The Spellshop, Sarah Beth Durst
The Spellshop, Sarah Beth Durst
2 Rating(s)
List: $26.99 | Sale: $18.89
Club: $13.49

The Spellshop

Bestseller

Author: Sarah Beth Durst

Narrator: Caitlin Davies

Unabridged: 12 hr 29 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/09/2024


Synopsis

The Spellshop is Sarah Beth Durst’s romantasy debut–a lush cottagecore tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love.

Join Kiela the librarian and her assistant, Caz the sentient spider plant, as they navigate the low stakes market of illegal spellmaking and the high risk business of starting over.

“Sarah Beth Durst is the hidden gem of the fantasy world.” —Book Riot

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.

Like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic, Sarah Beth Durst’s The Spellshop will heal your heart and feed your soul.

A Macmillan Audio production from Bramble Books.

About Sarah Beth Durst

Sarah Beth Durst is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty-five books for adults, teens, and kids, including cozy fantasy The Spellshop. She's been awarded an American Library Association Alex Award, as well as a Mythopoeic Fantasy Award. Several of her books have been optioned for film/television, including Drink Slay Love, which was made into a TV movie and was a question on Jeopardy! She lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat.

About Caitlin Davies

Caitlin Davies is a New York City-based actor and audiobook narrator. Davies specializes in audiobooks for teens and young adults, including the House of Night series by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast. She has performed in New York and regional theaters and is a member of the WorkShop Theater Company in New York City. She has a bachelor's degree from Vassar College, and has studied acting at the Eugene O'Neill National Institute, the British American Drama Academy, the Barrow Group, and Brown University/ Trinity Rep.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Brend on August 09, 2024

''She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant..'' Ok. Sold. Wish I had enjoyed this more but, sadly, I felt like nothing was happening. I get that's part of the cozy fantasy genre but it doesn't mean I have to like it. I think I would enjoy a story like this more as a movie, cause it was more......more

Goodreads review by Robin on February 26, 2025

screw capitalism i want whatever this is (a cute shop where i share spells and make jam + a hot man builds me floor to ceiling bookshelves)......more

Goodreads review by Rosh ~catching up slowly~ on May 11, 2025

In a Nutshell: A cozy fantasy with an unlikeable protagonist who redeems herself along the way. A whole load of cozy, a little less of fantasy. Interesting (but flat) humans, outstanding non-humans, decent but straightforward storyline. A nice light option for those who prefer cute fantasies and can......more

Goodreads review by chan ☆ on January 23, 2025

basically a bedtime story......more

This was EXACTLY what I wanted out of a cozy fantasy romance!! It's precisely the right amount of coziness and small town vibes, but with high enough stakes that there's an engaging plot, and a cute slow-burn romantic subplot. Also the main character has a sentient spider plant named Caz as a compan......more


Quotes

"Sarah Beth Durst is the hidden gem of the fantasy world." —Book Riot

Praise for The Spellshop:

"Those who come for the cheery aesthetic and celebration of everyday successes... will find this utterly delightful." —Publisher's Weekly

"The Spellshop sweeps readers into a world of merhorses, illegal spells, and first loves… it’s as comforting as homemade jam on a fresh baked muffin!" —Rebecca Thorne, author of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea

"Thoroughly enchanting! The Spellshop is brimming with cozy charm, endearing characters, and reminders that sometimes the biggest risks lead to the sweetest rewards. I’m looking forward to reading more of Sarah Beth Durst’s magical books." —Heather Webber, USA Today Bestselling author

“The Spellshop is about believing in the kindness of people, even when you’ve seen nothing but cruelty. There is beauty in Kiela’s building of a new and brighter world. There is courage in the love of this found family.” —J.R. Dawson, author of The First Bright Thing

"Reading this book was like sitting in the sun, watching bees in the foxgloves; a warm, peaceful delight of a novel. You can almost smell the jam, and hear the ocean. I finished the book smiling." —Katherine Arden, New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale


Awards

  • Barnes and Noble Best New Books of the Year
  • Hudson Booksellers Best of the Year
  • Amazon.com Best Books of the Year