Published: 11/07/2024
A delightful slice of cosy cottagecore fantasy, The Spellshop finds a fugitive from the Great Library of Alyssium trading in illegal magic on a chaotic island.
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 overr.
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, she and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. She’s hoping to lay low and figure out a way to survive before the revolution comes looking for her. To her dismay, in addition to a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor, she finds the town in disarray.
The empire with its magic spellbooks has slowly been draining power from the island, something that Kiela is indirectly responsible for, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right. Opening up a spell shop comes with its own risks—the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the quirky townspeople, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must break down the walls she has kept so high.
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 9781035042326
Number of pages: 384
Weight: 640 g
Dimensions: 243 x 164 x 39 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
A fairy-tale nightmare, and a romance all in one, unlike anything else and impossible to predict. I could not stop reading! - Laini Taylor, author of Strange the Dreamer on Conjured
Witty and wonderful! I'm a Durst fan and have been from the beginning - Tamora Pierce, author of the Beka Cooper series
National Velvet with monsters and a big helping of palace intrigue, Race the Sands is monstrous (literally), heartwarming and empowering in equal measure. An incredibly fun and inspiring read - Katherine Arden, author of The Bear and The Nightingale on Race the Sands
Sarah Beth Durst is one of the most prolific authors I know, yet each of her beautiful stories is infused with exciting action and fully rounded characters whose struggles are both relatable and fantastical - Peter V. Brett, author of The Demon Cycle
Durst is an expert world-builder - The Washington Post
Sarah Beth Durst is the hidden gem of the fantasy world - Book Riot
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“A cosy and enchanting escape with Studio Ghibli vibes.”
This was a really simple, cute and cosy tale that is perfect for someone looking to just escape into a story. The Spellshop is like a warm hug and reading it really did feel like a magical getaway of sorts. It's... More
“Charming and delightful”
What an absolutely lovely book! This was delightful. A great book for people who loved the cosy fantasy vibes of books like Legends and Lattes and want more sweet and kind characters! Not only that but it has cinnamon... More
“The perfect cosy fantasy romance book!”
4.5 rounded up to 5
Thank you to Bramble Romance, Macmillan, Tor, and NetGalley for an eARC of this perfect cosy fantasy romance book!
The Spellshop is such a well-crafted cosy fantasy book, with some high stakes...
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