Keeper of Enchanted Rooms Review (Whimbrel House, #1)

Hello, all!

It takes a lot for me to give a book five stars, but I knew within the first few pages that Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg was well deserving of it.

Pub Date: 11-1-22
Adult -Historical Fantasy

Merritt Fernsby has been estranged from his family since he was eighteen, so he's shocked to discover that he's inherited a remote estate in Narragansett Bay from his grandmother. Despite the property laying dormant for over a century, Merritt is ready to place down roots. But when he arrives at Whimbrel House, he realizes he has no choice but to stay since the house is possessed by a ghost that won't allow Merritt to leave.

As an employee of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms, or BIKER, Hulda Larkin has had a lot of practice in taming wild spaces. She knows the dangers surrounding a temperamental house and the damage the spells can wreak if not taken care of properly. When she's assigned to Whimrel House, Hulda expects it to be like any other job, but she finds herself growing more and more attached to the house and its charmingly eccentric owner. But with the house proving to be stubborn and a dangerous figure from Hulda's past returning, Merritt and Hulda quickly find themselves in over their heads.

I loved everything about this book. Fantasy and historical fiction are some of my favorite genres, so I love it when the two mesh together. I thought the magic system was super interesting, and how Holmberg fit it into the period. Aside from the setting, my favorite thing about this was the characters. I loved Merritt and Hulda so much. Merritt was so carefree, and Hulda was so prim and proper. It was fun watching them interact and slowly fall for one another. They had the sweetest relationship, and I can't wait to see how it develops. But my absolute favorite was Owein. His cheekiness made the entire book. I loved the little family they made along with Beth and Baptiste. There were a few moments the pacing felt a little slow but other than that, this was such a delightful, cozy read, and I can't wait for the next book to come out.

Rating: 5/5