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Teacup Magic #2
The Frost Fair Affair
Our heroine stumbles across a precarious plot while printing political pamphlets...
Thanks to last Season's scandal, Miss Mnemosyne Seabourne is now officially notorious. Wintering in Town, she hopes to use her new celebrity to campaign about the unfair restriction on portal travel for ladies... while being quietly courted by a certain handsome spellcracker.
As the river freezes over and a spectacular Frost Fair sets up on the ice, Mneme finds herself beset by secret societies, spies and sneaky saboteurs. Who stole her political pamphlets? Who is leaving dead bodies around printing presses for anyone to find?
Mr Thornbury knows more than he's letting on. If she can't trust the man she hoped to marry, Mneme is just going to have to unravel the mystery for herself, quickly enough to save both of their lives.
If you enjoy vintage spy adventures, flirtatious couples and cozy sleigh rides, you'll adore this exciting sequel novella to Tea and Sympathetic Magic.
Thanks to last Season's scandal, Miss Mnemosyne Seabourne is now officially notorious. Wintering in Town, she hopes to use her new celebrity to campaign about the unfair restriction on portal travel for ladies... while being quietly courted by a certain handsome spellcracker.
As the river freezes over and a spectacular Frost Fair sets up on the ice, Mneme finds herself beset by secret societies, spies and sneaky saboteurs. Who stole her political pamphlets? Who is leaving dead bodies around printing presses for anyone to find?
Mr Thornbury knows more than he's letting on. If she can't trust the man she hoped to marry, Mneme is just going to have to unravel the mystery for herself, quickly enough to save both of their lives.
If you enjoy vintage spy adventures, flirtatious couples and cozy sleigh rides, you'll adore this exciting sequel novella to Tea and Sympathetic Magic.
134 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2020
34 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Tansy Rayner Roberts
133 books318 followersTansy Rayner Roberts is a fantasy and science fiction author who lives in southern Tasmania, somewhere between the tall mountain with snow on it, and the beach that points towards Antarctica.
Tansy has a PhD in Classics (with a special interest in poisonous Roman ladies), and an obsession with Musketeers.
You can hear Tansy talking about Doctor Who on the Verity! podcast. She also reads her own stories on the Sheep Might Fly podcast.
Tansy has a PhD in Classics (with a special interest in poisonous Roman ladies), and an obsession with Musketeers.
You can hear Tansy talking about Doctor Who on the Verity! podcast. She also reads her own stories on the Sheep Might Fly podcast.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 29, 2022
The first book was delightfully and inventively silly, while this sequel was fun but really not funny. There is a lot of background whimsy but after a slow first half the setpiece scenes are primarily dramatic, making for a different tone, perhaps Orczy rather than Heyer, but the foundations are daft rather than realistic and that makes it hard to take seriously.
I suspect the operation of what I call Pratchett's Law: any collection of comic characters will transition to soap opera and then drama in proportion to how much the author cares about them. (Buffy is also an archetypal example). Comedy with cardboard characters is actually very difficult to do at length, while soap opera with developed characters is less difficult and can be funnier. But not in this case.
I suspect the operation of what I call Pratchett's Law: any collection of comic characters will transition to soap opera and then drama in proportion to how much the author cares about them. (Buffy is also an archetypal example). Comedy with cardboard characters is actually very difficult to do at length, while soap opera with developed characters is less difficult and can be funnier. But not in this case.
September 9, 2020
This was even better than Tea and Sympathetic Magic! Mneme is in Town, visiting Juno and Henry, being socially notorious, and spearheading a campaign about portal travel for women. There are political maneuverings! Spies! High manners! And, of course, tea and hedgehogs. This was so fun and I really hope there will be a book 3 in this series. I love it!
July 18, 2023
Another case for Mnemosyne Seabourne amidst gender politics, society expectations, and intrigue. Much of the story takes place on the frozen river where the fair has been set up, adding an extra layer of fun to the shenanigans. Rooftop chases, animated glass hedgehogs and tea with the queen are delightful!
August 10, 2025
3.5 stars
February 3, 2026
I liked it better than the first one, it shows more layers in the universe and less superficiality. Still, I think it could have let the relationship breathe more and the ending was a bit convenient.
January 1, 2024
I am enjoying this series. A Pride & Prejudice-esque world with the addition of magic.
The characters here are likable and fun, the plots are clever and interesting and the world-building is creative and well-constructed.
The books are short but easy-to-read and entertaining and I plan to continue with this series.
The characters here are likable and fun, the plots are clever and interesting and the world-building is creative and well-constructed.
The books are short but easy-to-read and entertaining and I plan to continue with this series.
April 27, 2022
Still so much fun! I just love these characters so much, the romance is great, and I love the writing / humor. Mneme and I would be great friends, I think - we have a lot in common and I would love to have a chill introvert day with her.
I don't think I loved this quite as much as #1, but it was still wonderful. And I'm impressed at the thoughtful discussions of feminism (especially regarding the concerns of working class women, which our MC is not) and social change considering how short this is.
The ending felt a little rushed but it IS a novella, and I was having such a great time that I didn't really mind. My only real hang-up is that I'm not convinced that the relationship compromise is sustainable, but I'm hopeful that will be addressed in book 3!
CW: Murder, sexism
I don't think I loved this quite as much as #1, but it was still wonderful. And I'm impressed at the thoughtful discussions of feminism (especially regarding the concerns of working class women, which our MC is not) and social change considering how short this is.
The ending felt a little rushed but it IS a novella, and I was having such a great time that I didn't really mind. My only real hang-up is that I'm not convinced that the relationship compromise is sustainable, but I'm hopeful that will be addressed in book 3!
CW: Murder, sexism
October 25, 2022
Mnemosyne Seabourne is trying to make the most of her notoriety (from both her family name and the events of the previous book) by campaigning for women to be able to travel by portal, instead of swan-shaped boat. Now, while the idea of swan-shaped boats sounds delightful, I hate travel and have often said that my ideal superpower would be teleportation, so I'm all in favour of travel by portal. While staying with her cousin's new wife, the river freezes to the point where a frost fair is possible, and while enjoying that, Mneme gets caught up in something more than she was ready for - something that her beau, the spellcracker, Mr Thornbury, seems to be right in the middle of.
I thoroughly enjoyed this cosy, pseudo-Victorian, novella with magic. I still can't take a country called the Teacup Isles seriously, but I enjoy the characters and the adventures they get involved with. There's also a surprisingly serious bit where a number of women contemplate being wives of men involved in dangerous professions and how every knock at the door could be the one they've been dreading.
I love how the books use Victorian England as their template, but have lifted them into this archipelago of small islands to enable the author to add casual acceptance of same-sex relationships and a few other changes that make the Teacup Isles easier for the 21st century reader to hang around with (no hints yet of whether nor not they're involved in a colonialist project, fingers crossed that that's not something that's happened in this world!).
I enjoyed this a lot and will certainly be reading the next in the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this cosy, pseudo-Victorian, novella with magic. I still can't take a country called the Teacup Isles seriously, but I enjoy the characters and the adventures they get involved with. There's also a surprisingly serious bit where a number of women contemplate being wives of men involved in dangerous professions and how every knock at the door could be the one they've been dreading.
I love how the books use Victorian England as their template, but have lifted them into this archipelago of small islands to enable the author to add casual acceptance of same-sex relationships and a few other changes that make the Teacup Isles easier for the 21st century reader to hang around with (no hints yet of whether nor not they're involved in a colonialist project, fingers crossed that that's not something that's happened in this world!).
I enjoyed this a lot and will certainly be reading the next in the series.
November 21, 2020
Slightly less bat-shit, somewhat more political, much more serious with even more intrigue than book 1, this was an enjoyable read. I found our protagonist, Miss Seabourne, to be a little less sympathetic as a character, and I'm not sure whether that was deliberate, or whether it had to do with the awkwardness of the setting.
However, there were hi-jinks and beautiful clothes, feminism and high-society to balance out the political seriousness.
However, there were hi-jinks and beautiful clothes, feminism and high-society to balance out the political seriousness.
November 24, 2022
A bit longer than the first in this series although still too short. Must be a new type…shorter than a novella, slightly longer than a short story…a noveletta. Still fun, with our heroine now residing with her new friend and newly married duchess. She assists her beau in uncovering a spy ring and a murderer while attending a frost fair. There, my review was longer than the fist in this series!
August 11, 2024
A great read
The Frost Fair Affair follows Mnemosyne on another adventure, featuring her new cousin in law, Juno. There is the usual contingent of other ladies as well as hangers on.
Tansy Rayner Roberts has written another tale of magic (and tea) which moves along at a pace, but there is still enough to time to get to know the characters and root for them.
I like the introduction, reading which people will be in the story, and which manage to be elsewhere!
Of you've not read any Tansy Rayner Roberts Teacup magic books before, what are you waiting for? I'm off to read book 3.
The Frost Fair Affair follows Mnemosyne on another adventure, featuring her new cousin in law, Juno. There is the usual contingent of other ladies as well as hangers on.
Tansy Rayner Roberts has written another tale of magic (and tea) which moves along at a pace, but there is still enough to time to get to know the characters and root for them.
I like the introduction, reading which people will be in the story, and which manage to be elsewhere!
Of you've not read any Tansy Rayner Roberts Teacup magic books before, what are you waiting for? I'm off to read book 3.
March 10, 2022
Well, that was fun
Love the story, nice bit of feminism tucked into... was that a semi-victorian fantasy nod to batman? Anyway, one note: we get it. The boats are swan-shaped. I was more exasperated than Mneme at those bloody swan-shaped boats by the end of the book. Can they just be boats now? Otherwise, a good read. I'll definitely pick up the next in the series.
Love the story, nice bit of feminism tucked into... was that a semi-victorian fantasy nod to batman? Anyway, one note: we get it. The boats are swan-shaped. I was more exasperated than Mneme at those bloody swan-shaped boats by the end of the book. Can they just be boats now? Otherwise, a good read. I'll definitely pick up the next in the series.
January 27, 2025
It was quite good but there was realisation that hurt Mnemosyne a lot that didn't resolve properly
Also I have realised I really have a damn problem with all these "regency" fantasies being modernised and theres no understanding of the origins of all the expectations on women coming from religious context and also bringing the story in gender lgbt without any particular context lol it didnt really make a huge amount of sense for having seasons...?
Yeah..no
Still I had fun
Also I have realised I really have a damn problem with all these "regency" fantasies being modernised and theres no understanding of the origins of all the expectations on women coming from religious context and also bringing the story in gender lgbt without any particular context lol it didnt really make a huge amount of sense for having seasons...?
Yeah..no
Still I had fun
July 5, 2025
Women traveling by magic portals is not socially acceptable. Mneme seeks social change and finds way more than any of us expected. It starts slow, with a focus on pamphlets. It gets far more complicated and somehow has room for hedgehog antics again.
I love this world and its characters, even if I will never attempt to say "Mnemosyne" aloud. Four more books? Yes please.
I love this world and its characters, even if I will never attempt to say "Mnemosyne" aloud. Four more books? Yes please.
February 4, 2024
A delightful regency comedy-of-manners romp with hints of romance. A well paced novella which balances character building and setting with a plot that never lags. I can’t believe this series hasn’t gotten more attention, it’s a real gem! Will immediately be picking up the next in the series!
January 16, 2022
This was lovely!
Looking forward to reading the next instalment.
Looking forward to reading the next instalment.
December 22, 2022
An entertaining little tale. Mneme is a great protagonist.
November 13, 2021
An entertaining sequel
This novella contains more adventure and detection and less comedy than the first story in the series (`Tea and Sympathetic Magic'). The setting is still the Teacup Isles in the reign of young Queen Aud. Our heroine Mneme is staying in the capital with the Duke and Duchess of Storm and is trying to further Women's Rights by opening up magical Portal travel to females. Considering that there are still countries in our world which don't allow women to drive by themselves, this is an issue that's easy to relate to.
Once again there is a wide range of interesting and powerful female characters and the romance between Mneme and Spellcracker Charles Thornbury progresses nicely. The pleasingly intricate plot involves missing pamphlets, a female secret society, a spectacular Frost Fair held on a frozen river, murder, espionage, weaponised tea and glass hedgehogs. Can you resist that line-up?
This novella contains more adventure and detection and less comedy than the first story in the series (`Tea and Sympathetic Magic'). The setting is still the Teacup Isles in the reign of young Queen Aud. Our heroine Mneme is staying in the capital with the Duke and Duchess of Storm and is trying to further Women's Rights by opening up magical Portal travel to females. Considering that there are still countries in our world which don't allow women to drive by themselves, this is an issue that's easy to relate to.
Once again there is a wide range of interesting and powerful female characters and the romance between Mneme and Spellcracker Charles Thornbury progresses nicely. The pleasingly intricate plot involves missing pamphlets, a female secret society, a spectacular Frost Fair held on a frozen river, murder, espionage, weaponised tea and glass hedgehogs. Can you resist that line-up?
November 5, 2020
Another fun, frothy Regency romance with magic and spies by this playful Australian author. The British Isles are "the Teacup Isles" but otherwise things remain much the same. In this one our heroine is campaigning for ladies to use the unladylike means of travel by magical portal. The Thames ( has frozen over, as it really did several times in the era the book is playing with) and much of the action takes place against the colorful backdrop of a giant street fair staged on the frozen river itself, (which also actually happened during that time period). All too brief but an excellent distraction from the 2020 presidential election results.
July 2, 2021
The Frost Fair Affair is a sequel to Tansy Rayner Roberts' Regency-romance-with-magic Tea and Sympathetic Magic. Mneme is spending the winter in Town, where she is trying to launch a campaign to overturn the law which forbids women in the Teacup Isles from travelling by magical portals, but when someone steals her pamphlets from the printer's stall at the Frost Fair she finds herself caught up in a web of intrigue - and somehow, Thornbury, with whom she has an understanding, is mixed up in it as well.
This was a delightfully fun, frothy read; possibly it was a bit wintery to read in the middle of summer, but it was a charming bit of light relief in between more serious books.
This was a delightfully fun, frothy read; possibly it was a bit wintery to read in the middle of summer, but it was a charming bit of light relief in between more serious books.
September 17, 2021
Miss Mnemosyne Seabourne is weathering her new notorious reputation by Wintering in Town. She's also using her time and her new celebrity to campaign about the unfair restriction on portal travel for ladies. And one of the benefits of Winter is a river freeze and the spontaneous and spectacular Frost Fair.
Why I started this book: Fun, delightful and wry. My favorite.
Why I finished it: See above. Plus how upsetting to find out that your finance has been keeping secrets.
Why I started this book: Fun, delightful and wry. My favorite.
Why I finished it: See above. Plus how upsetting to find out that your finance has been keeping secrets.
January 28, 2021
Aaaahhh, this was great!
Mneme and is now engaged to Mr Thornbury and gets involved in politics (women should be able to use travel portals) but their relationship is challenged when they find a mystery at the Frost Fair.
This was so cosy. I lot more fast-paced than the first book but ultimately the absolute winter comfort I needed. I LOVED this and I hope more books are coming.
Mneme and is now engaged to Mr Thornbury and gets involved in politics (women should be able to use travel portals) but their relationship is challenged when they find a mystery at the Frost Fair.
This was so cosy. I lot more fast-paced than the first book but ultimately the absolute winter comfort I needed. I LOVED this and I hope more books are coming.
January 14, 2022
I loved this installment of the Teacup Magic series! It's set during winter, when a cold snap has frozen the river solid enough to hold a fair atop it. Between the Frost Fair, the scandals left over from the conclusion of book one, new scandals we discover in this book, and the romance as our heroine gets closer to an engagement, this book is non-stop with fun scenes.
April 26, 2022
3.5 star. These are fun. Kind of regency (or VIctorian?) style but with magic. This time Mneme is campaigning to have the restriction on women travelling by portal lifted while trying to live down her family's notoriety from the events in the previous book. Thornbury is courting her and being mysterious about certain things including the body Mneme discovers at the Frost Fair.
June 14, 2021
I am enjoying these. They are sweet and interesting and well-written.
But personally I would be pissed at Thornbury for a lot longer and it bothers me that Mneme didn't call him om his sexist bollocks.
But personally I would be pissed at Thornbury for a lot longer and it bothers me that Mneme didn't call him om his sexist bollocks.
September 14, 2021
As fluffy as the first but a bit unfocused to start with. The pace really picks up after they find a body at the Frost Faire, both in terms of the mystery and the romantic relationship between the main character and Mr Thornton.
October 19, 2020
Another delightful regency inspired story full of magic, intrige and romance. Delightful 🥰
February 14, 2021
Excellent, as always.
September 4, 2021
If possible I enjoyed The Frost Fair Affair even more than Tea and Sympathetic Magic. Elegantly plotted and increasingly hilarious. Romance, magic, and hedgehogs. What girl could ask for more?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews