Book Review: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Bramble (July 9, 2024)

Length: 384 pages

Wow, The Spellshop ended up being everything that The Honey Witch and Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea attempted to be but couldn’t quite achieve. And honestly, I’m not surprised at all that Sarah Beth Durst, well known for her incredible versatility, would be the one to perfectly capture the essence of a cozy romantasy.

The story introduces us to Kiela, a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium. Over the years, she and her assistant Caz—who is a sentient spider plant—have dedicated themselves to preserving the empire’s vast knowledge of magic and collection of spellbooks. However, when a revolution erupts across the city and the rebels set fire to the library, Kiela and Caz are forced to flee with only a few crates of books they were able to rescue from the flames. Escaping by boat, Kiela decides to take refuge in the only place she knows will be safe: Her childhood home of Caltrey, one of the remote islands far from both the influence of the empire and the destruction of the rebellion.

But much has changed in Caltrey, including the now overgrown cottage in which Kiela spent her early years before she and her parents moved to the city. The once thriving island also appears to be struggling, with wilting orchards and the seaside ranches that have failed to produce merhorse foals for years. Well-versed in the ways of magic, Kiela realizes that this decline stems from the absence of the visiting sorcerers from the empire, whose attentions have been diverted by the escalating rebellion for far too long. The island’s woes stem from the lack of magic—magic that Kiela has the power to restore with the (technically stolen) spellbooks in her possession. But using them will be illegal, and if the empire somehow survives being overthrown, getting caught using forbidden magic can mean death.

And yet, after getting to know the island’s inhabitants, including Bryn, the kindly antlered woman who bakes delicious cinnamon rolls, and Larren, her handsome but busybody neighbor who runs the merhorse farm, Kiela could hardly stand by and do nothing. With Caz’s help, she begins creating magical charms to sell alongside jams from her own store, a clever front for Calfrey’s first secret spellshop.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a “cozy romantasy” that actually delivers what it claims to, as so many promising books have ultimately fallen short to varying degrees. But The Spellshop fulfills its promise beautifully; Sarah Beth Durst brings together charming characters and heartwarming magic for this cozy, feel-good tale of love and friendships. Imagine yourself wrapped up in your favorite comfy sweater, breathing in the aroma of fresh-baked cookies, or sipping a warm cup of hot chocolate after coming in from the cold. If these sensations had a literary counterpart, this novel would be it.

So much of it is because of Kiela, a protagonist who is instantly relatable to us bookish types. But even as a librarian, her love of books often went beyond the requirements of her job and as a result of regularly choosing work over human interaction, she developed a certain…social awkwardness. In spite of this though, she is funny, quirky, and utterly endearing. Her witty and insightful observations of the world around her made me smile a lot, while her back-and-forths with Caz added an extra layer of good humor and whimsy. While the protagonists in other romantasy books often feel aloof in their bookishness or are motivated by personal ambition, Kiela is refreshingly authentic and her desire to help others feels genuine.

The plot also stays true to its mission by including a romance as one of its main elements but recognizes that romantasy encompasses way more than just love. It’s also about friendships and community as well as Kiela’s everyday life and interactions with the people of Calfrey rather than solely focusing on her developing feelings for Larren and making it all about getting them together.

My only critique, as small as it is, involves the ending, which I found to be a bit lackluster. While I’m aware action and tensions aren’t the point of this genre, I think I was expecting just a touch more conflict rather than a neatly wrapped-up, anticlimactic conclusion that passed without so much as a ripple. However, given the overall tone of the novel, I can understand the story’s gentle and uncomplicated approach to the ending.

All in all, Sarah Beth Durst has written a romantasy that is near perfection. Rarely does she disappoint, and the tale of magic, love, and self-discovery she has created in The Spellshop would be ideal for anyone looking for comfort and joy in a warm cozy read.