Spellbreaker (Spellbreaker, #1)

by Charlie N. Holmberg

A world of enchanted injustice needs a disenchanting woman in an all-new fantasy series by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Paper Magician.

The orphaned Elsie Camden learned as a girl that there were two kinds of wizards in the world: those who pay for the power to cast spells and those, like her, born with the ability to break them. But as an unlicensed magic user, her gift is a crime. Commissioned by an underground group known as the Cowls, Elsie uses her spellbreaking to push back against the aristocrats and help the common man. She always did love the tale of Robin Hood.

Elite magic user Bacchus Kelsey is one elusive spell away from his mastership when he catches Elsie breaking an enchantment. To protect her secret, Elsie strikes a bargain. She’ll help Bacchus fix unruly spells around his estate if he doesn’t turn her in. Working together, Elsie’s trust in—and fondness for—the handsome stranger grows. So does her trepidation about the rise in the murders of wizards and the theft of the spellbooks their bodies leave behind.

For a rogue spellbreaker like Elsie, there’s so much to learn about her powers, her family, the intriguing Bacchus, and the untold dangers shadowing every step of a journey she’s destined to complete. But will she uncover the mystery before it’s too late to save everything she loves?

• ISBN10: 1542020093
• ISBN13: 9781542020091
• Publish Date: 8 September 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Amazon Publishing
• Imprint: 47North
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 304
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of Spellbreaker in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The author that brought us The Plastic Magician, Charlie N. Holmberg, is back with another series, and I for one could not be more excited about that fact. Spellbreaker is the first in what is set to be a duology, and it is also a world full of magic and more.

Elsie Camden was orphaned at a young age, sent to live at a workhouse, and could easily have been forgotten. If not for her most unique trait – her innate ability to break spells. As an unregistered Spellbreaker, Elsie faces a lot of risks in life. So far, she's felt that it has been worth it.

She used her gift to help others, following the orders of those she believed in, with the hopes of fighting back against a broken system. Then along came Bacchus Kelsey into her life. What starts out as a few tasks (to save her skin), quickly turns into something so much more.

“Spellbreakers were born with the ability to dis-spell magic, and it didn't cost them a farthing.”

Guys, I can't tell you how much I loved Spellbreaker. I devoured it in hours, and was left desperately hoping for more (luckily for me, the arc for the sequel is available on NetGalley, and I jumped on it!)

Spellbreaker was a fun and thrilling magical read, one that was utterly unique and fascinating. I love how complex it was, and how determined Elsie is, despite how hard the world worked to bring her and hers like her down.

Honestly, part of me is almost sad that there's only going to be two novels in this series, as I absolutely adore the world. I also adore the concept of spellbreakers, who are naturals at what they do, and yet highly controlled and monitored (with a few shining – and illegal – exceptions).

“A spellbreaker, born with one kind of magic instead of taught a hundred.”

There are two dominant plots running through Spellbreaker, making it feel like an even faster read than normal. One was driven by Elsie's life, and the other by the intrigue surrounding Bacchus. Both were fascinating, and I can't wait to see how it all develops further.

I should probably have mentioned this sooner, but Spellbreaker is pretty perfect for those that love Victoria era magic and love stories – as this is a blend of all three. Yes, it really is perfect. Now it's time to dive into Spellmaker!

Check out more reviews over a Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[tweetybugshouse]

I am a huge fan of the Paper Magician series as it shows the uniqueness of an author who can develop ​magical systems like this. In this series, we have Spellbreakers who can see a spell and take the knots of it and untangle it to where it no longer works. Their also Spellmakers which take center stage for the second half of this duology.

Our main character is drawn into a world of magical intrigue by a group she has dubbed "the cowls". She balances her duties at a stone masonry and as a rouge Spellbreaker for this group. She becomes entangled with an intriguing gentleman named Bacchus who is also caught up in what turns to be a whole coup.

The balance of what we know and what we learn is so seamless that I was caught up in the same issues as our main character. I was cheering for all the good she believes she is doing and hurt for how things come to light in the end. I dying for the sequel Spellmaker due out in March of 2021.