Charlie N. Holmberg

The Shattered King series

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Adult

Tags: Dark Fantasy, Romantasy

The Shattered King series is a slow-burn dark fantasy set in a kingdom where healing is the only legal form of magic—and even that comes at a cost. When Nym, a gifted healer and reluctant court pawn, is summoned to treat a mysterious and cursed prince, she’s pulled into a world of twisted politics, forbidden power, and a slow unraveling of secrets that threaten everything she loves. Rich in emotional depth, castle intrigue, and magical mystery, this series explores the line between duty and desire, and the price of unlocking the truth.

Perfect for fans of character-driven fantasy with romantic tension, castle settings, and a touch of the gothic.

Followed by Frost

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Young Adult

Followed by Frost is a haunting and heartfelt standalone fantasy about redemption, love, and the chilling consequences of a hardened heart. When 17-year-old Smitha rejects a suitor with cruelty, she's cursed to be as cold as her demeanor—literally. Her touch brings frost, and her presence turns seasons to winter. Cast out and feared, she becomes a wandering legend, struggling to survive a world that sees her as a monster. But in the midst of exile, she finds a spark of hope—and a chance to thaw not just the world around her, but her own soul.

With lyrical prose and fairy-tale flair, Holmberg crafts a tale of transformation that’s both tender and magical.

A Crack in the Stone: A Followed by Frost Short Story

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Young Adult

A Crack in the Stone is a companion short story to Followed by Frost, offering a fresh perspective on the events and characters from the original tale. Told from the point of view of a stonemason whose path crosses with the cursed girl of winter, this quiet, emotionally resonant piece explores how even the smallest acts of kindness can ripple through a person’s life. It's a brief but touching addition that adds depth and heart to Holmberg’s wintry world.

Perfect for fans of Followed by Frost who want one more glimpse into its enchanted, frostbitten landscape.

Whimbrel House series

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Adult

Tags: Cozy Fantasy, Historical Fantasy

The Whimbrel House series is a witty, warm, and enchanting historical fantasy full of magical houses, sentient dogs, ghostly wizards, and quiet romance. Set in a whimsical 19th-century world where the magical and mundane coexist, the series follows reclusive writer Merritt Fernsby and house-tamer Hulda Larkin as they unravel the secrets of a stubbornly haunted estate—and grow into unexpected magic, love, and parenthood along the way.

Brimming with quirky charm, cozy tension, and creeping danger, this series is perfect for fans of Howl’s Moving Castle, The House in the Cerulean Sea, and magical stories with emotional depth and lighthearted whimsy.

Charlie N. Holmberg's Book of Magic: The Ultimate Fantasy Author's Guide to Magic Systems

Genre: Nonfiction

Audience: Adult

Charlie N. Holmberg's Book of Magic is a practical, witty, and insightful guide for writers looking to craft original, compelling magic systems in their fantasy stories. Drawing from years of experience as a bestselling author and writing instructor, Holmberg breaks down the essential elements of magical worldbuilding—from schools and laws of magic to its ripple effects on plot and setting.

Complete with worksheets, examples, and creative exercises, this guide is a must-have resource for speculative fiction authors at any stage of their journey

The Paper Magician series

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Young Adult

The Paper Magician series is a whimsical and heartfelt fantasy adventure set in a world where magic is bound to manmade materials—paper, glass, plastic, and more. When brilliant young magician Ceony Twill is unwillingly apprenticed to a paper magician, she discovers a form of magic far more powerful, imaginative, and dangerous than she expected. From folding enchanted creatures to facing dark Excisioners who wield flesh magic, Ceony’s journey weaves together romance, discovery, and battles both external and emotional.

With a blend of charming worldbuilding and quietly intense stakes, this series explores the bonds between teacher and student, the power of unconventional magic, and the courage it takes to change fate. A delightful choice for readers who enjoy cozy fantasy with a dash of peril and a slow-burn love story.

Still the Sun

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Adult

Tags: Romantasy

Still the Sun is a haunting and imaginative romantic fantasy that unfolds on a sun-drenched planet where ancient machines hold the keys to an alien past—and possibly a future no one expected. Pell, an engineer in her isolated village, is summoned to restore towering mechanical ruins controlled by enigmatic figures known as the tower keepers. As installation proceeds, Pell loses her grip on memory and self—haunted by visions of what might be and what once was.

Tense and atmospheric, the story weaves together mystery, slow-burn romance, and speculative worldbuilding, revealing deeper truths about identity, legacy, and love.

Fans of magical realism with a sci‑fi bent and deeply drawn characters will find this novel both unsettling and spellbinding

Veins of Gold

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Adult

Tags: Historical Fantasy

Veins of Gold is a lyrical historical fantasy set in the rugged American West, where magic runs beneath the earth and the price of survival is steep. Gentry, abandoned by her father during the gold rush, struggles to keep her family afloat in a land that seems to be unraveling. When earthquakes and strange phenomena begin to plague the region, she meets Winn—a mysterious man who can manipulate the land’s hunger using gold.

Blending quiet romance, mythic magic, and frontier grit, this novel explores the tension between duty and freedom, wealth and wonder. It’s a tender, atmospheric tale perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli, slow-burn fantasy, and magical realism in historical settings.

Nerds of Happy Valley series

Genre: Romance

Audience: Adult

The Nerds of Happy Valley series is a sweet, geeky, slow-burn contemporary romance collection that celebrates found family, second chances, and the joy of being unapologetically yourself. Each book follows a different couple navigating love, self-worth, and nerdy hobbies—from roller derby and IT help desks to live-action roleplay and superhero fandoms.

With plenty of humor, heart, and relatable insecurities, this series is perfect for fans of character-driven rom-coms featuring lovable introverts, strong heroines, and quirky, heartfelt settings.

Numina Series

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Adult

Tags: Epic Fantasy, Romantasy

The Numina Series is a fast-paced, high-stakes fantasy adventure set in a gritty, industrial world fueled by magic and corruption. It follows Sandis, a rare human vessel capable of hosting powerful ancient spirits known as numina. Controlled and weaponized by a cruel master, Sandis makes a desperate escape and teams up with Rone, a clever thief with a device that grants him one minute of invincibility per day. As they race to stay ahead of ruthless enemies and unravel dark conspiracies, the line between monster and hero blurs—and the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

With intense action, rich mythology, and a thread of slow-burn romance, this series will appeal to fans of epic battles, dark magic, and fierce heroines willing to defy the system.

The Hanging City

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Adult

Tags: Romantasy

The Hanging City is a lush, romantic fantasy set in a crumbling world where trolls and humans are enemies—and one woman’s cursed power may be the only bridge between them. On the run and out of options, Lark’s ability to cast fear makes her both dangerous and valuable. Seeking refuge in the brutal troll city of Cagmar, suspended over an endless chasm, she finds unexpected purpose as a monster slayer… and even more unexpectedly, love.

But survival in Cagmar comes with rules—rules that could destroy everything she’s begun to care about. With vivid worldbuilding, high emotional stakes, and a slow-burn romance across enemy lines, The Hanging City is a thrilling tale of resilience, identity, and the transformative power of fear.

Star Mother duology

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Adult

Tags: Romantasy

The Star Mother duology is a radiant, myth-inspired romantasy that blends celestial magic, immortal love, and the quiet power of human resilience. In Star Mother, Ceris offers her life to birth a star for the Sun God—but instead of dying, she wakes 700 years in the future, setting off a journey across realms with a fugitive godling. In Star Father, a farm girl named Aija rescues a fallen god from a war between sun and moon, only to find herself drawn into a love that could transcend mortality.

With poetic prose and a world woven from cosmic lore, this duology is perfect for readers who love slow-burn romance, quiet heroines with inner strength, and spiritual journeys wrapped in fantasy wonder.

Spellbreaker duology

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Adult

Tags: Cozy Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Romantasy

The Spellbreaker duology is a charming and clever historical fantasy set in Victorian England, where magic is tightly controlled—and those born with the power to undo it live in secret. Elsie Camden is one such spellbreaker, using her illegal gifts to help the powerless and disrupt the magical elite. But when her underground work puts her in the path of the enigmatic Bacchus Kelsey, their uneasy alliance quickly deepens into something more… even as they’re pulled into a mystery of murdered wizards and stolen enchantments.

Blending slow-burn romance, magical politics, and a Robin Hood spirit, this duology is perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy with rich worldbuilding, cozy tension, and moral complexity.

The Will and the Wilds

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Young Adult

Tags: Romantasy

The Will and the Wilds is a lyrical, romantic standalone fantasy steeped in folklore and danger. To protect her family from invading mystings—creatures from the Wildwood—Enna makes a bargain with one of them. But the deal backfires, binding her mind to the mysting Maekallus, whose soul is slowly slipping into corruption. As their fates become entwined, Enna must navigate forbidden magic, ancient secrets, and a growing connection that defies every rule of her world.

With fairy-tale elegance, deep emotional tension, and a richly imagined magical realm, this novel is perfect for readers who love forbidden romance, creature lore, and quiet strength.

The Fifth Doll

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Adult

The Fifth Doll is a dark, enchanting standalone fantasy with a folkloric twist. When dutiful Matrona stumbles upon a hidden room filled with magical nesting dolls—each one eerily tied to a villager—her world begins to unravel. As she’s forced to open her own dolls one by one, buried secrets, painful truths, and an impossible reality come to light. What lies inside the final doll could change not only her fate, but the fate of her entire village.

Laced with mystery, psychological tension, and fairy-tale atmosphere, The Fifth Doll is a haunting tale of identity, control, and the cost of knowing too much.

Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Adult

Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet is a lyrical and haunting standalone fantasy about identity, memory, and the power woven into what we create. Maire is a baker who can infuse her pastries with emotions and abilities—but she doesn’t know why, or even who she truly is. When she’s captured and forced to bake magical, fairy tale–inspired creations for a mysterious master, her only hope lies in the cryptic visits of a ghostly figure named Fyel. As her memories begin to return, Maire uncovers a deeper, cosmic story of love, loss, and redemption.

Blending fairy tale motifs with mythic undertones and a surreal, dreamlike atmosphere, this is a quiet yet powerful story about the weight of past lives and the sweetness of second chances.