First things first: are we going to have the pleasure of reading a third installment in this series? Perhaps starring a Mrs. Hulda Larkin Fernsby? Or maybe a prominent English lady named Victoria is very interested in learning about the adventures of a certain "enchanted canine" and standing by for further adventures of Hulda, Merritt and Owein in London?
That being said, Heir of an Uncertain Magic is a wonderful story, which will keep the reader on edge until the end of the book. It gives answers to many questions that remain after reading the first book, Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, but it also leaves the reader wanting to know more about our protagonists and their friends.
Not to forget the covers! I really liked that both covers maintain the same style, clean and sober, which gives unity to the series, but what I like the most is that the author has had the humility to put the title of her books before her own name.
It's a shame that good things have to end. I highly recommend this book, but don't start reading it in the afternoon if you have to work the next day!
I thank Charlie Holmberg, 47North, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think and feel about this book.

MAGICAL AND EMOTIONAL HISTORICAL FANTASY

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, so I was thrilled to get my hands on this as well. And while I didn't feel like it was quite as good, it was still soooo good!

👍 What I Liked 👍

Magic: This is such a unique magical world! The different classes of magic, the genetic component, the magical authorities. I absolutely loved to see it expanded even more from the first book and hope to see even more in book 3.

Merritt: I loved Merritt from the start, but his arc in this book was really something to behold. I loved his growing maturity - not that he was ever immature, but he just grows more into himself. He gains in confidence. He learns to look into himself. And he learns to communicate.

👎 What I Disliked 👎

Hulda: Hulda, on the other hand, seemed to regress in this book. I loved her and her professionalism in the first book. But in this one it seemed like she could hardly even function on her own. Without Myra, she almost fell apart. It didn't seem plausible for the women we met in book one to be rendered so powerless without her boss.

4/5!

This book picks up after the events of Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, where we learned that Merritt has a magical lineage and the house is no longer enchanted. We follow the characters from the first book (Hula, Merritt, Owein and co) and get introduced to some new characters, although not all are as loveable...

The romance continues to be sweet but definitely not at the forefront of the plot. In this book we get to learn more about the different types of magic that exist, as well as LIKER (the London Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms).

The pacing was similar to the first book, in that I felt that it was slow to get into. But once the story picks up in the latter half, it truly is an enjoyable read. I was honestly skeptical about this book as I felt the first book ended perfectly, but I really did enjoy this. I look forward to picking up the next instalment!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Merritt Fernsby inherits a remote estate with magical powers and struggles to understand his lineage. With the help of house tamer Hulda Larkin, Merritt discovers his own abilities to communicate with nature and embarks on a search to uncover his family's secrets. Meanwhile, Hulda investigates the disappearance of her friend from the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms and competes for the role of director with a suspicious rival who may have connections to an old enemy. Merritt and Hulda work together to unravel the mysteries of wizardry, chaos, and love.

I love Owein so much!! While there were some aspects of the book that I enjoyed, such as the magical elements and the overall plot, I found myself getting frustrated with the relationship between Hulda and Merritt. I felt like the portrayal of women as stiff and incapable of reciprocating in a mutual relationship was overdone and tiresome.

Additionally, the pacing of the book felt slow to me. The constant back and forth between Hulda and Merritt became repetitive, and I found myself not really caring about their dynamic. Although it fell under the SF&F genre, it didn't quite live up to my expectations in terms of excitement and thrill. Overall, while this book wasn't exactly my cup of tea, it was still a decent read.

Amazon offered the first book in the series as part of their first reads program, so I snapped it up and then didn’t read it for months, when I finally picked it up I realized this historical fantasy was good stuff. So I immediately went to see if there would be a follow-up and requested for review.

After the first book’s events, everything has changed for Whimbrel House, its inhabitants, and Merritt and Hulda’s relationship. Whimbrel House is no longer enchanted, Merritt’s new magic is sometimes overwhelming to his senses, and Hulda can’t locate Myra, and she desperately needs to since Liker has opened an investigation into the Boston branch and is on the lookout for a new director. The new relationship between Merritt and Hulda is still kind of hesitant since Hulda has no experience with dating or showing affection to a romantic partner, but she’s trying and they are slowly working it out.

All of the beloved secondary characters are back in this installment, and this time we get Owein’s POV as he navigates life in his new body. Baptiste is still brandishing his stern looks and weaving culinary magic in the kitchen, he even comes to Hulda and Merritt’s rescue at one point, but Beth has been relocated by Liker to another position (for now). But everyone is back, and there are even some new characters that pop up and I’m sure we will see them again in the future.

This installment had the same pacing and feel as the first book in the series. There is a mystery that Hulda is looking into, the disappearance of Myra and what Liker is doing in the Biker headquarters, and Merritt needs some answers about his magic and how he can control it, which means he needs to finally confront his biological father. The action doesn’t pick up until the last 25%, so go into this knowing that this mystery and the romance between the main protagonists takes a meandering path with an unhurried pace to the conclusion. But I will say that the last 25% was pretty exciting.

I need to stress again for my romance-loving peeps, that while there is a developing romance between Merritt and Hulda, don’t expect any heat whatsoever. This is a quiet, tentative romance just developing and these two are still feeling each other out and learning how to be a couple.

This is such a unique series. Magical houses, interesting mysteries, and budding romances are apparently my jam and I can’t get enough. Here’s to hoping this series continues, I’m looking forward to more adventures with Whimbrel House’s found family.

Title: Heir of Uncertain Magic
Author: Charlie N. Holmberg
Release Date: April 11th, 2023
Page Count: 300
Format: Netgalley and Audiobook
Start Date: April 12th, 2023
Finish Date: April 14th, 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

This book is a sequel to Keeper of Enchanted Rooms. Most of the book covers and ties up the loose ends from the first book. Well, in a way anyways. I really enjoyed the book very much. I've enjoyed every book that I've read by this author honestly. This book stood up to the first book. In many ways, I think it may have even been better than the first. Not by much though. They are both amazing. When I finished this book, I wasn't sure if this was a duology or if it was going to be a series. Now that I've looked into it, I see that there is a third book that will be out at some point in the future. I'm really excited for its release! I recommend the two books in this series. In fact, I recommend any book by this author. I love the writing style.

Things are changing, and not all those changes are good. Hulda’s employer Myra has disappeared; Beth has been assigned to an enchanted house in Canada without even getting the chance to say goodbye, and Calvin Walker and Alastair Baillie from LIKER, the London Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms, have appeared at BIKER to take over and investigate possible embezzlement by Myra. Hulda does not trust either of the LIKER representatives but it becomes increasingly obvious that Myra had other secrets that Hulda does not know about and that finding her, and finding her before the LIKER people do is increasingly imperative.

Intrigue and danger face Merritt and Hulda as they try to find Myra and keep the wrong people from taking over BIKER while they cope with their growing romantic attachment for each other. And as if that was not enough, Merritt has come to realize that along with learning to understand and control his magic he must deal with the family issues that sent him in to exile thirteen years ago.

The action in this books starts literally just a few days from the end of the previous book with both books taking place in the span of approximately three months. The action moves along briskly and the characters grow as we learn more about them. We reach a satisfying conclusion but there is still easily room for more story of Whimbrel House and Owein as well as the secrets still lurking in BIKER. I really hope we have another book in this series. Highly recommended

Prepare to be enchanted once again in 'Heir of Uncertain Magic' by Charlie N. Holmberg! The sequel to the beloved first book continues the story of Merritt and the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms (BIKER). However, while the book was enjoyable, I'm unsure if I wanted to continue the series due to some unnecessary scenes that didn't contribute to the story. I struggled with the first chapters as I can't understand fully why Hulda is very much invested in figuring out what happened to Myra. I just can't understand the dilemma when the story is supposed to be (based on the summary) revolving around how Merritt gets to uncover his magic. Hulda's quest to track down Myra felt dull.

Also, the scenes where Merritt tried to reconnect to his family - it just did little to no help him control his magic. Despite these issues, I still loved the cozy and calming characters, and I would give the book 4 stars. If you were a fan of the first book, give this one a chance to see what happens next!

Another imaginative adventure with characters facing struggles both with villains and within themselves. Heroic talking dog? That's another plus.

The story picks up immediately following the cataclysmic events that conclude Keeper of Enchanted Rooms. The leader of Boston-based BIKER is missing, and her organization is overrun with pedantic overseers from the institutes parent organization (LIKER) based in London.

Worries about Whimbrel House simmer in the background -- what happens when the spirit animating an enchanted building leaps into a more mobile body? Secrets create vulnerabilities for the main characters, who must confront difficult truths among family, and in earlier "homes." Underlying mystery drives the plot at a satisfyingly brisk pace, while adding desired details to envision the Whimbrel House world. Highly recommended.

Heir of Uncertain Magic, the second book in the Whimbrel House series by Charlie Holmberg, came out earlier this week. NetGalley gave me access to an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for a review. I read the first book in the series (Keeper of Enchanted Rooms) at the end of last year and into this year. I enjoyed the first book, but I felt uncertain about continuing the series. Holmberg can take her stories into areas of fantasy I do not care to read. I also could see the relationship between two of the characters going beyond my comfort zone.

Heir of Uncertain Magic continues to explore the magic system Holmberg set up in Keeper of Enchanted Rooms. I expected more the book to focus more on Merritt learning how to use his magic or working on his relationship with his estranged family. Instead, most of the book focuses on a vague plot at the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms (BIKER) and tracking down its missing director.

I think this book suffered from second book syndrome–trying to tie in too many plots while also setting up a foundation for the rest of the series. Merritt’s brief encounters with his family proved unhelpful in learning how to control his magic and did little to contribute to the story. Most of his mastery of his powers came from losing control and instinct. I felt dissatisfied by the explanations for how Merritt’s magic works.

The plot for control BIKER disinterested me. It resulted in too much travel between Whimbrel House and Boston. How did the characters not feel constantly exhausted? Hulda’s quest to track down Myra and keep things running smoothly at BIKER felt rather boring. Hulda kept repeating her doubts about Myra and her justifications for omitting the truth about the events from the previous book. I could not bring myself to care about the politics of the office. The focus on career and women leading a magical institute during that time period seems unrealistic and a bit too feminist.

With Holmberg’s books, religion can seem vague. When she writes “God only knows?” does she mean that in an omniscient way or the taking the Lord’s name in vain way? The characters vaguely pray in times of trouble, but they do not guide their actions by what they believe God wants them to do. Her acknowledgements always mention God, but I see very little evidence of Him in her books.

I did appreciate the characters deciding to live in separate homes when they start courting. The foreshadowing of a bedroom scene does make me question whether the couple will remain chaste. They may get married before that, but I would rather not read about that even if they do.

Even with the flaws, I still gave this book 4/5 stars. I did enjoy the interactions between the main characters: Merritt, Hulda, Merritt’s “dog”, Baptiste, and Beth. I still have not decided whether or not to continue the series. I definitely trying out the first book Keeper of Enchanted Rooms.

A magical addition to the Whimbrel House series!

I loved the whimsical aspects of the story, and the characters are so diverse and unique, you'll be enchanted while watching the mystery unfold.

While this could be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading Keeper of Enchanted Rooms first. (It'd be like skipping The Sorcerer's Stone while reading Harry Potter.)

Magic, mystery, a talking dog, secret families, and a hint of romance - this is one series that I can't get enough of!

In a Nutshell: A lovely continuation to the Whimbrel House series. While not as creepy as Book One, this sequel was still enjoyable, though it took me a while to get into the plot this time around.

Story Synopsis:
Narragansett Bay, 1846. Whimbrel House is now just a regular house, but its inhabitants are still trying to deal with their magical abilities. Hulda is struggling to get back to her professional self, especially after the old head of BIKER has disappeared, but her feelings for Merritt keep getting in the way. Merritt is struggling to judge the extent of his magical capabilities, and also to reconcile with his past. Owein is struggling with his new physical form though his magic is as strong as ever.
With some top honchos from LIKER (the London equivalent of BIKER) coming to the Boston headquarters for an audit and review, there are some unexpected developments, and some unknown dangers.
What lies in store for the ‘heir of uncertain magic’?
The story comes to us in a limited third person perspective of Hulda, Merritt and Owein.

Bookish Yays:
😍 I love it when sequels continue from the earlier book. This one takes all the arcs of <a href= https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5079114749 >‘Keeper of Enchanted Rooms’</a> and takes them logically ahead, without any track feeling convoluted or contradictory. Similarly, the character development is maintained to a great extent. A wonderful continuation leans on the shoulders of the first book and takes it to a new level, as a sequel should be. (Which also means that you should not read it as a standalone. But why would you want to do so anyway? ‘Keeper of Enchanted Rooms’ was such an adorable book!)
😍 I enjoyed Merritt’s character development tremendously this time. He seems to learn from the situation and act with maturity even when Hulda acts weird.
😍 My boy Owein is back, and he gets the prime role this time. His presence in any scene lifted its charm up by at least 200%. I loved him equally in both the books.
😍 Baptiste and Beth (the latter in a smaller role, sadly) are as impeccable as in the first.
😍 After the slow beginning, the book went into a steady rhythm. Once I got into the groove, I didn’t feel like keeping it aside at all.
😍 The magical bits are as imaginative as before. Nothing ever feels farfetched, which is quite an achievement for a fantasy novel.
😍 While the book sounds quite serious in its premise, (and it is so), there are plenty of humorous scenes courtesy Merritt and Owein, thereby creating the perfect balance of emotions.
😍 The climax and the parting note both are awesome.

Bookish Nays:
😐 The book is a bit repetitive at the start as it tries to re-establish the events of the first book.
😐 While I connected a lot with Hulda in the first book because of her professionalism and her vocabulary, she was somewhat annoying this time. I also didn’t understand why she felt so handicapped without Myra as she was perfectly capable to handling things independently in the first volume. Somehow, what felt natural in Book One felt forced in this sequel. (To be fair, she does improve in the second half.)
😐 The “villain” is quite flat in this book, and their motivation doesn’t come out strongly.

While I might not adored this as much as I did the first one, I still enjoyed it tremendously. This sequel is to be read more for the characters and the magic than for the creepiness, unlike in the first one where both were impressive.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when the author’s latest newsletter revealed that a third book is on the way. ‘Boy of Chaotic Making’ is due to be released in early 2024. Considering how the ‘Keeper of Enchanted Rooms’ was Hulda and the ‘Heir of Uncertain Magic’ was Merritt, the ‘Boy of Chaotic Making’ is obviously going to be my darling little Owein. Yippee! (Don’t you dare kill him off, dear author!!! I am warning you!!!)

Definitely recommended to all readers of historical fantasies, but do read the series in the right order to enjoy it to the fullest.

4.25 stars.

My thanks to 47North and NetGalley for the DRC of “Heir of Uncertain Magic”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

The book is available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers in India.

'Heir of Uncertain Magic' is a great follow up to the first book of the series 'Keeper of Enchanted Rooms' - and yes, you guessed right, the books are titled after the lead characters in the series. Hulda and Merritt are scrambling to deal with the repurcussions of the events in the first book, trying to fend off new rivalries and dangers all while exploring their fledgling relationship.

The strength of this book, and by extension the series, lies in the strong foundation of the world-building and the magic system. It not only introduces new branches of magic and spells but also dwells on how it affects the environment and the caster. It's good to see the magic follow genetic inheritance rules.

There is substantial character development, even in the relatively short few months since the start of the series. They are willing to introspect, make some tough decisions and grow. It's especially great to see Owein adapt to new conditions.

The story is pretty interesting, equal parts character driven and reacting to external events. The writing itself flows easily and mostly focused on the characters, which I liked in this book.

The rating of this book is 3.5 stars and is rounded up to 4 stars as it delivers what it promises.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers 47North and Charlie N. Holmberg for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[One star for the premise and the whole book; Half a star for the characters; Half a star for the story; One star for the world-building; Half a star for the writing - 3.5 stars in total].

Time to return to Blaugdon Island with Hulda, Merritt, and the rest of the Whimbrel House crew! Follow-up books make me nervous when I wholeheartedly adored the first one (Keeper of Enchanted Rooms). I'm always a wee bit worried that the author will do something to dim my pleasure in the original world. However, despite being rather different than Keeper of Enchanted Rooms in mood and pacing, this was absolutely a five star read for me.

In Heir of Uncertain Magic, Charlie Holmberg does what she does best: serves up swoony romance and relatable characters in an enticingly magical setting.Some of the things I loved most are:

(There may be spoilers ahead if you haven't already read Book 1-- Keeper of Enchanted Rooms. You have been warned. 😁 Okay, on to my favorite things!)

OWEIN: How could anyone resist charming Owein, the boy who used to be a house and is now a dog? Even better, he isn't treated as an adult character (despite his technical age) but as the adolescent he is -- an adolescent who's dealing with some trauma, which is only to be expected when one has died, lived again as an enchanted house, been exorcised by an evil magician, put into a dog's body, and THEN tortured by the aforementioned evil magician. This kid has seen some stuff. Still, he's sweet and happy to be alive, and he brings a refreshing lightheartedness to Book 2.

MERRITT: Speaking of folks who are dealing with some stuff... Poor Merritt tops the list. Despite that, he's still one of my favorite characters in this series, a bit of a cinnamon roll character at times, and the best contrast to Hulda (Ms. Ever-together-and-efficient). We get to see a wider range of personality from Merritt in this installment, as he faces the messy emotional task of family learning more about his true paternity. He's got a lot on his plate, and this could have easily bogged down the story, since Merritt's personality lends itself to avoidance more than confrontation. But Holmberg handles it well, keeping the character growth moving even when Merritt wants to stall out. And when he finally faces his demons, it's one of the most emotionally satisfying moments in the storyline.

HULDA: Oh, Hulda... Loveable, efficient, awkward Hulda. We get to see her awkwardness more often in this book, as she attempts to navigate the waters of a new relationship and be a true romantic partner to Merritt. Sometimes she gives me Temperance Brennan vibes (from the old TV show Bones), and it's delightful. She's strong without being hardened, determined without being absolutely bullheaded, and sometimes laughably clueless.

HULDA AND MERRITT'S RELATIONSHIP: I'm always a little nervous once the ship finally becomes official, because it's easy to lose the romantic tension. I've also seen authors resort to idiotic misunderstanding or ever-ridiculous plot- devices in an effort to maintain that tension. Fortunately, Heir of Uncertain Magic does neither thing and still manages to maintain that electric zing between Hulda and Merritt. The progress of the relationship is realistic and uneven and satisfying.

Conclusion: An entirely worthy addition to the Whimbrel House series, and a completely enjoyable read.

This story follows just where the last book leaves off, which I adore in a sequel. It continues to follow Merritt and Hulda as they figure out what to do now that Hulda’s previous employer is no longer in the picture and as Merritt figures out his magic. This book definitely didn’t go as I had thought it would but was still very good. I love seeing a relationship try to develop between Merritt and Hulda, although that’s not the true focus of the story. I’m glad there was another mystery or two to continue with and we could follow it along. Overall, I liked this book as well, but I think I liked the first in the series a bit more. I’m not quite sure exactly why, Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC!

Heir of Uncertain Magic is the second in the Whimbrel House trilogy. While I did enjoy this one, I didn't enjoy it as much as Keeper of Enchanted Rooms. I miss the enchanted house and its shenanigans!
It's always nice to know if books in a series can be read as a standalone and in this case, you definitely will need to read Keeper of Enchanted Rooms first!

Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg is a captivating and enchanting novel that delves deep into the world of magic, wizardry, and the unknown. The book picks up where its predecessor, Whimbrel House, left off, but it can also be read as a standalone.

The story follows Merritt Fernsby, who has inherited Whimbrel House, a remote estate on Narragansett Bay. With the help of Hulda Larkin, a house tamer, Merritt learns to control and use his burgeoning powers, which allow him to communicate with plants, insects, and animals. However, as he delves deeper into his bloodline, he realizes that his powers are more complex than he initially thought, and his nights are filled with an uncontrollable cacophony of voices.

Meanwhile, Hulda is up for the position of director at the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms, and her rival is suspiciously curious about Whimbrel House. As Merritt and Hulda navigate their respective challenges, they are brought closer together in a mysterious and magical way.

The author’s writing is rich and evocative, drawing the reader into the world of wizardry and enchantment. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with their struggles and fears adding depth to the story. The plot is engaging and unpredictable, with twists and turns that keep the reader on edge until the very end.

Overall, Heir of Uncertain Magic is a delightful and enjoyable read, perfect for anyone who loves magic, mystery, and romance. The book is a testament to Charlie N. Holmberg's skill as a writer and her ability to weave together complex plots and characters in a compelling and magical way.

Heir of Uncertain Magic is the second novel in the Whimbrel House series following the first novel, Keeper of Enchanted Rooms. While I realized this was part of a series when I first obtained an ARC, my mind went blank when I picked up my Kindle to read it. I was able to catch up easily, however, I would highly recommend that other readers begin with the first novel before beginning this one. I will most likely go back and read the first just so I gain some additional foundation that leads up into the third novel, Boy of Chaotic Making. This story takes place about a week after events in the first novel, so, again, it is recommended not to follow my lead and instead read the series in order.

In this continuation readers follow along with the characters of Whimbrel House, where events have occurred at the end of the last story. In this ensemble cast of characters, readers meet (or become reacquainted with) Merritt Fernsby who is adjusting to his new abilities. The characters are dealing with the aftermath from events involving Silas Hogwood. Since I did not read the first story this part took me a bit to piece together, but it came together nicely. Merritt and his partner, Hulda, who is trying to figure out what happened to her both, each have their own objectives in this story. There is a heavier focus on friend and boss of Hulda, Myra, in the story that helps drive the plot forward. The plot in this story is lighter than most others in the genre, but it does appear that it is building up to something bigger.

There is an ease and coziness to Holmberg’s writing. As this is the third series of hers that I have read, I love how the style carries through each, so they all feel connected in a way even though they are separate stories. This story has great world-building and, again, it seems like there is more beyond even a third novel, so it will be interesting to see how it turns out. Since it is not obvious in the writing how long the story will go, this brings a little too much uncertainty for me. Usually in a series you can tell how fast or slow the pacing should be to make sure everything is accomplished by the end. In this one, it seems it could stop at book three or could go longer, so it was difficult to make any judgements or connections. Even so, I still loved the world and characters as they were captivating. Overall, this was a great novel and I look forward to reading more from the series in the future!

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, 47North, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

4 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining; Love Owein

The Whimbrel House is no longer magical, but Merritt’s troubles are far from over. His magical capabilities are flourishing, and he has no idea how to control them (or minimize the side effects). Hulda is in a complicated position, with Myra missing and LIKER wanting to take over BIKER.
Can the duo deal with the new developments and safeguard their blooming relationship? Why does it feel like the danger hasn’t yet passed? What do they have to deal with this time?
The story comes in the limited-third person POV of Hulda, Merritt, and Owein.

What I Like:
Owein is a darling. I love all scenes with him. His vulnerability and need for a family come across very clearly. Of course, his magic is powerful and a treat to read.
Merritt’s character arc is better in this one as we already know the answers to who, what, and why. His fears, uncertainties, pain, and his struggle in handling his magic feel real and tangible. The family confrontation scene is just right, neither dramatic nor too light.
Baptiste and Beth Taylor continue to do their job and more. It’s great to meet them again in this book. I hope they’ll have meaty roles in book three as well.
There are a couple of new characters who may or may not be the good guys. We get the gist of their characters without going into a lot of detail. It keeps the pacing nice and steady. (Normally, I prefer more detailed arcs, but this works better here.)
The magic and world-building are never OTT or overwhelming. It doesn’t go illogical or weird at any point. Those who read book one will know what to expect and won’t be disappointed with the elements in this book.
The ending is, of course, intriguing, though a part of me is worried about Owein. Merritt and Hulda have an HFN, which will, hopefully, turn into HEA in book three.

What Could Have Been Better for Me:
I wondered more than once if Hulda was this annoying in book one. Somehow, she just didn’t seem to be fully there in the first half. While things got better, Hulda feels more uncertain, tentative, and constantly on the back foot.
Myra’s character, though a prominent role, doesn’t do anything to establish her as a person. What little we get of her is not enough to make me feel one way or another. In fact, I was annoyed with Myra and Hulda many times throughout the book.

To summarize, Heir of Uncertain Magic is entertaining and fast-paced. It takes off where book one ends and is best enjoyed if you read in the series order. While it works as a standalone, it may not be a great read.
Thank you, NetGalley and 47North, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I LOVED the first book in this series. Unfortunately, the promise of the first book was not fulfilled by the second book. This needed additional time in the revision process to polish it to the necessary degree. Characterization is choppy, the story has organizational issues, and the formatting choices for the characters' thoughts, communion voices, combined with the author's overuse of italics in the text ended up making this a real slog.