Spellbreaker was a wonderful novel that introduced us to Elsie, Ogden, and Bacchus and their magical, political, and divided version of England. Spellmaker takes us further into the murder mystery and possible romance between Elsie and Bacchus.

As with all of Charlie Holmberg's books that I've read so far, she jumps into the action, world building, and characters right away. Her writing is so clear and easy to follow despite being packed and descriptive. The world of magic is so good! She gives us enough detail to imagine it yet not so much to be overwhelming. Holmberg is a master of sweet, closed door romance with realistic and nuanced development. While being "closed door," this is the steamiest romance by her yet <3

My biggest criticism is that there isn't a third book. Book 2 definitely ends with questions I would love answers to, it's such a bummer to miss out on where the characters end up. Charlie Holmberg is an auto-buy author for me. I've read 4 or 5 other books from her, and I'm continually blown away by how unique each one is. Many authors recycle the same characters or plots, but our heroines in her books are each their own and each setting is distinct. She does have a knack for making the love interest "taboo" in some way, and I love to see how each romance unfolds.

Thank you NetGalley, 47North, and CH for an ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest review!!!

I certainly hope that this duology (first book Spellbreaker) will expand into a trilogy...or continue in the same world with another main character. It's a fun read for anyone who enjoys historical fantasy with a dash of romance.

Spellmaker is a wonderful continuation into the Spellbreaker duology. There are a lot of twists and turns with one big plot twist that kept me throughly entertained. The romance is sweet and is a nice addition to the story. It doesn’t overshadow the plot, or the fascinating magical world that Holmberg has created. Spellmaker is easy to delve into, and is a fun read that crosses genres which fans of historical fiction, romance, fantasy, and mystery would all enjoy.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to review this fantastic book!

I recently read Spellbreaker and was very excited to see Spellmaker on NetGalley and receive a copy. I’m a big Charlie Holmberg fan and loved the Paper Magician books. Spellmaker picks up right after the events of Spellmaker. Elsie is a spellbreaker in London in the late 1800’s. . After being abandoned as a child she discovers her magical connections and starts receiving tasks from some unknown mysterious group. After discovering the secrets behind this group that had been a part of her life for years in Spellbreaker Elsie and her friends try to finally take down her foe attacking Spellmakers. This is a great read for someone who likes a period piece with a bit of magic thrown in.

I had read the first book and loved it so was very excited to see this one on Netgalley. It definitely does not disappoint. Charlie Holmberg does a lovely job of weaving this realistic magical world and characters. All of the loose ends were tied up, well except maybe one which I'm hoping means we'll see these characters sometime in the future as I love all of them!

This duology has been magnificent, and I'm sad to have finished it! A strong fantasy voice, Charlie Holmberg has written a truly un-putdownable pair of books with stellar world building and relatable characters. The twists kept me guessing until the end!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I had to read book 1 as I didn't realize this was a duology, and I am so glad I did. This duology pulled me in where I would think I need to turn that show back on only to realize it was the book. The characters, the setting, the writing just vibes in a way that I couldn't put it down!

Wow, what a story! This duology is amazing!

Having read the first one, I was anxious to see how Elsie's and Bacchus' story would be resolved. This one picks up exactly where the other one left off—they know who the villain is but can't get to her yet.

It also starts with Elsie in prison after having revealed her powers. But Bacchus doesn't rest until she's out and he devises a plan which throws the both of them into marriage. They each have their doubts and think they're a burden to the other, but their relationship also strengthens until they're able to confess their feelings.

This magical system in Victorian England is very well done and I liked how we can still see the regular historical setting but with the spells and everything original to this story.

Although we already know who the villain is, there's still a lot of mystery and action left, and lots of other bad guys.

I couldn't put the book down and read the conclusion. Highly recommend this duology.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Disclaimer: I got this ARC from @NetGalley.

I think this is perfect for harry potter fans and fans of Infinity son!

I love the cover and plotline of this book! I didn't realize this was a duology and this was book two. I highly recommend reading book one first since this book heavily relies on book one. The author does try to elaborate what happened in book one, but there were too many references to book one.

The protagonists Elsie and Bacchus are great together. However, the beginning of their impromptu engagement was a little drawn out, but it was very cute! This book could almost be considered a romance novel with some magic involved.

I did notice myself rereading segments of this book since it felt like I missed something. Some of the transitions were a little difficult to follow.

This is definitely a fun read, but read book one first!

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I just absolutely love Charlie Holmberg!!! Her characters are so relatable and this was the perfect end to Elsie and Bacchus' story, but hopefully not the last we'll see of them!!! A definite reccomend!

Following the revelations in Spellbreaker, Elsie and Bacchus set out to expose the true villain. They work to figure out the villain's plans and how the American fits into it all while pretending to be engaged.

Fantastic sequel to Holmberg's Spellbreaker. Together, the two volumes create a very satisfying story with a unique magic system, exciting characters, mystery, and romance. Readers new to Holmberg will want to pick up the Paper Magician series from here. Long-time fans will not be disappointed!

I received an advanced reader's copy of Spellmaker (Book 2 of the Spellbreaker Series) by Charlie N. Holmberg from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first book that I have read by Charlie N. Holmberg and I was pleasantly surprised to find an enjoyable new author to follow. Also, even though I started by reading book 2, it wasn't difficult to pick up the characters or the world they exist within. I definitely do want to find book one, Spellbreaker, to catch up though!

Overall, I this was a fun fantasy novel and I found it to be well written. The author didn't use strict adherence to the how the Victorian era truly was, but I liked their interpretation in the context of this novel.

The chemistry between Elsie and Bacchus was obvious and usually sweet to witness unfold. I enjoyed the primary and secondary characters' interactions and found their banter to be entertaining. The plot was pretty evenly paced and the action scenes were built up nicely (rather than hurry up and wait).

All in all, a fun read and interesting new literary world to visit!

Lovely sequel! In my opinion this was even better than the first. More romance and Elsie is a lot more likable in this book. The plot and world continues to enchant. I love the idea of Spellmakers and Spellbreakers, and the concept of Spellmakers turning into books when they die. Overall, a very enjoyable duology.

This is a review for both Spellbreaker and Spellmaker: The first book, Spellbreaker, has thousands of helpful reviews already, so I'll simply add my recommendation for fantasy fans. Spellmaker of course include the same main characters, and both books are quite engaging and imaginative. Once again, the author's talent shines thru -- She knows how to effectively tell an interesting tale with well written characters, which is why she has a large following. Good stuff.

I really appreciate the review copies provided!!

I had been in a brief reading slump when I read the first one, and it captured my attention in the best possible way. So when I found out the second book wouldn't be coming out until March 2021, I spent days trying to find something as compelling to read. I rarely start unfinished series for the exact reason that I don't like to wait for sequels! Imagine my surprise when I found Spellmaker on NetGalley - and could read it now!

It's not quite as broad scope as the first, which works in its favor. The romance aspect is perfectly tense without making you want to throw the book or yell at the characters. And Elsie herself is still a force to be reckoned with - each time she narrowly escapes (spoilers?) she does it herself and anyone else to help her is just a coincidence. I love that she can show incredible strength and force of will but still allows herself some moments of weakness.

The mystery is good without being too twisty-turny or predictable. If you're the type to analyze every sentence, yes you'll probably figure out the ending; as for me, I sat back and enjoyed the ride and was pleasantly surprised. I did decide to give this book five stars, but I think that rating is more for the small series as a whole! Both books flow quite well but they depend on each other for the complete story.

I finished Spellbreaker in less than a day. I started reading it and I just couldn't put it down. I sooooo loved the story of Elsie and Bacchus.
Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for my copy.

Now that they know who's behind the rash of murders, opus thefts, and magically controlling others to act against their will, Elsie and her friends need to stop the criminal. Easier said than done. Publicly denouncing the criminal will mean revealing secrets that can get herself and her friends killed by the law. But their opponent is one step ahead. When Elsie is jailed, Bacchus utilizes a loophole in the law to release her, but they now need to pretend that they're engaged and that Elsie only just discovered her spellbreaking abilities. None of this helps their fragile relationship, plus they have a dangerous criminal to catch, a mystery to solve, fend off attackers, and worst of all, plan their marriage.

This was another great feel-good fantasy read. While they had a pretty good relationship in the first book, their class difference became more apparent after Bacchus became a master. When Bacchus saves Elsie by claiming they're engaged, they must go through with that charade, whatever they're true feelings. Yes, their chemistry is still there, but how can they know if their feelings are reciprocated or if they're only marrying because they're now obligated to.

The villain's goal was easy to sympathize with. They simply wanted to erase the advantage the rich and titled had over the downtrodden poor. This is a sentiment that Elsie agreed with, but now that she's financially more secure, with a rich finance and a potential future job as a spellbreaker, she didn't seem as concerned. I don't blame her for not being a civil rights activist when life was finally going good for her. I just wanted to point out her failings. I guess she's only human, after all.
On the other hand, with such a sympathetic cause, I'm surprised the villain was acting on their own. They could've garnered a lot of public sympathy and plenty of allies, but they never considered letting anyone else join in. This book focused more on relationships - romantic, family, and friends, than it did on civil rights though. So, while the plot wasn't as complex as it could've been, the relationships were very good instead.

Lots of magic, new allies, and great found family and friends. This book was fun and heartwarming.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

A strong continuation of the enjoyable first book (it's definitely a continuation, too, with minimal "previously-on"; don't start here). The romance is clean, sweet, and involves two likeable people. The mystery... progress on it stalls for a while, and when it restarts it's helped along by a slight bit of coincidence (or authorial meddling), and the team gain a new ally or two in a way that I felt was too easy and convenient. But I've seen it done a lot worse, and mostly the plot progresses through protagonism. There are some suspenseful scenes, and the climactic confrontation shows the heroine at her best, capable and intelligent.

The author really doesn't have that strong a grasp on the Victorian era, particularly class and gender relations; it's something I've noted before about her other books. But if you can overlook that, these are enjoyable stories, well written, well edited, with sound structure and a positive feel to them.

I received a copy from Netgalley for review.