In The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, Kiela is a librarian in the empire’s best and most elite library of magical texts. But when a revolution leads to the place burning, she must abandon everything she knew and escape the city. With only a few crates of rescued books and her assistant Caz—a sentient spider plant, the result of an illegal spell some years ago—Kiela makes her way to her island home. She hasn’t been back here since she was a child, but she doesn’t know where else to go, especially considering she has essentially stolen all these books. So she and Caz hole up in her family’s old cottage, and to her surprise, she finds that this place is actually quite lovely. The people are kind (for the most part), and the place is idyllic (if you ignore the ominous magical storms that ravage it now and then). Kiela thinks that she might be able to make a new life here—possibly with Larran, her handsome neighbor—if it weren’t for the books. The empire won’t take kindly to her having taken them, but this place could use the spells. So she and Caz decide to open a secret spellshop, and possibly even make new friends.

At this point in my life, I have been let down by books categorized as “romantasy” (a portmanteau that irrationally bugs me) many times, so I was skeptical going into this. However, I’m pleased to say that this one was actually good!

Firstly, Kiela is a delightful character. She’s a solitary being, but also very sweet. Her anxiety about spending time with people makes her hesitant to try new things, but she’s also brave enough to make things happen when she recognizes problems in her world. I also adored Caz the spider plant, who’s very funny and witty and has a delightful friendship with Kiela.

(Tiny side note, I found it amusing that when the audiobook narrator Caitlin Davies would say the phrase “to Kiela” it kind of sounded like “tequila.”)

I also really liked the townsfolk, especially Bryn, Eadie, and Larran. The former two are a delightful gossipy pair who push Kiela to push herself. They’re the sort of ladies you’d want to have in your corner in basically any situation. And as for Larran, he’s a wholesome love interest for Kiela. I quite liked their relationship’s progression, and also appreciated that this love story didn’t focus on the sexual aspect. Rather, it’s about how they make each other better as people, how they learn and grow as individuals and as an almost-couple.

And frankly, the romance isn’t even the main storyline. Yes, it’s an important secondary plot, but there is much more action and substance to this book than some “romantasy” novels (imagine me cringing every time I have to write this. Imagine it, because I am). The backdrop of a distant revolution, the effects that a corrupt government has had on the global environment, and the struggles of the common people to make worthwhile lives are weaved into this story excellently. The stakes feel tangible without entirely taking over Kiela’s own story. It’s honestly quite balanced. It’s high-stakes while feeling very low-stakes, and I commend the author for pulling off that balance.

In the end, The Spellshop far exceeded my expectations and delivered a very enjoyable read. The characters are charming, and the setting is absolutely amazing (I want to live in Bryn’s bakery, gorging myself on cinnamon rolls and jam-filled pastries). The magic is whimsical and powerful at the same time. The various plot threads interact well, all of them given space and time to develop at reasonable paces. It might not be the most unpredictable tale you will ever read, but it is still entertaining. If you want a sweet, cozy romance, but also want some substance on the fantasy side of things, this is the book for you! I’ll definitely look for more books by Sarah Beth Durst in the future.