Synopsis:

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.

Genre: Cosy Fantasy
Publisher: PanMacmillan
Pub Date: 06 August 2026 (UK)

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Disclaimer: This book was sent to me for free by the publisher.

Review:

Marin is a sailor and supply runner, fetching and delivering anything requested of her to the islands around Alyssium. It’s just her and her trusted friend, a sea serpent named Perri. One delivery takes her to Alyssium itself, and she arrives to find the city in the midst of a revolution. Even though she likes to sail alone, Marin rescues whom she can, including her friend Dax, a composer and some of his colleagues, and she discovers that maybe having company might not be so bad…

When I learned that we were getting a third Spellshop book, I was very excited, and then thrilled to learn it would be following Marin, whom we met in the previous books. Marin was an interesting character to follow – in the last book, our brief encounter with her painted her as a confident and sure individual, but that is not quite the case. She’s hurt and full of self-doubt, and to watch her gradually learn to believe in herself was really lovely.

The side characters were wonderful too: Sarah Beth Durst really knows how to make a found family! I don’t know why I didn’t expect to fall in love with another sentient plant, but of course I did.

The plot in this book is further-reaching than in the previous two, and we really get to see the effects of the revolution from a wider perspective. What we learned in the first two books is a great background for understanding what happens in this third one. Even though it is definitely a cosy fantasy, there are actual stakes, and we touch on politics and economy alongside the sweeter things.

My favourite thing, however, is the world. The author is brilliant at writing magical and imaginative places. All the islands we visit are lovely, and honestly, I’d be happy to see any of them myself! I really loved seeing more than one place in this instalment, and I hope that we get to know more about these other places in the future.

Overall this was a lovely book. Sarah Beth Durst has perfected the cosy fantasy imo, and I think this might have been my favourite instalment yet. I loved the characters and exploring the wider world this time around, and I am so excited to see where we go next.

Thank you SO much to the publisher for sending me an ARC to review!