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“When you were young, the world seemed gloriously huge and life infinite, and you were unaware of your own limitations and the barriers the world could erect in front of you.

Terlu remembered she’d looked beyond the horizon and dreamed of what life would be like out there. So many possibilities! She hadn’t understood that you couldn’t have everything, and every door you walked through meant other doors you closed. There was a cost to leaving, and she’d paid without a second’s thought, with no guarantee of what she’d find out in the world beyond. She’d thought it would be easy to find her place.”

Terlu Perna was a librarian until her sheer loneliness led her to illegally casting a spell and creating a sentient plant, Caz. The punishment for this crime saw Terlu turned into a statue and placed in the North Reading Room in the Great Library in Alyssium. Yet fate had different plans for Terlu, and somehow she finds herself on a mysterious island and her statue state reversed. When she starts exploring the island she discovers a greenhouse full of mesmerising wonders and then further greenhouses inside, endless magical greenhouses. Then she meets a gardener, the only other person on the island. When he mistakes Terlu for an Imperial Sorcerer come to rescue his failing greenhouses she is confused but slowly begins to feel that she must stay and help. For to lose the Greenhouse of Belde, and to see the gardener lose something so precious to him, would be such a tragedy. 

After reading The Spellshop I had expected it to remain a standalone and had no idea Durst meant to return to this world, but gosh am I glad she did because I loved this one even more. The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst delivers a unique magical tale of fresh starts and healing. 

Terlu Perna is what I can only describe as adorable and I immediately became invested in her story. It’s clear from the beginning that she hasn’t been shown much patience or acceptance, she has never found it easy to make friends but desperately wanted to. Our Terlu has just always wanted to be liked but felt like she’s a little too much for people, a little too full on when she meets them. Seeing this vulnerability through her perspective made me really feel for her, because yes, making friends even as an adult can be hard. When we first meet Yarrow we see the opposite side as he is cautious, quiet and keeps his distance, understandably so considering he’s been left isolated on this island for many years. Yet Terlu, craving companionship bombards him with questions and doesn’t quite see that he needs time to adjust. Now this is where the book surpassed The Spellshop for me because Terlu and Yarrow’s relationship was so compelling in the way that it organically grew. Slowly they begin a friendship with small acts of kindness, understanding and trust in one another. Terlu learns to respect when Yarrow needed silence and space to open up, to give him advice without telling him what to do and in turn Yarrow shows his faith in Terlu’s ability to master spells even when her using magic put them in danger. He builds her confidence and shows her he cares in ways others have never done. They are wholesome and I was completely charmed by them both.

“She looked up and squinted at the top of the greenhouse. Cradled beneath its glass peak was an orb that looked to be made of molten gold. An imitation sun, it swam with every shade of yellow from pale lemon to deep amber. Circling it were dragonflies with sparkling diamond-like bodies and golden wings. They danced together in pairs and trios in a musicless promenade.”

Durst’s worldbuilding is also exquisite this time around just for being so much more magical. The Greenhouse of Belde holds so much wonder and delight. Inside there’s a greenhouse with singing flowers, one with roses of every hue, one with a myriad of ferns, even an ocean greenhouse with a swimming turtle (my favourite!) and so many more, each more spectacular and dazzling than the previous. Durst really hits your senses with the smells of all the flora and fauna, the visuals of vibrant colours and, though it may be cliché to say this, it was simply spellbinding. Then there were all the fantasy creatures inhabited within the greenhouse, the sparkling dragonflies, the miniature dragons (another favourite!), the winged cat, Emeral who went wherever he pleased and of course the sentient plants. Lottie is the first we meet, she’s a rose who had laid dormant for many years and once awakened is so happy to be alive. Lottie is very much different from Caz, but she’s still sweet and injects a light-hearted tone to the narrative.

The Enchanted Greenhouse is ultimately a feel good read which left me feeling warm, comforted and satisfied. It also left me feeling quite hungry, especially for honey cakes, so be warned.

She drifted through life, wanting and reaching but never having, always feeling just a little lost and just a little empty and just a little lonely.

“I’m just too sensitive.”

Yarrow grunted. “I don’t know what that means.”

“I’m hurt when I shouldn’t be.”

“If you’re hurt, you’re hurt. It doesn’t matter if anyone else thinks you don’t have a good enough reason. Pain doesn’t require approval.”

ARC provided by Olivia at UK Tor and Pan McMillan in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy! All quotes used are taken from an ARC and are therefore subject to change upon publication.

The Enchanted Greenhouse is out 17th July but you can pre-order HERE