3.5⭐️ This story wraps you in a magical hug, filled with endearing characters, magical creatures, sentient plants, heartfelt moments & a cute love story.

I do think that being in the right reading mood is essential for fully appreciating this book, especially given its low-stakes and cozy vibes.

Despite the captivating setting and cast of characters, I was hoping for a bit more with the romance plot. Even just some more scenes between the main characters to deepen their chemistry and connection. The sparse romantic moments left me yearning for a more developed and satisfying love story.

While the story itself is enchanting, the audiobook narrator’s performance was sometimes a bit over the top, which detracted from the overall experience. The exaggerated voices and dramatization occasionally overshadowed the story’s whimsical charm and nuanced emotions. I do think this will be better read as a physical copy book.


Perfect for those seeking an enchanting escape, it’s a delightful journey that warms the heart.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for an audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars!

A charming and cozy fantasy romance set in an absolutely lovely world perfect for fans of cozy fantasy like Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries and Legends & Lattes!
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Summary:
Kiela is perfectly content in her job at the capital library, watching over a collection of spell books and passing her days in quiet solitude with only her assistant--a sentient spider plant named Caz--for company. However, when a revolution in the capital sets the library ablaze, Kiela has no choice but to grab as many of the spell books as possible and flea the city with Caz. With her parents gone and no place to go now that her home for the past decade is engulfed in flames, Kiela heads to the only other place she knows.

Retreating to her family's abandoned home on the island where she was born, Kiela is determined to lay low, keep her head down, and avoid attracting any attention to herself or the crates of very illegal spellbooks she has in her possession. Sure the people are nice, and her neighbor is... interesting. But relationships are not worth the risk of getting caught with the books. Except that, the more she gets to know the island's inhabitants and their struggles, the more she finds herself wanting to help, and she can't help but wonder if all of their answers could really be found just inside a book.
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I really enjoyed this book! It took a little while to get invested as the beginning moves slowly, and Kiela took a few chapters to grow on me, but once I started meeting the villagers, I was won over! I love the cast of characters in this book, which is good because it is a very character-centric story. While there is a plot, of sorts, the main focus of the storyline is on Kiela, her relationships with other characters, and her journey of finding her place. While I felt that some part dragged a bit, the slow, cozy pace and focus of the story was part of its charm, and I really enjoyed getting to know the island alongside Kiela!

I listened to the audiobook version of the novel, and I really enjoyed the recording! Caitlin Davies did an excellent job with the narration and bringing all the characters to life. I really enjoyed the way she gave all the major characters a distinct voice, making it easy and natural to follow group conversations and tell who was speaking. I definitely recommend giving the audiobook a listen!

What I Loved:
- Super cozy fantasy vibes!
- A great cast of characters! I absolutely adored the core group of villagers!
- A very sweet, cozy, slow burn romance storyline!
- I didn't know sentient plants was a trope I needed, but I loved it.
- A really well done audiobook recording!

What I Didn't Like:
- The beginning was slow and it took a bit for me to get invested.
- The last 20% of the book started to drag for me, but it was quick enough to get through, and I liked the ending overall.

In all, I really liked this book a lot and highly recommend it to cozy fantasy readers!

This book was cute! I wasn't 100% sure what to expect when I requested this book but was looking for a lighter read than what I had been reading recently so wanted to give it a try. Kiela and Caz are trying to figure out how to live life outside the library on a remote island. This book has magic, romance (very light on the romance in my opinion), personal growth, and found family. Not to mention mer-horses, mermaids and a talking spider plant.

f I had to describe this book in one word it’s FUN.

This was just straight FUN FUN FUN from start to finish.

A librarian that has to flee her library home for a cottage in the woods on a remote island and can only bring along the magic books she’s saving and her sentient spider plant/best friend? Then decides to open a secret spellshop where she also makes & sells jam? Yes, just yes to all of that. It’s my fantasy really.🪴🍒💜

I found myself smiling to myself multiple times while listening, just amused and so glad I could listen to this book.

If you liked Legends and Lattes you will love this book, the narration is fantastic! @caitlindaviesny just knocks this audiobook out the park! Anxious Caz! Meep the Cactus! 🌵All of it. I wish I could listen again for the first time.

I really hope @sarahbethdurst writes more books set in this world and with these characters. 💜💜💜

Thank you so much to @macmillan.audio for the ALC.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC Audio Copy!

I will start off by saying that the audiobook of this is wonderful. The Narrator does a wonderful job with the story and characters.

When it comes to cozy fantasy I want to love it so much but sometimes it just doesn't hold my attentions. This is not one of those. I loved every moment of this story. The stakes were high enough to keep me interested but also not so high that it took away from the coziness. I loved every character, the island, even the "villain" was scary but also redeemable.

If you are a fan of cozy fantasy, or just wanting to try it out I definitely recommend this story.

Overall: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plotline: 4/5
World-Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Tropes:F/M Romance; Slowburn; Friends to Lovers; Neighbors; Childhood Friends to Lovers

Themes: 4/5
Romance: 4.5/5
Spice Factor: 1
Enjoyment Factor: 5/5

Audiobook: 4/5
Review: This book felt like a warm hug. It had an incredible array of magical creatures and a vibrant cottage-core ambiance. There was also phenomenal mental health representation, as the FMC had social anxiety, and the way that this was written, I felt her nerves and her emotions so well. The plot was a bit all over the place, but I was here for cozy magic vibes, and that was done extremely well. The audiobook was done reasonably well. The voices were similar and sometimes hard to follow, but I immensely enjoyed the sass. The sentient plant was my favorite aspect, as it added so much more to the ambiance and the story.

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Even though I identify as a witch, I rarely go for fantasy books like this. Choosing a fantasy like this was a leap of faith for me and I’m SO glad I took it! The Spellshop is the dreamiest cottage core story. I was swept up and wrapped in the warmest blanket by Sarah Beth Durst’s telling of Keila’s life. As an audiobook, I believe it’s even more cozy and charming. The authors accent is soothing and engaging. I just had a wonderful time falling into this book!

Thank you to Netgally for the advanced recording!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC.

"The Spellshop" is an enchanting cozy fantasy that revolves around Kiela, an introverted librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, and her quirky assistant, Caz—a sentient spider plant. When revolutionaries attack Alyssium and set the library ablaze, Kiela and Caz escape with a handful of spell books, seeking refuge on Kiela's native island to start anew.

The novel thrives on its intimate, low-stakes charm, focusing on the evolving bond between Kiela and Caz as they navigate their new life amidst the turmoil. Fans of "Legends and Lattes" will find familiar comfort in the blend of whimsical characters and cozy atmospheres that define both stories.

"The Spellshop" is not just a tale of survival but a celebration of found family and the enduring magic of companionship. It's a delightful escape into a world where every spellbook holds a promise and every plant has a story to tell.

***5.0 Stars***

Overall,
Have you ever read a book that just perfectly encapsulated what you needed in that moment? This was the book I needed. Was it perfect, meh probably not. But it was cozy and sweet with a little bit of danger and adventure rolled in. I never knew I need a talking plant best friend in my book life but I can say with absolutely certainty that I did. I absolutely did. This story is ultimately about finding your home and finding your people. There is very much a found family aspect. The worldbuilding is not grand but enough to understand what is going on. The book only focuses on a sliver that world where even the characters do not know much about what's going on in the "outside" world. There were parts where I felt ok and now the book is done only to realize there were several chapters left. While I did feel like this book was longer then it needed to be it still does not change my review. This book felt a like a warm hug on a crisp summer evening.

Audiobook,
The Narrator did pretty well, not my favorite narration, but I mean.... Meep!

Recommendation,
I would absolutely recommend this book who want a lighter fantasy, with limited very tame romance. Perfect for those who loved Can't Spell Treason with out Tea.

Title: The Spellshop
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Caitlin Davies

This book was hard for me to think of a rating. It wasn't until about 80% through that I started to like it. It starts with main character Kiela and her spider plant Caz running to her childhood home, fleeing a burning library with crates of books they saved. But it takes on an Isekai/GameLit grind where she has to start over, find shelter, procure food, and figure out basic survival skills. Having listened to a few dozen of these already, they all sound the same to me, and while they show growth in the story, I always wish there's a montage scene through all the grind.
Once she was established and becoming solid in her living situation, that is when the author began opening up to characterization, and the characters were absolutely delightful. It was really an wholesome, uplifting, cinnamon roll book. The main character opens a jam shop--how much sweeter can you get? I hope the story carries on into another book, so the world building can continue to flesh out. There's so much promise for this world and story!

Overall, 3.5/5 stars. Rounded up for how promising the storyline is.

Narration Impressions:
The narrator was great. Great voices to differentiate the characters. I loved how proper Kiela sounded, and loved Bryn's voice. Really helped the book flow along.

This book was cozy and a nice read. The characters were relatable and the audiobook narrator had a nice voice. I enjoyed my read, though there were a couple of times that I thought the end was coming and another event happened, which could have been paired down for me. Other than that, I enjoyed it and will recommend it to customers who are looking for a cozy read.

I’m sad this book is over! It was the perfect cozy read for me and I want to spend more time in this world with these characters and with these creatures! There were sentient plants, winged cats, merhorses, mermaids, and so much more.

I’ve seen people disagree about books being considered ‘cozy fantasy’ even when they are marketed that way, think Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne or some of T Kingfisher’s fantasy books, and I could see The Spellshop falling into that same group. There are definitely stakes here (out main character Kiela is breaking a law that people have been executed for) but I was never too worried about her or the people around her. I think the blurb does a great job at setting the correct expectations.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Kiela and her spider plant assistant Caz, they say they are each others best friends and I could really feel that. I also liked the romance and the cinnamon roll love interest, but I did find myself wishing I knew more about him by the end of the book.

Overall this was a fantastic read and I highly recommend!

This was the perfect cozy fantasy. I never realized how much I would love cozy fantasies until I started reading them. They feel like a warm hug and this was no exception. It was such a sweet read. I loved it from start to finish.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of The Spellshop. I will be purchasing this one immediately 🥹💖

This was a fantastic cozy fantasy. These characters were so wholesome and fun. It really made me want to live in a world where people were this kind, warm and genuinely good to each other. A librarian who prefers books to people returns to her parents cottage to hide herself and many of the books she brings from the library in the midst of a revolution I the city. She is amazed that her neighbors look out for her, keep her secrets and want to help. It’s cute, and she makes a lot of raspberry jam, but there is still a story here that makes the book more than just vibes. I loved it! The audiobook is well done, easy to follow while listening only, and the narrator does a great job with there characters.

Cute and cozy are the two words that come to mind when thinking about this book. I hadn’t heard the term “cottage core” before, but that also describes this book perfectly. It’s got a little dash of magic, a good dose of eccentricity, and a whole lot of heart. (Oh and some delicious sounding cinnamon buns and jams.)

I’m hesitant to use the term quirky to describe the characters in this book, as I feel like that can be overused to describe anyone who struggles with social skills. But Kiela, Caz, and her neighbor Larren (sp?) were all a bit quirky, in the most endearing way. And Caz has become one of my most favorite nonhuman characters since Kingsley from Assistant to the Villain. It makes me look at my own spider plant in a more flattering light (instead of a will-you-ever-stop-growing type of way 😆).

Overall I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrators voice seemed perfect for this book, too, and really brought the characters to life. Definitely read if any of this sounds like your jam. (Pun intended)

An absolutely wonderful cozy fantasy novel. I have wanted to read this book ever since I first saw the cover and read the blurb. Kiela is definitely one of my new favorite characters of the year, along with her sentient spiderplant, Caz. He brings so much humor to the book. Kiela is a character I related to on so many levels, especially as an introvert. I loved following along with her as she connected with the residents of the island.

The small town vibes were perfect. The townspeople were so welcoming and I just could not get enough of them. Also, Kiela’s love interest, Larran made it even better. This was definitely a slow-burn romance but I enjoyed seeing every interaction between them both. Kiela is not used to being around people and is afraid of getting to close to anyone on the island. Lorn never takes it to heart. It was beautiful watching them fall for each other.

I am beyond glad I decided to read this novel and will definitely be adding it to my collection. Another found family story that stole my heart. I hope Sarah will return to this world again. I would love new adventures and to see even more of these characters. This was a story I would have loved to fall into and live in.

It is a good book. I enjoyed the story and I did like the naration.

It was entertaining .

I recommend this one.

Magical, wonderful, wholesome, delightful, cozy, heartwarming, lovely, adorable, etc etc etc!!!!

Kiela was a librarian at the capital, very dedicated and content with her job. But the uprising revolution eventually arrived at the library doorstep and the only choices she had was to burn along with the library, or to flee. She chose the later, bringing “only” 5 crates of library books (that were mostly spell books) & supplies and her assistant, a sentient spider plant. And the only destination she could think of was her childhood home, a tiny & remote island called Caltrey.

And so she rebuilt her life, one step at a time.

Kiela was a lovely MC, and i can relate to her. The Caltreyans were amazing folks. The magic system was simple yet intriguing, the magical elements were abundant yet blended nicely. The general vibe was truly cozy, the plot was low-stakes but still interesting enough to keep me eagerly turning the pages. For the setting, it really represented by the cover: warm and whimsical cottagecore, with beautiful landscapes. And of course i want to give a special shout-out to CAZ, THE SPIDER PLANT. He’s truly a diva and must be protected at all cost😭♥️

On top of that, Caitlin Davies, the audiobook narrator did such a marvelous job with the storytelling. Soothing, lively, dramatic, and just perfect for this book♥️

The list could go on and on but I think that represented my main points already, so. If there’s “imperfections” I didn’t notice it, all overshadowed by the goodness 🥹 love love love it

Sarah Beth Durst has been a juggernaut in fantasy for over a decade and her writing feels just like that. The Spellshop is warm, comforting, like biting into a freshly baked roll smothered in jam, there’s also joyous, shameless, and silly human, but themes woven in that go much deeper than “cozy.” My favourite one to watch evolve and chew over was Kiela’s initial stance of “well I agree with the rebels, but I wished they’d asked for their demands less violently.” It’s an excellent character study in privilege and accepted placement in a society that benefits you.
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Also no one does romance like Durst and it’s a way that I love so much - approaching it first as strangers, then slowly becoming rock-solid friendships, and then opening it up for the potential of romance by seeing each other in a different light. Kiela and Larran are totally a couple I would route for over and over because they discover and become better themselves first before exploring the potential of romance together - gah, Durst does it every damn time and I love it.

This book came to me at the right time, right when I needed it. The audiobook is fantastic and I will definitely be sniffing around to see if I can snag any really pretty editions.
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Hisses & Kisses 🐍
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*I received an audioARC from Macmillan Audio & NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*

This book had a great blend of cozy fantasy, a dash of romance, and enough stakes to keep the plot interesting. I recommend this book for fans of Legends & Lattes, Studio Ghibli, and cozy games such as Stardew Valley. Each character was unique with their own backstories and I love how Sarah Beth Durst wrote the world building.

I want to stress that this is definitely a cozy fantasy. Although it does have a surprising amount of medium to semi-high stakes, the story really does center around character development, relationships, and the friends made along the way. This book is a slow burn, and it pulls you into a fantastic magical world.

That you to NetGalley and Bramble for providing me with an Audiobook Arc in return for an honest review.