This book was cozy and a nice read. The characters were relatable and the audiobook narrator had a nice voice. I enjoyed my read, though there were a couple of times that I thought the end was coming and another event happened, which could have been paired down for me. Other than that, I enjoyed it and will recommend it to customers who are looking for a cozy read.

I’m sad this book is over! It was the perfect cozy read for me and I want to spend more time in this world with these characters and with these creatures! There were sentient plants, winged cats, merhorses, mermaids, and so much more.

I’ve seen people disagree about books being considered ‘cozy fantasy’ even when they are marketed that way, think Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne or some of T Kingfisher’s fantasy books, and I could see The Spellshop falling into that same group. There are definitely stakes here (out main character Kiela is breaking a law that people have been executed for) but I was never too worried about her or the people around her. I think the blurb does a great job at setting the correct expectations.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Kiela and her spider plant assistant Caz, they say they are each others best friends and I could really feel that. I also liked the romance and the cinnamon roll love interest, but I did find myself wishing I knew more about him by the end of the book.

Overall this was a fantastic read and I highly recommend!

This was the perfect cozy fantasy. I never realized how much I would love cozy fantasies until I started reading them. They feel like a warm hug and this was no exception. It was such a sweet read. I loved it from start to finish.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of The Spellshop. I will be purchasing this one immediately 🥹💖

This was a fantastic cozy fantasy. These characters were so wholesome and fun. It really made me want to live in a world where people were this kind, warm and genuinely good to each other. A librarian who prefers books to people returns to her parents cottage to hide herself and many of the books she brings from the library in the midst of a revolution I the city. She is amazed that her neighbors look out for her, keep her secrets and want to help. It’s cute, and she makes a lot of raspberry jam, but there is still a story here that makes the book more than just vibes. I loved it! The audiobook is well done, easy to follow while listening only, and the narrator does a great job with there characters.

Cute and cozy are the two words that come to mind when thinking about this book. I hadn’t heard the term “cottage core” before, but that also describes this book perfectly. It’s got a little dash of magic, a good dose of eccentricity, and a whole lot of heart. (Oh and some delicious sounding cinnamon buns and jams.)

I’m hesitant to use the term quirky to describe the characters in this book, as I feel like that can be overused to describe anyone who struggles with social skills. But Kiela, Caz, and her neighbor Larren (sp?) were all a bit quirky, in the most endearing way. And Caz has become one of my most favorite nonhuman characters since Kingsley from Assistant to the Villain. It makes me look at my own spider plant in a more flattering light (instead of a will-you-ever-stop-growing type of way 😆).

Overall I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrators voice seemed perfect for this book, too, and really brought the characters to life. Definitely read if any of this sounds like your jam. (Pun intended)

An absolutely wonderful cozy fantasy novel. I have wanted to read this book ever since I first saw the cover and read the blurb. Kiela is definitely one of my new favorite characters of the year, along with her sentient spiderplant, Caz. He brings so much humor to the book. Kiela is a character I related to on so many levels, especially as an introvert. I loved following along with her as she connected with the residents of the island.

The small town vibes were perfect. The townspeople were so welcoming and I just could not get enough of them. Also, Kiela’s love interest, Larran made it even better. This was definitely a slow-burn romance but I enjoyed seeing every interaction between them both. Kiela is not used to being around people and is afraid of getting to close to anyone on the island. Lorn never takes it to heart. It was beautiful watching them fall for each other.

I am beyond glad I decided to read this novel and will definitely be adding it to my collection. Another found family story that stole my heart. I hope Sarah will return to this world again. I would love new adventures and to see even more of these characters. This was a story I would have loved to fall into and live in.

It is a good book. I enjoyed the story and I did like the naration.

It was entertaining .

I recommend this one.

Magical, wonderful, wholesome, delightful, cozy, heartwarming, lovely, adorable, etc etc etc!!!!

Kiela was a librarian at the capital, very dedicated and content with her job. But the uprising revolution eventually arrived at the library doorstep and the only choices she had was to burn along with the library, or to flee. She chose the later, bringing “only” 5 crates of library books (that were mostly spell books) & supplies and her assistant, a sentient spider plant. And the only destination she could think of was her childhood home, a tiny & remote island called Caltrey.

And so she rebuilt her life, one step at a time.

Kiela was a lovely MC, and i can relate to her. The Caltreyans were amazing folks. The magic system was simple yet intriguing, the magical elements were abundant yet blended nicely. The general vibe was truly cozy, the plot was low-stakes but still interesting enough to keep me eagerly turning the pages. For the setting, it really represented by the cover: warm and whimsical cottagecore, with beautiful landscapes. And of course i want to give a special shout-out to CAZ, THE SPIDER PLANT. He’s truly a diva and must be protected at all cost😭♥️

On top of that, Caitlin Davies, the audiobook narrator did such a marvelous job with the storytelling. Soothing, lively, dramatic, and just perfect for this book♥️

The list could go on and on but I think that represented my main points already, so. If there’s “imperfections” I didn’t notice it, all overshadowed by the goodness 🥹 love love love it

Sarah Beth Durst has been a juggernaut in fantasy for over a decade and her writing feels just like that. The Spellshop is warm, comforting, like biting into a freshly baked roll smothered in jam, there’s also joyous, shameless, and silly human, but themes woven in that go much deeper than “cozy.” My favourite one to watch evolve and chew over was Kiela’s initial stance of “well I agree with the rebels, but I wished they’d asked for their demands less violently.” It’s an excellent character study in privilege and accepted placement in a society that benefits you.
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Also no one does romance like Durst and it’s a way that I love so much - approaching it first as strangers, then slowly becoming rock-solid friendships, and then opening it up for the potential of romance by seeing each other in a different light. Kiela and Larran are totally a couple I would route for over and over because they discover and become better themselves first before exploring the potential of romance together - gah, Durst does it every damn time and I love it.

This book came to me at the right time, right when I needed it. The audiobook is fantastic and I will definitely be sniffing around to see if I can snag any really pretty editions.
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Hisses & Kisses 🐍
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*I received an audioARC from Macmillan Audio & NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*

This book had a great blend of cozy fantasy, a dash of romance, and enough stakes to keep the plot interesting. I recommend this book for fans of Legends & Lattes, Studio Ghibli, and cozy games such as Stardew Valley. Each character was unique with their own backstories and I love how Sarah Beth Durst wrote the world building.

I want to stress that this is definitely a cozy fantasy. Although it does have a surprising amount of medium to semi-high stakes, the story really does center around character development, relationships, and the friends made along the way. This book is a slow burn, and it pulls you into a fantastic magical world.

That you to NetGalley and Bramble for providing me with an Audiobook Arc in return for an honest review.

I adored this book so much!

The audiobook tells the story so well! The narrator does a fantastic job with voices and inflection.

The Author (Sarah Beth Durst) has written such a cute cozy romance. While I think our time with these main characters is over, I do hope we get another book about some of the other characters.

What a cozy fantasy read to snuggle up with a cup of coffee and immerse yourself in a lush and vibrant world. I feel this would be the perfect fall read!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC!

A cozy fantasy loaded with magical creatures, found family vibes, and a touch of romance. After stealing spell books from the library where she previously worked, Kiela runs away and hides in her parent’s old cabin on a remote island. With her best friend and fellow librarian (a sentient spider plant), she leaves her old life behind in the noble pursuit of saving these one of a kind books from burning. She doesn’t expect the warm welcome from the local bakery owner or how incredibly helpful her handsome new neighbor is.

Let’s be honest, this book was Hallmark in a fantasy setting and I definitely enjoyed it. The main character was exactly the “no nonsense” librarian I was expecting and the cast of side characters were all sweet and supportive, with the exception of the town grump of course. This was not a work of literary art, but it was exactly the warm fantasy hug of a story I needed this week. I liked how the author sprinkled in small instances of high stakes situations without making them too anxiety-ridden. The effect kept the story interesting where a lot of cozy fantasies written these days have almost nothing happen at all.

For anyone curious about the romance part of the story, it was very light and zero spice. For me, that was perfect. It was just a little something to add to the story without taking away from the cozy, found family vibes. If you are looking for a spicy romantasy, this is not it. I believe this will be a downside for many picking this book up as it’s being advertised as a romantasy, when the romance really wasn’t the central plot.

Overall, this was a very sweet, fun read, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a cozy fantasy. Bonus: The audiobook narrator was perfect for the role of a renegade librarian and absolutely added to my enjoyment.

I loved this cozy fantasy. The characters were all really cute, the romance was there but it wasn’t the main part of the story. Also this has no spice. Caz was probably my favorite he was so funny for a plant! Pick this up if you are looking for just something sweet, cozy and easy read.

DNF @ 15%

I was excited for a cozy, cottagecore fantasy vibe. I found myself drifting away from the audio. The world building and characters were interesting.

🗣 Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted audiobook! All opinions are honest and my own.

Are you looking for the perfect relaxation read ? Look no further - this is it !
Aside from romance and fantasy this book is filled with cinnamon rolls and raspberry jam and just so very escapist and sweet.
Kielah lives the secluded life of an imperial librarian, researching sources for scholars and taking care of precious books when her life is upended by a revolution and she narrowly escapes with crates of the most precious books and her best friend a sentient spider plant. She returns to the only place she can think of a part from the library, a cottage on the outer islands far away from the burning capital (or so she thinks).
Trying to make a life there also means opening her home and heart to others, trusting that they do not mean her or „her" books harm.
This book explores themes of found family, community and knowledge as power, access to knowledge and books.
Talking and singing plants, merhorses, cloud bears, spells this book has it all.
I listened to the audio and Caitlin Davies' narration is fantastic. All of character voices were distinctive and it was easy to determine who was speaking - down to the „meep-ing" cactus.
I attended the launch event at Phoenix Books in Essex, VT yesterday, Sarah Beth Durst was interviewed by Katherine Arden and it was fantastic hear more about her writing process but also see how much she enjoyed sharing this hopeful story of a community coming together.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst book is unlike any genre I’ve personally read. It is cozy fantasy romance or cottagecore romantasy and it is lovely. The fantasy I have read has had a very dark side, with scary creatures and violence. This book is SWEET. It is PRETTY. It is VISUAL. There are “bad guys” but they don’t seem to feel AS bad? This book begs to be a movie, because readers will want to SEE what they are hearing/ reading about.

Kiela and her best friend/ assistant, sentient spider plant Caz, must flee Alyssium due to a revolution. The only place she can think to escape to is the island cottage where she and her parents lived during part of her childhood. From there we have endless fascinating creatures, tea and jam, spells (I mean, remedies), found family, some drama and a little bit of romance. Of course I could always have a little more of the latter!

This is my first low stakes fantasy book and let me tell you, I'M IN LOVE! I was a little worried at first because the pacing felt a little slow but when the main characters connect, the action begins, and all the puzzles start to fall into place, I was OBSESSED! I got pulled into the story and plot so quickly and I REALLY didn't want the story to end! I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that we get more books in the series, maybe picking up with Kiela (FMC) and Lauren (MMC) OR an interconnected series?!? I don't know I just know I need more!!!
In a Princess Bride style of a description, I would say it has action, suspense, romance, a librarian, stolen magic books, forbidden magic, merhorses, AND a sentient spiderplant sidekick named Caz?!?!
What more could a person want!?! I really loved that it had so many aspects and was so enjoyable at every turn!
Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for an early copy of this audiobook in exchange for an unbiased review!💖

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was wonderfully cozy and delightful. It had all the ghibli vibes I needed right now. I just loved this. I can't stop grinning it was so cute and I want to dive into this world and hang out with merhorses and eat cinnamon buns. If you want something that will just feel warm and lovely, then read this book.

Macmillan Audio ALC
I knew this book would be delightful from the moment I started it. I love a cozy fantasy story and this one give me such hope for the characters in the beginning, even though the set up was a bit scary for them. I fell in love with the island and all of the quirky characters there. I loved how they showed what community looks like and how they take care of each other. I also adored how they came together to welcome Keila and Caz. I liked all of the little aspects of magic, the seahorses, and the underlying mystery/worry here. I thought there was a great balance between the sweetness of the story, but also the reality of making a new place your home, when all you’ve ever known is something completely different. The narration was wonderful and I could easily see myself listening to this book again.