[Review] The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

Every home needs a little magic . . .

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, Kiela and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. But to her dismay, in addition to a nosy – and very handsome – neighbour, she finds the town in disarray.

The empire has slowly been draining power from the island, and now Kiela is determined to make things right. But opening up her own spellshop comes with its own risks – the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela starts to make a place for herself among the townspeople, she realizes she must break down the walls she has kept so high . . .

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Book Club Pick

In my very dear book club, my own Pine Cone Coven of sorts, we have already discussed some amazing books. One of them being T.J. Klunes Under the Whispering Door. It was my love for that book and The House at the Cerulean Sea that made me vote for this new cozy fantasy book. It took me unfortunately almost all the month to finally start it. But as soon as I did, I finished it within a week, which is quite something for me these busy days. The beginning was anything but cozy but more stressful and chaotic given the drastic change of our protagonist’s life. But as soon as we got to Caltrey with her and her sentient plant assistant Caz, I was super engaged.

 

Caz shuddered. “Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”
“I’d never let anyone hurt you,” Kiela said stoutly.
“That’s a nice sentiment, but what would you do? Scream? Throw books at them?”
Fair point, though she’d never throw a book.

 

Cottagecore Fantasy

Especially with the dropping temperatures and colder winds outside, this book will warm you from the inside. Out protagonist Kiela is quite skeptical of other people at first, having spent most of her last years solely with books and Caz. She plans to keep to herself to be able to hide that she indeed steal spell books to safekeep them. She didn’t expect the villagers to be that kind to her and quickly find a soft spot in her and our hearts. Especially Larran, the love interest, finds ways to intrude into her calculated, though chaotic life and bring joy (and some confusion) to her heart. The strongest message of this book is certainly that you’re safest when you dare to trust people and let them help you instead of shutting everyone out.

 

He turned back toward her. “I need you.”
“You don’t need me, and frankly I’d be a little uncomfortable if you did. We just met. You like me for unfathomable reasons.”
Larran smiled. “Fine. But I like you a lot.”

 

Magical and Heart-warming

The book is filled with the most distinctive people and creatures. From Caz, the sentient plant and his outspoken personality, to the merhorses and the dragon-like healer Ivor. Kiela’s new friends are just as special in their appearance as their background stories are thought-through and complex in how they shape their actions. I came for the magic, which is rather science-based and absolutely comprehensible. Nonetheless, I stayed for the very heart-felt kindness and friendship that was sparked between our protagonist and the villagers.

I also didn’t mind the amazing love interest that is Larran. He is attentive, selfless, already a bit love-sick from the beginning. Additionally, he is also smart and not at all hard on the eyes. His interactions with Kiela are beautiful and real, cheesy but brought back to reality in the most amazing way. The book feels so magical and real at once. It brings up some serious topics like lawfulness and righteousness, free accessibility of knowledge, trust and social cohesion.

 

In conclusion,

This book kept everything that it promises. Besides small illogicalities, it warmed my heart but also engaged my mind from the first to the last page. It’s a perfect read for the stormy time of the year that will feel like a warm hug and shoo away your troubles on this magical journey with all its love, joy, and plot twists!

 

 


The author:

Sarah Beth Durst is the author of over twenty-five fantasy books for adults, teens, and kids, including The Queens of Renthia series, Drink Slay Love, and Spark. She has won an American Library Association Alex Award and a Mythopoeic Fantasy Award and has been a finalist for the Andre Norton Nebula Award three times. She lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. Visit her at www.sarahbethdurst.com. Source

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