Third Spell's the Charm

by Susanna Shore

Fire wasn’t exactly the intended outcome of a water spell, but with me, sadly inevitable.

Phoebe’s new life as a mage hasn’t had an auspicious start. No matter how hard she tries, her spells fail spectacularly. How is she to impress her boss, Archibald Kane, if she keeps setting her hair on fire?

Her problems with magic become trivial when a night out ends with a dead body. The victim has clearly been killed by a vampire, and the evidence points at Phoebe’s housemate Luca.

The leader of London vampires, Morgan Hunt, is convinced Luca is guilty. To prove his innocence, Phoebe and Luca set out to solve the death. Was the victim random, or has an old enemy of Hunt’s returned? And how are they to find the killer when Hunt has done his best to hide his past?

Phoebe is an expert in unearthing old things, but facing a powerful foe would be easier, if she had a hang of her spellcasting too. Luckily she has magical friends she can count on. And maybe the third spell turns out to be the charm after all.

Genres: Urban Fantasy

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2022

About the author

Susanna Shore is an independent author. She writes Two-Natured London paranormal romance series, P.I. Tracy Hayes series of light mysteries set in Brooklyn, Reed Files crime capers, and House of Magic paranormal mystery series. She is also an author of some contemporary romances and thrillers.

You can find her on Bluesky @susannashore.bsky.social and more about her books on her webpage susannashore.com, where you can also find short stories and a sign-up page to her newsletter.

If you want a quick look into what she writes, she has collected her firsts books into a bundle called Starters . And The Wolf's Call , the first book in Two-Natured London series, is permanently free.

Reviews

[Aanya Sachdeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW
AMAZING
ENTHRALLING
MAGICAL
One of the best books I've ever read!
The writing style and the way the turn of events is there is wonderful!!
And the magical way in which the events occur (pun intended) is addictive and action packed! Any fantasy lover would adore this!
Thank you Netgalley and author for a copy of this book, I absolutely loved it! This has in no way influenced my review.
My rating 5 out of 5 stars!

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an urban fantasy/paranormal mystery. Phoebe, new to the life as a mage, is having trouble mastering spell casting. But that takes a back seat to a murder investigation when her friend becomes a suspect in a murder. Phoebe isn’t going to let that stand so she and Luca set out to find the real culprit. But Phoebe, doesn’t exactly have any expertise as an investigator. She isn’t going to let that stop her.

It is a light read and a lot of fun. Phoebe doesn’t know exactly what she is doing so that leads to some funny situations. Plus, the fact she keeps on setting her hair on fire. Her group of friends, though, are an interesting bunch. They all lend a hand when things get a bit deadly.

Very enjoyable. I would read another in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third Spell's the Charm, third book in the series, and it did not disappoint! I loved the new level of development in Phoebe's life as she struggles to come to grip with being a mage - of course, it also feels like the build up to something else! The role of detective she gets forced into with Luca provides for a fun and interesting story. As always, I love the characters in the book, their relationships and their little quirks. The development of the vampire world through Luca and the different vampires they encounter is really interesting and fun to see. As always, Susanna Shore has created a fast moving, fun adventure in the world of Phoebe, which keeps developing! I can't wait for the next one!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third in the series is the best so far. Phoebe is starting to show some growth. She is finally getting comfortable with the magical world she is surrounded by. We are finally getting to know our secondary characters' personalities. The mystery is action packed with twists and turns and a multitude of suspects. Recommended for fans of the series and paranormal cozy mysteries.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

[Saryas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the House of Magic series. It’s about Phoebe a new mage who works lives with mages, a vampire, and a werewolf. She works for a mage and is learning magic. Each book seems to bring some sort of mystery which she solves with the help of friends and foes. In this particular book Phoebe and Luca find out that a vampire is killing people and leaving their bodies in the open in a Master vampires club. They start investigating.

This was my first book by this author and in this series. I had expected something like Stephanie Plum but this wasn’t it. Phoebe seemed completely clueless. I was unsure why she jumps into these investigations when she has no training and no knowledge. I was completely uninterested in the characters and plot was not interesting. I didn’t find this book particularly witty or interesting. I will also say that I didn’t hate the book or feel that the writing was poor. It was just mediocre and uninteresting – as least for me. I don’t really recommend it but if you have time to pass you could do worse.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoebe Thorpe is heading out for a night on the town as the wingwoman for her roommate, Luca. When Phoebe finds the body of a woman they met while waiting in line at the last club, things take a turn for the worse. When Phoebe and Luca find out that the club is owned by the oldest and strongest vampire in London and said vampire suspects Luca, they end up investigating to find the murderer and clear Luca’s name with Hunt.

With vampires, mages, werewolves, a warlock, and one new arch mage working together, can they find the culprit who’s setting up Hunt to take the fall for the murder, along with four others? Phoebe sure hopes so, because she likes her life since moving into the House of Magic and becoming the newest mage therein.

This is a really fun series. Who doesn’t like spending time in London, even if it’s only through a book these days. This series will give you a solid whodunit and plenty of red herrings as you try to solve the mystery along with Phoebe and the gang. I’ve been reading this series from the first entry and always look forward to the next release…come on book number four!

[Tammy Bertrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third Spell's the Charm by Susanna Shore is the third book in the House of Magic series but can be read as a stand alone paranormal cozy mystery. I had not read the previous two books in this series but never felt lost as the author did a great job catching me up on the other books with some details as to what happened in those books. The characters that were introduced in the previous books were also reintroduced to a potential new reader. The characters are all well likeable and I found myself wanting to learn more about them all. This book has all that a Paranormal enthusiast desires: manges, vampires, warlocks and werewolves involving a mystery needing to be solved! Follow Phoebe, her roommates, a head vampire and Phoebe's boss while they work together (sometimes reluctantly) to solve the recent murder of a new acquaintance in a club. This book kept me interested in what was happening and what was to come! Now I want to go back and read the first two books and future books in this series! I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a great Paranormal mystery!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third Spell's the Charm (House of Magic #3) by Susanna Shore
Publisher: Crimson House Books
Genre: Humor, Mystery & Thrillers, Sci Fi & Fantasy
Publication Date: March 27, 2022

Third Spell's the Charm is the third book in the House of Magic series by Susanna Shore. I have absolutely fallen in love with this series and this one is my favorite (so far!). This can be read as a standalone cozy mystery or as part of the series.

I love the author's writing and how she connects with the reader! She has created a world that I want to live in. The characters are likable and relatable and the story is so much fun!

I really loved this book! It is a fast read that kept my attention. The story is captivating and fast moving! I loved the characters and seeing how they were developed throughout the book. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, there was just so much happening! This is truly a must read for supernatural mystery fans!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[mai !! · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is so cute!

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:

Phoebe’s new life as a mage hasn’t had an auspicious start. No matter how hard she tries, her spells fail spectacularly. How is she to impress her boss, Archibald Kane, if she keeps setting her hair on fire?

Her problems with magic become trivial when a night out ends with a dead body. The victim has clearly been killed by a vampire, and the evidence points at Phoebe’s housemate Luca.

The leader of London vampires, Morgan Hunt, is convinced Luca is guilty. To prove his innocence, Phoebe and Luca set out to solve the death. Was the victim random, or has an old enemy of Hunt’s returned? And how are they to find the killer when Hunt has done his best to hide his past?

Phoebe is an expert in unearthing old things, but facing a powerful foe would be easier, if she had a hang of her spellcasting too. Luckily she has magical friends she can count on. And maybe the third spell turns out to be the charm after all.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an eARC!!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are wonderful, quick, paranormally quirky books that have me rapidly devouring them.

This book picks up with Phoebe (quick note - you should start at book 1 for real enjoyment). She's newly discovered that she has the magical gift inside of her. Unfortunately for her, it comes out as setting things on fire - not on purpose. As if this isn't bad enough, she's forced to demonstrate her weirdness for her flatmates, her boss/crush, and really powerful magical users. Nobody seems to know what's going on, but that also doesn't stop her from attracting her usual share of trouble.

This trouble comes in the form of a drag queen murder by a vampire while Phoebe and her vampire flatmate are out clubbing. Implicated/Blackmailed into helping the big vampire baddie, they end up crossing paths with a few familiar faces, some new ones, but tons of trouble. I enjoy the blend here of mystery, a smidge of romance, and a healthy scoop of magic. I can't wait to see what happens after the end of this one!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third Spell’s the Charm is book 3 of the series House of Magic. I have not read the first two. I have added the first two to my reading list because this book reference occurrence of the first two. Now I need to know the details! Third Spell's the Charm was a great book by itself. Although it references the first books in the series, you don't necessarily need to read the first two. The current book does provide you with a description to understand and enjoy.
The characters in the book are our beloved classic ones, Vampire, Mages, Warlocks, and Werewolves. The races are iconic for paranormal books. I enjoyed the sexual tension that is building and the subtle sexual innuendos between Phoebe, Kane, and Hunt. It is subtle and cute without being grotesque or overly cat-calling. I’m also complete there with the comic relief of Phoebe’s spells. I hope that the future stories maintain the comic relief that this book has been and I’m looking forward to reading the first two.

[Anid Harker · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Review of an ARC via NetGalley)
I am more lukewarm towards this book than the previous in the series. The characters continue to be loveable and it continues to be a fun romp, BUT. Firstly, when I wished for more pagetime for Luca I was actually wishing to find out more about him, this was just investigating the past of some other vampire(s).
Secondly, there was too much recapping like come on if somebody picks up a third book in a series in isolation and is confused at mentions of things that by this point should be familiar to readers of the series, that's on them.
And thirdly, the amount of psychic damage I took from the sentence "the kind of shirt people used to wear before the invention of industrial buttonholes" cannot be overstated. From an antiquarian protagonist no less. At the very least call them pirate shirts?! As for the iNdUsTriAl bUTtoNHolEs I don't even know where to begin. The INVENTION of INDUSTRIAL BUTTONHOLES sorry I'm not over this

[Ppcfransen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third book in the House of Magic series. I’ve loved the other two books and was very keen to read this one. It did not disappoint.

It’s a fast paced action packed story where Phoebe and her friends are trying to find out who is targeting one of the most powerful vampires in London. Either that person is very dumb or another powerful vampire.

Meanwhile Phoebe is learning magic, and though she does everything right, the words, the hand gestures, the end result is anything but. Which she finds very frustrating, but everyone around her finds curious at the most.

It’s moments like these though, that gave me the most trouble imagining Phoebe as someone much older than a schoolgirl. She even has a schoolgirl infatuation with her teacher/boss Archibald Kane.

Looking forward to the next in the series, where hopefully while Phoebe’s abilities grow, so does her confidence and maturity.

I read an ARC through NetGalley.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoebe is back in this third installment. This time, she is unsuccessfully trying to learn to work magic. When she goes out clubbing, she meets a new friend in line. Later, that friend shows up dead. With the help of her friends, Phoebe sets off to figure out what happened to Miss Peaches.
Opinion
The more I read of this series, the more I like it. It is perfect for the person who wants a cozy mystery that includes the paranormal life. The mystery itself was quite interesting with clues perfectly placed, along with some red herrings. I will have to say that my favorite part of the book was what happened at the end.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Crimson House Books for providing me with an ARC of this book.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the House of Magic series, and this series is only getting better as we go. I thoroughly enjoyed this installment. I feel like Phoebe is getting used to her new world at this point and is settling in nicely. All of the past characters return and add nicely to their stories. I love they character dynamics, and I enjoyed getting to know Luca's world a little better in this book. This is a wonderful read if you want something quick, cute, and fun. I am enjoying the relationship developing between Phoebe and Kane. I wish it was progressing just a little bit quicker, but it does fit in nicely with the rest of the story. I am definitely attached to this series at this point, and am looking forward to more.

[Ileana Renfroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 of the House of Magic series - Third Spell's the Charm, was such a fun cozy mystery I read the whole book in one sitting.

The beginning of the book starts with.."I set my hair on fire trying to conjure water." I laughed out loud and continued throughout the whole story.

I love Phoebe's character, charming and funny. She is trying to learn her spells and fails miserably when a body is found. Her focus shifts to trying to find the killer when Lucas her housemate, is considered the number one suspect.

She along with Lucas and her magical friends tackle the problem at hand until all is revealed. Truly a fun read and one I highly recommend.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third Spell's the Charm by Susanna Shore is the third book in her House of Magic series. So Pheobe Thorpe is a mage. Too bad her spellcraft isn't working so well. Then there's the leader of the London vampires, Morgan Hunt, who manipulates Phoebe and her housemate vampire, Luca into investigating the dead bodies appearing in his clubs. And that leads to lots of danger for Phoebe and all her paranormal friends.

I really like all the main characters in this series. The author has done a great job developing them. I enjoyed this book a lot and look forward to the next book in the series.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! The third book picks up right where the last ended, with Phoebe trying to use her new powers....and failing. I got a bunch of giggles over the magic lessons, but mostly it was a great to get back with the gang again and be solving a new mystery. Moreover, the slow burn romance continues to burn slowly, making me want the next book immediately and possibly to enter the world with helpful pamphlets for the hero and heroine. Recommended, but if you haven't read the first two books, start with them first.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the House of Magic series, and it’s still going strong. I love how earnest Phoebe is, and all her friends are great, too. In this latest book, she and Luca go out for an evening and find themselves deep into a murder mystery. This series isn’t quite a cozy, but it is still fun like one. Not only that, but it’s also well-written, has a great plot, it’s not easy to figure out, and it’s just all around great. I love this series, and I can’t wait to read the next one. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Paula Pugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House of Magic series is such a fun one. In this novel, the gang is back and Phoebe is learning how to harness her magic- and poorly. When she and vampire Luca find their new acquaintance, Miss Peaches, dead from a vampire bite, Phoebe is determined to find out who killed her. The chase is on for a revengeful vampire engaging everyone including Morgan Hunt, the most powerful vampire in the country.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Renee Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the characters! This is the 3rd in the series and I find it getting better and better with each book. No matter how hard Phoebe tries her magic is challenging. Love her! When out for a night ends and a dead body shows up, things point to Phoebe's roommate Luca, a vampire. Love the story plot. Ready for the next one! Thanks #netgalley and #CrimsonHouseBooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why I like this series so much, but I do! The third installment in the House of magic series, won't disappoint. The characters are their quirky selves, the plot is fun, and the ending left it open for #4. Worth picking up!

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

[Rebecca Goss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series. Phoebe finds herself in the midst of another dangerous adventure. Learning mage skills does not come easy to Phoebe and she learns to work as a team with her roommates and boss. The cast of characters are fun and insightful. I think this third book may be the most entertaining and it is heartwarming to see friendships growing.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I had a really hard time concentrating on this story plot. Just was a miss for me personally. I didn't find any of the characters engaging enough to keep my attention.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Crimson House Books and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Funny, entertaining, relatable and a quick read. The characters are unique and lovable.

[Erin M. Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book, highly enjoyed it. Where else can you have mages, vampires, werewolves and even warlocks all in one place. I received this ARC for free, and leaving a fair and honest review

[Eileen Gernet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous

Action packed mystery with lots of paranormal beings. History, romance and humor combine to create an exciting story.Couldn't put it down.

[Neeharika Goteti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this third book in the series. It is funny , magical and so cool. Would definitely recommend it to those readers who love reading fantasy.

[Susan Underbrink · Rating 3 out of 5]

A big thank you to NetGalley and Crimson House Books for the eARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. this is the third in a series. This is a little convoluted and a lot of characters to learn if you haven't read the others in the series. But it can be read as a stand alone. The characters are fun and Phoebe is still learning to be a witch. 3 stars

[Namrata Ganti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Third Spell's the Charm is the third book in the series which follows Phoebe and her friends on another magic filled adventure. Following the end of the previous book, Phoebe has now discovered her powers and is trying to learn how to perform some basic spells. However her luck is not so great and things go horribly wrong to the extent that a water spell gives out fire instead. This just adds to the hilarity of the situation making it light hearted and fun to read. With a focus on learning to be a spell caster at a much later age than most, Phoebe is having a difficult time keeping up.

As the story progresses, the focus shifts towards the vampires and Phoebe's attempt to help her friend and housemate Luca who is accused of killing someone. As Phoebe and her friends come together to solve the mystery, they end up in the most unexpected situations. The main recurring theme of the story is on the strength of the friendship the characters share and the faith they have in one another. There is also the element of mystery and anticipation of things to come that are hidden behind the comedy. Since this is a continuation of the series, it was a pleasure to read about the characters and how they grow through each of the books. Though the plot is a predictable in some places, the story overall is well written and makes for a good read!

This is a quick fun filled read which will have the reader in splits half the time even while there is a mystery to solve! This book and the series is definitely worth a try!