The Spellshop is a warm, magical escape into the world of cozy fantasy, where the charm lies in the cottagecore vibes, found family and the multitude of its fantasy creatures. The story follows Kiela, who starts off as a bit anti-social and prickly, but the contrast between the fast-paced city life and the peaceful rural setting begins to reveal her softer side.

Now let’s talk about those cottagecore vibes. From gardening (why aren’t there more fantasy gardening books?), crafting, to baking, this book has all the elements that make this a cottagecore world you want to live in. Especially with the introduction of cinnamon buns (yes, cinnamon buns), I’m sold. And just when I thought the coziness had peaked, jam-making enters the scene. At this point, I’m fully cheering on the book as it layers on more warmth and charm.

While the dialogue starts off a bit sparse, it builds wonderfully as the story progresses, adding more life to the interactions between characters. And can we talk about Cas, the talking spider plant? He is that quirky, lovable addition to a story that really embodies a cozy, eccentric atmosphere.

Speaking of creatures, oh my goodness, this book is stuffed with it! Mermaids, merhorses, flying cats (yes, flying cats!), forest spirits, centaurs, it’s like every cute creature you’ve ever dreamed of packed into one book.

Despite the cozy vibes, the story doesn’t shy away from showing the harsher sides of the world. Yet, the focus remains on the beauty of a cottage-life, neighborly love, and an ever-growing found family. Although the moral undertone lays on thick and the plot may feel a bit translucent, it doesn’t detract from it’s warm, fuzzy feelings. Be warned though, stakes tend to rise toward the end in a magical storm of plot twists and action.

Many readers have compared it to the feeling they got reading Legends and Lattes for the first time. And you know what? I get that. It gets cozier with every chapter, and for fans of cottagecore and cozy fantasy, this is a must-read.