The Spellshop
Kiela, a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, has always preferred books to people. When a revolution forces her and her sentient spider plant assistant, Caz, to flee with precious spellbooks, they find refuge on Kiela's childhood island home of Caltrey. There, she discovers the empire's neglect has left the town struggling with destructive magic and failing crops. Feeling responsible, Kiela decides to open a secret spellshop, risking her life to share magic with the commoners and make things right — while a nosy, handsome neighbor keeps finding reasons to help.
A bitter Caltrey local who distrusts Kiela and tries to use his authority against her.
Kiela's sentient spider plant assistant and closest companion.
Kiela's kind, persistent neighbor on Caltrey, a merhorse herder who becomes her love interest.
A surviving royal heir hiding on Caltrey under the guise of an imperial inspector.
The Spellshop is the first book in Sarah Beth Durst's Spellshop series — a set of standalone romantasy novels sharing the same magical world, followed by The Enchanted Greenhouse (2025).
The Spellshop was a finalist for the 2024 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romantasy (the award went to Sarah J. Maas's House of Flame and Shadow) and spent multiple weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.