✨ 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!

"The Spellshop" is a cozy fantasy centered on Kiela, a grumpy librarian who prefers plants over people. The story is light on fantasy but heavy on cozy elements, making it an enjoyable read for those who love charming, low-stakes adventures.

One of the book’s highlights is the delightful character of Caz, who steals the show with his witty banter and anxious yet endearing personality. The magic system, rooted in nature, feels both enchanting and dangerous. However, while the world-building excels in some areas, it falls short in others. The human characters, including Kiela, are less developed, and the plot is fairly straightforward.

Overall, "The Spellshop" offers a pleasant, if somewhat simplistic, reading experience. The cozy atmosphere and charming non-human characters make up for the book’s flaws, though the story leans more toward comfort than depth. The audiobook, narrated by Caitlin Davies, enhances the experience with a lively performance that brings the characters to life. This book is a good choice for readers who enjoy cozy fantasies and don't mind corny dialogue.

Thank you to Sarah Beth Durst, Tor Publishing Group, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Beth Durst's books have been a part of my teenagehood and adulthood. From vampires to fairy tales, each one always contains a surprise. This one has spellbooks, storms, and jam.

A librarian for the Empire finds herself on the run with her assistant, a talking spider plant. Kiela and Caz travel to her home island of Caltrey when the Empire falls and the rebels start burning the books. She hopes to find a new life for herself, but socializing with people is hard. So is starting a business and new way of life. But she has a few friendly neighbors, and one grumpy man to avoid. Plus, she has spellbooks. So it may be time to use some magic to heal the island, discreetly. If she's caught, the Empire is creative about their executions.

I LOVED this book, and was happy to go in detail on Medium. Kiela is a relatable protagonist in the face of COVID, and one who must learn to trust where the wrong loose lips mean death. Caz is a great right-hand plant, and a ringer when it counts. And you can't go wrong with jam on fresh-baked goods!

What a perfect cozy read for the fall months! It was such a cute story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Only complaint would be the pacing at the beginning ( a little slow for my tastes)

This was a perfect end of summer/beginning of fall cozy read. I went into this one not sure what to expect and ended up loving it.

Keila finds herself in a situation she never could have imagined and turns to the only place she could think of. In looking for refuge she finds so much more than she bargained for. I think this book has just the right amount of stakes to keep it interesting but also maintains that coziness.

The fantastical elements we get with the people and also the animals/plants are so great. As a cat lover there being winged cats just made it even better because now I want one in my neighborhood!! Also who could possibly resist Caz?! He’s the perfect slightly sassy sidekick/companion.

If you’re looking for a great read during the transition to fall, I think this is a great option! There isn’t a huge/vast amount of heavy world building, the characters are all wonderful, and like the author said in their author note it truly feels like drinking hot chocolate in that lovely happy cozy way.

Thank you so much to Bramble for the ARC of this book. All opinions above are my own.

3.5 rounded down
I think this book accomplished what it set out to, but the beginning dragged on a bit too long with not a lot happening for me to feel a real connection. I also wish there was just a touch more development in the fantasy elements.

I think as an audiobook I could speed up, this would be an enjoyable read to get lost in while I do chores, but it was a bit too long for a cozy vibe-based book

I learned a new word as I read this book and researched what age level it is an appropriate audience for - cottagecore; the desire to live a more peaceful, simple, bucolic existence. I could not, as I was reading, put my finger on exactly what it was that appealed to me the most, but I think it may be the cottagecore concept.

A touch of magic, a touch or humanity, a touch of rural living all lend a hand in making this book a really simple, sweet story. It is considered adult, sci-fi fantasy with a touch or romance. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and found myself transported to the island of Caltery, where Keila was born. She spent years as a librarian in the city of Alyssium, content with her quiet life among the spellbooks, alongside her best friend, Caz, the talking spider plant. She and Caz have to flee the island as the empire is overthrown by rebels and she winds up back home on the island where she was born. Kelia needs to learn how to make a living and how to co-exist with nature and the islanders and the unstable magic left behind by the loss of magic controlling weather and the island itself.

I love all the characters and the general sweetness that surrounds this book. Captivating and fantastical, what an honor it was to read this book!