"The Spellshop" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Come talk about your initial, general impressions!

Please save all discussion of particulars, details from the story, character choices, plot questions, etc. for the full spoiler thread.

Content warnings for those who want them: (view spoiler)[ Death of a parent, Domestic Abuse (hide spoiler)]

User-submitted content warnings on Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6...

(More about CWs here.)

[Dale]

I enjoyed it! read it with my daughter. No a spoiler but it is a family friendly novel.

[Aga]

I’m almost 30% in and I had to slow down a little bit to discuss while I’m reading.

I have no idea why is this book listed as romantasy. There is (view spoiler)[a shirtless man on the roof. And it’s clear he is the love interest (hide spoiler)] but it’s definitely a cozy fantasy book. The romantic aspect importance seems to be similar to Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries so far.

[Netanella]

My library book hold for this come in early, last week, and I "accidentally" finished it before the book read started!

Aga, I agree with you about the mislabeling of "romantasy." There are clearly romantic elements within, but the cozy elements come in much more clearly than a fantasy romance.

My favorite character ... Meep!

[Meredith]

My library hold came in surprisingly fast, so I started last week. I've been listening to the audio on a couple roadtrips and enjoying it. The narrator is good with doing different voices.

[Aga]

It’s working great as a comfort read. I had an exhausting week and now I want to make some jam XD

[Muhammad Adib]

The book's a bit slow at the start, but it's starting to pick up. I can really relate to the main character, and the writing style is pretty good. I'm curious to see where the story goes from here!

[Seven]

First chapter impression: This feels like a whimsical, light-hearted fantasy set in a rich, effortlessly woven world inhabited by a unique cast of classic fairy tale denizens. I think it's going to be fun to read.

[Melanie, the neutral party]

The narrator is the same woman who narrates Girls with Sharp Sticks and every time I hear her voice, I think of that book's main character. That being said the book so far is basic. Not awful; not good. Maybe trying too hard to be cozy but also mostly succeeding.

[Jenni]

It's definitely a "cozy" read. It's good, not great. What's annoying me so far about the audiobook version is that the narrator is like over enunciating the endings of words that end in T and D.

[Lowell]

Just read the whole thing in one go. I enjoyed it for what it is - lighthearted and relaxing. Definitely more of a cozy fantasy than a romance, but one thing that stands out are the background themes of revolution in the face of environmental disruption and disaster….

[Melani]

I am having trouble buying that a house abandoned for 15ish years is in decent enough shape that you can just move in and do some cleaning and hey-o house. Where are the animals that moved in because it's BEEN ABANONDED for 15ish years. And it's on an island near the sea. WHY DOES IT EVEN HAVE A ROOF AT THIS POINT? Like, I get that we're supposed to kind of handwave it because cozy fantasy, but the realist in me is rebelling and having a hard time getting past this.

[Melanie, the neutral party]

This conversation is becoming specific, so please continue in the spoiler thread.

[Keith]

Aga wrote: "It’s working great as a comfort read. I had an exhausting week and now I want to make some jam XD"

Me too. it definately helped unwind.

[Melanie]

I nearly put this down at first, but I'm glad I carried on. I'm now on pg 100 and whereas I have some issues with it, I am enjoying it.

[Kinematic]

I'm new to this community and reading The Spellshop late in the month but I am really appreciating the monthly books because I would never have picked this up to read it otherwise but am finding it a fun read. About 100 pages in and it reminds me so much of just sitting down and playing stardew valley. Very cozy, community/friendship building, and full of discovery.

[Olga]

I started the book yesterday and got through the first nine chapters very quickly because I couldn’t sleep. I want to like it, but so far the most intense feeling I have about the book is annoyance at the teeth-clenching sweetness of it all. Am I turning into a cynic?

[Sarah]

I think i did a lot of eye rolling at first too, Olga. It’s a quick read though and it does get a bit better.

[Kaia]

My library hold finally came in, so I am getting a late start on this one. About 100 pages in, and I’m finding it very readable (though I’m not sure how there can be so much more book left at this point - I feel like it could wrap up easily in another 100 pages). It is very light and cozy, which is what I need right now because this month has been pretty stressful, and as a librarian, I appreciate all of the book love.

[Heléne]

One the most cozy fantasy reads. This is like a cashmere blanket and a glass of good wine (or any preferable beverage) after a hard days work. No high stakes with found family. Since I am a librarian myself, I totally get the MC, but she is quite the introvert in the beginning.

[Sarah]

It was cute read, I just wish the author explore the theme more. Also the Love Interest was very dry tbh. But still a nice read over all. Can't wait to read the second book