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

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, Book 1 of the Whimbrel House Series by Charlie L Holmberg

Published By: 47 North
Publication Date: November 1, 2022
Date Read: April 4, 2025
Genre: Adult – Cosy Fantasy
Source: Bought
Format: Audiobook
Pages: 347

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Rhode Island, 1846. Estranged from his family, writer Merritt Fernsby is surprised when he inherits a remote estate in the Narragansett Bay. Though the property has been uninhabited for more than a century, Merritt is ready to call it home—until he realizes he has no choice. With its doors slamming shut and locking behind him, Whimbrel House is not about to let Merritt leave. Ever.

Hulda Larkin of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms has been trained in taming such structures in order to preserve their historical and magical significance. She understands the dangers of bespelled homes given to tantrums. She advises that it’s in Merritt’s best interest to make Whimbrel House their ally. To do that, she’ll need to move in, too.

Prepared as she is with augury, a set of magic tools, and a new staff trained in the uncanny, Hulda’s work still proves unexpectedly difficult. She and Merritt grow closer as the investigation progresses, but the house’s secrets run deeper than they anticipated. And the sentient walls aren’t their only concern—something outside is coming for the enchantments of Whimbrel House, and it could be more dangerous than what rattles within.

“Just because magic is rare does not make it unreal.”

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms is a book that has been on my radar for a little while. I purchased the audio edition of this book without really knowing much about it. It was included in one of Audibles 2 for 1 Credit sales, and I remember thinking that it looks super cute and like something I would like. This book is a whimsical cosy fantasy, which is a genre that I often really love, however this one just didn’t really hit for me. The concept of it was a little bit bizarre and I just remember sat there thinking ‘what the heck is going on?’

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms follows the story of Merritt, who inherits a house in a remote part of the country. Upon moving in, he soon finds that the house is actually a sentient, magical house. Calling for help, Hulda moves in. She works for a society that helps to tame magical households, but there is some danger brewing much bigger than a magical house.

Honestly, I really liked the concept of this book. I usually love books with a sentient house trope. I just love stuff like that, but this one was just a little bit too weird for me. For example, there was one point where the house is trying to ‘eat’ Merrick, and he is falling through floors into basements and such. I was just so confused about the whole thing and it just went on for a little bit too long. I grew very, very bored mid way through the book and there were a few instances where I was debating DNF’ing the whole thing.

I do think that Keeper of Enchanted Rooms will have a huge fanbase. There are a lot of concepts in this book that I’m sure other readers, will absolutely love. However, for me, this one was a bit of a miss for me. It was my first forray into Charlie N Holmberg’s writing, and I don’t think I’ll be rushing to pick up any more of her work in the future. I’m glad I read it, but I’m not sure this author is for me.

“Melancholy things always made for great fiction. The coddled and content seldom told good stories.”