The Spellshop (The Spellshop, #1)

by Sarah Beth Durst

The Spellshop is Sarah Beth Durst’s romantasy debut—a lush cottagecore tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love.

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite.

When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor who can’t take a hint and keeps showing up day after day to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home.

In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries.

But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much needed secret spellshop.

Like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic, The Spellshop will heal your heart and feed your soul.

• ISBN10: 1250333970
• ISBN13: 9781250333971
• Publish Date: 9 July 2024
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 384
• Language: English
• URL: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250333971/thespellshop/
• Special: Sprayed Edges

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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