I loved this book. It's the story of a mother and daughter, Lori and Elisa, who have to resist letting anywhere become a true home to them. They are constantly on the move, staying in one city for a few months before moving on to find the next. This is because their family line was cursed by the fates. If they ever set down metaphorical roots, they will also grow metaphorical roots and turn into trees. Naturally, this leads to rather limited choices and pathways for them as they are often focused on matters of survival.

After Lori's death/becoming a tree, Elisa sets out to figure out how to survive on her own, hopefully by tracking down the origin of this curse and tackling it once and for all. She finds what she is looking for in a small town with a lot of similarly strange characters.

I thought this book was really interesting. I was into it from the beginning and picked up speed as I made my way through the book. I hadn't read anything by Sarah Beth Durst before, but I look forward to exploring her other books now!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

I know this is publishing in Februrary but what a whimsical, eerie, magical fall read this was!

I found myself dreaming and thinking about women turning into trees and statues granting wishes.

Fans of Adrienne Young will adore this!

This was an interesting look at mother/daughter relationships and the expectations set out by ourselves, our family and society in general. I liked the mysterious nature of the story though with the shifting POV it kind of telegraphs certain outcomes making the end less of a surprise.

The story follows three women affected by a generational curse. The curse causes them to turn into a tree if they stay in one place too long or find themselves becoming too much 'at home' anywhere. The POV shifts between Elisa in the present, her mother Lori and grandmother Rose both in the past.

The writing was really well done and I did like the ending of the book, but overall I can't really say I enjoyed reading it. Around the half way point I just wanted it to be done already. Not saying it was a bad book by any means and I believe a lot of other people will love it, it just wasn't for me. 3.5⭐

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions provided are my own.

Magical, cozy, and mysterious - in the vein of 'The Unmaking of June Farrow', one of my favorite reads from 2023.

My only complaint about this book is that it wasn't long enough. The writing was beautiful, the characters lovable, and the atmosphere lovely and sometimes haunting. I wanted a little more time exploring the mystery and the dynamics between the characters. There was a twist that seemed almost out of nowhere, and I wish it and the characters it involved had been explored more. Despite that, I truly enjoyed this book and can rank it as one of the most memorable books I've read this year.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this wonderful book.

4.5 stars rounded up

This reminded me of Addie La Rue, although in this case the curse was fuelled by misguided love, and Elisa’s fight to break it required a reckoning with parental and social expectations, unfulfilled dreams and righting other people’s mistakes. I saw the climatic ‘reveals’ a mile off, but enjoyed the journey to get there. The prose had a lovely, light touch and the speculative elements were indistinct in a way that leant a kind of fairytale feeling to the story.

There were certain aspects about how the climax came together that weren’t as cleanly plotted as the rest of the book taught me to expect, for example there was an important secondary character who was also cursed, and it wasn’t clear to me whether she didn’t know things or was lying about things at various points of the book. But it wasn’t enough to detract from my enjoyment of the story.

Elisa suffers from a family curse. The curse is not so bad; it is turning into a tree if she stays too long in a place over 10 months.
When she goes to a new town, things take a turn.
We hear the stories of Elisa, Lori and Rose.
The rest would be giving away the plot.
Highlights: women’s perspectives, assertiveness, dreams, decisions
The curse
The magical realism
Plot 3
Characterisation 4
Concept and themes 4.5
Tone 5
Prose 3.5

Ok so I absolutely LOVED “The Spellshop” by Sarah Durst, so I knew I had to give this book a read.

I really love Sarah’s writing and I was immediately hooked on this book and it had me gripped the whole way through. I loved the set up with the POVs and the timeline and I thought the book came together in a really clever way. I really loved the concept. It was certainly a spookier read than “The Spellshop” and it was really interesting to see Sarah do something completely different. Kind of thriller cross fantasy and I was here for it.

I would definitely recommend giving this book a read. The only reason it’s a 3 star for me is that I guessed the ending pretty early on before the reveal. But I still enjoyed the journey and concept of this book!


**Spoiler from here** I also didn’t fully understand the ending and how Elisa still had the issue in the end despite having broken the curse? Assuming it’s because it was passed on and it wasn’t her curse? But I didn’t fully understand this…

Thank you to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Sarah Beth Durst for sending me an arc of this book! This was my first book by the author and now I definitely will read more from her. This book was beautifully written, had wonderful meaning behind it, and while it kind of lost a little bit of its magical whimsy towards the middle of the book, it brought it back in full swing by the end.

A story of a curse that prevents a mother and daughter duo from settling and laying down roots to create a home. I did not expect the ending! The story tied together beautifully and was sad but had a heart warming ending. Sarah’s writing is so descriptive and really takes you along a journey with Elisa. The flashbacks in time keeps this sense of mystery and suspense thru the book not overdoing it and mind was excitedly piecing it together. I highly recommend this book to readers that love a bit of mystery, drop of curses, a story that will pull on the heart strings but make you smile with the ending :)

If you loved The Invisible life of Addie LaRue, or A Short Walk in a Wide World, you will love this book.

"Elisa. She told me it means wanderer".

"With each mile, I shed who I was and gather who I will be. I know the drill."

Elisa and her mother Lori have an unusual curse. If they try to stay in one place too long, or if they start to feel at home, they slowly transform into a tree. So they are constantly on the move, one step ahead of their fate.

This book twines the stories of three strong women (Rose, Lori and Elisa) from 3 different points in time - who found themselves trapped in lives they didn't want, and the choices they were forced to make along the way.

In present day, Elisa is searching for answers about her unknown family, and a way to break her curse.

I really admired Lori and Elisa for how they handled their unexpected situations, and for the strength it took to make those hard decisions. My heart broke for all 3 women throughout the story. The writing was occasionally lyrical, and had some beautiful cadence. Some of the small towns characters were a bit flat, and I would have enjoyed a bit more background or rounding of their stories and timelines - but they didn't have much bearing on the story itself.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It also wrapped up nicely, without feeling too rushed or impossible.

Loved it thank you to the author. I love contemporary fantasy grounded in reality with that sprinkling of something a bit different . This book delivered. Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Heartfelt, magical, and whimsical, this was an incredibly BEAUTIFULLY written book! I could get lost in the author's style for days. This book will definitely capture your imagination and pull at your heartstrings.

Continually on the move and seeking answers to break her family's curse, Elisa can only stay in one place for 10 months lest she put down roots--literally--and turn into a tree. That is, until she ends up in Greenbourogh, Massachusetts and realizes that she's moved to a town with its own curse. One that prohibits its residents from leaving, not great news for Elisa. If she can unravel the small town's mystery Elisa might just break her own curse in the process.

I saw The Warbler, and in particular that Sarah Beth Durst was the author. I hadn't read any of her books before, but I DO have The Spellshop on my TBR for spooky season. I figured it would be a good chance to try her work.

I tend to be a fan of women's fiction and how it conveys the theme of women's choices and lack thereof/how society dictates those choices. I felt that Durst did a great job of conveying that through the alternate experiences and wants of Rose and Cora and how those choices in turn affected their own daughters.

At the core of the novel there's Rose who wanted a life bigger than Greenbourogh and a chance to see the world. Instead she ended up married with a child questioning her choices and those she didn't make, forcing herself to fit the role society expected of her like a square peg in a round hole. Her inability to see beyond the choices that she didn't make or the life she didn't get to lead ends up taking her own daughter's choices from her in turn.
In juxtaposition to Rose; Cora wanted her friend to never leave her, for her to appreciate and understand what she had in front of her. Neither's wish is inherently wrong, but the issue ultimately lies in the denial of choice and allowing one to take fate into their own hands.

One of the biggest complaints of the book that I've seen in reviews is the way that magic comes into play in The Warbler, or more that it isn't really touched on and just is. I think that's part of the beauty of it is that it's not really true fantasy, but magical realism. It's up to us as reader's whether we can suspend our disbelief and accept what is happening in the story's events. Even then, as Owen tells Tyler, it doesn't matter that he doesn't believe that Elisa has bark in her arm, she does and that's enough. Truly I found Cora's reveal as the novel's "big bad" more unexpected and far fetched than women turning into trees. Ultimately am I disappointed that Elisa's curse wasn't broken? A little, but she had to learn to accept her life and by the end found her own version of happiness in spite of what she'd been dealt.

Overall I think The Warbler was written with a voice and style that was true to its characters and enjoyed the multigenerational aspect of it. Durst successfully touched on issues that continue to persevere for women in a unique way while playing with magical realism to create an engaging and interesting plot. The ending wrapped up nearly with regard to Elisa and Owen, but I did still have some questions about Greenborough in the end.

The Warbler was such a fantastic, whimsical read that provoked some deeper, generational questions that I really wanted answers to. As a daughter and someone who wants to one day be a mother, I felt like there was a lot here to connect with, for me, personally.

In terms of timeline (not how the story is told), it starts with a woman in the 80s’ unwittingly giving up her dream to see the world when she is forced to become a housewife in a suppressive time when she became pregnant (I will say forced, as her options just weren’t there). This, of course, led to wanting her daughter to experience life differently, which set the curse in motion. Lori, the daughter, is forced to constantly travel, move every ten months, or else she turns into a tree. This curse passes to our main character, Elisa. I did enjoy the way this was told, especially when the flashbacks of Elisa and Lori, I felt so much for Lori and it was very moving to see the ways in which she protected her daughter. And I liked how pivotal the question became: must mothers always sacrifice to protect?

The magical realism in this was very special, but not in the giddy way, unfortunately, as I couldn’t help to be horrified at the prospect of turning into a tree.

I read this coming from Durst’s other book, The Spellshop, which is a bowl of feel-good whimsical fun. This . . . I wouldn’t say more sinister, but it had different layers of moral challenge that made it more angsty and serious.

I enjoyed it all the same. A wonderful read. I loved the library, and the antics of the grumpy library-cat. Loved the world-building, of course, as Durst really knows here settings. She’s a writer I definitely need more from!

A perfect blend of fantasy magic and real life.
I loved the writing style, I’ve never read this author previously but will definitely look into more of their work now that I’ve read this.
I love the concepts involved, so many quotes that I thought were great throughout the book.
As soon as she mentioned the cat in the store, I was sold.
A real easy read.

The Warbler by Sarah Beth Durst, is a blend of magical realism and heartfelt storytelling. While the publisher puts this in the sci-fi and fantasy genre slots, I don’t agree. It’s definitely more magical realism.

Elisa, the protagonist, is cursed to turn into a tree if she stays in one place for too long. All the women in her family carry this curse. On her journey to find answers and hopefully break the curse, she finds a mysterious town in Massachusetts, where no one can leave, and secrets are whispered by pet birds 🌳🐦

Durst’s writing is easy to follow and strings the story together fluidly. I felt for Elisa, her struggles and triumphs. The themes of family, fate, and self-discovery resonated deeply with me.

If you’re looking for a story that will captivate your heart and imagination, The Warbler is a must-read! 🌿✨

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, @LakeUnionAuthors and @NetGalley for sending an Advance Reader’s Copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

In The Warbler, Elisa’s story really pulls you in with its mix of magic and mystery. She and her mother had spent their whole life running from a strange family curse that would turn them into trees if they ever put down roots and made a real home somewhere. But after her mom dies, Elisa stumbles upon a quirky small town in Massachusetts, and things get even more interesting. The oddball town adds a lot of charm to the story. It kind of reminded me of Sara Addison Allen's books, but with a darker twist, which I enjoyed.

If you love novels with a bit of magic, heart and don't mind a thoughtful ending that doesn't tie up every single loose thread, "The Warbler" is definitely one to pick up.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

When I saw that Sarah Beth Durst was coming out with a new book, I immediately added it to my want list. When I was picked to read an ARC it immediately moved to the front of my "up next" list. And, this book didn't disappoint.

I knew it would be from the description - but this book is very different than The Spellshop - which I would categorize as "cozy fantasy" - this was much more rooted in magical realism, with more emotional tugs and deeper themes.

One of my favorite things about this book is the imagery that it builds. The descriptive terms made me *feel* things. Maybe things I wasn't sure I was ready to feel, but feelings none the less.

<i>"She didn’t have a real future. Just a kaleidoscope of days."</i>

<i>"I’m just passing through, a breeze barely noticed except for a few stirred leaves."</i>

I was immediately drawn in to the mystery, the magic and the story. Magical realism being one of my favorite genres, I loved how the different characters revealed different pieces of the curse, while keeping you rooted in one story - trying to determine what part of that was real.

I rooted for the relationships, felt the heartbreak and pain, and thought about the story every second I set it down. I read the last 2 hours with eyes damp with tears, late into the night.

A book I will think about for a long time to come.

This one started a little slow for me, but ultimately I ended up really enjoying it! As she learns more about her family, she discovers more about herself and how she can face the curse.

Before I get into the review, I will say that the publisher should probably be a bit more... present(?) marketing this book because I had no idea it was even a thing until I saw it on Netgalley.

Now, onto the review:

I'm honestly kind of torn about this one. On the one hand, I think the writing in this is just stunning. The descriptions and more intimate character moments were illustrated in a way that made the neurons in my brain activate like crazy. I also think the premise itself is an interesting mix of mystery and magical realism. I'd love to see more in this genre, to be honest.

On the other hand, however, I feel like this was a bit too short for my liking. I think the way the mystery was unraveled was well-done, there just wasn't enough time I think to sit with it and the addition of other POVs meant that, as the reader, we were way ahead of the main character in terms of figuring things out, so it did drag a bit and make Elisa feel a bit slow on the uptake in a way that frustrated me. That, and the ending felt a bit more abrupt than was warranted.

I think there were interesting discussions happening, too, about autonomy and doing the opposite of what's expected of you. Again, though, the length of the novel meant that those conversations didn't always feel like they hit in quite the way I wanted.

There were also a few minor things that kind of made me pause. There was one description of a Latina character that I wasn't quite sure of; mentioning THAT boy wizard book in a book slated for publishing in 2025 is.... a choice....

Overall, while the writing and premise really hit with me, there were too many other things that didn't.