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Title details for The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst - Available

The Spellshop

by Sarah Beth Durst
Caitlin Davies
Audiobook
2 of 16 copies available
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2 of 16 copies available

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.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    July 9, 2024

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781250351265
      • File size: 351290 KB
      • Duration: 12:11:51

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      May 6, 2024
      Durst (The Lies Among Us) celebrates the power of community in this whimsical cottagecore romantasy. Introverted librarian Kiela Orobidan and her sentient spider plant assistant, Caz, escape a populist revolution–fueled fire in the the Great Library of Alyssium by sailing to Kiela’s abandoned family cottage on the small island of Caltrey with only a few crates of irreplaceable spell books in tow. Imperial law restricts the use of magic to scholars, but when she sees the island’s residents struggling with harsh environmental conditions and poverty without assistance from the empire’s sorcerers, Kiela quietly uses her spell books to help the locals, claiming the charms she sells in her new jam shop are “family remedies”. Meanwhile, her handsome new neighbor Larran Maver helps restore her cottage and becomes a friend—with a spark of something more. Durst packs her cozy and colorful tale full of sweet magical creatures, including unicorns, winged cats, and friendly tree sprits that manifest as bears, and her diverse supporting cast exudes a near-uniform air of kindness. The political plot is largely background noise after serving its purpose of getting Kiela home and on a path to using magic, which may frustrate readers looking for more comprehensive worldbuilding. Those who come for the cheery aesthetic and celebration of everyday successes, however, will find this utterly delightful.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Fans of Studio Ghibli's animated films will enjoy the way Caitlin Davies performs this enchanting story. For the past decade, academic librarian Kiela has hidden herself away in the Empire with only a sentient spider plant for company. When the fires of the Revolution burn down the Great Library of Alyssium, she escapes to her secluded childhood home with a few crates of precious books. Can she use their magical knowledge to aid the struggling islanders without risking her safety? Davies delivers a prim yet empathetic narration that is perfect for an introverted academic. She knows how to complement the humor on the page with a colorful delivery. The flying cats and mermaids in this audiobook will be appreciated by young adult and adult listeners alike. S.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      December 6, 2024

      Durst's romantasy debut introduces a cottagecore world filled with food, magic, and kindness. Librarian Kiela and her assistant, a sentient spider plant named Caz, must flee their home in the great city library because of civil unrest. With crates of magical spellbooks in tow, they go out to sea to wait out the turmoil, landing on a remote island that Kiela recognizes as her childhood home. Despite Kiela's dislike of people, it proves difficult to alienate herself from the island's residents, especially with her handsome and overly helpful neighbor hanging around. As she learns of the scarce resources on the island, she uses the spellbooks in secret, an act strictly forbidden, as magic is illegal. Caitlin Davies is a familiar narrator of quirky fantasy romances, having previously narrated Erin Sterling's The Ex-Hex. Davies shows off her range by performing Kiela's evolving demeanor, morphing from grumpy and standoffish to more welcoming and open. Additional characters all have unique voices, with the most entertaining being the dramatic and high-strung Caz. VERDICT This sweet and cozy romantasy brims with lush imagery and a cast of quirky characters. Perfect for fans of whimsical fantasy, such as Travis Baldree's Legends & Lattes and TJ Klune's The House in the Cerulean Sea.--Meghan Bouffard

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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