A lovely cozy fantasy for anyone looking for a joyful reading experience. The world created by Durst felt much more fleshed-out and tangible than other cozy fantasy stories I've read. I can't wait to read more from this author in this genre!

The Spellshop was such a heart-warming experience to read. I sat down and started this book one morning and did not put it down until it was finished. Sarah Beth Durst was able to have me feel a wide variety of emotions while still having this be a cozy experience. I can not wait until I can read more in this world. Highly recommend to anyone who wants a cozy and heartwarming read.

I loved THE SPELLSHOP which is not an unpopular opinion. Sarah Beth Durst does what she does best here and creates a wholly original magical world for the reader to steep in. I have never read a book like THE SPELLSHOP and was delighted time and time again by every new reveal. It's not a traditional romance with the familiar beats of a kiss every fifty pages, a sex scene, and a break up. It's gentler in all aspects than what I expect from either a romance or a fantasy novel. Lovely, refreshing, and endlessly rereadable.

The Spellshop follows librarian Kiela and her sentient pet plant Caz as they flee a revolution and settle down in Kiela's hometown, which is on an isolated island. Her parents' old home, a cozy forested cottage, has been left to her. She plans to start a new chapter of her life here as her old profession is left in shambles after the library was burned down. She recused some of the library's holdings and smuggled them with her; most of which are spellbooks. Technically it is illegal for non-sorcerers to practice magic, so possessing these books is a crime. Kiela is in need of food and other essentials. She doesn't have a way to make money to buy some, so she needs to grow her own food. The cottage has an unattended garden, but obviously growing food takes time. She references a spellbook to look for spells to help plants grow, and combined with a family recipe for jam, starts her own jam shop. Maybe she can use "family recipes" to help the other people on the island out, as the island used to have some sorcerers visit and cast spells to help with the weather and other areas to improve their life, but they've stopped coming out years ago. Kiela's old cottage is also in need of some upkeep and new bookshelves-- luckily there is a very handy and attractive neighbor, Laran, who can help out.

This is a very cute and cozy romantic fantasy story. If you like romantic slice-of-life, you'll like this. It appeals to readers of all sorts because she is a librarian who not only loves books, but she also saves a whole bunch from destruction. Also, the sentient spider plant appeals to many a millennial and their houses full of plants. :) If the synopsis sounds interesting to you, I think you'll get exactly what you're looking for if you pick this up. This is an author I've been meaning to pickup for quite some time, so I will have to go and try out some of her previous works. She does write across many different age groups and genres; given this book she seems to be a talented writer!

This warmhearted and cozy romantic fantasy is like warm summer winds blowing through the fields and bringing the scent of adventure. Joining our shy protagonist as she discovers the world right outside her front door with an amazing and lively cast of sidekicks, friends, and spellbooks - you won't be disappointed to pick up this novel and be transported to her magical island. I loved every moment that I got to spend in this wonderful world and highly recommend it for anyone looking for a book about finding family and purpose with a dash of magic!

A great cozy fantasy for readers to enjoy. Fun worldbuilding and lovable characters. Perfect for those looking for a fantasy escape.

If you are looking for something with some romance, magic, and all the cozy vibes you can handle then check out The Spellshop! I really loved this set up and how the humans in this one were super bland but other creatures/beings in this story were so amazing!! I loved how the main characters grew through the story and the ending was epic in a cozy way. I can not wait to get my hands-on the next one.

I apologize for the lateness of this review. What a warm hug of a book. It was like all the best fairytales, full of fantastical creatures and compelling characters. Having the heroine be a librarian introvert was icing on the cake. Thank you for allowing me to read this book.

3.5 stars

I’m not sure I’m totally cut out for cozy fantasy, but this was super cute! The love interest was a sweetie cutie pie and the story wasn’t wholly without plot. But I do think I need a bit more of it. This, however, is the best cozy fantasy I have read.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is an enchanting and whimsical story that will captivate readers with its imaginative world of magic. The protagonist, Kellen, is a relatable and likable character, and her journey to take over her family's spellshop is both heartwarming and adventurous. The magical system is well-crafted, with interesting twists that keep the plot engaging. While the pacing can sometimes feel a bit slow, the story is rich in charm, and the relationships between characters are well-developed. Overall, The Spellshop is a delightful read that fans of fantasy will truly enjoy, even if it doesn't fully hit every note.

The coziest and cutest little fantasy! This had just the right amount of soft romance, fantasy elements and quirkiest little creatures around. It was immersive and all I wanted to do was sink into it! I am so looking forward to Sarah’s next. Books! This was excellent.

Super cute cozy fantasy. I had a fun time with this one - definitely a perfect fall read.

Also not about the book specifically but I loooooove the cover.

Absolutely loved this story! I think this is one of the best cozy fantasy books I have ever read! I felt like there was actual conflict but not so much that it felt heavy. There were so many lovable characters and I love how they all came together as a family! ❤️ Kiela and Caz were such a great duo and I felt like I could see myself in them, their love of books and their willingness to help others. The fantasy aspects of this book were so whimsical and imaginative. ✨ I felt like I could vividly picture what the author was describing without the author needing to go into excruciating detail. I will be telling everyone that they need to read this book!!! 📖

The Spellshop is an absolutely adorable cozy fantasy novel with a wide array of magical creatures, plants, and beings. Cozy fantasy is not usually my favorite sub genre of fantasy, but this one was just too cute not to love!

Starting with the characters, I think I loved every single character in this story. They’re all unique and lovable and funny, while also being flawed in the most beautiful ways. We get some excellent neurodiverse rep, including a presumably autistic MC and an anxiety ridden talking plant who may be my favorite character in the whole book. The character interactions and relationships were so sweet, and I loved the budding romance in the book.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I enjoyed this book. If you like cozy fantasy, I recommend it. However, it’s also been referred to as fantasy romance and I don’t think that is accurate. There is a sweet romance, but it is not a major part of the story.

The characters are wonderful. I had no idea how a sentient spider plant would work, but I loved Caz. The fact that Kiela had lived on the island when she was a child made the quick bonds she formed believable. And as a librarian myself, I loved that aspect of the book. I completely related with her desire to just hide away from the world with her books.

The plot dragged a bit for a while, but an event caused it to pick and I enjoyed it much more after that. I was happy with the ending and will definitely read more books by Sarah Beth Durst.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble for providing me with the eARC for this book.

✨The Spellshop Review✨
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Rating: 4.5/5 stars
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The Spellshop is such a wonderful and cozy story! It features Kiela, a librarian, and Caz, a sentient spider plant and Keila's best friend. They work at the Great Library of Alyssium until it is burned down during a revolution. Kiela and Caz save as many spellbooks as they can and flee to a tiny rural island where Kiela lived as a child. Forced to adapt to a rural lifestyle, Kiela and Caz learn new skills (including gardening and making jam), figure out how to make friends (difficult as Kiela has social anxiety), and discover how they can contribute to the overall wellbeing of their new community.
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Things I loved:
- Caz was hands down my favorite character. He's sarcastic and sassy, and his friendship with Kiela was adorable and heartwarming.
- Kiela's introversion and social anxiety were relatable, and I loved following along as she reconnected with the island community and become friends with her new neighbors.
- The romance subplot - this book is marketed as a romance, and it is, however I found the romance to be secondary and complimentary to the main plotline vs. being the main plotline, which I quite liked. The grumpy (FMC)/sunshine dynamic was well done, and their journey from neighbors to friends to romance was very sweet. (Note: for those who are curious, there is no spice.)
- The cozy feeling throughout this story - the author notes that she set out to make a story that reads like drinking hot chocolate, and she succeeded.
- The way this story explored community, starting over, learning new skills/self-discovery, and reexamining your assumptions.
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I didn't quite love:
- it did feel like the ending was rushed, with a higher stakes plotline suddenly emerging and then being solved in a very sshort amount of time. It felt a bit abrupt and like it wasn't allowed to breathe and develop naturally the way the rest of the story did.
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This was one of my favorite reads and I would highly recommend it to those looking for a cozy fantasy with relatively low stakes and a sweet romance. If you like slice-of-life or cute cottage-core stories, this would be a great book for you.
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I would not recommend this to anyone who is looking for a story with a ton of action or high-stakes. This is a very sweet book, so if you're in the mood for or prefer heavier fantasy books, this one probably isn't going to work for you.
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*Thank you to Netgalley and Bramble for the eARC, which was given in exchange for an honest review*

🎧 THE SPELLSHOP by Sarah Beth Durst
Genre: fantasy
3 stars

💭: i think if i read the physical i would’ve loved it so much, but the audio didn’t do it for me. It was the definition of a cozy cottagecore light fantasy read with magic and spells and woodland forests. Great vibes but not for me

I absolutely adored this cozy fantasy read. It's definitely a must-read for those who want to curl up on the couch for the night with a blanket, a cup of tea, and be transported into the wonderful world that Sarah Beth Durst has created. The characters are so much fun, and who would have thought I'd fall in love with a talking spider plant? But Caz is the best! I need a Caz in my life!

Sarah Beth Durst’s The Spellshop is the perfect cozy romance pick me up to cure your summertime sadness!
Set in a magical world where only the elite are permitted to wield magic, The Spellshop is a heartwarming tale of social justice, found family, grief, and community. Durst delivers beautiful landscapes, colorful characters, and an emotional journey many will relate to. Reading this book felt like taking the first bite of a freshly baked cookie. It is warm, sweet, and leaves you wishing there were more.
The story follows a surly librarian named Kiela. When a revolution breaks out in the capital city of Alyssium, Kiela is forced to flee with a stockpile of forbidden magical tomes before she and the books burn in the chaos. Kiela and her library assistant, a talking, sentient plant named Caz find their way to Kiela’s remote childhood home on the remote island of Caltrey. There, she cleverly disguises the stolen texts in a seaside cottage left to her by her dearly departed parents.
Soon after arriving on Caltrey, Kiela realizes she’ll need to forge relationships with the islanders in order to survive. With little knowledge on how to live in a world outside of the library, she must rely on the kindness of her neighbors to survive and thrive on the island. All while hiding from the unrest in the capital. One of those neighbors is a handsome merhorse herder named Larran who has a tragic past of his own.
While Kiela may have escaped the death and destruction in the capital, it was only a matter of time before it would make its way to Caltrey and test the bonds of her new relationships and threaten the safety of the entire Island.
Hurst does a fantastic job of keeping heavy topics such as grief, loss, and social unrest relevant without bogging the reader down. The Spellshop is an enjoyable read that tugs just enough at your heartstrings while leaving you feeling fulfilled by the end. Kiela is such a relatable character for any introverted book nerd. You can’t help but root for her. When Kiela’s secret is threatened to be exposed she delivers one of my favorite quotes of the book: “Whoever cast this spell clearly cared more for what was right than what was the law.”
Another aspect of the book I thoroughly enjoyed was all of the personalities of the neighbors. While they have fur, antlers, blue skin, and even some with wings, they distinctly represent people we might find in our own neighborhoods. The elderly woman who knows everything there is to know about the town, the welcoming rebel who befriends you without asking, the grumpy old man who hates change and wants you to stay off their lawn, they’re all in this book.
If I could change anything about the book, I would have liked to see a bit more context for the revolution. The hoarding of resources is something I think we can all understand, but I think a little more background information on how the imperial family came into power, how the laws for the use of magic were written, and how the rebel cause came to power would have given the book more depth.
I would have also liked a little spice when it comes to Kiela and Larran’s love story. Maybe I’ve been reading too much smut, but the lack of spice was a tiny bit disappointing and made the ending seem rushed. Overall, I still find the emotional growth they share to redeem the lack of spice.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Spellshop! It’s the perfect book to take on a summer roadtrip, to sit by the pool or beach and soak up some sunshine, or anytime you need a literary hug. I think the book is great as a standalone, but I wouldn’t mind returning to Caltrey for more adventures with Kiela and Caz.