Member Reviews
An amazing book! This has become one of my favorite series and I look forward to every book coming out! This is such a satisfying conclusion to so many of the storylines dangling throughout the first two books! Charlie exceeds beyond expectations with how she ties up her books and spins additional tales!
My favorite part of this book and how she uses her magic system and explores it even further with how she can adapt it with each new fight scene and what will happen! This book will not disappoint you!
I received a free e-arc from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!!
Wizard of Most Wicked Ways takes place a couple of years after Boy of Chaotic Making, and follows Owein as the main character. Lady Cora's 18th birthday - and the last chance for the wedding contract to be dissolved - is approaching, however Owein has continued to find himself drawn to shape-shifting druid Fallon. In midst of Owein's increasingly conflicted romantic feelings - his letters with Lady Cora have developed a close rapport between the two of them, but Fallon's presence on the island throughout the years has deepened their friendship - a stranger appears at the house, and it turns out Silas Hogwood has somehow managed to escape death and is back for revenge. Owein finds himself restricted by the limitations of his magic in a human body - fearing for his family and home, he desperately searches for a way to save them all.
I would say this isn't the strongest book of the series. Owein's romantic feelings for Fallon & Cora are difficult to invest in because so much time has passed and we didn't get to witness those relationships growing. I found the letters with Owein and Cora to provide more investment in the relationship for me, which made his feelings for Fallon feel even more like something that was added for conflict - but there was plenty of conflict without it.
Overall, a good story but the love triangle (especially with Cora only present via letters) made it feel like filler.
This was my absolute favorite book in this series so far! I loved having more of Owein’s story and as always I love Merritt and Hulda and seeing them grow and adding kids in!
Lots of action in this one as well! The magic so great during the fights!!
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review.
This was a charming novel with a protagonist who faces moral dilemmas and personal growth throughout the story that is relatable and well-developed. while balancing humour and clever dialogue.
However, the plot, while entertaining, sometimes felt predictable, which might just me who over reads this particular genre.. Still, the fast pace and creative use of magic kept the story engaging.
Overall this was an enjoyable read!
Being a huge fan of the Whimbrel House series and having just reread the first three, I was so happy to see the fourth installment available. I dove right in.
I went into the book not realizing that the series was shifting gears to tell Owein’s story, although it should have been apparent to me after the last book. I enjoyed the story tremendously, as I think the way Charlie Holmberg’s magic structure is written is top notch. This book had everything. A bit of romance, a darn wizard that will not die, and a life altering decision to be made.
The only part that really felt off for me was that the romance between Owein and Fallon seemed to have been developed in the time we were ‘away’ from the series and it seemed forced. My only other minor complaint would be that I love Merritt and Hulda so much and they were almost minor characters this time around.
All in all, still one of my favorite series and I will be excited to see how the Owein line develops in the next book.
Thank you to 47 North and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book.
Oh. My. Gosh. This book was, like, totally amazing!! 💫 I’m obsessed with the Whimbrel House series, and Wizard of Most Wicked Ways did not disappoint. Owein as the main character? Yesss, please! 🙌 I didn't think I'd love him this much, but wow, his journey was everything.
The magical vibes? On point. The drama? Perfection. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! And can we just talk about how Charlie Holmberg writes action and heart-tugging moments so well? I legit couldn’t put it down. All my fave characters are back, and it felt like getting a big, magical hug. 💖
Honestly, if you're into fantasy and haven’t picked up this series yet, like, what are you even doing?! This book is a total must-read, and I’m dying to see what happens next!!
Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!💕
Wizard of the Most Wicked Ways took a little time to find its rhythm, but once it did, I was hooked. Owein’s journey, as he nears the activation of his marriage contract, was both heartfelt and captivating. Holmberg beautifully balances Owein's youthful qualities with the depth of his age, making him a character that’s both charming and complex. It was also comforting to see many familiar characters return, adding a warm and familiar touch to the story.
By the time the action ramps up toward the end, the book became an exciting, page-turning adventure. The magical elements, combined with the thrilling mystery, kept me on the edge of my seat. This fourth book builds anticipation for the final installment, and I’m eager to see how everything concludes. The series is best enjoyed in order, but this book was certainly a rewarding read that left me excited for what’s next.
I love the Whimbrel House series, and no surprises -- I loved this book too!! Owein and Fallon's budding romance and his sense of duty towards Lady Cora somewhat softened the looming menace of Silas Hogwood, the dark wizard who refuses to die! I've loved Meritt, Hulda, and Owein since the first book in this series, and now I've fallen in love with Fallon, too. I can't wait to read more of Owein's story, but before part 5 makes it to bookshelves, I may just go back and re-read this series once more!
this was such a good, engaging read, almost in time for halloween!! it’s obvious the author already knows how to create the perfect, cozy atmospheres! reading this book felt like being swallowed in a big, warm hug 😭 i loved seeing what these characters have been getting up to!!!!
I'm going to be entirely honest: at first, I was a little salty at this book. Some of that was due to the fact that the third book in this series was incredibly mid to me and I went directly into this one from having finished that one. Then, there was the fact that the two characters I'd come to grow most fond of--Hulda and Merritt--seemed to be taking a backseat in this book. Owein is a character that, initially, I felt worked better as a side character. I'm very happy to be wrong after finishing this book. I really liked seeing the journey Owein went through and I love just how much of a family they've all become over the course of the series. Seeing Owein become uncle/big brother to Hulda and Merritt's and Baptiste's and Beth's kids is just unbelievably sweet and wholesome.
I will say that I wasn't the biggest fan of the love triangle element here. This is both because I detest love triangles and also because I felt like Fallon and Owein's romantic relationship never really hit for me. This book takes place several years after the third, so any build-up between Fallon and Owein's friendship takes place when we, as readers, can't see it. And Fallon spent most of the third book--her introduction--as a bird, so the connection was never fully there. I appreciated their friendship and that Owein had someone he could rely on who flouted conventions and allowed him to be as wild and untamed as he'd always been. But the romance, and thus, Owein's conflict regarding it, felt a little hollow.
That's mostly why this is a 4 star as opposed to anything higher. Honestly, I was looking at this more as a 3, but the ending really got me. Despite the love triangle and the slightly uneven pacing, that ending did make me emotional enough to skew my rating higher. And, although I'm not as attached to Cora's family, I'm actually excited to see more of Owein's journey.
No surprise I had to snag this one as soon as I saw it on netgalley.
I was so excited to get a book with Owein as the POV! And it didn’t disappoint. I won’t get into too many specifics, fourth book makes most things into spoilers. But I really appreciated how Holmberg mixed Owein’s child-like aspects with his very old aspects. Getting to see all my favorite other characters was a warm hug. And oh boy was this one edge of the seat the whole time!
If you haven’t yet, go check out Keeper of Enchanted Rooms.
Thanks to @netgalley and @cnholmberg for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Such a great story! Loved reading this just in time for halloween! Overall a cute and quick read for halloween
Another brilliantly whimsical addition to the Whimbrel House series! My love for these characters and their magical world makes me long to be a part of it all. With the exception of Silas Hogwood, of course. He's somehow back from the dead and delivers lots of action for us readers in this fourth novel. I flew through this book like a line drive. It was so good! I was a little disappointed with the ending. There was nothing wrong with the story or writing. Holmberg writes fantasy like McDonalds makes fries. I just hoped for a different choice. My fellow readers will certainly understand. I'm stoked that there will be a fifth book. I definitely need to know if my preferred choice of ending will finally happen. I would definitely recommend this series to all my fantasy lovers and to anyone who is looking for a little magic in their lives!
Thank you to 47North for granting me digital access via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
Charlie Holmberg's Whimbrel House series is so magical, sweet, cozy, and smart - I can't get enough of them. I love that a house can have powers!! The league of magicians, the mad sorcerer back from the dead, and the ever expanding magical family made this one my favorite yet.
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a strong fourth entry in the Whimbrel House series, it had that element that I enjoyed from the previous entries. The overall story worked well together in this and that the characters worked overall. It was suspenseful and enjoyed the magical element going on in this. It had the charm that Charlie N. Holmberg’s writing had and was glad I was able to continue this series.
Book 4 of a 5 book series finishes with a bang and a lot of intrigue as to what will happen next. This is an entertaining read that I would classify as part mystery/thriller and fantasy. The magical elements are interesting and the characters are lovely. While reading the ending action I was thinking that I would have enjoyed watching the magical components in movie format to better appreciate the impacts of the different skills.
I highly suggest the series is read in order to fully understand and enjoy the storyline. I found book 4 to be a more entertaining read than book 3 and I am glad I kept going with the series. I look forward to reading book 5 to see how the author wraps up all the story threads.
Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
An engaging fourth book in a fascinating series! Charlie N. Holmberg knows by now how to write fantastically cozy atmospheres, and I truly loved seeing what these wonderful characters have been getting up to! Very good work! Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love this series and am always so excited to get a chance to read the newest installment. The magic system is so interesting and unique, and I really enjoyed getting see some wizard battles take place in this one. I will say I missed hearing more from Merritt and Hulda . I’ve grown very attached to those characters and wished we got some more POV chapters from them. That being said I do understand the authors decision to start focusing the story more of Owein and his journey, so I can’t be too upset about it. Looking forward to the next one already!
This new instalment of the Whimbrel House series picks up several years after the precious book, Boy of Chaotic Making. If you haven't read the previous books, may I recommend you go back and start with the first one, Keeper of Enchanted Rooms. As this story uses established characters and villains from the previous books, it will make no sense otherwise.
Now that's said, this is a fantastic continuation to the series. I love the fact that it takes place a few years down the line so we see what has happened to Hulda, Merritt and the others during that time. This book is primarily told through Owein's point of view, really giving him a chance to come into his own. Although the main plot of the story was resolved, the ending still shows the promise of another book. I can't wait to see what happens in book 5 which, I believe, will be the final book in the series!
This was such a treat. This is a wonderful series and need to be ready in order. In this latest story Owein takes the lead as he approaches the date where the marriage contract he signed is about to become active. Such a great story.