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Whimbrel House #5
Lady of Uncanny Charms
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26In this thrilling final installment of the Whimbrel House series from Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg, Cora and Owein must uncover magical and secret conspiracies in the palace as the future they dreamed of is at stake.
Owein arrives in England to marry Lady Cora of Leiningen, his dearest friend and confidante he’s known mostly through letters. However, Queen Victoria has other plans in store for the centuries-old wizard. The queen is obsessed with preserving magic, and she believes Owein is the key to pursuing her lofty ambitions.
Torn from his family, his home, and his betrothed, Owein is pushed into the Queen’s League of Magicians, where he learns the crown’s upheaval of his life is only the beginning of his problems. Meanwhile Cora must push aside her broken heart and use her own spells and resources to uncover truths the queen wants hidden.
As new threats, former loves, untapped spells, and even older souls than Owein collide, his next choice could be his last: forfeit his heart, body, and magic to the insidious machinations of the crown, or commit treason against it.
Owein arrives in England to marry Lady Cora of Leiningen, his dearest friend and confidante he’s known mostly through letters. However, Queen Victoria has other plans in store for the centuries-old wizard. The queen is obsessed with preserving magic, and she believes Owein is the key to pursuing her lofty ambitions.
Torn from his family, his home, and his betrothed, Owein is pushed into the Queen’s League of Magicians, where he learns the crown’s upheaval of his life is only the beginning of his problems. Meanwhile Cora must push aside her broken heart and use her own spells and resources to uncover truths the queen wants hidden.
As new threats, former loves, untapped spells, and even older souls than Owein collide, his next choice could be his last: forfeit his heart, body, and magic to the insidious machinations of the crown, or commit treason against it.
Paperback
Expected publication September 29, 2026
About the author
Charlie N. Holmberg
53 books9,178 followersCharlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of fantasy and romance fiction, including the Paper Magician series, the Spellbreaker series, and the Whimbrel House series, and writes contemporary romance under C. N. Holmberg. She is published in over twenty languages and is a Goodreads Choice Award, ALA, and RITA finalist. Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. A BYU alumna, she discovered in her thirties that she’s actually a cat person. She lives with her family in Utah. Visit her at www.charlienholmberg.com.
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Amazon: amzn.to/2BXoQNZ
Instagram: Instagram.com/cnholmberg
Facebook: Facebook.com/cnholmberg
Twitter: Twitter.com/cnholmberg
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Want to Read
May 16, 2025I will do whatever it takes to get my hands on this ARC.
July 19, 2025
I absolutely love this series. I can't wait to get my hands on the last book. I guess I will have to start rereading until it comes out. the anticipation is killing me. I love this author and the way she makes you fall in love with the caricatures in her books. I also love the ones you love to hate❤️❤️❤️
July 29, 2025
It could be 3 pages long and I'd give it 5 stars. I'm so in love with these characters. Book 4 had me in tears with so much emotion. Love this series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of this book. My review is based on that copy. The published work may differ from what I read.
I enjoyed this series, and this is another great addition to it. The ideas and the world are creative and fun, and there are moving emotional beats throughout all of the books. However, this particular book is not my favorite of the five. While I loved getting to see the conclusion to Owein's journey, I had issues with several elements.
There are story beats from prior books that are dealt with in perfunctory and unsatisfying ways (specifically Fallon), and I found the the themes to be too on the nose. The riff on Frankenstein was interesting but not nearly subtle enough. As creative as this version of Victorian England is, the version of Queen Victoria here is a bit of a caricature. The story takes some big swings, and they don't all work well. In terms of the characters, Owein has a satisfying process of growth, as does Cora, and I enjoyed their relationship overall. I also liked the continued blend in tone of cozy with scary. Holmberg strikes a nice balance with the atmosphere.
This series is a solid, enjoyable, fun time. It's nothing spectacular or particularly memorable, but I'm guaranteed to be happy with the experience.
I enjoyed this series, and this is another great addition to it. The ideas and the world are creative and fun, and there are moving emotional beats throughout all of the books. However, this particular book is not my favorite of the five. While I loved getting to see the conclusion to Owein's journey, I had issues with several elements.
There are story beats from prior books that are dealt with in perfunctory and unsatisfying ways (specifically Fallon), and I found the the themes to be too on the nose. The riff on Frankenstein was interesting but not nearly subtle enough. As creative as this version of Victorian England is, the version of Queen Victoria here is a bit of a caricature. The story takes some big swings, and they don't all work well. In terms of the characters, Owein has a satisfying process of growth, as does Cora, and I enjoyed their relationship overall. I also liked the continued blend in tone of cozy with scary. Holmberg strikes a nice balance with the atmosphere.
This series is a solid, enjoyable, fun time. It's nothing spectacular or particularly memorable, but I'm guaranteed to be happy with the experience.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book.
What an excellent end to the series, Owein has been brought to England, to fulfil his contract, but Queen Victoria has other ideas. Over the course of the story, Owein and Cora discover there is something secret happening, that they need to get to the bottom of, what they discover, could have ramification within high society.
This was a wonderful story, watching Owein and Cora fight for their relationship, whilst Owein also navigates aristocratic society. It also also showing what it means to be part of that world, Queen Victoria, is usually shown as a caring if forthright person in most media, here she is shown to be someone who doesn't care for the feelings of others, and also doesn't consider the consequences for actions taken on her behalf.
There are also moments the reader is shown the british class system being filtered through a lens of magic usage, that usually aristocratic families are making marriage matches for power, influence or wealth, this time it is magic that is the currency.
Overall, this was well worth a read.
What an excellent end to the series, Owein has been brought to England, to fulfil his contract, but Queen Victoria has other ideas. Over the course of the story, Owein and Cora discover there is something secret happening, that they need to get to the bottom of, what they discover, could have ramification within high society.
This was a wonderful story, watching Owein and Cora fight for their relationship, whilst Owein also navigates aristocratic society. It also also showing what it means to be part of that world, Queen Victoria, is usually shown as a caring if forthright person in most media, here she is shown to be someone who doesn't care for the feelings of others, and also doesn't consider the consequences for actions taken on her behalf.
There are also moments the reader is shown the british class system being filtered through a lens of magic usage, that usually aristocratic families are making marriage matches for power, influence or wealth, this time it is magic that is the currency.
Overall, this was well worth a read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is one of the best fantasy series that I have ever read, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. Unfortunately, this conclusion did not live up to my expectations. The book begins with the impending marriage of Owein and Cora. I love these two characters, but the storyline between them was painfully slow and had very little action for about 75% of the book. The pace did pick up at this point, and I did enjoy the final chapters...until I reached the epilogue. I had hoped for a more satisfying ending. All of the major characters that I have grown to love from the previous books were only given brief mentions. It was very disappointing to be given only a couple of pages for their final farewell after investing so much of my heart into them over the last four books. I think if the author had included all of them in the story more, I would have really loved this one. It was an ok read for me. I would still recommend. Other readers will surely have different opinions.
Thank you to 47North and NetGalley for granting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to 47North and NetGalley for granting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I absolutely loved the final installment in the Whimbrel House series. This was such a delightful conclusion that focused solely on Owein and Cora's relationship with a lot of unexpected interference from Queen Victoria. Charlies' writing is always so immersive to the point that I finished the story in one day! The ending is extra sweet ;)
After Owein arrives in England to meet Cora again for the first time in four years and nobly hold himself to their marriage contract, he is forced to become a member of the Queen's Magician League. When he learns of a horrifying magical experiment that the Queen is leading, he tries to find a way that he and Cora can escape with their relationship intact. Throughout the story, we get to experience Owein and Cora's relationship growth and love through their sometimes comical and heartfelt letters. I highly recommend this book!
I absolutely loved the final installment in the Whimbrel House series. This was such a delightful conclusion that focused solely on Owein and Cora's relationship with a lot of unexpected interference from Queen Victoria. Charlies' writing is always so immersive to the point that I finished the story in one day! The ending is extra sweet ;)
After Owein arrives in England to meet Cora again for the first time in four years and nobly hold himself to their marriage contract, he is forced to become a member of the Queen's Magician League. When he learns of a horrifying magical experiment that the Queen is leading, he tries to find a way that he and Cora can escape with their relationship intact. Throughout the story, we get to experience Owein and Cora's relationship growth and love through their sometimes comical and heartfelt letters. I highly recommend this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
To finally get a whole book focusing on Owein and come full circle with this amazing series was such a treat! It was nice to see Hulda and Merritt step out of the limelight for this adventure and I think it managed to breathe a new life into the Whimbrel House series. I’m convinced anything that Charlie N. Holmberg writes though is just sprinkled with mesmerizing fairy dust (She could’ve written a single page and I would have bowed in gratitude for her written word to have graced my presence.). I’ve fallen in love with EVERY book she’s written and this one was no exception. All of them contain just enough “dark” to be intriguing and a little haunting, and this one definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. From the magic system, to the suspenseful action, to the romance, and the perfect unforced dialogue, this series has never disappointed. I can’t wait to own a physical copy to add to my collection.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh no I did not like this at all. I was a little skeptical about this after not really caring for the last book, but this was incredibly disappointing. For this to be the final book in a 5 book series is a let down.
I don’t want to crap all over this because the first 3 books are amazing and this book could still be for some people because the authors writing is still quite good. But to introduce a new (really unnecessary) story line with just 1 of the characters in a 5 book series that could have just been an epilogue on the last book? The other main characters get barely mentioned on the last pages? Very disappointing. I was actually waiting for Silas to just be brought back again because why not. This didn’t wrap up anything and really felt like a waste of my time. This would be fine for a middle book but not a conclusion.
Thank you to Netgalley and 47North for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t want to crap all over this because the first 3 books are amazing and this book could still be for some people because the authors writing is still quite good. But to introduce a new (really unnecessary) story line with just 1 of the characters in a 5 book series that could have just been an epilogue on the last book? The other main characters get barely mentioned on the last pages? Very disappointing. I was actually waiting for Silas to just be brought back again because why not. This didn’t wrap up anything and really felt like a waste of my time. This would be fine for a middle book but not a conclusion.
Thank you to Netgalley and 47North for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love this series so much, and I’m happy to finally read the last book, although I do still wish there were more stories about these characters because I could keep following their adventures indefinitely.
Owein has really grown on me as a character since the first book. He started out as a side character but developed fully into the main character in this volume. I was surprised and a little saddened that Merritt and Hulda, who were the protagonists in previous installments, didn’t make an appearance in Lady of Uncanny Charms until the epilogue. But at least they did get a tiny bit of page time.
I liked that this volume was about fighting for love and standing up for your beliefs. I liked the morals.
Overall, I really love the Whimbrel House series. I would recommend it to fans of historical fantasy that features a unique magic system, lovable characters, and clean but swoony kisses-only romance. I love Charlie’s writing and I will read anything she writes.
Owein has really grown on me as a character since the first book. He started out as a side character but developed fully into the main character in this volume. I was surprised and a little saddened that Merritt and Hulda, who were the protagonists in previous installments, didn’t make an appearance in Lady of Uncanny Charms until the epilogue. But at least they did get a tiny bit of page time.
I liked that this volume was about fighting for love and standing up for your beliefs. I liked the morals.
Overall, I really love the Whimbrel House series. I would recommend it to fans of historical fantasy that features a unique magic system, lovable characters, and clean but swoony kisses-only romance. I love Charlie’s writing and I will read anything she writes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This fifth book of the series concludes Owein’s journey, which started being a house all the way to the English aristocracy. First as a duty, than a choice. I liked that although they wanted him only for his genes and talents, finally he was the one who formed their society. The author emphasized the fact that he’s a much older man, if not in body but in mind and behavior and I agreed with this interpretation. Cora’s character was also great, even if it wasn’t the representation of her age and era, but she had to be a more mature woman to be Owein’s love interest.
So altogether I enjoyed the series and this book was a good conclusion.
Thank you NetGalley and 47North Publisher for the arc.
So altogether I enjoyed the series and this book was a good conclusion.
Thank you NetGalley and 47North Publisher for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have loved every book in this series, and I absolutely loved this one too. I loved Owein and Cora, how the two of them fought for each other and for the truth. I was surprised at Dolag and Ned, and loved reading about their magic.
I missed Merritt and Hilda, and I had hoped to see more of them, but the small part they had brought tears to my eyes. That ending was wonderful, the epilogue so perfect, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
Fantastic ending for an amazing series! I definitely didn’t want this one to end.
I missed Merritt and Hilda, and I had hoped to see more of them, but the small part they had brought tears to my eyes. That ending was wonderful, the epilogue so perfect, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
Fantastic ending for an amazing series! I definitely didn’t want this one to end.
Read
June 11, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I just love this series and I'm so glad I got to read the final book so early. I loved the conclusion of Owein's story. I really liked Owein and Cora together. They were so sweet. Cora's character was great in this book. I'm happy how everything concluded. I like how this series feels cozy but at the same time can be rather dark at times and deals with some serious topics.
I just love this series and I'm so glad I got to read the final book so early. I loved the conclusion of Owein's story. I really liked Owein and Cora together. They were so sweet. Cora's character was great in this book. I'm happy how everything concluded. I like how this series feels cozy but at the same time can be rather dark at times and deals with some serious topics.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have waited with baited breath for this fifth book in the Enchanted Room series. I love Charlie Holmberg's novels and eagerly anticipate the next one. This book brings full circle the lives of Merritt and Hulda as well as Owein's journey from house to man. I read it straight through and I'm glad I didn't have to wait until September to read it. Thanks Netgalley!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a great finale to the Whimbrel series. I loved getting to see Owein grow as well as Cora.
The story read very smoothly though I had a bit of trouble keeping up with all the characters.
The ending felt a bit rushed and some parts felt unaddressed leaving me a little disatisfied.
Overall though it was a solid read and I highly recommend if you like historical fantasy!
The story read very smoothly though I had a bit of trouble keeping up with all the characters.
The ending felt a bit rushed and some parts felt unaddressed leaving me a little disatisfied.
Overall though it was a solid read and I highly recommend if you like historical fantasy!
November 26, 2025
So excited for this book release! I am so invested in these characters and can’t wait to continue this journey. 🤩
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a great ending to this series 😍
The conclusion to Owein's story was everything I needed, it was heartwarming.
A beautiful story and ending to this wonderful world of magic ✨️
I loved this being set in London again, being from the UK knowing all the places mentioned made it even more magical ✨️
This is a 5 star read from me, every book has been 5 stars. I've loved every book and am sad it's over but what a magical adventure it was 🩷
Thank you Charlie N. Holmberg, NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. ✨️
The conclusion to Owein's story was everything I needed, it was heartwarming.
A beautiful story and ending to this wonderful world of magic ✨️
I loved this being set in London again, being from the UK knowing all the places mentioned made it even more magical ✨️
This is a 5 star read from me, every book has been 5 stars. I've loved every book and am sad it's over but what a magical adventure it was 🩷
Thank you Charlie N. Holmberg, NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. ✨️
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews