A Cozy Fantasy in a World Full of Charm
Sea of Charms
The Spellshop
Cozy Fantasy Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romantasy
Bramble
July 28, 2026
Ebook, Audiobook, Paperback, Hardcover
384
Marin had always belonged on the great blue sea. When the man she thought was the love of her life schemed to ruin her parents’ business, she did what her heart knew best: she fled to the sea. Now working as a supply runner on her own boat, Marin sails from island to island, delivering a varied array of goods: letters, flour, stories, and even the occasional enchanted statue. It’s a lonely life, but it’s hers. Besides, she’s got the company of Perri the sea serpent and Ree the sailor shrub. They’re the best crew she could ask for. On one of her routine trips to the capital of the Crescent Islands Empire, Alyssium, Marin finds the city on fire and a revolution underway—so she offers transportation to Dax, a composer friend who refuses to leave behind his instruments. What starts as a rescue evolves into a deal: Marin will keep Dax on as a (temporary) member of her crew if he becomes her pretend boyfriend at the End-of-Harvest Festival back home. Against her better judgment, Marin finds herself intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, his charming smile—and realizes that perhaps she isn’t saving him. Maybe it’s the other way around. Sea of Charms is a cozy fantasy romance about finding your crew, your family, and moreover, finding yourself.
The third installment in The Spellshop series keeps the magic going
Sarah Beth Durst’s Sea of Charms was my first experience with her cozy fantasy Spellshop series. While readers can absolutely enjoy this novel without reading the earlier books—The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse—I suspect I would have appreciated Sea of Charms even more had I started at the beginning of the series.
Still, this book is all sweetness and light. A true cozy fantasy.
The readers follow Marin, a supply runner on her ship Silver, as she transports supplies across the Crescent Island Empire. When a revolution overthrows the emperor, Marin finds herself transporting refugees out of the capital city, Alyssium. One of her transports is Dax, an ethereal composer determined to finish his masterpiece. Marin and Dax form a close friendship and, ultimately, a sweet romance.
What readers will likely love most about Sea of Charms:
- Only one bed
- He calls her a “symphony”
- Adorable sidekicks: a sea serpent named Perri, a talking shrub named Ree, and even a winged-cat stowaway
- Magical creatures at every turn
- A stunning crystalline sea setting
- Finding your “crew”
Sarah Beth Durst’s imagination shines throughout the novel. She fills the world with vibrant characters, enchanting creatures, and magical landscapes.
What kept this from being a five-star review for me was, while beautiful, I really craved more depth in the story. Reading Sea of Charms felt like listening to a gentle, harmonious lullaby while being gently rocked on a ship. It was, quite honestly, hard to stay “awake” for it. I felt my mind wandering and skipping pages to find a bit more action or tension that would grab hold of my attention again.
Even so, Sarah Beth Durst fans will enjoy this next installment in the Spellshop series. I would also recommend it to readers looking for fantasy filled with wonder and comfort.
Celeste is a woman who is unwavering about certain things in life; three of those being books, cats, and cold brew coffee. If she can enjoy all three at the same time, it’s going to be a good day. Her favorite genres are fantasy or sci-fi romance, historical romance, and historical fiction but every few books she likes to mix it up with contemporary fiction, a good psychological thriller, or an inspiring memoir. She has a busy schedule working full-time for an online university but she makes sure to unwind each day with stories, either by reading to her elementary school-aged daughter or tucking herself in bed with her Kindle or the latest book she picked up at a local book store.
