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A review by paging_escapism
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Reading this book felt like getting pleasantly drowsy in dappled sunlight. It made me reminisce about sitting in the middle school library, watching my best friends draw fantastical creatures. It felt like coming home to the daydreams I had when I was 12.
The Spellshop was the coziest of cozy fantasies and a charming read. The world felt fresh and well-built but easy to slide into. The characters were fleshed out and loveable. The sceneries were lush, and the vibes of this book were exactly what you’d expect from the cover.
While the vibes are everything I love about this book, they also create my only criticism of the book. It felt easy to fall into the daydream and forget about the larger plot, which made some conflicts and resolutions feel rushed or chaotic. The book also read relatively young to me. The very middle school fever dream feeling I got wound up being what I adored about the book, but it wasn’t what I had expected going in. (I swear it was marketed NA?)
At the end of the day, when I was reading The Spellshop, I was just happy to be there. Reading it was a joy and the perfect way to soak up the last lazy summer days.
The Spellshop was the coziest of cozy fantasies and a charming read. The world felt fresh and well-built but easy to slide into. The characters were fleshed out and loveable. The sceneries were lush, and the vibes of this book were exactly what you’d expect from the cover.
While the vibes are everything I love about this book, they also create my only criticism of the book. It felt easy to fall into the daydream and forget about the larger plot, which made some conflicts and resolutions feel rushed or chaotic. The book also read relatively young to me. The very middle school fever dream feeling I got wound up being what I adored about the book, but it wasn’t what I had expected going in. (I swear it was marketed NA?)
At the end of the day, when I was reading The Spellshop, I was just happy to be there. Reading it was a joy and the perfect way to soak up the last lazy summer days.