The Quicksilver Court

Rooks and Ruin #2

by Melissa Caruso

The Quicksilver Court continues the wildly original epic fantasy series bursting with intrigue and ambition, questioned loyalties, and broken magic that began with The Obsidian Tower.
 
Ryxander, Warden of Gloamingard, has failed. Unsealed by her blood, the Door hidden within the black tower has opened. Now, for the first time since the age of the Graces, demons walk the world.
 
As tensions grow between nations, all eyes-and daggers are set on Morgrain, fallen under the Demon of Discord's control. In an attempt to save her home from destruction, Ryx and the Rookery set out to find a powerful artifact. But powerful enemies are on the hunt and they're closing in fast.


Praise for Rooks and Ruin:

"Block out time to binge this can't-stop story filled with danger and unexpected disaster. From the fresh take on time-honored tropes to a crunchy, intrigue-filled story, The Obsidian Tower is a must-read for lovers of high fantasy."―C. L. Polk, World Fantasy award-winning author of Witchmark

This is a truly excellent fantasy, and an epic beginning for a new trilogy."―Locus

"A classic, breathtaking adventure brimful of dangerous magic and clever politics. This is a book that will thrill and delight any fantasy fan."―Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand


Rooks and Ruin
The Obsidian TowerThe Quicksilver Court For more from Melissa Caruso, check out: Swords and FireThe Tethered MageThe Defiant HeirThe Unbroken Empire

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, Magic, Young Adult, Science Fiction Fantasy, Adult

544 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2021

About the author

Melissa Caruso is the author of THE TETHERED MAGE, first in the Swords and Fire trilogy, out now from Orbit books.

Reviews

[Brooke (Books are my Favorite!!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 💫🥰🔮
I love this YA fantasy series! The audiobook narration is so crisp and clean and enjoyable to listen to. The setting is alive and glittering, but also includes uncanny and sinister elements. I liked this second book even more than the first (The Obsidian Tower). The world-building is well-built into the plot and setting.

*What I loved Most*
~Brisk Pacing of the plot
~More world building, and exploration of ancient magical history and Vaskandar culture and politics
~The Chaotic character FoxGlove was a nice comedic balance
~Ryx's (fmc's) personal stakes, exploration of her dark-side, spiraling sense of identity
~The shifting labyrinthine setting filled with traps, glamours giving the sense that reality is shifting and changing at the core.
~Themes of the danger of power and fear of power, as well as owning one's own power.
~Balanced cast of characters, LGBTQ representation, sapphic romance, a nice band of Found Family

I can't wait to read the next book in the series, The Ivory Tomb

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 Stars
This was such an entertaining sequel in this epic fantasy series. I really enjoyed book one so I was eager to continue up with this second book.

Once again, I thought the characters, world building and story were all well executed in this novel. The plot is not exactly innovative and the author certainly leans into tropes. Yet I did not mind it because I found the reading experience so comforting and enjoyable.

I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys epic fantasy but you will need to start back at the beginning with The Obsidian Tower. The third book is suppose to be out by the end of 2022 so I'm excited to continue on soon.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caruso’s Swords and Fire trilogy was good but I’m definitely enjoying this one more! I love all the members of the Rookery and this author’s take on demons is an interesting one. I’m looking forward to the next book, hopefully later this year.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were two things I particularly loved about *The Obsidian Tower*. One was that the thing that everyone was saying Must Never Happen (opening the magically sealed door in the titular Obsidian Tower) didn’t happen at the climax of the story - it happened at the beginning, and the book was about dealing with the fallout rather than an “it’s obvious where things are going, the only question is how we get there” kind of thing. The other was the *incredibly* likable protagonist, Ryx.

I’m happy to say that we get plenty more of both things in book 2.

For reasons that are obvious to everyone who read book 1, Ryx isn’t staying at home with her grandmother any more. She’s off with the Rookery, and they get a job that takes them to a Versailles-like palace complex in the neighboring empire. The lion’s share of the story takes place within the confines of this palace and its grounds.

I can’t say too much about the plot without spoiling things, but as the story plays out we learn a great deal about the Demons (surprise, surprise, but there’s more than just Discord and Hunger about). We learn a lot about Ryx’s personal history, and we learn more about her “broken” magic. And we get development of her relationship with Severin.

And there are DEVELOPMENTS. Oh boy, are there ever DEVELOPMENTS. And once again, what could have been a climactic reveal is instead revealed to the reader early (not quite as early as the opening of the door in book 1, but still early). And we get an entire book dealing with the consequences.

Overall, an excellent follow-up that left me anxious for book 3. Strongly recommended.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second installment in Melissa Caruso's Rooks and Ruins series, and I loved it. Melissa Caruso is the author of the Tethered Mage (and trilogy) which I deeply loved.

Those of you know know me in reading, know I really don't usually care for fantasy. Its not my thing. I dropped Legends and Lattes by Page One! I start to dissociate and I know I am in trouble. But.... Something about the Tethered Mage "got" me. Maybe it was six badass female heroines. Maybe it was the Jess, and the relationship between falcons and falconers. Maybe it was about how we hone power, and compassionate ethical politics, and the mage-marked. I was a goner for this trilogy. It spoke to me. So I waited until the next trilogy was complete before starting it. Much like my much anticipated Season Three of Only Murders in the Building. Anyway, I read the Obsidian Tower in July and savored it! Poor Ryx, who has been alone her whole life with a bizarre magic that keeps the world at bay. Caught in a devotion to her grandmother, her land and estate and the people it serves, and a warring world where everything is at stake. Her life changes when she meets the Rookery, and has to figure out if she can trust or be trusted. And we were back to the concept of the Jess, which I have to admit I am incredibly and strangely drawn to.

The Quicksilver Court is the second installment of the series, and I loved it. The quicksilvering and the powers over the humans were admittedly creepy and unsettling, but I believe in Ryx, Severin, and the Rooks. A funny little family born out of both trauma and honor. What I think I loved most about it, was that (again) it really speaks to managing both the darkness and light within us, and appealing to our humanity over forces of evil that threaten to overwhelm us. All of characters must make choices of how to integrate themselves, deal with past traumas, and ultimately decide if they are going to choose the light - and each other. Now those of you who know me ~ isn't that the ultimate Amy kind of book? Melissa Caruso, you have made me a fan of you, and of your books, written in a genre I can not normally abide. This to me, means you too, possess for sure, a certain kind of magic!

[Jordan (Forever Lost in Literature) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!

The Quicksilver Court is the latest installment in Melissa Caruso's Rooks and Ruins trilogy, a companion/follow-up series to her Swords and Fire trilogy. As mentioned in my review for the first book of the Rooks and Ruin trilogy, The Obsidian Tower, it is not necessary to have read the first trilogy, Swords and Fire, before reading this one, although I do think that it adds a slightly deeper understanding the world and magic system that just enhances this reading experience. Still, it's an entirely new set of character and time period, and it's truly a fantastic series so far! Since this is a sequel, I'll do my best to shy away from any major spoilers from the first book, but please know going into this that there may be minor spoilers for the first book in this review. There will be no spoilers for this book, as usual!

The Quicksilver Court picks up not long after the catastrophic events of the first book, and I loved nothing more than getting to jump right back into the chaos with this group of characters. Ever since I started reading the Swords and Fire trilogy back when it first starting being published, Caruso has cemented herself as favorite author whose work continuously grabs me and makes me excited to read it and explore her magic systems and fully developed and complex characters.

Ryx continues to struggle with her 'broken' magical ability, although this book brings with it a whole new slew of problems for Ryx, and trust me when I say that they almost make her previous issues pale in comparison. Ryx, however, continues to be a character that I love fro her determination, strength, and leadership abilities. She truly knows what and who to value, and is not one to back down from doing what she knows is best for those around her. She's an incredibly dynamic person who manages to adapt to whatever any situation requires, and she does all of this without losing her core self, no matter what may be going on either around her or even to her. Caruso seems to have a knack for writing not only amazing characters, but amazing female characters that I genuinely love and find myself unable to stop thinking about or walk away from. Ryx is just as compelling and impressive as Amalia from the Swords and Fire series, but they are both two completely different people as well.

In addition to Ryx are some of my favorite supporting characters: Severin, Foxglove, Ashe, Bastian, Kessa, and, of course, Whisper. Each and every one of these characters has such a distinct and compelling personality, not to mention the chemistry and differing relationships that exists among them all. Ashe is easily a favorite for her passionate way of navigating life, as well as how she manages to keep moving forward despite any struggles from her past. Her bantering with Kessa, as well as Kessa's more protective and somewhat nurturing personality, makes the two an incredible pair that are so fun to read. Severin is also one of my favorite Witch Lords, largely because I find him incredibly intriguing and a complex figure to follow.

This sequel as takes us readers into an entirely new setting away from Gloamingard, which was a really welcome and exciting change of pace. I was a little sad to leave Gloamingard, because I seem to find it as compelling as Ryx does, but the events of the previous book definitely changes things, and the new problems that arise in this book make it necessary for Ryx and the gang to visit a new, almost equally imposing place. I love how well Caruso manages to set a scene and create an atmosphere that is captivating and exciting while also being dark, ominous, and leaves readers with a sense of foreboding around every corner. Some of the new villains in this book feel truly evil, and I was impressed by the different ways Caruso managed to incorporate some new horrific elements to their actions. This was a book that I could not stop reading.

If you thought the stakes were high in the first book, just wait until you get to this book, because the stakes take on a whole new meaning of the word and introduce some horrifying yet compulsive new plot points to explore. (Minor book one spoiler ahead!) The demons that now walk the world are cruel, unpredictable (yet predictable in their destruction), and possess immense, immeasurable powers. As horrible as these demons are, I thoroughly enjoyed that we actually get to meet some of them and see them interact in the human world, and I cannot wait to see what the next book is going to bring us. Overall, it's another five stars from me!

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The Quicksilver Court by Melissa Caruso is the second in the fantasy/sci-fi Rooks and Ruin Trilogy.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Orbit Books (and in particular Angela Man) and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Information:    (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
In a world where the magical and non-magical people live together, demons are now roaming the earth due to Ryxander inadvertently unsealing the Obsidian Tower. Her magic is "broken", but she has recently discovered that a "jess" on her arm will allow her to touch other people without killing them.  Her Grandmother is now not only a Witch Lord  (Lady of Owls), but the Demon of Discord, and has kicked Ryx out of Gloamingard, the only home Ryx has ever known.  Ryx has joined the agents of the Rookery.  Although the Rookery usually deal with accidents caused by old magical artifacts, they are now dealing with the demons. Among her new friends are Ashe, Kessa, Bastian,  and Foxglove.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Ryx is trying to figure out how to save the domain of Morgrain, and of course Gloamingard.  She also wants to save her grandmother who is now fused with a demon.   While the Rookery stands with her, their main job is to try to find a way to defeat the demon within her grandmother.  Unfortunately, the Serene Empire has decided not to help Morgrain, and instead plans to attack, and to kill Ryx's grandmother.

Meanwhile, there is chaos on other domains as well.  Raverra is having problems within it's Council and the Zenith society and their alliance with the Demon of Hunger (Aurelio).  Eruvia is trying to get a Conclave together but also having problems.

When it is learned that a powerful magic weapon is out there, everyone is on the hunt.  The Rookery heads to the Summer Palace, where they encounter more trouble than they anticipated. Severin, heir to the Shrike Lord, rather unwillingly joins them in their search. They will all have to face their fears, as more than just the Demon of Hunger awaits.


My Opinions:   
Well, the world and character building that the author created in the previous book continues in this one.  It is a complex world, with many characters, some human, some demonic, and then there are the beasts.  Although done very well, it is still a complicated scenario, and initially difficult to keep track of who is in which domain, or empire, or world....okay, I'm being a little facetious, but between the "Council of Nines", the "Conclave", the Witch Lords, the Empires....sometimes it was a little much.

As well, the length of this book is a little off-putting, but that being said, there isn't a word I would want to strike!

One of the main topics of the book delved into looking inside yourself, to find the true you.  It is about accepting what you find, both the good and the bad.   It is also accepting the faults of others, and letting the past go.  As well, it looked at secrets that are kept, and that often they are kept to protect someone.  Sometimes not.

I really like the characters (even some of the demons).  They all have depth, and even those that are not human are intriguing.  I think Whisper may be my favorite next to Ryx, but both Severin and Bastian are close thirds.

I can't wait for the next book in this trilogy!


For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, author information and a favorite quotation or two from the book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love this author, and this was a solid second book in her Rooks and Ruin series (book three comes out this year)! I don’t know how to describe the plot of a second in series without giving away some of the bombshells of her first book, but I’ll say that the world she has created in this series and her last has an absolutely marvelous and unique magic system that I absolutely love. I would highly recommend starting with this author’s first series, Swords and Fire, as I feel you might need some background on the magic and political systems before picking this series up.

Highly recommend! It’s like Sarah J Maas minus the smut- both series have romance but again, no smut.

[jade ☀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75~

for me, this series is the epitome of "if I loved you less maybe I could talk about it more."

I couldn't begin to articulate exactly why and how much I adore every character every interaction every scene every little nuance of the world, but it all culminates into the most comforting, lovable, and enthralling trilogy I've had the pleasure of accidentally falling in love with.

I read a review of the third book that said the story wraps up just as satisfyingly as one could hope, but I can definitely wait to get there cause I never want this experience to end. this book is not perfect, but it's perfectly perfect for me. <3

[Adah Udechukwu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Quicksilver Court didn't disappoint at all. It was as good as i expected.

[Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second novel in Melissa Caruso’s Rooks and Ruin trilogy picks up right where the first book left off and at a dead run at that. Between a change in setting, stakes and complications elevated to the point where many problems faced by Ryxander and friends in the first novel pale in comparison, and compelling character work on all fronts making you care deeply about the cast, The Quicksilver Court captivated me from start to finish.

If you’re a fan of adult fantasy and enjoy…
-An LGBTQIA+ cast—protagonist Ryxander is bi, and there’s a sapphic relationship between two secondary characters, a nonbinary side character, and a bi and polyamorous side character
-Layered political intrigue with several factions at play
-Characters who rely on diplomacy instead of violence—even if they are possessed of potent corrupted death magic
-Women being badass in a variety of different ways
-Demons and dark magic and mystery in every corner
-Broody, traumatized love interests
-Found families composed mostly of queer misfits
-Favourite fantasy tropes and archetypes but executed really REALLY well

Then you should definitely be checking out this series! I highly recommend it and consider it one of my underrated faves of 2021 and overall.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never not enjoyed a Melissa Caruso book. She just consistently hits the "very good" mark on the high fantasy scale and doesn't falter. She hasn't disappointed me yet!

This isn't my favorite of her books (that would have to be The Unbound Empire), but it might be the most gutsy. The entire book is a "bottle episode" -- all the characters are trapped in one place the entire time, unless you count tiny bookends for getting started and wrapping up -- and that's a tough row to hoe. It dramatically limits the protagonists' options, and introduces a host of challenges. It also, to be perfectly honest, gets a little tedious once you realize, no, they're really not going anywhere. There are something like three MacGuffins that the heroes need to escape the bottle/end the book, and acquiring each one is a huge quest, and each quest gets sidetracked about a thousand times.

But this is kind of all a backdrop for the character work, and that's why we read Caruso books, right? Yes, the plot is interesting, but the characters are why we're here. There are multiple Big Reveals -- about Foxglove, about Whisper, most of all about Ryx -- and they're each dramatic in their own right and throw a lot of things into turmoil. (I would argue the Big Reveal about Ryx was foreshadowed -- nay, fiveshadowed -- by The Obsidian Tower, but others may disagree. Her grandmother even says something like "Oh Ryx, you're always such a disaster. I mean, c'mon.)

I really like where this series is going, because where it's going is sort of an interrogation of whether anything can be said to be true evil, plus a warning of the dangers of painting with a broad brush when we ask questions about good and evil. Morality is complicated, and people hurt other people without ever intending to! (That's obvious, but at the same time, look how much high fantasy content ignores that truism.) It's nice to explore all that.

There's some good sexual diversity among the heroes (Ashe and Kessa are a F/F item; Foxglove's in a poly MMF triad; Ryx appears to be pansexual) and a little bit of romance for Ryx (though I ended the book wishing there had been more). I had some nitpicks with the worldbuilding, but they aren't worth recounting. (Something something "cancer potions," really??) The stakes are set very high for the third book, and I'm a little nervous about how it's all going to fall out . . . !

[Laura (crofteereader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh. I went against my usual preferences and read this book in small doses with long (for me) gaps in between. But despite that, Caruso weaves a complex tale where so many things happen without being over-the-top or unbelievable (within the bounds of the world) that what it really does is keep you engaged and able to pick up the book at any point in the story without being trapped by something that might bore you. There's always another puzzle, always another problem, always some new weakness or ingenious trick uncovered by the enemies.

And even though the characters were the same as the ones from The Obsidian Tower and the overall goal was the same, this book stood on its own with a specific localized goal presented and addressed within the pages. Even though it's long and there's another book on the horizon, I feel satisfied and willing to wait to see where Ryx and the Rookery (sounds like a band) end up next.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two in the Rooks and Ruin series takes up the take from where The Obsidian Tower left off so read that one first if you haven't already..

This is an absolutely fantastic fantasy series with magic and demons and skulduggery featuring a brilliant group dynamic of characters with our main protagonist Ryx at the heart of it all. She is a great character to follow along with and you are with her all the way.

The world building is superb- in this instalment more secrets are uncovered and there is plenty of action and plenty of emotion.

Excellent all round. Highly Recommended.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another fun fantasy adventure with great dialogue, although I didn't love The Quicksilver Court as much as the first book in the series (mostly because I find the members of the Rookery seem more like archetypes than characters so the focus on their history wasn't that compelling to me, even though everything with Ryx's grandmother, Whisper, and Severin was).

Full Review on My Website

[Completely Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://youtu.be/raLrmjptIzs

[Elizabeth Kiffmeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As in book one, with the 'don't open the magical door' plot, this book continued to subvert the usual plot progression of fantasy books. It was an enjoyable, eventful read with demons running wild, magic and magical destruction, political intrigue, and both new and old relationship drama.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars (rounded up to 5/5 for my overall rating because its been a while since I read a book I would rate that highly!)

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great sequel, so much happens and is revealed and I just couldn't put it down! Such a great read!

[Scarlett Readz and Runz....Through Novel Time & Distance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rtf

[Lynn Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://lynns-books.com/2021/11/11/th...

My Five Word TL:DR Review : Oh What a Tangled Web

The Quicksilver Court is the second book in the Rooks and Ruin series by Melissa Caruso and was another entertaining instalment that managed to balance both light and dark elements at the same time as packing an emotional gut punch.

Before starting this review I would say that this will contain spoilers for book 1 so if you haven’t yet read The Obsidian Tower then you might want to make a hasty departure right about now. This is not a drill people – get out of here! Also, this is not a series that you can jump in part way through. Reading the first book is essential in my opinion if you’re to have any chance of understanding the dynamics at play here.

So, The Quicksilver Court picks up almost immediately after the conclusion of book 1 and shoots straight out of the gate with impressive pacing. The Rookery sets off on a journey to the Loreician court, on the face of it they’re searching for a missing demon (Hunger) who may well be infiltrating the Summer Palace, in reality they’re in search of a missing artifact, basically a weapon of mass destruction, politics being as they are though, this is all wrapped up with court etiquette, scheming and guarded conversation – well at least it’s all sugar coated for a little while, until everything goes swiftly downhill.

To be honest, the winning element of both books in this series so far is the characters (in fact the plot plays second fiddle to the characters imo) and in this particular instalment we’re due to learn a heck of a lot more about all of them. Be prepared. Caruso manages to include plenty of food for thought here particularly with the inclusion of demons that are not totally bad and humans that are certainly not totally good. All the Rookery are back, a number of demons that escaped that I won’t name here, other than Hunger of course who we met in No.1. Severin once again plays a key role and the relationship that started to develop with Ryx gathers pace in a beautifully measured way. And, Whisper, the enigmatic more-than-a-cat and Ryx’s grandmother, The Lady of Owls. To be honest there’s such a lot to like here that it would be difficult to pin down a favourite. Of course Ryx and Severin stand out and the Lady of Owls steals the show a little every time she makes an appearance.

On top of these already familiar characters we have the Queen and her advisor, I don’t want to say too much at this point but expect the unexpected. Finally, the Zenith Society who have teamed up with Hunger/Aurelio. The Zenith Society are already known to the Rookery and in fact this particular thread leads to a number of reveals that shine a new light on this previously happy-go-lucky team.

The setting. Well, we’ve moved to the Summer Palace – I couldn’t help think of the elaborately decorated Palace of Versailles with it’s ostentatious rooms dripping with gilt work and ornamentation. The setting couldn’t be more different than the Obsidian Tower. Where Gloamingard is all about the twisted passages and dark mystery the Summer Palace is a place of extreme beauty (although of course it’s about to play host to some despicable beings undertaking despicable acts). I’m going to confess that the setting is one of the elements of this instalment that gave me slightly mixed feelings. In one respect the setting was well drawn and easy to envisage and in fact really adds an extra layer of creativity to the events that take place BUT – and this is a slight spoiler, this story is contained, or restricted to the one setting (not so much locked room as locked palace). Okay, this is a Palace with extensive grounds but it started to feel slightly repetitive and perhaps even a little incredible in terms of the good guys escaping notice and avoiding trouble in such an enclosed space.

Slight hesitation aside. What I also really enjoyed here, apart from the characters, twists and turns and the emotional rollercoaster that followed is the strange mix of dark and light -not just in terms of the characters as outlined above but more the jump from humour to horror and back again. Ryx is a great character to follow. She isn’t all kickass, unbeatable ‘here I come to save the day’ so much as flying by the seat of her pants, improvising all the way barely staying alive by the skin of her teeth. What also makes her really good is the real sense of vulnerability that is on display. She now has friends, and potentially a romantic love interest and whilst this makes her ridiculously happy (when she’s not simply trying to stay alive) it also places her in the position of having things that she can now lose.

In terms of criticisms. Apart from the ‘locked palace’ element. This ends on a cliffhanger. Personally I don’t mind a good cliffhanger although they do make me very anxious to have the next book in my grabby little hands.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10 ♡

This book gave me hypertension, tycardia, and a general anxiety disorder. It broke my heart, then put it back together again. not quite the same, but not wrong, either.

[S.J. Higbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first – if you happen to pick up this offering without having read The Obsidian Tower, then put it back on the shelf and track down the first book. This one follows immediately on from the climactic ending, and you’ll struggle far too long trying to work who is doing what to who – and the plot doesn’t hang around.

I love this world. Caruso’s vivid depiction of this extraordinary place, where beauty is all too often lethal and people regularly die in horrible ways drew me in and held me entranced throughout. At 480 pages, it’s not a short book – but I tore through it as I was unable to put it down. I fell deeply in love with Ryx from the first time I encountered her and her heartbreakingly terrible magic – if she comes into contact with any living thing, it dies. Ways are found to halter her magical power, so that eventually she is able to touch plants, animals and people without harming them. But those long years when she couldn’t has left scars. At the end of The Obsidian Tower, I was left with some mighty big questions – and I’m delighted to say The Quicksilver Court answers them.

Ryx’s desperate gratitude that at last she has friends and allies who really care for her makes her wonderfully vulnerable, which works well in a character with such powerful magic. And the magical group she belongs to – the Rookery – all have complicated and desperate backstories that we learn about in amongst the plotting, politicking and mayhem that ensues. But… oh my goodness – I didn’t begin to guess the big plot twist that comes about three-quarters into the book. What a doozy! I was tempted to rush back to reread The Obsidian Tower and look for the clues and see what I’d missed. Though of course, I didn’t. But it literally changes the whole dynamic, ramping up the stakes and danger to the world – and of course, to Ryx. Caruso writes with power and commitment that makes all her main characters larger than life – particularly her antagonists. The demon, Nightmare, is really a satisfying villain I loved to hate.

This was one of the most intense, emotional reads of the year and I finished it with a sigh – because there is also a whopping big cliff-hanger right at the end. You may have gathered that I enjoyed this one – indeed, it’s made my Outstandings Reads of the Year list. Very highly recommended for those who like their fantasy swathed in mystery, vivid settings and charismatic characters possessed with murderous magic. While I obtained an arc of The Quicksilver Court from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
10/10

[Art Hyrst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review on my blog, 6th January: https://inkandplasma.com/2022/01/06/t...

This was so good. So, so good. Throughout 2021, I buddy-read all of Melissa Caruso’s books with Alu (https://tome-reader.com/), and she has firmly established herself as a new insta-buy author - and possibly my favourite author of 2021.

We read The Obsidian Tower first and then, while we were waiting for The Quicksilver Court, we read the entirety of the first series, starting with The Tethered Mage. I absolutely love every single one of the books, but I do think that The Quicksilver Court is my favourite of the lot. Melissa Caruso is definitely getting better with every single book as the stakes build and build (though I did miss Kathe in this book, not gonna lie).

The Quicksilver Court builds on the political intrigue and tension in The Obsidian Tower in a spectacular way. It takes place over the course of only a few days, with all the characters trapped in one location, and I really love the intense feeling that’s created by the fast pace of this book. We get a lot of answers to the questions we had at the end of The Obsidian Tower, as well as building up to an ending that has me absolutely chomping at the bit for the third book in the Rooks and Ruin series. I can’t wait to see how this series ends, and I hope Melissa Caruso never stops writing books in this series.

We get more character development from all of the characters in the Rookery, as well as uncovering more of their backstories as they become closer to Ryx, but what I truly loved was some of the moments of tension between the members of the Rookery, some of which had me so anxious that I could feel an actual pit in my stomach as I was reading.

The two series do absolutely standalone, but honestly I recommend reading Swords and Fire and then reading Rooks and Ruin because they’re some of my favourite books I’ve ever read, and you’ll enjoy the way that Rooks and Ruin expands on the world-building a lot more if you’ve read the earlier books - but you can read them in any order, because Rooks and Ruin is set 200 years later.

[Abbey S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

This was supposed to be so much better! I had very similar issues in the Obsidian Tower; I've rarely read books where the rising action shines more than the intro or the climax OR the conclusion, but that's how Caruso writes. This already felt very guilty-pleasure for me (not a bad thing!) but the ending really undid most of what I enjoyed thus far: the plot intricacies, the long conversations, the deliberating, the great sense of atmosphere and setting.

All the characters are good, not outstanding, and I wish there was more (SPOILER) justification for Ryx and Severin. I loved their scenes together, but there still feels like there's a lot of unresolved tension between them. I would LOVE to see their dynamic duo in the next book.

Overall, the ending was rushed and the magic system by that point made no sense. I'm not sure why Ryx was able to save the day like that, and the *plot twist* at the end was very lazy. I wish Caruso would take some risks and pick off some substantial characters, but maybe she's saving that for the last installment. I really enjoyed the first 2/3rds though and I'll be coming back for the last book!

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

TL;DR: Great characters and ideas don't quite reach their potential in this pacey but flawed middle book

Quicksilver Court is a very readable experience, with the characteristic pace and twistiness of these series, but I wasn't really convinced by the overall effect. This entry is so plot-driven that it makes the protagonists feel pulled along by events, with new characters, elements, and rules coming in for what often feels very functional purposes. It can just make the (very likeable) characters feel less and less like real people, particularly when coupled with some quite cartoony dialogue (not inherently bad but clashing slightly with the generally serious tone). And unfortunately the love story just isn't for me - as has been the case throughout the original trilogy and this one, the choice of love interest is baffling to me. But with all that being said, I am still invested in the series, and I do appreciate how many of the stakes and solutions here were emotional rather than action based. I think the ideas of this trilogy could have done with a stronger middle book, but there is still one more to really sell me on it all.

Rating breakdown
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
6/10 in personal rating system

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't my favourite Melissa Caruso book, I felt the story really fell a bit flat in this one. Maybe it's because I'm not a fan of demons in books in general. We're re-united with Ryx and The Rookery after the end of events in The Obsidian Tower, with some of the nine demons let loose in the human world, but not knowing which ones.

There are plenty of reveals in this book that I did not see coming, which kept me interested until the end even if the pacing wasn't quite working for me. Some of Ryx's interactions with the demons were electrifying, but overall the demons felt a bit like caricatures.

I enjoyed the way some of the reveals affected the dynamics of the characters in The Rookery. It made things interesting given the closeness of the group. I did miss the human politics from the first book and previous trilogy though, as I feel like this is where Melissa Caruso thrives.

Overall, not a bad middle book and I'll still be picking up the third one. The ending sure did drop another bombshell, even if a bit random.

[Kate Mckillinit · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun romp of a fantasy novel and excellent sequel to The Obsidian Tower. Love the modern tone Caruso is forging within the fantasy genre. Magical world building, slow pace, not sure how the rest of the story will fit into one novel? Cool plot twist that could have played out stronger.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whereas the first book took me a bit to get into and some of its twists were a mite predictable, this one pulled me in from the start and didn't let go, upping the ante with unexpected revelations and a pace that never let up. This was one hell of a sequel.

[Mya Matteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

still great (some sweet twists in there, too) but a little long for a sequel. Can't wait for the third one!

[Natalie Johanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! It had so many twists that I ALMOST saw coming and so much character growth and feelings.
I don’t possibly know how it’s all going to end in just one more book.