"The Spellshop" by Sarah Beth Durst is an enchanting and heartwarming romantasy that seamlessly blends magic, whimsy, and self-discovery. Following Kiela, a reclusive librarian with a complicated past, the story weaves a delightful tale of stolen spellbooks, a sentient spider plant named Caz, and an unlikely new beginning on a magical island. As Kiela navigates the chaos of a revolution and the challenges of starting over, Durst creates a vibrant world full of quirky characters, a burgeoning romance, and the high stakes of illegal spellmaking. What truly makes "The Spellshop" shine is its cozy, cottagecore atmosphere—a sweet blend of magical mishaps, cinnamon rolls, and found family that’s perfect for anyone craving an uplifting fantasy with a touch of charm and tenderness.

A story about an introverted librarian & her talking spider plant... YES PLEASE!

This book is what I want out of a cozy fantasy!

The story has the right amount of coziness, with high enough stakes to keep the story interesting and the plot engaging.

Oh, and don't forget about the cute slow-burn romantic subplot.

*chefs kiss*

To me, this wasn’t a cozy read. There was too much action to be considered cozy. Kiela’s character growth was artificial, and I dislike it when characters tell the reader that they’ve changed. That’s something that should be shown to the audience, not told. The romance was weak. The main guy was so perfect that he was unrealistic. Because I like the author and genre, this was a disappointment.

The reader, Caitlin Davies, was good.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* I LOVED this book! i was so sad when it ended!!! something i will reread and im buying it for my mom for a gift too lol

This is a cozy romantasy read! It was a bit long, but I enjoyed the story as a whole! Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen in exchange for a review!

"Spellshop" by Sarah Beth Durst is a delightful gem, perfect for readers who enjoy both fantasy and romance. The story follows Kiela, a librarian, and her assistant, Caz—a sentient spider plant—as they escape a revolution and find refuge in Kiela's childhood home.

The novel expertly blends magic and romance, showcasing a unique and captivating world with an intriguing magic system. The relationship between Kiela and Caz is central to the story, evolving from colleagues to friends and beyond. Quirky supporting characters, including eccentric townsfolk and a mysterious love interest, add depth to the narrative.

Overall, "Spellshop" is an engaging read for fantasy and romance enthusiasts. Durst's storytelling skills make you root for Kiela and Caz throughout their journey, resulting in a highly recommended, heartwarming tale.

A cute and cozy fantasy novel! The world of The Spellshop is one you would love to fall into - talking plants, jam magic making sessions, and so many magical creatures! This book left a smile on my face and was an enjoyable surprise to read.

A perfectly charming take on the secret-magic trope; in a world where the practicing of magic has been limited to a select few, one (ex-) librarian - with the help of her sentient plant - tries to heal her childhood home just a little bit with the help of the books she's saved from rebellion, thereby defying the empire herself in her own small way. The characters are universally adorable and interesting, the romance is lovely though not overly-centered, and the sentient plants and bits of magic add so much atmosphere. This is a book that drops you right into the middle of a magical system without being jarring, an honestly impressive feat. I was immediately wrapped in and anyone who enjoys these type of stories will love this one

The Spellshop is the cutest cozy mystery / romance fantasy. I loved how whimsical Kiela's world is. At first I was a bit annoyed that she talked to her plant a lot, but it definitely grew on me. This was totally just a comfort listen and it's easy to see why it was up for a Goodreads Award. I am looking forward to book two as well. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillion audio for this audio arc. I really enjoyed Caitlin Davies narration. She really felt with what I imaged Kiela to be. I'd highly recommend this audiobook!

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy.

Didn't quite have the magic I was looking for. I felt a little distanced from the story and the characters, and I didn't really love Caz. I'm all for a sentient plant. It just didn't really... behave the way I would have expected. I don't regret reading it, but it wasn't the next Legends & Lattes I was looking for.

Beautifully written and wonderfully narrated. I loved every moment of this cozy, magical, witchy read. I absolutely cannot wait for book 2!!

Sadly, I was really disappointed by this cozy fantasy, despite all the hype surrounding it. The plot sounded like something I’d love, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a fantastic job with the character voices, but even her performance couldn’t redeem the story for me. That said, I did appreciate that the book included no language or spice. To note, there are gay side characters and a sentient cactus uses they/them pronouns—a quirky touch that didn’t resonate with me but may appeal to others.

The world itself was enchanting, filled with whimsical fantasy elements and magical creatures. It felt like stepping into a cozy video game, which I can see appealing to fans of that style. The author’s creativity and imagination really shone, and I enjoyed the found family dynamics between the characters.

However, while the premise was interesting, the execution felt flat. The story didn’t captivate me, and I found myself bored for much of it. It took longer than expected to finish because I wasn’t invested. The characters lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them or care about their journeys. The narrative felt disjointed, with scenes resembling disconnected video game quests rather than a cohesive story.

The pacing was another issue—it was slow, with overly detailed descriptions and long paragraphs that I ended up skimming. Without a strong overarching goal or engaging plot, the book felt too long and could have benefited from tighter editing. As for the romance, while it was present, it lacked chemistry and wasn’t central to the story. I’d classify this as more fantasy than romantasy.

Despite my disappointment, there were elements I enjoyed. It’s undeniably cozy, heartwarming, and charming, with moments of humor. My favorite character was Caz, the sentient spider plant who acts like a mix of a loyal pet and a quirky friend to Kiela. His antics made me laugh out loud and brought much-needed levity to the story.

If you’re a fan of slow-paced, whimsical cozy fantasies, you might enjoy this book. But if you’re looking for depth, action, or a gripping plot, you may want to skip this one. While this wasn’t a new favorite for me, I might give the author another try to see if her other works are a better fit.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

The Spellshop is everything that Legends and Latte lacked for me. I loved the story, the characters, the resilience of the MC, and her arc and development. The audiobook production added an extra layer to the enjoyment of the story. It was so pleasurable that I’m surprised I don’t see more of this online. The story made sense and hit close to home with its theme of building something from the ground up for survival, only to discover that we are not alone in our struggle and there is a whole village w.aiting to welcome us if we let them.

I am a fan! You had me at sentient spider plant. I was sold on the entire book. It’s cozy without being so cozy that it’s boring. The magical creatures alone are worth it! The plot was excellent and the only critique is that it lagged a bit for me in some parts, but honestly I don’t even care. Give me more!

The Spellshop is an absolutely adorable cozy fantasy novel with a wide array of magical creatures, plants, and beings. Cozy fantasy is not usually my favorite sub genre of fantasy, but this one was just too cute not to love!

Starting with the characters, I think I loved every single character in this story. They’re all unique and lovable and funny, while also being flawed in the most beautiful ways. We get some excellent neurodiverse rep, including a presumably autistic MC and an anxiety ridden talking plant who may be my favorite character in the whole book. The character interactions and relationships were so sweet, and I loved the budding romance in the book.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audio ARC thanks to MacMillan Audio via Netgalley , and the narrator, Caitlin Davies, really added to the cozy feel of the book. She made you feel immersed in the world and the story!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was a cozy fantasy with a sentient spider plant, magical beings, and a beautiful island that becomes home again for Kiela. Fleeing from the capital, Kiela returns to her hometown with contraband on hand and sets to hiding and secluding herself away. But, on an island full of friendly and nosy neighbors, that is not as easy to do. With the help of a cinnamon roll love interest, Kiela makes new friends and abilities through conflicts and baking. Read this for a cozy cottage core novel that is lighthearted, quick, and well-told.

I was so excited to get this Audio book, as I knew I was going to get the physical book from Fairyloot. The Audio was done so well, I felt immersed in the world, and really enjoyed all the different charter voices. Well done!

This was quite a fun cozy book. Instantly Caz, the sentient spider plant was an unusual flag and I wanted to read it. Kiela and Caz flee the burning library (where Caz was born) and where Kiela never expected to have to leave. Her parents gone from sickness they need a new place to live and Kiela's parents had a cottage on a island where they should be safe-even if they did rescue several crates of spell books, they probably won't be accused and prosecuted for stealing the books,,,right?

Kiela is a curmudgeonly librarian type, and Caz is a bit of a worrywart, and they want to lay low, just in case the capital didn't fall and people come looking for them, and the books they stole, however that is a bit difficult to do when you show up on a small island and rein habit a cottage that has been empty for many years (like 10+?) Their neighbor is a friendly and inquisitive type that really just wants to help and it takes time for Kiela to warm up to him and the townsfolk but she'll need a way to get food, so she also needs a way to make money, so she starts a jam shop-with the help of some spell books, and a few villagers.

This is definitely a low stakes (for most of the book) story with a slow-burn romance aspect. The narrator for the audiobook was also fantastic.