Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg

April 13, 2023

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg

Merritt Fernsby is working on his second novel when he unexpectly inherits a house on a lovely but remote island off the coast of Rhode Island. Estranged from his family and living in New York, he had no idea the house existed or that his grandmother owned it. Although empty for many years, when he arrives, he is pleasantly surprised to find the house in excellent condition. But the house holds dark secrets, and fortunately Mrs. Hulda Larkin from the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms (BIKER) arrives to help him manage the house's whims. But they learn that there is a lot more magic going on than they first suspected, and Hulda and Merritt must join forces to keep the dark out.

I previously read and loved the author's Spellbreaker/Spellmaker duology, but didn't care for the Paper Magician series as much. This book is a return to the magic and fantasy of Spellbreaker, with the same splash of romance. It is actually the first book in the Whimbrel House series - the next book sees Merritt exploring his own history and magical gifts. Recommended for readers of historical or urban fantasy, such as the Soulless books by Gail Carriger or the Glamour in Glass series by Mary Robinette Kowals.

An island similar to the one where Whimbrel House sits (a whimbrel is a heron-like bird)