The Spellshop: A heart-warming cottagecore fantasy about first loves and unlikely friendships (The Spellshop, #1)

by Sarah Beth Durst

Perfect for fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune, The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is a New York Times bestselling cosy fantasy tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams and even sweeter romance.

'Reading this book was like sitting in the sun . . . a warm, peaceful delight of a novel' – Katherine Arden, author of The Bear and the Nightingale

Every home needs a little magic . . .

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.

She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city’s elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, Kiela and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. But to her dismay, in addition to a nosy – and very handsome – neighbour, she finds the town in disarray.

The empire has slowly been draining power from the island, and now Kiela is determined to make things right. But opening up her own spellshop comes with its own risks – the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela starts to make a place for herself among the townspeople, she realizes she must break down the walls she has kept so high . . .

From award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst, The Spellshop is a cottagecore cosy fantasy following a woman's unexpected journey through the low-stakes market of illegal spell-selling and the high-risk business of starting over.

'Sarah Beth Durst is the hidden gem of the fantasy world' – Book Riot

• ISBN10: 1035042320
• ISBN13: 9781035042326
• Publish Date: 11 July 2024 (first published 9 July 2024)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Tor
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Kiela has never been the best at dealing with people but has always loved her job at the Great Library of Alyssium. It didn’t call for her to talk to people; her only friend there was Caz, a magical plant.

Then, the city burned, thanks to a revolution. It wasn’t long before the library became a target. Kiela and Caz fled, carrying as many books as possible with them. Their only safe haven is an isolated island - the home Kiela left when she was very little.

My Review:

I have heard nothing but praise for The Spellshop, and having finally read it myself, I can see why. This novel is like a warm hug for fantasy fans and book lovers alike, but perhaps not in the ways one might expect.

The story starts in the library, with Kiela and Caz trying to save what books they can. Well, it sort of even starts before that, with the two almost in denial about the idea of the library burning. Their debate hits hard. How many people in history thought the books would be safe?

After leaving the library, there’s a pretty strong tonal shift. Instead, readers are gifted a view into a small town/island life. Small towns mean nosey people but also people who will take care of each other. Here’s where that warm hug comes into play.

The magic of this story is subtle at times, but that made me appreciate it all the more. Kiela’s exploration of the magic gave readers plenty of time to learn about it while also enjoying the secondary characters coming into the mix.

Overall, I really loved The Spellshop. Some part of me dearly hopes it will become a series, while the rest of me is simply happy that I have this much. Either way, this book is worth the read (especially for fans of Legends & Lattes).

Highlights:
Magical Librarian
Cozy Mystery
Fantasy Romance
Isolated Island
Plant Pet

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