The last book of the Whimbrel House series - I was so looking forward to this after the first three! However, to me, this was the weakest book in the series. It was still good, don't get me wrong, but it was my least favorite.

This book focuses on Owein and the countdown to his marriage to Cora, the contract for which was signed during the third book. However, one of the Druids he met while across the pond, Fallon, has been making things a bit more difficult as she flew over to the States and spends a lot of time with Owein. His feelings for her continue to grow throughout the book. A good chunk of the book is spent with Owein struggling with his decisions in his love life. The majority remainder of the book is focused on the return of the baddie-we-love-to-hate, Silas Hogwood. Some of the chapters are told from his perspective as he steals yet another body to try to murder Hulda, Merritt, Owein, and the rest of the family.

I can't point to exactly what it was that made me like this book less. I think at this point I was just done with Silas, but I also understand needing the conclusion of that saga. Also, the struggle between love interests wasn't my favorite - again, I totally understand the use of that plot point, it just didn't really resonate with me.

If you're like me and need a conclusion to a series that you really enjoyed, I'd recommend reading it. If the previous books weren't totally your jam, I would maybe skip over this one. I'd still definitely recommend Charlie Holmberg's work overall. I rounded this book up from 3.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and 47North for an advanced reader's copy in return for my unbiased review!

I would like to start this by saying I am a mood reader. As such, it took me a really long time to get into this series, even though objectively I liked the concept and I like Charlie's writing style. I have read the Paper Magician series and love how Charlie always comes up with unique magic systems.

Like the Paper Magician, this series and therefore this book have such interesting things going on. It was nice to get Owein's story, even if I hate that Silas is back.

Sweet gentle series. I’m perfectly happy to move on from Merritt and Hulda now that they’ve got their happy ending to Owein. He’s also a decent soul trying to do the right things. If you’re looking for a fairly gentle read everything I’ve read by this author has been fairly gentle and more or less fade to black as well. Think perhaps a pg15 or 16 if it was a movie like rating. But not a teen oriented author either. She just happens to write gently. Everything I’ve read by her has been enjoyable and this one is too! I admit I go through a lot of books but she’s definitely on my read everything new by her list.

Wizard of Most Wicked Ways by Charlie N. Holmberg was absolutely enchanting!
This is the best type of fantasy! I don’t think I can quite put into words.
Holmberg‘s writing is captivating. He knows how to pull the reader into a magnificent and intriguing place.
The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb.
The attention to details in his writing really set the scene and tone.

The fourth venture to the shores of Whimbrel House is a spellbinding adventure which finds the cast of familiar characters the target of an old foe. How can they overcome a seemingly insurmountable magic? The journey is a thrilling, heart-wrenching story that adds a satisfying addition to the world of Whimbrel House. If you’re looking for mystery and magic, the thrill of danger and the warmth of home, I couldn’t recommend this enough.

Without giving away too much (as this is book 4 in the series!) I absolutely adored getting the new POVs in this story. Following Owein in his personal & magical journey was exhilarating, terrifying and tear-jerking.

As always, the characters in this world are lovable and memorable, the settings are magical and inviting, and the ending leaves me wanting even more. Luckily, book 5 will help in the last regard (counting down the days!!!).

Thank you NetGalley and 47North for giving me the opportunity to read this book early and share my honest review. All reviews will be posted to my socials (Netgalley, Goodreads, Fable, IG).

I understand the pull away from Hulda as the MC, but felt like her character changed too much as well. I'm also not the biggest fan of time skips or love triangles, so that was meh. It didn't have the same feel as the previous installments, so 3 stars. I'll continue the series but don't feel as invested

Wizard of Most Wicked Ways by Charlie N. Holmberg has big bad Silas Hogwood back, and he’s ready to exact his revenge in the fourth book. There’s been a time skip of nearly five years, and in that span of time Owein has grown up (making him due to fulfil the marriage contract he made out in exchange for a body in the previous novel), Beth and Baptiste are married with a child, and Hulda and Merritt have expanded their own family to include three daughters.

I didn’t love the time skip—I never do—but I understood the purpose it played for the book. The problem is that while it strengthened Owein’s role, it diminished Hulda’s. The POV switched to Owein, so understandably he takes greater precedence in the story, but Hulda seemed to only be fussing over her children or weeping in the story with little in-between. It’s been awhile since I’ve read the others and felt she used to be more stoic, then I wasn’t sure, but at the end Owein even made mention of how she doesn’t like to show her “humanity”, so she has definitely changed in the intervening years.

I also didn’t love the love triangle. Cora was off-page and Fallon was present, so I was always going to be weighted toward her. The whole contract just feels gross to me anyway as a concept; I get it was done in the past in real life for centuries, but it’s just skin-crawling to select people and make them have sex to produce children with traits you hope will come through, like cattle or sheep.

A thing I enjoyed: the climax was really well done, with Silas facing off against Owein in a spectacular fashion, using both magic and tools against one another. It felt rather like watching a movie as I went through the pages, swept up in the action and ferocity of it. I really adored how both book and the series came full circle; that was quite satisfying. For those picking this book up, though, it’s definitely got a body toll in it, and there are some deliciously gruesome descriptions for the wounded and the dead.

For the star rating, I vacillated. It’s easily my least favourite of the series, but I still had fun reading it. I didn’t like the ending with regards to Owein’s choice, but apparently the story will continue in further instalments, so I’ll follow and see if the end of it all is more to my tastes. I was a fan of Merritt and Hulda and their romance in the previous books; I’ve always liked Owein, but the romance department for him could DEFINITELY use some work. Maybe with Silas gone, we’ll get a chance to watch as Owein comes into his own properly…? Guess I’ll have to wait and see. 3.5 stars, and I’ll round up.

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

This book. What can I really say outside of “I loved it”? As the book was ending, I felt like I was saying goodbye to my family.
The tension was present from like chapter 2 and built so well throughout the book. I was on the edge of my seat.
The triangle between Fallon, Owein, and Cora was so interesting and I never knew where he was going to land with either of them. I was so satisfied with the ending.
Please read this series. It’s so good.

4.5 ⭐️
0 ❤️‍🔥

I found Wizard of Most Wicked Ways to be a most satisfying conclusion to this delightfully whimsical series by Charlie Holmberg. The pacing got a bit bogged down in places, with a lot of introspection on Owein's part and other rambling bits. However, those were offset with explosive action scenes. A most evil villain, I felt his perspectives were unnecessary. I didn't need to know what black depths he was thinking. It was evident in all his actions. This story did spend time on Owein and his introspection in accepting his place in his family, his responsibilities, his perceived obligations, and his conflicted feelings; all of it was touching and really fleshed his character into a three-dimensional character. His love for Merrit, Hulda, Beth, and Baptiste was beautiful, and the daughters of Merrit and Hulda were delightful. I found the story exciting, poignant, and a perfect completion.

Thank you, NetGalley and 47 North, for the eArc!

4.25⭐️ I loved being back with my little found family! Owein, Hulda, Merritt, and the Babineaux’s were waiting for me…taking place 4 years later after Boy of Chaotic Making, we get right into what everyone has been up to!
 
This book was a great addition to the story filled with action, a lil romance, magic, family, and mystery! It made me emotional a handful of times towards the end. I am so excited to see how the final book closes out this story!

The Whimbrel House series perfectly blends a unique magic system, cozy vibes, and historical fantasy with the right amount of romance subplot. I am sad I have to wait a year for the conclusion with the 5th and final book!

((Thank you to the author Charlie N. Holmberg, Netgalley, & 47North for advanced access))

3.5 rounded to 4 stars out of 5.

The 4th installment of The Whimbrel House takes place about 4 years after the completion of book 3.
Everyone on the island is married with children besides Owein, who has been having a secret friendship for 4 years with a certain Druid from Ireland.

It was interesting to see how much the characters changed over the years in-between the books, and I wouldn't say all of them were for the better. This story focused on Owein with snippets of the life between Merritt and Hulda, with and open ending I will be curious how Holmberg will end the series in book 5.

Overall I still recommend this series to Charlie fans, especially those who loved her Spellbreaker duology, and Paper Magician series.

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Great action scenes

1851
It has been five years and Whimbrel House is seeing many changes. Hulda and Merrit have kiddos. Owein is a little over eighteen and living with them. Fallon, the shape-shifting druid, is a regular visitor and Owein’s best friend, even if others don’t know about her yet. Owein’s contracts bind him to Cora. The Queen is waiting for Cora to be eighteen so that the wedding can take place.
However, the found family has to first deal with the return of Silas Hogwood. The powerful necromancer is back, intent on vengeance. Owein is worried his powers and the new human body aren’t enough to fight Silas and keep his loved ones safe.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Owein, Hulda, Merrit, and Silas.

My Thoughts:
This is the fourth book in what was originally supposed to be a trilogy. There will be a fifth and final book in the series, so this ends in a cliffhanger.
The central plot with Hulda and Merrit is sort of over in the previous book but there was a lead to this and the next one, where Owein is the main character. Since I loved the kiddo when he was a house and dog, I had to see through and support him find his HEA.
However, I’m not a fan of love triangles in any form, especially if it involves teenagers (like go and study, what are you doing choosing between ‘loves’). What with the poor kid unable to decide, this one didn’t appeal much to me.
However, the pacing is great. Maybe because there’s quite a bit of filler content with some atmospheric and dangerous scenes sprinkled in between.
I loved the scene of the villain’s reentry and the havoc he creates on the island. All scenes with Silas are terrific and filled with tension, fear, and pulse-pounding action.
The book ends on a cliffhanger though one track seems to be resolved (for now). I’m sure it’ll be revived in the next book.
To summarize, Wizard of Most Wicked Ways is a fast-paced read with some drama and danger to keep the plot interesting. Let’s see what happens in the final book of the series. Bring it on!

Thank you, NetGalley and 47North, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

In a world where magic is real, but waning, Owein is a desirable entity. Having spent 220+ years as a magical house his soul was forcibly transferred to a dog by the evil Silas Hogwood before Silas’ death, Owein then found himself in England with the plan to move his soul to a human body and marry him off into the British aristocracy. That was five years ago. Owein received a human body, he signed a contract to marry Lady Cora when they both are eighteen and in the meantime he returned home to his beloved Blaugdone Island and Whimbrel House along with the people who have become his family - Merritt, his many-greats nephew, Merritt’s wife Hulda, their children and the Baptiste family along with Fallon, a Druid friend from Britain. Time passed peacefully but as his eighteenth birthday approaches it appears Silas is not as dead as was reported and he is coming for all of them with revenge and murder in his heart.
Each of the previous books has focused primarily on one of the main characters - Merritt, Hulda or Owein. This time we see all the action from Owein’s point of view as well as him being the primary focus of the plot. Some of the plot left dangling at the end of the last book, such as what Myra is doing in the secret facility, are explained and we have the return of Silas as a vengeful enemy. Owein is torn between Cora and Fallon as well as worried about Silas’ return and the need to protect his family. The main action moves quickly in present time, well the alternate 1850s of this series, taking place in a bit over 6 weeks with explanatory flashbacks from Silas’ viewpoint sprinkled throughout. I read this over the course of a day, unable to put it down as the action pulled me from chapter to chapter. While things for this plotline are wrapped up there are still things to explore both concerning the secret experiments Myra started as well as Owein’s future. The author’s note at the end tells us this was intended to be a trilogy but Owein’s story took on a life of its own resulting in this fourth entry and, if her hint is to be believed hopefully we will get another entry continuing Owein’s story. Highly recommended.

"Has the ability to touch grass grown so monotonous already?"


Whimbrel House is changing. Merritt and Hulda are raising a family. Owein has signed a marriage contract with the magically compatible Lady Cora, a heavyweight of British nobility who’s an ocean away. And the lovely shape-shifting druid Fallon makes a distractingly fetching friend for Owein. But another change is in the air, and this time it’s something wicked.

The greatest wizard of the millennium, Silas Hogwood, is back—after five years dead. New body, same foul scent, and driven by madness and revenge. Owein, fearing he isn’t strong enough to fend him off, seeks Cora’s help and influence in England. Alarms ringing, Queen Victoria dispatches her League of Magicians, including her personal necromancer, to aid in Owein’s defense.

As magic, both good and evil, converges on Blaugdone Island, Owein realizes how harrowing the forces against them are. Combating them will require some digging—literally—for half-formed secrets of magic Hulda doesn’t want him to have. But no promise, lock, or government red tape will keep Owein from doing what’s necessary to protect those he loves; one way or another, Silas will only take Whimbrel House over Owein’s third dead body.

"I'm glad you were the most obnoxious guttersnipe I'd ever met."


Thank the everloving book gods that blessed Adrienne Procaccini and 47North the good sense to let this book happen. Because it wasn't. Holmberg says it wasn't in the acknowledgements.

I'll even admit that I was skeptical of it. Silas, the big bad, is back after five years dead? Please. Explain to me how that makes sense. I am ashamed I had no faith when I should have.

Because I definitely should have.

Because this book is even better than the first in the series.

Because this is the TRIUMPH of this series.

God, I love Owein so much.

Whimbrel House fans will NOT be disappointed.

Enchanting and unpredictable

Another wonderful addition to the Wimbrel House series! I loved finally getting the closure we need with the villain of the series, while it leaves things wide open for the next book. The author masterfully crafts a magical world brimming with endless possibilities, keeping me breathless as the story unfolds, never knowing what twists await.

I've loved watching the characters grow throughout the series, especially seeing Merritt and Hulda making appearances with their family. Being able to learn more about each of their pasts makes them even more endearing, deepening my obsession with following along on their journeys.

My heart was literally in my throat for the final few chapters of this book, and I'm so glad I was listening to the audiobook as I couldn't have seen the pages through my tears. I'm nervous and excited for the next book, but looking forward to seeing how things unfold!

I continue to love this series and the cozy fantasy vibes it brings. I think the different magic doctrines keep me coming back and I love the way each one has a negative effect when you use it. Like how Chaocracy ends with confusion, it feels like a sort of balance.

Owein’s internal battle of being strong enough for his family shows how far he has come. The book focuses a lot on Owein’s character development and the type of person he wants to be.

I was pretty torn between Cora and Fallon and wondering how the final book in the series will bring it all together.

Since this is the fourth book out of five, it did feel heavy on character development and sort of like a filler book in the series. I think it was needed to get us to the last book but I just wasn’t as interested in the plot compared to how much I liked the first three books.

BOOK: WIZARD OF THE MOST WICKED WAYS
AUTHOR: CHARLIE N. HOLMBERG
PUB DATE: 04 MARCH 2025
🧝🏻‍♂️🧝🏻‍♂️
REVIEW- 3.8 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🧝🏻‍♂️🧝🏻‍♂️
This is the fourth book in the series, and I'm so sad that I missed the one that preceded it. That being said, I loved seeing Hulda and Merritt happily married with three kids. It was also nice to see Owein being an actual person instead of the house he was.
🧝🏻‍♂️🧝🏻‍♂️
I still love the world building and the magic aspect. In fact, the villain here is someone I'm familiar with, too. I liked the pace of the book and the different povs. I liked this book, but I was kinda confused in between. The most confusing element was Owein, the MMC. He went through a drastic change, and it felt like I was out of the loop. But, I still got it, and I finished the book.
🧝🏻‍♂️🧝🏻‍♂️
Through the pages, you could feel the palpable danger the Fernsby were facing thanks to the villain and the increased pressure on the MMC to help them vanquish him. Owein was on another type of pressure because he was about to get in an arranged marriage while he was I'm love with someone else. At the end of the day, he made the best decision for himself. In this book, a lot of people died, so be prepared for that.
🧝🏻‍♂️🧝🏻‍♂️
I wish I had been less confused while reading it, but it was my fault. I wish I had more of Hulda and Merritt POV, I'm just glad that their chemistry is still hot. I'd recommend this book, but make sure you read the previous books in the series before reading this. I can't wait to read the next one to see what's next for Owein after his drastic decision
🧝🏻‍♂️🧝🏻‍♂️

👍 I am so excited to be getting Owein's story! He's becoming a man, learning what that entails, having to chose between love, family and duty. I look forward to even more Owein.

👎 Honestly, Silas is just a little old news now. I would like to see some reinvention going forward. It's getting a little tired, reading about the same villain over and over.

First, thank you to 47North for this ARC. This review is my own.

I was really exited to be able to get a copy of Whimbrel House #4 as I have loved this series! I am glad that she decided to do a 4th book because delving into Owein's story even more was such a treat. I have loved seeing the family grow both in numbers and in experiences and be able to witness those experiences though Holmberg's beautiful writing. This book continues the storyline from book 3, this time focused on Owein and we get an inside view of his thoughts and feelings throughout the adventures, big and small. Holmberg did an excellent job of spinning a riveting story that was an enjoyable ride without being obvious in how it would all play out in the end. I enjoyed being a spectator of this world and hope to have more to enjoy in the future!