Member Reviews

first as always, thank you to netgalley and the publisher for access to the e-arc.

I absolutely adored this! what a fantastic conclusion to a story that i have loved since the first page of "keeper of enchanted rooms". As the third and final installment in this wonderfully whimsical series, "Boy of Chaotic Making" was the perfect conclusion that sees the tying up up loose ends, the answering of questions, and the further development of both romantic and familiar relationships that we have come to love and adore.

finally, it was positively delightful to have a book that lets us follow Owein, a very special boy whose waited long enough to have his moment and be happy.

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A Boy of Chaotic Making is the third in the Whimbrel House series that began with Keeper of Enchanted Rooms. Charlie Holmberg has created a very believable world in which to set her stories. I've said this before, but I’ll say it again. She made me care about her characters and that is the ultimate test of a novel in my world. The other test is this: did I feel bereft when I was done reading, like I didn't know what to do with myself next?
Hilda and Merritt are back, but Owein, whose spirit was trapped in the house for a couple of centuries, is trapped in a dog now, thanks to an evil necromancer. A Boy of Chaotic Making moves largely to England, but the story itself is bout getting a human body for Owein.
I don't want to reveal anything more so as not to be guilty of a”spoiler.” But this, volume three, is definitely a worthy successor to the first two books. Out soon, put it on your list.

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Outstanding! The second book was just ok so I wasn't really sure I would continue the series but when I saw it was mainly about Owein I knew I definitely had to read it. He's my favorite character and this book doesn't disappoint! Sometimes when a book follows multiple characters it's like oh no we're back to this character can I just skip ahead to so and so. There was none of that in this book. I loved Merritts, Huldas and Oweins chapters equally. So good. Will definitely be continuing the series.

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In this third installation of the Whimbrel House series, our special "boy" goes on a journey like no other. He ventures out to discover himself and is given some magical opportunities he would have never thought he would be given. With the support of Merritt and Hulda, Owein is ready to take on these new adventures and make his own way.

I truly do love this series so much. It's so wholesome and I am so invested in the the characters, especially Owein. He is my favorite and we get a chance to follow along as he grows into his own. He technically is over 200 years old, so his outlook is very unique. The banter between characters is so refreshing and makes me giggle each time I read a Whimbrel House book. They're all just such sweet characters (aside from the "villains" that is) and so well written. I know that there is more to come, but I already am anticipating the next book. I'm positive it'll be worth the wait.

Thank you 47North and NetGalley for the eARC for my honest opinion.

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"They will plague your life. Sometimes, the gift of future-seeing is not seeing."

The third and I think the last part of Whimbrel House, an enchanted house was quite relaxing compared to the previous two books, and I did not surprised since Merritt, Hulda, and dear Owein are off to England and visiting the royal family.

In the 19th century, Hulda Larkin was a Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, and being sent to the Whimbrel House was one the best things that happened in her life and changed it forever. Merritt Fernsby, Heir of Uncertain Magic inherited a hundred years old houses and with that found all the things he was looking for.
And Boy of Chaotic Making is the lovely Owein who will learn to fight the darkness and grows up, although I know and he knows that too, It’s easier, as a kid, dealing with the . . . hurt.

These three stories are interconnected and should be read in sequence. I don't want to give away any spoilers, especially to those who haven't read the entire series, but I can say that this series is indeed an enchanted one. Full of magic, love, and friendship.

“Do you believe in heaven, Merritt?“
“What’s the point of all of it if there isn’t something beyond? Seems life would be pretty dismal if it were strictly sealed cover to cover.”

My huge thanks to 47North via NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this beautiful book, Boy of Chaotic Making (Whimbrel House #3) by Charlie N. Holmberg, I have given my very honest review.

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I've already read the first two books in this series and loved them. This last book also does not disappoint. The Whimbrel House series is a fun read and highly entertaining. Love the dynamics between the main characters, especially Hulda and Merritt. Wholeheartedly recommend the series to everyone who likes fantasy with a dash of humor (though the books 1 + 2 are darker than this one).

Looking forward to the next installment.

4,5 stars, thanks to Netgalley and 47North for the ARC :)

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I absolutely loved the Boy of Chaotic Making. I was a little disappointed in the second book of the series The Heir of Apparent Magic, but this one more than made up for it. I have always loved Oweins character and finally we got to get to know him a little better! Hulda and Merritt seemed much more authentic in this story and I really enjoyed the relationship between the two of them and where it is heading. This was easy to read and the communication between the characters felt much more natural and genuine. The setting has always been so descriptive and so rich that it almost felt like a character in the story and Boy of Chaotic Making was no different. Really enjoyed being in Great Britain for this installment of the series and meeting some new characters.
Loved the Druids! Look forward to reading more from Charlie Holmberg! Thank you for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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The perfect sequel! I loved that this one didn't rehash too much from previous books, but built off of them and went forward.

The continuing development for established characters was well done. Hulda especially has become one of my favorites while watching her confidence grow even more and slowly but steadily open up to Merrit. I adored their relationship. I'm also always rooting for my favorite little kid/200+ year old/dog Owein and was happy (also sad) to find out more of his backstory.

This book compared to the previous two is more fast-paced and predictable in the plot/mystery department though. It felt like it was mostly written to bridge to the next one and explain some things that will be important later. I didn't mind that because I enjoyed the characters and world so much. Plus when reading a longish series you do need those building block books, imo.

I still love the magic system and wish kinetic trams, along with being able to talk to animals, were real things. I'm excited to see where the story goes in book 4!

Thank you to NetGalley, 47North & Charlie N. Holmberg for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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The Whimbrel House series continues with the third installment. This story has Merritt, Hulda, and Owein hopping across the pond to England at the behest of Her Majesty the Queen. With Owein’s soul trapped in the body of a dog, the offer he receives is too good to resist – if Owein enters into a marriage agreement with a young member of the royal family, the family will find a human body to transfer his soul into. The advantage for the royal family is the chance to add strong magical talent to the family line. What’s in it for Owein? A chance to be human again.

But not everyone is happy about this arrangement. Hulda and Merritt question the ethics of how a body will be found, the sister of the young woman who will one day marry Owein is vocal about her objections, and a group of Druids is hoping Owein will join their group. Is someone mad enough to hurt the group from America? As a series of magical mishaps occurs at the estate Owein is staying at, it’s clear that not everyone is okay with this arrangement.

Another great book from Ms. Holmberg! I love this series – it’s full of magic, romance, and mystery. I really enjoy the way these characters have grown and evolved. The writing is thoughtful, fun, and clever. A great series for anyone who likes a mix of history, fantasy, and a group of misfits who find family in each other.

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Boy of Chaotic Making! The third in the series! I'm so glad I decided to get the first one from Amazon. I fell in love with the characters and the premise, and of course I devoured the second and was delighted to see a third one was out. I accordingly pounced on it, too!

This book focuses on Owein, the boy-turned house-turned dog as he is summoned to England in the hopes that he can be placed into a suitable body and then, when the time is right, married off to a girl in the royal family in order to keep his magic in continuance. It's sort of the other side of the coin to what Hulda's predecessor Myra is doing in attempting to cultivate magic in a more synthetic manner.

The third instalment has loads of pros and some cons, too.

Pros:

-Merritt's quips are always fun. He lightens a tense situation, and I'm amused whenever the people around him essentially scratch their heads over something he's said until they realise (or are told) it's merely a joke.
-The relationship between Hulda and Merritt is so sweet and I love to see them together. Hulda becoming a little more confident in herself and their relationship while still blushing at Merritt's antics is, frankly, adorable.
-It's nice to get to see more of Owein; I feel a bit bad for him when people treat him as a dog in the story, such as not allowing him on furniture or slipping him bits of food under the table. He's a boy!

Cons:

-There was a decent number of typos scattered throughout the text, but as always, I assume they will be fixed up prior to final publication.
-This book was a little flimsy on plot. Nothing much happened. What DID happen was wholesome and made my heart warm, so I'm down, but in comparison to all the wildness of the first two, it seemed a little out of step.
-I presume the Druids will factor in the fourth book. If not, their addition to this one is a little strange in that they are abrupt in appearance and only there for a limited time.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Another wonderful installment of the Whimbrel House series! I love the continued character development, deepening relationships, and getting to explore the world even more deeply. ALSO I ADORE OWEIN PLEASE LET NOTHING BAD HAPPEN TO THIS PRECIOUS BOY!! Can't WAIT for book four!!

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Merritt and Owein receive an offer they can’t refuse, the opportunity for Owien to have his soul removed from the dog it is in and have a human body again. The offer would involve marrying into the English royal family so traveling to England they meet the prospective bride and her family while working out the details. But all is not well, Hulda has premonitions of danger that soon come true as there are what seem to be various attempts on Merritt’s life indicating someone is really against the whole idea but who is it?
This third entry in the Whimbrel House series focuses on our third main character, Owein, a 200+ year old soul currently trapped in the body of a terrier having spent the previous years trapped, literally, as the house. The romance between Merritt and Hulda progresses, we finally learn what crime Baptiste committed, we meet Druids and learn more about the magic of this alternate 1840s world. While the ending is satisfying we do have loose ends from the last book concerning Myra and her experiments that appear as if they will be addressed in another entry in the series which I will eagerly await. This book and the entire series is highly recommended.

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I liked this installment much more than the previous one. First, I was just glad to read about the Whimbrel house characters once again and especially more about Owein and experiencing his perspective as well as the others.

Plot wise there wasn’t anything big happening until the very end when the pace picked up and a lot happened in only a few chapters. I was crying and laughing all the same within a few parts of the last few chapters. It was an emotional rollercoaster, but one I would like to take on again and again.

The only aspect that keeps me from giving this novel the full 5 stars is that there are a few plot lines that are still open, maybe hinting at a fourth novel? I would have loved to learn more about the druids as well as about the queen and her abilities. These plot lines were only dealt with on a superficial level.

However, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and read it in only a few days since I was already so familiar with the Whimbrel characters.

P.S.: Fortunately, the novel was provided by NetGalley. My review is not biased on receiving the book for free though.

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So far, I have enjoyed the Whimbrel House Series profusely and this third entry is no exception. The characters are well defined and very likable. Now that the exposition is out of the way there is no need to recap the previous volumes, so it is not repetitive but will not work as a standalone. Hulda and Merritt travel to England with Owein, currently in the body of a terrier and absolutely one of my favorite characters. There, they learn new things, meet new people and, as usual, face dangerous situations. It is always hard to replace the majority of the usual cast with all new characters, so I had some trouble figuring out who was who, but only at the beginning. Eventually, I grew to like some of them and hate others. Without getting into spoilers, some big – huge – events happen in this one, and I enjoyed every one of them. I’m happy to realize that this was not a trilogy and that we’ll be getting more. I can’t wait.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/# 47North.

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I love this series and was so excited to see the third installment of the Whimbrel House series was coming up. And boy did it hold up. And better than that, the thing I asked for in my review of book 2 was given: More Owein! Thank you!

Book three differs from the others and stands out to me because the setting is a completely different location, England. It was very interesting to see what happens when you take Merrit, Hulda, and Owen and remove them from such a familiar place. Especially when the setting was so important for the first book.

I also am very interested in the Druid society now. Who are they? What is living with them like? Will we see more of them? I hope so, they were very different from what we've come to know so far.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The world is just as fascinating as it was in book one, the characters are growing, and the adventure never seems to stop. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I absolutely love this series! In the first book, I fell in love with a house. A house! Never in a million years would I have thought that I could fall in love with a house, but I did. In the second book, I fell in love with a dog. And in book three, I fell in love with a boy. This story tugged at my heart strings and was such a beautiful addition to the series. A perfect mix of magic, mystery and romance with an abundance of likeable characters. I was very pleased with the ending. It made my heart so happy. I cannot wait to read book four. I highly recommend this series!

Thank you to the author, 47North, and NetGalley for granting me early digital access in exchange for my honest review!

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This book is the third in the Whimbrel House series and releases February 13, 2024.

The book was very slow for me up until the climax which I thought was fantastic. I liked the ending.

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I would like to first thank NetGalley and 47North for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review. I greatly appreciate it!

My love for this series has not wavered. While this book didn’t feel as “cozy” as the first two books, it still had its precious and funny moments. I especially liked how this book focused primarily on Owein, and some of his own fears. I like to think this book isn’t the end of the series, and I look forward to the possibility of it continuing on.

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I received a free copy on NetGalley against an honest review. Thanks to the publisher.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Here is the third installment in the Whimbrel House series, though we spend little time in Whimbrel House itself. I deeply enjoyed this book like the previous two, and can't state enough how getter and better Charlie N. Holmberg's books are getting over time. The more she writes, the better her stories become, and Owein's story is the proof of it—because the whole series is and has always been about Owein.

What I loved about this third book:

- Owein! As I just said, he has always been the heart of the story, but this time his arc truly becomes the center of the book. He has a dark past and finally finds some relief, though the path to it is difficult. I rooted so hard for him during the book and can't wait to learn more about his future in book 4.
- Hulda and Merritt's relationship. It is still sweet, lighthearted, and a pleasure to read about. I particularly enjoyed seeing Hulda take a rather sudden decision, which is untypical of her, but also proof of her character growth. I particularly enjoyed seeing her dilemma between her career and her upcoming marriage and even potential motherhood, and loved seeing how she realizes she doesn't have to "choose" and it's all about balance.
- Though I missed Whimbrel House, the British setting was a pleasant change, as well as the new characters introduced for this new part of the story.
- We finally learn more about Baptiste's backstory and why he ended up in prison before meeting Merritt. I won't spoil anything, but as a French person myself who absolutely LOVE the cause of Baptiste's downfall, it made me laugh so hard. It was perfect.

What I found less satisfying:

- I enjoyed reading the book, but plot-wise, nothing much happens. It feels like a "transition" book to the fourth and last book in the series. Not a terrible thing since I never got bored, but I wished a bit more would have happened.
- The Druids. Interesting concept, but lacked development and connection to the overall plot. Maybe we will see more of them in the next book.

Overall, a good book in a great series. If you like historical fantasy and romance that doesn't overshadow the rest of the plot, you should definitely consider reading this series.

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Having read and thoroughly enjoyed the first two Whimbrel House books, I was very excited to read the next in the series. It is a lovely book, with Holmberg's writing continuing to draw you into the main characters (Hulda, Merritt and Owein) that they almost feel like distant relatives. I read it very quickly. However, I would have to agree with points from other reviews: that this instalment perhaps has less of a dark, creepiness to it; the plot is lighter; and the villain is a lot more obvious than those in the other books. The first book was just so excellent, being different to anything I'd read before, that perhaps it's hard to recreate that experience. It is still however, a thoroughly enjoyable read. The ending also left it open for another in the series and if so, I shall read that one too, and no doubt enjoy it.

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