“All art—serious, frivolous, and everything in between—exists to say, ‘You are not alone.’ I think it’s equally, if not more, important to share joy as it is to share pain.”

There are authors you enjoy and authors whose books feel like coming home; Sarah Beth Durst has always been the latter for me. If you’ve been around for a while, you’ll know she is an auto-buy author for me and The Spellshop series is one of my all-time favorites, a complete 5-star experience from the beginning through to this latest addition. “Sea of Charms” is the third installment in the series, following “The Spellshop” and “The Enchanted Greenhouse.” This is a cozy fantasy romance that defies the mold of typical romantasy novels: lower stakes, more heart, and all the more powerful and propulsive for it.

Durst is the queen of redemptive, healing love stories, and Marin and Dax are some of her finest work yet. Simultaneously a wide-eyed dreamer and a total badass, Marin is an unforgettable protagonist. She’s multilayered and relatably flawed, with a jaded worldview and romantic cynicism, but a fierce sense of loyalty to her family and friends. Her reluctant empathy is charming; she wishes she could be selfish, but has too big a heart to ever do so. Meanwhile, Dax is soft, innocent, and unapologetically in awe of the world around him, and the woman who can show him that world. It’s a romance full of Durst’s signature warmth and the assurance that real love never asks you to be anything other than true to yourself. Add in Perry, the shockingly talented sea serpent, and Ree, a talking wax myrtle with a passion for singing and the sea, and you have an unforgettable found family that will steal your heart completely.

“Sea of Charms” does something ambitious and pulls it off beautifully: it widens the lens of this world considerably while never losing the intimate, cozy warmth that made the first two books so irresistible. Durst manages to explore the complexities of revolution and systemic change with her characteristic lightness. Additionally, the expanded scope of setting gives readers insight into a riot of wondrous islands with varied customs and cultures, including a sneak peek at the setting of the upcoming fourth book, “The Magical Cheese Emporium.” A note for new readers: while the first two books were marketed as standalones set in the same world, this installment is best experienced after reading both, and I would consider “The Enchanted Greenhouse” particularly essential reading before picking this one up. “Sea of Charms” manages to celebrate reader nostalgia by allowing us to check in with Kiela and Kaz from the first book while also weaving the previous book throughout this plot. Learning Marin’s POV of “The Enchanted Greenhouse” events adds retroactive richness to the series while still telling a story that feels wholly fresh and original.

Reading a Sarah Beth Durst novel is a specific and irreplaceable experience: her prose feels like a warm hug and a love letter to life itself, approachable and magical in equal measure. These books are vibrant, warm, and casually profound without ever feeling heavy. As a reader, this series makes me feel seen, and inspires me to choose wonder as I actively participate in the creation of my own life. Her books are cozy and low-stakes, and yet each one leaves me feeling like I’ve just been on a healing journey and come out of it somehow both stronger and softer than before.

A special note for audiobook listeners: Caitlin Davies has been the narrator for this entire series and she is, simply put, perfect for it. She brings the characters to life vividly and her voice for the talking plants is a particular delight. This specific installment was given an extra dose of joy because of sweet, musical Ree. Davies sings his little sea ditties several times and it is exactly as charming as it sounds. I adore this series in all its forms, but ultimately the audiobook is my favorite way to enter this world. And to my fellow mamas out there: these books are clean enough to listen to out loud around your little ones (something I am constantly on the lookout for!).

Sometimes life can feel relentlessly heavy, and in those moments, I turn to this series and its insistence that warmth, hope, and healing are not only achievable, but essential. Durst has built a world and a series that consistently delivers on its promise: come as you are, leave feeling lighter, and return whenever you need to. I regularly encounter people who believe literature has to hurt to be meaningful. I strongly disagree. Joy is a legitimate literary pursuit, and stories like “Sea of Charms” showcase this beautifully. Healing, community, and genuine love are some of the noblest pursuits, and these books somehow feel like permission to believe in that goodness again. This book is for readers who want their hearts filled rather than broken, for those looking for a series of wholesome stories that will remind you just how beautiful life can be. And the series isn’t over! “The Magical Cheese Emporium” arrives January 2027, and you already know I will be first in line!

A huge and heartfelt thank you to Bramble and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and ALC via NetGalley 💜

✨ review to come ✨

✨ review to come ✨

✨ review to come ✨

✨ review to come ✨