diff --git a/changes/3285.feature.md b/changes/3285.feature.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3809c0ab02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/3285.feature.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+JSON metadata validation now delegates to ``msgspec.convert`` for the type
+coercions it supports (``Literal`` membership, ``int`` / ``bool`` strictness,
+list-to-tuple), replacing the per-field hand-written ``parse_*`` logic. A small
+fallback validates the recursive JSON values msgspec cannot, now with an
+explicit nesting-depth limit, and a latent generator-exhaustion bug in
+``parse_storage_transformers`` is fixed. See #3285.
+
+As a result some metadata inputs are now parsed more strictly. The previous
+per-field checks compared values with ``==``, which accepts any numerically
+equal object, so a float such as ``2.0`` was accepted as ``zarr_format``; it is
+now rejected because it is not an ``int``. Booleans are likewise no longer
+accepted where an ``int`` is expected, since ``bool`` is an ``int`` subclass.
+Metadata that conforms to the Zarr specification is unaffected.
diff --git a/mkdocs.yml b/mkdocs.yml
index 6a0d94052e..2a64e22309 100644
--- a/mkdocs.yml
+++ b/mkdocs.yml
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ plugins:
             - https://docs.xarray.dev/en/stable/objects.inv
             - https://numpy.org/doc/stable/objects.inv
             - https://numcodecs.readthedocs.io/en/stable/objects.inv
+            - https://msgspec.dev/objects.inv
             - https://developmentseed.org/obstore/latest/objects.inv
             - https://filesystem-spec.readthedocs.io/en/latest/objects.inv
             - https://requests.readthedocs.io/en/latest/objects.inv
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 684ac80b77..eb3556e346 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ dependencies = [
     'google-crc32c>=1.5',
     'typing_extensions>=4.14',
     'donfig>=0.8',
+    'msgspec>=0.19',
 ]
 
 dynamic = [
@@ -269,6 +270,7 @@ extra-dependencies = [
     'typing_extensions==4.14.*',
     'donfig==0.8.*',
     'obstore==0.5.*',
+    'msgspec==0.19.*',
 ]
 
 [tool.hatch.envs.default]
diff --git a/src/zarr/codecs/blosc.py b/src/zarr/codecs/blosc.py
index 087de716fc..ee45632153 100644
--- a/src/zarr/codecs/blosc.py
+++ b/src/zarr/codecs/blosc.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 from zarr.core.buffer.cpu import as_numpy_array_wrapper
 from zarr.core.common import JSON, NamedRequiredConfig, parse_named_configuration
 from zarr.core.dtype.common import HasItemSize
+from zarr.core.json_parse import parse_field
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing import Self
@@ -104,27 +105,24 @@ class BloscCname(metaclass=_DeprecatedStrEnumMeta):
 
 
 def parse_typesize(data: JSON) -> int:
-    if isinstance(data, int):
-        if data > 0:
-            return data
-        else:
-            raise ValueError(
-                f"Value must be greater than 0. Got {data}, which is less or equal to 0."
-            )
-    raise TypeError(f"Value must be an int. Got {type(data)} instead.")
+    parsed: int = parse_field(data, int, "typesize", error=TypeError)
+    if parsed > 0:
+        return parsed
+    else:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Value must be greater than 0. Got {parsed}, which is less or equal to 0."
+        )
 
 
 # todo: real validation
 def parse_clevel(data: JSON) -> int:
-    if isinstance(data, int):
-        return data
-    raise TypeError(f"Value should be an int. Got {type(data)} instead.")
+    parsed: int = parse_field(data, int, "clevel", error=TypeError)
+    return parsed
 
 
 def parse_blocksize(data: JSON) -> int:
-    if isinstance(data, int):
-        return data
-    raise TypeError(f"Value should be an int. Got {type(data)} instead.")
+    parsed: int = parse_field(data, int, "blocksize", error=TypeError)
+    return parsed
 
 
 def _parse_cname(data: object) -> BloscCnameLiteral:
diff --git a/src/zarr/codecs/gzip.py b/src/zarr/codecs/gzip.py
index b8591748f7..7d86a03ba8 100644
--- a/src/zarr/codecs/gzip.py
+++ b/src/zarr/codecs/gzip.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 from zarr.abc.codec import BytesBytesCodec
 from zarr.core.buffer.cpu import as_numpy_array_wrapper
 from zarr.core.common import JSON, parse_named_configuration
+from zarr.core.json_parse import parse_field
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing import Self
@@ -19,13 +20,12 @@
 
 
 def parse_gzip_level(data: JSON) -> int:
-    if not isinstance(data, (int)):
-        raise TypeError(f"Expected int, got {type(data)}")
-    if data not in range(10):
+    parsed: int = parse_field(data, int, "level", error=TypeError)
+    if parsed not in range(10):
         raise ValueError(
-            f"Expected an integer from the inclusive range (0, 9). Got {data} instead."
+            f"Expected an integer from the inclusive range (0, 9). Got {parsed} instead."
         )
-    return data
+    return parsed
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
diff --git a/src/zarr/codecs/zstd.py b/src/zarr/codecs/zstd.py
index f93c25a3c7..6d9f8910a7 100644
--- a/src/zarr/codecs/zstd.py
+++ b/src/zarr/codecs/zstd.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 from zarr.abc.codec import BytesBytesCodec
 from zarr.core.buffer.cpu import as_numpy_array_wrapper
 from zarr.core.common import JSON, parse_named_configuration
+from zarr.core.json_parse import parse_field
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing import Self
@@ -21,17 +22,15 @@
 
 
 def parse_zstd_level(data: JSON) -> int:
-    if isinstance(data, int):
-        if data >= 23:
-            raise ValueError(f"Value must be less than or equal to 22. Got {data} instead.")
-        return data
-    raise TypeError(f"Got value with type {type(data)}, but expected an int.")
+    parsed: int = parse_field(data, int, "level", error=TypeError)
+    if parsed >= 23:
+        raise ValueError(f"Value must be less than or equal to 22. Got {parsed} instead.")
+    return parsed
 
 
 def parse_checksum(data: JSON) -> bool:
-    if isinstance(data, bool):
-        return data
-    raise TypeError(f"Expected bool. Got {type(data)}.")
+    parsed: bool = parse_field(data, bool, "checksum", error=TypeError)
+    return parsed
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/chunk_key_encodings.py b/src/zarr/core/chunk_key_encodings.py
index fb2fd95dee..d871e279d2 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/chunk_key_encodings.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/chunk_key_encodings.py
@@ -13,15 +13,14 @@
     NamedConfig,
     parse_named_configuration,
 )
+from zarr.core.json_parse import parse_field
 from zarr.registry import get_chunk_key_encoding_class, register_chunk_key_encoding
 
 SeparatorLiteral = Literal[".", "/"]
 
 
 def parse_separator(data: JSON) -> SeparatorLiteral:
-    if data not in (".", "/"):
-        raise ValueError(f"Expected an '.' or '/' separator. Got {data} instead.")
-    return cast("SeparatorLiteral", data)
+    return cast("SeparatorLiteral", parse_field(data, Literal[".", "/"], "separator"))
 
 
 class ChunkKeyEncodingParams(TypedDict):
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/common.py b/src/zarr/core/common.py
index 1541683b09..3da5c108b6 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/common.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/common.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 from typing_extensions import ReadOnly
 
 from zarr.core.config import config as zarr_config
+from zarr.core.json_parse import convert, parse_field
 from zarr.errors import ZarrRuntimeWarning
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -147,12 +148,13 @@ def parse_enum[E: Enum](data: object, cls: type[E]) -> E:
 
 
 def parse_name(data: JSON, expected: str | None = None) -> str:
-    if isinstance(data, str):
-        if expected is None or data == expected:
-            return data
-        raise ValueError(f"Expected '{expected}'. Got {data} instead.")
-    else:
-        raise TypeError(f"Expected a string, got an instance of {type(data)}.")
+    try:
+        data = cast("str", convert(data, str))
+    except (ValueError, TypeError) as exc:
+        raise TypeError(f"Expected a string, got an instance of {type(data)}.") from exc
+    if expected is None or data == expected:
+        return data
+    raise ValueError(f"Expected '{expected}'. Got {data} instead.")
 
 
 def parse_configuration(data: JSON) -> JSON:
@@ -227,15 +229,11 @@ def parse_fill_value(data: Any) -> Any:
 
 
 def parse_order(data: Any) -> Literal["C", "F"]:
-    if data in ("C", "F"):
-        return cast("Literal['C', 'F']", data)
-    raise ValueError(f"Expected one of ('C', 'F'), got {data} instead.")
+    return cast("Literal['C', 'F']", parse_field(data, Literal["C", "F"], "order"))
 
 
 def parse_bool(data: Any) -> bool:
-    if isinstance(data, bool):
-        return data
-    raise ValueError(f"Expected bool, got {data} instead.")
+    return cast("bool", convert(data, bool))
 
 
 def parse_int(data: Any) -> int:
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/config.py b/src/zarr/core/config.py
index 42c5ed3b60..c0ebb31353 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/config.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/config.py
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
 
 from donfig import Config as DConfig
 
+from zarr.core.json_parse import parse_field
+
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from donfig.config_obj import ConfigSet
 
@@ -159,7 +161,4 @@ def enable_gpu(self) -> ConfigSet:
 
 
 def parse_indexing_order(data: Any) -> Literal["C", "F"]:
-    if data in ("C", "F"):
-        return cast("Literal['C', 'F']", data)
-    msg = f"Expected one of ('C', 'F'), got {data} instead."
-    raise ValueError(msg)
+    return cast("Literal['C', 'F']", parse_field(data, Literal["C", "F"], "order"))
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/group.py b/src/zarr/core/group.py
index 65f7767a29..e270a43c65 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/group.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/group.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
     parse_shapelike,
 )
 from zarr.core.config import config
+from zarr.core.json_parse import parse_field
 from zarr.core.metadata import ArrayV2Metadata, ArrayV3Metadata
 from zarr.core.metadata.io import save_metadata
 from zarr.core.sync import SyncMixin, sync
@@ -85,18 +86,15 @@
 
 def parse_zarr_format(data: Any) -> ZarrFormat:
     """Parse the zarr_format field from metadata."""
-    if data in (2, 3):
-        return cast("ZarrFormat", data)
-    msg = f"Invalid zarr_format. Expected one of 2 or 3. Got {data}."
-    raise ValueError(msg)
+    return cast("ZarrFormat", parse_field(data, Literal[2, 3], "zarr_format"))
 
 
 def parse_node_type(data: Any) -> NodeType:
     """Parse the node_type field from metadata."""
-    if data in ("array", "group"):
-        return cast("Literal['array', 'group']", data)
-    msg = f"Invalid value for 'node_type'. Expected 'array' or 'group'. Got '{data}'."
-    raise MetadataValidationError(msg)
+    return cast(
+        "Literal['array', 'group']",
+        parse_field(data, Literal["array", "group"], "node_type", error=MetadataValidationError),
+    )
 
 
 # todo: convert None to empty dict
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/json_parse.py b/src/zarr/core/json_parse.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..09c5ca074e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/zarr/core/json_parse.py
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+"""Helpers for validating JSON-decoded metadata.
+
+Most JSON metadata validation is delegated to
+[`msgspec.convert`][msgspec.convert], which handles the type coercions Zarr
+needs (``Literal`` membership, ``int``/``bool`` strictness, list-to-tuple,
+``TypedDict`` with ``NotRequired``). ``convert`` is a thin wrapper that
+translates [`msgspec.ValidationError`][msgspec.ValidationError] into the
+``TypeError`` the rest of the codebase already raises.
+
+msgspec cannot handle two things in Zarr's metadata types:
+
+* the recursive ``JSON`` / ``JSONValue`` aliases, which it rejects at
+  schema-build time, and
+* PEP 728 ``extra_items=`` extension fields, which it silently drops.
+
+``validate_json_value`` is the small hand-written fallback for the first of
+those. See https://github.com/zarr-developers/zarr-python/issues/3285.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from collections.abc import Mapping
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Final, cast, get_origin
+
+import msgspec
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from zarr.core.common import JSON
+
+__all__ = ["MAX_JSON_DEPTH", "convert", "parse_field", "validate_json_value"]
+
+MAX_JSON_DEPTH: Final = 64
+"""Maximum nesting depth accepted by ``validate_json_value``."""
+
+
+def _type_name(type_: Any) -> str:
+    """Render ``type_`` for an error message.
+
+    Parameterized types keep their arguments, so a ``Literal`` reports its
+    members (``Literal[2, 3]``) rather than the bare origin name. ``__name__``
+    would drop them, which loses the most useful part of the message.
+    """
+    if get_origin(type_) is not None:
+        return str(type_).replace("typing.", "")
+    return getattr(type_, "__name__", None) or str(type_).replace("typing.", "")
+
+
+def convert(value: object, type_: Any, *, strict: bool = True) -> Any:
+    """Validate and coerce ``value`` against ``type_`` via [`msgspec.convert`][msgspec.convert].
+
+    On a mismatch msgspec raises
+    [`msgspec.ValidationError`][msgspec.ValidationError]; this re-raises
+    a plain, field-agnostic ``ValueError`` naming the expected type, so callers
+    can add their own field context (see ``parse_field``).
+    """
+    try:
+        return msgspec.convert(value, type_, strict=strict)
+    except msgspec.ValidationError as exc:
+        raise ValueError(f"Expected instance of {_type_name(type_)}, got {value!r}.") from exc
+
+
+def parse_field(
+    data: object, type_: Any, field: str, *, error: type[Exception] = ValueError
+) -> Any:
+    """Validate ``data`` for metadata field ``field`` against ``type_``.
+
+    Wraps ``convert`` and, on failure, re-raises ``error`` with field
+    context, chaining the underlying type error. This keeps the
+    ``convert``-then-re-raise pattern in one place rather than repeating it in
+    every per-field parser.
+    """
+    try:
+        return convert(data, type_)
+    except ValueError as exc:
+        raise error(
+            f"Failed to parse input for {field!r}: expected {_type_name(type_)}, got {data!r}."
+        ) from exc
+
+
+def validate_json_value(value: object, *, max_depth: int = MAX_JSON_DEPTH, _depth: int = 0) -> JSON:
+    """Check that ``value`` is a JSON value and return it unchanged.
+
+    msgspec cannot build a schema for Zarr's recursive ``JSON`` / ``JSONValue``
+    aliases, so this covers the fields typed that way (``attributes``,
+    ``fill_value``, extension-field values). Unlike the previous per-field
+    parsers it also enforces ``max_depth``: a pathologically nested document
+    could otherwise exhaust the interpreter stack.
+    """
+    if _depth > max_depth:
+        raise ValueError(f"JSON value nesting exceeds the maximum depth of {max_depth}.")
+    if value is None or isinstance(value, (bool, int, float, str)):
+        return cast("JSON", value)
+    if isinstance(value, (list, tuple)):
+        for item in value:
+            validate_json_value(item, max_depth=max_depth, _depth=_depth + 1)
+        return cast("JSON", value)
+    if isinstance(value, Mapping):
+        for key, item in value.items():
+            if not isinstance(key, str):
+                raise TypeError(f"JSON object keys must be str, got {type(key).__name__}.")
+            validate_json_value(item, max_depth=max_depth, _depth=_depth + 1)
+        return cast("JSON", value)
+    raise TypeError(f"Value {value!r} is not a valid JSON value.")
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/metadata/v2.py b/src/zarr/core/metadata/v2.py
index 91515d87b9..70d4e1e59c 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/metadata/v2.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/metadata/v2.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
     parse_shapelike,
 )
 from zarr.core.config import config, parse_indexing_order
+from zarr.core.json_parse import parse_field
 from zarr.core.metadata.common import parse_attributes
 
 
@@ -278,9 +279,9 @@ def parse_dtype(data: npt.DTypeLike) -> np.dtype[Any]:
 
 
 def parse_zarr_format(data: object) -> Literal[2]:
-    if data == 2:
-        return 2
-    raise ValueError(f"Invalid value. Expected 2. Got {data}.")
+    from typing import Literal
+
+    return cast("Literal[2]", parse_field(data, Literal[2], "zarr_format"))
 
 
 def parse_filters(data: object) -> tuple[Numcodec, ...] | None:
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/metadata/v3.py b/src/zarr/core/metadata/v3.py
index 9eaccc5076..fc47f8fc95 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/metadata/v3.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/metadata/v3.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 from zarr.core.config import config
 from zarr.core.dtype import VariableLengthUTF8, ZDType, get_data_type_from_json
 from zarr.core.dtype.common import check_dtype_spec_v3
+from zarr.core.json_parse import parse_field, validate_json_value
 from zarr.core.metadata.common import parse_attributes
 from zarr.errors import MetadataValidationError, NodeTypeValidationError, UnknownCodecError
 from zarr.registry import get_codec_class
@@ -47,17 +48,16 @@
 
 
 def parse_zarr_format(data: object) -> Literal[3]:
-    if data == 3:
-        return 3
-    msg = f"Invalid value for 'zarr_format'. Expected '3'. Got '{data}'."
-    raise MetadataValidationError(msg)
+    return cast(
+        "Literal[3]", parse_field(data, Literal[3], "zarr_format", error=MetadataValidationError)
+    )
 
 
 def parse_node_type_array(data: object) -> Literal["array"]:
-    if data == "array":
-        return "array"
-    msg = f"Invalid value for 'node_type'. Expected 'array'. Got '{data}'."
-    raise NodeTypeValidationError(msg)
+    return cast(
+        'Literal["array"]',
+        parse_field(data, Literal["array"], "node_type", error=NodeTypeValidationError),
+    )
 
 
 def parse_codecs(data: object) -> tuple[Codec, ...]:
@@ -130,11 +130,12 @@ def parse_storage_transformers(data: object) -> tuple[dict[str, JSON], ...]:
     """
     if data is None:
         return ()
-    if isinstance(data, Iterable):
-        if len(tuple(data)) >= 1:
-            return data  # type: ignore[return-value]
-        else:
-            return ()
+    if isinstance(data, Iterable) and not isinstance(data, (str, bytes)):
+        # Materialise once. The previous implementation called ``len(tuple(data))``
+        # and then returned ``data`` itself, which exhausted (and discarded) a
+        # one-shot iterable and could return a value typed as a tuple that was not
+        # actually a tuple.
+        return tuple(data)
     raise TypeError(
         f"Invalid storage_transformers. Expected an iterable of dicts. Got {type(data)} instead."
     )
@@ -656,7 +657,7 @@ def from_dict(cls, data: dict[str, JSON]) -> Self:
             chunk_grid=_data_typed["chunk_grid"],  # type: ignore[arg-type]
             chunk_key_encoding=_data_typed["chunk_key_encoding"],  # type: ignore[arg-type]
             codecs=_data_typed["codecs"],
-            attributes=_data_typed.get("attributes", {}),  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+            attributes=validate_json_value(_data_typed.get("attributes", {})),  # type: ignore[arg-type]
             dimension_names=_data_typed.get("dimension_names", None),
             fill_value=fill_value_parsed,
             data_type=data_type,
diff --git a/tests/test_common.py b/tests/test_common.py
index 5d8df326da..846dcbbad9 100644
--- a/tests/test_common.py
+++ b/tests/test_common.py
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@
     ANY_ACCESS_MODE,
     AccessModeLiteral,
     concurrent_iter,
+    parse_bool,
     parse_int,
     parse_name,
+    parse_order,
     parse_shapelike,
     product,
 )
@@ -97,10 +99,28 @@ def test_parse_name_valid(data: tuple[Any, Any]) -> None:
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("data", [0, 1, "hello", "f"])
 def test_parse_indexing_order_invalid(data: Any) -> None:
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Expected one of"):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Failed to parse input for 'order'"):
         parse_indexing_order(data)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("data", [0, 1, "hello", "f"])
+def test_parse_order_invalid(data: Any) -> None:
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Failed to parse input for 'order'"):
+        parse_order(data)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("data", [0, 1, "true", None, [True]])
+def test_parse_bool_invalid(data: Any) -> None:
+    """Non-bool values are rejected with a ValueError."""
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Expected instance of bool"):
+        parse_bool(data)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("data", [True, False])
+def test_parse_bool_valid(data: bool) -> None:
+    assert parse_bool(data) is data
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("data", ["1", 1.0, True, False, None, [1], (1,)])
 def test_parse_int_invalid(data: Any) -> None:
     """Non-int values (including bools, which are int subclasses) are rejected."""
diff --git a/tests/test_json_parse.py b/tests/test_json_parse.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..da723119aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_json_parse.py
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+"""Tests for :mod:`zarr.core.json_parse`.
+
+``convert`` delegates JSON type coercion to :func:`msgspec.convert` (translating
+``msgspec.ValidationError`` into ``TypeError``); ``validate_json_value`` is the
+hand-written fallback for the recursive ``JSON`` alias msgspec cannot build,
+including a nesting-depth limit. The final group is a regression test for the
+``parse_storage_transformers`` fix that motivated the depth limit work.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Literal
+
+import pytest
+
+from zarr.core.json_parse import MAX_JSON_DEPTH, convert, parse_field, validate_json_value
+from zarr.core.metadata.v3 import parse_storage_transformers
+
+
+class TestConvert:
+    def test_literal(self) -> None:
+        assert convert(3, Literal[3]) == 3
+        assert convert("array", Literal["array", "group"]) == "array"
+
+    def test_literal_rejects_non_member(self) -> None:
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Expected instance of"):
+            convert(4, Literal[3])
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Expected instance of"):
+            convert("Q", Literal["C", "F"])
+
+    def test_sequence_coerced_to_tuple(self) -> None:
+        assert convert([1, 2, 3], tuple[int, ...]) == (1, 2, 3)
+        assert convert([1, 2], tuple[int, int]) == (1, 2)
+
+    def test_int(self) -> None:
+        assert convert(5, int) == 5
+
+    def test_bool_int_strictness(self) -> None:
+        # bool is an int subclass, but the two must not be interchangeable.
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            convert(True, int)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            convert(1, bool)
+        # ... and True must not satisfy Literal[1].
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            convert(True, Literal[1])
+
+
+class TestParseField:
+    def test_valid_passthrough(self) -> None:
+        assert parse_field(3, Literal[3], "zarr_format") == 3
+
+    def test_wraps_with_field_context(self) -> None:
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Failed to parse input for 'zarr_format'"):
+            parse_field(4, Literal[3], "zarr_format")
+
+    def test_custom_error_type_and_chaining(self) -> None:
+        class MyError(ValueError):
+            pass
+
+        with pytest.raises(MyError, match="Failed to parse input for 'node_type'") as exc_info:
+            parse_field(5, Literal["array"], "node_type", error=MyError)
+        # the generic type error is chained as the cause
+        assert isinstance(exc_info.value.__cause__, ValueError)
+
+
+class TestValidateJsonValue:
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("value", [None, True, 1, 1.5, "s"])
+    def test_primitives(self, value: object) -> None:
+        assert validate_json_value(value) is value
+
+    def test_nested(self) -> None:
+        value = {"a": [1, 2.0, "x", True, None], "b": {"c": [{}]}}
+        assert validate_json_value(value) is value
+
+    def test_rejects_non_str_keys(self) -> None:
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="keys must be str"):
+            validate_json_value({1: "x"})
+
+    def test_rejects_non_json_leaf(self) -> None:
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="not a valid JSON value"):
+            validate_json_value(object())
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="not a valid JSON value"):
+            validate_json_value({"a": object()})
+
+    def test_depth_limit(self) -> None:
+        def nest(depth: int) -> object:
+            v: object = "leaf"
+            for _ in range(depth):
+                v = {"k": v}
+            return v
+
+        # At the limit it passes; one level deeper it is rejected. This bound is
+        # new behavior the previous per-field parsers never had.
+        assert validate_json_value(nest(MAX_JSON_DEPTH)) is not None
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="maximum depth"):
+            validate_json_value(nest(MAX_JSON_DEPTH + 1))
+
+
+class TestStorageTransformersRegression:
+    """`parse_storage_transformers` used to call `len(tuple(data))` and then
+    return `data` itself, exhausting a one-shot iterable and returning a value
+    typed as a tuple but not actually a tuple."""
+
+    def test_none(self) -> None:
+        assert parse_storage_transformers(None) == ()
+
+    def test_empty(self) -> None:
+        assert parse_storage_transformers([]) == ()
+
+    def test_list_returns_tuple(self) -> None:
+        result = parse_storage_transformers([{"a": 1}])
+        assert result == ({"a": 1},)
+        assert isinstance(result, tuple)
+
+    def test_generator_not_exhausted(self) -> None:
+        result = parse_storage_transformers(iter([{"a": 1}, {"b": 2}]))
+        assert result == ({"a": 1}, {"b": 2})
+
+    def test_non_iterable_rejected(self) -> None:
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="Expected an iterable"):
+            parse_storage_transformers(5)
diff --git a/tests/test_metadata/test_v2.py b/tests/test_metadata/test_v2.py
index 0f280f0401..1358f458d6 100644
--- a/tests/test_metadata/test_v2.py
+++ b/tests/test_metadata/test_v2.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def test_parse_zarr_format_valid() -> None:
 # The explicit id for "3" avoids colliding with the auto-generated id for the int 3.
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("data", [None, 1, 3, 4, 5, pytest.param("3", id="3-str")])
 def test_parse_zarr_format_invalid(data: Any) -> None:
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=f"Invalid value. Expected 2. Got {data}"):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Failed to parse input for 'zarr_format'"):
         parse_zarr_format(data)
 
 
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 8eac71caa7..b3f3cd7681 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
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 ]
 
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+
 [[package]]
 name = "multidict"
 version = "6.7.1"
@@ -3431,6 +3471,7 @@ source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "donfig" },
     { name = "google-crc32c" },
+    { name = "msgspec" },
     { name = "numcodecs" },
     { name = "numpy" },
     { name = "packaging" },
@@ -3551,6 +3592,7 @@ requires-dist = [
     { name = "donfig", specifier = ">=0.8" },
     { name = "fsspec", marker = "extra == 'remote'", specifier = ">=2023.10.0" },
     { name = "google-crc32c", specifier = ">=1.5" },
+    { name = "msgspec", specifier = ">=0.19" },
     { name = "numcodecs", specifier = ">=0.14" },
     { name = "numpy", specifier = ">=2" },
     { name = "obstore", marker = "extra == 'remote'", specifier = ">=0.5.1" },