anyway) that hit differently than I expected.

The moment on page 412 where the book forms from the stargazers and becomes a book from Fisher’s mother, with the inscription “for you, gods blessed. Thank you for loving my boy” — whoosh. Bring on the tears.

Archer the fire sprite is also a delight and I won’t hear otherwise.

The Drink Pairing: Sieta’s Promise at Times Bar & Coffee

The drink pairing for Brimstone is Sieta’s Promise from Times Bar & Coffee in downtown Asheville — and I chose it because Saeris isn’t just a girl navigating a fae realm anymore. She’s something darker now. Something she’s still figuring out. And this cocktail — deep, rich, a little dangerous looking — felt like exactly that.

It’s the kind of drink that looks like it has secrets. Which felt right.

Times Bar is in the historic S&W building on Patton Avenue and does seasonal craft cocktails alongside their coffee menu. Gorgeous space, beautiful drinks. If Sieta’s Promise isn’t on the current menu when you go, ask the bartender what’s dark and a little unexpected.

56 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC — thetimesbarasheville.com

The Food Pairing: Portuguese Custard Tart from OWL Bakery

At one point in the book, Fisher bypasses bacon at breakfast for a custard tart.

Carrion had the bacon. Fisher took the custard tart instead. I am fairly convinced this was less about the tart and more about not agreeing with Carrion on literally anything, which is very Fisher energy and I respect it completely. But also — have you had a good custard tart? The man made the right call regardless of his reasons.

I went to OWL Bakery (Old World Levain) on Charlotte Street and got their Portuguese custard tart, and lord is it good. Flaky, creamy, just the right amount of sweetness. I would also turn down bacon for this.

OWL is an artisan bakery doing handmade European-style pastries, naturally leavened breads, and excellent coffee. Check their Instagram (@oldworldlevain) before you go — their menu rotates and hours are Tue–Sun, 8–2. Get there before 2pm. Learn from my mistakes with Mother and the frittata.

197 Charlotte St, Asheville, NC — owlbakery.com

The Soundtrack

For the darker, heavier tone of Brimstone — something with weight to it. Something that feels like a world getting more complicated and a girl who is figuring out what she’s becoming.

I personally think “Spin in the Dark” by The Bela Vibe is the perfect feel.

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Follow along on Instagram at @winedineandread — up next is The Deal by Elle Kennedy, and yes, the Off Campus show is everything.