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Kiela has spent the last decade sequestered at the Great Library of Alyssium among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite. Her only assistant and companion is Caz—a magically sentient spider plant. And she’s completely fine with that.
When revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, Kiela and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and sail to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. The cottage is worn and weathered, and to Kiela’s dismay, a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor can’t take a hint about her preference for privacy and isolation. He keeps showing up, day after day, to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home.
As if that weren’t stressful enough, Kiela needs an income. There’s one thing that even the bakery in town doesn’t have, though… jam! With the help of an old recipe book her parents left for her—and just a bit of illegal magic—her cottage garden is soon overflowing with ripe berries. But magic can do more than help her out with a recipe, and Kiela is far from the city. Surely no one will know if she uses a few unsanctioned spells to open the island’s first-ever secret spellshop… right?
In its synopsis, The Spellshop is likened to a Hallmark rom-com filled with mythical creatures. That’s pretty spot on, honestly. Even though the stakes are lower, there’s something sweet and cozy about this book. Sure, there’s not much in the way of plot and it feels a little cliché… Girl comes back to the island she was born on and has to restore the overgrown family cottage, learn how to regrow berries and trees, and open a magical jam shop. It’s like a D&D version of Stardew Valley! Point is, you’re here for the vibes and you’re having a good time.
Overall, The Spellshop is enchanting, magical, and heartwarming. Reading it feels like a warm hug, and its descriptions of food will likely make your mouth water. It’s the kind of book that should come with recipes, because it will definitely put you in the mood for cake and raspberry jam before you reach the final pages.
For more in this charming series, check out The Enchanted Greenhouse.
Rated: Mild, for one use of moderate language. Characters, including a same-gender couple, kiss.
Click here to purchase your copy of The Spellshop on Amazon.Â
