The Enchanted Greenhouse

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst tells the tale of Terlu Perna, who broke the law for the simple reason of loneliness. She cast a spell to create a magically sentient spider plant. As a result of her actions, she was transformed into a wooden statue and hidden away in an alcove of the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium.

This seemed to be the end of her story. However, one day, Terlu awakens amidst the cold of winter on a nearly-deserted island brimming with hundreds of magical greenhouses. Starving and freezing, she encounters the only other human on the island— a grumpy gardener. Much to her surprise, he offers her a place to sleep, clean clothes, and freshly baked honey cakes, at least until she is ready to sail home.

But Terlu has no desire to return home. The greenhouses are a dream come true, each one more marvellous than the last. When she discovers that the magic sustaining these greenhouses is failing, leading to the demise of all within them, she realises she must help, even if it means breaking the law once more.

This time, however, she is not alone. With the assistance of the gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu embarks on a quest to unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer. Her mission: to save the island and possibly find a second chance at happiness and love.