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Spellshop #3
Sea of Charms
Not yet published
Expected 6 Aug 26Her boat. Her rules. His music. Their hearts . . .
Marin has always belonged on the great blue sea. Betrayed by love, she lives and works as a supply runner, sailing from island to island, delivering an array of goods with Perri the sea serpent and Ree the sailor shrub as her crew.
On one of her routine trips to the capital, Alyssium, Marin finds a revolution underway ― and a friend in the line of fire.
What starts as a rescue evolves into a deal: Marin will keep Dax on as a member of her crew if he pretends to be her boyfriend at the End-of-Harvest Festival back home.
But against her better judgment, Marin finds herself intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, his charming smile ― and realizes that perhaps she isn’t saving him. Maybe it’s the other way around.
From the acclaimed author of The Spellshop, Sea of Charms is a delightful cosy fantasy romance about finding your crew, your family, and moreover, finding yourself.
Marin has always belonged on the great blue sea. Betrayed by love, she lives and works as a supply runner, sailing from island to island, delivering an array of goods with Perri the sea serpent and Ree the sailor shrub as her crew.
On one of her routine trips to the capital, Alyssium, Marin finds a revolution underway ― and a friend in the line of fire.
What starts as a rescue evolves into a deal: Marin will keep Dax on as a member of her crew if he pretends to be her boyfriend at the End-of-Harvest Festival back home.
But against her better judgment, Marin finds herself intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, his charming smile ― and realizes that perhaps she isn’t saving him. Maybe it’s the other way around.
From the acclaimed author of The Spellshop, Sea of Charms is a delightful cosy fantasy romance about finding your crew, your family, and moreover, finding yourself.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published July 28, 2026
About the author
Sarah Beth Durst
44 books9,416 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 1,381 reviews
Want to Read
October 1, 2025I KNEW that there would be a book with this character as soon as I heard that she is friends with a sea serpent and a talking sailor plant.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 5 ⭐️ This is by far my most favorite book in this series. I adored the first two, The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse, but this story was an adventure! Not only it's full of charming characters that are a complete delight, we embark on a journey of a sailors tale. We sail from place to place where we are greeted with whimsical magic, lovely new characters, amazing sidekicks, sweet romance and an unforgettable adventure. For a soft and cozy fantasy, the character development was top notch! This was the easiest and the quickest 5 stars I've given. Sarah Beth Durst is a QUEEN when it comes to cozy, tender fantasies that transport you to another world.
Sea of Charms is a tale of a sailor, Marin, and a musician, Dax, who find love and companionship in a changing world as they flee the newly formed revolution on Alyssium. Marin, a supply runner is trying to help her parents pay off a debt thanks to her jerk of an ex who embezzled from her family. She's working hard to repay the load her parents took out to purchase her magical boat. So she's traveling to all sorts of places, along with her sea serpent Perri and the sentient sailor shrub Ree, trying to save up as much as she can. One day, she's making a run to Alyssium and sees that it's burning due to rebellion strikes. She rescues Dax and his musician friends and this is where their story of friendship and love begins! What starts off a rescue evolves into a deal: pretend to be my boyfriend and you can keep sailing along my crew. Against all odds, Marin finds herself more and more interested in Dax.
Marin has a good heart and great values. She cherishes hard work and cares deeply about her family, her friends and things that mean the most to her. She's incredibly emotionally intelligent, she believes that people should follow their heart vs whatever someone else says. She wants everyone to be successful and she pushes Dax to achieve his greatness despite how much she knows she will miss him! She's my favorite character so far and I was rooting for her all the way. She's just not great at love, considering what has happened, I don't blame her. I, too, would be very distraught and not easily trusting anymore..but meeting Dax was the best things that ever happened to her. Charming, stubborn, passionate, Dax is the one that heals her and saves her, not the other way around. He heals her, supports her and stands by her against all odds. Together, they are perfect for each other!
Sea of Charms strongly focuses on the idea of 'finding yourself' amidst the chaos, cherishing where you come from and allowing time to heal your wounds. The narrator, Caitlin Davies brought so much life into the story. I always say that audiobooks elevate the experience! This narration was phenomenal, read with so much heart and soul, I highly recommend doing the audiobook for this book.
Now I can't wait to read the next installment, The Magical Cheese Emporium, expected to be released on January 19, 2027!
Narrator: Caitlin Davies
Duration: 13 hours 12 min
Speed: 1.5x
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author for an early ALC!
Publication date: July 28, 2026
Sea of Charms is a tale of a sailor, Marin, and a musician, Dax, who find love and companionship in a changing world as they flee the newly formed revolution on Alyssium. Marin, a supply runner is trying to help her parents pay off a debt thanks to her jerk of an ex who embezzled from her family. She's working hard to repay the load her parents took out to purchase her magical boat. So she's traveling to all sorts of places, along with her sea serpent Perri and the sentient sailor shrub Ree, trying to save up as much as she can. One day, she's making a run to Alyssium and sees that it's burning due to rebellion strikes. She rescues Dax and his musician friends and this is where their story of friendship and love begins! What starts off a rescue evolves into a deal: pretend to be my boyfriend and you can keep sailing along my crew. Against all odds, Marin finds herself more and more interested in Dax.
Marin has a good heart and great values. She cherishes hard work and cares deeply about her family, her friends and things that mean the most to her. She's incredibly emotionally intelligent, she believes that people should follow their heart vs whatever someone else says. She wants everyone to be successful and she pushes Dax to achieve his greatness despite how much she knows she will miss him! She's my favorite character so far and I was rooting for her all the way. She's just not great at love, considering what has happened, I don't blame her. I, too, would be very distraught and not easily trusting anymore..but meeting Dax was the best things that ever happened to her. Charming, stubborn, passionate, Dax is the one that heals her and saves her, not the other way around. He heals her, supports her and stands by her against all odds. Together, they are perfect for each other!
Sea of Charms strongly focuses on the idea of 'finding yourself' amidst the chaos, cherishing where you come from and allowing time to heal your wounds. The narrator, Caitlin Davies brought so much life into the story. I always say that audiobooks elevate the experience! This narration was phenomenal, read with so much heart and soul, I highly recommend doing the audiobook for this book.
Now I can't wait to read the next installment, The Magical Cheese Emporium, expected to be released on January 19, 2027!
Narrator: Caitlin Davies
Duration: 13 hours 12 min
Speed: 1.5x
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author for an early ALC!
Publication date: July 28, 2026
Want to Read
October 13, 2025*See Sarah's Newest Book immediately adds to preorder list!*
Currently Reading
April 11, 2026here for the cozy escape of it allll 🌊 ⛵
_______________
Thank you to Tor Books for the ARC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
_______________
Thank you to Tor Books for the ARC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
Want to Read
August 15, 2025MARIN IS GETTING A BOOK!! AHHH!!
July 14, 2026
˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧
“𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚,𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒇𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒇𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒇 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 “
🩵Sea of charms
(spoiler free review!)🩵
𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
𝘙𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 - 𝘉𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘴
0:09 ━●────────── 2:47
ㅤ ㅤ◁ㅤ ❚❚ ㅤ▷ ㅤㅤ
: 𓏲🐋 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖✩࿐࿔ 🌊
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
𓏲๋࣭࣪˖🪼.ᐟ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭
🩵Grumpy x sunshine trope
🐳 Magical creatures
🌊 Found Family
⛴️ Fake dating
🌊 Cozy vibes
⋆.˚ 𓇼 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭: Sea of Charms follows Marin, a hardworking supply runner determined to pay off her family’s debt after her ex betrayed them. While making a delivery, she rescues Dax, a musician fleeing a revolution, and the two strike a fake-dating deal that slowly blossoms into a heartfelt romance. As they sail together with Marin’s magical crew, they navigate danger, political unrest, healing from past wounds, and discover that love can be found even in the most unexpected times.
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
🫧🐚🪼𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻: my shayla she is so relatable and she just wanted to be FREE and loved. Mariner is deeply independent and she is a female sailor who loves the sea and freedom of her life, she is a supply runner across the Crescent Islands Empire. What i liked about her character was that while Marin seems so calm and confident outside but deep down, she feels as deep as the sea sails. I loved that her backstory is tied to her insecurities and her flaws that shape how her character grows and gains development throughout the story!
𝗗𝗮𝘅: He is a musician and he loves to sing!! He is the definition of GENTLE🥹.
I found him to be relatable too because he can be a people pleaser however I liked how he chose to always be kind and forgiving. He also gained character development throughout the story and i loved how he had dreams and AMBITION.
🌊⋆｡𖦹 °.🐚⋆❀˖°🫧
💌𝐹𝒶𝓋 𝒬𝓊𝑜𝓉𝑒𝓈:
“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶”
“𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘯, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳.”
“𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯”
“𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴."
"𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴.”
"𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘫𝘰𝘺.
𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴."
“𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦. 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯”
⋆｡˚🫧🐋𖦹ׂ⋆｡˚𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This book felt like a fresh sea breeze, I loved Sea of charms so much, it truly was a magical whimsical cozy fantasy! 🩵✨ I LOVEDD the world building especially the magical creatures. Perri the sea serpent he was always there for marin since day one 🥹 and then Ree the myrtle plant he is full of enthusiasm. Second of all, I loved island hopping and following Marin’s journey to finding herself and peace. Third of all, CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW DAX WAS LITERALLY YEARNING FOR MARIN THROUGH HIS MUSICC now i want a composer green flag bf who will love all of me ugh and serenade me and dedicate his songs to me. I love Marin’s character so much she is so relatable for not being able to trust and thinking that love is not worth it until she found Dax who proved her wrong and became her ONLY EXCEPTION!! THEY YEARNED FOR EACH OTHERR. I loved Marin’s parents because they always believed in her and let her find happiness in everything and gave her a future 🥹. Overall, This book taught me that life can be hurtful, unpredictable, and chaotic but that’s often where the most beautiful adventures, deepest healing, and greatest love begin.
˖𓍢ִִ໋𓇼⋆ I will always come back to Crescent Islands when i need to escape and see the winged cats and sea serpents🥹 I recommend this book if you love a cozy whimsical summer fantasy and yearning!🩵 Thank you again Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group!
With Love, Avrielle 💌
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˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱: Another summer read!! YAYY MY REQUEST WAS APPROVED FOR THE ARC im so excited to start this! Tysm Netgalley and Tor publishing group 🥹🩵
🥥🌴🌺🌅🌊
“𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚,𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒇𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒇𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒇 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 “
🩵Sea of charms
(spoiler free review!)🩵
𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
𝘙𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 - 𝘉𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘴
0:09 ━●────────── 2:47
ㅤ ㅤ◁ㅤ ❚❚ ㅤ▷ ㅤㅤ
: 𓏲🐋 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖✩࿐࿔ 🌊
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
𓏲๋࣭࣪˖🪼.ᐟ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭
🩵Grumpy x sunshine trope
🐳 Magical creatures
🌊 Found Family
⛴️ Fake dating
🌊 Cozy vibes
⋆.˚ 𓇼 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭: Sea of Charms follows Marin, a hardworking supply runner determined to pay off her family’s debt after her ex betrayed them. While making a delivery, she rescues Dax, a musician fleeing a revolution, and the two strike a fake-dating deal that slowly blossoms into a heartfelt romance. As they sail together with Marin’s magical crew, they navigate danger, political unrest, healing from past wounds, and discover that love can be found even in the most unexpected times.
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
🫧🐚🪼𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻: my shayla she is so relatable and she just wanted to be FREE and loved. Mariner is deeply independent and she is a female sailor who loves the sea and freedom of her life, she is a supply runner across the Crescent Islands Empire. What i liked about her character was that while Marin seems so calm and confident outside but deep down, she feels as deep as the sea sails. I loved that her backstory is tied to her insecurities and her flaws that shape how her character grows and gains development throughout the story!
𝗗𝗮𝘅: He is a musician and he loves to sing!! He is the definition of GENTLE🥹.
I found him to be relatable too because he can be a people pleaser however I liked how he chose to always be kind and forgiving. He also gained character development throughout the story and i loved how he had dreams and AMBITION.
🌊⋆｡𖦹 °.🐚⋆❀˖°🫧
💌𝐹𝒶𝓋 𝒬𝓊𝑜𝓉𝑒𝓈:
“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶”
“𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘯, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳.”
“𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯”
“𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴."
"𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴.”
"𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘫𝘰𝘺.
𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴."
“𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦. 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯”
⋆｡˚🫧🐋𖦹ׂ⋆｡˚𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This book felt like a fresh sea breeze, I loved Sea of charms so much, it truly was a magical whimsical cozy fantasy! 🩵✨ I LOVEDD the world building especially the magical creatures. Perri the sea serpent he was always there for marin since day one 🥹 and then Ree the myrtle plant he is full of enthusiasm. Second of all, I loved island hopping and following Marin’s journey to finding herself and peace. Third of all, CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW DAX WAS LITERALLY YEARNING FOR MARIN THROUGH HIS MUSICC now i want a composer green flag bf who will love all of me ugh and serenade me and dedicate his songs to me. I love Marin’s character so much she is so relatable for not being able to trust and thinking that love is not worth it until she found Dax who proved her wrong and became her ONLY EXCEPTION!! THEY YEARNED FOR EACH OTHERR. I loved Marin’s parents because they always believed in her and let her find happiness in everything and gave her a future 🥹. Overall, This book taught me that life can be hurtful, unpredictable, and chaotic but that’s often where the most beautiful adventures, deepest healing, and greatest love begin.
˖𓍢ִִ໋𓇼⋆ I will always come back to Crescent Islands when i need to escape and see the winged cats and sea serpents🥹 I recommend this book if you love a cozy whimsical summer fantasy and yearning!🩵 Thank you again Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group!
With Love, Avrielle 💌
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˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱: Another summer read!! YAYY MY REQUEST WAS APPROVED FOR THE ARC im so excited to start this! Tysm Netgalley and Tor publishing group 🥹🩵
🥥🌴🌺🌅🌊
Read
December 22, 2025I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this one, and I *loved* it. This magical, gentle, funny and hopeful - but never naïve - story was just exactly what I needed in a stressful month!
"More people should strive to be like passionate shrubbery." <3
This book tells the story of Marin, the resourceful sailor who first popped up as a helpful side character in the first two Spellshop books. It involves more external drama than either of those first books as (unlike the first two heroines, who each escaped the burning city of Alyssium at the beginnings of their own stories) Marin faces serious danger again and again, sailing in and out of the capital city in the midst of a fiery revolution and rescuing everyone she can along the way. But it's also the story of the loving found family she builds across the book (with a sea serpent and a sentient shrub, among others) and the sweet romance she can't resist despite her own traumatic romantic past...
And it's also the story of all the wonders they see in their sailing adventures. Oh, is Sarah Beth Durst good at writing imaginative magical worlds! I loooooved all the different islands Marin and her crew visit, with all their individual amazements. And I really loved the message Marin's own mother tries to give her early in the novel - "That even if there's a lot of terrible in the world, even if there's a lot that can't be fixed, it's okay to try to be happy."
A really beautiful book that made my heart melt. I'm so glad I read it!
PS: Every book in this series has been a standalone adventure, and this one can definitely be read as a standalone, too - but if you have read the first two books, you'll love how beautifully it ties those stories together and builds a larger story around them.
"More people should strive to be like passionate shrubbery." <3
This book tells the story of Marin, the resourceful sailor who first popped up as a helpful side character in the first two Spellshop books. It involves more external drama than either of those first books as (unlike the first two heroines, who each escaped the burning city of Alyssium at the beginnings of their own stories) Marin faces serious danger again and again, sailing in and out of the capital city in the midst of a fiery revolution and rescuing everyone she can along the way. But it's also the story of the loving found family she builds across the book (with a sea serpent and a sentient shrub, among others) and the sweet romance she can't resist despite her own traumatic romantic past...
And it's also the story of all the wonders they see in their sailing adventures. Oh, is Sarah Beth Durst good at writing imaginative magical worlds! I loooooved all the different islands Marin and her crew visit, with all their individual amazements. And I really loved the message Marin's own mother tries to give her early in the novel - "That even if there's a lot of terrible in the world, even if there's a lot that can't be fixed, it's okay to try to be happy."
A really beautiful book that made my heart melt. I'm so glad I read it!
PS: Every book in this series has been a standalone adventure, and this one can definitely be read as a standalone, too - but if you have read the first two books, you'll love how beautifully it ties those stories together and builds a larger story around them.
Currently Reading
March 25, 2026🌊🪄 Sea of Charms 🪄🌊
⛵ Bookish Thoughts
I am screaming I am so excited to have gotten approval for this ARC! Sarah Beth Durst is my favorite author and this is my favorite series! I will be devouring this! I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🐚 What to Expect
• Cozy fantasy
• High seas adventure
• Fake Dating
• Found family
• Sea serpent companion
_ _ _ _
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo (Caitlin Davies)
📅 Pub Date: July 28, 2026
📝 Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
⛵ Bookish Thoughts
I am screaming I am so excited to have gotten approval for this ARC! Sarah Beth Durst is my favorite author and this is my favorite series! I will be devouring this! I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🐚 What to Expect
• Cozy fantasy
• High seas adventure
• Fake Dating
• Found family
• Sea serpent companion
_ _ _ _
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo (Caitlin Davies)
📅 Pub Date: July 28, 2026
📝 Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
June 19, 2026
Sea of Charms (Spellshop #3) by Sarah Beth Durst
Book Blurb: Marin is a supply runner with her own boat that she sails from island to island, delivering whatever anyone will pay her to deliver: letters, flour, even the occasional enchanted lemur. It’s a lonely life, but it’s hers, and she wouldn’t trade the freedom of the sea for anything. Her only companion is a sea serpent, Perri, whom she saved from a fisherfolk’s net.
One day, she sails to Alyssium and discovers the city is on fire. There’s been a revolution !
Rating: *****
Feels: Adventure, Humorous, Joyful, Satisfaction
Style: Fantasy, Romance, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy, Romantasy, Adult
First published July 28, 2026 : 384 pages
Themes & Setting: I adore this world the author has built and how easy it is to fall into it. Its fun, cozy, yet with a depth that lends to a feeling of vastness. We get to explore new areas and I will not spoil things but I definitely found a new favorite island. I adored that as Marin slowly started to collect entities on her ship she slowly started to build a family without realizing it. She has been betrayed in the past and has a hard time trusting so I loved watching as she learned she could trust and build her found family and explore the high seas. It was so fun seeing how everyone fit in this cozy story.
FMC: Marin showed alot of growth through this story and it was heart breaking as well as heart warming at times. Her past of being hurt as well as watching her open up to others was just so sweet.
MMC: Dax is just everything you want in a cinnamon roll MMC. Sweet, kind and totally goes all out for Marin. I really love the dynamic that he is reaching for his dreams while she is reaching for hers and how will it all end !!!!!!
Conclusion: All the warm fuzzies and fun with this read. I just know when I want a feel good read I reach for this author. I totally was invested in this story from the start and loved how it built and everything interwove together. Such sweetness and so much kindness shown throughout this book its just like reading a warm hug and you always walk away feeling better about life.
Audiobook Review:
Narration Style: Solo - Caitlin Davies
Listener Rating: *****
Audiobook Notes: Absolutely adored this as an audiobook. The narrator was able to instill so my emotion, humor and variance into the reading that it was captivating. Each character was so well done. I especially loved how she did our little plant friend. Voice, pitch, tone and cadence was easy to follow along with. I always knew who was talking and transitions were seamless. I typically listen to my audiobooks at 2.0 and that is what I listened to this one at. Listening at 1.0-2.0 was all with excellent results. I felt that the narrator did such an excellent job of bringing this story to life !! Highly recommend this as an audiobook.
This book has:
Adventure on the high seas
Politics with a Revolution
Low Stakes
Cozy Fantasy
Found Family
Lots of different types of sentient beings
Friends to lovers
Book Blurb: Marin is a supply runner with her own boat that she sails from island to island, delivering whatever anyone will pay her to deliver: letters, flour, even the occasional enchanted lemur. It’s a lonely life, but it’s hers, and she wouldn’t trade the freedom of the sea for anything. Her only companion is a sea serpent, Perri, whom she saved from a fisherfolk’s net.
One day, she sails to Alyssium and discovers the city is on fire. There’s been a revolution !
Rating: *****
Feels: Adventure, Humorous, Joyful, Satisfaction
Style: Fantasy, Romance, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy, Romantasy, Adult
First published July 28, 2026 : 384 pages
Themes & Setting: I adore this world the author has built and how easy it is to fall into it. Its fun, cozy, yet with a depth that lends to a feeling of vastness. We get to explore new areas and I will not spoil things but I definitely found a new favorite island. I adored that as Marin slowly started to collect entities on her ship she slowly started to build a family without realizing it. She has been betrayed in the past and has a hard time trusting so I loved watching as she learned she could trust and build her found family and explore the high seas. It was so fun seeing how everyone fit in this cozy story.
FMC: Marin showed alot of growth through this story and it was heart breaking as well as heart warming at times. Her past of being hurt as well as watching her open up to others was just so sweet.
MMC: Dax is just everything you want in a cinnamon roll MMC. Sweet, kind and totally goes all out for Marin. I really love the dynamic that he is reaching for his dreams while she is reaching for hers and how will it all end !!!!!!
Conclusion: All the warm fuzzies and fun with this read. I just know when I want a feel good read I reach for this author. I totally was invested in this story from the start and loved how it built and everything interwove together. Such sweetness and so much kindness shown throughout this book its just like reading a warm hug and you always walk away feeling better about life.
Audiobook Review:
Narration Style: Solo - Caitlin Davies
Listener Rating: *****
Audiobook Notes: Absolutely adored this as an audiobook. The narrator was able to instill so my emotion, humor and variance into the reading that it was captivating. Each character was so well done. I especially loved how she did our little plant friend. Voice, pitch, tone and cadence was easy to follow along with. I always knew who was talking and transitions were seamless. I typically listen to my audiobooks at 2.0 and that is what I listened to this one at. Listening at 1.0-2.0 was all with excellent results. I felt that the narrator did such an excellent job of bringing this story to life !! Highly recommend this as an audiobook.
This book has:
Adventure on the high seas
Politics with a Revolution
Low Stakes
Cozy Fantasy
Found Family
Lots of different types of sentient beings
Friends to lovers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun story. I enjoyed revisited the world Durst has created filled with lovable characters.
This book has several main characters and I loved them all. The story is told from Marin's perspective. She finds herself sailing with a sea serpent named Perri, a sentient plant named Ree, and a musical prodigy named Dax. All of the relationships were so sweet and it was fun watching them get to know each other.
My only annoyance with this book is the constant repetition of Marin’s inner monologue and how steadfast she was in her beliefs even when those beliefs were clearly wrong. She was unable to see the truth because she held on to those incorrect beliefs so strongly and she was unable to see the inequality in how she treated other character's abilities to make their own decisions even when it was pointed out to her. I did love that she stuck with her convictions even when it was hard, so I suppose that’s the flip side of her steadfastness. I just wish it wasn’t repeated so many times. I got very frustrated with hearing the exact same thoughts.
I received the audio narrated by Caitlin Davies. She does a perfect job of making the characters come to life. I really enjoyed listening to this one.
This was a beautiful story of found family and overcoming adversity and heartbreak. I will definitely recommend it to others, just be prepared for the repetition.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book has several main characters and I loved them all. The story is told from Marin's perspective. She finds herself sailing with a sea serpent named Perri, a sentient plant named Ree, and a musical prodigy named Dax. All of the relationships were so sweet and it was fun watching them get to know each other.
My only annoyance with this book is the constant repetition of Marin’s inner monologue and how steadfast she was in her beliefs even when those beliefs were clearly wrong. She was unable to see the truth because she held on to those incorrect beliefs so strongly and she was unable to see the inequality in how she treated other character's abilities to make their own decisions even when it was pointed out to her. I did love that she stuck with her convictions even when it was hard, so I suppose that’s the flip side of her steadfastness. I just wish it wasn’t repeated so many times. I got very frustrated with hearing the exact same thoughts.
I received the audio narrated by Caitlin Davies. She does a perfect job of making the characters come to life. I really enjoyed listening to this one.
This was a beautiful story of found family and overcoming adversity and heartbreak. I will definitely recommend it to others, just be prepared for the repetition.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sea of Charms was exactly what I needed it to be.
To be candid, I wasn't sure after reading The Spellshop that I wanted to continue with the series. It was good, but with how many books are out in the world, and how many come out each month, I wasn't sure if it gave me enough to want to spend time on sequels. When I noticed that Sea of Charms was available as an ALC on Netgalley, I decided "why not?" and got The Enchanted Greenhouse from Everand. I'm so glad I decided to give both The Enchanted Greenhouse and Sea of Charms a chance. They were so good!
Sea of Charms follows Marin and Dax through adventures on sea and land after a revolution took place in Alyssium. While this is a cozy fantasy, there are so many important subjects covered that mimic our reality; economic imbalance, inequital politics, disregard for citizens in need, and more. I also love how music is portrayed in this novel. As an orchestra (viola for 9 years) and band (flute for 3 years) kid, music has always held a special place in my heart. The way music is revered, how Dex sees the world through music, and how Marin truly sees Dax through his music is truly special. Perri, our sea creature, is also musically inclined (don't tell anyone, but he's my favorite).
Don't even get me started on our narrator, Caitlin Davies. Caitlin did such a great job bringing all the characters to life; it was so easy to keep track of who was talking and what was happening. I'm interested to check out what else Caitlin has narrated.
To be candid, I wasn't sure after reading The Spellshop that I wanted to continue with the series. It was good, but with how many books are out in the world, and how many come out each month, I wasn't sure if it gave me enough to want to spend time on sequels. When I noticed that Sea of Charms was available as an ALC on Netgalley, I decided "why not?" and got The Enchanted Greenhouse from Everand. I'm so glad I decided to give both The Enchanted Greenhouse and Sea of Charms a chance. They were so good!
Sea of Charms follows Marin and Dax through adventures on sea and land after a revolution took place in Alyssium. While this is a cozy fantasy, there are so many important subjects covered that mimic our reality; economic imbalance, inequital politics, disregard for citizens in need, and more. I also love how music is portrayed in this novel. As an orchestra (viola for 9 years) and band (flute for 3 years) kid, music has always held a special place in my heart. The way music is revered, how Dex sees the world through music, and how Marin truly sees Dax through his music is truly special. Perri, our sea creature, is also musically inclined (don't tell anyone, but he's my favorite).
Don't even get me started on our narrator, Caitlin Davies. Caitlin did such a great job bringing all the characters to life; it was so easy to keep track of who was talking and what was happening. I'm interested to check out what else Caitlin has narrated.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
ˋ°•*⁀➷ 3.75
This was SUCH a cute read <3 I’m honestly so obsessed with this universe, and Sarah Beth Durst’s writing style never disappoints. I’ve yet to read a book by her that I didn’t enjoy.
Sea of Charms follows Marin, the supply runner we met in previous books, as she navigates love, vulnerability, and what it truly means to let people in. I really loved getting to spend more time with her and learn her story. She’s capable and independent, but watching her slowly open her heart was such a sweet journey. And Ree and Perri??!! I LOVED them. The sentient plants consistently end up being my favorite characters.
Also, I learned my new favorite word from this book: defenestrate (to throw someone out of a window) 🫡😂
Will absolutely be working that into daily conversation somehow.
The romance was super sweet, but was a tad too insta-lovey for my personal taste tbh.
If there are more books coming in this world (which I DESPERATELY hope there are), I would love to move beyond the Revolution timeline. I’ve really enjoyed seeing the same events from different perspectives across the first three books, but I think exploring what happens after would feel so fresh and exciting.
Overall this was such a sweet story. Not my absolute favorite in the series, which is why it lands at 3.75 stars for me, but still such an enjoyable read!! If you loved the spellshop, or cozy fantasy in general, this one is definitely for you.
This was SUCH a cute read <3 I’m honestly so obsessed with this universe, and Sarah Beth Durst’s writing style never disappoints. I’ve yet to read a book by her that I didn’t enjoy.
Sea of Charms follows Marin, the supply runner we met in previous books, as she navigates love, vulnerability, and what it truly means to let people in. I really loved getting to spend more time with her and learn her story. She’s capable and independent, but watching her slowly open her heart was such a sweet journey. And Ree and Perri??!! I LOVED them. The sentient plants consistently end up being my favorite characters.
Also, I learned my new favorite word from this book: defenestrate (to throw someone out of a window) 🫡😂
Will absolutely be working that into daily conversation somehow.
The romance was super sweet, but was a tad too insta-lovey for my personal taste tbh.
If there are more books coming in this world (which I DESPERATELY hope there are), I would love to move beyond the Revolution timeline. I’ve really enjoyed seeing the same events from different perspectives across the first three books, but I think exploring what happens after would feel so fresh and exciting.
Overall this was such a sweet story. Not my absolute favorite in the series, which is why it lands at 3.75 stars for me, but still such an enjoyable read!! If you loved the spellshop, or cozy fantasy in general, this one is definitely for you.
Currently Reading
July 30, 2026I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS!!! For some reason I thought we were only getting three books in this series but I am not mad about more!! I loved The Spellshop so much, The Enchanted Greenhouse was not as good, but I hope this one is killer!
June 14, 2026
Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst is an absolute delight. The story is whimsical, imaginative, and full of charm from beginning to end. I adored the characters and loved every setting Durst created—each one felt magical, vibrant, and easy to get lost in. The plot is lighthearted, fun, and engaging, making this a perfect escape for readers who enjoy cozy fantasy with plenty of heart.
The audiobook experience was especially wonderful thanks to an outstanding narrator who brought the characters and world to life with enthusiasm and personality. Their performance made an already enchanting story even more enjoyable.
My only negative was the inclusion of profanity, including use of the Lord’s name in vain, which may be a consideration for some readers.
Overall, Sea of Charms is a highly entertaining and uplifting read that I would gladly recommend to anyone looking for a fun, feel-good fantasy adventure. With this book scheduled to publish on July 28, 2026, it has only increased my anticipation for Sarah Beth Durst’s upcoming The Magical Cheese Emporium, publishing January 19, 2027. I can’t wait to see what magical adventure she creates next!
I was blessed with an ALC. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
June 7, 2026
I found this book very charming (as the name implies!) but didn’t quite have the same can’t-put-it-down notion for me as the precious tow in the series. I felt like certain elements were overused and repeated.
However, there were some truly wonderful things about this read: The intertwining of the love and sea and music was quite beautifully described. Both Marin and Dax had passion that was very prevalent throughout the book. And of course, the magical creatures were very enchanting. My favorites included the turtles for swimming lessons and the dragon bargaining. Ree and Perri were the sweetest of sailing companions for Marin. Many times I was thinking, “Oh, innocent Ree!”
This book truly highlighted what friendship and choices mean and highlighted the theme of loyalty. And, if you like a friends to lovers trope, this one is a good one, but just not quite as good as the first two. However, I’ll still probably read any other books in this series, as again, the imaginative magical qualities make for a cozy read.
However, there were some truly wonderful things about this read: The intertwining of the love and sea and music was quite beautifully described. Both Marin and Dax had passion that was very prevalent throughout the book. And of course, the magical creatures were very enchanting. My favorites included the turtles for swimming lessons and the dragon bargaining. Ree and Perri were the sweetest of sailing companions for Marin. Many times I was thinking, “Oh, innocent Ree!”
This book truly highlighted what friendship and choices mean and highlighted the theme of loyalty. And, if you like a friends to lovers trope, this one is a good one, but just not quite as good as the first two. However, I’ll still probably read any other books in this series, as again, the imaginative magical qualities make for a cozy read.
April 21, 2026
You had me at winged cats
I adored this cozy adventure filled story!
I listened to the audiobook and I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated a narrator’s passion so much. I loved all of the fantastical creatures in this book and the voices made me fall in love even more. This was such an easy story to fall into and the authors writing style makes it easy to imagine all of the majestic places and animals Captain Marin discovers.
The book really focused on the lesson that you can be anything you set your mind to and to follow your heart and Ree was easily my fav character
Thank you to the author and Macmillan Audio for the ALC
I adored this cozy adventure filled story!
I listened to the audiobook and I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated a narrator’s passion so much. I loved all of the fantastical creatures in this book and the voices made me fall in love even more. This was such an easy story to fall into and the authors writing style makes it easy to imagine all of the majestic places and animals Captain Marin discovers.
The book really focused on the lesson that you can be anything you set your mind to and to follow your heart and Ree was easily my fav character
Thank you to the author and Macmillan Audio for the ALC
August 1, 2026
⋆.˚✮ 4.5 stars ✮˚.⋆
how special this book was, without a doubt my fave in the series so far 🤩 {longer review coming soon}
how special this book was, without a doubt my fave in the series so far 🤩 {longer review coming soon}
June 9, 2026
Sarah Beth Durst does it again! This is easily my favorite of all the books in the Spellshop world. In Sea of Charms, we dive deep (!) into Marin's life, the ship captain who delivered Terlu to the island of Belde and took on Ree as a crewmate in training. You needn't have read The Spellshop or The Enchanted Greenhouse to understand this book but it is fun to connect their stories.
As with Durst's other novels, this story is heavy on the found family, which I adore. Marin is out on the water, trying to be a solo ship runner and somehow crewmembers keep finding her. She is also trying to keep her heart solo and free from entanglements. Luckily, her parents and her friend Dax would never let that happen. I love Marin's parents and their interaction with Dax at the End-of-Harvest Festival was one of my favorite scenes in the entire book. It had me laughing and smiling like I was there and watching them in real life. I believe book #4 is already in the works and there is a character introduced in this book that I would love to see as book #5 but I think it will be hard to top Sea of Charms.
Thank you to Tor Books/Bramble and Netgalley for the arc of this novel!
As with Durst's other novels, this story is heavy on the found family, which I adore. Marin is out on the water, trying to be a solo ship runner and somehow crewmembers keep finding her. She is also trying to keep her heart solo and free from entanglements. Luckily, her parents and her friend Dax would never let that happen. I love Marin's parents and their interaction with Dax at the End-of-Harvest Festival was one of my favorite scenes in the entire book. It had me laughing and smiling like I was there and watching them in real life. I believe book #4 is already in the works and there is a character introduced in this book that I would love to see as book #5 but I think it will be hard to top Sea of Charms.
Thank you to Tor Books/Bramble and Netgalley for the arc of this novel!
Want to Read
April 9, 2026SO looking forward to this book and then book 4 just announced to be 'The Magical Cheese Emporium' get me there RIGHT NOW.
April 10, 2026
LOVE LOVED LOVED MY GOD SARAH!!! This book was extraordinary — dare I say my favorite of the Spellshop universe. Everyone had such a beautiful character arc and the adventure of a lifetime.
I loved each and every character, their journey, and their friendships. STELLAR cozy fantasy, which I cannot WAIT to talk to yall about after pub date!
I loved each and every character, their journey, and their friendships. STELLAR cozy fantasy, which I cannot WAIT to talk to yall about after pub date!
July 29, 2026
Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst is the coziest fantasy series around. I LOVED THIS AUDIOBOOK! It ties in the other books in the Spellshop series very nicely. It's a series with beautiful descriptions of land and emotions. I wouldn't say that the romance is super deep, and I like that. I find it very refreshing. The magical creatures are so creative and just beyond adorable. The found family vibes are everything as well. Durst's characters are extremely lovable and so much fun! This audiobook is narrated by Caitlin Davies and she does an absolutely fantastic job! Her voice is perfect for this book. I loved each character!
Audiobook Length: 13 Hours and 12 Minutes
Tropes:
Cozy Fantasy
Magical Creatures
Found Family
Fake Dating
Sailing
Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Audiobook Length: 13 Hours and 12 Minutes
Tropes:
Cozy Fantasy
Magical Creatures
Found Family
Fake Dating
Sailing
Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This one honestly bummed me out a little, which surprised me because I’ve really enjoyed this series. Sea of Charms still has that cozy fantasy DNA this series is known for, but I kept waiting for the story to really kick in and it just… never quite did.
For a big chunk of the book, I felt kind of lost about where we were going. I remember thinking partway through, did I miss the plot, or are we still getting there? The main conflict didn’t fully show up until a decent way in (I think it was about 40%), and once it did, it felt smaller than I was expecting. Marin was suddenly working toward solving a problem that was very important to her, but the people at the center of it hadn’t had enough page time for me to feel emotionally invested. I understood why it mattered to her, I just didn’t feel it the same way.
That smaller focus also made the stakes feel really low. There were bigger ideas floating around in the background about power, money, and control, but they never felt urgent or heavy. By the time I started to care about the consequences, things were already being wrapped up. It left me feeling like the story brushed past some interesting themes without really digging into them.
Because of that, the book ended up feeling pretty scattered. Marin bounced from port to port taking jobs, and it read more like a collection of short adventures than one solid plot. Marin herself always seemed stressed and rushed, but the story moved at a much calmer pace. The urgency and the pace just didn’t quite match up.
All that said, the cozy elements absolutely worked. The world still felt warm and whimsical, and I really enjoyed seeing characters from the earlier books since this story ran alongside them. Ree and Perri were the clear standouts for me. They brought the heart, humor, and found family vibes, and they ended up being what I enjoyed most about the book.
I listened to this on audio, and Caitlin Davies did an excellent job. Every character had a clear, distinct voice, and I never once felt confused about who was speaking. Her narration added a lot of personality and made the listening experience really smooth and enjoyable.
I’m glad I read this, and I can absolutely see this working for readers who want very gentle, low-stakes cozy fantasy. It just didn’t give me enough plot or emotional buildup to fully land, especially compared to how much I liked the earlier books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
For a big chunk of the book, I felt kind of lost about where we were going. I remember thinking partway through, did I miss the plot, or are we still getting there? The main conflict didn’t fully show up until a decent way in (I think it was about 40%), and once it did, it felt smaller than I was expecting. Marin was suddenly working toward solving a problem that was very important to her, but the people at the center of it hadn’t had enough page time for me to feel emotionally invested. I understood why it mattered to her, I just didn’t feel it the same way.
That smaller focus also made the stakes feel really low. There were bigger ideas floating around in the background about power, money, and control, but they never felt urgent or heavy. By the time I started to care about the consequences, things were already being wrapped up. It left me feeling like the story brushed past some interesting themes without really digging into them.
Because of that, the book ended up feeling pretty scattered. Marin bounced from port to port taking jobs, and it read more like a collection of short adventures than one solid plot. Marin herself always seemed stressed and rushed, but the story moved at a much calmer pace. The urgency and the pace just didn’t quite match up.
All that said, the cozy elements absolutely worked. The world still felt warm and whimsical, and I really enjoyed seeing characters from the earlier books since this story ran alongside them. Ree and Perri were the clear standouts for me. They brought the heart, humor, and found family vibes, and they ended up being what I enjoyed most about the book.
I listened to this on audio, and Caitlin Davies did an excellent job. Every character had a clear, distinct voice, and I never once felt confused about who was speaking. Her narration added a lot of personality and made the listening experience really smooth and enjoyable.
I’m glad I read this, and I can absolutely see this working for readers who want very gentle, low-stakes cozy fantasy. It just didn’t give me enough plot or emotional buildup to fully land, especially compared to how much I liked the earlier books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2026
Thank you so much for this ARC Bramble!
Sarah has a way of making some of the hardest topics in our lives (government, heartbreak, finding ourselves, etc.) enjoyable and beautiful. Her words have power and I always take away a deep meaningful message from her works while still feeling warm fuzzies and giggles!
Sarah has a way of making some of the hardest topics in our lives (government, heartbreak, finding ourselves, etc.) enjoyable and beautiful. Her words have power and I always take away a deep meaningful message from her works while still feeling warm fuzzies and giggles!
Read
July 28, 2026Thank you to Tor Publishing/Bramble for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of Sea of Charms through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Sea of Charms is the third book in the Spellshop world and nobody does cozy fantasy like Sarah Beth Durst! The setting, characters, and magical creatures are so well done and imaginative and if I had to pick a fictional world to live in, it would definitely be this one.
I love the tie ins to the characters from The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse while meeting some fun new characters in this book. Marin’s love of the sea and Dax’s love of music were a perfect blend for this book and Perri and Ree brought all of the heartwarming vibes.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Cozy Fantasy
* Found Family
* Magical Creatures
* Low Stakes
* Connected World
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 🌶️
If you are looking for a magical fantasy world where you can cozy up and get lost in a low stakes, romance story then I would highly recommend Sea of Charms as well as the other two books in the series.
Sea of Charms is the third book in the Spellshop world and nobody does cozy fantasy like Sarah Beth Durst! The setting, characters, and magical creatures are so well done and imaginative and if I had to pick a fictional world to live in, it would definitely be this one.
I love the tie ins to the characters from The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse while meeting some fun new characters in this book. Marin’s love of the sea and Dax’s love of music were a perfect blend for this book and Perri and Ree brought all of the heartwarming vibes.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Cozy Fantasy
* Found Family
* Magical Creatures
* Low Stakes
* Connected World
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 🌶️
If you are looking for a magical fantasy world where you can cozy up and get lost in a low stakes, romance story then I would highly recommend Sea of Charms as well as the other two books in the series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It's hard to find the words to describe how I feel about this book. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I have to admit I was a little hesitate to start it because I am not a water person and sea is in the title. I thought there's no way this is going to grab me like the previous two books did. Boy, was I wrong. I could not put this book down. I can't say too much without giving spoilers but I will say this book grabbed my librarian's heart and wouldn't let it go until the very end.
I received an advance copy of this book.
I received an advance copy of this book.
September 29, 2025
So lucky to get to read this incredibly uplifting story early. I needed this.
I will be rereading this series when I need a lift. As a retired library worker, tip of my hat to the author.
I will be rereading this series when I need a lift. As a retired library worker, tip of my hat to the author.
July 13, 2026
I'm OBSESSED with this cozy fantasy series and this one is my favorite so far!!
We follow mariner, a sea captain and supply runner fleeing her home island after heartbreak and working on paying off her debts. She sails the seas with her sea serpent and sentient wax Myrtle and needs no other crew.
When a revolution sets fire to the capital, she starts sailing refugees to safety, including her friend and composer Dax. They strike up a deal where he gets to join her crew if he poses as her boyfriend at the upcoming end of season festival on her home island.
I absolutely loved this story! I thought she did such an amazing job interconnecting the first two books into this one it just flowed so seamlessly.
I was completely obsessed with our two main characters. Marin is a strong independent scorned women with trust issues and meets the soft and emotional composer Dax. They really were just opposites attract and paired so well together. I loved following their journey!
A found family trope will get me EVERYTIME. And this one had the most amazing sentient side characters with a wax Myrtle shrub and our sea serpent. Our side characters felt so essential to the story and I think that makes for a more rounded story.
I loved sailing from island to island with them and her descriptions of the islands, animals and people just make me feel like I'm right there with them!
I can't wait for the next book in the series since we already got a bit of a sneak peek in this book!! Thank you TOR and Raincoast for the advanced copy all thoughts are my own!
We follow mariner, a sea captain and supply runner fleeing her home island after heartbreak and working on paying off her debts. She sails the seas with her sea serpent and sentient wax Myrtle and needs no other crew.
When a revolution sets fire to the capital, she starts sailing refugees to safety, including her friend and composer Dax. They strike up a deal where he gets to join her crew if he poses as her boyfriend at the upcoming end of season festival on her home island.
I absolutely loved this story! I thought she did such an amazing job interconnecting the first two books into this one it just flowed so seamlessly.
I was completely obsessed with our two main characters. Marin is a strong independent scorned women with trust issues and meets the soft and emotional composer Dax. They really were just opposites attract and paired so well together. I loved following their journey!
A found family trope will get me EVERYTIME. And this one had the most amazing sentient side characters with a wax Myrtle shrub and our sea serpent. Our side characters felt so essential to the story and I think that makes for a more rounded story.
I loved sailing from island to island with them and her descriptions of the islands, animals and people just make me feel like I'm right there with them!
I can't wait for the next book in the series since we already got a bit of a sneak peek in this book!! Thank you TOR and Raincoast for the advanced copy all thoughts are my own!
July 11, 2026
I absolutely adore this series, and this is the best one yet! these books are so fun and clearly written with thoughtful care that make them so wonderful to read.
Fantasy stories set on boats are a personal favorite, so I knew I was going to like this right away haha. And Marin and her crew are such a fun batch of characters, I loved seeing them go to all these different islands and grow closer together. The initial romance connection was mostly established before the book, but it still felt extremely natural and organic to watch Marin and Dax grow to care for each other even more. Marin was extremely thick headed about it, but her worries and insecurities felt very realistic both in their source, repetition, and the obvious (to the reader) falseness of it. Just wonderful characters!
I also loved how this one acts almost as a tandem novel to The Enchanted Greenhouse! I went back to my copy of that book and read some of the events from Terlu’s perspective again and it was just so fun haha
Overall an amazing read, give me 100 more please!
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this eARC!
Fantasy stories set on boats are a personal favorite, so I knew I was going to like this right away haha. And Marin and her crew are such a fun batch of characters, I loved seeing them go to all these different islands and grow closer together. The initial romance connection was mostly established before the book, but it still felt extremely natural and organic to watch Marin and Dax grow to care for each other even more. Marin was extremely thick headed about it, but her worries and insecurities felt very realistic both in their source, repetition, and the obvious (to the reader) falseness of it. Just wonderful characters!
I also loved how this one acts almost as a tandem novel to The Enchanted Greenhouse! I went back to my copy of that book and read some of the events from Terlu’s perspective again and it was just so fun haha
Overall an amazing read, give me 100 more please!
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this eARC!
July 19, 2026
Thanks to Edelweiss for this ARC! ⛵️🐠🪴
All of Sarah Beth-Durst’s books are full of such whimsical characters, it’s hard not to love them. Who doesn’t want a singing sea-serpent? How about a wax Myrtle whose goal is life is to be a sailor? Cute cats with wings who clearly are the bosses? I liked that this story bridged the gap between the first two books. You see both Keila and Terlu mid their own storylines. So I appreciated that.
I do think certain elements were repetitive to the point where it got a little tiring. For example, she clearly has difficulty trusting other people. However, I feel like this didn’t get resolved until 85% of the way into the book. It didn’t feel like there was a consistent growth throughout the book. I also thought Marin was the least sympathetic of the characters thus far. While Keila and Terlu both had challenges to overcome, I felt they were much more open-minded to the other characters. I felt like Marin struggled with this and it was harder to sympathize with her.
Overall, I still adore this series. Can’t wait for magical unicorns who make cheese next!
All of Sarah Beth-Durst’s books are full of such whimsical characters, it’s hard not to love them. Who doesn’t want a singing sea-serpent? How about a wax Myrtle whose goal is life is to be a sailor? Cute cats with wings who clearly are the bosses? I liked that this story bridged the gap between the first two books. You see both Keila and Terlu mid their own storylines. So I appreciated that.
I do think certain elements were repetitive to the point where it got a little tiring. For example, she clearly has difficulty trusting other people. However, I feel like this didn’t get resolved until 85% of the way into the book. It didn’t feel like there was a consistent growth throughout the book. I also thought Marin was the least sympathetic of the characters thus far. While Keila and Terlu both had challenges to overcome, I felt they were much more open-minded to the other characters. I felt like Marin struggled with this and it was harder to sympathize with her.
Overall, I still adore this series. Can’t wait for magical unicorns who make cheese next!
July 30, 2026
This book makes you feel incredibly light and magical! It is a witty, cute, and easy read filled with charming elements like enchanted moorings and other whimsical creatures. The main characters—Ree, a sweet sentient wax myrtle shrub, and Perri, a lovely sea serpent—add such a delightful touch to the story.
It is also wonderful to see Dax return and get more of the spotlight he deserves. While the main character, Marin(er), can be a bit hard to like because she constantly blames herself for things out of her control and lets a terrible past relationship block her from starting fresh, the overall journey is deeply rewarding. This book will absolutely leave you feeling happy and enlightened. Highly recommend! 📚✨
Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
It is also wonderful to see Dax return and get more of the spotlight he deserves. While the main character, Marin(er), can be a bit hard to like because she constantly blames herself for things out of her control and lets a terrible past relationship block her from starting fresh, the overall journey is deeply rewarding. This book will absolutely leave you feeling happy and enlightened. Highly recommend! 📚✨
Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
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