This unfortunately wasn't the book for me as it felt too cosy and low stakes. While I enjoyed the world building and the gossip between the islanders, I wish this one had managed to engage me more and have some stakes to intrigue me.

Absolutely perfect.
Cosy and mysterious, excellent atmosphere and the best characters in the world - honestly who doesn't what a sentient plant?

This is a debut for the author into the romantasy genre and what an amazing debut this was. I have been wanting to read the other series the author has written called The Queens of Renthia. Now that I have read this book I am hoping to get to this series ASAP. Would highly recommend it if you're looking for a cosy romantasy that has great witchy vibes and sweet romance.

A cosy, warm hug of a book. A grumpy introverted librarian. A sentient plant. A kindhearted and very handsome neighbour. A community that rallies. There's a lot to love about this book, and I found it hard to find any negatives. I cannot wait for more in this universe from Durst; she has created something rather lovely.

feminism for me went out the door with this book, because now I want my own hot man to build me floor to ceiling bookshelves.

this book felt like a cosy day wrapped up in bed reading! it also really made me want a sentient plant!

Review of The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst – 4/5 Stars

The Spellshop is a cozy, enchanting fantasy that feels like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day. With its charming world, lovable characters, and a story that blends adventure with personal growth, Sarah Beth Durst delivers a delightful tale that will appeal to fans of Legends & Lattes and The House in the Cerulean Sea.

The premise is immediately engaging—a librarian-turned-magical-bookseller setting up shop in a secluded, picturesque location. The setting is richly described, making it easy to get lost in the cozy atmosphere, and the book’s magic system feels whimsical yet grounded. The protagonist is easy to root for, and the relationships, both romantic and platonic, add heart to the story.

The pacing is gentle, which mostly works in the book’s favor, though there are moments when it meanders a bit too much. Some conflicts resolve a little too easily, and while the stakes exist, they never feel overly intense—which could be a plus or minus, depending on what you’re looking for.

Overall, The Spellshop is a charming, feel-good fantasy that prioritizes atmosphere and character over action-packed adventure. If you’re in the mood for a book about finding a new path, the magic of books, and a touch of romance, this is a perfect pick.

This book is honestly like a warm, magical, can’t help but smile throughout and just makes you feel good, hug! The perfect cosy read anytime of the year with magical, small town, low stakes, sweet heart warming romance and found family vibes to top it all off!

If you’re a fan of legends and lattes I feel like you’d really enjoy this!

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book ✨

Give me a sentient plant and I say yes. Is someone new to the cozy fantasy genre? This is the perfect gateway drug. The world was beautiful and the story was fun. A tiny hints of Romance tied it together perfectly

This novel is a sweet, cosy fantasy position, but unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it. I liked the main character and adored Caz, who wouldn’t, but I had trouble getting into the story. It didn’t interest me, and I usually enjoy cosy stories. It also felt like the author tried to differentiate the novel from other cosy fantasy positions by creating original creatures and characters with usual skin colours, which felt forced.

4/5⭐️
0/5🌶️

The Spellshop is cosy fantasy meets cottagecore. Kiela is a librarian in the Great Library of Alyssium when she is forced to flee with her assistant Caz, a sentient spider plant, as a fire engulfs the library during a revolution overthrowing the monarchy. She saves several cratefuls of the library’s spellbooks and sails to the remote island she was born in. Her attempt to lie low in her parent’s old cottage is thwarted, however, by a handsome but nosy neighbor and her own pesky need to somehow support herself. Things become more complicated when she decides to open a jam shop as a front for selling illegal spells disguised as folk remedies to save the dying island.

This was just the perfect cosy fantasy. From the few pages of the first chapter, I knew I was going to love this book, and I was indeed utterly charmed by it. This cosy fantasy delivered charming characters in a wholesome setting, a sweet slowburn romance, and a welcoming found family. It was just very cute, joyful, and delightfully heartfelt. I like to have a bit more stakes in my own cosy fantasy reads, and this one gave that to me while not having it be too great to alienate fans of low stake cosy fantasies.

I just loved Kiela because I just completely meshed with her introverted personality and her love of books. She is socially awkward, overanalyzes things, and reads for fun. What’s not to love? I also loved her relationship with her sentient plant assistant Caz who was just a sheer delight. Oh Caz, for a plant, he is so full of personality, helpfulness, playful antics, and even some snark and sarcasm. And then there’s Larran—the kind, handsome, and gentle man who raises merhorses, has a bit of a boundary/personal space issue, and is utterly lovesick over oblivious Kiela. Their awkward and sweet romance could not have been more perfect.

The Spellshop gave me everything I could want from a cosy fantasy.

<3

TROPES/GENRES:
- cosy fantasy
- friends to lovers
- neighbours
- hurt/comfort
- small town

Thank you NetGalley & Pan MacMillan for this proof in exchange for an honest review!

I think one of the joys of reading cosy fantasy, along with fanfiction, is that you can always be pretty sure you know what to expect, There's probably going to be books, there's probably going to be tea and coffee, and we're probably going to be setting up a shop of some kind. This lovely book had all of these things, and also a wonderful island setting.
Again, as you would expect, it takes a gentle wandering plot of settling in and beginning to make friends - and reacquainting with nature which was so lovely (and something I feel is not a requirement for cosy fantasy - thinking about Legends and Lattes which was much more urban).
I don't know that this is the ideal genre for me but this book did have me suitably envious of an island life!

This book is truly an embodiment of cosy cottagecore fantasy. The setting is picturesque. The characters are warm and lovable and the romance is cute. There is just the right amount of conflict and drama leading up to the climax. It never feels overwhelming fanasty-sequel meanwhile also preserving the essence of that other-worldly feeling.

I loved how this book focuses on what it means to be a community. The FMC is an aloof librarian with only a talking plant for a companion but when she moves into her childhood cottage she finds friends and companions who are there for her no matter what.

Overall, this was such a delightful read and I look forward to read more books like this from the author.

Another Netgalley Backlog today: The Spell Shop by Sarah Beth Durst.

This book offers a cosy atmosphere with slow-paced storytelling, set in a charming small town and featuring a sweet romance. Kiela returns to her childhood island home to reconnect with her roots after a tumultuous uprising, navigating her surroundings with her books and trusty spider plant.

The characters are warm and charming, and while I craved a bit more action, the gentle pace suits the cosy fantasy genre. I could easily see this as a delightful film, especially with the addition of adorable winged kittens that would add whimsical charm. Overall, it's a heartwarming experience filled with potential!

#CosyFantasy #EnchantingReads #BookLovers #HeartwarmingTales #WhimsicalCharm #SmallTownMagic #SweetRomance #FantasyBooks #BookReview

I really enjoyed this! Cute, cosy, and very enjoyable, with interesting characters and an adorable central romance - definitely recommend!

Thank you to the publisher for my eARC copy of this book. Unfortunately I didn’t love this book and therefore didn’t finish, I just didn’t connect with this one. Not for me, sorry.

Si algún día les da por publicar un diccionario visual donde a cada género y subgénero de la literatura les pusieran una cubierta de un libro que siga todas las reglas del canon, no me cabe duda de que The Spellshop estaría entre los primeros de la lista para la fantasía cozy. Y es que lo tiene todo, un poquito de magia, romance, secundarios graciosos, un pequeño conflicto y malentendidos…


La protagonista es Kiela, una bibliotecaria que es feliz entre sus tomos antiguos, donde no tiene que lidiar con gente, ayudada por su asistente Caz, una planta-araña sintiente (ya he dicho que había magia). Pero todas sus perspectivas de un futuro igual de tranquilo que el presente se verán desbaratadas cuando la revolución llega a su ciudad y la biblioteca es pasto de las llamas. Kiela se verá obligada a huir a su antigua casa, en una recóndita isla, con la única compañía de Caz y los libros que ha conseguido salvar de la quema, aunque estos compendios mágicos no deberían haber salido nunca de allí, porque la magia está muy controlada fuera de los ámbitos académicos y la sola posesión de un tomo podría llevarla a la cárcel.

Kiela ha tenido una vida muy protegida siempre, así que tener que buscarse la vida para sobrevivir, prepararse la comida, limpiar la antigua casa de sus padres, le caerá encima como una ducha de agua fría en pleno invierno. Menos mal que allí estarán sus amables vecinos, que la recuerdan de cuando era pequeña, en especial su muy atractivo y servicial vecino de al lado, que se desvivirá por hacerle la vida más fácil (ya he dicho que había romance).

Los humanos de The Spellshop no dejan de ser bastante corrientes pero creo que uno de los puntos fuertes del libro son las criaturas fantásticas que pueblan todos los lugares, sacadas de cualquier compendio feérico que se precie, pero maravillosamente descritas y “humanizadas”, si me permitís el término. Centauros, dríadas, hipocampos… hay para elegir.

Me gusta especialmente la interacción de Kiela con Caz y con otro personaje que surgirá a lo largo de la lectura, Meep, que es simplemente enternecedor (ya he dicho que había secundarios graciosos). No es menos cierto que la historia es bastante lineal y la profundidad de los personajes tiende asintóticamente a cero, pero aquí hemos venido a que nos calienten el corazón y no cabe duda de que Sarah Beth Dust lo consigue de pleno con su primera novela.

This was so was dreamy! I loved it even more than I thought I would. It was such a cosy fantasy, filled with heartwarming characters and lovely moments. I loved the diversity with the different creatures in this story, and a special mention to the main sidekick! It was so cute, I really loved it.

I had a few questions about the magic, which I couldn’t quite oversee, which is why it’s a 4 star. There was also another plot thrown in at the end which I didn’t overly love, but it was a good book regardless!

I adored The Spellshop — so much so that I had ordered a hardcover edition long before I had finished with the e-ARC! This was such a delightful and cozy read, with unforgettable characters, a beautiful setting, and a well-crafted plot.

Kiela and Caz escape from their home in the Great Library when it is set on fire as part of a coup on the city in which the Great Library is found. Saving a precious number of magical books, they take to the sea and return to the island where Kiela grew up. There, her family home stands abandoned but it’s not long before Kiela and Caz have made it their own — and have attracted the attention of the island residents, who have mixed responses to Kiela and Caz’s presence. And it’s not long before another visitor to the island takes an interest in Kiela and Caz (and no, it’s not because Caz is a sentient and talking spider plant).

This was a beautifully cozy read which really transported me to the island and made me want to be part of Kiela’s jam (and spell) shop. The tree spirits, in particular, had me very emotional, and I loved all the magic, which was well considered and very much a part of the world as much as the characters were. There was a sweet, slow-burn romance (M/F) as well, and this was handled so gently. There is a bit of tension that arises within the novel but it doesn’t detract from the cozy atmosphere, and the way friends old and new band together to help Kiela is really poignant. I had tears in my eyes throughout the ending. Highly, highly recommended!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Tor, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

this was so lovely! a whimsical and cozy fantasy that makes you want to curl up with a hot cup of tea in front of a fireplace. i need more of this kind of vibes, i'll definitely make sure to check out the next book that sarah beth durst is releasing!

Sarah Beth Durst has long been an author whose books I will pick up no matter what and The Spellshop did not disappoint.

The Spellshop is perfect if you've dreamed of escaping to a small village and living your best life in a cute cottage surrounded by magical creatures and nature. If you're looking for a read that feels like a hug filled with found family, magic and self discovery, this is it. With a heroine whose love of books and determination will win your heart and a spider plant who not only talks but will constantly put a smile on your face this book is utterly delightful.

With a focus on self-discovery and the everyday moments in life, The Spellshop is a slower paced read but it was never a bore. I loved reading about our MC discovering not only more about herself and her wants, but just how it is to survive in a land filled with magic in an home which has sat abandoned for years.