Lady of Uncanny Charms

Whimbrel House #5

by Charlie N. Holmberg

In 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.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Cozy, Cozy Fantasy, Fiction, Historical

297 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

Charlie 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.

Amazon: amzn.to/2BXoQNZ
Instagram: Instagram.com/cnholmberg
Facebook: Facebook.com/cnholmberg
Twitter: Twitter.com/cnholmberg

Reviews

[angela]

I will do whatever it takes to get my hands on this ARC.

[Lucie Yocom · Rating 5 out of 5]

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❤️❤️❤️

[Amanda Appleby-Balch · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars

ARC provided by Netgalley

I’m pleased that this turned out to be an enjoyable ending to what has been an enjoyable series.

In Lady of Uncanny Charms , Owein has travelled back to London to fulfil his contract with Queen Victoria just to find out that his wedding to Lady Cora is off. He is still expected to join Victoria’s League of Magicians of course, but the Queen wants to consider other partners for Owein - partners that could increase the spells the Crown has at their disposal. Unwilling to accept their forced separation, Cora and Owein keep finding ways to see each other, and, together, they begin to discover just how far the Queen would go for more magic.

In my review of the last book, I mentioned that Owein was a character that I grew to like, and I could say the same of Cora in this one (though I must admit the descriptions of her being granite/stone/cold became repetitive). In some ways she reminds me of Hulda, but she still feels unique. That being said, Hulda and Merritt still remain my favourite characters of the series, and I do believe that I may not have made it this far into the series if I hadn’t enjoyed them so much in the earlier books.

Although I liked them as characters, I didn’t truly buy the romance between Owein and Cora. My least favourite part of the previous book was the love triangle, and it continues to be a disservice to the romance in this one. I know that Cora and Owein have been exchanging letters for years, but it truly felt like a switch was flipped and he was suddenly in love with Cora here. I was there in the last book - I saw that he cared for Cora sure, but he loved Fallon - and now he possesses such strong feelings for Cora that his feelings for Fallon feel so distant? After what, a few weeks? Not only does it feel unrealistic, but it is hard for me to root for a ship when one half has such seemingly fickle feelings. I wish that Cora and Owein had been a true slowburn, because that would have been right up my alley (bring back #real yearners!). Despite my issues, Owein and Cora were not too offensive or annoying that I couldn’t just go along with it for the sake of enjoying the book.

The magical plot of this one was possibly my least favourite of the series, but it led to a great showdown. Our villain was very formidable, and we seemed well and truly doomed - possibly even more so than we did in the last book. I do wish certain feelings (in vague terms) were better expressed both to the villain and by the villain to better convey the grief that surrounds them, but I do still believe the villain had a compelling arc. There were also some minor things that I wish were explained or explored a bit more - with the many references with BIKER’s research, I thought that was going to be given more focus, but I also understand why it wasn’t.

Overall, while the earlier books remain my favourite, continuing to gravitate towards this series when I was in need of something short and fun with an interesting world remained a worthwhile decision to the end.

[Tina M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal And Stupendous Closure To A Spectacular And Remarkable Series/ARC

I admit, when starting this series I had some confusion going on to the number of books to be involved in this series. I originally thought it was to be a duology, then it turned into your typical 3 book series, and I never imagined it growing to 5!
I’ve always said though that Charlie Holmberg is rather excellent in stand-alones, duolgies, and series. When she decides there needs to be another book, it’s with good reason, and it isn’t just about creating numbers, with a lot of repetitiveness. The story would’ve felt incomplete without this finale.

I had an inkling early on, there needed to be a book solely dedicated to Owein, and this is that one. Although I truly missed Hulda and Merritt immensely in this one.

As usual, the character and world development is spot on, leaving no doubt as to the peculiarities, traits, nature, and mannerisms, of both.

I should add here that this has been an extraordinarily exceptional series to read. I confess I did have to go back through and make use of Kindle’s recap feature to remind myself of all that’s happened in the previous 4. It’s definitely been a lot, with plenty of roller coaster moments, sensationalism, (of the most positive sort) with plenty of characters to keep track of.

In Charlie’s acknowledgment, I loved how she referred to her "novels" as her literary children. There’s always that one child in the bunch that seems to give out the most grief, until they grow into adulthood, and you’re exceptionally proud of what they’ve turned out to be. lol

I will miss the series, but feel the time has been reached to close it out, and move forward with the next project.

This is a must read for Holmberg fans, fantasy lovers, and just the general populace looking to be drawn into a well-written series.

The official release day is set for September 29th, 2026. Be sure to leave room on your TBR schedule for when this hits the shelves.

NOTE: I received early access from NetGalley, and the Publisher 47North, for this manuscript, in exchange for writing an impartial review, solely of my own opinion.

[Deidre · Rating 3 out of 5]

So sad to say goodbye to this delightful fantasy series!

Book 5 delivers the closure Owein desperately deserved... but maybe not the happily-ever-after you were expecting.


The good news? Everything that absolutely had to happen to wrap up the series does. Justice is served, karma is gloriously ruthless, and everyone's favorite tortured cinnamon roll, Owein, finally gets the HEA I was desperately hoping for. After everything he'd endured, I was fully bracing for him to pull some self-sacrificing martyr stunt, so I was thrilled Charlie Holmberg let him choose happiness instead.

That said... there's one loose thread that really chafes.

Why spend so much time building the Fallon/Owein attraction in Book 4 only to abandon it almost completely here? I was convinced they were endgame, with Cora destined to become either the villain or a tragic casualty. Instead, Fallon is barely a factor. She doesn't even show up to help during the climactic battle? Really? Is she getting a spin-off series? And while we're asking questions... how exactly did she avoid getting drafted into the queen's magical breeding program?

One thing I absolutely appreciate: Charlie Holmberg didn't emotionally scar me with surprise main-character deaths during that brutal final battle. The tonal whiplash is real, though. One minute this feels like a cozy, star-crossed historical romance wrapped in fantasy magic, and the next people are dying in spectacular fashion. RIP to the random palace guards who existed solely to remind us the stakes were, in fact, very high.

I was also a little disappointed that Hulda and Merritt didn't get one last heroic moment. They don't appear until the epilogue, but this is undeniably Owein's story, and giving him the spotlight brings his journey full circle in a satisfying way.

While I think Book 4 will remain my favorite of the series, this was still a heartfelt finale that gave Owein the ending he'd earned—and that's ultimately what mattered most.

[Heather | Nerdy By Nature Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

When Owein first entered into a betrothal agreement with Lady Cora of Leiningen, he would've taken any out possible. But now, years into their engagement and with countless letters sent across the pond between them, Owein considers Cora one of his closest confidants and someone very dear to his heart. Owein is excited to marry Cora, but he arrives in England only to find that the Queen has other plans for him.

Queen Victoria is obsessed with preserving magic, and she believes Owein is the missing link to fulfilling her lofty ambitions. Owein is roped into becoming part of the Queen's League of Magicians, where he is thrust into a secret project that he has first-hand experience with. Meanwhile, Cora is nursing her broken heart by using her skills and knowledge to uncover the truths that the Queen has been hiding. As Owein falls deeper into the League, he finds himself up against untapped power and trapped souls even older than his, and he must decide whether to fall to the whims of the crown or commit treason against it.

This series charmed me from the very first page, and I'm so sad to see it end. I've become so emotionally invested in these characters over the course of the series. While I did miss the family dynamic our core characters have formed, it was satisfying watching Owein break out on his own. He's been through so much, and I was worried there was going to be some dramatic self-sacrifice on his part, so I was thrilled when my baby boy got the ending he deserved. The plot was action-packed, and I liked the little nods to Frankenstein, but it felt rushed at times. Despite that, I still enjoyed this, and it solidified its position as one of my favorite fantasy series.

[Addie O'Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

ADVANCED READER COPY (NetGalley)
Being able to read this ARC was truly a once and a lifetime gift. This review is free, and is only biased by the love I have for this series. Thank you to thank you to 47North for publishing, NetGalley for hosting, and Charlie N. Holmberg for dazzling us with her magic.

The whimsical writing, magical bloodlines, witty dialogue, and coming-of-age (even if your soul is more than 200 years old) with well-written characters were the highlights!

What I am trying to say is, the entire book was delicious! I’ve been in love with The Whimbrel House Series from the beginning, and I was terrified for everyone to grow up and settle down. Would everyone make it? Would I be drinking tears at the end of the book happy?

The Lady of Uncanny Charms left me feeling perplexed. I desire more and more while feeling like the conclusion comforted my heart like a gentle hug I didn’t know I needed.

You can expect Charlie’s enticement of misdirection chaos given to you in enchanting wordplay. The book stays in character from language to clothes to accurate history (in the non-magic world). You’ll even get to see a love for classical literary fiction providing beautiful symbolism.

You are surely to be amazed by Lady of Uncanny Charms! You will laugh and smile. You will hold your breath and shout out loud! You will smile so hard your cheeks hurt <~ a lot of this one!

[LeahReadsStuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Simon Bostock · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

Like the third book, the antagonist isn't a villain, but someone reacting to the situation, that I had hoped would resolve more peacefully.

Overall, this was well worth a read.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Keli · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Katie May · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Korynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Mrs. Kenyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owein is in England and preparing to marry Lady Cora, the young lady who has become a close friend, even if most of their time together has been through letters. Unfortunately, Queen Victoria has a plan to preserve the waning magic, and that plan does not include a marriage with Lady Cora. Owein is now a part of the Queen’s League of Magicians and quickly learns that there are problems larger than his. Owein has many choices … Will he do as the Queen commands? Will he follow his heart? Will he commit treason?

Lady of Uncanny Charms is the fifth and final book in the Whimbrel House series. This series was fun to read, and even though I completed each book months apart as they were released, I had no problem remembering the overarching storyline. Holmberg has crafted characters who respond to their situations faithfully while also being unexpected. I’m sorry to say goodbye to these characters, but the series was closed in a satisfactory manner.

[Nikolett · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jesica · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She looked at him like he was a devastating letter, each word compounding bad news.”

Eeekkkk I absolutely loved this final installment of the Whimbrel House Series. It was everything I wanted and more… I love these characters and we finally get the end of Owein’s story 🫶🏼 thanks so much Charlie for letting me read the gorgeous book early! Owein has finally arrived in England to fulfill his end of the contract but Queen Victoria has other plans. She is obsessed with preserving magic, and she believes Owein is the key to pursuing her lofty ambitions. It’s up to Owein & Cora to uncover magical & secret conspiracies. It’s full of twists & turns and within the first chapter had me reeling. It’s full of magic, untapped spells, forbidden love, secrets & intrigue. It’s a page turner that had me staying up late to finish. If you are looking for a cozy historical fantasy series this is it. But defiantly start at book one with Keeper of Enchanted Rooms.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Milena Ognjanovic]

Thank 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.

[Debbie Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrilling and sweet ending to this series I've come to adore. Owein has traveled to England to marry Cora now that she is 18. But it seems Queen Victoria has other plans for Owein, and others like him. While I miss Huldah & Merritt, Beth & Baptiste, I loved seeing more of Cora. Hoping for more fun series from this author.

[Ashley Christman · Rating 5 out of 5]

So excited for this book release! I am so invested in these characters and can’t wait to continue this journey. 🤩

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great ending to the series. I’m so happy that we got to follow Owien through his many stages and see his happy ever after.

[Opal E · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book made me uncomfortable.
I can't believe we were supposed to root for the side that starts the eugenics program. I'm sorry, what?

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. ✨️