Terlu Perna is a research librarian. She got lonely, because not many people came by to talk in the Great Library of Alyssium. So she illegally cast a spell on the little spider plant to make it more of a companion. I did say, illegally. THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE looks at the consequences.

Having spent several years condemned to be a wooden statue, Terlu wakes up in a snowy forest area. She is pretty sure she’s not near the library. Her exploration finds a row of magical greenhouses. Yarrow, the gardener, was sent the statue and an unbinding spell, and he wisely placed the statue out of doors in case any dangerous side-effects occurred.

Discussions reveal that the magically heated greenhouses were built by a long-dead sorcerer who loved exotic plants. The structures are now failing. Kind, quiet, Yarrow is the last gardener on the island, growing his food along with tending the exotics. He needs help, but Terlu has no idea what to do. Rather, she knows she can research, and she loves plants. If that’s not enough, she doesn’t know what else to try.

This is definitely a sweet story, full of fuss and detail about the different characters of the different greenhouses, the mini dragons, the cheeky winged cat, and the talking rose. If you enjoy botany, gardening or an unusual low-stress fantasy, Sarah Beth Durst has written a lovely tale. THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE is part of a series called Spellshop. While the characters are few and dangers limited, there is a background story playing out on the mainland, and we get hints each time a boat arrives with supplies. The empire is changing, but the isolation of the island keeps it both safe and at risk. Safe from mobs or disease, at risk if the boats stop arriving or the gardeners get badly hurt. I would be interested to read a book observing this process of change from closer quarters. THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE is suitable for readers from YA to adult, with a gentle, understated romance.