I loved the first book in this series so was very excited to get the arc of this one, but unfortunately this fell a bit flat for me.

The story continues where book 1 left off, with owein in the body of a dog, merrit learning he has magic, and hulda and merrit starting a relationship. We find out early on that Myra has gone missing so the sister company LIKER has sent a few staff over to audit the company and appoint a new director.

The book focussed heavily on Myra being missing and on what was happening at BIKER which to be honest it didn’t interest me at all. I was so bored while reading that I was losing focus and struggling to pick it back up. I don’t think the ridiculously long chapters helped with this either, I an a fairly fast reader and most chapters were taking over 30 mins.

The writing itself was good and the characters were well fleshed out, I think it was the plot I wasn’t keen on, It just lost all the coziness from the first book that I loved. I was hoping for more focus on merrit and Huldas new relationship and on Merritts relationship with his family.bI also expected to like owein being a dog but I really missed the house being enchanted. I think that was a key factor in my enjoyment of book 1.

First, let me just say that I loved The Keeper of Enchanted Rooms. It was a breath of fresh air in a crowded historical fantasy genre. Our favorite characters are back for this installment, and Dennis-the-Menace-as-a-house is know an adorable dog (Owein). We also have some new characters from across the pond at LIKER (the London version of BIKER). There was a lot of exposition, not a lot of action in the first half of the book, and I honestly felt myself becoming bored. Hulda and Merritt both do a lot of fretting without really doing anything for a while. When the action picks up, it picks up quickly, though. Overall, I didn't love this sequel as much as the first book, but I enjoyed seeing the characters again, and the magic system invented by Holmberg is so fresh and entertaining that it makes up for some pacing issues.

I really enjoyed the first book of this duology. It was so cozy and whimsical with just enough of a beginning romance for me. I couldn't wait to see the progression of Hulda and Merritt's relationship. I liked their romance growth and how they worked through their feelings and didn't make it too dramatic. I like that the magic in this story has consequences although I wish I could have seen Merritt get to utilize his magical abilities in more mischievous ways. Sadly book two lost all its charm and whimsy. The house is no longer enchanted and this book took on a more mystery plot which isn't my cup of tea. I didn't really care about Myra from book one so I wasn't invested in the mystery of finding her. I wanted more of a romance development and that seemed more of a subplot. I ended up giving this one 3 stars.

Really just as fun as the first. I was concerned the characters personalities might become annoying at this point (Hulda's perfection, Merritt's randomness, etc) but they grow very nicely throughout this story.
I really enjoy this world of magic where people don't have full control over their talents and there are technological and geological enhancements. Family drama still plays a big role in this book.
While this series is definitely more lighthearted than scary, this booki felt had more planning and adventure rather than the dark, foreboding scariness of Book 1.
As with the prior book, there's almost no cussing or sexual content. A passionate kiss is described in detail. Firearms are used for target practice, there's is a mention of hunting animals and a pistol is brandished as a deadly weapon once.
As usual, CNH continues to expand my vocabulary with many precise words I've never heard before! Thank heaven for Kindle!

Oh, I loved reading these books! I loved getting to know this world of magic and how it works, and BIKER, it was all so fascinating! After reading Keeper, I needed to read Heir, and it was available for me on NetGalley, and I got it, and I read it right then and there!

The magic of this world, with the different types, and the stones associated with them, and the costs, were really interesting. That magic is declining with each generation because of genetics, and how their world was changing was really interesting!

These books were cosy, but they did have some underlying plot. Like in the first book, we had the flashbacks to . There was the thing about how his house was enchanted, and the mystery of was how. And when they found out how, that lead to other questions. And in the second book, there's dealing with the reveal about him being a bastard, and that he has magic.

I adored the romance! It's slow and steady, and she's fighting it, because it isn't proper, she's the housekeeper, even if she isn't his employee. Plus she's been disappointed by love, and is certain that she's content with her life. I really enjoyed watching them together!

These were fantastic reads, and I can't wait to read more by Charlie N. Holmberg!

A perfect continuation of a great story! I loved getting to the “ side characters” and I really hope there is a third book. There wasn’t a predictable part in this book. It kept me guessing the whole time.

So far there are 2 books in this series and the way that the second book ended there will definitely be at least one more. So far of the first two I like the first, Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, better. It is hard for me to separate the two on some level though. Charlie N Holmberg’s historical magic world building is truly something to behold. I love the multiple new ways she has built worlds of magic that have rules all their own (I am a huge fan of The Paper Magician). In the Whimbrel House series magic is inherited like one’s eye or hair color and is clearly a recessive trait. Magic is fading. I have yet to see how Charlie is going to truly save magic in this series, yet that is not the focus of these stories, but is it? We’ll see.


Illustration of a Boston, Massachusetts
Merritt Fernsby is an author who had been ousted from his family and has had to make a life on his own until he happened to get a surprising summons from his maternal grandmothers estate lawyer. He has been bequeathed a house, so what if it is rumored to be haunted, he doesn’t believe in ghosts anyway. He finally has a home that belongs to him or does he now belong to the house?

It turns out the house is enchanted and is on a list of protected homes that requires the attention of someone to help manage it’s magic and preservation. Enter Hulda Larkin of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms. Hulda’s job is to determine how the home has magic and teach her clients how to manage the home.

There is a bit of tension between our two MCs at first but clearly they do end up endearing to each other. There is romance but it is sedated to match the Victorian time period and Hulda’s buttoned up sensibilities. The romantic tension is fun and simple and not over bearing.

The feel of the magical world and mystery is carried over into the second book of the series. Merritt and Hulda have a deepening romantic connection that comes across some obstacles that mostly revolve around Hulda’s insecurities and Merritt’s own doubts about who he is.

Myra, Hulda’s boss from the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms has disappeared, and Hulda is not the only one searching for her. The parent company from London, London’s Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms, has come to sort out what has become a mess that has been left behind in Myra’s wake.

Merit is learning to cope with his newfound magic that has lain dormant his entire life, where did this magic come from? Who is he in this world? He needed to get answers and the only place he can get them is the one place he hasn’t been in 10 years, a place he is no longer welcome.


With the world seemingly falling apart around them Hulda and Merritt have been accused of murdering Myra. What happened to the mysterious woman? Hulda would never have done such a thing to her former boss and friend and Merritt barely even knew her.

Yes there is a mystery here but it doesn’t seem to be the main point of this book. This book feels like a stepping stone from book one to the third book which hasn’t been announced yet. I was a little underwhelmed by this book with the expectation that it would keep the energy of the first book.

That said, there were definitely highlights that make this story its own and made it entertaining, but its not a story you can read on its own. Giving it a rating out of 5 stars I would give it a generous 3, I can say it is not may favorite of Miss Holmberg’s work.

This was a spectacular ending to Whimbrel House (or is it an ending?). I loved watching the characters grow into themselves and their relationships with each other. Merritt and Hulda become an amazing team and Owein is the star of the show!

I adore Charlie Holmberg's magical worlds. This should be the next series for any fans of Holmberg's Paper Magician series. Holmberg is so good at creating new and unique magical elements - I never find her books trope-y. The magical rules and elements are always original and refreshing.
As a follow up to Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, this is a wonderful continuation story for Hulda, Merrit, and Owein.
Not all mysteries were solved by the end of the last story. Hulda is on a mission to find her missing co-worker, Merrit is chasing down information about his new-found magic, and Owein contemplates life in a physical body, a mortal one, after decades as an object. Merrit and Hulda are feeling their way through their blooming relationship and feeling the test of their separate missions.
I hope we don't have to wait too long for the next installment!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of Heir of Uncertain Magic.

I really enjoyed Keeper of Enchanted Rooms (Whimbrel House #1) and was very excited to read this book. There were many things I loved about this book. The unbelievably loveable Owein, the cast of characters at the Whimbrel House, how my experience feeling a little sad by the loss of the house's magic was echoed so accurately by the characters, amongst many others. Overall, this book felt slightly more chaotic than the first book, which I'm not necessarily sure it was meant to be, but it sometimes felt like it was going in many different directions, causing too much attention to be paid in some areas and not enough in others. I liked seeing the growth Hulda and Merritt had to go through, and I was happy at their ending, but I did feel like the first half of the book kind of lost the character growth and relationship growth they had reached in the last book, especially regarding Hulda. I wish she hadn't moved from the house, it lost some dynamic and really pulled at my heartstrings in a way I didn't necessarily want, they had built a family unit in the last book and to be able to leave that for the sake of potential gossip, felt cold and limited, not to mention that back and forth commute seems fairly unrealistic.

I would absolutely love to read a third and hope to see some more cohesion and character dynamics and growth on par with the first

This series thrives on the detective vibe it gives. It builds on the first book by sharing more of the different magical abilities out there. I loved the emotional side of Merritt that comes out in this, that even as he tries to put on a good show it is clear he is very emotional about his magic and needs to process. And for Hulda, the whole book highlights how her intuition is spot on which was 🙌🏼. The ending felt very transitional so I am excited for the next book to see what secrets are discovered next.

"Heir of Uncertain Magic" is another classic Holmberg story. The characters are engaging and witty, the plot line is rational (because the magical world is explained ON THE PAGE), and a touch of romance to balance out the dramatic catalyst.

Book two allows us a deeper look into Owein, given his new freedoms. The best part is Owein's integration with the rest of the ragtag family. Book one didn't have as much time to deliver on the emotional connection all the Whimbrel House characters had to one another. This is because Merritt and Hulda's burgeoning relationship take center stage.

The one outlier of the story is honestly Hulda's loyalty to Myra. It is a consistent theme throughout the book and honestly takes larger story time than Merritt's fears over reuniting with his family. (It's a bit sad how little time was given to Merritt's reunion and even his interactions with Sutcliffe.) However, Myra is mostly a foil character providing more intrigue in her absence than she did when she was present and available.

The real mystery is if there will be a book three! There are a lot of side quests that didn't receive their due justice and in some cases no resolution whatsoever...(Chef & Housekeeper relationship status, Mystery Facility in Ohio, Hulda & Merritt's relationship journey, The Stewart of Gorse End, The Queen's Men, Sutcliffe & Merritt's relationship, Merritt's sister reunion, Owein's life on the Island...)

"One man is on a journey to unravel his magical lineage in the next spellbinding novel of the Whimbrel House series by Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.

Thanks to house tamer Hulda Larkin, the mischief infesting Whimbrel House has calmed. But if Hulda's job is done, what does that mean for Merritt Fernsby, inheritor of the remote Narragansett Bay estate, who's only now coming to terms with his enchanted place in the world?

Merritt has realized his own burgeoning powers, which draw the thoughts of every plant, insect, and dog. His nights are sleepless, with an uncontrollable cacophony of voices that compel a long-overdue search into his uncanny bloodline. It's not the only puzzle uniting Merritt and his ex-housekeeper, Hulda. Her friend and former employer at the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms has disappeared. Hulda herself is up for the now-vacant position of institute director, and her rival for the role is a stranger who's suspiciously curious about Whimbrel House - and could have connections to an old foe.

As Merritt struggles to face his estranged family and Hulda dives into the institute's secrets, the two are brought intimately closer than ever into the mysteries of wizardry, chaos, and love."

The continuing mysteries of Whimbrel House.

I’ve read nearly every book written by Charlie Holmberg and this series is everything I love about her books and the reason I keep picking up her new ones! This was a great second installment building on the relationships of the characters from the first book and picking up where things left off with more mystery to unravel and deeper relationships to develop. I can’t wait for the next book in this series! Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for this ARC.

I received Keeper of Enchanted Rooms as a Kindle First Reads book on Amazon. After reading, I was fully immersed in the world and excited and bummed that the sequel wasn't coming out for another couple of months. I was so excited to see that it was on Netgalley, and here I am writing an honest review in exchange for the book!

Heir of Uncertain Magic is the second in the Whimbrel House series. Just weeks after their adventures in Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, Heir of Uncertain Magic continues the stories of Hulda Larkin and Merritt Fernsby. Hulda's friend and co-worker, Myra, has gone missing. After having learned of her questionable choices in Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, we see that Myra's actions continue to affect everyone in this adventure. With Myra gone from BIKER, Hulda is considered as a replacement for Myra's job. Unfortunately, despite Hulda's obvious qualifications and desire to take the position, there are other people being considered, and one of them is not going to rest until Hulda is out of the running. As Hulda deals with job prospects and caring for her missing friend, Merritt's story takes him on a journey to understand what happened years ago in his family.

Not only do we follow Hulda's and Merritt's stories, but one of the best parts of this book is getting to know Owein, who has recently been transplanted from his house and into the body of a dog. As Owein learns to communicate, he struggles as the people he currently loves most are in and out of his life. As his past becomes more clear to him, despite his fears Owein's loyalty repeatedly surfaces as he does his best to keep his new family safe.

This book has left me even more homesick for these characters and Narragansett Bay, and I can't wait for the next installment. I'm hoping Charlie Holmberg includes more about the pasts of the secondary characters in future books, but this sequel was just what I hoped it'd be!

Hulda and Merritt are back again! They second foray into their world opens shortly after the last novel ended, and perhaps that takes away some of the magic for me. I didn’t fall as deep in love with this one- something about the storyline didn’t move forward as quickly or efficiently as I wanted (yes, I am part Hulda) and in the end, it appeared to be a set up for a promising plot line in a third book. I just didn’t appreciate this being a “bridge” book, as it felt really drawn out. I love character driven books so if it was more of that, and less random mysterious plot that detracted Ron the story, that would be fine too. I loved it either way, and Owein is a particular favorite!

The first book in this series is "Keeper of Enchanted Rooms" and while this book continues with the characters from the first book, Heir of Uncertain Magic can easily be read alone or first.
The books title tells exactly what the book is about "MAGIC".
The reader follows the adventures of Hulda and Merritt with a bunch of other fun loving characters.
A great read for both youth and adults as we are never too old for magic. It is also a story of love, families and lets not forget some mystery.
There is nothing in this book to not enjoy. It would make a good family read or read for a classroom and will be a hot pick in school libraries.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the advanced e-book edition in exchange for my considered review. All opinions are my own

I've read all 4 of The Paper Magician series by this author and loved it so when I saw this book I was excited to grab it. Heir of Uncertain Magic is the follow up to Keeper of Enchanted Rooms. While the first book provided a lot of set up, this one hit the ground running with the plot. The magical world building continues and the introduction of new characters makes for a fun story to follow. I thought the suspense was well paced and while I did think that at times the plot got a bit confusing, once it all came together it all made sense. Merritt has a lot of growth through this book which was great to see and Owein is just as fun and rambunctious as ever. In this book you see some different sides to Hulda and get to know Baptiste and Beth a bit more. This was a fun read and Holmberg's writing is always has a little bit of something for everyone-mystery, magic, fantasy, romance, friendship, and more. Looking forward to the next one!

Excellent follow-up book. The adventures of Hulda and Merritt had me mesmerized. I could not put this book down. The first book had a lot of backstories and build-up to the action. This book just jumped into the story of Hulda and Merritt hitting the pavement running. This book didn’t jump around so much, which was nice and made the story flow better. It seems there might be more books about how this ended. I want Baptiste, and Beth to be more fleshed out. Their characters came across flat. Owein was great. I loved this character. He was such a great addition.
I look forward to reading more from this author.

This book picks up where Keepers of Enchanted Rooms leaves off.

We follow Hulda and Merritt and their growing romance.

I liked this book with its magic element and sweet romance.
This series has introduced me and endeared me to the books of Charlie N. Holmberg!