Where did Caz, the sentient spider plant from 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥 come from?

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 is the origin story that answers this question. If you didn’t know how much I loved Sarah Beth Durst’s fantasy world, let me assure you that sentient (speaking) greenhouse plants and mini dragons are adorable mainstays that live vividly in my imagination as I’m reading - this world is a peaceful respite from our real world.

I was mildly concerned about the conflicts the characters faced in this charming companion novel/prequel.

Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium.

This should have been the end of her story . . . Yet one day, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. She’s starving and freezing, and the only other human on the island is a grumpy gardener. To her surprise, he offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes, and freshly baked honey cakes—at least until she’s ready to sail home.

But Terlu can’t return home and doesn’t want to—the greenhouses are a dream come true, each more wondrous than the next. When she learns that the magic that sustains them is failing—causing the death of everything within them—Terlu knows she must help. Even if that means breaking the law again.

This time, though, she isn’t alone. Assisted by the gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island—and have a fresh chance at happiness and love.
I loved living in this land of honey and sweet characters- the gentle romance of it all was a balm for my soul. I highly recommend this darling addition to a much loved series. I can’t wait for another volume, please.

Thank you @sarahbethdurst @brambleromance for allowing me to continue to read this magical series in exchange for my honest opinion.

⬇️QOTD in comments

#booksta #theenchantedgreenhouse #summerreading #arcreviews #bookreviews #cozyvibes

I enjoyed returning to the whimsical world introduced in The Spellshop for another cozy, magical adventure! While it's not necessary to have read The Spellshop first, fans will appreciate the return of Terlu Perna—the charming character who famously brought Caz the sentient spider plant to life.

The entire cast of characters is instantly likeable and heartwarming, and the story’s light, comforting tone made for a deeply relaxing read (or listen). The narrator brings the tale to life with a gentle, engaging style that perfectly complements the book’s bedtime-story feel.

Enchanted Greenhouse is a delightful continuation filled with new magical faces, warm friendships, and quiet wonder. If you enjoyed The Spellshop, this audiobook will feel like a hug—and it’s the perfect way to wind down your summer reading.

I really liked this installmen. It was a little slow to being but built nicely. A warm and cosy read.

I LOVED The Spellshop, and I’d venture to say I loved this one even more! Of course, there’s a linguist librarian, which is very much in my wheelhouse. But the author managed to balance lush descriptors of this magical world with driving the plot forward so that the world-building didn’t take over. That’s a huge win in my book. Loved the romance, loved the growth, this was just a fun read as a whole!

Durst shares another story from the island/word where The Spellshop was set, allowing readers to learn what happened to Keila, the Librarian who was statue-ized as punishment for using the spell which created Caz. Her life after being rescued/released from her living death, and how she learned to use her skills, grow into her new life and save the greenhouse made for a wonderful read with interesting characters and events. I'm looking forward to more books set in this world.

I am a big fan of The Spellshop so I was very excited to have the opportunity to read The Enchanted Greenhouse. It didn’t quite live up to The Spellshop but it was a great time and an enjoyable read. The main character seemed so similar to the main character of The Spellshop and I wanted more from Terlu. I loved the plot and the whole story but the main character fell a little flat for me which was disappointing.

Heat Factor: A few kisses

Character Chemistry: Strong caretaking energy

Plot: We’ve got to save this enchanted greenhouse, even if doing so exposes us to risk and/or makes us uncomfortable!

Overall: This is a book about repair

Let me start by saying that romance, as a genre, is about repair: in order to find love and a happy ending, the main characters have to fix something.1 The Enchanted Greenhouse takes that theme and makes it very explicit: “The right words could heal shattered glass. And hearts. And families. And lives.” And yes, all of those things are mended through the course of the story.

The book opens in the capital city of a vaguely dystopian fantasy empire. Terlu is on trial for illegal magic use (only official sorcerers are allowed to do magic) after she made a sentient spider plant2 to be her friend.

Her punishment? She is statue-ified. Yes, she is still conscious. Yes, she is somewhat traumatized by this experience.

After an indeterminate amount of time, she wakes up in a snowy forest, on a deserted island, where there’s a giant, magical greenhouse. The only person who lives there is Yarrow, the gardener. While Yarrow initially avoids Terlu, they start collaborating fairly quickly, because the magical greenhouse is failing. Terlu steps up despite her (justified) fears of being prosecuted for illegal magic use (again); these fears continue to haunt her as the story progresses.

I’ve seen this book described as “cozy,” and I suppose what people mean by this is that there are a lot of passages where Terlu wanders around the greenhouse and the author describes the magical flowers and creatures therein (and also the beautiful non-magical vegetable gardens); there are also lots of passages where Yarrow makes soup or bakes bread. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the pack of sentient plants that Terlu awakens and befriends. It’s very atmospheric, and the atmosphere is very idealized homestead. (Terlu comments repeatedly that she has no idea how Yarrow has time to make all these delicious baked goods. I too wondered this, especially once he started talking about how he made his own chocolate, bean to bar.)

I’ve also seen Yarrow described as a “grumpy gardener” hero, and I’m not sure I would call him actively grumpy. Taciturn, yes. Lonely (but in denial about it), yes. But if, when you seek out a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, what you’re actually looking for is a reserved person who is soft for that one special person who talks a lot and leans towards optimism, this absolutely delivers, even before their relationship moves from companionate to romantic.

The story shifts around the midway point, when Yarrow’s family returns to the island. While Terlu and Yarrow are still working to save the greenhouse—to repair the cracks in the glass—now the emotional focus is on Yarrow and his family repairing their relationship. Despite Yarrow’s repeated protestations that he is ok with living alone, he resents his family for leaving, and while they don’t exactly resent him for staying, they do wish that he had responded to their overtures for maintaining connection (ie by replying to letters or taking them up on offers to visit). I am pleased to report that the characters here do the actual work involved in repairing the relationships, and generations of family trauma aren’t all forgiven in a single musical montage, Encanto-style. (Terlu has her own family stuff to work through, but as her family is still far away on a distant island, it’s definitely a secondary concern.)

While Terlu and Yarrow do fall in love and do a lot of gentle caretaking throughout the course of the book, I would say that the romance felt secondary to the greenhouse repair / other relationship repair going on. It’s the icing on the cake, rather than the cake itself.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

This was an adorable book. How adorable you ask? I got to read the arc and I still picked up my own copy and of the other book in this duology at my local bookstore to support the author. They’re both sweet and gentle. Not explicit either. If you’re looking for a relaxing read try these two!

Rating 4.5?
This was wonderful. I was scared that this one would not live up to The Spell Shop but in my opinion that was just as magical and cozy. I loved our main character Terlu. She was a fun character to follow and she reminded me of Amy Adams in Enchanted and Anna from Frozen wrapped up into a studious librarian. She was a delight. Our male lead Yarrow was an introverted Kristoff from Frozen with a love for plants and baking. I enjoyed the Greenhouse setting and all the entertaining sentient plants and animals we get to meet. Reminded me a bit of Alice in Wonderland but with more whimsy. There is also a nice tie end with the Spell Shop at the end so that was nice. Overall, keep these books coming! I would love to get a book from Head Librarian Rijes Velk POV. As with all of these books I am left hungry for the delicious food and maybe a plant baby or two is in my future.

I received an ARC of this audiobook via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This second installment in the Spellshop series continued to further build the intriguing fantasy world that Durst first introduced in "The Spellshop". We have a new cast of characters here (connected to our first cast of characters by everyone's favorite sentient spider plant) and they are just as wonderful as the first. It was nice to learn about the fate of Caz's creator and know that she got a much better fate than we had been led to believe in the first novel. This is a delightful cozy romantasy and I look forward to more from this series.

Durst brings readers an escape back into the whimsical, cozy atmosphere of the Crescent Isles!

Taking place in the same world as The Spellshop, The Enchanted Greenhouse was a recreation of much of the same cozy romantasy formula of its predecessor. Terlu is our bumbling librarian, at once very skilled and very naïve/insecure. Terlu and Yarrow’s romance was a slow-burn, which often works for me, but Yarrow’s silent and nonchalant ways were quite exaggerated. SO much shrugging! Our enchanted rose, Lotti, was a definite parallel to Caz. The comedian of the trio. However, Lotti lacked Caz’s charm much like Yarrow lacked Larran’s.

A main plot point, her fear of getting in trouble for working magic, is refuted so early on that the repetitive mention of it made me question its placement. However, Durst's strong writing skills, the overall romantic quality of the scenery, and the feel-good found family story made this such an entertaining read.

Thank you so much to Durst, NetGalley, and Bramble for the opportunity to read and review this title!

I loved this follow up to The Spellshop. Terlu Perna was the character left in a hopeless position in that book. Sarah Beth Durst remedies that fate in this book by sending Terlu to an island only inhabited by a grumpy gardener of a magical greenhouse. Yarrow, the gardener, needs help saving the greenhouse as the magic is failing. Terlu wants to help but is afraid because the consequences of her previous foray into magic use haunts her. The pair help each other work through their traumas and discover some new friends along the way including a sentient rosebush named Lotti. For those who liked Caz in the Spellshop, you will also fall in love with Lotti. The descriptions of the various flora and greenhouse rooms are incredible, as are the meals that Yarrow makes with ingredients from the greenhouse. This is a lovely cozy book about overcoming your fears and breaking out of your shell.

"Did you ever stop being afraid you'd be alone again?"

Sarah Beth Durst is back in the world of the SPELLSHOP with THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE and I am LIVING FOR IT!

This book features more sentient plants, a flying cat, teeny tiny dragons, and the best found family around!

I fell in love with Durst's world once again and thoroughly enjoyed the nods to the previous book in this series. I laughed and cried my way through reading this story and found so much comfort in Terlu and Yarrow's relationship and growth together.

Durst expands on the magic and world-building she established in book one and created something really special with her roundup of characters.

This story is the warm hug that many of us could use right now and I can't wait to hopefully return to this world again soon!

I need a warm honey cake stat!!!! I also need to take care of the aloe plant I purchased on a whim after falling in love with this cast of plants 🥹

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Bramble for the copy for review!

This book was exactly the kind of gentle, cozy fantasy I’ve been craving. It wraps you in warmth, whimsy, and a quietly magical setting that feels like a dream you don’t want to wake up from. The imagery of the island and its greenhouses is so vivid and lush that I swear I could smell the earth and feel the humidity clinging to the air.

Terlu is such a lovable, layered character. Her loneliness felt so real, and I truly connected with her need to create connection - even if that meant breaking the law by bringing a plant to life. Watching her grow from that isolated, hesitant version of herself into someone surrounded by companionship and purpose was just lovely. Her relationship with Caz (the sentient spider plant!) was heartwarming, and I adored meeting the other sentient plants too - they brought such charm and unexpected humor.

The romance is soft and sweet, blooming in the background and the theme of second chances is beautifully done. It left me feeling hopeful and full of quiet joy. I also really appreciated that this wasn’t just about romantic love, but about found family, friendship, and choosing a future where you’re accepted for who you are.

The only reason this wasn’t a full 5 stars for me is that some parts felt a little too slow, and I wanted just a bit more from the plot’s climax. But honestly? That’s a tiny complaint for a story that gave me so many warm feelings.

If you’re a fan of cozy fantasy, sentient plants, soft romance, or magical libraries and greenhouses - this one’s for you. It’s a gentle hug in book form.

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Bramble for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m starting to think cozy fantasy might not be the genre for me. I liked this better than the previous book, The Spellshop. I might need to save this type of reading for the wintertime! You can read this as a standalone.

I was very invested in Terlu’s story, in the beginning. It quickly went downhill. Her internal thoughts were repetitive, slowing the pace down. I do think this book is way too long. I was bored for big chunks of the story. I did love all the sentient plants! I love that aspect about these stories so much. I’m a plant lady, and what could be more fun than sentient ones?! There are some deeper themes about family.

I never connected with the romance, and it felt forced. It truly felt more like a friendship than a romance. The overall slower pace of the plot didn’t mesh well with a slow-burn romance.

Overall, this was just okay. I liked some aspects of the story, including the family and forgiveness themes, as well as Terlu’s story. It’s cute and sweet for most of the book. It just wasn’t my favorite read. I do think you will enjoy this one if you enjoyed The Spellshop. It does feel like a better wintertime read.

Thank you, Bramble and Netgalley, for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Terlu Perna was so lonely, she dared to cast a spell to create a sentient spider plant. and it truly cost her her life. as her punishment, she’s turned into a wooden statue, alive but not alive. she’s not sure how much time has passed, but suddenly she’s flesh again, alone in the middle of snowy forest.

the person who broke her spell was a gardener named Yarrow, a brooding man who prefers the company of plants than humans. he lives alone on the island of Belde with failing magical greenhouses since all his family moving to the capital city.

Terlu was half afraid half wanted to help him fix the failing greenhouses problem, because she’s not a sorcerer and the memory of being a statue still haunts her. but she accidentally awoken a sentient rose named Lotti, and Lotti demanded her to wake all her sentient friends. then something kept happening and she couldn’t just let the failure worsen, could she?

Caz was my favorite character from The Spellshop, so it’s good to know the story of his creator too! Lotti is different from Caz but she’s just as amusing—very sassy and opinionated and knows damn well that she’s a diva.

this is just as magical and cozy as Spellshop, even though personally i prefer Spellshop. for the most part this book only filled with 2 humans, a winged cat, and a band of sentient plants so there’s some points where it bored me a tiiiiiny bit. also i wasn’t really feeling the romance? were they actually in love or was it because there’s no one else? like literally they don’t have any options there. i’m so sorry i’m not a fan of this trope…. but okay. overall I enjoyed this!

i loved how the author made sure Terlu knows Caz’s fate. please give them a reunion!!! doesn’t have to be in a full length novel, maybe just a holiday short story idc!! just as long as they reunite 🥹🥹

This is an amazing not-exactly-sequel to The Spellshop. It is literally everything I wanted it to be, plus some. The characters are engaging and honestly this is the read I needed. It's another healing, green flags, fantasy cozy romance in the same vein as the Spellshop.

I do recommend reading The Spellshop first since it provides context for The Enchanted Greenhouse. You CAN read it as a stand alone but you won't understand the background to our FL right off the bat otherwise.

I would absolutely recommend this to anyone.

The Enchanted Greenhouse is a wonderful addition to the spellshop series. In this story, we pick up after the first installment. The empire has fallen, and change appears to be on the horizon. We follow Terlu's journey, the librarian who created our dear Caz, the sentient spider plant from the first book.

After being turned into a wooden statue and placed in the great library as a display piece, Terlu suddenly finds herself freed. However, she ends up on a wintry island filled with greenhouses, a winged cat, and a very grumpy gardener named Yarrow. Yarrow is used to being alone and hoped that rescuing whom he believed to be a sorcerer would help him solve the growing problem of his failing greenhouses. Terlu, on the other hand, is determined to thank her savior, even if he doesn’t seem to want it at first.

This story was such a sweet read! I enjoyed the chemistry between Terlu and Yarrow. Both characters are hurting for different reasons—his feelings of abandonment and her sense of loneliness. As they work together to repair the damage the old sorcerer caused to the greenhouses, they gradually grow closer. The pace of their evolving relationship felt natural. Additionally, the mentions of food had me salivating! Honestly, they could have included recipes in this book.

Terlu and Yarrow essentially form their own little family on the island, along with a plethora of sentient plants they bring back to life. However, this book does suffer from some pacing issues. Particularly the back-and-forth between Yarrow and his dad, and especially towards the ending once the main issue of saving the greenhouses was resolved.

Ultimately, I appreciate how the author addresses the theme of loneliness. Terlu created Caz out of her loneliness, while Yarrow isolates himself on the island due to his family’s abandonment. These are truly fascinating conversations to be had. I also enjoyed the themes of found family, which is a strong element throughout the story. This is a great addition to the series, and if you're looking for a sweet, cozy romance for the summer, then definitely add this one to your TBR!

A must read cozy fantasy from Sarah Beth Durst, set in the same world as The Spellshop!

Terlu Perna broke the law to create a magically sentient spider plant simply because she was lonely. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium. This should have been the end of her story . . . Yet years later, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on an island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. She’s starving and freezing, and the only other human on the island is a grumpy gardener. To her surprise, he offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes, and food―at least until she’s ready to sail home.

But Terlu can’t return home and doesn’t want to―the greenhouses are a dream come true. When she learns that the magic that sustains them is failing, Terlu knows she must help. Assisted by the gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island―and have a fresh chance at happiness and love.

This is a dream come true for plant lovers! The plants play such a fun side role in this novel. I loved seeing Terlu build confidence in herself and learn to trust Yarrow and the rest of his family. This is a slow paced sweet story that is great for cozying up with and savoring!

A sweet cozy fantasy that's light on plot but filled with moments of delight and cuteness (and lots of baking). Positive messages about trust, friendship, and acceptance, but I wish there'd been a bit more story momentum throughout.