Spellbreaker

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?

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Published Aug 25, 2016

305 pages

Average rating: 8.12

17 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Cantina Book Club
Nov 03, 2025
8/10 stars
In Victorian England, the wealthy can obtain and practice magical abilities by paying for spells. Those who show promise can work towards the coveted title of “Master.” Elsie Camden is a teenager with a unique ability to break spells cast by others; But since she is unregistered, practicing her gift is a crime. Nevertheless, guided by an underground group of rebels she calls the Cowls, she uses her abilities for what she believes to be the greater good. From the writer of the best-selling series The Paper Magician, Charlie N. Holmberg provides another fun yet suspense-filled story with Spellbreaker.

Read my full review of Spellbreaker at The Nerd Cantina.

Listen to my interview with author Charlie N. Holmberg on Episode 117 of The Nerd Cantina podcast.
blewballoon
Nov 21, 2024
8/10 stars
Although I liked the book, it took me a while to get through it and I was forcing myself a bit. I did predict pretty much how everything was going to go fairly early on, but I do think it was in character for the protagonists to miss what the reader would be able to put together. The characters were interesting enough; Elsie grew on me later into her character development. The book feels very much like Elsie's story despite having Bacchus's perspective, and there is a small cast of supporting characters that play into the mystery. Overall it was an okay time and I plan to read the sequel.

Content Warnings:
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexism, Murder, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Ableism and Child death
ItsMeGoomy
Dec 28, 2023
8/10 stars
I enjoy the fantasy aspects of the story.
Joseph Powell
May 21, 2023
10/10 stars
Great book couldn’t wait for spellmaker to come out hope to see #3

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