Whimbrel House is changing. Merritt and Hulda are raising a family. Owein has signed a marriage contract with the magically compatible Lady Cora, a heavyweight of British nobility who’s an ocean away. And the lovely shape-shifting druid Fallon makes a distractingly fetching friend for Owein. But another change is in the air, and this time it’s something wicked.
The greatest wizard of the millennium, Silas Hogwood, is back—after five years dead. New body, same foul scent, and driven by madness and revenge. Owein, fearing he isn’t strong enough to fend off Silas, seeks Cora’s help and influence in England. Alarms ringing, Queen Victoria dispatches her League of Magicians, including her personal necromancer, to aid in Owein’s defense.
As magic, both good and evil, converges on Blaugdone Island, Owein realizes how harrowing the forces against them are. Combating them will require some digging—literally—for half-formed secrets of magic Hulda doesn’t want him to have. But no promise, lock, or government red tape will keep Owein from doing what’s necessary to protect those he loves. One way or another, Silas will only take Whimbrel House over Owein’s third dead body.
Wizard of Most Wicked Ways by Charlie N. Holmberg is the 4th book in the Whimbrel House series. It was released March 4, 2025 from 47North.
My Thoughts: I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.
It began slowly, but that gave time for showing character growth, especially in Owein. I did find it a little agonizing because I like the characters a lot and knew bad things were in store for them. In his previous appearances, Silas seemed to be motivated solely by greed. Now he still seems greedy, but also like he's losing his sanity. Once the action started, things moved along at a better pace.
This should not be read as a standalone. There are references to earlier books that would be better understood if the previous volumes have been read. Plus, only then can you really appreciate the changes in the characters.
I did get a little teary near the end of the book. To me, that means it was well-written and the characters are mostly sympathetic. Also, I thought it was the last book in the series, but it appears there will be at least one more.
I would recommend this book to others who've read the series. And I would recommend the series to those who enjoy historical fantasy.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This did not affect my opinions nor my review.
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