Review: The Spellshop (Spellshop #1)

The Spellshop, Book 1 in the Spellshop Series by Sarah Beth Durst

Published By: Tor UK
Publication Date: July 9, 2024
Date Read: October 8, 2025
Genre: Adult – Cosy Fantasy
Source: Bought
Format: Audiobook
Pages: 376

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The Spellshop is a cottagecore cosy fantasy following a woman’s unexpected journey through the low-stakes market of illegal spell-selling and the high-risk business of starting over . . .

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, she and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. She’s hoping to lay low and figure out a way to survive before the revolution comes looking for her. To her dismay, in addition to a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor, she finds the town in disarray.

The empire with its magic spellbooks has slowly been draining power from the island, something that Kiela is indirectly responsible for, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right. Opening up a spell shop comes with its own risks—the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the quirky townspeople, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must break down the walls she has kept so high.

Perfect for fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune, The Spellshop is a romantic and cosy fantasy.

“It wasn’t that she didn’t like people. It was only that she likes books more.”

Since falling head over heels in love with cosy fantasy a year or so again, I was really excited about The Spellshop right from the moment I heard about it. It sounded like something I would absolutely love, but it still sat there on my TBR for a little while before I picked it up. After reading a few heavy books, rife with trigger warnings, I felt like now was the perfect time for a cosy adorable read. I personally listened to the audiobook of this one, and I highly recommend it as the narrator really did a fantastic job!

One thing I absolutely loved about this book was the fact that this book is set during a revolution. And while most fantasy books would focus on that revolution but this one focused more on the characters who flee away from it and try to find a new safe home. I thought that was such a unique approach and really loved it. In addition to this, I adored the idea of our main character opening a jam shop that’s a front for an illegal magic shop. It was so cute and cosy and fun and I loved it.

The characters in this one was definitely what made the book. I loved Kiela and Caz. The friendship between our resident magical librarian and sentient spider plant was just so adorable. I’ll be honest, this book doesn’t have much of a plot really, but that’s why I loved it. It was just cute, fun, cosy vibes. Kiela breks the law to cast spells to help the island that is dying. It’s just super fun.

The Spellshop was just a really sweet book, that really spreads the message that all books can be magical. As such a big book lover, I really did love this concept of just celebrating how important books are. The romance was slow burn but oh so cute. The more you read, the more you really just fell in love with both of the characters. They were both shy and awkward and it just made the whole thing that much more feelgood and cute. I really cannot put into words how much I truly loved and enjoyed this book. It is definitely one that I would read again and again when I needed a little pick me up.

I’m so glad that I finally picked this one up. Sarah’s writing was addictive and I really couldn’t put this book down. I was so invested about how it was all going to end and if the couple would finally get together. I will definitely be picking up the other books in this series. If you’re looking for a cosy, feelgood read, I highly recommend The Spellshop.

“Of course knowledge is dangerous. But ignorance is even more dangerous.”