Heir of Uncertain Magic - Charlie N. Holmberg - ★★★★.¼

-

AUTHOR: Charlie N. Holmberg

SERIES: Whimbrel House, #2
GENRE: Historical Fantasy.
RATING: 4.25 stars.

In a Nutshell: A lovely continuation to the Whimbrel House series. While not as creepy as Book One, this sequel was still enjoyable, though it took me a while to get into the plot this time around.


Story Synopsis:
Narragansett Bay, 1846. Whimbrel House is now just a regular house, but its inhabitants are still trying to deal with their magical abilities. Hulda is struggling to get back to her professional self, especially after the old head of BIKER has disappeared, but her feelings for Merritt keep getting in the way. Merritt is struggling to judge the extent of his magical capabilities, and also to reconcile with his past. Owein is struggling with his new physical form though his magic is as strong as ever.
With some top honchos from LIKER (the London equivalent of BIKER) coming to the Boston headquarters for an audit and review, there are some unexpected developments, and some unknown dangers.
What lies in store for the ‘heir of uncertain magic’?
The story comes to us in a limited third person perspective of Hulda, Merritt and Owein.


Bookish Yays:
😍 I love it when sequels continue from the earlier book. This one takes all the arcs of the first book and takes them logically ahead, without any track feeling convoluted or contradictory. Similarly, the character development is maintained to a great extent. A wonderful continuation leans on the shoulders of the first book and takes it to a new level, as a sequel should be. (Which also means that you should not read it as a standalone. But why would you want to do so anyway? ‘Keeper of Enchanted Rooms’ was such an adorable book!)

😍 I enjoyed Merritt’s character development tremendously this time. He seems to learn from the situation and act with maturity even when Hulda acts weird.

😍 My boy Owein is back, and he gets the prime role this time. His presence in any scene lifted its charm up by at least 200%. I loved him equally in both the books.

😍 Baptiste and Beth (the latter in a smaller role, sadly) are as impeccable as in the first.

😍 After the slow beginning, the book went into a steady rhythm. Once I got into the groove, I didn’t feel like keeping it aside at all.

😍 The magical bits are as imaginative as before. Nothing ever feels farfetched, which is quite an achievement for a fantasy novel.

😍 While the book sounds quite serious in its premise, (and it is so), there are plenty of humorous scenes courtesy Merritt and Owein, thereby creating the perfect balance of emotions.

😍 The climax and the parting note both are awesome.


Bookish Nays:
😐 The book is a bit repetitive at the start as it tries to re-establish the events of the first book.

😐 While I connected a lot with Hulda in the first book because of her professionalism and her vocabulary, she was somewhat annoying this time. I also didn’t understand why she felt so handicapped without Myra as she was perfectly capable to handling things independently in the first volume. Somehow, what felt natural in Book One felt forced in this sequel. (To be fair, she does improve in the second half.)

😐 The “villain” is quite flat in this book, and their motivation doesn’t come out strongly.


While I might not adored this as much as I did the first one, I still enjoyed it tremendously. This sequel is to be read more for the characters and the magic than for the creepiness, unlike in the first one where both were impressive.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when the author’s latest newsletter revealed that a third book is on the way. ‘Boy of Chaotic Making’ is due to be released in early 2024. Considering how the ‘Keeper of Enchanted Rooms’ was Hulda and the ‘Heir of Uncertain Magic’ was Merritt, the ‘Boy of Chaotic Making’ is obviously going to be my darling little Owein. Yippee! (Don’t you dare kill him off, dear author!!! I am warning you!!!)

Definitely recommended to all readers of historical fantasies, but do read the series in the right order to enjoy it to the fullest.

My thanks to 47North and NetGalley for the DRC of “Heir of Uncertain Magic”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Update: October 2023
To read my review of Book Three, 'Boy of Chaotic Making', click HERE.

Comments

Post a Comment

Explore more posts from this blog:

Takeout Sushi - Christopher Green - ★★★★

-
Image
  AUTHOR: Christopher Green GENRE: Contemporary Short Story Collection, Japanese Fiction. PUBLICATION DATE:  May 2, 2024 RATING: 3.9  stars. In a Nutshell: An interesting collection of stories, with most of them set in Japan. Loved the writing style and enjoyed the diverse emotions. Much recommended! This story collection has, as the title suggests, a strong Japanese flavour. So let me begin by confessing that I am not a fan of Japanese literature. Most Japanese fiction that I tried hasn’t suited my reading tastes, so I generally keep away from this genre. The reason I picked this collection up is... No, no, the sushi had no role to play in my decision; I can’t stand even the thought of sushi! The reason I wanted to read this is that the author is NOT a Japanese! 😁 I know this sounds quite silly to declare, but had the author been Japanese, I would have resisted opting for this. But by virtue of his being an “outsider”, I thought it was a great opportunity to get a look at Japan witho
Read More»

Big Bad Wolf Investigates Fairy Tales - Catherine Cawthorne - ★★★★★

-
Image
AUTHOR: Catherine Cawthorne ILLUSTRATOR: Sara Ogilvie GENRE: Children's Nonfiction PUBLICATION DATE: April 25, 2024 RATING: 5 sparkly, scientifically accurate stars. In a Nutshell: This book and I were a match made in book heaven! Loved the approach that combines humour and logic to debunk the sillier elements of some fairy tales. Strongly recommended! I enjoy fairy tales. I love scientific thinking. I adore logic. I relish humour. Seeing all four of these together in a single work was almost a “bookgasmic” moment for me! 😆 Had the book not delivered on any of these factors, I might still have been happy reading it. But the content not only reaches but also surpasses the promise made by the title and cover. All of us know that there are several logically impossible elements in fairy tales. In childhood, we might have oohed and awwwed at the stories without overthinking the practicalities. In adulthood, we might have cringed at the gender bias, wealth bias, and the lack of conse
Read More»

The Great Divide - Cristina Henríquez - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: Cristina Henríquez GENRE: Historical Literary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: March 5, 2024 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: A literary fiction focussed on Panama during the time of the construction of the Panama Canal. Note that this isn’t a book directly about the canal or its construction, but about the people connected to the canal in some way or the other during that period. A great book if you go in with the right expectations and enjoy character-oriented fiction. Plot Preview: 1907, Panama. Francisco, a Panamanian fisherman, hates the commercialisation of his country under the foreigners, and hence resents his son Omar’s joining the canal construction crew. Omar, however, wants to learn and earn more than his little village can offer him. Sixteen-year-old Ada has heard about Panama having many jobs. She has stowed away to Panama, hoping to get some work and earn enough for her ailing sister’s surgery back in Barbados. Her mother Lucille, a tailor, doesn’t yet know of her ru
Read More»

Making Up the Gods - Marion Agnew - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: Marion Agnew GENRE: Contemporary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: October 15, 2023 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: An indie drama with some quirky characters and a great setting in Lake Superior, Canada. Mellow in tone, genuine in content, thought-provoking in themes. I enjoyed this unusual novel. Plot Preview: Simone, almost 70, is a retired widow who lives an isolated life in her cottage on the banks of Lake Superior and still misses her husband, though he’s been dead for five years. While she is now active in her local church and finds solace in baking for those grieving, she is fiercely protective of her privacy. But when the local reverend asks her to take care of nine-year-old Chen while his widowed mother goes on a much-needed trip, Simone finds it tough to refuse a fellow-mourning widow. Just before Chen arrives, a stranger named Martin knocks at Simone’s door, claiming to be her cousin. Simone is suddenly handling two strangers at once, and she worries that they will dis
Read More»

Red Runs the Witch's Thread - Victoria Williamson - ★★★★

-
Image
  AUTHOR: Victoria Williamson GENRE: Historical Fiction, Horror. RATING:  4 stars. In a Nutshell: A psychological horror inspired by the last witch burning in Scotland in 1697. A disturbing yet compelling read. I wanted more closure at the end for my own peace of mind, but other than that, this was a satisfying book. Recommended! Plot Preview: 1722. Paisley, Scotland. Thirty-seven-year-old widow Christian Shaw is obsessed with perfecting her thread bleaching process. She wants to make the thread the purest white, so it can sell better and restore their family fortunes. In the absence of any male family members, it is up to her as the eldest daughter to ensure the security of their house, her mother and two younger sisters, and her late father’s social position as the laird (landowner.)  However, Christian’s mind is troubled. With the 25th anniversary of the witch burnings of 1697 approaching, Christian’s thoughts go frequently to the past, and to the role she played in the burning of s
Read More»