This book is fantastic. It is so interesting and the characters are extremely deep and complex. It creates very vivid imagery and transports you to that world. I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to anyone.

I am a huge fan of the author’s and I absolutely adored the first book in this series so I was really looking forward to this book but I’m sorry to say it lacked the magic of Spellbreaker. From the Author’s Acknowledgments at the end it looks like this was planned as the end of this series but to me it felt too rushed. It felt like a tying up of the story from the first book without giving those storylines enough time. Elsie and Bacchus are forced together in a way that ruined what they had in the first book. The villain felt over the top and the crimes were barely acknowledged in what felt like a rush to the end. New characters were added and again not given time to develop while conveniently appearing to help tie things up when in actuality one of those characters leaves a lot to question but that never happens. I don’t feel the characters were given a proper send off unfortunately. I wish this had been a three book series with the pacing from the first book continued. If you loved the first book as I did lower you expectations before beginning this one. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Spellmaker follows the continuing story of Bacchus Kelley & Elsie Camden from the book Spellbreaker. Else is determined to solve the mystery of the stolen opuses & murdered magicians. She risks exposing her illegal gift of being a spellbreaker in the process. She & Bacchus decide they must marry as part of a cover story. Romance ensues, mysteries are solved, bad guys are discovered.

I just finished Part 2 of the Spellbreaker duology and I must say I feel like it was left unfinished. A couple of things were introduced in the last chapter and were left unanswered. I want to know what happens... but it's a duology. I wouldn't complain if a third book was written though.

Part 2 follows Elsie and Bacchus as they try to determine the motives of the "bad guy" from the first book and put a stop to the misdeeds. However, no one can seem to locate this person anywhere. There are some little adventures along the way, but most of the action happens at the end of the book. Most of the story focuses on Elsie and Bacchus as they further develop their romance but Elsie questions EVERYTHING, which gets to be a bit annoying after awhile. There's a few new characters but the roles are very minor. All in all, I thought this book concluded the story nicely but it seemed a bit more focused on the romance instead of the magical aspects that I enjoyed from the first book.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an ARC of this book!

This was a delightful conclusion to the duology. I enjoyed Elsie's growth and her character development. Bacchus is so sweet and encouraging with her. I liked that Elsie is portrayed as being competent while still retaining her femininity and poise. I think the magic system was fairly well developed and fit nicely with the setting. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

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.