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QuickSilver #2
A Quick Study: sapphic vampire romance with pirates and zombies
A covenant in blood can never be broken.
In the aftermath of the Casting, Kulika and Quick are both irrevocably Quick by Kulika's blood, and Kulika by her love for Quick.
Under normal circumstances they might be celebrating, but not only is Quick struggling to control her powers, she's also sworn to Bartholomew and his crew by a blood covenant she cannot break. With Kulika bound to Quick, and Quick bound to Bartholomew, they're both detained at Bartholomew's pleasure for the foreseeable future.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Kulika's mission is an abject failure. The person she came to South Carolina to find has simply vanished, which means no cure for the fatal poison that's killing her new master. Soon she'll have no master at all, and no home to return to.
That'll work out just fine for Bartholomew. With Quick's life in his hands, he has all the leverage he needs to force Kulika back to his side.
Kulika is left with a terrible surrender herself to Bartholomew's covenant, or die trying to free Quick from his control. If Quick's ever going to learn how to use her powers, then she'd better do it, well, quick.
A Quick Study is the second book in Josie Jaffrey’s QuickSilver series, a sapphic dark fantasy series set in Charleston, South Carolina.
In the aftermath of the Casting, Kulika and Quick are both irrevocably Quick by Kulika's blood, and Kulika by her love for Quick.
Under normal circumstances they might be celebrating, but not only is Quick struggling to control her powers, she's also sworn to Bartholomew and his crew by a blood covenant she cannot break. With Kulika bound to Quick, and Quick bound to Bartholomew, they're both detained at Bartholomew's pleasure for the foreseeable future.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Kulika's mission is an abject failure. The person she came to South Carolina to find has simply vanished, which means no cure for the fatal poison that's killing her new master. Soon she'll have no master at all, and no home to return to.
That'll work out just fine for Bartholomew. With Quick's life in his hands, he has all the leverage he needs to force Kulika back to his side.
Kulika is left with a terrible surrender herself to Bartholomew's covenant, or die trying to free Quick from his control. If Quick's ever going to learn how to use her powers, then she'd better do it, well, quick.
A Quick Study is the second book in Josie Jaffrey’s QuickSilver series, a sapphic dark fantasy series set in Charleston, South Carolina.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 24, 2025
20 people want to read
About the author
Josie Jaffrey
58 books172 followersJosie is a dark fantasy, paranormal romance and historical fiction author who writes about lost worlds, dystopian societies and morally-ambiguous monsters (vampires are her favourite). She has published multiple novels and short stories. Most of those are set in the Silverse, an apocalyptic world filled with vampires and zombies.
Josie is the founding editor of indie fantasy magazine Indie Bites (www.silversunbooks.com) and the writer of the urban fantasy podcast Jack Valentine, Vampire Detective (www.jackvalentinepod.com).
She’s currently working on vampire murder mysteries (the Seekers series) and a YA series centred around Atlantis and the lost civilisations of the Mediterranean (the Deluge series). Researching the latter is the first time she’s used her Classics degree since university.
Josie lives in Oxford with her husband and two cats (Sparky and Gussie), who graciously permit human cohabitation in return for regular feeding and cuddles. The resulting cat fluff makes it difficult for Josie to wear black, which is largely why she gave up being a goth. Although the cats are definitely worth it, she still misses her old wardrobe.
Josie is the founding editor of indie fantasy magazine Indie Bites (www.silversunbooks.com) and the writer of the urban fantasy podcast Jack Valentine, Vampire Detective (www.jackvalentinepod.com).
She’s currently working on vampire murder mysteries (the Seekers series) and a YA series centred around Atlantis and the lost civilisations of the Mediterranean (the Deluge series). Researching the latter is the first time she’s used her Classics degree since university.
Josie lives in Oxford with her husband and two cats (Sparky and Gussie), who graciously permit human cohabitation in return for regular feeding and cuddles. The resulting cat fluff makes it difficult for Josie to wear black, which is largely why she gave up being a goth. Although the cats are definitely worth it, she still misses her old wardrobe.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 25, 2025
Picks up right where Kill Me Quick left off, and zooms right into further peril! Excellent sequel.
August 16, 2025
I cannot. put. these. books. down.
A QUICK STUDY is the second stunning installment in the QuickSilver series in which questions are both asked and answered in the most thrilling of ways. I would love to give a long and lengthy review about all of the wonderful things in this story but I mostly am in love with Kulika, and Quick, and their budding, complex, absolutely electric & partly fated romance. And maybe, just maybe, our sort of antagonist Bartholomew is growing on me - he’s certainly one of the most intriguing characters I’ve come across in recent reading!
Josie is truly a master at building characters that inspire rich interest, if not adoration, right down to the ones who, on the surface, are downright villainous. I could spend forever in this universe and it still wouldn’t be enough. Onto the next!
A QUICK STUDY is the second stunning installment in the QuickSilver series in which questions are both asked and answered in the most thrilling of ways. I would love to give a long and lengthy review about all of the wonderful things in this story but I mostly am in love with Kulika, and Quick, and their budding, complex, absolutely electric & partly fated romance. And maybe, just maybe, our sort of antagonist Bartholomew is growing on me - he’s certainly one of the most intriguing characters I’ve come across in recent reading!
Josie is truly a master at building characters that inspire rich interest, if not adoration, right down to the ones who, on the surface, are downright villainous. I could spend forever in this universe and it still wouldn’t be enough. Onto the next!
April 30, 2025
Ugh, I can honestly say I am not prepared to read the next book. This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time and I still wasn't ready for that ending! Kulika's struggle with her decisions is so valid and heartbreaking. I honestly find myself wondering what decisions I would be making if I was in her place.
Quick is getting her footing and that is amazing to see! I am hesitant to form a real opinion since she is still so new to this world and is kind of reckless and gives me a headache in some instances. I am interested to see what happens in the next book but I am also preparing for some more heart breaking decisions for these characters.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily*
Quick is getting her footing and that is amazing to see! I am hesitant to form a real opinion since she is still so new to this world and is kind of reckless and gives me a headache in some instances. I am interested to see what happens in the next book but I am also preparing for some more heart breaking decisions for these characters.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily*
May 3, 2025
After reading this advance review copy for free, I can honestly say that I am a fan of the Silververse. To be honest, vampire epics are not usually my thing. I usually don't care about how vampires are made, or zombies, or whatever limitations and extraordinary superhuman powers they happen to have... unless that information is tucked within a truly gripping story. That is the case with this series.
Whether or not vampires are your thing, this is a great book. A worthy continuation of the cliffhanger from "Kill Me Quick," it definitely inspired me to reach for Book 3 in the series. The plot is rich with intrigue, gradually unfolding its secrets, and the characters grow together in ever more gratifying ways. This whole series is well worth your time!
Whether or not vampires are your thing, this is a great book. A worthy continuation of the cliffhanger from "Kill Me Quick," it definitely inspired me to reach for Book 3 in the series. The plot is rich with intrigue, gradually unfolding its secrets, and the characters grow together in ever more gratifying ways. This whole series is well worth your time!
May 26, 2025
Once again, this was a great story in an original setting with interesting characters. We learned a lot more about some characters' backstories and got some more world building in this second part. Some relationships between characters were developed as well. I do wish there had been a slightly stronger plot and just like in the first part, I wish the story stood on its own a bit more. It was a very topical middle book in a trilogy, things are being set up and developed. It will all be okay if it's worth it for a great finale in the last part!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 6, 2025
A Quick Study has improved on the first book Kill Me Quick, it had that pirate element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. It had that paranormal romance that I was looking for and enjoyed getting back in this universe. It was a strong sequel in the QuickSilver series and had that writing style that I was looking for. Josie Jaffrey has a strong writing style and am excited to finish this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 8, 2025
A QUICK STUDY picks up right where its prequel left off and builds the suspense toward a heart-pounding ending. Truly, the twists in this book are unmatched. Watching all the plot threads weave together via Kulika and Quick’s parallel POVs had me on the edge of my seat, desperate for them to put the pieces together. I literally cannot wait to see how everything wraps up.
The last few chapters had me muttering “what the fuck” repeatedly at my kindle, and the moment I finished it I dropped everything and downloaded the next book.
The last few chapters had me muttering “what the fuck” repeatedly at my kindle, and the moment I finished it I dropped everything and downloaded the next book.
October 29, 2025
Book 2 in a series is always hits or misses, and I'm happy to say this was a hit!!
There was PROGRESS, there was ANGST, there was even MISUNDERSTANDINGS and FLEETING GLANCES. You know, all those things we love about vampire romances 😅. And for those who are in this for the action, there was also plenty of learning to be a vampire, things and people catching fire, and crazed monsters to go around.
A fab little follow up in what I'm sure will become one of my go to indie recommendations. If you love pirate history, vampire law, and angsty romances, this is one for you.
There was PROGRESS, there was ANGST, there was even MISUNDERSTANDINGS and FLEETING GLANCES. You know, all those things we love about vampire romances 😅. And for those who are in this for the action, there was also plenty of learning to be a vampire, things and people catching fire, and crazed monsters to go around.
A fab little follow up in what I'm sure will become one of my go to indie recommendations. If you love pirate history, vampire law, and angsty romances, this is one for you.
May 3, 2025
Following on from 'Kill me Quick', the intrigue builds.
With friends and enemies (the crew) under the cunning leader Bartholomew, no one is sure who to trust. Quick is finding her way, alone at the bottom of the hierarchy. While Kulika, ever distant tries to protect her.
A fantastic read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
With friends and enemies (the crew) under the cunning leader Bartholomew, no one is sure who to trust. Quick is finding her way, alone at the bottom of the hierarchy. While Kulika, ever distant tries to protect her.
A fantastic read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 2, 2025
This installment was just as amazing as the first. I can’t wait to read the final installment. I just have to know how it all ends.
July 24, 2025
A Quick Study is the second book in the QuickSilver series from Josie Jaffrey and it picks up right where the first book, Kill Me Quick, left off which I loved as the ending of that book had me really excited to see what happened next. With that in mind I would say that this is not a book that would work well as a stand alone, I think you really would need to have read the first book before picking this up to get the full effect of the history between the characters and how that plays into their current day relationships. As it is the second book I do not want to reveal anything about the plot that could potentially spoil book one but suffice to say that both Kulika and Quick find themselves in very dangerous situations and Kulika in particular is forced into making some decisions that I am very sure she is going to regret. I felt like this book was a little darker in tone than the previous book, there were some scenes that brought the book onto the edge of horror territory , but in a way that was chilling rather than gruesome or gory. I loved the character development we see for both Quick and Kulika and I found that as a reader I was really invested in their situation and excited and nervous about how it would all play out. I also enjoyed seeing more of the mystery from the first book and having that fleshed out made me curious about how the author intends to wrap up the trilogy but there is a lack of resolution in this book that I think is a typical middle book problem and it made me very glad that I do not have to wait very long to see how it all plays out.
I read an ARC courtesy of the author, all opinions are my own.
I read an ARC courtesy of the author, all opinions are my own.
May 14, 2025
A Quick Study is part two in the QuickSilver series and is one of the strongest second books I have ever read. The revelations in this book left my jaw on the floor – several times. This book doesn’t just continue on from book one but also very nicely ties in some of Jaffrey’s short stories published in various issues of Indie Bites. If you haven’t read those, your experience of A Quick Study will be different from mine but no less satisfying.
We get to see a softer side to Kulika. No, she is not a romantic but that doesn’t mean that she can’t have romantic feelings. We follow Quick on her journey of discovering what her new life means. Despite all, she never loses her humanity.
I got a sense of just how vast the universe is Jaffrey has created. How earlier works fit in and how loose ends were tightly knot. Jaffrey has honed her craft and developed it further. The author doesn’t shy away from difficult topics like abuse, gaslighting, trauma, and brainwashing. She trusts her readers to entangle clues and draw conclusions.
I loved this fast-paced instalment.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
We get to see a softer side to Kulika. No, she is not a romantic but that doesn’t mean that she can’t have romantic feelings. We follow Quick on her journey of discovering what her new life means. Despite all, she never loses her humanity.
I got a sense of just how vast the universe is Jaffrey has created. How earlier works fit in and how loose ends were tightly knot. Jaffrey has honed her craft and developed it further. The author doesn’t shy away from difficult topics like abuse, gaslighting, trauma, and brainwashing. She trusts her readers to entangle clues and draw conclusions.
I loved this fast-paced instalment.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 14, 2025
I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
A QUICK STUDY deepens the tangle of loyalties and bonds around the two women.
The strength of this series really is the push and pull of loyalties around the main characters. Instead of Bartholomew playing his subtle games of control, it's much more explicit. He and Kulika know what hold he has over her and he's not afraid to ensure she knows it. I liked following Kulika as she tries to find ways to thwart Bartholomew, even though he holds almost all the cards. The threat of his power is so much more effective because it doesn't have to be shown through violence - that the threat alone works demonstrates the extent of his power.
The mystery of Evita also progresses, which was satisfying. It was nice to understand more about this crucial but so far absent character and reach a milestone in the hunt for her. There is also the promise of her having a major role in the final book. This book also ends on a major power dynamic shift that will be super interesting to see how it get resolved.
There are a few revelations in this book about broader events in the Silver world, particularly the increase in Silvers. It's an interesting piece of information that plays into the sense of a grand conspiracy stretching across Jack's series (< a href = https://sifaelizabethreads.wordpress....) and puts the heat on for the big exposure of vampire kind that is sure to come soon.
A QUICK STUDY deepens the tangle of loyalties and bonds around the two women.
The strength of this series really is the push and pull of loyalties around the main characters. Instead of Bartholomew playing his subtle games of control, it's much more explicit. He and Kulika know what hold he has over her and he's not afraid to ensure she knows it. I liked following Kulika as she tries to find ways to thwart Bartholomew, even though he holds almost all the cards. The threat of his power is so much more effective because it doesn't have to be shown through violence - that the threat alone works demonstrates the extent of his power.
The mystery of Evita also progresses, which was satisfying. It was nice to understand more about this crucial but so far absent character and reach a milestone in the hunt for her. There is also the promise of her having a major role in the final book. This book also ends on a major power dynamic shift that will be super interesting to see how it get resolved.
There are a few revelations in this book about broader events in the Silver world, particularly the increase in Silvers. It's an interesting piece of information that plays into the sense of a grand conspiracy stretching across Jack's series (< a href = https://sifaelizabethreads.wordpress....) and puts the heat on for the big exposure of vampire kind that is sure to come soon.
July 31, 2025
Again, the brilliance of Josie shines through in this book, in fact series.
The characters continue to grow and mature. The connections become clearer, and the drive for good to conquer sets in. The dynamics are all filling out and we start to see that there are very dark workings at play and start to unravel who and what they are.
Like I said before, the sapphic side of the life story is very light, not very graphic but the idea is there- it’s just not the main story. Pirates re-inventing themselves over the years is genius. And the melding of the old world and this new world is seamless.
A fantastic sequel that sets up the third book brilliantly!!
The characters continue to grow and mature. The connections become clearer, and the drive for good to conquer sets in. The dynamics are all filling out and we start to see that there are very dark workings at play and start to unravel who and what they are.
Like I said before, the sapphic side of the life story is very light, not very graphic but the idea is there- it’s just not the main story. Pirates re-inventing themselves over the years is genius. And the melding of the old world and this new world is seamless.
A fantastic sequel that sets up the third book brilliantly!!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews