I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst Narrator: Caitlin Davies
Published by Bramble, Macmillan Audio on July 9, 2024
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy
Length: 12 hours 11 minutes
Pages: 384
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
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The Spellshop is Sarah Beth Durst’s romantasy debut–a lush cottagecore tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love.
Join Kiela the librarian and her assistant, Caz the sentient spider plant, as they navigate the low stakes market of illegal spellmaking and the high risk business of starting over.
“Sarah Beth Durst is the hidden gem of the fantasy world.” —Book Riot
Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.
She and her assistant, Caz, a magically sentient spider plant, have spent the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite. But when a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz save as many books as they can carry and flee to a faraway island Kiela was sure she’d never return to: her childhood home. Kiela hopes to lay low in the overgrown and rundown cottage her late parents left her and figure out a way to survive without drawing the attention of either the empire or the revolutionaries. Much to her dismay, in addition to a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor, she finds the town neglected and in a state of disrepair.
The empire, for all its magic and power, has been neglecting for years the people who depend on magical intervention to maintain healthy livestock and crops. Not only that, but the very magic that should be helping them has been creating destructive storms that have taken a toll on the island. Due to her past role at the library, Kiela feels partially responsible for this, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right: by opening the island’s first-ever secret spellshop.
Her plan comes with risks—the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the kind and quirky townspeople of her former home, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must learn to break down the walls she has built up so high.
Like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic, Sarah Beth Durst’s The Spellshop will heal your heart and feed your soul.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
This was a delightful story! I am becoming a huge fan of the cozy fantasy genre and this book was exactly what I had hoped it would be. I fell in love with Kiela almost immediately and her sentient spider plant sidekick, Caz, put a big smile on my face right away. I had a fantastic time watching Kiela and Caz figure out life on the island they fled to after their previous home was under attack.
Kiela and Caz escape the library with a few treasured spellbooks and head to Kiela’s childhood home which has been sitting vacant. The island is full of some wonderful characters and I enjoyed getting to know each of them as Kiela tried to fit in and make a living by selling jam. She uses a touch of magic from the spellbooks she rescued when the library was under attack, which might be illegal. She quickly learns that the friends she has made on the island will be there for her when she really needs them.
Caitlin Davies does a great job with the narration of this audiobook. I had an incredibly hard time setting this book aside once I started listening to it. She was able to bring this quirky cast of characters to life through her narration and I loved the fact that she was able to add just the right amount of emotion to her reading. I am certain that her performance added to my overall enjoyment.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a wonderful story that warmed my heart and provided just the right amount of magic. I was quite taken with the romance woven into the story and wanted to see everything come out okay for Kiela and the rest of the residents of the island. I can’t wait to read more of this author’s work.
I received a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio.
That does sound like it would be a good one to read.
I have been curious about this one. So cute
I think I’d really enjoy this. I will try to fit it in sometime. Great review!
Spellbooks, a library and a spider plant sidekick? Sounds like fun!