Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst Narrator: Caitlin Davies
Series: Spellshop #3
Published by Harlequin Audio on July 21, 2026
Genres: Historical Mystery
Length: 13 hours, 12 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: NetGalley
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Marin is a supply runner with her own boat that she sails from island to island, delivering whatever anyone will pay her to deliver: letters, flour, even the occasional enchanted lemur. It’s a lonely life, but it’s hers, and she wouldn’t trade the freedom of the sea for anything. Her only companion is a sea serpent, Perri, whom she saved from a fisherfolk’s net.
One day, she sails to Alyssium and discovers the city is on fire. There’s been a revolution, and the empire has fallen. Marin, with Perri, begins transporting refugees, finding them new homes where they can start over. One such refugee is Dax, a composer who refuses to leave behind his instruments, no matter how much she tries to emphasize the gravity of the situation. Intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, and his charming smile, Marin discovers perhaps she isn’t saving him ― maybe it’s the other way around.
Sarah Beth Durst has become the Queen of Cozy Romantasy for me. So far all of the books in the Spellshop series have been adorably cute with interesting characters in strange and unusual places with magic surrounding them in one way or another. Sea of Charms is the third book of the series and does not disappoint as one of the characters from the prior books sails the seas, touching the lives of some of the characters we already knew in the series and introducing the reader to new places not yet seen.
Marin is the intrepid captain of a ship and a supply runner who just happens to travel with a sea serpent named Perri for a companion. We learned a bit about Marin in The Enchanted Greenhouse as she dropped off a statue and later ended up with Ree, a sentient plant, to be her first mate from said Greenhouse. It was easy to like Marin. She has a big heart and even though hers was broken by a man who tried to sabotage her family she is still incredibly giving and generous. But don’t worry this could be read as a standalone even if you haven’t read the other books in the series.
Dax is a talented musician and composer. He has lived most of his life inside a conservatory learning his craft and preparing to write his Opus. Dax has enjoyed all the stories Marin tells and sees her most times she comes to the capitol city. When the Emperor is deposed and the capitol thrown into chaos, Dax ends up on Marin’s ship and finally gets to see the world he has old learned about from the semi-exaggerated and sometimes made up tales. What Marin didn’t expect to find in the musician and plant were a crew and a found family that would help to heal her heart.
I had a lot of fun with this story. The beginning took a little time to get into because it rehashed a few events we already read about. But once Dax ends up on board and we get the fake dating trope thrown in the mix, I had a great time with the story. The world and creatures in it are fascinating. From lands with hording dragons and the people who tend them, to others with mystical fabled beings that are huge and snuggly to Isles with flying cats as a norm. It was all so interesting and fun. Dax was adorably likeable and a perfect fit for Marin, even if only he and her parents saw it right off.
These are a lot of fun if you want a sweet Cozy fantasy story with a feel good happily ever after ending.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★
Sound Effects: None
Caitlin Davies is a pro at narration and it shows. The performance was easy and flowing with good pacing. She is a solid narrator and a good selection for this book and the entire series so far. She maintains the prior voices used for the other characters really well so that if you have read all the books in the series there is continuity to them. She definitely added to my enjoyment of the story.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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I’m very excited to start this, it’s such a fun series and I definitely want to learn more about Marin😁
She was a fun character to play around with.
This does look and sound so cozy and fun
Yes…It totally was. Plus the covers of these are both pretty and distinct.
Beautiful covers on this series! I feel like I would like to try it at some point. Great review!
I’ll admit the covers are what convinced me to start the series. They are really fitting.
Thank you for a lovely review, Robin – always a treat when a favourite author produces another book:).
So true…great to spend some time with an old friend
I am waiting for book 2 🙂
Ah…enjoy. I thought the Greenhouses were so cool