The Spellshop

When the Library Burns, Magic Finds a New Home

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, Kiela and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up.

A New Beginning on a Forgotten Island

But to her dismay, in addition to a nosy - and very handsome - neighbour, she finds the town in disarray.

The empire has slowly been draining power from the island, and now Kiela is determined to make things right. But opening up her own spellshop comes with its own risks - the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela starts to make a place for herself among the townspeople, she realizes she must break down the walls she has kept so high...

Why You'll Love It

• Cozy fantasy perfection - A librarian, a sentient spider plant, and a spellshop
• Found family and community - Kiela learns to open her heart to her hometown
• Romance with a handsome neighbour - Slow-burn sweetness
• Magic for the people - Challenging the empire's control of spellbooks
• Heartwarming and hopeful - About finding where you belong and who you're meant to be

Perfect For

Readers who love cozy fantasy, bookish protagonists, sentient plant companions, and stories about introverts finding their people. If you enjoy gentle magic, small-town settings, and characters who choose kindness over power, this book will enchant you.

Author: Sarah Beth Durst

"Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is share what you love."