30 Saratoga Ave., Waterford, NY

I found this bookshop in a small strip of stores anchored by a Stewart’s Shop heading into Waterford, a cozy little store (self-described as “a witchy bookstore/headshop” on Instagram) that sells more than novels and notebooks. Let’s say that Gandalf the Grey would enjoy browsing here, and the shop has a unique angle that stands apart from all other bookshops in the area, focusing on a “heady” mix of the fantastic, romantic, feminine, and mystical.

The shop is one large room with an array of shelves, tables, decorations, displays, baskets, glass counters, and seating (a small loveseat with two matching armchairs). Booklovers will find novels and nonfiction alike, but most of the offerings definitely lean into the specific vibes of the shop, with lots of romance, fantasy, sci-fi, occult, speculative, suspense, horror, and so on. There were unique categories like Creatures, Romantacy, Mythos, Space, Tarot, Pagan, Cults & Crime, and sections about cannabis (how to grow it, eat it, drink it, smoke it, etc.) and foraging for unique herbs and mushrooms. You’re just as likely to stumble across a book on low-carbon gardening as a text on the King Arthur myths, or as much a cannabis cookbook as you would an erotic modern retelling of Greek myths (which need little sexing up as it is!).

Alongside all the books are plenty of gifts: notebooks and journals, kits and cards, pipes and figurines, toys and trinkets, lights and bookmarks, pens and pencils, and all sorts of zodialogical and smoking ephemera. There’s a lot to sift through and I only lightly browsed the shop the day of my visit, but if any of this is your kind of thing, then this is your go-to shop.

Atmosphere — A room decorated with string lights, vines, and displays galore, balancing a love of speculative reading and cannabis-friendly gifts. It may be in a small-town strip-mall, but they do a good job of helping you forget that once you’re inside.

Quality — The books were all new and the gifts were all unique and high quality. I didn’t see much in the way of used books.

Quantity — They have a small-to-modest selection for each category they offer. But they try to cover a lot of ground for a shop that has a very unique focus. Lots of gifts too for a one-room shop.

Diversity — The shop does lean into the fantastic and feminine, the strange and seductive, the erotic and occult, and you may be pressed to find a lot of Hollywood biographies, historical tomes, travel guides, or modern political fare, the stuff that fills up a lot of the nonfiction sections of other bookstores. They cover a lot of ground, just don’t expect to find the latest presidential memoir waiting for you.

Affordability — The books were all very fairly priced.

Amenities — There are loads of gifts, especially for the occult- and cannabis-minded, plus places to sit and chat, and it’s next door to a Stewart’s for a quick snack or gas.

Location — Right on Route 32 (Saratoga Ave.) between Cohoes and Waterford NY, not long after the bridge if you’re heading north from Albany, NY. Just look for the Stewart’s gas station!

Customer Service — There were some chatting folks behind the counting hanging out, and some people who came in to visit them while I browsed. The kind of shop where you get to know the staff and become a regular if you’re into the vibe they’re putting out!

Overall — I always like it when a bookshop tries to offer something unique from every other, and a witchy bookstore/headshop is certainly catering to a specific reader that Barnes & Noble may not be ready to go after, so good for Golden Leaf! A fun little shop for all your off-the-beaten path fantasy and occult needs.