Keeper of Enchanted Rooms (Whimbrel House Book 1)

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Honestly Whimbrel House Series is so unique, spectacular, the idea is special, very engaging and heartwarming story with lots of fun, the characters are exceptional and I LOVE it. There are several things this one gets right. The characters of Merritt and Hulda are really well written. They both have their demons, their quirks, their awkward bubbles, and many admirable qualities. The romance between them is slow, pleasant, and drawn out; and is completely innocent and proper. Their connection is genuine and intense, forged by magic and deep conversations and the lingering presence of the other person.

I like how the author explains the MCs' origins gradually throughout the plot rather than all at once at the start of the book. The characters' past are also revealed to one other in a more subtle and genuine approach than all at once. But despite the injuries, despite the misery entangling his body and screaming in his bones, Silas felt ... different. He felt ... strong, somehow. Not in a physical sense but a metaphysical one. His magic ... His magic felt like a thousand brilliant candles within him. Like it had ... grown? Prepared as she is with augury, a set of magic tools, and a new staff trained in the uncanny, Hulda’s work still proves unexpectedly difficult. She and Merritt grow closer as the investigation progresses, but the house’s secrets run deeper than they anticipated. And the sentient walls aren’t their only concern—something outside is coming for the enchantments of Whimbrel House, and it could be more dangerous than what rattles within.

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg – My Review

At first, I was a bit confused about where the story was heading, but once I became familiar with the main characters, I was hooked. The big picture soon emerged, and I found myself fully engaged until the very end. Now, I am left with a sense of curiosity and a desire to know what happens next. The open ending left me with so many questions that I hope will be answered in future installments. Merritt wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but the mention of a house had him distracted. “I’ve never heard of it. A real house?”

You could, with the right buyer.” Mr. Allen didn’t hide his skepticism as he handed over the papers. “Congratulations, Mr. Fernsby. You’re now a homeowner.” Surely someone has been keeping it up ...” Perhaps they had vacated the premises after the place was bequeathed to him, but Mr. Allen had said there had been no recent tenants. Squatters, perhaps? Very handy squatters? Reading about the house’s antics and trying to figure out its intentions regarding its new inhabitants is delightful. Merritt and Hulda are likable characters as both have experienced betrayal and now wonder if they ever will find a family of their own. However, Hulda is at Whimbrel House as the temporary housekeeper, and she is quite conscious of her status as a sort of employee, although technically she is employed by BIKER. So the attraction between them builds slowly.Not all of her genres are my favorite, but this book falls into a category I adore - magical fiction. If, like me, you loved the Paper Magician series - this book is for you. Here in a fictional Boston, Holmberg has created yet another magical universe with its own rules and attributes, in 1800s America.

In all honesty, this story has a lot going on, but it appeals to me. I found it difficult to put this down since it made the plot seem compelling. The antagonist's plot line piqued my interest, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it all came together. Merritt wondered if his parents and siblings had been called into this office as well, or if Mr. Allen had made the trip out to New York to read the will to them there. Admittedly—and Merritt loathed to admit it, even to himself—he’d hoped they’d be here. Death often brought people together, and— In this world, magic exists and everyone knows about it, even people who don’t have any magic themselves.There was an enclosed porch just behind the kitchen, but with the floor bubbling like tar, she determined it best not to explore it at this time." I have been a fan of this author for awhile now, stumbling on her work via other stories about magic in the world. This book, even though magic is certainly involved in the normal life of people, is in a very different sort of world. Here, the magic is slowly waning as the familes possessing magic in their blood slowly wane in power over the generations. Spells for such things as travel and communication methods understandably become even more treasured. Prepared as she is with augury, a set of magic tools, and a new staff trained in the uncanny, Hulda’s work still proves unexpectedly difficult. She and Merritt grow closer as the investigation progresses, but the house’s secrets run deeper than they anticipated. And the sentient walls aren’t their only concern―something outside is coming for the enchantments of Whimbrel House, and it could be more dangerous than what rattles within. And then, the fact that even the Whimbrel House was kind of a character just blown my mind. It was such a wholesome part of the story and I felt like I’ve got to know it so well, the truth behind its magic barely felt like a surprise. Dizziness engulfed him. A blow to the head. Silas didn’t remember falling to his knees. His skull radiated pain. Had he been hit with the bottle, or a kinetic pulse?