Fantasy Fangirls – "Quicksilver" Recap Episode
Date: November 6, 2025
Hosts: Lexi and Nicole
Episode Overview
In this special recap episode, sisters Lexi and Nicole from the Fantasy Fangirls podcast deliver a comprehensive, spoiler-filled catch-up on Quicksilver by Callie Hart. With the highly anticipated sequel Brimstone just around the corner, they break down the book’s major events, discuss lore, theorize about what’s next, and revisit key characters, setting the perfect stage for existing fans and newcomers eager to dive into the next installment.
1. Book Recap: “Lorreth’s Ballad – The (Unhinged) Summarized Saga”
[05:06–12:02]
Nicole delivers a high-energy, witty, and at times “unhinged” blitz through the plot of Quicksilver, highlighting all the twisty turns:
-
Main Character:
- Cerys Fane—thief, apprentice glassmith, owner of a forbidden magical gauntlet.
- Quote: “Sarris Fane... finds herself in quite the pickle. She is the proud new owner of a golden Guardian's gauntlet, which is a big no-no in Zavaren.” (Nicole, 05:07)
-
Key Early Events:
- Cerys’s brother Hayden runs off with her bag (and the gauntlet), gets into trouble with Guardians.
- To save Hayden, Cerys admits to the crime and is arrested, ultimately fighting back and killing two Guardians.
- She's brought before Queen Madra, stabbed by Heron in the Hall of Mirrors, and, in a near-death moment, pulls a magic sword—activating the fabled Quicksilver pool.
-
Realm Jumping & New Alliances:
- Upon waking, Cerys is now in the fae realm of Yvelia, meets key players: Everlane (Kingfisher’s half-sister), Wren, and the infamous Kingfisher himself.
- She’s given a week by King Bellacon to unlock her alchemy powers under threat of war.
-
Bonds, Betrayals, and Steamy Encounters:
- Cerys makes a deal with the mysterious Kingfisher to rescue her brother, but ends up with Carrion Swift instead.
- The group’s journey features dangerous experiments, intense training, and “sexual tension heating up, up, up.”
- Numerous direct nods to the spicy romance (“Bang, bangity bang. I said a bite me, Fisher. Bang. Ruin me.” — Nicole, 10:00)
-
Warfare, Magic, and Major Reveals:
- Cerys creates a legendary God Sword. Vampire king Malcolm invades, leading to kidnappings and pitched battles.
- Carrion Swift’s true fae (and royal) heritage comes to light.
- The final confrontation: Cerys discovers a magical coin binding Kingfisher to Malcolm, Carrion’s blood weakens Malcolm, and Cerys decapitates the vampire king.
-
Brush With Death & Divine Bargains:
- Cerys is mortally wounded, and as she dies, is offered a choice by Zarith, God of Chaos and Change:
- Die, or return as something new—a being neither fully fae nor vampire.
- She chooses the latter, becoming the first ever half-fae, half-vampire (dhampir).
- Cerys is mortally wounded, and as she dies, is offered a choice by Zarith, God of Chaos and Change:
-
Ending:
- With Malcolm dead, Cerys is pointed to become the new queen of the Sanisroth (vampires).
2. Where Are They Now?
Key Realms, Characters, and Plot Points for “Brimstone”
[17:19–41:30]
Zelvarin (The “Human” Realm):
- Environment:
- Windswept, hot desert city with twin suns; water is scarce, most wards (especially the 3rd, where Cerys is from) are impoverished.
- Queen Madra:
- Ruthless, ancient, power-hungry. Known for stamping out magic and hunting alchemists, keeps water rations in place, and is revealed to be part of the immortal Triumvirate.
- Quote: “Not only was she in charge of quarantining the Third...but she is well over a thousand years old.” (Nicole, 19:54)
- Hayden & Elroy:
- Hayden (Cerys’s brother), now a store clerk in the 7th Ward, troubled and feeling guilty.
- Elroy, Cerys’s mentor, still working in the forge; both are currently safe but unsettled.
Yvelia (Fae Realm):
- Capital: Winter Palace.
- King Bellacon:
- Kingfisher’s stepfather, usurped the throne after betraying the royal Dianthus family.
- In secret alliance (for centuries) with vampire king Malcolm, hoarding silver to weaken the war’s front against vampires.
- “Yes. Boo. You suck, Belacan.” (Lexi, 27:10)
- Everlane:
- Kingfisher’s half-sister; rescued after being bitten by Malcolm, now convalescing after risky, never-before-attempted magical healing.
- Ship status with Wren: “Yes, we ship them so hard.” (Lexi, 31:40)
- Kalish:
- Kingfisher’s ancestral home; protected by magical borders, now a refuge for the group.
Sanisroth (Vampire Realm):
- Status:
- Formerly ruled by Malcolm; capital city is Amon Trayes, a forbidding necropolis. Now under Cerys's (soon-to-be) rule.
- The Blood Curse:
- Ancient curse transforming Fae into vampires. Malcolm was the first; Carrion’s Dianthus bloodline holds the key to the curse’s end.
3. Deep Lore and Theories
The Triumvirate
[53:37–54:53]
- Members: Madra, Bellacon, Malcolm—immortal, magical rulers linked to a single life-force (cannot die unless all are killed at once).
- Malcolm’s Death: Officially dead (beheaded with a God Sword), but the hosts debate if this will last unless the Triumvirate is fully destroyed (Nicole: “I think Malcolm has a timed clock...to respawn.” 54:56)
- Theme: Expect major focus on how to destroy the Triumvirate in Brimstone.
The Gods’ Tree and Zarith
[45:33–49:54]
- World Tree Metaphor: Each realm is a leaf; a rot is killing the tree, symbolizing a cosmic threat.
- Cerys’s Role: The goddess Zarith has manipulated events to prevent Cerys and Kingfisher from meeting (their bond always ends the universe in his precognition) but is gambling on their “god-bound” bond creating a new, unpredictable path.
- “No pressure. Just live my life.” (Lexi, 49:32)
- Cerys’s Resurrection: Accepts Zarith’s offer to return as an unprecedented hybrid (half Fae, half vampire) outside godly interference.
- Open Questions: What is the rot? How can an alchemist restore the balance? Is it linked to the blood curse or Triumvirate?
Alchemy
[49:58–53:27]
- “Forgotten, long-dead” magic. All alchemists have Fae blood; three branches: immortality seekers, inventors (like Cerys), and healers.
- Unique Powers: Cerys surpasses even legendary alchemists in her control (can manipulate metals with less than 5% quicksilver, multiple elements); hosts tease that we’ve only seen 10% of her full power to date.
Carrion Swift
[57:09–60:11]
- Reveal: The last Dianthus heir, secreted away after his family’s murder and raised glamored as human. His blood can kill cursed vampires, which is instrumental in defeating Malcolm.
- Succession Theory: The hosts speculate Seras may kill Malcolm, Kingfisher might kill Madra, and Carrion could be fated to kill Bellacon.
4. Character Status and Key Plot Points Heading into Brimstone
[41:30–63:00]
- Cerys: Now a dhampir (half Fae, half vampire), soon to be crowned queen of Sanisroth. Holds immense, unprecedented magical potential. Fully “God-bound” to Kingfisher; they can speak into each other’s minds (and debate whether this can cross realms or... lead to “mind-to-mind” intimacy).
- Kingfisher:
- His own curse (quicksilver madness) quieted, on the path to recovery but still at risk.
- Now bonded to Cerys both romantically and magically.
- Bond: Their union is prophesied to lead to disaster but also to a unique, uncertain hope for the universe.
- Everlane: Alive, healing after vampire bite due to a magical team effort; fate when she wakes up unknown.
- Triumvirate: Malcolm destroyed, but ongoing threat as lore suggests all members must die for any to stay dead.
- Other Lupo Proalia (Fisher’s warriors):
- Lorath: Bardic heart, now wielding the legendary God Sword.
- Danya: In time out after losing her hand trying to claim the God Sword.
- Witches: Ishabel (heir to the Balqadir clan), helped in magical healing; witch clans may become increasingly important.
- Open Questions:
- Will the vampire army obey Cerys?
- Is Belacon’s secret alliance with the enemy exposed?
- What is the nature of the God Tree's rot, and can Cerys’s powers fix it?
- Are the Triumvirate's members truly immortal, or will Brimstone see their end?
- Will Carrion’s newly revealed status change the power dynamic in Yvelia?
5. Notable Quotes & Moments
- “Bang, bangity bang. I said a bite me, Fisher. Bang. Ruin me.”
(Nicole, 10:00) - “No shit, Sherlock. But we know that she's not just a member of Santa's Wrathian soil now. Now she is the Queen.”
(Nicole, 39:02) - “Yes. Boo. You suck, Belacan.”
(Lexi, 27:10) - “No pressure. Just live my life.”
(Lexi, 49:32) - “Will we see this conflict with the other gods? And our characters will have to eventually deal with their unwanted attention? Yes.”
(Nicole, 50:06) - On Kingfisher & Cerys’s bond: “We do have a sex bet now officially, but we're saving that for episode six.”
(Nicole, 45:39)
6. Theories, Hopes, and What’s Next in “Brimstone”
[60:19–64:30]
Lexi & Nicole Share What They’re Most Excited For:
- Delving deeper into the Blood Curse origins, especially Kingfisher’s father Finryn and his mysterious research.
- Vampire politics: How will Cerys rule as Sanisroth’s queen? (“Excited for the politics next book, especially the vampire politics.” Nicole, 63:33)
- Carrion and Kingfisher’s relationship, now both with royal fae ties.
- Will Cerys meet another powerful alchemist or learn of new branches of her magic?
- The involvement of witches, possible realm-jumping, and lore expansion around the gods.
7. Conclusion & Upcoming Content
- Bonus Deep Dive: Episode 6 (covering the Godlands chapter) drops Monday before Brimstone’s release (Nov 18th).
- Author Interview: Callie Hart herself joins for a special episode next week.
- Midnight Release Party: Denver, Nov 17th – trivia, Q&A, and more!
- Resource: Fan Club membership offers early, ad-free episodes, event codes, and more.
Summary Table: Timestamps for Key Segments
| Section | Timestamps |
|---------------------------------------|-------------|
| Lorreth’s Ballad Recap | 05:06–12:02 |
| Where Are They Now? (Realms/Characters) | 17:19–41:30 |
| The Gods & Lore Discussion | 45:33–49:54 |
| Alchemy Deep Dive | 49:58–53:27 |
| Triumvirate Theorizing | 53:37–54:53 |
| Carrion/Character Power Dynamics | 57:09–60:11 |
| Brimstone Hopes & Theories | 60:19–64:30 |
Final Thoughts
This episode is an essential, entertaining, and exhaustive crash course on Quicksilver, perfectly prepping listeners for Brimstone. Lexi and Nicole’s trademark blend of analysis, humor, and theory-crafting makes even the densest lore accessible—and filled with anticipation for what comes next.
“I love this...now we just get to see [Cerys and Kingfisher] being in love and being a team, and then we get to see how they deal...with the world together.”
— Lexi (64:01)
For even deeper discussion, check out their multi-part deep dive series and the upcoming author interview.