This was super fun! I liked the characters, the setting, and the plot. It did indeed feel a lot like a warm hug as intended and I appreciated that there were some actual stakes involved and that the problems weren't immediately solved. Overall, I really enjoyed this!

The best way I can describe this book is that it feels exactly like the experience of running around in the woods with my cousin when we were kids making “magic potions” out of leaves and berries. A very soft and gentle read where everything magically works out exactly the way it needs to.

I absolutely loved this book!! This should be the poster child for Cozy Cottagecore books. All of the characters are well developed, and where a pleasure to get to know.

If you like cozy fantasy you will be right at home!
This has all the cottagecore vibes you could ever want.
It's soft and magical, and honestly the vibes inside the book absolutely match the cover.
Love love love!

Gorgeous cover with a gorgeous book to match. I loved the world, loved the romance. Loved the cosy vibes, This absolutely hit the
Legends and Lattes spot.

Like the author mentioned in the acknowledgement reading this was like drinking a hot chocolate, comforting, warm, sweet and overall satisfying.
I got about half way through and took a few month break as I was a little bored while reading, it may have been the wrong book wrong time thing though. I found this dragged a bit and was a bit too long, half/1/3 of the book was set up and then the last quarter flew by with lots of things happening. I liked the side characters better than Keila the MC, I especially like Caz the sentient spider plant.
This book is perfect for fans of cozy fantasy to cozy up with a warm blanket on a cool fall day.

✨ Publication date: July 9, 2024✨

The Spellshop is what I would call a cozy fantasy written by Sarah Beth Durst. This is my first book by this author.

Kiela is a librarian trusted with an important section of books in the Capital city. Kiela spends most of her time with a magical sentient spider plant and her books. When the Capital falls to the rebel warriors, Kiela and Caz flee the city with as many books as their boat can carry. They end up on the small Island where Kiela grew up.

Kiela and Caz hide the spellbooks they brought with them in Kiela’s family’s old cottage. As Kiela relearns Island life she sees the townspeople and the magical beings that inhabit the land are suffering.

The Capital is supposed to send sorcerers to attend to the weather, plants and magic of the island and because of the unrest ,haven’t been there in many years.

Kiela learns a few small spells from the books she brought to help the small island but magic is forbidden unless you are a sorcerer. As Kiela continues to warm up to island life she finds a companion in what she would have once called her nosy neighbour. When the Capital sends an investigator to the island to look into reports of rogue magic, the little life Kiela is building could be ruined.

This was an okay book. While I enjoyed the magic creatures and some of the storyline I find the magic system and magical world building was completely missing. There was some cool magical creatures with absolutely no background or details. I would have liked more character depth as well. This is a 3 star read for me.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #sarahbethdurst #thespellshop

This book was such a cozy and enjoyable read. There were so many aspects of this book I adored; Caz (!), Meep, the pine cone coven, the characters and their fierce friendships, a cozy cottage turned jam shop, a love interest that builds book shelves (we all need one of those), bear tree spirits, and so much more! I really enjoyed exploring Caltrey and getting to know this tight knit town. The only thing I wished we heard more of was the rebellion or had a better resolution regarding that aspect of the story. The conflicts in this story were easily (at times too easily) resolved/wrapped up and I kept wondering what happened with the rebellion or if we would come up against a bigger conflict with that storyline.
The author set out to write a book that felt like a cozy cup of hot chocolate and I would absolutely say she hit the mark on that.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced electronic version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a lovely and heartwarming cozy fantasy. It’s about a librarian who secretly learns spells to help the townspeople. How could I not pick this up? I’ve read a couple of Durst’s books and she really shines in her descriptions of the natural world. I loved following Keila and Caz as they learn about their new environment and wander the forest healing trees and such. Keila is forced to interact with others to survive, we see her true personality blossom. It’s beautiful! The vibe is everything I want in a cozy fantasy: baked goods, small town, forest, magic, and romance. It was slow moving but in a good way like a leisurely stroll.

Durst makes sure to throw in some high stakes situations to keep things interesting. Nothing ever feels too dark or dire. Even in the midst of danger, the characters rally around each other to protect one another. I loved the simple messages of doing what is right, found families, and a personal favorite - in this time of all-time high book bans - that knowledge is valuable and should be accessible to anyone.

“Books should be shared with everyone who wants to open their minds and hearts to them.”

This book was so sweet. Kiela was a relatable main character, especially since I'm a librarian, and so cute. Her friendship with Caz was lots of fun and watching her grow throughout the novel was a delightful experience. Though her naivety at the beginning was a bit frustrating, she quickly grew out of it, and are lots of other enjoyable aspects to distract from it. Larran and the merhorses were so fun! I loved how their relationship developed, how caring he is. I appreciated Kiela asserting some boundaries and him being understanding and supportive. (low bar? haha) Her friend group is a delight. I appreciate supportive female friendships and it made the second half of the book even better.
Overall, an excellent choice for any cozy fantasy fan.

Thank you publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

I went in to this not expecting much and was completely blown away! The blend of romance, baking and magic with the cottagecore vibes and the tiny seaside town setting gave me such heavy Kiki’s delivery service feels! Definitely one of my top reads of the year!

Well if that wasn't the most charming book I've read all year! It was just as cozy as it purported to be. The world building is not super dense, but certainly sufficient to give you a picture of the fantastical setting. The characters are delightful and fairly well drawn. I think the best part though is the kindness and community infused into the book. At (almost) every turn the characters choose kindness and supporting their community over self interest which feels more magical that merhorses. It was a delight to read and I would suggest it as an into to fantasy for people who think they don't like fantasy. It's absolutely about found family, and home with a sprinkling of romance, and a titch of adventure.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst gives me Hallmark, magic, cozy romantasy vibes. The elements of found family and the cozy magic mystery make you feel like you're wrapped up in a warm blanket with a cup of something hot. The start of this book throws you right into the story, immediately enveloping the audience in the recent life and times of our main character. This is a book that I would recommend to people who are cozy mystery readers and want to branch out to something new. I would also recommend this to readers of Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree; cozy romantasy is making its way. Great read.

a cozy cottagecore fantasy with a lovable ensemble of a cast and a sweet romance at its core. highly recommend for autumn!

Thank you to Tor for sending me an eARC of The Spellshop for an honest review.

First off, I would die for Caz (a sarcastic sentient spider plant) and Meep (no spoilers, but equally adorable). Unfortunately, the rest of the book doesn't live up to their level.

Kiela was a fine main character, but she felt unreasonably prickly at the beginning and took a moment to settle in. The romance was cute, if a bit rushed, and I did like most of the town characters. Some of the antagonists were pretty one dimensional, only there to serve the plot and having no real depth.

I did really enjoy the fantastical elements, like the cloud bears and flying cats, but I feel like this book only brushed the surface of magical concepts that could have been so interesting. Still, the kelpies and talking plants did win me over.

I think ultimately, The Spellshop tried to do too much outside of just a cozy fantasy with animals and found family. Politics and kingdoms were added, but they never fully made sense and didn't add much to the story. Overall, they made the story weaker and took time away from elements that could have been expanded on instead.

The Spellshop is an exciting debut in the hugely popular and growing segment of Romantasy - combining fantasy and romance.

For the past ten years, Kiela has been a librarian at the Great Library keeping guard over the magic spell books for the elite of Allysium. When a revolution occurs, she and her assistant, a magical spider plant named Caz, try to salvage the books while fleeing to the island where she grew up. Once on the island, all Kiela wants is to be left alone to read and grow berries for her new jam shop. She quickly meets the local residents and learns the art of cooperation in a small community. When her path continues to cross with her handsome but nosy neighbor, sparks fly and a romance begins.

Filled with magical and human creatures, Durst’s debut combines community, love, magic and plants within a cozy cottage atmosphere. The Spellshop offers readers an escape from reality to a delightful and whimsical world of kindness and community. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy.

Look, it may not be for everyone, but I'm willing to over look a little bit of "too convenient" for the sake of a good cozy fantasy. peers reading this have complained about a lack of action but that is exactly what I love about this book. low-stakes and cozy to the core I loved this one

The Spellshop is a charming fantasy romance from a promising debut author. Sarah Beth Durst has created a beautiful and engaging story with good world building, lovable characters and a cozy plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one from this author.

This book was absolutely amazing. As soon as I finished it I ordered the hardcover with the purple edges (which is my favorite color). This book is everything I thought it would be plus some. HIGHLY RECOMEND IT!

This was an ARC read from NetGalley. Thank you to the Author and Netgalley. I REALLY loved this books. This is my honest review and I was not paid for it.

✨ Cozy, Mysterious and Absolutely Fantastical! ✨

First things first: Can we take a moment to admire this STUNNING cover??! I don’t think I’ve ever had as much of an urge to jump into a cover and explore a magical world as I do when I see this one! Cozy fantasy perfection!!

This book warmed my book-lover heart! It’s adorably bookish and full of the cutest companions. Also - it made me want to start baking and gardening lol! New fall hobby?? 👩‍🌾

🥐 Baked Goods
📚 Bookish
🪴 Sentient Plants
🐾 Adorable Creatures
✨ Magic
💖 Romance
🫖 Cozy
🧺 Cottagecore

I enjoyed The Spellshop so much and I’m looking forward to see what Sarah Beth Durst comes up with next!

Thank you Bramble for sending me an advanced copy!