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A review by bibi_reads_writes
The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst
4.0
Wow, did someone read my mind and throw everything I love into a series? These books feel like a warm fuzzy blanket, and I really enjoyed listening to the narration. I recommend to fans of cozy fantasy with a cottagecore feel!
Note: I received an audio ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback.
Talking and singing plants, flying cats, dragons, enchanted greenhouses, an angry ghost, and romance between a librarian and a grumpy gardener/baker? YES PLEASE. Everything was there for me to *love* this one.
I really enjoyed the writing, especially the evocative and vivid descriptions of settings, food, and atmosphere. I also loved the “save the greenhouses/plants!” and mad scientist / coded spellbooks plot. At the same time, I had a hard time shipping the two MCs and feeling *really* involved in the story. I really liked Terlu as an FMC and loved all of the non-human sidekicks, but the love interest and most of the side characters didn’t feel very likeable. (There are grumpy MMCs, and then there are stubborn and deeply resentful MMCs…) I think that if it wasn’t for the whole alone-on-a-deserted island thing, these two would never have gotten together. There was also a lot of repeated interactions, near misses, inner monologues, and struggles, which led to some dragging. There was also a TON of named characters, so much so that the author had to define them almost every single time (e.g., “Bobby, Yarrow’s uncle,” and “Rosie the fireweed”). It’s not high/epic fantasy --- there shouldn’t be that many names to digest. Urgh!
Bottom line, I enjoyed listening to this one, but I feel like it was a bit of a let down as compared to the first book.
Tropes to expect: grumpy vs. sunshine, the hermit & the mad scientist, together on a deserted island, second chances, self-discovery, the healing power of community
❤️ Drool-worthy food descriptions
❤️ Cozy vibes
❤️ Flying cats & friendly dragons
❤️ Focus on plants
❌ Stubborn, annoying MMC
❌ Unlikeable side characters
❌ Repetitions and dragging
❌ Too many characters
Trigger warnings: confinement, civil war, child abuse, abandonment, death and grief, fire and fire injury, emotional abuse, petrification, etc.
Follow me on Instagram: @bibi.reads.writes
Note: I received an audio ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback.
Talking and singing plants, flying cats, dragons, enchanted greenhouses, an angry ghost, and romance between a librarian and a grumpy gardener/baker? YES PLEASE. Everything was there for me to *love* this one.
I really enjoyed the writing, especially the evocative and vivid descriptions of settings, food, and atmosphere. I also loved the “save the greenhouses/plants!” and mad scientist / coded spellbooks plot. At the same time, I had a hard time shipping the two MCs and feeling *really* involved in the story. I really liked Terlu as an FMC and loved all of the non-human sidekicks, but the love interest and most of the side characters didn’t feel very likeable. (There are grumpy MMCs, and then there are stubborn and deeply resentful MMCs…) I think that if it wasn’t for the whole alone-on-a-deserted island thing, these two would never have gotten together. There was also a lot of repeated interactions, near misses, inner monologues, and struggles, which led to some dragging. There was also a TON of named characters, so much so that the author had to define them almost every single time (e.g., “Bobby, Yarrow’s uncle,” and “Rosie the fireweed”). It’s not high/epic fantasy --- there shouldn’t be that many names to digest. Urgh!
Bottom line, I enjoyed listening to this one, but I feel like it was a bit of a let down as compared to the first book.
Tropes to expect: grumpy vs. sunshine, the hermit & the mad scientist, together on a deserted island, second chances, self-discovery, the healing power of community
❤️ Drool-worthy food descriptions
❤️ Cozy vibes
❤️ Flying cats & friendly dragons
❤️ Focus on plants
❌ Stubborn, annoying MMC
❌ Unlikeable side characters
❌ Repetitions and dragging
❌ Too many characters
Trigger warnings: confinement, civil war, child abuse, abandonment, death and grief, fire and fire injury, emotional abuse, petrification, etc.
Follow me on Instagram: @bibi.reads.writes