Spellmaker
2021 • 302 pages • 9h 55m
Ratings17
Average rating3.6
15
Ratings17
Average rating3.6
Through a twist of luck, the elite magic user Bacchus Kelsey helps Elsie join the lawful, but with a caveat: they must marry to prove their cover story. Forced beneath a magical tutor while her bond with Bacchus grows, Elsie seeks to thwart the plans of England's most devious criminal--if she can find them. England, 1895. An unsolved series of magician murders and opus thefts isn't a puzzle to Elsie Camden. But to reveal a master spellcaster as the culprit means incriminating herself as an unregistered spellbreaker. When Elsie refuses to join forces with the charming assassin, her secret is exposed, she's thrown in jail, and the murderer disappears. But Elsie's hope hasn't vanished. With hundreds of stolen spells at their disposal, the villain has a plan--and it involves seducing Elsie to the dark side. But even now that her secret is out, Elsie must be careful how she uses the new abilities she's discovering, or she may play right into the criminal's hands.
Featured Series
2 primary booksSpellbreaker Duology is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2020 with contributions by Charlie N. Holmberg.
Reviews with the most likes.
Charlie Holmberg weaves a truly fantastic world through the Spellbreaker Duology. I really enjoyed how the magic system worked in these two books, and book 2 really bright to light some of the more interworkings of how spells are learned and passed down through the generations.
However, I do feel book 1 told a better, more thrilling story with better character development, book 2 was still quite enjoyable all the same. I hope to read more novels set in the same world in the future.
This was so disappointing.
The series description and initial set-up make it seem as if the novel will be invested in upsetting the systems of power that create severe inequity and oppression. Instead, by the end of this book, I'm left with the impression that the author is truly more invested in a world that is peaceful rather than just.
I don't know if the issues I have with the book are more to do with its themes or the poor execution of what is otherwise a good idea. I think that in more recent books, readers and authors have become enamoured with the idea of a sympathetic villain; one whose motives and emotions you can sympathize with even if you don't agree with their means. However, I think that sort of villain is incredibly difficult to pull off without absolutely invalidating their worldview, which is what I think happened here. If you make me sympathize with your villain's goals (particularly if they are fighting to end systemic inequity), then I need to see narrative and character investment in ending those inequities even after your villain has been nullified. Otherwise, it seems as if the book is suggesting (which is what happened here), that rather than incredibly flawed systems, the real problem is individuals like the villain. And really, the world as it currently is is not that bad wouldn't you know
I have recently fallen in love with Charlie N Holmberg. I thought the “Paper Magician” trilogy (+1) was fantastic, however, the “Spellbreaker” duology has become one of my favourite fantasy stories ever. I do hope Charlie continues the series somehow in the future.
