Review – The Enchanted Greenhouse (The Spellshop, Book 2) by Sarah Beth Durst (5/5 stars)

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Cozy Fantasy
Length: 378 pages
Publisher: Bramble
Release Date: July 15, 2025
ASIN : B0DFVHGRHV
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in The Spellshop series
Source: Borrowed ebook from Library
Rating: 5/5 stars

“Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium.

This should have been the end of her story . . . Yet one day, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. She’s starving and freezing, and the only other human on the island is a grumpy gardener. To her surprise, he offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes, and freshly baked honey cakes—at least until she’s ready to sail home.

But Terlu can’t return home and doesn’t want to—the greenhouses are a dream come true, each more wondrous than the next. When she learns that the magic that sustains them is failing—causing the death of everything within them—Terlu knows she must help. Even if that means breaking the law again.

This time, though, she isn’t alone. Assisted by the gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island—and have a fresh chance at happiness and love.”

Series Info/Source: This is the second book in The Spellshop series. I borrowed this on ebook through my library.

Thoughts: I really enjoyed this second book in The Spellshop series. This story is just as cozy, magical, and heartwarming as the first book was. I loved finding out what happened to Kaz’s creator (Terlu). This book can definitely stand along on its own however if you want to find out the fate of the sentient spider plant Terlu created and more of the background of what happened in Alyssium you will want to start with The Spellshop. I am a huge fan of Durst and have read all of her adult and young adult books and some of her middle grade ones as well. She is one of my “go to” authors and never disappoints.

Terlu broke the law when she performed magic to make herself a companion, a sentient spider plant named Kaz. Then she was made an example of and turned to stone. As time went on, she was forgotten…until she wasn’t. Terlu finds herself de-statufied and in a freezing winter landscape, wandering her way into a gigantic Greenhouse to survive. What she finds in the Greenhouse is incredibly magical and a bit sad. Terlu tentatively agrees to helping the sole Gardener left, Yarrow, fix things, even if it means using illegal magic again.

This book had a lot of things I love. It is very cozy; things never get too dire and people are supportive and helpful to each other. There is a flying cat, pollenating dragons, and rooms and rooms full of magical and amazing things. All of this is placed in a world that has real politics and background going on; even if they aren’t in the forefront of the story you are learning how all the big events of the world are affecting even these small more reclusive spaces.

All the characters in here are well done and really come alive. The story focuses on Terlu and the sole gardener remaining, Yarrow. While Terlu loves to be around people, Yarrow is reclusive and rude. However, they end up complementing each other nicely, and both desperately want to save the greenhouses. The sentient plants and other humans that join the story are just as delightful.

I loved watching Terlu try to unravel the mystery of the greenhouses failing. I loved both her and Yarrow facing the painful events in their past and coming out better for it. I also loved how this focuses around connecting with friends and family. I also thoroughly enjoyed all the magical greenhouses; each one was an adventure all on its own and I never knew what amazing magical thing we were going to be exploring next. The greenhouses lent an aspect of wonder and adventure to the whole book that feels a bit childlike but for adults.

This was very readable and well written. I read it very quickly and enjoyed every minute of it. The story is magical and heartwarming and leaves you feeling positive and happy.

My Summary (5/5): Overall this was an amazing sequel to The Spellshop. The characters are engaging and well done. I loved the magic and mystery, the humor and romance, and how heartwarming the story was. This was an excellent cozy fantasy read. I am excited to see that a third book, Sea of Charms, is planned for release in this series in July of 2026. I would recommend to fans of romantic fantasy, cozy fantasy, and magical fantasy.