Callie Hart’s Brimstone is the highly-anticipated second installment in her gripping series, picking up the reins after a high-octane Book One left us desperate for more. When a debut novel in a series strikes gold with breakneck pacing and relentless tension, the second book often faces an uphill battle. Unfortunately, while Brimstone successfully moves the plot and characters forward, I found myself battling with the common phenomenon known as “Second Book Syndrome.”
The Slow Burn Struggle
Where the first book was a lit fuse, Brimstone often felt like a slow, drawn-out simmer. The immediate, addictive energy that defined the earlier installment was noticeably absent. This book definitely leaned into a slower pace, dedicating significant time to political maneuvering, introspection, and setting up the pieces for the inevitable finale. While this narrative necessity is understandable a good middle book needs to bridge the gap, it made the reading process a genuine struggle for me at times. I often found myself craving the high-stakes, action-driven intensity that initially hooked me, and instead, I had to work harder to stay immersed in the narrative. This isn’t necessarily a fault of the writing, but a clear stylistic shift that altered the experience from a sprint to a marathon.
Character Growth vs. Engagement
One element I can’t deny is the necessary and often deep character development that occurs in Brimstone. The protagonists are dealing with the fallout of the first book’s events, forcing them to confront deeper psychological issues and forge more complex bonds. We see layers peeled back, and their evolution is structurally sound.
However, acknowledging this growth and finding the journey engaging are two different things. While the characters developed, the narrative vehicle used to convey this growth wasn’t as compelling to read. The intense emotional and psychological moments, which should have been riveting, sometimes lost their punch in the slower pacing. The characters are clearly moving in the right direction for the series’ arc, but the compelling, page-turning quality of their initial dynamic didn’t translate perfectly into this middle chapter.
A Note on Presentation: Typos and Errors
A consistent piece of feedback surfaced repeatedly on the FB groups regarding the book’s presentation. It appears that a number of readers encountered noticeable typos, formatting issues, and minor grammatical errors throughout the text, Icluding our favourite smuggler being in 2 places at once.
While minor errors are inevitable in any published work, when they occur frequently, they can pull a reader out of the story and contribute to the overall feeling of struggle. For a book that already requires focus due to its shifted pacing, these technical missteps added unnecessary friction to the reading experience. Hopefully, any subsequent editions will address these issues to allow readers to be fully immersed in Callie Hart’s world without distraction.
The Verdict
Brimstone is a classic “bridge” novel: necessary for the overall integrity of the series, rich in character development, but perhaps lacking the immediate excitement of its predecessor. If you are committed to the series and the characters, you need to read this book for the plot progression. Just be prepared for a slower, more deliberate journey that might test your patience compared to the adrenaline rush of Book One.
One More Chapter 