When I discovered this book, I can't even remember where, I knew I wanted to read it right away. A librarian not used to social contact, magic, a little bit of love and an empire in uproar. So, when I saw the book on Netgalley I didn't hesitate and requested a copy. I was very happy when the publisher, Tor, granted me a review copy. And this week it was finally time to dive in. It had been a while since I checked the synopsis, so I was curious what kinda book this would be.

There's a lot to love about this book. In her afterword the author explains that she tried to write a book like a cup of chocolate. Warm, cozy, comforting and kind. I think the author did an amazing job. This entire book is filled with love, kindness and forgiveness. Of course, there is some conflict in this book, but the author makes sure to never allow this book to take a really dark turn, despite the fact that there were quite some opportunities to do so.

I also think the author did an amazing job writing about a girl who's not used to human contact and who's not comfortable with crowds and loads of people. We're not entirely the same, but I do recognize all the thoughts going through your head when someone crosses a boundary without realizing that it was a boundary. And I'm really glad that in this book the heroine encounters people who eventually understand and respect those boundaries.

I do think that it's time for me to give up on really cozy fantasy novels, though. I notice that quite often I mostly see all the potential for tension and danger and politics and can't enjoy the calm and coziness and happiness of the leading characters. That's a me issue. I want to like cozy fantasy stories. I want to be happy with a warm blanket and some big hugs, but it seems that after finishing such a need, I'm never completely satisfied.

However, if you look for a cozy fantasy story with an endearing heroine and a nice setting: this is one of the best I've encountered so far!

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst - 5 stars | Pub Date Jul 11 2024

Oh my, that’s the most heartwarming story I’ve ever read! If you are looking for a nice and cozy book, #TheSpellshop is exactly what you need! And take some cinnamon rolls with you on this journey!
From the very first page, the author weaves a rich tale of vivid descriptions and captivating characters that make it nearly impossible to put the book down. Kiela is a librarian in the Great Library. She loves her job, and together with her assistant, the spider plant Caz, they make a great team. As a revolution in Alyssium begins, Kiela and Caz are forced to flee the city and must save as many books as they can. But taking those spellbooks out makes Kiela herself an outlaw, so she decides to escape to her homeland, a little island called Caltrey. As a true librarian, Kiela doesn’t really know how to deal with people, but together with Caz she has to find a way to do it in order to survive in Caltrey and get a fresh start in her life. Where this journey will take them, you need to find out for yourself.
I feel like Sarah has created an enchanting masterpiece that effortlessly captures the imagination and transports it to a world brimming with magic, mystery, and wonder. The Spellshop is more than just a fantasy novel, it’s a journey of self-discovery, the courage of starting fresh, and the enduring power of friendship. I really liked the awkwardness between Kiela and Larran. I don’t know why, but it felt so real and perfect, like it was meant to be. The side characters—Caz, Meep, Radane, and Bryn—are equally well-developed, each bringing their own unique charm to the story. Watch your heart though, meep, meep. The writing itself is beautifully paced, with a level of detail that makes it feel incredibly real and immersive, ensuring that each twist and turn keeps you on edge. It has a great balance of humor, heart, and suspense. And it all makes #TheSpellshop a must-read for anyone looking to immerse themselves in a fantastical journey.
Thank you to Sarah for such a story that stays with you long after the final page.
Meep, meep.

Publisher: Pan Macmillan | Tor
Pages: 384

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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😭♥️

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

The sort of book that i could return to again and again when i just needed to feel a bit more hope and joy and kindness in the world. Kiela is a 'librarian on an unexpected adventure outside of the book stacks' after my own heart, and the way all the characters look out for each other is a cosy delight to be immersed in.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. This was everything and more for a perfect summer read.

When the library that she works in starts to burn Keila must rush to escape with her sentient houseplant, Cas. Armed only with a boat, a changer of clothes and 4.5 boxes of spell books she makes her way to the Island she grew up on, intent on living out her dies alone and with as little human interaction as possible. Enter Larran, her impossibly annoying and handsome neighbor who is desperate to include her in Island life and show her why her home is now a shadow of what it was. Keila suddenly finds herself caring for the islanders. Deciding to do something to change the fate of the Island she opens a jam shop, which is a front for a spell-shop. But when a mysterious woman turns up on their shores, Keila and the Islanders must learn who to trust and what secrets to keep.

I could not put this down. Originally i picked it up as a pallet cleanser between fantasy books and now I am completely hooked. This was cosy, fantastical and so full of everyday magic that it just somehow felt comforting. The characters were amazing and i especially related to Keila, who hates people and loves books. I loved the cosy academia element to this story and the way that Keila went from harboring magical secrets to sharing magical knowledge with the island. The characters were all amazing in their own special ways and I especially loved seeing the representation of different sizes, personalities and abilities. There were side characters with queer plot lines, with a lesbian couple (baker x princess omg) and a sentient cactus who uses they/them pronouns. It was wonderful to see how the lives in this book were so normal and so like our own despite this being a fantasy book. The animals on the island were adorable and seriously, who doesn't love Merhorses!? I Loved Larran so much. He was awkward, earnest and cared so deeply about everything and everyone. I would have loved to see his backstory be fleshed out a little more, I needed more than brief glances at his background. I was laughing, crying and dropping the book. Every plot twist was unexpected and I was on the edge of my seat at 1am, waiting to see what would happen next. The cooking element had me craving blueberry jam and cinnamon buns and I don't think that craving will be going away any time soon.

This was cosy cottage-core in a book, a story made up of aesthetics that felt like wrapping up in a fluffy blanket with a cup of tea.

"It wasn't that she hated people. It was just that she liked books more."

Easy five stars

Thank you for this ARC! This is a heartwarming tale that blends magic with the struggles of growing up. The storytelling is captivating, filled with fun characters and a rich world that pulls you in. The Spellshop is an adventure in a book that leaves you longing to be friends with characters. It’s very much a ‘good book under a blanket’ vibe perfect for cosy nights in.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an early copy of this book in an exchange for my honest review.

DNF at 35%

Actual rating: 2,5⭐️

I don't even know where to begin. I was so excited to read this book ever since I heard about it. So you can imagine how dissapointed I am now. I didn't want to finish this book. And even though I did not read the whole thing, I still wanted to write a review, because I have a few things to say.

This is a cozy fantasy. The only other cozy fantasy I've read is Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. And I enjoyed that book. It was a nice, comforting and lovely story. So, based on that, I thought I would love The Spellshop. Sadly, that is not the case. I think my main problem with The Spellshop lies in the the protagonist. I am not against unlikable or morally grey characters. I think they are interesting to follow, but at the same time, this is not a regular epic fantasy with large plot, politics and all that shenanigans. This is cozy fantasy, and in my opinion, in this subgenre the characters have to be likable. Because you have nothing else - no complicated plot or worldbuilding - you have just the characters and their day to day lives.

We follow Kiela - an anti-social librarian moving back to her childhood home on a small island. As an avid reader I absolutely love books about librarians, booksellers and readers. So, you can imagine my surprise when I immediately didn't click with her. It's mainly because she is flat out rude to people (her love interest) and kind of whiny. It's okay to be anti-social, I am too, but that's not an excuse to be rude to people who are just trying to be nice. Larran (the love interest) brings her gifts and does a lot of work for Kiela and never asks for anything, but she is still rude to him, because she wants to do everything by herself. Even though, she doesn't have the slightest idea how to do it. She acts like a teenager despite being an adult - I have never found out her true age though. She also constantly talks in her head about the same things over and over, and that's just annoying to me. When I finaly could find something I can relate to, she would immediately say or think something that would annoy me again.

But I absolutely loved all the side characters that live on the island. They were amazing. Shout out to Caz the sentient spider plant. Awesome sidekick. And there are merhorses too. And I love that we have a lot of different fantasy races - centaurs, satyrs, merfolk, Kiela has blue skin and hair... You know something else from just regular humans, elves and dwarwes we usually see in fantasy literature. But what I find interesting is Larran, the love interest, is never described. What does he look like? Is he a regular human? Everyone else is described but Larran. We only know he is tall and has a lot of muscles. Also this does the annoying thing where the main character is small and the love interest tall, and the author would constantly remind you of that in case you somehow forgot.

Also, I didn't love the romance. I think this is supposed to be like a reversed grumpy (Kiela) x sunshine (Larran). But Kiela is just rude not grumpy and Larran just completely overlooks that several times. And it felt a lot like insta-love. I don't know for sure because I stopped reading about 130 pages in, but the relationship was progressing a bit to quickly for my own taste. Compared to the minimal romance in Legends & Lattes, The Spellhop felt more like a cozy romantasy. And I have nothing against romantasy, it is just not my preffered genre.

But let's end with something positive. Sarah Beth Durst definitely knows how to write a good atmosphere. I felt transported to this world when I was reading and the imagery was colorful, joyful and just beautiful. The descriptions of the forest and sea and the small town... You really feel like you are experiencing it too.

The Spellshop seamlessly blends the charm of a cozy fantasy with the whimsy touch of romance, creating a delightful world where magic intertwines with love and friendship. I especially enjoyed the way this book was written, I liked how the scenes were blended so smoothly and how most chapters ended with cliffhangers which made me want to read more! The characters were written and pictured so beautifully that I already miss them after reading the last page of the book – if I could, I'd like to meet them all personally, especially Caz, Bryn, and Sian!! This book brought me to a place I've never been and it gave me an unforgettable experience which I will treasure forever. The Spellshop is definitely the perfect escape into a world where anything is possible. This book is now part of my top list and I'd highly recommend it to everyone!

Thank you Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for a E-arc copy of this book.

In this story we follow Kiela as she escapes the library she works at due to a revolution and ends up at her abandoned childhood home alongside Caz, a very anxious spider plant. While seeking refuge here she must learn to open up to the rest of the island inhabitants, and what better way to do so than selling jams? Or “remedies”?

I really enjoyed this book. The overall atmosphere was super relaxing and peaceful and the entire cast of secondary characters both in animal and human forms were absolutely great. Caz was the absolute best, I felt represented and I never thought I could relate to a plant, but here we are.

The plot was not super complex, but considering this is a cozy fantasy I think it was the perfect amount of plot versus vibes, so I had no problems with that.

The main issue I had with this book was the romance. It felt super insta-love and I personally felt like it was super rushed. The characters themselves said they knew nothing about each other while “being in love” so definitely ruined the rating for this a bit.

Overall this was a solid read and I enjoyed most of it.

This book was everything I wanted out of a cozy fantasy romance!
It is a cozy hug from a quaint village, spiced up with just the right amount of drama to keep you hooked, plus a sweet romance subplot.
While the romance storyline was enjoyable, the themes of friendship and found family truly shine in this story.
The intricate world-building introduces so much whimsy, including sentient house plants, winged cats, merhorses, mermaids, unicorns, and spirit bears, I wanted nothing more than to escape into this story.
Kiela, the protagonist, is a lovable character reminiscent of Emily from Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Her socially awkward, prickly, and homebody nature adds depth to her character development as she gradually opens up to the community, forms meaningful friendships, and earns their unwavering loyalty.
Caz, the spider plant, was easily my favourite character, full of the best witty banter.
A must-read for those who enjoy stories like Legends & Lattes / Bookshops and Bonedust.

this was the embodiment of a cozy fantasy story, i loved every single second of it. i would totally leave my entire life behind if it ment that i could live on that island with Kiela.
i truly loved her friendship with Caz, it was more "family" than friendship most of the time. and i loved how beautifully the small love-story was woven into the main plot, without overpowering kielas. seeing her become herself without hiding made me feel like a proud mom.
in addition to that, the world build was great, i immediately felt like i knew the world like Kiela did.

overall this was a fantastic book!

this book was written for everyone who wants to live on an island in animal crossing or on a farm in stardew valley

The subgenre cosy fantasy is here to stay. It was popularized by authors such as Travis Baldree, Sangu Mandanna or TJ Klune, and now we must add Sarah Beth Durst to the list, not doing so would be a disservice to this genre that has created a welcoming safe place for many readers.

“The Spellshop” is a slice of life rather than pure action based fantasy. Its main character, Kiela and her spider plant companion Caz arrive into the island after fleeing the revolution that ended with the assasination of the emperor. Kiela and Cath lived in the library of sorcerers at the high capital, and they managed to take a few crates full of books with them. Now they’re living in Caltrey, in the little cottage by the sea and the forest where Kiela was born and raised. At the village where she grew up Kiela witnesses hunger and decay and desperation caused, according to the villages, for the lack of help from the sorceres whose magic made life possible there. The emperor took the sorcerers a few years ago and the place is dying. Kiela can’t tell her secrets, of course, but she and Caz start a shop that apparently only sells raspberry jam but behind the scenes they sell spells to heal trees, help the fields grow with produce, help the forest come back to life and heal magical creatures.

This book is full of wonders. Kiela and Caz are fantastic main characters, a bit reluctant to mingle with the locals but getting close to them and making friends eventually, one step at a time. There’s all kids of people here. Caz herself is blue skinned and blue haired, she makes friends with a centaur, there are cats with wings, there’s a bakery where the patros are shaped in all the ways you could imagine, and there’s Larran, Kiela’s closest neighbor, a man who trains and looks after merhorses, half horse, half dolphin… there are mermaids and people with several arms… this book is overflowing with imagination.

The pages are wonderfully written and the reader will enjoy the slow paced story even if nothing seems to happen. And I must remark that there are books everywhere, talk of books, love for books, for both Kiela and Caz are bookworms, librarians, book scientists, dreamers.

This is a book without age target. It can be enjoyed by young children and old people equally. It’s perfect for cuddling up with a nice mug of cocoa, or cofee, or anything comforting. You won’t be disappointed by this book, it’s compelling and heartwarming yet it doesn’t come with its dose of adventure, risks, a little bit of darkness, but also love and found family. It is magical.

This is a love song to books, to imagination, to magic, to exploring different worlds encapsulated in words, sentences, paragraphs, this is a love song about sailing the universe on a ship made of books.

Thank you to @netgalley and @panmacmillan for the arc of The Spellahop by Sarah Beth Durst in return for an honest review.
☆☆☆☆
This is the perfect cosy, cottage-core, low stakes fantasy for snuggling up with with a good cuppa and some tasty treats!
With a great cast of characters, a sweet romance sub-plot, and lots of incredible magical creatures, this was a fun and easy read. I absolutely loved Caz, the sentient spider plant, and all of his witty dialogue!
When revolution comes to her doorstep, Kiela, a librarian with no time for people, must flee, taking as many magical tomes with her as possible. With no where else to go, she and Caz set sail for her home island, which isn't quite the way she remembers leaving it. The story follows Kiela and Caz and they learn how to make a life for themselves doing something completely new. Along the way they meet a cast of characters that were a delight to read, with Lorren the seahorse herder and her neighbour playing a key role. I loved their awkward conversations and budding relationship. I definitely reccomend this for fans of Legends and Lattes, as it gives all of the same cosy fantasy vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sarah Beth Durst for sending me an ARC of The Spellshop!

Kiela is a librarian in the Great Library of Alyyssium alongside her sentient spider plant assistant Caz. A rebellion is going on in the city so they've been packing away books ready to get them to safety, when a fire reaches the library so they do the only thing they can do as the last two left, grab what they can and run. Luckily they were able to get on their boat with some supplies too and escape to the sea, with nowhere to go Keila decides to take them to her home island.

This story follows Keila and Caz as they start a new life in a cozy small island where everyone knows everyone and everything, redecorating her old family home and finding a way to survive while making friendships with the range of people around and nosy neighbours. In a place where magic is practically forbidden Keila plays a risky game hiding the truth of what she is doing.

This is the perfect cottage core romantasy book, with an awkward introverted fmc, sentient plants and a very nosy, close-knit community. I absolutely loved the characters and their different personalities, Caz and Meep honestly in my opinion the best in this. The feel of this book was just so comforting and cozy, really felt the welcoming vibe of the island and the people there. Keila encountered so many different experiences after arriving on the island and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how she approached each and every one of them. I would've loved a chapter from Caz' point of view i feel it would've been so entertaining getting his thoughts on everything based off of his pure sassiness.

Every character was so well written, I liked how everyone was so welcoming to them and instantly made them part of the community-wide family. Also finding out about their experiences and how they approached the conflict in the book.


TROPES:
- sentient plants
- nosy neighbours
- sweet romance
- cottage core vibes
- found family
- small town romance
- fresh start
- magic

In The Spellshop we follow Kiela as she flees the city and her job as spellbook Librarian when a revolution hits. As she returns to the place she grew up she discovers that magic has been drained from the island, but what people don't know, is that Kiela has rescued some spellbooks from being burned and with the help of Caz, a talking spider plant, she intends to bring magic back.

The Spellshop was such a wonderful cozy read and I'll be recommending it to everyone. One of my favourite reads this year!

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the chance to read The Spellshop.

Oh my goodness, this is just what I needed. In her acknowledgments, SBD says that ‘we’ve all been through a lot these past few years. This book is my gift to anyone who wants to escape and sink into a world filled with kindness and enchantment.’ And that is exactly what it does.

If you’re a die hard thriller reader this is not for you - it’s cozy fantasy and there are a few tense moments, but it’s ultimately like sinking into a cloud.

Keila is a librarian, living in the city of Alyssium. When revolution takes hold she flees back to her childhood island home of Caltrey, taking with her a talking spider plant and some books. There’s merhorses, there’s jam, there’s romance. But all in all this is a warm hug of a book and I couldn’t get enough - I’m really hoping this will become a series.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this.

This was the perfect book for October but I am so glad for the chance to read this in advance

Such a cozy read that I just wanted to be in the book

I am a fan of Cozy Fantasy and this book was as lovely and warm as a cup of tea with sweet honey.

We enter with this story in a world of books, where Kiela our main character who is very comfortable living away from people as a library manager, suddenly she has to flee because of a fire.

This is how, together with Caz, her best friend, who happens to be a very peculiar spider plant, they find themselves back on the island where Kiera was born.

The adventures they go through on the island and the characters that are shown throughout the story, give it the wonderful touch, they are so varied and with unique personalities that you will surely end up falling in love with them.

The cover gives you all the vibes of what the book is about, so feel the tranquility of watching a peaceful sunset while reading this incredible story.

Do I recommend it? Super yes!!! if you are one of those who enjoy Cozy Fantasy I assure you this one feels like a nice cup of chocolate on a cold autumn afternoon with sweet bread for dessert!!!

Thank you Netgalley and Pan MacMillan for this beautiful ARC.

#TheSpellshop #NetGalley.

I liked The Spellshop and enjoyed its warm, fuzzy, happy feelings, though I’m starting to think that cosy fantasy may not always be for me. It took me a little while to get into this one because of how slow it was, but once I got into it I flew through it and didn’t want it to end. I think this was entirely because of my mood, as one day I was struggling and the next day I was invested. The life of a mood reader, eh?!

I’ve been reading Sarah Beth Durst’s books for a long time, and it’s nice to see that they’re finally getting more recognition. They’re always brimming with great ideas and magical creatures, and that’s no different with The Spellshop. Caz the sentient spider plant was my absolute favourite, and I thoroughly enjoyed his sarcasm, loyalty and ability to run as only a plant could. He was the epitome of a memorable character!

I liked Kiela too, though I did think her romantic relationship progressed a bit too quickly. I didn’t personally feel the chemistry between her and the no-spoilers mystery man, and it all seemed rather rushed, but that could just be me. The rest of the inhabitants of Caltrey were all brilliant additions, and I loved their camaraderie and how they looked out for each other. My favourite part of this book were the aforementioned fantastical creatures, especially the winged cats. I want one!

The Spellshop is a nice, cosy fantasy that will be perfect for fans of these kinds of stories. The stakes are a little higher than I was expecting, which I really appreciate when it comes to this sub-genre. I would definitely read a sequel if there ever is one, but, if not, this is still a lovely standalone novel that I would be happy to have on my shelves.

3.5/5.

The coziest of cottagecore romantasy books! The FMC is an isolated book lover with a plant companion. I absolutely loved this plant and needed much more of them! The story is essentially a misfit finding their home with some mild peril thrown in. The plot was ok and things conveniently fixed (as occurs in a cozy fantasy - so that’s not a major criticism). I really loved the spell crafting and also some of the other magical elements. The cloud bears for example are something out of a Studio Ghibli movie. Overall it’s a lighthearted read that’s super cozy and fun. Definitely one to recommend to lovers of this sub-genre. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.