The Spellshop – Cozy Witchy Romantasy

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst asks a delightful question: what happens when a runaway librarian steals a stack of illegal spellbooks during a government revolt and flees to the remote island she once called home? Does she lie low? Hide her tracks? Pretend the past is dead and gone?

Absolutely not.

Kiela and her living, skittering, perpetually anxious spider plant companion, Caz, do the only sensible thing in a cozy romantasy: open a magical shop to sell spells and jam to fix everyone else’s problems.

There’s a lot to love here. Kiela’s anxiety-fueled awkwardness feels painfully, hilariously real. Her beefcake neighbor is pure wholesome himbo energy in the best way. The winged cats? Adorable. And honestly, this book thrives in that gentle, slow-burn space where not much really happens until the antagonist arrives. That’s exactly how I like my cozies; low stakes until suddenly they’re not.

For me, Caz was the star. Caz steals every scene. They’re chaotic, precious, and probably deserves its own novella.

The Spellshop is charming, soft around the edges, and full of magic that feels lived-in rather than flashy. A cozy escape with a lot of heart. Give this one a read if you enjoy cozy romantasy.