2.5 stars, rounded up.

This is the second book in the Whimbrel House series, taking off immediately after the events of book 1 (Keeper of Enchanted Rooms). As such, this review may contain spoilers for book 1 (although I will try to keep these vague as much as possible).

We follow Hulda and Merritt as they deal with the fallout of the conclusion to book 1. Since we are following the same main characters, we dive straight into the story without the setup that took up a considerable amount of time in the first entry, and we learn more and more about these characters and they are given more depth. However, the side characters (such as Beth and Baptiste) remain flat to me. We also get a new POV (Owein), which was fun but also not delivered with much dimension.

One of the main expectations I had going into this was that this story would heavily feature a cosy, budding romance. Whilst this is technically true, I found the romantic element frustrating, although this is probably more to do with my own personal tastes in romance. In particular, I find the obsession that Hulda has with propriety just very irritating, even though it is probably accurate for the time period.

In terms of plot, tone and pacing, there were times in this story where I was completely hooked, and other moments that were quite jarring. If you go into this expecting a nice, cosy fantasy, you may be somewhat disappointed. At one point, the stakes are suddenly massively increased to such an extent that I was pulled out of the story. I didn't expect such a tonal shift, and it would have been an interesting development if the tone had maybe more gradually darkened or in a different setting. The associated conflict was then also too quickly and easily resolved for my liking.

If you enjoyed book 1 for its cosy and relatively low-stakes vibes, then this entry may not be completely satisfying. However, if you wanted more plot than was in book 1, you will likely enjoy this one more.

I started reading this without having read Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, however I would strongly recommend reading this prior to starting Heir of Uncertain Magic. The world feels more developed and the characters are much more approachable and strong after finishing the first books. The story also picks up straight away.
The world within the books is well developed, and understandable. Elements feel unique, such as magic fading over time.
Owein’s was one of the standout characters of the first book and really comes into his own within this story. His childish nature, dedication to his family and terror at leaving the island are well balanced, developing the complexity of the character while still being a twelve year old boy.

After reading Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg, I was over the moon to find that I was able to read the next installment sooner than anticipated! As a fan of Holmbergs' other work, I knew that I was in for a treat with the continuation of Merritt and Hulda's stories. After solving the mystery of mischievous Whimbrel House, the always charming Merritt is learning how to navigate a life with his newly found power as well as learn more about his mysterious lineage. Hulda is thrown into the disappearance of the head of BIKER and the new role she is faced with. I am not one who normally reads historical fiction but when the writing is magical and effortless its hard not to fall in love with the world and characters that Holmberg has created!

Heir of Uncertain Magic is a great follow up to the first novel in this series, The Keeper of Enchanted Rooms. Ms. Holmberg's way of writing a work of historical fiction with a magical twist is such a unique take on the genre, keeping even a semi-dark plot whimsical and fun.

This installment to the series focuses on two storylines; the first being Merritt's quest to understand and control his newly discovered magic and come to terms with his past, and the second focusing on Myra's disappearance and subsequent upheaval of BIKER. The latter plot can be confusing at times, and quite frankly isn't as engaging as the first storyline, but as the novel approaches its climax, it becomes clearer what is actually happening with BIKER and its parent company, LIKER. Although I still do not quite understand Hulda's attachment to Myra (considering what she's put Hulda through) and BIKER, the plot is exciting and I really found myself pulling for Merritt and Hulda. Owein is easily one of the most likeable characters in the series, whether as a house or a dog, and I'm eager to see where his story goes. The end of this novel definitely sets up a third installment in the series, and I'd love to see how everything works out between Merritt and Hulda, whether she'll be able to balance her love for BIKER and her love for Merritt, what happens between Merritt and his family, how Owein faces his dog mortality, and what happens to Baptiste and Beth (also some of my favorite characters).

I definitely recommend Charlie Holmberg's works to anyone who loves whimsical fiction; I have not been disappointed by any of her several books I have read.

The second book in the Keeper of Magic House series. So good. I just love these characters. Such good relationships to follow and the story I'm this one was excellent. I would read them in order. You miss a lot of you don't.

I enjoyed the first book much more. This book was missing something. I think I really enjoyed the enchanted house and dynamics much more in the first one.

Such a fun series. This book was a bit slower to start then the first but picks up about halfway and moves right along then.
I love all the characters but Owein is by far my favorite.
Can't wait for many more books in this great series!

Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg

A stunning addition to the Whimbrel House series. This story is full of suspense, magic, and a little dose of romance.

I think my favorite thing about this series is the character development. Each character is well fleshed out with a personality of their own. I can imagine them as real people living in a world of magic.

The adventure in this book is new and exciting. The set up is intricate and fun to make guesses as to where it is going.

I can’t wait for book three!

Content: emotional manipulation, kisses, anxiety, mild violence

A well-crafted sequel that started off like a train ride taking the reader back to the premise of the first novel and delving into more details on what happened previously. The pace then picked up drastically about halfway through and I was quite concerned about 70% of the way that this novel would just end on an incomplete note to make you read the next one. I was fortunately too quick to judge because the author worked her magic and all the pieces fell into place for another cozy, well-rounded ending.

I adore the author’s writing style so much - so easy to follow that you can just lap it up like a mug of hot chocolate, yet so many scatterings of quirky words that delight without coming off as over-the-top or pretentious.

The characters have such well-thought out development both within themselves but also with others. I loved how the romantic relationship was not cheesy and followed a very modest progression.

It was cool to see this alternate 1800s with magically powered pizza ovens and communion stones acting like mobile phones and I loved the explanations into the different branches of magic and more focus on the consequences of using it.

I will note though that the tone of this book was very different and far lighter in nature compared to the first book - I would liken it closer to the paper magician series. The original story was very dark in theme almost close to horror with the heavy delving into necromancy so it may be a problem for readers who enjoyed the first book for those reasons.

Thank you to the publisher for providing this early access copy for review via Net Galley.

My rating: 4.5 stars - compared to the last novel there wasn’t enough plot development in the first half of the book and it didn’t seem to cover nearly as much ground despite being almost the same number of pages. Also the inconsistent tone of seriousness compared to the first book is a bit odd for a series.

After quickly devouring book 1 in the Whimbrel House series, I was eager to dive into the ARC copy of book 2. Heir Of Uncertain Magic was a little slower at the start, but picks up in the 2nd half. The characters continue their growth and their pasts are explored. After the disappearance of a BIKER employee and the misuse of funds, BIKER(especially Merritt and Hulda) are investigated by the London office(LIKER). I loved continuing the simmering romance. I loved learning more about the magic in the world. I am less fond of Owein in his current state and I did find Myra to be an extremely vague and irritating character in this book. Hoping some of this is resolved in later books. I definitely recommend reading this book. Can’t wait to read more about Whimbrel House.

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed the first Whimbrel House book, Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, I couldn't believe my luck when I checked Netgalley and found the next in the series available for immediate download! This book did not disappoint and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. Holmberg continued to write the characters and their experiences in a way that draws you in and makes you want to know what will happen next for them. The story has some nice twists and turns that aren't too predictable, and you want to know how the mystery is solved and how order will be restored. There were parts of the story where I lost track a little but it didn't affect the enjoyment too much, and all seemed to come together again at the end. One particular thing I like about Holmberg's writing is the smattering of words I've never read/heard before (I like to think my vocabulary isn't too small either). I know that sounds like a simple thing, but learning new words is fun. I'll certainly be keeping my eyes peeled for the next in the series!

I truly enjoyed this follow up novel to “Keeper of Enchanted Rooms!” This second book follow Merritt and Hulda as they navigate the new mysteries surrounding BIKER and their new relationship! What a great continuation on the original story!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Charlie Holmberg is one of my auto-buy authors and as usual she did not disappoint! With same charming and well written characters from the first book, Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, this sequel was a hugely entertaining story. I adore novels set in the mid-nineteenth century, especially when they have that magical realism flair, and Holmberg melded the fantasy elements perfectly with the historical period. The interactions and conversations between Hulda and Merritt were, at times, funny, sweet, and absolutely frustrating but ultimately rang true to the characters personalities and motivations. An absolute 5 star read and I seriously hope I spied a hint at a third novel in the series!

Source: I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

What worked for me: the characters, definitely. They feel well-defined and I'm interested in them. I liked the world-building. Actually, the world-building is great and very assured.

What didn't work for me: the pacing. It's slow-paced, and that's something I know works for other people. But there's a lot of hand-wringing by the characters without a lot of action behind it. And 'action' can also mean internal change - it's like the characters would ruminate on ANY problem, personal or plot, and not really move forward.

It's a frustrating book, but not a bad one.

Heir of Uncertain Magic
By Charlie N. Holmberg

I saw this pop up on @netgalley and had to scoop it up! I really enjoyed the first book and this second one did not disappoint.

Coming back to these characters was like putting my favorite cozy, oversized hoodie back on. I enjoyed delving into each of their stories a bit more and learning more about the magic system. The beginning was maybe a bit too much “recap” but enough to get annoyed by.

For my fantasy romance friends, this is the kind that I enjoy. Two people figuring out life together and learning to communicate effectively with each other. They mess up, they apologize, and they love each other enough to extend forgiveness and to learn how to best support each other. (Be still my beating heart).

Thanks again @netgalley for this read in exchange for an honest review.

A second book in a series is always the riskiest point, I feel, but this kept the charm and upped the stakes admirably. I did get a little frustrated with the sense of anxiety and pending doom that suffused the book from the start, but it was acknowledged and finally ended up an essential plot point so I'll let it go and most definitely continue reading this series!

I'm really split on my rating. The cozy romantic fantasy side of this novel gets 5 stars from me -- I love these characters and the lives they are building together. I do wish that Merritt's issues with his family didn't seem to get pushed aside for as long as they did, but that's more of an issue with the pacing, which is where my big complaint with this novel comes in.

The continuation of the Silas Hogwood storyline -- which is where most of the action takes place, in a very unbalanced way -- only gets a 2-star rating from me. This storyline feels rushed and just doesn't come together well. Characters and plot points are introduced and then almost (or completely) forgotten, and much of the action feels repetitive. Obviously there's still a lot to explore with these characters, and Holmberg sets us up very heavy-handedly for another novel in this series.

Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N Holmberg

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for review. My opinions are my own.

5/5 stars

I am a HUGE fan of Charlie N Holmberg’s novels so I was overjoyed to have this offering on NetGalley! I had read the first in the series and loved it. This one was just as good as the first!

I loved reading the progression of Merritt’s magical powers… and Merritt and Hulda’s relationship… and Owein’s growth.

There wasn’t much that I DIDN’T like about this book, besides the villain. He was very easy to dislike. I did find his character arc to be a bit predictable but still had enough twists and turns to keep things interesting.

Already looking forward to the next book.

Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg - Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5

Content Warnings: some themes surrounding trauma while healing trauma

Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg is a fantasy and historical fiction book about romance, found family, magic, conspiracies and mysteries, healing from trauma, and self-discovery that are practically seamlessly blended together by Holmberg's beautiful and engaging, but still easy-to-read, prose. There are so many themes and concepts swirling around in this book, and yet instead of clashing with one another, fighting to be the one that sticks out and captures all the attention, Holmberg has managed to weave the themes together in a way that they not only do not clash but even go so far as to enhance and celebrate one another.

Holmberg's talent, understanding, knowledge, and grasp of magical and fantastical worlds is clear in her writing of Heir of Uncertain Magic. She has wonderful world-building and has created a unique and intricate magic system without overwhelming or confusing the reader. The magic system particularly deserves a shout-out, and while I won't spoil anything, I will say that the idea of magic dying out, the categories with the magic system, and the enchanted house all add so much to the complexity of the story making it not only easier but extremely fun to get immersed in the world Holmberg has created.

As if the world-building and magic in this world wasn't enough, Holmberg writes quirky and unique characters and gives us such a tender romance that readers have the pleasure of watching blossom into a full-fledged romantic relationship. The chemistry between Merritt and Hulda is near perfect blend of wonderful, playful, and beautiful. The banter between the two is so fun and engaging and draws readers in, making the story feel more relatable and thus real. It is hard not to root for them and to enjoy every second of their ever-growing closeness as they dance between banter, playfulness, tenderness, and more.

To top everything off, I loved that Holmberg was able to blend this self-discovery and romance story with a mystery. I absolutely love mysteries - though I don't read them enough - because of how engaged they keep the reader, constantly guessing at what's next, what has happened, who's behind it, etc. However, as mentioned before, the element of mystery and Hulda's investigation of the institute's secrets do not detract from the other elements of the story. They truly all work together to keep the reader engaged while celebrating each unique storyline and still maintaining the sense of cohesion as one whole story.

If you love romance, fantasy, historical fiction, and mysteries then this book is absolutely for you! But don't forget to read the first book, Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg, before reading Heir of Uncertain Magic! Happy reading!

I think the plot moved a little bit slower than the first book and I was a tad confused by the conclusion (but that may be reader error). Otherwise, this sequel was just as charming as the first.