Cosy Fantasy books
by Sarah Beth Durst
The Spell Shop
What a delightfully enchanting treasure this book is. I was captivated from the very first line, even though it's not a genre I'm usually into. This is the perfect 'switch off' novel that truly allows you to escape reality. Perfect for a cosy read by the fireplace.
The world Durst has created is truly spectacular. The way she describes the places and the world events that are unfolding is profoundly riveting. So much so that I read all 374 pages in one sitting. Each character is so well rounded they're cherished friends from the moment they're released from the page to the reader's imagination.
Kiela is the most magnanimous heroine it's impossible not to love her, even when she's being frustratingly naive. Her passion for books is so alluring I admired her from the very beginning.
I adored the way the characters cared for one another and even tattle-tale Fenerer was a (semi) likeable character. I hoped there would be a sequel to this book, as it really is a remarkable tale that will be cherished for a long time to come. This is definitely a story that deserves to be recognised.
Due to my photosensitivity, I'm not a movie watcher, but I do think this would make a movie worthy of an oscar. This was my first Durst book, but I'm definitely keen to read more of her work.
The Enchanted Greenhouse
At first I was a little disappointed that this tale wasn't a direct continuation of Kiela and Caz's story, but by the end of the first chapter I was again completely entranced. The pure devotion Yarrow has for the plants and the endless magical lands within the greenhouse is not only admirable, but endearing.
This isn't just a cosy story, but an intimate glimpse into a world that caresses the imagination. As the relationship between Yarrow and Terlu develops, each of them is confronted with their past traumas that have developed into life-long fears that have crippled their emotional growth.
With the help of a few loving sentient plants with outgoing, yet vastly different personalities, both Terlu and Yarrow confront themselves and each other as they race against time to save the Enchanted Greenhouse they have all come to cherish.
While Yarrow and Terlu's adventures are far removed from Kiela and Caz's, the way their lives are fundamentally linked is so compelling that you can't help but continue to imagine all the possibilities on how their stories will continue to unfold.
I really hope there's a book three on the horizon, because Durst's imagined world is a warm blanket on a cold day - it's the most beautiful way to escape reality and revisit the magical beauty of imagination.