This sequel was so satisfying! Holmberg expertly expanded the universe, allowed characters to grow and develop, all while managing to up the ante. Spellmaker had everything I was looking for after Spellbreaker - romance, action, magic, and found family.

I highly recommend Spellmaker and Spellbreaker and can’t wait to read more from this author!

Spellmaker by Charlie N. Holmberg picks up where Spellbreaker left off. We have discovered who the Cowls are and that they are not all that they appear to be.

Set in Victorian England, Elsie and Bacchus continue to work together to bring a murderer to justice. We learn more about Elsie’s family and her background. More about Ogden, who I loved! He is a great supporting character and father figure to Elsie. And we see the spark between Elsie and Bacchus grow.

I enjoyed this book and recommend for readers that enjoy magic and mystery in a historical setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the 47North for the ARC.

I really enjoyed Spellmaker- then sequel and end to Spellbreaker. This was a fast paced read with plenty of action and a very sweet romance. I felt that the romance was a bit less in this book than the first. I really liked the magical system in these books and the idea of someone who cant cast spells- only undo them. The setting was great as were the characters. This was a great conclusion to the first. Some of the plot points dragged a tiny bit for me personally but not enough to hamper my enjoyment of the book.

"Dead wizards, stolen enchantments, and broken promises force a young spellbreaker out of the shadows in the next thrilling installment of the Spellbreaker series by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Paper Magician.

England, 1895. An unsolved series of magician murders and opus thefts isn't a puzzle to Elsie Camden. But to reveal a master spellcaster as the culprit means incriminating herself as an unregistered spellbreaker. When Elsie refuses to join forces with the charming assassin, her secret is exposed, she's thrown in jail, and the murderer disappears. But Elsie's hope hasn't vanished.

Through a twist of luck, the elite magic user Bacchus Kelsey helps Elsie join the lawful, but with a caveat: they must marry to prove their cover story. Forced beneath a magical tutor while her bond with Bacchus grows, Elsie seeks to thwart the plans of England's most devious criminal - if she can find them.

With hundreds of stolen spells at their disposal, the villain has a plan - and it involves seducing Elsie to the dark side. But even now that her secret is out, Elsie must be careful how she uses the new abilities she's discovering, or she may play right into the criminal's hands."

Spellmaker is another fabulous Spellbreaker entry!

Spellbreaker, the first in the series, ended with a lot of unanswered questions and I was anxiously awaiting the second book in the series. Spellmaker resolved the main mystery in the series with a resolution that surprised me. The characters develop over the two books and a lot of their personal struggles e either addressed or resolved as they deal with the book’s crisis. The author does a good job to make you feel like the world she built in Victorian England is real and the characters are believable. I like that even though magic existed in this society the issues of gender, race, and class were still present and this book does a good job at reveal and addressing them in a way that would have been believable at the time and uses magic as a large part of that character belief system transformation.

A fitting conclusion to the Spellbreaker Duology. It was a magical read and a wonderful distraction from a pandemic lifestyle.

Universe: 5*
If you know me, you know that I love a story where its universe impacts the plot and the characters contained within that story. This story has that in abundance. There are depths to the universe that are only hinted at throughout the story. The system of magic in this series was well developed and easy to comprehend. I hate it when I need a flowchart and a PhD to track magic. This series balanced sophistication with simplicity in a wonderful manner.

Plot: 4.8*
While not perfect, the plot was enjoyable and moved along nicely. The plot was internally consistent within the framework of the universe. The plot also wrapped up in a manner that felt right.

Characters: 3.5*
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed these characters. I liked seeing them grow (indeed, their personal growth was staggering). The characters were likable and enjoyable and I'd love to learn more about them. So, why only 3.5 stars? Agency and angst. The protagonist in the story was a bit too angsty for my taste and did not take enough agency in her life frequently wallowing in the hand she was dealt. While this was understandable because, yes, her hand sucked, I was really hoping for this character to strengthen her internal monologue early in the series.

As I mentioned previously, this book was a fitting conclusion to the duology and as such, stands alone perfectly well. The conclusion of the story does leave the window open slightly for more books in this universe.

Note: This book was provided to me for free from Netgalley.

Spellmaker was a great continuation of the Spellbreaker duology. I really enjoy the dynamic between Elsie, Bacchus, Emmeline, and Ogden, and seeing their relationship grow and change throughout this second book was very well thought out.

We always knew that Elsie was a gifted Spellbreaker, but we never really knew how good she was. The interactions with Irene and the revelations from that interaction really showed how advanced Elsie was with her Spellbreaking capabilities. I would love to see where she goes and where her skills take her in a follow-on series if the author was inclined to do so.

The main group of characters and their search for Master Merton throughout the book kept me engaged and looking forward to what came next. There were times in the book that it strayed from the search that left me wanting more, but it was quickly picked up again to keep the story moving forward.

The use of multiple points of view for the storytelling was used well in this book. In some books and series, it can be overdone and end up taking away from the story. However, it was used well in this book. It was done just enough to convey different thoughts and feelings on different situations throughout the book without overdoing it and making the story muddled.

However, I did have a couple of gripes with the overall story. First off, I feel like the love story between Elsie and Bacchus was a bit overdone. I understand and agree with it's importance in the book and for their character development, but it was almost as if the author could not decide if this was a romance novel or a mystery/thriller novel. I have no issue with romance in books in general, it just felt a bit overdone to me based on the way the first book was written. That said, this is likely more personal preference than a real hindrance to the book.

My second issue was the slow build-up to an abrupt ending. It felt like things were working towards and epic ending of some fashing. Whether it was a battle of magic or cunning, I felt that something bigger was coming for the conclusion to the book. There was a struggle, but it felt too short and too anti-climatic based on the buildup throughout the book.

Those issues aside, they did not impact my enjoyment of this book (or the series overall). As I mentioned earlier, I would like to explore the world of Elsie and the magic of the Spellbreaker world in a sequel series if the author were to continue this in the future. I think that there is a lot that can be done to explore the world through Elsie's eyes or others not yet introduced.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ever since I finished the first book, Spellbreaker, I was dying to dive into Spellmaker. Luckily, I had the eARC of the sequel to the duology and dove into it the first chance I got. I'm not going to lie, I finally got the answers to some of my confusing questions. Doesn't necessarily mean that I wasn't confused by some of the things happening in this one - because I was. It just means that I got the answers I was looking for.

In it, you will still meet the same people from the previous book but we do get to meet some new people: Irene Prescott and the Raven. We also get a few dark secrets as well and one of them shocked me. Other than that, Elsie and Bacchus do get a bit closer in this one but the romance just didn't seem like a huge thing to me again. I will admit that we got some teeny tiny moments of possible romance but I just didn't see them being together in this one as well.

The magic aspect is still enchanting as it was in the first one. Plus the villain and the little action were pretty entertaining throughout the book. Heck, I will even admit that the ending was kind of cute. Although I do feel like we could get a new book or maybe a spinoff just because of one thing that was mentioned. Maybe - not sure.

In the end, it was a pretty good sequel and I'm very glad that I got the chance to dive into both books.

If you are a fan of the Paper Magician series, then this is definitely for you. It gave me all the feels of the Victorian era that i love. It’s also reminded me of the infernal devices series by Cassandra Clare, and i rarely ever compare any books to hers. Our lovable heroine Elsie returns but this time she’s caught in the middle of a series of murders and must now team up with the handsome Bacchus to get to the bottom of things. I was on the edge of my seat this whole read! It had me nervous and hoping what i thought would happen didn’t, i will say that some things were predictable to be honest, however it didn’t ruin the story for me. I would definitely recommend to keep going if you started the series, and if you haven’t then i would say, what are you waiting for?

Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for an advanced review copy of Spellmaker.

This is not a stand alone book, so make sure you read the first one before picking it up. I didn't do that and had to circle back.

That being said, I enjoyed the world, the magic, the characters, the mystery, and the sweet romance that built throughout the book. As with many other 1800's based fantasies, I found that parts of the story drug a bit, but it's easy to push through those.

The cover of these really drew me in, so if you're thinking about this one...grab book 1 now before this hits the market in March!

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was SO. GOOD. I was so excited to revisit this wonderful world Charlie has created! It was full of my favorite characters and some great new additions. It moves at the perfect pace and keeps you guessing at every turn. I was 90% from the end and I still didn't know exactly how it would end. The plot was beautifully crafted.

I was sad that this duology was over but I have a feeling this isn't the last we'll see of this world. I once heard an author say that you should build doors into your work if you want to revisit it in the future. And there were doors all over the place.

Thank you for this lovely work of art. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and I've already been recommending it to everyone I know. Brava!

Just like everything else I have read by this author, it's magical and beautiful, and memorable. I first started reading her books after seeing Smoke and Summons on the Kindle Firsts list, and I've been hooked on her work ever since. This book is a great addition to the series. As long as she keeps writing, I'll keep reading.

Interesting finish to this duology. I again enjoyed the concept of magic being very prominent in Victorian London, England. It is a must that you've read the first book before reading this second one. There's a lot of carry-over from the first book, with not a lot of reminders of what happened in the first book. This book is filled with very vivid visual descriptions -- of places, the characters, and the magic itself. Great dialogue between Elsie and Bacchus and all the peripheral characters as well. Elsie gets a little bit closer to solving the mystery of her past, but the ending leaves it open as to the solution of the full mystery. This book is listed as the second of a duology, so that mystery is left open-ended for the reader to speculate about. Holmberg creates fantasy in a very interesting and believable fashion. I look forward to reading more from her!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and giving me the opportunity to read this book. This is the second book in the Spellbreaker series. I received this book first, but I realized quickly that it's best to read the first in the series to get a better understanding of what develops in the second. I was happily surprised with this magical world set in England 1895 Late Victorian era with wizards, and a magic system. We continue our story that was left off from the first book with Elsie, who is an unregistered Spellbreaker, and Bacchus who is a Master Spellmaker, as well as some side characters. Elsie is in need of some help after being arrested because of the events from the first book with Bacchus coming to the rescue in an unexpected way. I liked the first book and thought this was a fine follow up. There is a little bit of romance, but I would categorize this as more fantasy and mystery, although we do know who the villain is going into the second book. If you like stories set in the Victorian era sprinkled with a little bit of romance, magic, and mystery than this is the book for you!

Spellmaker is the second book in Holmberg's Spellbreaker duology. It completes the story of Elsie, an unregistered spellbreaker who is put in the precarious position of pursuing a powerful spellbreaker while trying not to reveal her unsanctioned powers.

If you haven't read any of Holmberg's work before, you are missing out! Her stories are just fun. There's a genre for cozy mystery, and this story could be a described as a cozy magical mystery. I really enjoyed Elsie as our heroine in this story. She's been beaten down in life and made to feel like she only exists to be taken advantage of, but she rises to the occasion and sacrifices for the good of those around her. I was a fan of Bacchus at the end of the last book, but he is so much more enjoyable throughout the story in this book. The cast of supporting characters are wonderful as well, and I would love to be friends with Elsie's group of friends. The plot is predictable at points, and I felt like there were a few things that were wrapped up too neatly, but I still felt satisfied by the ending.

This definitely fits more into the genre of a cozy mystery--there are a few reveals along the way, but if you're looking for a heart-stopping thriller, this will be disappointing. As a cozy mystery with a bit of magic and a sweet romance at the center, it's a lovely read for anyone looking for something light-hearted and encouraging.

A big thank you to Charlie N. Holmberg, 47North, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
A fantastic conclusion to a fantastic duology.
Spellmaker picks up almost right after the end of Spellbreaker and launches pretty quickly into the action.
I loved being back with these characters and really appreciated the development of some the side characters introduced in the first book. Elsie is a brilliant protagonist i love how curious and passionate she is, while at the same time working through grief of abandonment.
The Victorian setting and magic system in these books is so well explored and really takes the reader there. Such a great read and I would love more in this world. .

Spellmaker is a fast-paced and light fantasy book that kept me entertained with the romance as well as the magic system. I will definitely look forward to more of this author's next releases.

Holmberg completes the Spellbreaker duology in this book which takes us full circle in the mystery of dead spellmakers and stolen opuses. Elsie and Bacchus team up (in more ways than one) to bring down the culprit. Elsie also has many of the questions about her past answered so that she can move on with her life.

I enjoyed the ending of this story, but felt it was rather rushed. The climax and resolution both seemed flat and stilted, although it’s possible if this has been a stand-alone novel with both parts included, I would not have found anything lacking. It was nice to see Ogden’s character fleshed out as he is freed of his magical compulsion, and we meet some other great characters in this installment. But again, their presence is hemmed in by the constraints on the plot development.

The first novel was a real treat, but I definitely feel this series would have benefited from either having the two parts merged, or by extending it to a third book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy of this ebook. These are my free and honest opinions.

Book two was just as great as the first book in this duology. I really enjoyed the magic system and how it seemed to fit well into the Victorian-era style of the story. The writing was great (this is the second book I read by this author), it really sucked me in to the story. I like the relationship between Elsie and Bacchus. Subtle, but you could feel the love between them. I would definitely recommend this series!

This is my first time reading it. I mean I know this is a sequel and I have not read the first one
yet. But I never had a hard time coping with the story even though it is a continuation. It is a
well-written story and words are not hard to understand.

The story follows Elsie Camden—the protagonist- a powerful but unregistered spell breaker.
She plans to register but things got out of her hand. Then law enforcers also captured her for
using unregistered magic. Stuck in a cell that can be broke without saying any spell she stays
as still as she could for any wrong move will jeopardize her and her friends. Along came the
hero that saved Elsie, Bacchus Kelsey. The only legal and safest way that Elsie can be free is to
marry him. I don’t recognize their chemistry as lovers but their match as a spell breaker and a
spell maker is second to none. I like how Elsie is a powerful character breaking her limit every
time she fought and getting even stronger.

I understand the villain`s perspective and he reminds me of a comic character named The
Batman. The goal is to break the system. To break the classifications that the poor suffer the
most. But I don`t like his method as he doesn’t care who he faces as long as his goal meets its
end. A stoic as a villain can be.

I find this one too mild yet entertaining. The mystery is not too complicated I just wish it had
more turns that will shake every character to its core or a turn that will blow everyone`s mind.