Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst

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✦ BLURB ✦

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.

Read in whatever order your heart desires, but don’t miss The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse.

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A sea serpent, a sailor shrub, and a second chance at belonging.

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Pre-Reading Thoughts

The first two Spellshop books were absolute treasures — equal parts charm and comfort — so I opened Sea of Charms with that blend of excitement and nerves that comes with returning to a beloved world. What if this one didn’t quite live up to the others? Then again, Sarah Beth Durst is one of those authors where even a “lesser” book is still something special, so I was fairly confident I’d be in good hands.

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Post-Reading

As I thought…
Durst delivers again. Sea of Charms is everything I hoped it would be: bright, tender, full of laughter and tears in equal measure. The Crescent Islands are alive with colour and character, and Marin’s journey feels like coming home — even when she’s far from shore.

It surprised me by…
How deeply it explores belonging. The romance is delightful — the fake-boyfriend-to-real-partner arc is pure joy — but it’s the found family that anchors this story. Marin’s bond with Perri and Ree, the unexpected connections forged along the way, the understanding that “home” isn’t always a fixed point — it’s all so beautifully handled.

There are some heartbreaking moments - saddest line in the whole book; "His little voice was carried away by the wind", IYKYK -but overall this is an amazing, beautiful story and I already can't wait for the next one.

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🎵 Music Pairing

Featured Song: “Home” – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Vibe Album: Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
Artist Recommendation: Florence + The Machine — especially her oceanic, soaring tracks like Ship to Wreck

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🌈 Vibe Check

Colour Palette: Coral pink, sea-glass green, gold at sunset
Soundtrack: Seagulls, fiddle music, and laughter echoing over the waves
Season: Late summer turning to autumn — festival season on the sea
Mood: Joy after a storm
Scent: Salt air, oranges, and baking bread

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🃏 Tarot Pull: 4 of Wands

A card of celebration, belonging, and shared joy — exactly the spirit of Sea of Charms. Marin’s voyage becomes a feast for the heart: a recognition that the real magic isn’t in spells or storms, but in finding the people who make you feel at home. Joy, belonging, the moment you realize you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. (Pulled from the Cosy Witch Tarot — whose mantra for this card reads, “Family is whoever makes you feel the most safe & comfortable being you.” It couldn’t be more perfect.)

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📚 For fans of:

Book: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
TV/Movie: Our Flag Means Death — for the humour, heart, and high-seas hijinks

Sea of Charms publishes on the 21st July, 2026. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.