I became a huge Charlie Holmberg fan after reading the Paper Magician series. I was very excited to receive a copy of Spellmaker. Filled with magic, suspense and romance this is a story you will not want to put down.

I had only previously completed Holmberg’s Paper Magician when I got into this duology (I will be getting back into that series soon), which I quite enjoyed. It’s dynamic and protagonist are of a type with said series, and my highest praise for both is their equally unique magic systems. It is high praise to put the originality and thoroughness of both on a level with the systems of Sanderson. In this case, I dug the four aspects, colleges, whatever of Spellmaking, balanced with our protagonist Elsie’s covert Spellbreaking abilities. Excellent pacing and surprises continue from volume one, with the introduction of some also surprising new characters. I really enjoyed this novel!

This title was an ARC provided by NetGalley. I certainly appreciate the opportunity for the early read.

*This book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's Copy from NetGalley.

I'm not sure what's with these books and the fast paced endings. They go by a little too quickly for my liking, with all the excitement happening at once. While I'm glad there was a resolution, I can't say I enjoyed this book as much as the first because of the pacing.

This book takes off pretty much where the last one left off. Only, this time, Elsie finds herself in a bit more trouble. Bacchus offers her a way out though, in the form of marriage to him. But with everyone having left her in her past, Elsie isn't sure she can muster the trust she needs to believe in Bacchus.

The characters were a little flatter this time around for me. The only one that really seemed to have any sort of development was Ogden. I enjoyed finding out more about him and his abilities and his relationship with Elsie. Elsie was pretty solid through the book, but didn't really grow or change in too many ways. She pushed the plot forward. And Bacchus, he was in this book, but I felt like he was more an afterthought and didn't seem to have as commanding of a presence. He had some questions raised that were specific to him, but even with the dialogue and situations that happened, I felt as if they were never truly addressed in the same fashion Elsie's issues were.

I know it seems as if I'm being rough in this critique, but it's because the first book was so good and engaging. This one just didn't hold on to that energy for me. A lot of it centered around Bacchus and Elsie's relationship and all the real action primarily came at the end. Regardless though, the magic concepts and world are pretty interesting in this book, and that makes the duology worth reading in itself. Although with some questions raised at the end, is this truly a duology?

Review by M. Reynard 2020

This fun sequel to Spellbreaker carries the tale on to its conclusion with some great action and lovely moments of emotion between characters.

As I’ve said before (probably many times) I’m a fan of Holmberg’s work so I’m always up for checking out the latest book. This duology has proven to be a fun read with a interesting magic system and lots of great characters–both strengths of the author. This second book continues the story from where the first one left off. Lady Merton is still on the loose and Elsie and Bacchus are uneasy about what her next move may be. Unfortunately, they don’t have to wait long as Elsie soon finds herself in danger and Bacchus does the only thing he can think of to get her out of it–offer her marriage. Meanwhile the rest of the characters, including Elsie’s new tutor, Master Ogden, Emmaline, form a sort of ‘Scooby gang’ working together to solve the mystery of where Merton is and what exactly she’s after.

I love a book with some mystery and romance and this one has both of those in spades. In fact, I’d say the romance in this one was ratcheted up a notch, which was great but also sometimes I felt like Elsie was a tad preoccupied with thoughts of Bacchus (understandably at least). I think when a book has a lot of elements it can sometimes be tough to strike a balance and this one definitely felt more on the romance-side of things but that’s not a criticism, just an observation. That being said, there was the mystery to be solved! I loved the way the characters came together and learned to trust in one another in order to protect and assist each other. There were some revelations at the beginning that showed that not everyone is worthy of trust. Despite that, the characters still chose to trust others when the occasion arose and I think that goes to show that while you don’t want to blindly trust just anyone, you can’t spend your life distrustful of everyone–eventually you have to put your faith in someone and here it pays off several times.

Merton is an interesting villain. She has a reason for what she plans to do and those reasons are very valid. And maybe her solution would bring about a lot of good in the world, but at what cost? Her problem, like most villains, is that she thinks she has the right to choose what’s best for everyone. There’s something to be said for this message. Is this a Thanos situation? Is it anti-socialism? Is it pro-America? (There is one part when one of the characters, the only American, mentions America and how precious freedom is…I’ll admit I almost laughed at that because, yes, America and freedom–we’re obsessed. That too has its costs. But of course this isn’t the time to get into that discussion. The point being in all of this is that this villain definitely gave me a lot more to think about than any of Holmberg’s previous villains, and for that I’m thankful. I do love a villain that has a little more depth to them. I wish that aspect had been explored more than it was–there wasn’t much time spent dwelling on those particulars.

The pacing on this was great, with the threat of danger hanging over the characters ever present it kept the tension high throughout the story. There was also some great action sprinkled in here and there but things really picked up at the end. Overall, I thought this was a fun read and I’m definitely keen to see what Holmberg writes next. 4/5 stars.

NOTE - Review link will not be live until 1/28/21

Let me start by saying I am a huge Charlie Holmberg fan! She was this knack for creating strong but relatable female characters and fantastical magical worlds that are unique, creative and yet easy to immerse yourself in.

When I read Spellbreaker, I immediately fell in love with Elsie and was dying for the conclusion of her story. The villain in this duology is great in that their motives aren't malevolent but the actions they take to achieve their goal are. I love a story with a moral gray area that makes you think.

The growth of the relationship between Elsie and Bacchus was fun to follow. They grow from cautious circumstantial allies into a loyal, fiercely protective duo. It's a slow burn relationship that was a much more comfortable read for me than some of the YA insta-love, overwhelming passion in 2 seconds relationships that seem to fly off the shelves.

This is a great, fun conclusion to the series that you won't be able to put down. I wouldn't hate another story in this world!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was sad that Ms. Holmberg made this series only a dualology as I would love at least one more adventure with Elsie, Bacchus, et al. Much like her Paper Magician series, she has a very unique way of making magic even more magical. In both the Spellbreaker and the Spellmaker, her fresh take on what magic and its gifted magicians can and cannot do is exciting, enticing, and creative. With Spellmaker, she neatly wraps up Elsie's story, that began in Spellbreaker, with enough satisfaction for its readers, but...oh man, I could go for one. more. book. Spoiler: I got on that boat with Elsie and Bacchus and now I want to arrive in Barbados with with them and have an island adventure.

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!