The first book in the Whimbrel House series was so wonderful and complete, it might have seemed impossible that author Charlie N. Holmberg could create a sequel as compelling and gripping and touching as that first novel. Well, now we have the third novel in this fantasy series, “Boy of Chaotic Making,” and this story is just as lovely, filled with the same characters we have come to admire for their strengths and their failings, and with a plot that definitely keeps us guessing.

Even though the name of the series is “Whimbrel House,” in this story we spend scant time there. Instead, Holmberg takes us to London, England, where none other than Queen Victoria has invited Merritt Fernsby and his great great (and many more greats) uncle Owein to visit. Her ulterior motive is plainly expressed. Owein is a dog with the soul of a human, due to circumstances outlined in the first two books. The Royal Family in England is full of strong magic, but as we learn in this series, with every subsequent generation, magic dwindles. So because Owein’s magic is stronger, being older magic, she offers to find him a human body in exchange for his marrying into her family. To keep the royal bloodlines filled with powerful magic, of course.

Merritt is thrilled that Owein will possibly be able to get a human body again, after so many centuries of being first a house, then more recently a dog. And a dog’s life span is short, so this needs to happen soon. The two travel to London full of optimism. They stay with a cousin of the Queen, whose daughter is the one who would be marrying Owein — if a suitable body can be found. Cora is only thirteen but appears demure and willing to abide by whatever her parents and her queen demand. Her sister, Briar, is not so complacent.

Briar was wed in an arranged marriage and she’s not happy about it. She doesn’t want the same for her sister, and she’s very vocal about it. And when strange things start happening that threaten Merritt’s safety, like the ceiling in the bedroom he was to sleep in collapsing, the whole process is in jeopardy. Hulda follows Merritt to England to make sure that he and Owein are safe, and her dire premonitions are, as usual, more confusing than helpful.

Holmberg delights us with the magical antics and the nonstop action. She makes us care even more about Hulda, who is now the director of BIKER, the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms, and makes us care as well about the others. This book works best for readers who have read the first two books in the series, so that the backstory and magical references are familiar. Not knowing the background of Merritt’s and Hulda’s love story would make these references a bit confusing. But to those who are familiar with the other novels in the series, this is a beautifully conceived, delightful magical adventure and one which we don’t want to end. There’s no fear of that as Holmberg makes it clear that Hulda and Merritt’s adventures are far from over.

This review was first posted on Bookreporter.com.