Brimstone Arc V
Chapters 35-44
Mini CAWPILE Review
Coming into Arc V, my impressions of Brimstone have changed only a little. Characters are still sitting at an 8, atmosphere at a 9, intrigue at a 9, logic at a 7, and enjoyment at an 8. All holding steady from my earlier mini‑review. But the writing has dropped from a 7 to a 5, and the plot has slipped from an 8 to a 7. The shift from Quicksilver to Brimstone is becoming more noticeable, especially in pacing, repetition, and dialogue choices. Even with those critiques, I’m still locked in, still invested, and still curious to see how Calle ties everything together. It’s a strange balance as we move closer to the final arcs.
I’m hoping it will all payoff in the end.
We’ve officially entered Arc V: Chapters 35–44, and we are so close to the end. Only Arc VI remain, which means every chapter from here on out is carrying the weight of the finale. I can feel it. Arc V is going to be intense.
Chapter 35: Brimstone
We’ve made it to the part where we finally understand why the book is titled Brimstone, at least partially. Archer’s life force is Brimstone. I am willing to bet this is one of the runes Saeris needs to activate and seal.
Even though Brimstone combined with the null blade can kill the rot, they cannot use it. There is a finite amount of it in Yvelia. It does not replenish. It is the fire sprites’ life force, and they use it to procreate. To gather enough Brimstone to kill the rot, every fire sprite would have to die.
My theory is that Archer will sacrifice himself to become a weapon, something like a godsword. I bet your bottom dollar it will be something meant for Renfis.
Fisher also tells Saeris the story of how his father lost a toe during his deal with the Graven. We learn that the stories about his parents, especially his father, actually come from Archer. This feels important, although I am not quite sure how it fits into the overall story. It may be a detail that clicks later or simply character texture, but I am keeping an eye on it.
Deeper Dive: The Alchemical Trinity: Salt, Sulphur, Mercury
The Tria Prima: Salt, Sulphur, Mercury — are the three alchemical principles that underlie all matter and transformation. According to the internet:
Salt — the body, the vessel, the structure that holds memory.
Sulphur — the soul, the fire, the will, the inner gold.
Mercury — the spirit, the mediator, the fluid intelligence that unites opposites.
We’ve already seen Mercury (quicksilver) everywhere. We’ve seen Salt mentioned earlier. Now we’re seeing Sulphur through Brimstone.
Chapter 36: Would That I Could
Archer is alive and well. He’s already back to his duties, waking Saeris to tell her Hayden is awake. Seeing Saeris as vampire/fae didn’t seem very shocking for Hayden. He tells Saeris that Madra has been telling everyone Saeris is a snitch… and Hayden might believe it. Rightfully so, Saeris can’t believe it either, and hands Hayden his ass, cause, are you serious?
While they’re arguing, the Brimstone rune awakens, and Saeris turns to Edina’s book for guidance.
Edina tells her she is breaking laws of the universe with this book. It’s a roadmap to how they can be successful and begs her not to read ahead because it could change her course.
Ren is missing!!!!????
I’m about to crash out.
Chapter 37: Three Minutes
We’ve reached the night of the Evenlight Ball. Callie is clearly setting the stage for something explosive.
Chapter 38: Scion of No One
Tal has new tattoos, which is a weird detail. He is anxious to get the disavowing over with, and you can tell he is up to something. Saeris is too. Both of them are playing their own long games.
Rescinding his blood is an ugly affair. Why didn’t he tell her what to expect beforehand?
And I knew Saeris was going to bring Foley forward as a candidate for Lord of Midnight. I almost cheered.
Chapter 39: Keeper of Secrets
So… Tal dosed everyone at the ball with a cure for vampirism. Including himself. This man said “I’m done” and hit the eject button on an entire species.
Chapter 40: Judgement
Tal must have been planning this for a long time. He was even planning on dying as a vampire, but Saeris and Foley shoved the cure down his throat.
Zovena is fae now. Algat is possibly back to her original form, and Fisher says she is even worse as a witch.
Apparently Isebail and Tal conspired together to turn the vampires back into fae. I’m still not sure how we got here, but the reveal is wild.
Chapter 41: Processing
While Tal is literally going up in flames because of Isebail’s spell, another one of Saeris’s runes activates. They do not know what it is, but context clues point toward Salt.
Saeris and Fisher have a serious conversation. She can be turned full fae. Will she? She is terrified of the outcomes. Fae, human, death. She has no idea how the spell will affect her.
Carrion has been “researching.” and his room looks like a greenhouse. A plant in his rooms is flowering every time he speaks. It is not supposed to flower at all. I knew I was on the right track about his power. I said healing or life, and it is leaning toward life. Still no confirmation on that though.
Then Cahlish rumbles. Ten thousand warriors from Irrín, led by Lorreth, arrive at Cahlish.
Chapter 42: Black Dawn
Danya and Lorreth bring news that the rot is spreading faster and will reach Cahlish in twelve to sixteen hours.
They turn to Edina’s book again. She tells Saeris that neither she nor Foley should take the cure. Their time will come later. She tells Saeris to read on at the White Cliffs. They must evacuate Cahlish and go to Inishtar.
Danya is officially my least favorite character. She actually considers killing all the fire sprites to stop the rot.
I have the worst feeling: Hayden is going to end up as a sword like Merrell. He is having an existential crisis.
The Hazrax arrives unexpectedly. The rune is not Salt. It is a gift from the Hazrax. It is its true name. It gives Saeris the ability to undo or break what has been done.
Why is the Hazrax helping her at all? It says it has seen her future through its oracle, (Fisher’s mom) and it is not an easy one. Some believe the Hazrax is partially to blame. It gives her its ring of office and tells her to give it to Foley.
She asks again what it is. It refuses to tell her. It says she is close to the answer. My guess? Fate. Maybe too on the nose. Maybe one of the gods.
Chapter 43: Dark Spots
The rot arrives at Cahlish. The party evacuates and heads to Inishtar.
Chapter 44 — Inishtar
The last chapter before the finale arc. Let’s see if it has teeth.
They arrive in Inishtar through one of Fisher’s shadow gates, and it is pandemonium. Feeders everywhere. These seem to be Zilvaren feeders; human, gold armor. Fisher is nowhere to be found.
Kingfisher and Ren are both missing. The last thing we heard from Fisher’s scene was “Hello Dog,” so I am assuming he is with Belikon.
And then Calle drops a revelation I did not see coming. Zilvaren is built as a circle. As Foley told Saeris earlier, the circle is the strongest sigil. The entire city is a sigil for Madra to siphon magic from it. And it is a LOT of magic.
Now they are forming a plan to get Madra. According to Isebail, it will take a lot of magic. They need powerful witches. Check. At least ten powerful fae. Working on it. And something that belongs to Madra. Check. Saeris has an idea on where to find it.
What I’m Watching For
Saeris’s Runes
Brimstone awakened, and now she has the Hazrax’s true name. How will this new one: Break work out for her?
Carrion’s Power
The flowering plant confirms it. His magic leans toward life. I want to see how far this goes and what it means for the final arc.
The Hazrax’s Motives
It is helping Saeris, giving her its true name and ring, and hinting at her future. Why? What is it?
Arc V is messy. Everything is coming to a head. The finale arc is going to be wild.
Join Me for the Finale: ARC VI
Now we’re stepping into Arc VI, the final arc, where every thread Callie has been weaving is about to snap into place. If you’ve been reading along, this is the moment to buckle in. If you’ve been lurking, this is your sign to jump in. The finale is coming, and I’m hoping it will be unhinged.
Come with me into Arc VI. Let’s finish this.
