Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst Narrator: Caitlin Davies
Series: Spellshop #2
Published by MacMillan Audio on July 15, 2025
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Length: 13 hours, 32 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: NetGalley
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Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium.
This should have been the end of her story . . . Yet one day, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. She’s starving and freezing, and the only other human on the island is a grumpy gardener. To her surprise, he offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes, and freshly baked honey cakes—at least until she’s ready to sail home.
But Terlu doesn’t want to return home, and as she grows closer with the unwittingly charming gardener, Yarrow, she learns that the magic that sustains the greenhouses is failing—causing the death of everything within them. Terlu knows she must help, even if that means breaking the law again.
This time, though, she isn’t alone. Assisted by Yarrow and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island—and have a fresh chance at happiness and love.
Welcome to an Island isolated from almost everyone. A place where, in the dead of winter, various plants thrive and survive in a myriad of various greenhouses enchanted by a now dead Sorcerer. This is a wonderous world, some greenhouses have plants that sing, others vines that act like snakes; some have an ecosystem set up with tiny enchanted creatures in it. Every one is a wonderous achievement an a unique environment. When Terlu awakes from the statue spell she was placed in, she finds she isn’t in Caltray anymore, she has been moved to the isle of The Enchanted Greenhouse.
This is the second book in the Spellshop series. Terlu was the lonely librarian who was responsible for making Caz, a spider plant come to life. She was hoping for a companion or friend, but what she got was a punishment far greater than the crime. She was a statue for six years, to be a reminder to those thinking to practice Sorcery of the cost. Saved by her mentor and head librarian, she has been sent to a little known Island in hopes she can help the last gardener save the greenhouses.
Terlu, was desperate for a friend, that is why she made Caz in the first place. Yarrow has been the lone gardener on the isle for years. He is used to the quiet and peace of the greenhouses. He is not used to constant companionship and talking. It is all a little overwhelming in the beginning and he isn’t sure what to make of the over happy, very talkative woman now in his midst. He asked for help from the capital, someone who could work magic to help save the greenhouses. He did not expect the non-sorcerer woman who showed up on his Island.
Terlu is understandably reluctant to work magic again. But with some urging from Yarrow and Lotti, a sentient plant left behind by the former Sorcerer, she is bolstered to try and find a way to save the failing greenhouses. What follows is a slow burn romance between Terlu and Yarrow. It is sweet as they find all the things they have in common and how both of them have been left behind by the world. Yarrow is patient and understanding. He has a quite unwavering belief in Terlu that is just perfect.
I enjoyed this cozy fantasy that is more about the setting and a sweet romance than any kind of big adventure. The greenhouse descriptions were magical and I loved the idea of practically a palace built of interconnected greenhouses. Sure there are some slow spots as Terlu deals with her reluctance to cast spells, and she and Yarrow learn how to communicate with one another. But overall there are so many fun ideas and many more sentient plants.
If you enjoyed The Spellshop, which I did, then this should not be a surprise. This isn’t a deep fantasy but a fluffy one, and sometimes that is exactly what you need. I don’t always click with the cozy fantasy genre but this series has been fun and I fly through the audiobooks. There is also a small portion of the book where we get an update on Keila and Caz. I loved that we know what they have been up to in the time since the library fell.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★
Sound Effects: None
Caitlin Davies is a pro at narration. Her performance of this cozy fantasy captured the sweetness of Yarrow and the Terlu’s nervousness coupled with the deep need to be liked. Her narration was easy and flowing with good pacing. She is a solid narrator and a good selection for this book to capture the characters and emotions in it.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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Lovely review! I really enjoyed this too, and I hope she writes more books in this series😁
Yes!!! I’d actually love one of the adventures with the Captain of the ship and her new sentient plant first mate.
Ahh, good to know we get an update on Kiela and Caz! Caz especially was my favourite (and Meep).
Meep was mentioned too! Yes, I liked seeing what they were up too on their little Island too.
Nice post
Thanks. Hope you get a chance to read this author.
I love that this is the story of Terlu! Caz was my favorite character in The Spellshop and I did always wonder about her. I’m picking up a copy of this on audio. It looks wonderful and I loved The Spellshop. Great review!