spellshop – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Cozy Fantasy Romance
Length: 370 pages
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: Bramble
Release Date: July 28th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Marin is a supply runner with her own boat that she sails from island to island, delivering whatever anyone will pay her to deliver: letters, flour, even the occasional enchanted lemur. It’s a lonely life, but it’s hers, and she wouldn’t trade the freedom of the sea for anything. Her only companion is a sea serpent, Perri, whom she saved from a fisherfolk’s net.

One day, she sails to Alyssium and discovers the city is on fire. There’s been a revolution, and the empire has fallen. Marin, with Perri, begins transporting refugees, finding them new homes where they can start over. One such refugee is Dax, a composer who refuses to leave behind his instruments, no matter how much she tries to emphasize the gravity of the situation. Intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, and his charming smile, Marin discovers perhaps she isn’t saving him ― maybe it’s the other way around.

From the acclaimed author of The Spellshop, Sea of Charms is a delightful cosy fantasy for fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune.

Thank you to Bramble for the gifted ARC.

THE USUAL WHIMSY.

I’ve read quite a few Sarah Beth Durst books and they definitely all have the same vibes. Take that note as you will.

I liked the seafaring adventure of this one. With the island hopping, whimsical creatures and a woman trying to outrun the things that have happened to her. I thought the romance was super sweet with Dax. He is clearly down bad and has such a genuine, kind soul and that was a just what Marin needed.

Thematically I liked it too. There’s some topics that are relevant to today that I thought were woven in well without feeling heavy handed. They also fit the nature of the story itself so it’s easy to see the cross over without getting pulled out of the story.

I wish Marin hadn’t been as wishy washy about Dax for as long as she was though. It got old to hear the same reasoning again and again about why she thought they couldn’t be together and not letting Dax express his opinions on the matter. And this was a 13 hour audiobook. I just don’t think it needed to be that long either.

Overall audience notes: