Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is a cottage-core, book lover's dream. I would say that it is best paired with tea in your favorite mug and a cozy blanket to cuddle into, because this is a book that feels like a hug, a fantasy full of whimsy and joy and a world that I absolutely want to fall into.

"It wasn't that she didn't like people. It was only that she liked books more. They didn't fuss or judge or mock or reject. They invited you in, fluffed up the pillows on the couch, offered you tea and toast, and shared their hearts with no expectation that you'd do anything more than absorb what they had to give."

The story follows Kiela, a librarian, her sentient spider plant named Caz, and a few crates of books as they flee a fallen empire and go back to Kiela's childhood home on the sea. And here the story takes place, in a little cottage tucked away in the trees, surrounded by raspberry bushes and a handsome neighbor with a merhorse farm.

Oh, yeah, there are merhorses. And unicorns. And apple tree birds. And cloud bears. So many different, beautiful sounding animals and creatures that made the story that much more enjoyable to me. It felt like a fairytale for adults, and I think the author did a truly wonderful job in fostering that tone in her writing.

"This was a magic made from the music of words..."

But back to the handsome neighbor. Larran. Oh, dear sweet Larran. A man who wants to help simply because it is the right thing to do, who would literally give you the shirt off of his back, who would build you bookshelves so your books don't have to sit in boxes. He is absolutely everything, and I loved how tender yet vulnerable and awkward he could be with Kiela. It was so charming and he has raised that fictional boyfriend bar. The relationship between him and Kiela was so so so cute, and though this book is completely closed door, I think that truly added to how their relationship progresses. They are two people who have come from having nobody, or at least very few, to learning how to find solace and home in someone else, and I think that journey was really well represented.

"Maybe this was something that could last. How often did you meet someone who offered to build you bookshelves?"

Overall, I really loved this book! It is perfect if you are looking for a cozy, low-stakes book similar to Legends and Lattes (or any of those books, honestly). Full of wonder and whimsy and hope and a deep love of nature and books, this is only that I truly cannot wait to see on my shelves.

I loved this book! Perfect for fans of Legends and Lattes, I adored all of the characters, but Caz holds a special place in my heart. It was such an enjoyable and cozy read.

I tried and I tried but I did not like this book. I could not finish it. It was dry and very, very slow.

Oh my gosh, this book was so cute! It’s such a cozy read and now I want to go live on a tiny island somewhere. The characters were so sweet (especially Larran). I also loved Caz and the fact that he was a talking spider plant. The romance was so sweet and I loved how awkward both Larran and Kiela were.

If you are looking for a cozy, feel good, fantasy that has ALL the cottagecore vibes, look no further. If you like your romance a bit dark and spicy... kindly keep looking. This story is very sweet... to the point where I mayyyy have rolled my eyes a couple of times. But I stuck with it and actually ended up liking it more than I thought I would. There is good character development, it's an easy story to read and the descriptions throughout are so good.

Super cute and fits perfectly into my preferred genres. The overall vibe is very similar to "Legends and Lattes" - cozy feelings from small, pretty town with friendly characters making a home together where magic is (mostly) a natural part of the world. I'm in love with the sidekick, Caz - a talking spider plant, who was amazing and made me want my own plant sidekick. His mix of sassy comebacks and knowledge of all topics was my favorite part of the book. Though I enjoyed it overall, it was a bit slow to get into, not in terms of plot action but in terms of easing into the writing style which got better as it went. The romance was cute and believable but also not the whole point of the plot. I appreciated that the focus was more on Kiela making a new home. I would read a sequel in the future!

This is a lovely cozy fantasy, though I wished that the MC was a little more assertive and aware (or just not as much of a jerk to the neighbor/love interest) at the outset. It made parts of the first part a bit of a slog to read, before she became more confident and also more aware of the world and the political urgency of her position.

What an incredibly cozy, low stakes novel in a very unique and fun world. Like Legends and Lattes meets Animal Crossing meets The Tea Dragon Society meets Kiki's Delivery Service. (And honestly better than Legends and Lattes.) Queer friendly, too.

A librarian escapes the national spell library, sailing out of the city that revolutionaries are burning, with a boat full of spell books and her pet-plant-friend, Caz, the talking, mobile spider plant. She lands on the island she grew up on and quickly sets up an illegal spell shop, intended to heal the island that has been neglected by the kingdom's sorcerers, disguised as a jam shop. The cast of characters includes mermaids, merhorses, antlered folk, centaurs, giants, flying cats, cloud bear tree spirits, and more!

Durst writes in the afterward that she wanted a book that was like sipping a mug of cocoa and she absolutely did that! Recommended for readers looking for something light, cozy, low stakes, and cottage core.

The Spellshop feels like Gilmore Girls meets Hallmark with magic. It's the professional woman returning to her small hometown that she barely remembers and the handsome next-door neighbor with good intentions helping her without being asked. Caltrey is an island that takes care of its own and urges you to be at home wherever you are. Kiela and Caz do not feel like they belong, but they see how they can find their place by using the saved library books to magically (and illegally) save the island. The question is how much is Kiela willing to risk with her amateur spellcasting between her safety and her heart.

My fantasy reading tends to skew towards dark fantasy with higher stakes, but I really enjoyed this sweet story that feels like a hug, which was the author's intent. She scored. The final edition is set to have sprayed purple edges, so I have a choice to consider. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor/Bramble for the chance to read this early!

This book is completely sweet and entirely cozy. I read in the acknowledgements that Durst intended to write something that reads like a cup of hot chocolate and I’d say she succeeded. This story is a warm hug in book form. 😊

I related so much to the main character, who is a librarian like me, someone who prefers solitude and a good book to most any social situation. I also appreciated the author adding the authentic detail that our heroine acquired an advanced degree to become a librarian (lots of folks don’t realize that, so it’s a pleasure to see represented accurately in fiction).

The romance element was nice, and I appreciated the bit of romance for a couple of side characters, as well. I was pleased to see a bit about the winged cats, and even the sentient plants worked for me.

The mild peril was the perfect amount to make the story interesting without sacrificing the comfortable tone of the read, in general. The theme of found family is strong in this book, contributing to the warm hug appeal.

I hope this author writes more books, either set in this world or another; I will want to read them. I will also be inclined to read this again as a comfort reread! 🥰📚

ETA: I just learned she’s written a zillion books so yay! ❤️

If you're a fan of Animal Crossing, and Stardew Valley, this book will be your jam. Literally.

The Spellshop is a cozy fantasy through and through and is perfect for fans of The Little House books who really enjoy reading chapters worth of homesteading. The fantasy characters and creatures are a fun addition, and I will be naming a spider-plant Caz at my earliest opportunity. Overall, I personally found everything a bit Too Sweet, but I know there are readers who will gobble this up.

A sweet and soft book perfect for lovers of cottagecore and found family narratives. It was a bit redundant to the point of distraction, but the world of Caltrey & the side characters kept me hooked (would read entire novel focused on Caz the talking plant). It was so well intentioned and kindhearted, it’s hard to speak poorly of it.

This was a super cute and wholesome story and I had a lot of fun reading it. Could have benefitted from better world-building, but that's my opinion.

Sarah Beth Durst wrote one of my favorite books of 2020. That story was about a woman who did magic with bones, on a mission to save her husband from death. It was a beautiful love story that had me hooked and crying at the end. That story, however, felt darker, and there was more at stake for the characters than in "The SpellShop.' By no means is this a remark on this story negatively. It is more of a remark on the wide range of her story-telling.

"The Spellshop' is a story about a librarian who escapes the revolution happening in the capital city with an illegally created sentient plant and five packed crates of magic books. 

She flees back to her home island and struggles with whether she should share the magic or keep it secreted away for fear of the possible consequences. See, magic is banned for everyone, but only those designated. If she doesn't use her resources, though, the islanders will suffer, with their land and animals dying. She can see that they need her help desperately.

Kiela is kind and brave; however, she hadn't started the story that way. Her character grows throughout, from quiet and reserved to strong and outgoing.

Caz (the sentient talking plant), is by far my favorite character. He's fierce and protective, and except for water, he's fearless as well.

To judge this book against "The Bone Maker" would be unfair, as this is a cozy fantasy and the content is nowhere near as dark. This is more like a comforting lie-in, snuggled under a heated blanket.

Ah! I almost forgot about the winged cats and the cloud bears. I understand I was supposed to be scared of the cloud bears, but I would absolutely be the idiot cooing at them, trying to get their attention. Maybe even try to hug them? I would be the basis of the cautionary tales told to keep the children away from the cloud bears.

And the cats! I would also love it if winged cats were real. The cover illustration of a winged cat napping is so adorable. I can easily imagine how it would be to hold one; I bet they are soooo soft!

Finally, the world-building is amazing! Her writing is clear and descriptive, and I had an easy time seeing the town, the steps, the garden, and the cottage that, just like "The Bone Maker," I will be able to visit in my mind for many years from now.
Highlights - 　
　
Chapter Twenty-Seven　-- Page: 283
She would never have believed how attached she could become in such a short amount of time. She
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　Chapter Twenty-Seven　　-- Page: 284
“You can be alone with me.”
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Thank you TOR publishing for the arc! This was one of my anticipated reads for the year and it didn't disappoint at all. It definitely gave cozy vibes, I loved the main character Kiera. The descriptions was so good I could picture it perfectly while reading. Definitely going to be a re-read for me.

This was a different take on the war/dystopian trope. Kiela leaves a city that is going through a revolution to return to her home island, far from the political intrigue she was subject to as part of the Great Library; with her she is taking contraband books she has saved. Once there, her journey becomes one that is much more personal as she has to discover who she is outside of the walls of the library, and how far she will go to protect her new home and found family. I hope that there will be more books that follow these very unique characters.

Spellshop is a very cozy read that hit all of the right cozy fantasy beats: leaving an old life behind, starting over somewhere new, finding a community and a purpose within it, and a little no-spice romance. Bonus points for a sentient spider plant, bookish characters, mermaids, and a few other pretty cool magical elements.

I did struggle initially with the main character's insular attitude towards other people, but she has a decent growth arc. So if you find yourself rolling your eyes at her at the beginning, I'd say to stick with it knowing she's going somewhere. And it's arguable that her frame of mind at the beginning does have a function in keeping the tone of the story lighter, because there are some rather high stakes things happening in the larger world, but her world view keeps our focus pretty small with everything else being more in the background.

This was an easy read, and cozy cottagecore is an excellent descriptor for it. I think it will be an easy win for fans of cozy fantasy, especially if you love books and houseplants!

This was the most wholesome cottagecore cozy fantasy I've ever read. I love the enchanting world that was built. The romance sub-plot was endearing as well. The sentient houseplants gave me so much joy. This is a small-town romance with an endearing side of cozy fantasy elements.

I love the fantasy genres new trend towards cozier novels and beautiful world building, like Legends and Lattes or the perennial favorite, The Princess Bride. Romance and daily life with a dash of adventure and drama but not too much. No battles and great wars. No five year long treks across a wasteland or down a river. The Spellshop is a feel good, find yourself and your tribe story. The feeds your soul, perfect for winter reading with a cup of tea, the perfect escape to a fantasy world of cloud bears, unicorns and merhorses.

Kiela was a studious girl growing up on a small island in the far reaches of her realm. Her parents were happy but they wanted the best for their bright and talented child so they moved to the city. The family continued their happy life until young adult Kiela lost her parents tragically but she found her dream job as a librarian in the Great Library. Buried in book, Kiela didn’t pay much attention to the outside world so a rebellion took her as a bit of a surprise. She escaped back to her island hometown with her assistant and some rescued books.

Trying to quietly rebuild her life included a few bumps and a stumbles but her chosen family and friends are there to back her up when trouble came calling.

Delightfully cozy! In the acknowledgments Sarah says she asked herself every chapter if this was making her happy, and you can tell she just threw in everything she loved. I didn't find this boring like I do some cozies, there was enough of a plot and intrigue and conflict. The romance was delightful, I loved the main character, and the vibes - immaculate!