This was my very first cozy fantasy and I have to say the genre is not for everyone. I can see how people can adore this book but for me personally, it fell a bit flat and was quite boring at times.

Thank you @brambleromance and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted book and audiobook.

2.5 stars

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. I knew going into this that it was a cozy but it was… too much. What start off as an adorable story ended up feeling saccharine. I know that probably sounds ideal for a good light read but it was akin to eating too much [insert your favourite sweet here] and feeling sick after a while. Also, it was a little too long, by the 83% mark I was ready for it to be done. I may have dnf’d but I was buddy reading with @reliablebookgirl_rbg and wanted to finish it so I was grateful for the audio to help me along. Caitlin Davies was the narrator and nailed the sugary sweet tone of the story. If you’re in the mood for a hallmark style fantasy, then this one’s for you.

This was so cute. I loved it so much. Kiela's growth was amazing to see. I loved seeing her come out of her shell more and realize she wanted more. And Caz. Sweet and vicious Caz. He took the show. He had me cracking up multiple times. Very much looking forward to more from this author.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the earc in exchange for an honest review.

Fun cottagecore fantasy with some serious cosy vibes. A little thin on the ground in terms of character building (some of the folks start out flat and don't gain too much dimensionality as they go), but the world and creatures created are fantastic. Might benefit from a different format rather than prose - audio for some voice acting or graphic for the aesthetics. Would love to see a graphic novel adaptation of this.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is a delightful foray into a world brimming with magic, creativity, and adventure. The story follows a young witch determined to save her family’s struggling spellshop, weaving themes of resilience and self-discovery throughout. Durst’s writing is vibrant and engaging, painting a vivid picture of a fantastical realm filled with whimsical spells and memorable characters.

The balance of humor and heartfelt moments makes the narrative truly enjoyable, and the protagonist’s journey resonates with anyone striving to carve out their own path. With its clever twists and charming atmosphere, The Spellshop is a captivating read that will enchant fans of fantasy and magic alike.

5 stars! This book encapsulates everything I love about cozy family. All my favorites were included like found family, homespun magic and sentient animal companions (of a sort). I loved the setting and the characters! Sarah Beth Durst gave us a wonderful warm hug of a book that was perfect as a weekend read while snuggled up on the couch. I devoured this book in 2 days. I cannot wait for her 2025 release of The Enchanted Greenhouse about a character that is mentioned in The Spellshop, I already pre-ordered it for next July! The characters were so adorable and charming in The Spellhouse and the low stakes typical to cozy fantasy were just enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. Could not put this book down, highly recommend!

Books described as “cozy” have been hit and miss with me; however The Spellshop is simply delightful! I loved Kiela and her plant sidekick Caz! The townspeople are so fun and entertaining, and I think the points of tension within the story are interesting. Great read - especially for a fall evening!

If you are a fan of cozy reads with some whimsy and spells, this book is for you! It was a quick read that put me in the spirit of fall and cant wait for more in the series!

This was super fun! I liked the characters, the setting, and the plot. It did indeed feel a lot like a warm hug as intended and I appreciated that there were some actual stakes involved and that the problems weren't immediately solved. Overall, I really enjoyed this!

The best way I can describe this book is that it feels exactly like the experience of running around in the woods with my cousin when we were kids making “magic potions” out of leaves and berries. A very soft and gentle read where everything magically works out exactly the way it needs to.

I absolutely loved this book!! This should be the poster child for Cozy Cottagecore books. All of the characters are well developed, and where a pleasure to get to know.

If you like cozy fantasy you will be right at home!
This has all the cottagecore vibes you could ever want.
It's soft and magical, and honestly the vibes inside the book absolutely match the cover.
Love love love!

Gorgeous cover with a gorgeous book to match. I loved the world, loved the romance. Loved the cosy vibes, This absolutely hit the
Legends and Lattes spot.

Like the author mentioned in the acknowledgement reading this was like drinking a hot chocolate, comforting, warm, sweet and overall satisfying.
I got about half way through and took a few month break as I was a little bored while reading, it may have been the wrong book wrong time thing though. I found this dragged a bit and was a bit too long, half/1/3 of the book was set up and then the last quarter flew by with lots of things happening. I liked the side characters better than Keila the MC, I especially like Caz the sentient spider plant.
This book is perfect for fans of cozy fantasy to cozy up with a warm blanket on a cool fall day.

✨ Publication date: July 9, 2024✨

The Spellshop is what I would call a cozy fantasy written by Sarah Beth Durst. This is my first book by this author.

Kiela is a librarian trusted with an important section of books in the Capital city. Kiela spends most of her time with a magical sentient spider plant and her books. When the Capital falls to the rebel warriors, Kiela and Caz flee the city with as many books as their boat can carry. They end up on the small Island where Kiela grew up.

Kiela and Caz hide the spellbooks they brought with them in Kiela’s family’s old cottage. As Kiela relearns Island life she sees the townspeople and the magical beings that inhabit the land are suffering.

The Capital is supposed to send sorcerers to attend to the weather, plants and magic of the island and because of the unrest ,haven’t been there in many years.

Kiela learns a few small spells from the books she brought to help the small island but magic is forbidden unless you are a sorcerer. As Kiela continues to warm up to island life she finds a companion in what she would have once called her nosy neighbour. When the Capital sends an investigator to the island to look into reports of rogue magic, the little life Kiela is building could be ruined.

This was an okay book. While I enjoyed the magic creatures and some of the storyline I find the magic system and magical world building was completely missing. There was some cool magical creatures with absolutely no background or details. I would have liked more character depth as well. This is a 3 star read for me.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #sarahbethdurst #thespellshop

This book was such a cozy and enjoyable read. There were so many aspects of this book I adored; Caz (!), Meep, the pine cone coven, the characters and their fierce friendships, a cozy cottage turned jam shop, a love interest that builds book shelves (we all need one of those), bear tree spirits, and so much more! I really enjoyed exploring Caltrey and getting to know this tight knit town. The only thing I wished we heard more of was the rebellion or had a better resolution regarding that aspect of the story. The conflicts in this story were easily (at times too easily) resolved/wrapped up and I kept wondering what happened with the rebellion or if we would come up against a bigger conflict with that storyline.
The author set out to write a book that felt like a cozy cup of hot chocolate and I would absolutely say she hit the mark on that.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced electronic version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a lovely and heartwarming cozy fantasy. It’s about a librarian who secretly learns spells to help the townspeople. How could I not pick this up? I’ve read a couple of Durst’s books and she really shines in her descriptions of the natural world. I loved following Keila and Caz as they learn about their new environment and wander the forest healing trees and such. Keila is forced to interact with others to survive, we see her true personality blossom. It’s beautiful! The vibe is everything I want in a cozy fantasy: baked goods, small town, forest, magic, and romance. It was slow moving but in a good way like a leisurely stroll.

Durst makes sure to throw in some high stakes situations to keep things interesting. Nothing ever feels too dark or dire. Even in the midst of danger, the characters rally around each other to protect one another. I loved the simple messages of doing what is right, found families, and a personal favorite - in this time of all-time high book bans - that knowledge is valuable and should be accessible to anyone.

“Books should be shared with everyone who wants to open their minds and hearts to them.”

This book was so sweet. Kiela was a relatable main character, especially since I'm a librarian, and so cute. Her friendship with Caz was lots of fun and watching her grow throughout the novel was a delightful experience. Though her naivety at the beginning was a bit frustrating, she quickly grew out of it, and are lots of other enjoyable aspects to distract from it. Larran and the merhorses were so fun! I loved how their relationship developed, how caring he is. I appreciated Kiela asserting some boundaries and him being understanding and supportive. (low bar? haha) Her friend group is a delight. I appreciate supportive female friendships and it made the second half of the book even better.
Overall, an excellent choice for any cozy fantasy fan.

Thank you publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

I went in to this not expecting much and was completely blown away! The blend of romance, baking and magic with the cottagecore vibes and the tiny seaside town setting gave me such heavy Kiki’s delivery service feels! Definitely one of my top reads of the year!

Well if that wasn't the most charming book I've read all year! It was just as cozy as it purported to be. The world building is not super dense, but certainly sufficient to give you a picture of the fantastical setting. The characters are delightful and fairly well drawn. I think the best part though is the kindness and community infused into the book. At (almost) every turn the characters choose kindness and supporting their community over self interest which feels more magical that merhorses. It was a delight to read and I would suggest it as an into to fantasy for people who think they don't like fantasy. It's absolutely about found family, and home with a sprinkling of romance, and a titch of adventure.