The Spellshop
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About the book
Perfect for fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune, The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is a cosy fantasy tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams and even sweeter romance. 'Reading this book was like sitting in the sun . . . a warm, peaceful delight of a novel' - Katherine Arden, author of The Bear and the Nightingale 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 . . . From award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst, 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. 'Sarah Beth Durst is the hidden gem of the fantasy world' - Book Riot
Where the score comes from
The sources average 8.2 across 373 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 67% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Rankings average of 7.8. That is how 8.1 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 8.8 | 8 | 2% |
| Hardcover | 8.2 | 365 | 98% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“This was a solid cozy fantasy and I thought it was absolutely adorable. It was engaging throughout and I felt very invested in Caltrey’s wellbeing. Caz was a great sidekick and has certainly set the standards bar high for my houseplants to live up to now. ”
“This was exactly what I wanted in the moment, I'm so thankful my Libby hold came through when it did! All the vibes you get from the cover of this book are exactly what you find in it's pages. It's cozy, it's picturesque, it has fantastical creatures and hidden magics. The relationship that buds between the FMC and her neighbor is just the sweetest thing in the whole world, transparent with all the initial fumblings and struggles to be who you are unapologetically, but also learning to be accommodating and make room for someone else in your life, especially when it's wholly unexpected. Complet…”
Frequently asked
What is The Spellshop rated?
8.1 out of 10, from 373 reader ratings across 2 independent sources.
Is The Spellshop worth reading?
Readers give it 8.1/10 from 373 ratings in open sources.