Audiobook Review – The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, Narrated by Caitlin Davies (5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 12 hours and 11 minutes
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Release Date: July 09, 2024
ASIN: B0CL1DF783
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: Audiobook for Review from NetGalley
Rating: 5/5 stars
“Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.
She and her assistant, Caz, a magically sentient spider plant, have spent the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite. But when a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz save as many books as they can carry and flee to a faraway island Kiela was sure she’d never return to: her childhood home. Kiela hopes to lay low in the overgrown and rundown cottage her late parents left her and figure out a way to survive without drawing the attention of either the empire or the revolutionaries. Much to her dismay, in addition to a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor, she finds the town neglected and in a state of disrepair.
The empire, for all its magic and power, has been neglecting for years the people who depend on magical intervention to maintain healthy livestock and crops. Not only that, but the very magic that should be helping them has been creating destructive storms that have taken a toll on the island. Due to her past role at the library, Kiela feels partially responsible for this, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right: by opening the island’s first-ever secret spellshop.
Her plan comes with risks—the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the kind and quirky townspeople of her former home, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must learn to break down the walls she has built up so high.”
Series Info/Source: This a stand alone book. I got this audiobook for review through NetGalley
Thoughts: I loved this book. It was such and fun, cozy fantasy read. I am a big fan of Durst and have enjoyed a lot of her books. Some other Durst books I have really loved are: The Queens of Renthia series, “The Bone Maker”, “Race the Sands”, and “Spark”. Durst is one of my “go-to” authors and is very versatile writing for a variety of age groups and covering different genres.
In this book we join Kiela the librarian who is trying to save magic books as the nation’s revolutionists burn the library down. Her only companion is the sentient spider-plant, Caz, and they have no idea where to go to be safe. Finally Kiela decides to go to the remote island of her birth to ride out all the tumult. She hopes to hide in peace and quiet, but she has a very nosy and handsome neighbor, Lorren, who keeps trying to help her. When Kiela sees how her home island is suffering because of a lack of magic she decides maybe the magic books she saved/stole could be some help. Unfortunately using magic is illegal and things starts to turn sideways when another survivor shows up on the island.
This book has such a heartwarming and cozy feel to it. I loved watching Kiela grow and learn and Caz was hilarious. It was wonderful to watch the islanders band together to protect their own as well. The romance between Kiela and Lorran is sweet and special.
I absolutely loved all the magic in here. There are winged cats (super love), merhorses, magic jam, and singing apple trees. It was just a magical and comforting read.
I listened to this on audiobook and the narration was amazing. The narrator did an excellent job with conveying emotion and having distinct charactersvoices. The whole thing was beautifully read and I would highly recommend.
My Summary (5/5): Overall I absolutely loved this, it was a perfect cozy fantasy read. Yes, there is romance in here but at its heart this is a cozy fantasy with magic and a story about a character finding happiness. I loved the island, the magic creatures, and the way the islanders band together in times of danger. I would highly recommend if you enjoy cozy fantasies, or just heartwarming fantasies with fun magic.
