The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is a delight. When revolutionaries force the librarian Kiela to flee the burning library she works for with her assistant Caz, a sentient spider plant, she returns to the small island she grew up on. She left with what may be the last remaining rare spell books from the capital's most prestigious library. Now, the only way Kiela and Caz can protect the books is to keep their existence a secret, even though helpful neighbors keep coming around to help them. Will they be able to protect their secret as the temptation to use the information inside the books to help everyone they meet grows? Can the surly Kiela resist the ever-helpful, sunshiny Larran forever? If you are looking for a warm hug of a cozy fantasy book look no further.

Now, I was inclined to like this book after enjoying many books in the cozy fantasy canon and many of Sarah Beth Durst’s backlist. Nevertheless, this book is a delight. The Spellshop explores what it means to come home and how people can redefine what home means to them at any stage of their lives. Kiela begins the book as an isolated character whose primary interactions are either with Caz or a library patron. She ends the book as a member of the community who cares about others and is cared for. Everything from the character dynamics to the magic system, to the political unrest just makes sense. As an aside if you are looking for a fantasy book that references the negative environmental effects of wealthy corporations and groups misusing natural resources to the detriment of the rest of society, you have found it.

Simply put, The Spellshop is a likable book. I like the main character and her slow-burn romantic relationship with her neighbor who just so happens to be her long-lost childhood friend. I like her friendship with her sentient plants. I like the townspeople and the bakery and the mermaids. The book just brought a smile to my face the whole time and I cannot recommend it more.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is set to release July 9, 2024, from Bramble with sprayed edges to complement its gorgeous cover, so I would recommend preordering a copy as soon as possible. I know I will. Thank you to Bramble for an eARC for an honest review.

July 2024

The Spellshop ARCs!!!

My SPELLSHOP ARCs arrived!!! I'm so in awe of the cover artist, Lulu Chen. I can't even imagine how gorgeous the finished hardcover is going to be, with its lovely lavender sprayed edges. I'm picturing that scene in Pulp Fiction when John Travolta opens the glowing briefcase….. *faints in anticipation*

B&N Top 100!!!

THANK YOU to everyone who preordered THE SPELLSHOP and made it a Barnes & Noble Top 100 Bestseller!!! I'm thrilled and so very grateful! B&N 25% Off Preorder Sale continues through today, April 19th! https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-spellshop-sarah-beth-durst/1144151173?ean=9781250333971

Cover Reveal for THE SPELLSHOP

Cover reveal!!!

I am over-the-moon in love with the cover for my upcoming cozy fantasy, THE SPELLSHOP, coming 7/9/24! Isn't it the prettiest? Hardcover with lavender sprayed edges! Huge thanks to the artist Lulu Chen and the whole team at Tor/Bramble!

Announcing THE SPELLSHOP!!!

My BIG news is out! I'm outrageously excited to announce that I sold a new book, a cozy romantasy called THE SPELLSHOP, to the amazing Ali Fisher at Tor's new Bramble imprint! Can't wait for you all to meet Kiela (a rogue librarian) and her best friend Caz (a talking sentient spider plant)! Coming 7/9/24!

83 Days Until The Spellshop!

Just 83 days until THE SPELLSHOP comes out!!! And BN.com is having a preorder sale, now through April 19!

ARCs of the UK Edition of THE SPELLSHOP!

Look what arrived in the mail from my UK publisher! ARCs of the UK edition of THE SPELLSHOP! I love them so much! Thanks so much, Tor UK / Pan Macmillan!

Advent Calendar Day!

It's December! Very excited to start my new advent calendar today -- Bonne Maman jams -- especially appropriate this year as my upcoming cozy fantasy novel, THE SPELLSHOP, features much jam making (in addition to illegal spell casting and a talking spider plant)!

December 1st is White Nectarine - Peach - Lemon Verbena!!!

UK Cover Reveal for THE SPELLSHOP

UK Cover Reveal for THE SPELLSHOP!!! Same gorgeous art by Lulu Chen as the US version, new lovely lettering and tagline! Thanks so much, Tor UK! I love it so much, especially those interlocking S's!

https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/sarah-beth-durst/the-spellshop/9781035042326