Book review: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

When I first learned about The Spellshop, I honestly wasn't sure I was going to read the book. I was getting ads for it everywhere, and I have found if I get a book advertised to me more than fifteen times, I probably won't read it. It's been on display at my local Barnes & Noble for the past month, and it wasn't until about the thirtieth ad I got for the book I finally let myself find out what it was about. And there was a reason I was so clearly targeted for this ad: this book was clearly written for me.

The island of Caltrey, its various residents, and its Forest Spirits and Winged Cats created a perfect setting for this kind of story. As I read, I got the exact same feelings I had whenever I played Stardew Valley. There was gardening, cooking, fishing, and crafting - just like in the cozy games! And through these, it makes it easy to imagine what it would be like to truly live in a place where almost everyone's main goal is to help each other.

And that is a lesson the main character, Kiela, has to learn. I related a lot to Kiela, especially at the beginning of the book. She created a life for herself where she didn't have to interact with people, having never had the opportunity to learn how to make friends growing up. But due to a revolution burning down the library she worked at, she's forced to return to the island she grew up on - but is terrified of getting to know people. She's one of those people who will help others, but had never gotten help in return - in fact her fellow librarians hadn't even told her the library was burning down when they fled! Between the forced move and the trauma of not being able to save the entirety of her life's work, I couldn't help but feel for her as she started to start over. Her arc showed how hard it can be to trust people when starting over from scratch, and there was a fear throughout the book that the good she did for others wouldn't be returned. Kiela learns it's better to help others anyway, even the ones who are grumpy and mean because that is how society thrives.

The power of being nice is one of the biggest themes of the book and inspired me to want to do more for my own friends and neighbors. This community sticks together in the good and bad times - and when we first meet them, they're in the middle of the bad times. However, that doesn't stop them from wanting to do right by their new neighbor - whether she wants it or not. It can be hard for anyone to accept the help of their community, there is an independent streak within our culture that seems to tell us we cannot ask for help - and if we do we should be judged. I appreciated this reminder to not try to be too independent. Community is important, and when we all try to do right by each other, we all benefit.

While the book is already a strong entry into the cozy fantasy genre, its sense of whimsy is something that sets it apart from the other books I have read. We have not one but two sentient succulents, multiple flying cats, and Cloud Bears who want nothing more than to protect the trees. This is a world where magical creatures live in harmony with each other, and nobody is actually a human. I really appreciated the fact there weren't any real humans in this book, it created a reminder that readers can see themselves in a fantasy world without there needing to be an actual human character. It highlighted the diversity of magical creatures we typically see in fantasy, and left me loving how the bonds in these communities grow across species. It reminded me of how important it is to embrace the diversity of our world. We might not be magical creatures, but we can come together and help each other: a message that is an important reminder each and every day.

This book is a very quick read, that shows the absolute best of human nature. The characters, love, and whimsy are all reasons one should pick it up. It's as comforting as a warm slice of freshly baked bread with some homemade jam on it, and I recommend readers have them on hand as they read. It'll help immerse you into Caltrey, and help you strive to bring some of Caltrey into the real world.

The Spellshop is available through Macmillan Publishers