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Spellshop #1
The Spellshop
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Romantasy (2024)
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 . . .
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, she and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. She’s hoping to lay low and figure out a way to survive before the revolution comes looking for her. To her dismay, in addition to a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor, she finds the town in disarray.
The empire with its magic spellbooks has slowly been draining power from the island, something that Kiela is indirectly responsible for, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right. Opening up a spell shop comes with its own risks—the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the quirky townspeople, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must break down the walls she has kept so high.
Perfect for fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune, The Spellshop is a romantic and cosy fantasy.
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, she and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. She’s hoping to lay low and figure out a way to survive before the revolution comes looking for her. To her dismay, in addition to a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor, she finds the town in disarray.
The empire with its magic spellbooks has slowly been draining power from the island, something that Kiela is indirectly responsible for, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right. Opening up a spell shop comes with its own risks—the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the quirky townspeople, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must break down the walls she has kept so high.
Perfect for fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune, The Spellshop is a romantic and cosy fantasy.
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2024
12540 people are currently reading
267444 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Beth Durst
42 books6,989 followersSarah Beth Durst is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty-five books for adults, teens, and kids, including cozy fantasy The Spellshop. She's been awarded an American Library Association Alex Award, as well as a Mythopoeic Fantasy Award. Several of her books have been optioned for film/television, including Drink Slay Love, which was made into a TV movie and was a question on Jeopardy! She lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. Visit her at sarahbethdurst.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 25,921 reviews
May 11, 2025
In a Nutshell: A cozy fantasy with an unlikeable protagonist who redeems herself along the way. A whole load of cozy, a little less of fantasy. Interesting (but flat) humans, outstanding non-humans, decent but straightforward storyline. A nice light option for those who prefer cute fantasies and can read without overanalysing.
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Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
🌳 Caz – Kiela’s assistant and spider plant extraordinaire. He goes so much more than being a talking plant, acting as an overly anxious friend and guide. His banter with Kiela is great fun. The biggest and best reason to read this book is Caz. (Technically, I should put this as a Mixed Bag. The downside of this is that I’ll never be happy with my ordinary, boring, non-talking plants now. I want Caz! 😢)
🌳 The fantastical creatures in the book, which include some we already know as well some innovative new ones. Winged cats and merhorses, anyone? 😍 I also include Meep in this category, and leave it for you to discover who or what Meep is.
🌳 The magic in the book, heavily rooted in nature and hence appearing even more delectable. I loved all the magic of the book, even when it wasn’t friendly.
🌳 The food references, from berry jams to cinnamon buns. My salivary glands rarely get affected by mention of Western dishes in fiction, but the descriptions in this one were yummm!
🌳 All things books – the magic of them, the value of them, the importance of treating them with care. Kiela’s person skills might be zero, but her librarian skills were top notch. Caz was the perfect assistant, being surprisingly passionate about books though he probably knew they are made from dead trees.
🌳 Because of the remote island setting, the story offers nice small-town feels, where neighbours can be helpful as well as inquisitive. The found family trope is used fairly well.
🌳 The indirect focus on the perils of resource hoarding by a select few, climate change affecting ordinary citizens, animals and nature suffering because of human misdemeanours, and parental abuse affecting children – all minor arcs but important and intriguing enough.
🌳 Can’t forget that stunning cover! It is almost like a painting. Don’t miss the adorable winged cat!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌱 While this is a cozy fantasy, it is heavily tilted towards the cozy side than the fantasy side. I like cozy fantasies so I was somewhat prepared for what I would get going into this novel. But I wish the writing had not worried so much about making things cozy that it forgot many other necessary requirements of a satisfying reading experience.
🌱 Kiela is a complicated protagonist, and not exactly a loveable one. She is quite grumpy and annoying at the start. She is also too impulsive, naïve, and a short-term thinker. While I don’t mind unlikeable characters (I think they offer far more depth to stories than goody-goody characters), the conversion of Kiela’s people-shirker persona to town saviour and friend is a bit too instant to be convincing. If you necessarily want novels to have likeable leads, this book might not work for you.
🌱 Larran and the other citizens of the town are much better and hence more likeable than Kiela, but their character dev is somewhat surface level. They are either 100% likeable or detestable, no in-between greys. This gets boring. Larran, being the male lead, deserved better character development, but we don’t even know what he looks like, except that he is huge.
🌱 The basic storyline is too simplistic. Except for the fantastical characters and the references to magic, the plot has a typical romcom storyline: a city girl moving to a small village, finding love in various forms, and deciding that her new location is way better than the life she left behind. I wish there had been some novelty to the plot, though the magical beings were imaginative enough to save the book.
🌱 The approach to the story is somewhat episodic, with several conflicts coming and going over the course of the 384 pages. Once a conflict is settled, it doesn’t pop up again. This works well in continuity, but it also feels formulaic after a point. I’m surprised that the major historical event at the start of the book – a revolution in the empire that ends with the emperor being killed and the city overtaken by rebels – is chucked aside after Keila moves to her hometown. Even during later mentions of the rebellion, there are no major details provided. If you begin with a political plot-point, surely that needs to be settled better.
🌱 The world building is highly developed on some points, and lacklustre on others. The townspeople (when they are non-human) and the fantastical creatures get exceptional description, but the ordinary humans barely get any detailing. We get great descriptions of the island setting, but hardly anything about its magical backstory. We know the whats of the magic, but it is taken for granted that we also know the hows and whys.
🌱 This is tagged as a fantasy romance. So I can’t really complain about the dominant presence of the romance, but I will complain that the romance was a bit too insta for my liking. It had elements of grumpy (Keila) vs sunshine (Larran), and was clean, so no steam-related worries.
Bookish Nays:
🍂 Though the writing is in third person, there are a lot of inner monologues, which also leads to loads of repetition. The proceedings are also somewhat slow because of this, though I didn’t mind the slow part.
🍂 Some plot points are too convenient to be convincing. A cottage that has been abandoned in the wild for more than a decade still has everything in working order and the bed isn’t even dusty? A character changes their stance on a topic at the most opportune moment? People pop up exactly when they are needed?
🍂 I think the book should have had a different title. Not only is it a spoiler (because Keila doesn’t take a call about “selling spells” until much into the book, but it is also inaccurate, since there is no actual “spell shop’ in the book.
🍂 The second relationship introduced at the end comes out of nowhere. I think it was introduced just to tick off one item on the inclusivity checklist, but it simply wasn’t needed. A similar forced inclusion is the mention of the pronoun preference of a talking plant. I’m not kidding! (At times, I feel like we are going too far with the inclusivity rep in fiction. Yup, I said it! Yes, we need to be inclusive and treat all gender and sexual orientations equally, but do we need to shove it into every single plot, even when it doesn’t even make sense?)
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 12 hrs 11 min, is narrated by Caitlin Davies. Her exuberant performance matches the cozy tone of the story. She does go a bit over the top during dialogue delivery, but I don’t mind this because it adds greater emotional depth and excitement to the conversations. Her voices for Caz and Meep were fabulous. If you want to give this book a go, I’d definitely recommend the audio version to audiobook aficionados. It would also be a great option for audio newbies as the timelines are straightforward and the characters, limited.
All in all, there are a few gaps in the writing approach of this novel, but there is also enough to enjoy. Caz alone should be a strong reason for you to pick up this ‘cottage-core’ (so many new labels these days!) fantasy-romance.
Recommended to cozy fantasy readers who don’t mind an extra bucketload of cutesy in their novels. This is Twee with a capital T! Be prepared to leave logic aside to enjoy it better.
3.5 stars, rounding up for Caz, Meep, and the audiobook.
My thanks to Pan Macmillan and Tor for providing the DRC, and Macmillan Audio for providing the ALC of “The Spellshop” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
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Plot Preview:
Kiela hates dealing with people. Thanks to her job as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium in the capital of the Crescent Island empire, she avoids people at all costs, with her sentient spider plant Caz being more than enough company. But when the rebellion strikes and the library is up in flames, Keila has no choice but to escape with Caz and whatever books she can carry. The only destination that seems safe is her late parents’ home in the faraway island where she had spent her childhood years. She hasn’t been to this abandoned old cottage in more than a decade, but even then, she can sense that something is not right on the island. Luckily, Kiela worked in the ‘spell books’ section of the library, so the books she carried to safety contain magical spells. Yes, it is illegal for any non-sorcerer to cast spells, but this far away from the capital, no one would know, right?
The story comes to us in Kiela’s third-person perspective.
Bookish Yays:
🌳 Caz – Kiela’s assistant and spider plant extraordinaire. He goes so much more than being a talking plant, acting as an overly anxious friend and guide. His banter with Kiela is great fun. The biggest and best reason to read this book is Caz. (Technically, I should put this as a Mixed Bag. The downside of this is that I’ll never be happy with my ordinary, boring, non-talking plants now. I want Caz! 😢)
🌳 The fantastical creatures in the book, which include some we already know as well some innovative new ones. Winged cats and merhorses, anyone? 😍 I also include Meep in this category, and leave it for you to discover who or what Meep is.
🌳 The magic in the book, heavily rooted in nature and hence appearing even more delectable. I loved all the magic of the book, even when it wasn’t friendly.
🌳 The food references, from berry jams to cinnamon buns. My salivary glands rarely get affected by mention of Western dishes in fiction, but the descriptions in this one were yummm!
🌳 All things books – the magic of them, the value of them, the importance of treating them with care. Kiela’s person skills might be zero, but her librarian skills were top notch. Caz was the perfect assistant, being surprisingly passionate about books though he probably knew they are made from dead trees.
🌳 Because of the remote island setting, the story offers nice small-town feels, where neighbours can be helpful as well as inquisitive. The found family trope is used fairly well.
🌳 The indirect focus on the perils of resource hoarding by a select few, climate change affecting ordinary citizens, animals and nature suffering because of human misdemeanours, and parental abuse affecting children – all minor arcs but important and intriguing enough.
🌳 Can’t forget that stunning cover! It is almost like a painting. Don’t miss the adorable winged cat!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌱 While this is a cozy fantasy, it is heavily tilted towards the cozy side than the fantasy side. I like cozy fantasies so I was somewhat prepared for what I would get going into this novel. But I wish the writing had not worried so much about making things cozy that it forgot many other necessary requirements of a satisfying reading experience.
🌱 Kiela is a complicated protagonist, and not exactly a loveable one. She is quite grumpy and annoying at the start. She is also too impulsive, naïve, and a short-term thinker. While I don’t mind unlikeable characters (I think they offer far more depth to stories than goody-goody characters), the conversion of Kiela’s people-shirker persona to town saviour and friend is a bit too instant to be convincing. If you necessarily want novels to have likeable leads, this book might not work for you.
🌱 Larran and the other citizens of the town are much better and hence more likeable than Kiela, but their character dev is somewhat surface level. They are either 100% likeable or detestable, no in-between greys. This gets boring. Larran, being the male lead, deserved better character development, but we don’t even know what he looks like, except that he is huge.
🌱 The basic storyline is too simplistic. Except for the fantastical characters and the references to magic, the plot has a typical romcom storyline: a city girl moving to a small village, finding love in various forms, and deciding that her new location is way better than the life she left behind. I wish there had been some novelty to the plot, though the magical beings were imaginative enough to save the book.
🌱 The approach to the story is somewhat episodic, with several conflicts coming and going over the course of the 384 pages. Once a conflict is settled, it doesn’t pop up again. This works well in continuity, but it also feels formulaic after a point. I’m surprised that the major historical event at the start of the book – a revolution in the empire that ends with the emperor being killed and the city overtaken by rebels – is chucked aside after Keila moves to her hometown. Even during later mentions of the rebellion, there are no major details provided. If you begin with a political plot-point, surely that needs to be settled better.
🌱 The world building is highly developed on some points, and lacklustre on others. The townspeople (when they are non-human) and the fantastical creatures get exceptional description, but the ordinary humans barely get any detailing. We get great descriptions of the island setting, but hardly anything about its magical backstory. We know the whats of the magic, but it is taken for granted that we also know the hows and whys.
🌱 This is tagged as a fantasy romance. So I can’t really complain about the dominant presence of the romance, but I will complain that the romance was a bit too insta for my liking. It had elements of grumpy (Keila) vs sunshine (Larran), and was clean, so no steam-related worries.
Bookish Nays:
🍂 Though the writing is in third person, there are a lot of inner monologues, which also leads to loads of repetition. The proceedings are also somewhat slow because of this, though I didn’t mind the slow part.
🍂 Some plot points are too convenient to be convincing. A cottage that has been abandoned in the wild for more than a decade still has everything in working order and the bed isn’t even dusty? A character changes their stance on a topic at the most opportune moment? People pop up exactly when they are needed?
🍂 I think the book should have had a different title. Not only is it a spoiler (because Keila doesn’t take a call about “selling spells” until much into the book, but it is also inaccurate, since there is no actual “spell shop’ in the book.
🍂 The second relationship introduced at the end comes out of nowhere. I think it was introduced just to tick off one item on the inclusivity checklist, but it simply wasn’t needed. A similar forced inclusion is the mention of the pronoun preference of a talking plant. I’m not kidding! (At times, I feel like we are going too far with the inclusivity rep in fiction. Yup, I said it! Yes, we need to be inclusive and treat all gender and sexual orientations equally, but do we need to shove it into every single plot, even when it doesn’t even make sense?)
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 12 hrs 11 min, is narrated by Caitlin Davies. Her exuberant performance matches the cozy tone of the story. She does go a bit over the top during dialogue delivery, but I don’t mind this because it adds greater emotional depth and excitement to the conversations. Her voices for Caz and Meep were fabulous. If you want to give this book a go, I’d definitely recommend the audio version to audiobook aficionados. It would also be a great option for audio newbies as the timelines are straightforward and the characters, limited.
All in all, there are a few gaps in the writing approach of this novel, but there is also enough to enjoy. Caz alone should be a strong reason for you to pick up this ‘cottage-core’ (so many new labels these days!) fantasy-romance.
Recommended to cozy fantasy readers who don’t mind an extra bucketload of cutesy in their novels. This is Twee with a capital T! Be prepared to leave logic aside to enjoy it better.
3.5 stars, rounding up for Caz, Meep, and the audiobook.
My thanks to Pan Macmillan and Tor for providing the DRC, and Macmillan Audio for providing the ALC of “The Spellshop” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
August 9, 2024
''She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant..''
Ok. Sold.
Wish I had enjoyed this more but, sadly, I felt like nothing was happening. I get that's part of the cozy fantasy genre but it doesn't mean I have to like it. I think I would enjoy a story like this more as a movie, cause it was more vibes than anything.
Also, there were winged kittens. If I could see those on screen, I would care less about the lack of plot.
Ok. Sold.
Wish I had enjoyed this more but, sadly, I felt like nothing was happening. I get that's part of the cozy fantasy genre but it doesn't mean I have to like it. I think I would enjoy a story like this more as a movie, cause it was more vibes than anything.
Also, there were winged kittens. If I could see those on screen, I would care less about the lack of plot.
February 26, 2025
screw capitalism i want whatever this is (a cute shop where i share spells and make jam + a hot man builds me floor to ceiling bookshelves)
Want to read
October 15, 2023I need more cottagecore fantasy romance in 2024🌸
January 24, 2025
basically a bedtime story
June 6, 2024
This was EXACTLY what I wanted out of a cozy fantasy romance!! It's precisely the right amount of coziness and small town vibes, but with high enough stakes that there's an engaging plot, and a cute slow-burn romantic subplot. Also the main character has a sentient spider plant named Caz as a companion!
The Spellshop follows Kiela and Caz as they flee the city and political unrest to her childhood home on a small island. Kiela had been a librarian and brought with her crates of forbidden spellbooks to save them. She's not great with people, but she's going to have to learn to be, what with a handsome neighbor dropping by to be helpful. In order to survive, she decides to open a jam shop from her cottage, while secretly offering useful but illegal spells as "remedies" to do things like heal trees and make berry bushes grow. It's incredibly delightful and one of my favorite things I've read this year! the audiobook also hits exactly the right notes. I received a copy of this book for review via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
The Spellshop follows Kiela and Caz as they flee the city and political unrest to her childhood home on a small island. Kiela had been a librarian and brought with her crates of forbidden spellbooks to save them. She's not great with people, but she's going to have to learn to be, what with a handsome neighbor dropping by to be helpful. In order to survive, she decides to open a jam shop from her cottage, while secretly offering useful but illegal spells as "remedies" to do things like heal trees and make berry bushes grow. It's incredibly delightful and one of my favorite things I've read this year! the audiobook also hits exactly the right notes. I received a copy of this book for review via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
November 19, 2024
✩ 4 stars ✩
“I want to know you better."
"No, you don't. I'm not friendly. I like to be alone."
"You can be alone with me.” 🫶🏻
What to Expect:
➼ Island Cottage
➼ Cinnamon Roll MMC
➼ Booktrovert FMC
➼ Found Family
➼ Small Town
➼ Cozy Fantasy
➼ Magic
➼ Talking Plants
➼ Winged Cats, Unicorns, Mermaids, Etc.
➼ Third Person POV
This was such an enchanting read! I always love the idea of a cozy fantasy, but it’s rare that I truly feel the magic like I did while reading The Spellshop. The synopsis likens this story to a “Hallmark rom-com filled with mythical creatures,” and that description is spot on. The author gave us the coziest small town found family vibes and then gave us unicorns and winged cats to sweeten the deal.
The booktrovert FMC is frankly all of us. “It wasn’t that she didn’t like people. It was only that she liked books more.” 😅 Socializing is hard. I’m much more comfortable at home with my books and my faithful plants, so obviously I found Kiela’s character to be extremely relatable. The MMC honestly reminded me of my father which I can assure you is a rave review. He showed his love in very practical ways by fixing things that needed fixed and just continually showing up for her. He seemed like he would be a very steadfast and dependable person to have in your corner and it was refreshing to see a more steady depiction of love.
The third person narrative made me feel slightly detached from the characters, but if this had been written in first person POV, I think it would have been an easy 5 stars. Such a sweet and wholesome story! The quintessential fall read. 🤍 Highly recommend!
“I can’t lose books; I’d lose me.”
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Is that a WINGED CAT on the cover?! How am I just now noticing this?!!! 😱 I was already excited to read this, but guys… it’s a WINGED CAT! 😍🐈🪽🤗✨
“I want to know you better."
"No, you don't. I'm not friendly. I like to be alone."
"You can be alone with me.” 🫶🏻
What to Expect:
➼ Island Cottage
➼ Cinnamon Roll MMC
➼ Booktrovert FMC
➼ Found Family
➼ Small Town
➼ Cozy Fantasy
➼ Magic
➼ Talking Plants
➼ Winged Cats, Unicorns, Mermaids, Etc.
➼ Third Person POV
This was such an enchanting read! I always love the idea of a cozy fantasy, but it’s rare that I truly feel the magic like I did while reading The Spellshop. The synopsis likens this story to a “Hallmark rom-com filled with mythical creatures,” and that description is spot on. The author gave us the coziest small town found family vibes and then gave us unicorns and winged cats to sweeten the deal.
The booktrovert FMC is frankly all of us. “It wasn’t that she didn’t like people. It was only that she liked books more.” 😅 Socializing is hard. I’m much more comfortable at home with my books and my faithful plants, so obviously I found Kiela’s character to be extremely relatable. The MMC honestly reminded me of my father which I can assure you is a rave review. He showed his love in very practical ways by fixing things that needed fixed and just continually showing up for her. He seemed like he would be a very steadfast and dependable person to have in your corner and it was refreshing to see a more steady depiction of love.
The third person narrative made me feel slightly detached from the characters, but if this had been written in first person POV, I think it would have been an easy 5 stars. Such a sweet and wholesome story! The quintessential fall read. 🤍 Highly recommend!
“I can’t lose books; I’d lose me.”
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Is that a WINGED CAT on the cover?! How am I just now noticing this?!!! 😱 I was already excited to read this, but guys… it’s a WINGED CAT! 😍🐈🪽🤗✨
November 21, 2023
I wanted to like this book so much. I really did. Cottagecore romantasy with a pretty cover and GORGEOUS lavender-sprayed edges? Sign me up! Unfortunately, this book fell short in practically every category that I use to judge books. Maybe my expectations were too high? I was hoping, as a bookseller, to be able to recommend this as my go-to romantasy that people may not have read. Instead, I’ll likely feel disappointment any time I see it. I’ll try to keep this review major spoiler-free, but there may be some small ones, so read at your own risk.
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First off, let’s dive into the main character. I haven’t had a main character feel so un-relatable since I read How Does It Feel. Kiela has lived in a library for years, with a sentient plant as her sole companion, completely avoiding other librarians and patrons. She cherishes every single book in the library. I don’t disagree with her opinion there, as I can usually find SOME thing I like about a book, but it’s her complete and utter SOLITUDE in this library that I have an issue with. She continuously reminds the reader (and I mean CONTINUOUSLY) that she hates any interaction with any other person and would just as soon live her life without ANY interaction at all. Besides the plant. He’s a cool plant, but really? Indeed, when the plot forces her to retreat to the island of her birth, she honestly believes that she can do it without any help, and maybe even without the island residents knowing she is there. Sure, I guess? Listen, we all have our delusions. But this one is a little far fetched, even for fiction.
Enter Mr. Love Interest! This lovely, selfless person, evidently remembers her from her childhood, and starts spoiling her with free food and labor. While she objects to his company, his gifts, and his attention, it is QUITE repetitive in her inner monologue. She wanted to live off the grid without help from anyone! And this handsome stranger keeps bringing her EGGS!! She is VERY awkward and rude when it comes to pushing him away, and while I love a good socially-inept main character, I’d like it to remain at least a BIT believable?
Here’s where small spoilers may occur. Don’t worry, they’re all in the synopsis, actually the TITLE, so they shouldn’t be crazy.
Once she realizes she can’t live completely off the grid, her mentality of “protect and hide the books I saved at any and all costs” to “well maybe I can help the island thrive by using the spells in the books to remedy some of the misfortune” which is CRAZY considering the first THIRD of the book is her (repeatedly) saying how she has to protect this secret at all costs. I’m really just confused here, but whatever. She hardly puts any thought into this idea before enacting it, which is completely at odds with her “logical” thinking in the beginning.
Not only does she decide to sell these “remedies” to select customers, she TELLS SOME ISLANDERS HOW TO MAKE THEM. As in, A COMPLETE ABOUT-FACE FROM HER ORIGINAL PLAN. Again, with NO FORETHOUGHT. I won’t tell any of the plotline past this, but this is the point where I threw my hands in the air and said “OKAY WHATEVER”
Lastly, I also have issues with the writing style. The main character is very repetitive, reclusive, and has a habit of going far left to far right then back again within the span of one chapter. It left me unable to read more than 50 pages at a time because I was just losing interest every time.
All in all, while I really wanted to like this book, and despite my best efforts (and I mean BEST), this book was a disappointment on multiple levels. 1.5/5, rounded up to 2/5, mostly because of Meep, the bat-cats, and the herds of Merhorses. You’ll get it when you get it.
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First off, let’s dive into the main character. I haven’t had a main character feel so un-relatable since I read How Does It Feel. Kiela has lived in a library for years, with a sentient plant as her sole companion, completely avoiding other librarians and patrons. She cherishes every single book in the library. I don’t disagree with her opinion there, as I can usually find SOME thing I like about a book, but it’s her complete and utter SOLITUDE in this library that I have an issue with. She continuously reminds the reader (and I mean CONTINUOUSLY) that she hates any interaction with any other person and would just as soon live her life without ANY interaction at all. Besides the plant. He’s a cool plant, but really? Indeed, when the plot forces her to retreat to the island of her birth, she honestly believes that she can do it without any help, and maybe even without the island residents knowing she is there. Sure, I guess? Listen, we all have our delusions. But this one is a little far fetched, even for fiction.
Enter Mr. Love Interest! This lovely, selfless person, evidently remembers her from her childhood, and starts spoiling her with free food and labor. While she objects to his company, his gifts, and his attention, it is QUITE repetitive in her inner monologue. She wanted to live off the grid without help from anyone! And this handsome stranger keeps bringing her EGGS!! She is VERY awkward and rude when it comes to pushing him away, and while I love a good socially-inept main character, I’d like it to remain at least a BIT believable?
Here’s where small spoilers may occur. Don’t worry, they’re all in the synopsis, actually the TITLE, so they shouldn’t be crazy.
Once she realizes she can’t live completely off the grid, her mentality of “protect and hide the books I saved at any and all costs” to “well maybe I can help the island thrive by using the spells in the books to remedy some of the misfortune” which is CRAZY considering the first THIRD of the book is her (repeatedly) saying how she has to protect this secret at all costs. I’m really just confused here, but whatever. She hardly puts any thought into this idea before enacting it, which is completely at odds with her “logical” thinking in the beginning.
Not only does she decide to sell these “remedies” to select customers, she TELLS SOME ISLANDERS HOW TO MAKE THEM. As in, A COMPLETE ABOUT-FACE FROM HER ORIGINAL PLAN. Again, with NO FORETHOUGHT. I won’t tell any of the plotline past this, but this is the point where I threw my hands in the air and said “OKAY WHATEVER”
Lastly, I also have issues with the writing style. The main character is very repetitive, reclusive, and has a habit of going far left to far right then back again within the span of one chapter. It left me unable to read more than 50 pages at a time because I was just losing interest every time.
All in all, while I really wanted to like this book, and despite my best efforts (and I mean BEST), this book was a disappointment on multiple levels. 1.5/5, rounded up to 2/5, mostly because of Meep, the bat-cats, and the herds of Merhorses. You’ll get it when you get it.
May 24, 2025
Szczerze to trochę rozczarowanie :(((
October 7, 2024
the cozy vibes were sooo cozzzzyy🤍☁️🫶🏼
October 10, 2025
friends, i wanted to love this one so badly. And so many of you do, so i still very strongly recommend this one, even if it wasn’t completely for me. this story starts out with a librarian fleeing her burning library with her spider plant in tow. she was prepared prior to this, and had packed up some books and a getaway boat, and she finds herself back home on the isolated island she grew up on. so throughout this book, we learn more and more about the island residence, we get to see our librarian open up a spell jam shop, and we get to see a community come together and protect their own.
there really is so much good in this. this story talks about wealth hoarding, which goes hand in hand with resources not being properly distributed, the very scary reality of climate change, and even knowledge being destroyed in an attempt for people in power to keep their people uninformed of current events and of past history! lots of powerful mirroring of our own non cozy fantasy world, and i will always respect and appreciate that.
but sadly, i was just so bored while reading this. i don’t know if it was just wrong book at the wrong time. i don’t know if i just really like my cozy fantasy with very little stakes, but i don’t feel like that’s true. i’m not sure the reason, but so many of you have reassured me that i will love book two, so i promise to continue!
trigger + content warnings: fire, anxiety, war, loss of parents in past (discussed a lot), talk of loss of parent in past, grief, ptsd, talk of torture, blood, talk of child abuse in past, talk of domestic violence in past, maybe implied suicide, hurt mermaid baby (they end up okay)
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there really is so much good in this. this story talks about wealth hoarding, which goes hand in hand with resources not being properly distributed, the very scary reality of climate change, and even knowledge being destroyed in an attempt for people in power to keep their people uninformed of current events and of past history! lots of powerful mirroring of our own non cozy fantasy world, and i will always respect and appreciate that.
but sadly, i was just so bored while reading this. i don’t know if it was just wrong book at the wrong time. i don’t know if i just really like my cozy fantasy with very little stakes, but i don’t feel like that’s true. i’m not sure the reason, but so many of you have reassured me that i will love book two, so i promise to continue!
trigger + content warnings: fire, anxiety, war, loss of parents in past (discussed a lot), talk of loss of parent in past, grief, ptsd, talk of torture, blood, talk of child abuse in past, talk of domestic violence in past, maybe implied suicide, hurt mermaid baby (they end up okay)
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dnf
September 15, 2024pains me to dnf this bc i was so excited but i can’t force myself to finish 😭 might revisit later idk
introverted librarian & her talking spider plant?? sign me tf up
introverted librarian & her talking spider plant?? sign me tf up
December 11, 2024
➸ 4 stars
if i had to describe this book in a few words, i’d say it’s enchanting, magical, cozy, and heartwarming. this book feels like a warm hug. the kind of book you read with a delicious baked pastry, a warm cup of coffee or tea, and of course, raspberry jam!
this book is for the introverts, the book lovers, the readers who wish to escape to a magical fantasy world.
🧚 “Books should be shared with everyone who wants to open their minds and hearts to them.”
ꫂ➺ kiela - the introverted librarian who loves books and doesn’t like socializing with people!! i loved her tbh, she was so real and i saw myself in her <3 i loved seeing her slowly start to open up to people and letting them in! it felt like a warm hug!
🌿 “Are you ever lonely?”
“How can I be? I have books.”
ꫂ➺ caz - a talking spider plant as a best friend?! yeah i need one of those! i loved caz!! he was hilarious and never failed to make me laugh and just brought so much happiness onto the page <3
🪵 “You know, plants aren’t nearly as emotionally exhausting as humans. You should try to be more plant.”
🪻“I can’t lose books, I’d lose me.”
i absolutely loved the friendship these two had! it was so heartwarming and it gave me such joy!!
🌷“Larran thinks you’re the answer to every question he’s ever had.”
ꫂ➺ larran - UGH THIS MAN. he’s the most sweetest, caring and kindest soul ever. he’s awkward, he’s clumsy; everything he did, he did without asking and out of the kindness of his heart. he built kiela bookshelves, he fixed her stairs, he fixed her chimney, he always helped her without asking and just had so much love for those he cares about! i need someone like him!!!!
🌸 “but he’s careful with his heart. Never lets himself become close to anyone.”
“Until you.”
“You can hear it in the way he talks about you,”
🧺 “He was looking at her as if she was all that existed on the entire island.”
🌱 “He turned his head and smiled at her as if she’d gifted him with the sun, the moon, and all the stars.”
I LOVED KIELA AND LARRAN SO SO MUCH!!!! the most precious slow burn ever and they have my entire heart!!!!
“It wasn’t that she didn’t like people. It was only that she liked books more. They didn’t fuss or judge or mock or reject. They invited you in, fluffed up the pillows on the couch, offered you tea and toast, and shared their hearts with no expectation that you’d do anything more than absorb what they had to give.”
if i had to describe this book in a few words, i’d say it’s enchanting, magical, cozy, and heartwarming. this book feels like a warm hug. the kind of book you read with a delicious baked pastry, a warm cup of coffee or tea, and of course, raspberry jam!
this book is for the introverts, the book lovers, the readers who wish to escape to a magical fantasy world.
🧚 “Books should be shared with everyone who wants to open their minds and hearts to them.”
ꫂ➺ kiela - the introverted librarian who loves books and doesn’t like socializing with people!! i loved her tbh, she was so real and i saw myself in her <3 i loved seeing her slowly start to open up to people and letting them in! it felt like a warm hug!
🌿 “Are you ever lonely?”
“How can I be? I have books.”
ꫂ➺ caz - a talking spider plant as a best friend?! yeah i need one of those! i loved caz!! he was hilarious and never failed to make me laugh and just brought so much happiness onto the page <3
🪵 “You know, plants aren’t nearly as emotionally exhausting as humans. You should try to be more plant.”
🪻“I can’t lose books, I’d lose me.”
i absolutely loved the friendship these two had! it was so heartwarming and it gave me such joy!!
🌷“Larran thinks you’re the answer to every question he’s ever had.”
ꫂ➺ larran - UGH THIS MAN. he’s the most sweetest, caring and kindest soul ever. he’s awkward, he’s clumsy; everything he did, he did without asking and out of the kindness of his heart. he built kiela bookshelves, he fixed her stairs, he fixed her chimney, he always helped her without asking and just had so much love for those he cares about! i need someone like him!!!!
🌸 “but he’s careful with his heart. Never lets himself become close to anyone.”
“Until you.”
“You can hear it in the way he talks about you,”
🧺 “He was looking at her as if she was all that existed on the entire island.”
🌱 “He turned his head and smiled at her as if she’d gifted him with the sun, the moon, and all the stars.”
I LOVED KIELA AND LARRAN SO SO MUCH!!!! the most precious slow burn ever and they have my entire heart!!!!
November 11, 2024
W•I•N•G•E•D-C•A•T•S
« He was looking at her as if she was all that existed in the entire island » 💗
This was the most heartfelt, wholesome, coziest and cutest book I’ve ever read 😭 I never wanted this to end. This was everything I never knew I needed 🥹 it’s honestly such a happy book. I smiled the whole way through.
🐱🪽 WINGED CATS 🪽🐱
🪴 A TALKING PLANT
🐎 Horse-fish
🦄 UNICORN
🧜♀️ Mermaids and their babies 🥹
❤️ Slow burn romance
🫖 Cozy fantasy
« I like to be alone.
- You can be alone with me »
« He was looking at her as if she was all that existed in the entire island » 💗
This was the most heartfelt, wholesome, coziest and cutest book I’ve ever read 😭 I never wanted this to end. This was everything I never knew I needed 🥹 it’s honestly such a happy book. I smiled the whole way through.
🐱🪽 WINGED CATS 🪽🐱
🪴 A TALKING PLANT
🐎 Horse-fish
🦄 UNICORN
🧜♀️ Mermaids and their babies 🥹
❤️ Slow burn romance
🫖 Cozy fantasy
« I like to be alone.
- You can be alone with me »
July 14, 2024
I thought I was getting something with a cosy fantasy vibe and I feel like I've been duped into reading a very basic romance. Sorry but if I'm reading "Oh he can't possibly like me!" on repeat by 30% I'm out.
November 19, 2025
If you ever played one of those cozy magical farming games and always wished there was a book like it: look no further. It reads exactly like a cottage core game. Girl comes back to the island she was born on at has to restore the overgrown family cottage, learn how to regrow berries and trees with the right spells and open a magical little jam shop (give me the Switch version, now!). This book did exactly what it needed to do. It was cozy, magical, heartwarming and a perfect escape. There were magical creatures like winged cats, a sentient and sassy spider plant, a hot bookshelf-building neighbor and cinnamon buns.
It wasn’t perfect, in terms of writing. The plot was all just a little too convenient, with minor crises and their solutions following each other up on rapid speed. The main character’s character development happens a little too abruptly (from town grump to town savior and friend of all) and most of the other characters (except Caz! He has my heart) are quite flat. The inclusivity elements felt forced and a little preachy. The first half of the book is an absolute delight, and the second half lost some of its strength as it attempted to touch upon bigger and more difficult themes, but only managed to touch the surface.
But when I grab a book like this, I don’t go to it for the good writing (and this definitely was one of the better ones within the genre!) I go to for it the way it will make me feel. So this one I rated purely for my enjoyment of it and I enjoyed it A LOT.
It wasn’t perfect, in terms of writing. The plot was all just a little too convenient, with minor crises and their solutions following each other up on rapid speed. The main character’s character development happens a little too abruptly (from town grump to town savior and friend of all) and most of the other characters (except Caz! He has my heart) are quite flat. The inclusivity elements felt forced and a little preachy. The first half of the book is an absolute delight, and the second half lost some of its strength as it attempted to touch upon bigger and more difficult themes, but only managed to touch the surface.
But when I grab a book like this, I don’t go to it for the good writing (and this definitely was one of the better ones within the genre!) I go to for it the way it will make me feel. So this one I rated purely for my enjoyment of it and I enjoyed it A LOT.
September 20, 2024
This book was great! This was such a heartwarming and sweet cozy fantasy about family, friendship, community, love and finding home. The Spellshop follows Kiela, a librarian who must flee after the library catches on fire during the revolution. Kiela goes to the island where she grew up and she discovers friends and love that will last a lifetime.
I was completely swept up in this wonderful cozy fantasy from the very first page. I loved the cozy vibes in this book and I loved that this book focused on friendship and love. The fantasy creatures in this book were great especially the mermaids, merhorses, talking plants, a centaur, and more. I loved the world building in this book, the author explained the world but it wasn't complicated. The plot kept for interesting for most of the book and the pacing was well done. This book felt like a warm hug and a cozy blanket. I was smiling and giggling during most of the book, it was so wholesome. I enjoyed the characters immensely! I love Kiela so much, she is brave, caring, closed-off at first but once she opens up she is so kind, hardworking and resilient. Kiela's character development was great, I enjoyed watching her become more comfortable around other people and find a home for herself. I'm in love with Larran, he is such a sweet cinnamon roll character with a heart of gold and I loved how he treated Kiela. Larran made me blush at all the sweet things he did for Kiela including building her a bookshelf. I really liked Caz (a plant who can talk), he is so funny, helpful, sweet, and caring. I enjoyed the side characters a lot too, especially Bryn, Eadie, and Ulina. I love Larran and Kiela's relationship, they understand each other and caring toward one another. I loved the romantic scenes between Larran and Kiela. I will definitely remember the message of this story and the great characters for a long time.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy fantasy, awesome characters and cozy vibes.
I was completely swept up in this wonderful cozy fantasy from the very first page. I loved the cozy vibes in this book and I loved that this book focused on friendship and love. The fantasy creatures in this book were great especially the mermaids, merhorses, talking plants, a centaur, and more. I loved the world building in this book, the author explained the world but it wasn't complicated. The plot kept for interesting for most of the book and the pacing was well done. This book felt like a warm hug and a cozy blanket. I was smiling and giggling during most of the book, it was so wholesome. I enjoyed the characters immensely! I love Kiela so much, she is brave, caring, closed-off at first but once she opens up she is so kind, hardworking and resilient. Kiela's character development was great, I enjoyed watching her become more comfortable around other people and find a home for herself. I'm in love with Larran, he is such a sweet cinnamon roll character with a heart of gold and I loved how he treated Kiela. Larran made me blush at all the sweet things he did for Kiela including building her a bookshelf. I really liked Caz (a plant who can talk), he is so funny, helpful, sweet, and caring. I enjoyed the side characters a lot too, especially Bryn, Eadie, and Ulina. I love Larran and Kiela's relationship, they understand each other and caring toward one another. I loved the romantic scenes between Larran and Kiela. I will definitely remember the message of this story and the great characters for a long time.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy fantasy, awesome characters and cozy vibes.
October 13, 2024
Caz & Meep carried the whole book🥹
Buddy read with the beautiful Kendall!
Buddy read with the beautiful Kendall!
June 27, 2025
“It wasn't that she didn't like people. It was that she liked books more. They didn't fuss or judge or mock or reject.They invited you in, fluffed up the pillows on the couch, offered you tea and toast, and shared their hearts with no expectation that you'd do anything more than absorb what they had to give.”
Have you ever felt like you’re getting a big, warm hug filled with all the love in this world just by reading a book ? Because I surely haven’t experienced such a feeling that often (it was pretty rare tbh). That’s exactly how I would describe this book, as a warm hug when you need it the most, or I should say, that hug that you didn’t even know you needed. It was such a lovely book, such a hearwarming journey filled with so many magical moments (and adorable creatures), well written characters and so many good vibes. If I had a bad day, or a moment when I felt sad or lonely all I had to do is pick this up and read a few pages. That was enough to completely change my mood, to make me feel seen and understood and oh, so happy.🥹 I truly think that in this case words are not enough to describe what a special book this one was (or for me, I feel like everything I say doesn’t really do justice to this one).
I really loved the setting, the writing style, and basically everything. The small town vibes were on point, I loved the found family trope and the magical creatures… I mean, winged cats ? Mermaids ? Cloud bears ? Unicorns? Talking plants ? A sentient cactus ? And on top of that, magic ? Sign me up !! I just wanted to live there. That’s all I wished for.🥹😭
The characters were so lovely. Kiela was such a relatable character. I actually found myself in her. Her love for books, the way she spoke about them and the way she took care of every book, her deep love for reading, her preference for books over people, her difficulty to socialise with people, I mean come on !! I felt like I was the fmc here, that’s how similar we are. I just wanted to live on that island in that pretty house, have a talking plant as my best friend and be surrounded by all those beautiful creatures. I could almost envision myself there.🦦
And the mmc was such a sweet and gentle soul. He was so patient and caring and always showed up for Kiela, supporting her and loving her in the best way possible. Their slow burn romance made me swoon. They were so lovely together and the perfect match for one another.
And Caz… omg, he was the cutest !! He’s so loyal and caring and supportive to Kiela, I grew so attached to him as well. And don’t even get me started on that cactus. He was so adorable, I could melt.🥹😭😭😭
Most of it all, this book made me happy. It truly brought me good vibes, the biggest smile on my face, laughter and tears of joy. It really delivered in making me feel good. I would definitely say that the author achieved the goal, it really felt like drinking a cup of the best hot chocolate on a cold winter night.🥹💜
The easiest 5 stars rating I’ve given to a book lately (and, actually, the first 5✨ read in quite a while 🦦). I would give it a thousand stars if I could. 🥹🫶🏻
Have you ever felt like you’re getting a big, warm hug filled with all the love in this world just by reading a book ? Because I surely haven’t experienced such a feeling that often (it was pretty rare tbh). That’s exactly how I would describe this book, as a warm hug when you need it the most, or I should say, that hug that you didn’t even know you needed. It was such a lovely book, such a hearwarming journey filled with so many magical moments (and adorable creatures), well written characters and so many good vibes. If I had a bad day, or a moment when I felt sad or lonely all I had to do is pick this up and read a few pages. That was enough to completely change my mood, to make me feel seen and understood and oh, so happy.🥹 I truly think that in this case words are not enough to describe what a special book this one was (or for me, I feel like everything I say doesn’t really do justice to this one).
I really loved the setting, the writing style, and basically everything. The small town vibes were on point, I loved the found family trope and the magical creatures… I mean, winged cats ? Mermaids ? Cloud bears ? Unicorns? Talking plants ? A sentient cactus ? And on top of that, magic ? Sign me up !! I just wanted to live there. That’s all I wished for.🥹😭
The characters were so lovely. Kiela was such a relatable character. I actually found myself in her. Her love for books, the way she spoke about them and the way she took care of every book, her deep love for reading, her preference for books over people, her difficulty to socialise with people, I mean come on !! I felt like I was the fmc here, that’s how similar we are. I just wanted to live on that island in that pretty house, have a talking plant as my best friend and be surrounded by all those beautiful creatures. I could almost envision myself there.🦦
And the mmc was such a sweet and gentle soul. He was so patient and caring and always showed up for Kiela, supporting her and loving her in the best way possible. Their slow burn romance made me swoon. They were so lovely together and the perfect match for one another.
And Caz… omg, he was the cutest !! He’s so loyal and caring and supportive to Kiela, I grew so attached to him as well. And don’t even get me started on that cactus. He was so adorable, I could melt.🥹😭😭😭
Most of it all, this book made me happy. It truly brought me good vibes, the biggest smile on my face, laughter and tears of joy. It really delivered in making me feel good. I would definitely say that the author achieved the goal, it really felt like drinking a cup of the best hot chocolate on a cold winter night.🥹💜
The easiest 5 stars rating I’ve given to a book lately (and, actually, the first 5✨ read in quite a while 🦦). I would give it a thousand stars if I could. 🥹🫶🏻
October 30, 2025
If there was ever a title to appeal to 15 year-old carol, this was it. A talking plant, a hidden library, mer-horses, and an abandoned cottage? What’s not to love?
Well, I didn’t love how dippy and unworldly our main character was, particularly for someone who had tragedy in her younger life. It’s kind of like after Snow White survived her encounter with the wolves–you would think she’d be a little more cautious about knocking on doors and visiting old ladies after that, wouldn’t you? That could be just me, but a little more trauma-informed characterization would have been nice. The author said she wanted a ‘cup of hot chocolate in a book’ sort of read, but I’d go with a more Mexican chocolate version.
“She was responsible for the spellbooks on the third floor, east wing. For the past eleven years, she’d worked, slept, ate, and lived between the shelves, which perhaps explained why, when she first smelled smoke, she thought she’d simply left toast on the cookplate.”
The story begins with a young woman, Kiela, who is a librarian at an esteemed library located on the central island of an island empire. Politics happen and she is forced to escape, heading back to island her parents emigrated from when she was a child. Once there, she tries to clean their abandoned cottage, fit in, make friends, and attempt a living, all while guarding a secret. Of course, her handsome, helpful and quiet neighbor, Larran, turns out to be her childhood playmate.
“He wasn’t what she’d call handsome, but he didn’t look like a murderer either. Not that she knew what that would look like. He was tall, which wasn’t an argument for or against murderer.”
And that pretty much sums it up. The plant, Caz, provides a tiny amount of acidity that the story desperately needs.
“He can’t like me,” Kiela said. “I’m unlikable.”
“This is a ridiculous conversation that I regret beginning,” Caz said. “You are not unlikable. I chose to be your assistant, out of all the librarians in the Great Library. I am a very picky plant with impeccable taste.”
The beginning and middle aren’t surprising at all, but I really appreciated the clever ways Durst deals with the inevitable conflict. What I thought was going to be the inevitable exposé turned out to be a clever bid for independence, which brought the politics back full circle. This is one of the few books that I feel truly deserves a ‘cozy’ moniker, with very little badness at all. Re-readable, for those days one wants a light, sweet piece of candy–butterscotch drops, perhaps.
Well, I didn’t love how dippy and unworldly our main character was, particularly for someone who had tragedy in her younger life. It’s kind of like after Snow White survived her encounter with the wolves–you would think she’d be a little more cautious about knocking on doors and visiting old ladies after that, wouldn’t you? That could be just me, but a little more trauma-informed characterization would have been nice. The author said she wanted a ‘cup of hot chocolate in a book’ sort of read, but I’d go with a more Mexican chocolate version.
“She was responsible for the spellbooks on the third floor, east wing. For the past eleven years, she’d worked, slept, ate, and lived between the shelves, which perhaps explained why, when she first smelled smoke, she thought she’d simply left toast on the cookplate.”
The story begins with a young woman, Kiela, who is a librarian at an esteemed library located on the central island of an island empire. Politics happen and she is forced to escape, heading back to island her parents emigrated from when she was a child. Once there, she tries to clean their abandoned cottage, fit in, make friends, and attempt a living, all while guarding a secret. Of course, her handsome, helpful and quiet neighbor, Larran, turns out to be her childhood playmate.
“He wasn’t what she’d call handsome, but he didn’t look like a murderer either. Not that she knew what that would look like. He was tall, which wasn’t an argument for or against murderer.”
And that pretty much sums it up. The plant, Caz, provides a tiny amount of acidity that the story desperately needs.
“He can’t like me,” Kiela said. “I’m unlikable.”
“This is a ridiculous conversation that I regret beginning,” Caz said. “You are not unlikable. I chose to be your assistant, out of all the librarians in the Great Library. I am a very picky plant with impeccable taste.”
The beginning and middle aren’t surprising at all, but I really appreciated the clever ways Durst deals with the inevitable conflict. What I thought was going to be the inevitable exposé turned out to be a clever bid for independence, which brought the politics back full circle. This is one of the few books that I feel truly deserves a ‘cozy’ moniker, with very little badness at all. Re-readable, for those days one wants a light, sweet piece of candy–butterscotch drops, perhaps.
June 7, 2024
DNF at 35%
This was incredibly boring and not cozy at all. There were a few good quotes in the beginning but it went downhill from there.
The main character is very annoying and she’s mean to the love interest. I understand you’re an introvert and hate socializing but that’s not an excuse for being rude.
Speaking of the love interest, he was never described. The only thing we know about him is that he has a lot of muscles 🙄 like what does he look like? It’s not there. Kiela has blue skin and blue hair. What about Larran? Nothing.
It also felt like the author was trying *too* hard to make it cozy and cute but it just didn’t work.
Overall this is a hard pass.
Too bad this has a very beautiful cover 😩
This was incredibly boring and not cozy at all. There were a few good quotes in the beginning but it went downhill from there.
The main character is very annoying and she’s mean to the love interest. I understand you’re an introvert and hate socializing but that’s not an excuse for being rude.
Speaking of the love interest, he was never described. The only thing we know about him is that he has a lot of muscles 🙄 like what does he look like? It’s not there. Kiela has blue skin and blue hair. What about Larran? Nothing.
It also felt like the author was trying *too* hard to make it cozy and cute but it just didn’t work.
Overall this is a hard pass.
Too bad this has a very beautiful cover 😩
July 8, 2024
Just keep on scrollin' by.
I'm sorry to say but as interesting as it was to have fantastical creatures and different-looking people populating this very low-stakes cozy fantasy, set on an island, featuring an introverted and somewhat grumpy librarian and her sentient spider plant friend.. I was so bored.
I didn't need stakes, I didn't need something other than the cozy vibes, so it can't be said I wanted something other than what I was getting into; instead I just needed to care. And I did not.
For those who have been loving this, don't get me wrong, I see why. And for those interested in picking this up, I don't want to sway you to do otherwise. This just wasn't the book for me.
All that to say, this is definitely for the reader looking for something to recapture that LEGENDS & LATTES kind of vibe but is still a little (a lot?) different and very much its own thing.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
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This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
I'm sorry to say but as interesting as it was to have fantastical creatures and different-looking people populating this very low-stakes cozy fantasy, set on an island, featuring an introverted and somewhat grumpy librarian and her sentient spider plant friend.. I was so bored.
I didn't need stakes, I didn't need something other than the cozy vibes, so it can't be said I wanted something other than what I was getting into; instead I just needed to care. And I did not.
For those who have been loving this, don't get me wrong, I see why. And for those interested in picking this up, I don't want to sway you to do otherwise. This just wasn't the book for me.
All that to say, this is definitely for the reader looking for something to recapture that LEGENDS & LATTES kind of vibe but is still a little (a lot?) different and very much its own thing.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
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This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
August 20, 2025
"He talks about me?" "He comes for a cinnamon roll nearly every morning," Bryn said. "He's mentioned you every single time. Often it's a stray thought, like wondering whether you saw the sunrise, whether you like tomato sandwiches, or how you feel about merhorses, but I can tell you that he's never acted like this before."
✨ This book is pure magic from start to finish!
I’m officially in my Cottagecore era. Whimsical, cozy, and filled with warmth, The Spellshop absolutely stole my heart. I wasn’t expecting to get so emotional, but wow! This story touched on grief, love, fear, kindness, and resilience in such a gentle and compassionate way.
💖 I would die for Caz and Meep! Also if anyone knows where I can get a talking plant, please let me know asap!
Easily my favorite read of the year and possibly my favorite read of 2025.
✨ This book is pure magic from start to finish!
I’m officially in my Cottagecore era. Whimsical, cozy, and filled with warmth, The Spellshop absolutely stole my heart. I wasn’t expecting to get so emotional, but wow! This story touched on grief, love, fear, kindness, and resilience in such a gentle and compassionate way.
💖 I would die for Caz and Meep! Also if anyone knows where I can get a talking plant, please let me know asap!
Easily my favorite read of the year and possibly my favorite read of 2025.
September 27, 2025
2⭐️
Well...this was a miss. I definitely had some issues with this book, but I don't think it was all bad. Just most of it..😭
One of the biggest things I struggled with with this book was the characters. I found most of them to be really unlikeable and hard to relate to. Kiela was a bit boring and I just couldn't get myself to like her until the very end of the book. Even then, she was kind of meh. The love interest, Larran, was sweet and he was charming, but you could just tell the author was trying to give them some depth but it didn't work out completely.
I think the side characters in this book really carried the book and they were one of the biggest reasons I even continued this book. They were funny, witty, lovable, and all around just somehow had more personality than the main characters.
The world building, I will say, was the biggest thing this book did well. That being said though? It was too much. The beginning of the book DRAGGEDDDD because it was all about the world and scenery. Yes, it was beautiful and magical. But my problem was that there were so many details that just didn't do...anything. I kept asking myself what the point was, because it didn't really set up for anything further in the book.
The reason this book got 2 stars from me was because once the actual plot was introduced and things started picking up, this book was a lot more tolerable. It was fun and entertaining and I just wished that it didn't take 250 pages to get to that point. If it had happened sooner, maybe I would have bumped it up a bit.
Overall, this book was kinda boring in the initial set up, so much so that I wanted to DNF it honestly. But I stuck through and did enjoy the end of the book. This is not one I'd recommend first if I could pick one, but it had enjoyable parts even if the rest of it lacked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭: 🪄💜
So this is my first book for my new bookish bingo card I'm doing this fall and it's genuinely got me so excited to get into the spirit of fall!! Especially since I've been dealing with a bit of seasonal depression so fingers crossed this helps a bit 💜
Well...this was a miss. I definitely had some issues with this book, but I don't think it was all bad. Just most of it..😭
One of the biggest things I struggled with with this book was the characters. I found most of them to be really unlikeable and hard to relate to. Kiela was a bit boring and I just couldn't get myself to like her until the very end of the book. Even then, she was kind of meh. The love interest, Larran, was sweet and he was charming, but you could just tell the author was trying to give them some depth but it didn't work out completely.
I think the side characters in this book really carried the book and they were one of the biggest reasons I even continued this book. They were funny, witty, lovable, and all around just somehow had more personality than the main characters.
The world building, I will say, was the biggest thing this book did well. That being said though? It was too much. The beginning of the book DRAGGEDDDD because it was all about the world and scenery. Yes, it was beautiful and magical. But my problem was that there were so many details that just didn't do...anything. I kept asking myself what the point was, because it didn't really set up for anything further in the book.
The reason this book got 2 stars from me was because once the actual plot was introduced and things started picking up, this book was a lot more tolerable. It was fun and entertaining and I just wished that it didn't take 250 pages to get to that point. If it had happened sooner, maybe I would have bumped it up a bit.
Overall, this book was kinda boring in the initial set up, so much so that I wanted to DNF it honestly. But I stuck through and did enjoy the end of the book. This is not one I'd recommend first if I could pick one, but it had enjoyable parts even if the rest of it lacked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭: 🪄💜
So this is my first book for my new bookish bingo card I'm doing this fall and it's genuinely got me so excited to get into the spirit of fall!! Especially since I've been dealing with a bit of seasonal depression so fingers crossed this helps a bit 💜
November 12, 2024
4.5 stars
I’m in book love. And I’m beginning to realize romantasy may be more up my alley than I thought.
This time, it’s the romantasy-ness of Sarah Beth Durst's The Spellshop that swept me off my feet, though it’s much closer in style and theme to what TJ Klune is writing these days than Sarah J. Maas. And my body needed it right now – the book is nothing short of a big, warm hug from your most favorite person in the world, comforting and safe.
The love story between Kiela and Larran is sweet, not steamy. Kiela’s best friend is a talking spider plant, and the story is set on a far-off island filled with such mystical creatures as mermaids and merhorses. Durst also gives us books, magic, and mouth-watering food – everything our bookish hearts could ever want – and then tops it all off with a full-cast of lovable characters to round out Keila’s found family.
Keila’s problems, however, are solved too easily at the end. Cozy romantasy or not, Durst would’ve served the book well to increase the tension of the mess in which Keila finds herself. I craved a heightened sense of desperation in the final moments of the story and complexity in its wrap-up instead of a simple little bow.
Caitlin Davies is the audiobook narrator, and she’s divine. I'm struggling to explain how she does it, but her voicing somehow gives the story even more of a fairy-tale feel.
A 2024 favorite for sure, I may just turn right around and listen to The Spellshop a second time, it’s so good.
I’m in book love. And I’m beginning to realize romantasy may be more up my alley than I thought.
This time, it’s the romantasy-ness of Sarah Beth Durst's The Spellshop that swept me off my feet, though it’s much closer in style and theme to what TJ Klune is writing these days than Sarah J. Maas. And my body needed it right now – the book is nothing short of a big, warm hug from your most favorite person in the world, comforting and safe.
The love story between Kiela and Larran is sweet, not steamy. Kiela’s best friend is a talking spider plant, and the story is set on a far-off island filled with such mystical creatures as mermaids and merhorses. Durst also gives us books, magic, and mouth-watering food – everything our bookish hearts could ever want – and then tops it all off with a full-cast of lovable characters to round out Keila’s found family.
Keila’s problems, however, are solved too easily at the end. Cozy romantasy or not, Durst would’ve served the book well to increase the tension of the mess in which Keila finds herself. I craved a heightened sense of desperation in the final moments of the story and complexity in its wrap-up instead of a simple little bow.
Caitlin Davies is the audiobook narrator, and she’s divine. I'm struggling to explain how she does it, but her voicing somehow gives the story even more of a fairy-tale feel.
A 2024 favorite for sure, I may just turn right around and listen to The Spellshop a second time, it’s so good.
July 24, 2024
She’s literally blue, everyone’s gay, and the MMC is the man equivalent of a horse-girl. The sentient plants made up for it but not really.
The book felt extremely superficial (and kinda boring). I was interested in the concept but I have a feeling it was a money grab off the social-media popularity of the romance-fantasy genre. The romance is genuinely just a minor side quest for the female main character. You barely got a description of the characters themselves or the setting other than just general features. The politics of the world are so elaborate and complex, but you’re not told any of it because of how straightforward everything is written.
I’m not sure if there was a strict deadline for publishing but it feels like the authors and publishers really half-assed it. It needs to be fleshed out more and written more eloquently. It’s upsetting that horse-birth was the most descriptive content in the entire book.
The book felt extremely superficial (and kinda boring). I was interested in the concept but I have a feeling it was a money grab off the social-media popularity of the romance-fantasy genre. The romance is genuinely just a minor side quest for the female main character. You barely got a description of the characters themselves or the setting other than just general features. The politics of the world are so elaborate and complex, but you’re not told any of it because of how straightforward everything is written.
I’m not sure if there was a strict deadline for publishing but it feels like the authors and publishers really half-assed it. It needs to be fleshed out more and written more eloquently. It’s upsetting that horse-birth was the most descriptive content in the entire book.
October 25, 2025
✨🍂
“I want to know you better,”
“No, you don’t. I’m not friendly. I like to be alone.”
“You can be alone with me.” 🍂✨
⤿🪄 25/10/25
3.75 ⭐~ MEEP! MEEP! MEEP! THIS BOOK IS MADE FOR ALL THE BOOKISH INTROVERTS OUT THERE!!!🤭💚 This one actually surprised me...in a good way!😃 I went in with zero expectations because I was only here for that grumpy little talking spider plant, but came out grinning with a big smile on my face that made my cheeks hurt ughh 🥹🫶🏻 If you are looking for a clean, cozy cottage-core magical book to read this fall—this is YOUR SIGN!🤭
what to expect 🌊:
🍃introvert librarian fmc x cinnamon roll mmc
🍂forbidden magic
🍃found family
🍂talking-walking spider plant
🍃cozy island cottage
🍂neighbours-to-friends-to-lovers
🍃a secret society
🍂mystical creatures
🍃merfolk & merbabies
🍂social anxiety rep
🍃slow-burn
Now back to our ✨MEET THE CHARACTERS 🎬✨
Kiela Orobidan 📖~ meet the extreme introvert turned librarian, who is incharge of the precious spellbooks in The Great Library of Alyssium. She is forced to evacuate from her sanctuary, the now burning library she called home for years after the revolutionaries took the palace and killed the emperor. While running away, she along with her assistant save as many precious rare spellbooks they can in their boat and sail off. Now, the thing is Kiela never imagined returning to the very place—her abadoned family house in a little island. And with that comes the overly nice neighbour and nosy islanders which is infact a problem for her as an introvert.
Caz 🪴~ yes, he is the great little grumpy talking spider plant aka Kiela's assistant/best friend. He tends to get very paranoid after overthinking too many scenarios. But he is also a walking encyclopaedia for anything plants 🤭 Might I say, I read the book only to meet this grumpy cutesy thing?😍 (don't tell caz now that I called him cute 😆) Also let's not forget the very cute Meep 🌵, whom we will meet later in the book 🥰
Larran Maver 🐚~ and ofcourse, he is our overly nice neighbour whom Kiela finds annoying as he tends help her with things without asking her 😂 But I guess he himself is kind of an introvert too as he doesn't know how to make conversation with others like Kiela? Made for eachother I know 🤭 But yes, they both made my single-ass giggle and jealous at the same time with their slow burn chemistry ughhhhh 😭❤️🔥
And then there were the nosy islanders, especially Bryn, Eadie and Ulina whom Kiela finds as a family who welcomed her with warm hearts & cinnamon buns. I actually loved the fact that the side characters also got to shine more in this book, same as the main characters!🥹💚
Overall, I would say even though it might feel like a slow start with the world-building aspect, I did thorougly enjoyed this one so much slowly taking my time as it was way different from the books I usually read, and also very clean as it's hard to find fantasy books that are zero spice nowadays. If you decide to give this one a go, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did 🥰🫶🏻
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷・❥・𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀・❥・ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
-*
⤿🪄 17/10/25
lowkey I'm only here for that grumpy little talking sentient spider plant 🤭💖
p.s. finally out of that slump 🥹 gosh, it's been a while since I felt like myself again (missed the reader in me ❤️🩹)
“No, you don’t. I’m not friendly. I like to be alone.”
“You can be alone with me.” 🍂✨
⤿🪄 25/10/25
3.75 ⭐~ MEEP! MEEP! MEEP! THIS BOOK IS MADE FOR ALL THE BOOKISH INTROVERTS OUT THERE!!!🤭💚 This one actually surprised me...in a good way!😃 I went in with zero expectations because I was only here for that grumpy little talking spider plant, but came out grinning with a big smile on my face that made my cheeks hurt ughh 🥹🫶🏻 If you are looking for a clean, cozy cottage-core magical book to read this fall—this is YOUR SIGN!🤭
what to expect 🌊:
🍃introvert librarian fmc x cinnamon roll mmc
🍂forbidden magic
🍃found family
🍂talking-walking spider plant
🍃cozy island cottage
🍂neighbours-to-friends-to-lovers
🍃a secret society
🍂mystical creatures
🍃merfolk & merbabies
🍂social anxiety rep
🍃slow-burn
Now back to our ✨MEET THE CHARACTERS 🎬✨
Kiela Orobidan 📖~ meet the extreme introvert turned librarian, who is incharge of the precious spellbooks in The Great Library of Alyssium. She is forced to evacuate from her sanctuary, the now burning library she called home for years after the revolutionaries took the palace and killed the emperor. While running away, she along with her assistant save as many precious rare spellbooks they can in their boat and sail off. Now, the thing is Kiela never imagined returning to the very place—her abadoned family house in a little island. And with that comes the overly nice neighbour and nosy islanders which is infact a problem for her as an introvert.
“It wasn’t that she didn’t like people. It was only that she liked books more. They didn’t fuss or judge or mock or reject. They invited you in, fluffed up the pillows on the couch, offered you tea and toast, and shared their hearts with no expectation that you’d do anything more than absorb what they had to give.”
“I read and I forget anything else exists. And I don’t forgive anyone who isn’t careful with books. I hate people who tear out pages, who bend corners, who break the spines.”
Caz 🪴~ yes, he is the great little grumpy talking spider plant aka Kiela's assistant/best friend. He tends to get very paranoid after overthinking too many scenarios. But he is also a walking encyclopaedia for anything plants 🤭 Might I say, I read the book only to meet this grumpy cutesy thing?😍 (don't tell caz now that I called him cute 😆) Also let's not forget the very cute Meep 🌵, whom we will meet later in the book 🥰
“You know, plants aren’t nearly as emotionally exhausting as humans. You should try to be more plant.”
“You could have been struck by lightning, swept out to sea, crushed by a tree—I’d half written your eulogy. I said very nice things.”
Larran Maver 🐚~ and ofcourse, he is our overly nice neighbour whom Kiela finds annoying as he tends help her with things without asking her 😂 But I guess he himself is kind of an introvert too as he doesn't know how to make conversation with others like Kiela? Made for eachother I know 🤭 But yes, they both made my single-ass giggle and jealous at the same time with their slow burn chemistry ughhhhh 😭❤️🔥
“He was looking at her as if she was all that existed on the entire island.”
“You saved yourself, your friend, and you came here and saved us.”
And then there were the nosy islanders, especially Bryn, Eadie and Ulina whom Kiela finds as a family who welcomed her with warm hearts & cinnamon buns. I actually loved the fact that the side characters also got to shine more in this book, same as the main characters!🥹💚
“We’re not saying you should stay because our boy is sad and needs fixing. Gah, that would be a terrible reason. Never think you need to fix a lover. You should stay because there’s a chance you two could make each other happy, and that’s a special thing.”
Overall, I would say even though it might feel like a slow start with the world-building aspect, I did thorougly enjoyed this one so much slowly taking my time as it was way different from the books I usually read, and also very clean as it's hard to find fantasy books that are zero spice nowadays. If you decide to give this one a go, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did 🥰🫶🏻
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷・❥・𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀・❥・ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
-*
⤿🪄 17/10/25
lowkey I'm only here for that grumpy little talking sentient spider plant 🤭💖
p.s. finally out of that slump 🥹 gosh, it's been a while since I felt like myself again (missed the reader in me ❤️🩹)
March 28, 2025
you know what i was “eh” until the plant was like “what if we KILLED SOMEONE” that was great
September 22, 2025
I got to page 233. DNF.
Pronouns for a sentient cactus. I'm so sick of this woke coddling shoved down my throat. This whole book is catering to a coddled socially inept woman. She's insufferable. She's hermit like and someone you have to walk on eggshells it seems. No thanks.
Pronouns for a sentient cactus. I'm so sick of this woke coddling shoved down my throat. This whole book is catering to a coddled socially inept woman. She's insufferable. She's hermit like and someone you have to walk on eggshells it seems. No thanks.
November 5, 2025
Enchanting, whimsical, & bookishly cozy!
This story felt like stepping into a booklover’s dream, a blend of cottagecore charm, magical libraries, and the simple joy of sorting through notebooks and pencils. The writing itself sparkled with the same enchantment as the spells in the story, making me feel like the pages were humming with magic. The pacing was gentle and sometimes lingered a little too long, which slowed me down, but the cozy atmosphere kept me turning the pages.
Kiela may have seemed prickly at first, but I understood her and ended up enjoying her character so much. Her bond with Caz, the sentient spider plant, brought warmth and fun, while her reluctant connections with neighbours added just the right touch of heart. What truly had me smitten were the descriptions, not only of the magic and the spellbooks, but of the everyday things, stationery, jam-making, even the quiet act of putting a library in order. As a booklover, those moments made my heart race with happiness.
✨ Key thoughts
📚 Bookish to the core, from spellbooks to stationery
🕯️ Cozy, whimsical atmosphere with touches of magic
🌱 A sentient plant companion that completely charmed me
💜 Stunning cover and design, one for the shelves
😌 Gentle pacing that fit the cozy tone, though sometimes a little too unhurried
Overall, The Spellshop was a soft, magical hug of a book. It may not have been edge-of-your-seat reading, but it offered the kind of warm, cozy escape that felt just right for my mood. Perfect for when you want something soothing, bookish, and a little whimsical.
💜 My own beautiful copy, purple edges and all.
📖 A gentle, whimsical escape, this one sprinkled a 3.5-star charm over me, rounded down to 3. ✨
This story felt like stepping into a booklover’s dream, a blend of cottagecore charm, magical libraries, and the simple joy of sorting through notebooks and pencils. The writing itself sparkled with the same enchantment as the spells in the story, making me feel like the pages were humming with magic. The pacing was gentle and sometimes lingered a little too long, which slowed me down, but the cozy atmosphere kept me turning the pages.
Kiela may have seemed prickly at first, but I understood her and ended up enjoying her character so much. Her bond with Caz, the sentient spider plant, brought warmth and fun, while her reluctant connections with neighbours added just the right touch of heart. What truly had me smitten were the descriptions, not only of the magic and the spellbooks, but of the everyday things, stationery, jam-making, even the quiet act of putting a library in order. As a booklover, those moments made my heart race with happiness.
✨ Key thoughts
📚 Bookish to the core, from spellbooks to stationery
🕯️ Cozy, whimsical atmosphere with touches of magic
🌱 A sentient plant companion that completely charmed me
💜 Stunning cover and design, one for the shelves
😌 Gentle pacing that fit the cozy tone, though sometimes a little too unhurried
Overall, The Spellshop was a soft, magical hug of a book. It may not have been edge-of-your-seat reading, but it offered the kind of warm, cozy escape that felt just right for my mood. Perfect for when you want something soothing, bookish, and a little whimsical.
💜 My own beautiful copy, purple edges and all.
📖 A gentle, whimsical escape, this one sprinkled a 3.5-star charm over me, rounded down to 3. ✨
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