Charlie N. Holmberg Archives

The Fifth Doll by Charlie N. Holmberg

July 26, 2017 by bubblebathbooks Leave a Comment

The Fifth Doll: After discovering a room full of matryoshka dolls wearing the faces of her village, a woman learns she may be trapped inside one–but unraveling the sorcery carved into each doll unleashes dark consequences that rip her from the only home she remembers.

Bubby:

There are a few rules in the world of fairy tales. One of these rules is, “Don’t touch stuff you don’t understand!” Luckily for us readers, no one ever follows that rule, including The Fifth Doll‘s heroine, Matrona. I can’t blame her though. If I went inside the most beautiful house in my neighborhood and found an entire room full of Russian nesting dolls, each painted with the face of one of my neighbors, I’d touch them too.

Sissy:

That doesn’t surprise me, because you’ve always touched all my stuff. Regardless, I always come to those moments, i.e. when Matrona went into the house and started looking around, and I have a little panic inside. I want the protagonist to turn around and go home and not cause trouble, even though I know there will be no story if they do that.

Bubby:

So what, then? Matrona finds a room of creepy dolls in Slava’s house, chooses to not touch them, leaves quickly so Slava never knows she was there and marries stupid head Feodor? And life continues as it always has? I’m not reading that book!

Sissy:

I know. No risk, no reward. But my inner Fearful Frannie always goes for the safe, easy out. I’m glad that Matrona was not Frannie. The Fifth Doll, I have to say, was downright eerie, bordering on an M. Night Shamalyan movie, slightly east of horror.

Bubby:

So on a scale of Barney the Dinosaur to Stephen King’s IT, you’d rate The Fifth Doll at a particularly good Twilight Zone episode?

Sissy:

Yes. I don’t do horror. You mentioned the word “creepy” in terms of the dolls and I’d say The Fifth Doll had just the right amount of creepy and mysterious mixed in with fantasy and Russian folklore to be fully palatable to me. There are also underlying philosophical nuances, such as free will versus idyllic ignorance and parental love versus reality tough love. I enjoyed all of it.

Bubby:

The romantic choices follow that same philosophical pattern. Should Matrona choose Feodor, the safe man who her parents have picked out for her, the one the village approves of? Or should she throw logic to the wind by following her heart and choosing Jaska, a younger and much less suitable man?

Sissy:

Sexy younger man all day, every day!

Bubby:

Just because you did it doesn’t make it right for everyone, you cougar.

Sissy:

Sissy got it going on! Maybe Matrona does too? The thing that must be mentioned is Charlie N. Holmberg’s outstanding wordsmithery. She describes things and emotions with otherworldly skill, which is why I use the word “wordsmithery” because it’s almost like word sorcery. In previous books she introduced us to paper and glass magicians, among others, but Charlie N. Holmberg is a word magician. Her creative, unique magic and world building in The Fifth Doll proves it.

Bubby:

I love the charming and peaceful Russian village that Matrona lives in. It seems almost too good to be true – perhaps this should have clued me in to what was coming next. I really felt like I was right there in my own little cottage, wearing my sarafan and milking my cow.

Sissy:

Have fun with that.

Bubby:

Shh. You’re ruining my pastoral fantasy. My point is that I was completely drawn into Matrona’s world and I didn’t want to leave it. I enjoyed the slow-building romantic aspect of the story and Slava was a perfectly complex villain – not entirely evil, but definitely the bad guy. My favorite part of the book was the ever-so-slightly sinister ending. I’d tell you more about it but SPOILERS! There are several authors that, if I was a villain like Slava, I’d want to kidnap and keep in a large mansion, each in their own room, forced to quickly write delicious fiction for me and me alone to savor. (I know, it’s really bizarre. Just go with it.) With the addition of The Fifth Doll to her repertoire, Charlie N. Holmberg is now at the top of my list.

Sissy:

Ya soglasna!

Bubby:

Bless you.

Sissy:

That is “I agree” in Russian, dingbat. As in, I agree with what you said about Charlie N. Holmberg in your last paragraph. Readers, you should definitely pick up The Fifth Doll and jump into the most clever twist on a fantasy you’ll read this year.

Click HERE to buy The Fifth Doll by Charlie N. Holmberg

Save

Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg

June 24, 2016 by bubblebathbooks Leave a Comment

Seventeen-year-old Smitha’s wealth, status, and beauty make her the envy of her town—until she rejects a strange man’s marriage proposal and disastrous consequences follow. Smitha becomes cursed, and frost begins to encompass everything she touches. Banished to the hills, hunted by villagers, and chilled to the very core of her soul, she finds companionship with Death, who longs to coax her into his isolated world. But Smitha’s desire for life proves stronger than despair, and a newfound purpose gives her hope. Will regrets over the past and an unexpected desire for a man she cannot touch be enough to warm Smitha’s heart, or will Death forever still it?

Sissy: Followed by Frost is such a different and unexpected story! I was immediately intrigued by how quickly spoiled Smitha’s deeds and attitude turn on her with a vengeance and how she is thrown into one of the worst situations imaginable. Certainly a horrible frosty curse is a great cure for brattiness! I don’t know how well received universal curses for impudent punk teenagers would be, but maybe it would make our world a less entitled place.

Bubby: It’s a very classic fairy-tale type of curse, too. Right up my alley. Can you imagine if you could just tap your sassy teenager and make it so that every unkind or whiny word out of their mouths for 24 hours turned into a slug or a snail? And they were the only ones who could clean up the mess? I think it would be good for everyone! Honestly, we could all use a bit of a cursing every once in a while to remind us of how to behave.

Sissy: Smitha’s journey is very difficult and long, unlike the more speedy uncursings and resolutions of other fantasy or fairy tale characters. That is more true to character for me as it does take a long time and hard circumstances to truly change most of the time. The first part of her cursing is almost too uncomfortable to bear, and her suffering really got to me. Also Sadriel, who is death, really drives me quite batty. I wanted to kill him, but how do you kill death?

Bubby: Yes, Death/Sadriel was a disturbing character. I wanted more interaction with him at the same time that I dreaded each of his scenes. If ever Charlie N. Holmberg writes another book in this same world, I hope that Death shows up and we get to see more of what has to be a very complex character. Everything else about Followed by Frost is so well done and so perfectly crafted that I felt as if I was reading a classic fairytale that had been lost somehow and only revealed now.

Sissy: A lost classic, perhaps, but with a complexity and depth not found in the usual fare. I was so gratified with the appearance of Imad and his king. They brought change and a sense of hope to Followed By Frost that Smitha (and I) desperately needed. The last third and subsequent ending of the tale are fantastic, well imagined, and fantastically written. I loved Charlie N. Holmberg’s Magician series, and although Followed By Frost is an entire departure from that, I completely enjoyed its refreshing uniqueness. I wholeheartedly recommend it!

Bubby: I just can’t get enough of Holmberg’s writing. I need to meet her in person and shower her in chocolate just so she knows how much I love her stories. (Wait, is that creepy? Oh, well.) As with everything Holmberg has written, I love love love Followed by Frost and I was sad when I’d read the last word. So good!

Click HERE to buy Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg

Save

Quick Look At A New Book: The Glass Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

November 7, 2014 by bubblebathbooks Leave a Comment

Three months after returning Magician Emery Thane’s heart to his body, Ceony Twill is well on her way to becoming a Folder. Unfortunately, not all of Ceony’s thoughts have been focused on paper magic. Though she was promised romance by a fortuity box, Ceony still hasn’t broken the teacher-student barrier with Emery, despite their growing closeness. When a magician with a penchant for revenge believes that Ceony possesses a secret, he vows to discover it…even if it tears apart the very fabric of their magical world. After a series of attacks target Ceony and catch those she holds most dear in the crossfire, Ceony knows she must find the true limits of her powers…and keep her knowledge from falling into wayward hands. The delightful sequel to Charlie N. Holmberg’s The Paper Magician, The Glass Magician will charm readers young and old alike.

Sissy: As we said in our review of The Paper Magician, we also read The Glass Magician and recommend that you do so immediately (actually, if you’ve read The Paper Magician, you’ll be absolutely wanting to read the sequel as soon as possible). Again, Charlie Holmberg lets her delightful imagination go wild and this clever second book does not disappoint.

Bubby: I wasn’t sure if Ms. Holmberg could possibly live up to the high standard of writing that she set in her debut book – all too often book two is a pale reflection of book one. Not in this case! If anything, book two is better! Fabulous, creative, romantic, suspenseful – my only issue is that book three isn’t written yet!

Sissy: I especially liked the way the unexpected twist at the end is handled. The romance didn’t move as far along as I wanted it to, but I am patient. Yes I am!

Bubby: No she’s not…

Sissy: Don’t listen to her. She’s just jealous of my epic beauty. Okay, that’s it! The Glass Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg is a winner!

Bubby: For once, I am in total agreement with my (much) elder sister. I am buying these in hard cover and hoping to meet the author someday and get them signed.

Click HERE to buy The Glass Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg at Amazon.com

The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

November 4, 2014 by bubblebathbooks Leave a Comment

Ceony Twill arrives at the cottage of Magician Emery Thane with a broken heart. Having graduated at the top of her class from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined, Ceony is assigned an apprenticeship in paper magic despite her dreams of bespelling metal. And once she’s bonded to paper, that will be her only magic…forever. Yet the spells Ceony learns under the strange yet kind Thane turn out to be more marvelous than she could have ever imagined—animating paper creatures, bringing stories to life via ghostly images, even reading fortunes. But as she discovers these wonders, Ceony also learns of the extraordinary dangers of forbidden magic. An Excisioner—a practitioner of dark, flesh magic—invades the cottage and rips Thane’s heart from his chest. To save her teacher’s life, Ceony must face the evil magician and embark on an unbelievable adventure that will take her into the chambers of Thane’s still-beating heart—and reveal the very soul of the man. From the imaginative mind of debut author Charlie N. Holmberg, The Paper Magician is an extraordinary adventure both dark and whimsical that will delight readers of all ages. (From Amazon.com)

Bubby: It is a rare thing to find an author who is capable of creating a new system of magic that actually makes sense. There is a reason why most books containing magic use the old tried and true kinds of magic – it’s hard to come up with something new and actually do it right. In the Magician series, Charlie N. Holmberg has done the almost-impossible – created something entirely new that not only works, but works beautifully. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg for me. I loved practically everything about this book. The characters, the setting, the plot, the writing – quite possibly the best début book I’ve ever read.

Sissy: I wholeheartedly agree! I am sometimes astounded by the clever workings of people’s imaginations. At the same time I am grateful for new authors who come up with such wondrous things and share them with happy masses. The story of Ceony and Magician Emery Thane is delightful and intriguing and full of surprising magic. In the first book, The Paper Magician, the plot line involves Ceony having to actually traverse the chambers of Emery’s heart–and I marvelled at the author’s ingenious idea. What better way to come to know and love someone than through becoming closely acquainted with their actual heart? (That was not the reason for Ceony being in Emery’s heart, but rather a happy byproduct).

Bubby: Ceony’s growth through the first book was one of my favorite parts. She starts out being upset that she has to become bonded to paper instead of being a Smelter, one who is bonded to metal. (I kinda agree with her on that one – being able to create magical jewelry would really make my life better.) She doesn’t care much for her adviser, Emery Thane and she’s pretty unhappy all around. But by the end of the book, Ceony is a vastly better version of herself. I was surprised that a male author could so accurately write about a woman’s point of view and emotions, especially in the section where Ceony is in Emery’s heart. Imagine my surprise when I realized that Charlie N. Holmberg is actually a girl! It all made more sense to me then.

Sissy: Yeah for girls named Charlie! The evil character in this tale, black magic practitioner Lira, is someone I loved to hate. She is terribly formidable and frightening, and during the intense moments of the tale I experienced physiological symptoms in tandem with events (heart palpitations, adrenaline rushes, hives, hemorrhoids, etc.). My mind was racing right along with Ceony’s trying to figure out what paper spells could defeat those of a powerful excisionist. How she ends up doing it is perfectly masterful. Loved it.

Bubby: Hemorrhoids? Do I need to go buy you some Butt Paste? Sometimes I think you get a little TOO involved in the story, Sissy. Hemorrhoids. Good heavens. I think that I have run out of superlatives with which to describe how fabulous I find The Paper Magician to be. Amazing, fantastic, beautiful, moving, emotional, creative, and the list goes on and on. I hope Charlie N. Holmberg channels her inner Robert Jordan and keeps writing this series until she dies.

Sissy: Butt Paste is undervalued in our society. I thought The Paper Magician was engaging, whimsical, and magical. It is a steampunk style of novel, which means that while set in the Victorian era, it has license to vary from strict historical accuracy. Therefore readers need to just jump in and enjoy the slight quirkiness of it all. There’s a promise of romance which is delightfully underlined at the end of the book, but that doesn’t happen quickly or easily, and in fact drives some of the plot of the second book. Speaking of which…

Bubby: The sequel, The Glass Magician, comes out on November 4th and we’ve already read it and love it. So much so that next Friday’s review is all about The Glass Magician. I adore these books. How much do I love them? A 5-star review’s worth, (if we did such a thing) that’s how much.

Sissy: Thank you Charlie N. Holmberg for existing and writing. Carry on!

Click HERE to buy The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg at Amazon.com

We received this book without cost in exchange for a fair and honest review.