Oh my goodness, I loved this sweet, enchanting story! At first I wasn’t sure, as I have never read “cottagecore” before and worried it might be rather boring. Not so! Although there are no wild fights, not action-packed suspense, or even hot, steamy romance, there is every single thing that makes a heart sing and puts a smile on the face.

The story revolves around Kiela an almost agoraphobic librarian who has lived her life sequestered within the walls of the library, protecting and caring for her beloved books. A revolution is at foot, however, and suddenly the library is burning and Kiela must save all the enchanted books she can as she escapes. Having those books, though, makes her an outlaw once she leaves the library. What follows is her journey, both physical and personal, as she finds a home and learns to live, love and grow.

The writing has almost a lyrical feel to it as it creates the fantastical world and unique people that inhabit the small island Kiela lands on. Yet, the storyline stays strong throughout and deepens with emotion, encompassing the reader within Kiera’s life and the struggles she faces. I was actually surprised at how involved I became! I grew to love the people right along with her! The conflict was surprisingly real and believable, given the world the characters inhabit. And when the climax came, it was delightful to discover that the plot didn’t fall into the cliche it could have, but twisted just enough to squeeze the heart and end with a sigh.

As an added bonus, we even get an absolutely lovely few chapters at the end that tie everything up so beautifully that one can’t help but be lifted, as well as entertained. It’s a warm blanket, a big bear hug, and a cozy evening with those you love all wrapped up in one enchanting journey!

What a sweet cozy fantasy read this was. Kiela is a librarian who escapes the revolution and head back home to the Island she is from. She can do magic but she is concerned whether she should keep a secret on the island as it has been banned. The only people who can legally perform magic are those that are sanctioned by the Empire. Kiela also has a sentient plant named Caz, who is just a cool character.
Kiela and Caz go back to her parent’s cottage and they make a home of it. It is kind of a fixer upper house too. This was such a sweet read and there are so many characters on this island who are just nice, This Island is a new (oldish) for Kiela and Caz. This was a joy to read.

The book follows Kiela, a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium and has always struggled with social interactions. She has spent most of her life hidden away in the library with her only companion being Caz, a sentient spider plant. But when a revolution breaks out and the library is destroyed, Kiela is forced to flee to her childhood home on a faraway island. What I loved most about this book was the world-building. Durst has created a unique and fascinating world where magic is controlled by the elite and kept hidden from the commoners. The idea of a magical library that holds all the spells of the empire was intriguing and I couldn't wait to learn more about it. Kiela is a relatable and likable protagonist. Her struggles with social anxiety and her determination to do what is right despite the risks made her a compelling character. I also enjoyed the dynamic between Kiela and Caz, their friendship was heartwarming and added some humor to the story. As Kiela settles into her new home, she begins to realize the consequences of her actions and the role she played in draining the island's magic. Her determination to make things right and her willingness to open up a spell shop despite the danger it poses made her a strong and admirable character. Overall, this was a beautifully written and enchanting story about friendship, courage, and the power of magic. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy novel.

When the revolutionaries set fire to The Great Library of Alyssium, librarian Kiela and her sentient spider plant Caz pack all the spellbooks they can into their escape boat and flee the city. They sail to Kiela’s childhood home on the island of Caltrey which they learn has been drained of magic. Although spell casting is illegal, Kiela intends to revive the island by opening a spell shop (masquerading as a jam shop) to discreetly share the magic in the spellbooks so Caltrey can thrive once again.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is a warm hug in book form set in a land of cinnamon buns, cheeky merhorses, cloud-bear tree spirits, and endless jars of tasty jam. Kiela is an introverted bookworm (relatable) who plans to lay low when she arrives at Caltrey but is charmed by the friendly islanders, especially her handsome neighbor Larran. The story has a wide cast of lovable characters and a strong theme of found family. I loved every minute of this wholesome, cozy fantasy novel about the power of kindness and compassion.

What a cozy read! This book is like if Emily Wilde and Legends & Lattes had a sweet little magic baby. It made me smile. I wouldn't have been mad if the stakes had been even lower. I'm a sucker for found family and green magic, and I just love a socially awkward bookworm fmc. Really enjoyed it!

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.