Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg – Book Review

A huge thank you to 47North and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg in exchange for an honest review.

The review of Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg may contains spoilers from the first book in the Whimbrel House series, Keeper of Enchanted Rooms!

What It Is About

A million voices filled his ears, like every blade of grass and dying leaf rushed to speak to him at once, whispering in a language he didn’t understand, hushing each other, climbing over one another, and Merritt couldn’t run fast enough. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t think. He couldn’t do anything.

Whimbrel House, once a hub of magical activity, had transformed into an ordinary dwelling. However, its current occupants still grapple with their extraordinary abilities. Hulda, in particular, found herself in a constant struggle to reclaim her professional self, especially after the sudden disappearance of the former leader of BIKER, the magical organization she belongs to.

Meanwhile, Merritt wrestles with his own predicament. Unsure of the true extent of his magical powers, he also finds himself confronted with unresolved issues from his past. On the other hand, Owein faces a unique challenge, trying to adapt to his new physical form.

As if the residents of Whimbrel House don’t have enough on their plates, the arrival of high-ranking officials from LIKER, BIKER’s London counterpart, in the Boston headquarters adds a new layer of complexity. An impending audit and review looms over their heads, introducing unexpected twists and lurking dangers into their lives.

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Themes and vibes:

• • historical low fantasy
  • wholesome, whimsical, perfect-to-curl-up-with tales
  • adorable characters
  • a dash of romance
  • 3 POVs
    

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Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg – My Review

Whimbrel House was his safe haven. His space away from the world. His light in the dark. Could he not have peace even in his own home?

Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg is the second book in the Whimbrel House, a captivating fantasy series that takes readers on a thrilling journey through a world filled with magic, mystery, and even a little bit of danger. Well, more than a little. It’s just that – the books are so cozy and light and warm, it was pretty clear to me things will surely, probably work out somehow.

Which I think is the aspect most people who didn’t like this series struggled with the most. And I get it. I also usually prefer action-packed high-stake fantasies. But maybe that’s why these books felt so refreshing to me. They were unlike anything else I read and they were just so fuzzy and magical and comforting.

If you prefer your reads to be easy and whimsical, I’m sure you would adore this series. Such perfect fall reads, with a bit of magic, a bit of mystery. There’s also some romance, and a hysterical aspect. A remote house on an island setting. And a bunch of adorable characters that create a nice found family element.

Sounds good? Definitely check it out, but if you haven’t read Keeper of Enchanted Rooms yet, make sure to start with that one. Even though the main plot points are not super connected, this is not a series that should be read out of order.

Despite having a spirit some two hundred and twenty-something years old, Owein still behaved like a boy. He’d died at the age of twelve, and twelve was the age engraved into his heart. […] Perhaps aging was a thing of the body and not the soul.

I’m not sure how much I want to say about the plot of the second book. Maybe I should just let you get there slowly. There’s a reason why even the blurb on Goodreads is so vague. Not that a lot of crazy things happen; it’s just really hard to accurately describe the plot of Hair to Uncertain Magic without spoiling anything.

We again got many aspects I loved about the first book. Hulda and Merritt. Owein. Friendships. The atmosphere. Family, sacrifice, and the power of one’s choices. Heritage. Things that define us and the importance of embracing who we are and the strength that lies within us.

There had been times in her life where Hulda had wished her augury would stay quiet. Nothing deflated hope quicker than a hopeless future.

One of the book’s drawbacks was that certain plot elements felt somewhat predictable. While the story maintained a sense of intrigue and suspense, some readers may find themselves anticipating certain twists before they occur. However, this didn’t stop me from overall enjoying my read.

The biggest drawback for me personally was that I felt like not much had happened. Like plot-wise the story hasn’t progressed much from the first book. Sure a lot of things happened and some of them were pretty significant. But it still managed to leave me with a strong feeling of the second book syndrome, like it was only there to connect the first and third installments.

To think a man could live to his thirties without ever suspecting there was magic in his blood. To think!

It was still a nice book. Cozy and warm. Easy to sink into. With lovely characters and magic I wish we got more of. I did like it overall. Just not as much as the first book.

Hence the 4 stars. But now I can’t wait to read the third book in the Whimbrel House series, Boy of Chaotic Making. I hope it will bring exciting new twists and plot points while maintaining its signature cozy fantasy feeling. Boy of Chaotic Making should be out in February 2024.

READ NEXT: Q&A with the Author Charlie N. Holmberg