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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Enchanted Greenhouse's better written and has a more cohesive plot than the 'The Spellshop.' And the series continues to be very sweet and enjoyable. I love the talking plants and the tiny dragons and the winged-cat. I also loved the little updates on characters from 'The Spellshop' at the end.
However I can't get past Durst giving this book almost the exact same plot as 'The Spellshop'. It seems really lazy.
The plot of both books - Socially awkward librarian is force to leave the Great Library of Alyssium due to circumstances outside of her control. Librarian's family is not around. Librarian ends up on a remote island where the plants are dying and the community is depopulating. Island members have little to no knowledge of the empire's collapse that is taking place. Talking plant side kick. Very gentle man who is a good cook becomes love interest. Gentle Man's family/community becomes Librarian's family/community. Librarian struggles with wanting to do magic even though it is(was) illegal. Librarian does not give much consideration to the fact that the emperor is dead, the empire is in huge turmoil, and the law is unlikely to be enforced. Gentle Man's great passion is threatened with extinction due to unknown threat. Librarian overcomes fear of the law and conquers threat. Librarian uses magic to save plants. There is too much magical healing needed so the librarian teaches others how to do magic too. Librarian is extremely worried friends doing magic will also get in trouble. Failed experiments as Librarian tries out new spells. Almost no one else cares that the Librarian does magic despite the Librarian's constant fretting. Lots of baked goods. Swimming with sea creatures.
However I can't get past Durst giving this book almost the exact same plot as 'The Spellshop'. It seems really lazy.
The plot of both books - Socially awkward librarian is force to leave the Great Library of Alyssium due to circumstances outside of her control. Librarian's family is not around. Librarian ends up on a remote island where the plants are dying and the community is depopulating. Island members have little to no knowledge of the empire's collapse that is taking place. Talking plant side kick. Very gentle man who is a good cook becomes love interest. Gentle Man's family/community becomes Librarian's family/community. Librarian struggles with wanting to do magic even though it is(was) illegal. Librarian does not give much consideration to the fact that the emperor is dead, the empire is in huge turmoil, and the law is unlikely to be enforced. Gentle Man's great passion is threatened with extinction due to unknown threat. Librarian overcomes fear of the law and conquers threat. Librarian uses magic to save plants. There is too much magical healing needed so the librarian teaches others how to do magic too. Librarian is extremely worried friends doing magic will also get in trouble. Failed experiments as Librarian tries out new spells. Almost no one else cares that the Librarian does magic despite the Librarian's constant fretting. Lots of baked goods. Swimming with sea creatures.
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I wish I had liked this more but it didn’t have the same coziness that The Spellshop did. Also the love interest was not super likable or seemed particularly amazing despite Terlu saying he was amazing multiple times throughout the book. Although when it comes to that it is one of those things where it is an each to their own thing and if a couple works and loves each other then that is what matters.
I loved Terlu and I enjoyed all the sentient plant characters in this book. The setting was definitely pretty. I also liked that Terlu is plus sized as it is just another aspect of her being unique as a character and I haven’t normally come across someone in a book that has that body type.
Favorite quotes/scenes:
Page 3
She’d made herself a friend because she could not handle one more day of being friendless, of being so far from her family, of living sequestered in her silent and empty corner of the library where the only choice was find a way to bear the isolation or admit she’d failed to find a place for herself, that she’d made a mistake in leaving home, and that her family and friends were right to say she’d never flourish out in the world on her own.
A lovely description:
Outside, the sun had crossed to touch the tips of the pine trees. Her breath instantly fogged in front of her, and the snow crunched under her feet. It smelled sweet, a mix of sea salt and pine, chilled.
I loved the first kissing scene it was so perfect.
Page 305
“Good luck,” he said. And he kissed her, in front of his father, Lotti, and possibly Laiken’s ghost. When he released her, she felt as if she could climb mountains, aim oceans, and definitely and absolutely save the Greenhouse of Belde.
Page 361
“It’s my duty—in fact, I believe it’s every person’s duty, especially those in power—to reject unjust laws. To choose kindness and empathy, whenever we can.”
Page 364
Kiela was formerly a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, where Caz, a sentient talking spider plant, had been her librarian assistant. She thanked her husband, Larran, as well as a list of friends. Caz thanked this partner, Mel
Yarrow wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
She realized she was crying.
“He’s okay,” Terlu said. “I did the right thing.”
All in all I liked this book but my enjoyment of it was not as much as I had initially expected or wanted it to be. Sarah Beth Durst is a talented writer so I definitely want to read some of her other books and her next cozy fantasy is very much on her radar and one I am planning on reading (The Faraway Inn.) This can easily be read as a standalone so it isn’t a requirement to have read The Spellshop before. I enjoyed the description in this book as well as the overall story. I am certainly here for future works from Sarah along this vein! I want to read a bit of her backlist as well, specifically at least Race the Sands.
I loved Terlu and I enjoyed all the sentient plant characters in this book. The setting was definitely pretty. I also liked that Terlu is plus sized as it is just another aspect of her being unique as a character and I haven’t normally come across someone in a book that has that body type.
Favorite quotes/scenes:
Page 3
She’d made herself a friend because she could not handle one more day of being friendless, of being so far from her family, of living sequestered in her silent and empty corner of the library where the only choice was find a way to bear the isolation or admit she’d failed to find a place for herself, that she’d made a mistake in leaving home, and that her family and friends were right to say she’d never flourish out in the world on her own.
A lovely description:
Outside, the sun had crossed to touch the tips of the pine trees. Her breath instantly fogged in front of her, and the snow crunched under her feet. It smelled sweet, a mix of sea salt and pine, chilled.
I loved the first kissing scene it was so perfect.
Page 305
“Good luck,” he said. And he kissed her, in front of his father, Lotti, and possibly Laiken’s ghost. When he released her, she felt as if she could climb mountains, aim oceans, and definitely and absolutely save the Greenhouse of Belde.
Page 361
“It’s my duty—in fact, I believe it’s every person’s duty, especially those in power—to reject unjust laws. To choose kindness and empathy, whenever we can.”
Page 364
Kiela was formerly a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, where Caz, a sentient talking spider plant, had been her librarian assistant. She thanked her husband, Larran, as well as a list of friends. Caz thanked this partner, Mel
Yarrow wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
She realized she was crying.
“He’s okay,” Terlu said. “I did the right thing.”
All in all I liked this book but my enjoyment of it was not as much as I had initially expected or wanted it to be. Sarah Beth Durst is a talented writer so I definitely want to read some of her other books and her next cozy fantasy is very much on her radar and one I am planning on reading (The Faraway Inn.) This can easily be read as a standalone so it isn’t a requirement to have read The Spellshop before. I enjoyed the description in this book as well as the overall story. I am certainly here for future works from Sarah along this vein! I want to read a bit of her backlist as well, specifically at least Race the Sands.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Its peak summer when I'm reading this so it gave me lovely thoughts about my garden and making food with the things I'm growing. A sweet story and I'm glad the climax was not something I figured out before we got there. I look forward to more books in this world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment
The content warning are detailed but they're written in a very compassionate way.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No