Book Review: Spellbreaker
Book One of Two by Charlie N. Holmberg, An Amazon First Reads
“Spellbreaker,” by Charlie N. Holmberg, was a 2020 Amazon First Reads (Kindle) selection, which I purchased (for free) as a Prime Member and saved to my TBR library.
This historical fantasy novel actually took me a while to read because it was my “in-between book.” I would read 5 or 10 pages at a time in-between reading other books because I found it to be a slower paced book. Since I enjoyed Homberg’s writing style but wasn’t overly captivated by it, I could put it down, read another book, and then pick it back up again.
After getting several chapters in, it sufficiently caught my interest, and I stopped putting it down and read through to the ending. I would discover later that this slow start may be due to the fact that “Spellbreaker” is part one of a two-part series — with an open-ended cliffhanger (if that makes sense) — so the author took her time in introducing the reader to the world and her characters.
The book is set in a Victorian-age England, but one where magic is not only real but regulated. There exists in this world four types of magically gifted individuals (at least that we know of in book one). Physical, spiritual, and rational aspectors and the spellbreakers.
Those who show one of these gifts early and have a means to do so can be trained and obtain a mastery and other titles. If one has the gift, but not the means to train, they still must register and may garner the attention of a sponsor, enabling them to train and improve their life circumstances. By registering their magical inclinations, they also agree to serve “queen and country” with their gift, if so called.
“Spellbreakers” is the story of an orphan (through abandonment, not death) and an unregistered spellbreaker named Elsie Camden. Living a mostly quiet life, she works for a low-level physical aspector who is an artist and mason, Ogden, and their home is shared by a maid named Emmeline. Ogden’s magical inclinations are minimal, used mostly in the service of his art. To the best of her knowledge, he has no idea that she has a gift nor that she occasionally uses it in service to a secret society that aims to make the world a more just and safe place.
While carrying out one of these spell breaking tasks, Elsie is caught by a guest of the Duke of Kent. Baccus Kelsey, son of a Brit and a Bajan, lives in Barbados but, as a life-long friend of the Duke and his family, he is visiting while taking his mastery exam as a physical aspector. Baccus agrees to keep Elsie’s secret in exchange for help unraveling some troublesome spells around the Duke’s estate. And the story goes on from there.
Despite the fact that this my pick-up book for almost four months, I did rather enjoy the story and the writing. The tone was warm and let the reader glimpse the thoughts of the characters in subtle ways. It’s pace, while slow to start, provided a myriad of details, painting vivid pictures of the characters and their circumstances.
Once reaching that midway point I mentioned, I read far more speedily right through to the end, which is when I realized I would need to acquire and read book two to satisfy my curiosity of the outcomes.
Because there are a number of surprises and twists (and I’ve now finished book two), I will be intentionally vague to avoid any possible spoilers. If you enjoy historical fiction with a bit of magic and mystery, “Spellbreaker” (Paperback) might be worth a read.
Since I’ve taken laborious measures to warn you of the slow start and the second book, you’ll be more prepared when you undertake a reading of it.
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© 2023 Leigh-Anne Dennison, writer. All rights reserved.
Inclusion of the book’s cover art falls under the fair use doctrine of the United States copyright statute, when reviewing a literary work.
