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Tomes & Tea #1
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea
All Reyna and Kianthe want is to open a bookshop that serves tea. Worn wooden floors, plants on every table, firelight drifting between the rafters… all complemented by love and good company. Thing is, Reyna works as one of the Queen’s private guards, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. Leaving their lives isn’t so easy.
But after an assassin takes Reyna hostage, she decides she’s thoroughly done risking her life for a self-centered queen. Meanwhile, Kianthe has been waiting for a chance to flee responsibility–all the better that her girlfriend is on board. Together, they settle in Tawney, a town that boasts more dragons than people, and open the shop of their dreams.
What follows is a cozy tale of mishaps, mysteries, and a murderous queen throwing the realm’s biggest temper tantrum. In a story brimming with hurt/comfort and quiet fireside conversations, these two women will discover just what they mean to each other… and the world.
But after an assassin takes Reyna hostage, she decides she’s thoroughly done risking her life for a self-centered queen. Meanwhile, Kianthe has been waiting for a chance to flee responsibility–all the better that her girlfriend is on board. Together, they settle in Tawney, a town that boasts more dragons than people, and open the shop of their dreams.
What follows is a cozy tale of mishaps, mysteries, and a murderous queen throwing the realm’s biggest temper tantrum. In a story brimming with hurt/comfort and quiet fireside conversations, these two women will discover just what they mean to each other… and the world.
388 pages, ebook
First published May 9, 2024
About the author
Rebecca Thorne
14 books2,387 followersRebecca Thorne is a USA Today, Indie, and Sunday Times Bestselling author, specializing in fantasy and sci-fi with romantic subplots.
She is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, lives near Denver, Colorado, and uses her ADHD as a superpower to write multiple books a year. When she’s not writing (or avoiding writing), Rebecca can be found traveling the country as a flight attendant, hiking with her dogs and lovely wife, or basking in the sun like a lizard.
She is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, lives near Denver, Colorado, and uses her ADHD as a superpower to write multiple books a year. When she’s not writing (or avoiding writing), Rebecca can be found traveling the country as a flight attendant, hiking with her dogs and lovely wife, or basking in the sun like a lizard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,934 reviews
January 23, 2023
since it's only january it might be too early to call it...but this may end up being my biggest letdown of the year. i love cozy fantasy, i love regular fantasy, i love lesbian romance, and was sure this would end up as at least a four star read, if not earning a place on my favorites shelf. instead, here we are.
let me start by saying that this is 100% mistitled as a cozy fantasy. it tries really really hard to convince you that it's cozy (look! we have a bookstore! and we serve tea! and there are plants and a fireplace!! that's cozy, right??), but it completely misses the point of what a cozy fantasy is. it is not enough to have your characters sometimes be in a setting that would be described as cozy, the story should make your readers feel cozy. the stakes should be low, the conflict should be mundane (but important to the characters, and by extension, to us), and there should definitely not be multiple near death experiences.
unfortunately, the author apparently did not get the memo. the thing is, if this was just advertised as a fantasy novel, i would not have cared. but the cover claims it's "a cozy fantasy steeped with love" and the title of the series is literally "tomes & tea cozy fantasies," so i can not easily excuse how far this missed the mark of what i understand cozy fantasy to be. the main plotlines have EXTREMELY high stakes, and everything in regards to the bookstore/tea shop is immediately resolved. the building was abandoned, the repairs are handled magically in one afternoon, they get permission from the leaders with one conversation, they just have to take one trip to go get the tea and books, the townsfolk are not suspicious of them at all and immediately start going every day, and they have literally no issues with any part of running their shop. instead, all of the conflict revolves around a very dangerous feud with dragons and reyna's treason that has a very good chance of getting her killed. also, these plotlines don't even get resolved!!! i get that the author was setting themselves up for a second book in the series, but that meant that there was barely any story arc to this one.
part of the reason why i also think this fails as a cozy fantasy is that it was very hard to care about any of the characters. the two MCs are extremely bland and don't really have strong personalities. the pov switches off between them, and there were times that i could not tell whose head we were supposed to be in since they were so similar and so unremarkable. there also aren't that many fleshed out side characters, and the ones we spend the most time with were just bffs with our MCs from the moment they stepped foot into town. there's no development of any of their relationships, so there's no way for the readers to form a bond with them either.
speaking of relationships, i was also disappointed in the fact that kianthe and reyna had a preexisting relationship. it could have worked, but they just didn't seem to have any discernible chemistry. this book has a really bad case of telling instead of showing, and this was one of the biggest spots that illustrated that. we were told over and over again that they were so deeply in love, but we never really saw it (or felt it). it also killed me every time they had an extended conversation, because there was always some sort of commentary on how good their communication styles were. i was begging the author to just SHOW US through their COMMUNICATION!!! instead, we got interruptions like this in the middle of their actual conversations:
are they having a conversation or is this a buzzfeed article on the top 10 ways to have healthier communication?
finally, my biggest pet peeve of the entire book: how lazy the worldbuilding was, and how heavy handed the author was with IRL references. the worldbuilding did not seem to be any more fleshed out than "typical vaguely arthurian fantasy setting," and this was especially seen through the unimaginative use of items/concepts from real life. you're telling me you couldn't come up with even a single fantastical pastry, and instead you have BAGELS AND CREAMED CHEESE???? and you just invent the concept of libraries in a single conversation (also, does the magic school NOT have libraries already?)?? don't forget them also inventing the concept of used books in a single conversation as well. and maybe the most heinous of all - having pronoun pins!!!
let me make it clear - i am not against pronoun pins irl. if you want to use them, more power to you. but this is a fantasy novel. you know what you can put in your fantasy novel? all characters using the correct pronouns all of the time. you don't have to do this through using pronoun pins or clumsily explaining away the use of gender neutral pronouns as coming from a culture that you tell us literally nothing else about. if the characters already use the correct pronouns for every other character that uses she/her or he/him without having to have a narrative reason for it, why can't they also just use they/them for the characters with those pronouns?
so to sum it all up: definitely not a cozy fantasy, the non-cozy plot doesn't even go anywhere in the nearly 400 pages, the characters are boring, and the worldbuilding is lazy (all in my opinion, of course). would not recommend.
let me start by saying that this is 100% mistitled as a cozy fantasy. it tries really really hard to convince you that it's cozy (look! we have a bookstore! and we serve tea! and there are plants and a fireplace!! that's cozy, right??), but it completely misses the point of what a cozy fantasy is. it is not enough to have your characters sometimes be in a setting that would be described as cozy, the story should make your readers feel cozy. the stakes should be low, the conflict should be mundane (but important to the characters, and by extension, to us), and there should definitely not be multiple near death experiences.
unfortunately, the author apparently did not get the memo. the thing is, if this was just advertised as a fantasy novel, i would not have cared. but the cover claims it's "a cozy fantasy steeped with love" and the title of the series is literally "tomes & tea cozy fantasies," so i can not easily excuse how far this missed the mark of what i understand cozy fantasy to be. the main plotlines have EXTREMELY high stakes, and everything in regards to the bookstore/tea shop is immediately resolved. the building was abandoned, the repairs are handled magically in one afternoon, they get permission from the leaders with one conversation, they just have to take one trip to go get the tea and books, the townsfolk are not suspicious of them at all and immediately start going every day, and they have literally no issues with any part of running their shop. instead, all of the conflict revolves around a very dangerous feud with dragons and reyna's treason that has a very good chance of getting her killed. also, these plotlines don't even get resolved!!! i get that the author was setting themselves up for a second book in the series, but that meant that there was barely any story arc to this one.
part of the reason why i also think this fails as a cozy fantasy is that it was very hard to care about any of the characters. the two MCs are extremely bland and don't really have strong personalities. the pov switches off between them, and there were times that i could not tell whose head we were supposed to be in since they were so similar and so unremarkable. there also aren't that many fleshed out side characters, and the ones we spend the most time with were just bffs with our MCs from the moment they stepped foot into town. there's no development of any of their relationships, so there's no way for the readers to form a bond with them either.
speaking of relationships, i was also disappointed in the fact that kianthe and reyna had a preexisting relationship. it could have worked, but they just didn't seem to have any discernible chemistry. this book has a really bad case of telling instead of showing, and this was one of the biggest spots that illustrated that. we were told over and over again that they were so deeply in love, but we never really saw it (or felt it). it also killed me every time they had an extended conversation, because there was always some sort of commentary on how good their communication styles were. i was begging the author to just SHOW US through their COMMUNICATION!!! instead, we got interruptions like this in the middle of their actual conversations:
There was something pleasing about productive conversations, rather than burning brides with fiery emotion. When they first started dating, Kianthe had never considered the little tactics Reyna often employed: separating from impulse, practicing empathy, repeating another's sentence to prove she'd been listening. But they were brilliant, just like Reyna was, and they made the entire relationship better.
are they having a conversation or is this a buzzfeed article on the top 10 ways to have healthier communication?
finally, my biggest pet peeve of the entire book: how lazy the worldbuilding was, and how heavy handed the author was with IRL references. the worldbuilding did not seem to be any more fleshed out than "typical vaguely arthurian fantasy setting," and this was especially seen through the unimaginative use of items/concepts from real life. you're telling me you couldn't come up with even a single fantastical pastry, and instead you have BAGELS AND CREAMED CHEESE???? and you just invent the concept of libraries in a single conversation (also, does the magic school NOT have libraries already?)?? don't forget them also inventing the concept of used books in a single conversation as well. and maybe the most heinous of all - having pronoun pins!!!
let me make it clear - i am not against pronoun pins irl. if you want to use them, more power to you. but this is a fantasy novel. you know what you can put in your fantasy novel? all characters using the correct pronouns all of the time. you don't have to do this through using pronoun pins or clumsily explaining away the use of gender neutral pronouns as coming from a culture that you tell us literally nothing else about. if the characters already use the correct pronouns for every other character that uses she/her or he/him without having to have a narrative reason for it, why can't they also just use they/them for the characters with those pronouns?
so to sum it all up: definitely not a cozy fantasy, the non-cozy plot doesn't even go anywhere in the nearly 400 pages, the characters are boring, and the worldbuilding is lazy (all in my opinion, of course). would not recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2024
I give up. Throwing in the towel. Bored to death. DNF @68%
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Rebecca Thorne for the complementary audio copy in exchange for my honest review! 💕💖
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Rebecca Thorne for the complementary audio copy in exchange for my honest review! 💕💖
September 23, 2025
After reading legends & lattes I’m sorry to say this is basically low-grade fanfiction of that.
This book can’t decide whether it’s cosy or high-stakes, and though i was intrigued by the premise of a vengeful queen she wasn’t actually present much. Except at the beginning, and of course
The whole story lacked a drive or structured build-up. There were the recurring themes of both Key and Rain not feeling like they were enough for the other, which then became a mini drama, which was then resolved within the same paragraph. If this was meant to be a building kind of energy it didn’t read that way. It was just: a thing happens - it's resolved - all is well - another thing happens - etc...
This plays into the rest of the book. Aside from the decision Reyna makes at the beginning to leave the queen, this is a story where the plot happens to the characters, and they then react to it.
On a completely personal note, I missed chemistry between Rain and Key. I wasn’t really fond of either of them as characters. There were too many smirks and cackles for my personal palate, and my god, the second hand mortification of their cringy flirting in front of the entire cafe. Please don’t slap each other’s ass and make raunchy innuendos with your clients as audience. Please.
I agree with some of the other reviews: Rain and Key’s vibes feel a bit weird. Totally googley-eyed for each other, which would have been fine if they were in the early-relationship stage, but they’re not. They’ve been together for quite some time, and while their affection for each other doesn’t have to diminish because of that it does change, and this wasn’t reflected at all.
They’re both also very insecure, a topic that keeps coming back without really ever being resolved. I didn’t see ever them being “good at” their relationship, but I was told at every turn how hot they both were to each other and how amazing they were at communicating.
In short, you'll not find complex worldbuilding, intricate politics or driving mysteries here. (I feel a bit betrayed about that, by the way. The cover promises dragon mysteries, which were then ).
There’s going to be a part 2, and I will not be reading it.
This book can’t decide whether it’s cosy or high-stakes, and though i was intrigued by the premise of a vengeful queen she wasn’t actually present much. Except at the beginning, and of course
The whole story lacked a drive or structured build-up. There were the recurring themes of both Key and Rain not feeling like they were enough for the other, which then became a mini drama, which was then resolved within the same paragraph. If this was meant to be a building kind of energy it didn’t read that way. It was just: a thing happens - it's resolved - all is well - another thing happens - etc...
This plays into the rest of the book. Aside from the decision Reyna makes at the beginning to leave the queen, this is a story where the plot happens to the characters, and they then react to it.
On a completely personal note, I missed chemistry between Rain and Key. I wasn’t really fond of either of them as characters. There were too many smirks and cackles for my personal palate, and my god, the second hand mortification of their cringy flirting in front of the entire cafe. Please don’t slap each other’s ass and make raunchy innuendos with your clients as audience. Please.
I agree with some of the other reviews: Rain and Key’s vibes feel a bit weird. Totally googley-eyed for each other, which would have been fine if they were in the early-relationship stage, but they’re not. They’ve been together for quite some time, and while their affection for each other doesn’t have to diminish because of that it does change, and this wasn’t reflected at all.
They’re both also very insecure, a topic that keeps coming back without really ever being resolved. I didn’t see ever them being “good at” their relationship, but I was told at every turn how hot they both were to each other and how amazing they were at communicating.
In short, you'll not find complex worldbuilding, intricate politics or driving mysteries here. (I feel a bit betrayed about that, by the way. The cover promises dragon mysteries, which were then ).
There’s going to be a part 2, and I will not be reading it.
July 21, 2026
"Run away with me. You like tea. I like books. Care to open a shop and forget the world exists?"Reyna has spent (quite literally) her entire life serving Queen Tilaine but after the most recent assassination attempt, she's realized just how little her life is valued in her country.
And so, with a lot of hesistation and much trepidation, she takes the leap and escapes with Kianthe, her longterm girlfriend who also happens to be the mage of ages.
The two women settle in Tawney - which has the small time vibe that they both dreamed of. And for the first time, in a long time, Reyna is able to just...be.
But there's no time for introspection for Queen Tilaine is a jealous, hateful thing. And she does not let go of her playthings easily.
"What kind of person could she become? It was intimidating to decide."
What can I say? It was charming and I was certainly charmed at times...but it felt too cozy.
If I hadn't read legends and lattes, I think I would've liked it more but now that I have that standard in my head... it's hard to enjoy other books that don't measure up to it.
Essentially...I was bored. A lot. By this one. There were some elements that were kinda fun to follow but the plot felt so meandering and dull that I had a hard time keeping my brain on track.
The ending was a bit...hmm...I don't want to give it away but I will say that I thought there'd be a lot *more* to the ending than there was, so I felt disappointed.
As for the relationship...it was a lovers to lovers sort of story. The two characters were crazy head-over-heels in love with each other but both felt inadequate in love...and ultimately felt more lovey-dovey in love than ever before with each passing chapter. Love. lovelovelovelove. LOVE.
If you think I said "love" too much in the above paragraph, imagine reading the story. To me, it was just waaaay too saccharine for most of the chapters.
Ultimately, I did round up to three stars cause there were a few times that I was caught up in the story, but I feel like the series will need a tonal swap for me to really get into it.
Did Not Finish
June 4, 2026I couldn't get into this at all, sadly. I found the characters difficult to distinguish, and calling each other 'girlfriend' felt oddly anachronistic. It didn't grab me in six chapters, so I'm moving on to something else!
April 12, 2023
This was quite disappointing. First of all, it's wrongly categorised as cosy fantasy - it's plain fantasy. Just because some scenes take place in a tea and book shop, it doesn't automatically make it cosy.
The writing has a lot of tell and little show, the relationships are not developed at all. The final big issue is solved way too easily. In conclusion, a very forgettable book.
Rep: sapphic main characters, non-binary side character
The writing has a lot of tell and little show, the relationships are not developed at all. The final big issue is solved way too easily. In conclusion, a very forgettable book.
Rep: sapphic main characters, non-binary side character
January 13, 2023
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is your sapphic daydream of running away with your lover to open a book and tea shop turned reality. Reyna is a palace guard under the ruthless Queen Tilaine who runs away with her powerful mage girlfriend Kianthe. Together with their loyal animal companions they start a new life in Tawney, a tiny town filled with lovable people.
I definitely liked this latest addition to the cosy fantasy genre. It's fun, welcoming and easy to read. It allows you to fantasize about how you would fit into this magical world. The book balanced cosiness and adventure well, with stakes high enough to avoid falling into repetition or boredom but not so high they take away the cosy part. I'm also a big fan of Reyna and Kianthe's relationship, as it was noticably realistic and healthy.
I would've loved to play a variation of the story as a video game. I have a clear vision of what it would look like, from quests where you deal with a dragon problem to a tea making minigame to the build-up of your shop!
I'd like to thank Rebecca Thorne for providing an ARC of Can't Spell Treason without Tea in exchange for an unbiased review.
I definitely liked this latest addition to the cosy fantasy genre. It's fun, welcoming and easy to read. It allows you to fantasize about how you would fit into this magical world. The book balanced cosiness and adventure well, with stakes high enough to avoid falling into repetition or boredom but not so high they take away the cosy part. I'm also a big fan of Reyna and Kianthe's relationship, as it was noticably realistic and healthy.
I would've loved to play a variation of the story as a video game. I have a clear vision of what it would look like, from quests where you deal with a dragon problem to a tea making minigame to the build-up of your shop!
I'd like to thank Rebecca Thorne for providing an ARC of Can't Spell Treason without Tea in exchange for an unbiased review.
January 14, 2023
Booktok oversold this one for me, honestly. It's got a very First Draft of a NaNoWriMo manuscript feel to it, with a lot of darlings that frankly ought to have been killed. Very similar premise to Legends & Lattes, but with a higher stakes plot, a lot of wish-fullfillmenty/fanficcy fluff, unapologetic puns, and PDA. It was really the PDA that icked me out in this book. Like, I'm very here for the wlw rep, but the TIMING of Reyna & Kianthe's lascivious flirtations and intense makeouts made me want to die of secondhand embarrassment and/or frustration. Like, the middle of a deadly dragon battle is maybe not the time for a passionate groping? Or while languishing in your sickbed, feverish and vomiting?? Also maybe not on the job at your cute and quirky tea shop in front of all your customers and your teenage employee and the local politicians??? And hey, I KNOW this is the first in a series, so some of the plot stuff is left hanging intentionally, but I was definitely disappointed that the story arc I was most invested in -- the dragon mystery!! -- is sort of brushed off with a "well, we'll look more into that later," not even afforded a proper cliff-hanger. Parts of the worldbuilding were intriguing, particularly the magic systems, but a lot of the politics and technology felt somewhat flimsy and implausibly convenient. Still, I did read the whole thing, and would be willing to recommend it (with caveats) to cozy fantasy fans who are more into *vibes* than a tightly-written and well-paced plot, provided you also aren't as wildly uncomfortable with ass-smacking in the workplace as I am.
August 18, 2022
Have you ever wanted a strong, pretty lady to hand you a warm blanket and hot cup of tea, then pick up her sword and destroy all your problems?
Silly question. Of course you have.
Next question: Have you ever read an epic fantasy novel and thought “Man, I love these characters! I wish I could have a whole novel of all the character moments, shenanigans, and romance without the deadly serious world-ending adventure storyline getting in the way”?
Good news! You have found cozy fantasy.
Even better news: you’ve found one of the best offerings to exist in this relatively new genre.
Realistic, loveable characters? Check. Witty, well-paced writing that’s a delight to read? Check. Women with swords and magic? Banter for days? PUNS? Check, check, check!! (Okay, maybe I’m the only one excited about that last one.)
As a delightful bonus, one of my personal favorite tropes is hurt/comfort. Now, you might be wondering if something like that could even factor into a “cozy” fantasy–and the answer is a resounding yes. And it’s GLORIOUS. Honestly, the warm fuzzies I got from this book could be rivaled only by a category five Tribble infestation.
Okay, you’ve read the summary. You (being a creature of fine taste) like puns. Let me get a little serious for a moment.
Honestly, this book comes at a relevant time. More and more people seem to be realizing the emptiness of grind culture and that no matter how much of your life you sacrifice to your career, it never guarantees your employer’s loyalty. Your title and power won’t make you happy or fulfilled. Your work won’t be meaningful unless you make it meaningful.
So why not run away from it all with someone you love, to do something you love?
I think that’s part of what makes this book just so comforting. It’s a world with swords and dragons and griffons, but the fantasy? It’s very real. And just like the tea shop the characters open, it’s so delightfully cozy.
So wrap yourself up in a blanket, grab a very relevant cup of tea, and let yourself fall into a daydream full of magic, love, puns, adventure, and the promise of a life worth living.
(10/10, would read again.)
Silly question. Of course you have.
Next question: Have you ever read an epic fantasy novel and thought “Man, I love these characters! I wish I could have a whole novel of all the character moments, shenanigans, and romance without the deadly serious world-ending adventure storyline getting in the way”?
Good news! You have found cozy fantasy.
Even better news: you’ve found one of the best offerings to exist in this relatively new genre.
Realistic, loveable characters? Check. Witty, well-paced writing that’s a delight to read? Check. Women with swords and magic? Banter for days? PUNS? Check, check, check!! (Okay, maybe I’m the only one excited about that last one.)
As a delightful bonus, one of my personal favorite tropes is hurt/comfort. Now, you might be wondering if something like that could even factor into a “cozy” fantasy–and the answer is a resounding yes. And it’s GLORIOUS. Honestly, the warm fuzzies I got from this book could be rivaled only by a category five Tribble infestation.
Okay, you’ve read the summary. You (being a creature of fine taste) like puns. Let me get a little serious for a moment.
Honestly, this book comes at a relevant time. More and more people seem to be realizing the emptiness of grind culture and that no matter how much of your life you sacrifice to your career, it never guarantees your employer’s loyalty. Your title and power won’t make you happy or fulfilled. Your work won’t be meaningful unless you make it meaningful.
So why not run away from it all with someone you love, to do something you love?
I think that’s part of what makes this book just so comforting. It’s a world with swords and dragons and griffons, but the fantasy? It’s very real. And just like the tea shop the characters open, it’s so delightfully cozy.
So wrap yourself up in a blanket, grab a very relevant cup of tea, and let yourself fall into a daydream full of magic, love, puns, adventure, and the promise of a life worth living.
(10/10, would read again.)
April 16, 2024
This was in many ways exactly what I was hoping for, but not entirely. A cozy fantasy with an established sapphic romance where a queen's bodyguard and a mage run away together to open a tea and bookshop. Really charming, but with more plot and higher stakes than something like Legends and Lattes (which I also loved, but I know it was TOO cozy for some readers). This reads more akin to a cozy mystery than a cozy fantasy romance so set expectations.
It was a little slow to start and it took me awhile to get the two characters straight. I can't tell how much of this was the audiobook narrator and how much was the headhopping, but I kind of thought the way she decided to do the voice of the bodyguard didn't entirely fit. That said, I got over it and loved the caretaking, the slight mystery plot, and how the couple overcame some real obstacles. And I LOVED the ending! It was perfection and I anticipate reading more in the series. I received an audio review copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
It was a little slow to start and it took me awhile to get the two characters straight. I can't tell how much of this was the audiobook narrator and how much was the headhopping, but I kind of thought the way she decided to do the voice of the bodyguard didn't entirely fit. That said, I got over it and loved the caretaking, the slight mystery plot, and how the couple overcame some real obstacles. And I LOVED the ending! It was perfection and I anticipate reading more in the series. I received an audio review copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
April 30, 2025
It's me, HI, I'm the problem, it's me......
Today I have learned....... Pre-book developed couples are not for me 🙅🏻
I just do not like when we, as readers, are just expected to understand that the couple are already cute and wholesome together, when we didn't get to experience that?
And these girlypops the ratio of bickering VS cute moments is like 70/30. And I don't like those rookie numbers. The things they bicker about is VERY REASONABLE, but like.... without the cute build up between them, I just kinda want them to stfu and be cute?
I realise that I am a skank for the development, whore for the chase, horny for the flirting, I want to be blue balled with anticipation and nervous excitement....... BUT EVERYTHING that comes with developing in a couple in a story was missing here and I felt ripped off that I missed it??
BECAUSE HELLO, HOT LADY KNIGHT/GUARD AND POWERFUL LADY WITCH??? THE WASTED POTENTIAL HERE WAS CRIMINAL?????????
THESE GIRLS GET TO LIVE OUR opening a book store that's also a tea shop that in a cute lil town, far away from life's problems with the love of your life FANTASY DREAMS........... But I was still kinda bored.... 🤷🏻🤷🏻🤷🏻
I wouldn't call this a cosy book, but it wasn't plot or action driven either. It was kind of in the middle somewhere, and the bookshop/tea house felt like a minor part of the whole story.
(OKAY SO I WROTE THIS REVIEW WHEN I WAS AT LIKE 85% BECAUSE I ALREADY FELT THIS WAY, AND TO MY UTTER FUCKING SURPRISE THERE IS A MOTHERFUCKING EPILOGUE WITH THE STORY OF HOW THESE TWO CUTIES MET??????? WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU PUT THIS IN THE FUCKING EPILOGUE????? IS THIS JUST ON AUDIO????? WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS CHOICE???????? omg that annoys me so much I wanna scream)
November 20, 2025
If you wish your cozy small town romances had a fantasy element, well this is the book for you. Pour yourself a cup of tea because this book felt like a warm hug and a cozy blanket.
After years of toiling away as a palace guard, Reyna decides she's done serving the queen. So she and her mage girlfriend Kianthe leave it all behind, finding themselves in a remote town. Soon they refurbish an old barn, transforming it into their dream tea room/bookshop and what follows is a tale of mysteries, dragons, and found family.
To preface, I'm usually not the biggest reader of cozy fantasy, though this book totally changed my outlook on the genre. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of fantasy elements, and I liked how their were multiple, action-oriented subplots. Otherwise, I would've been bored if this had solely focused on the romance.
This book was on the slower side, though I think that's to be expected given the genre. And the pacing picked up a lot once the characters settled into the town. Also the fantastical creatures stole the show. I loved both the dragons and the griffons.
Though I would've liked to be more connected to the characters' relationship. Because Reyna and Kianthe had already been together for two years prior to the start of the book, I felt like a core part of their relationship development was missing. At least throw in a few flashbacks to when they first met. But I did enjoy both of the characters, and this would be perfect for a snowy day in!
After years of toiling away as a palace guard, Reyna decides she's done serving the queen. So she and her mage girlfriend Kianthe leave it all behind, finding themselves in a remote town. Soon they refurbish an old barn, transforming it into their dream tea room/bookshop and what follows is a tale of mysteries, dragons, and found family.
To preface, I'm usually not the biggest reader of cozy fantasy, though this book totally changed my outlook on the genre. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of fantasy elements, and I liked how their were multiple, action-oriented subplots. Otherwise, I would've been bored if this had solely focused on the romance.
This book was on the slower side, though I think that's to be expected given the genre. And the pacing picked up a lot once the characters settled into the town. Also the fantastical creatures stole the show. I loved both the dragons and the griffons.
Though I would've liked to be more connected to the characters' relationship. Because Reyna and Kianthe had already been together for two years prior to the start of the book, I felt like a core part of their relationship development was missing. At least throw in a few flashbacks to when they first met. But I did enjoy both of the characters, and this would be perfect for a snowy day in!
May 19, 2024
This was so cute. Very reminiscent of Legends and Lattes, albeit the tag line for that is "high fantasy, low stakes" I would say the tagline for this one would be "high fantasy, mid stakes".
The cosiness is there for me, but the stakes are definately higher in this one which I do think takes away from the cosiness just a little bit. But I really enjoyed it nonetheless. Kianthe and Reyna are adorable, sassy and hilarious and I love them.
If you're looking for a sapphic, cosy fantasy with slightly higher stakes than L&L, this is the book for you!
The cosiness is there for me, but the stakes are definately higher in this one which I do think takes away from the cosiness just a little bit. But I really enjoyed it nonetheless. Kianthe and Reyna are adorable, sassy and hilarious and I love them.
If you're looking for a sapphic, cosy fantasy with slightly higher stakes than L&L, this is the book for you!
May 23, 2024
I'm so sad rn, but this was so dull. Cozy fantasy should still have emotional stakes.
I'm actually writing this review straightly upon finishing because I just want to be done with it (barring my May YouTube wrap-up, but talking is easier than writing). Like many, I have been really, really into this cozy fantasy thing since Legends and Lattes first did its thing, and unfortunately, I think this author learned the wrong lessons from that book, which she tells us in the afterword was a huge "inspiration" for her own book. By the fact that her queer femme characters cease their lives of violence to open up a cozy business focused on pursuits of coziness (in this case tea and books), and the book focuses on their struggles doing that, here I found that I just did not care at all. From page one.
Some people have complained that this actually has too high of stakes for a cozy fantasy since monarchs and treason and such are involved, but for me cozy fantasy is about the vibes, and this was definitely going for that. Where I think it lost its grip on stakes is emotionally. Even stories with low stakes have to have narrative tension, and there was absolutely none to be found here, I think for several reasons.
The main reason, unfortunately, is that I don't think Thorne has much of an instinct for storytelling. Storytelling is about building expectations, and then satisfying them. At no point did I develop any sort of expectation or yearning to see what would happen, plotwise or characterwise. Probably you could go in to this book knowing the trajectory of this plot pretty accurately based on the genre, so plot tension is not going to cut it, there also has to be character tension, and Thorne's characters were very dull for me. I couldn't attach to them. We enter their relationship with them already two years in love, we at no point think they won't end the story in love, and the characters themselves have very little personality to make up for any lack there. The prose is also very into telling, not showing. We are told things about the characters, we don't see them doing or saying things that would make us FEEL who they are.
Also, the queen and the politics, as well as the worldbuilding in general were sort of irritating. Also irritating, the love story between the two main characters. I didn't feel it at all, and resented being forced to read about it. I don't think I will be reading any more of this author's books, and I'll be selling my self-pub version of this on Pango, bc mama needs money.
I'm actually writing this review straightly upon finishing because I just want to be done with it (barring my May YouTube wrap-up, but talking is easier than writing). Like many, I have been really, really into this cozy fantasy thing since Legends and Lattes first did its thing, and unfortunately, I think this author learned the wrong lessons from that book, which she tells us in the afterword was a huge "inspiration" for her own book. By the fact that her queer femme characters cease their lives of violence to open up a cozy business focused on pursuits of coziness (in this case tea and books), and the book focuses on their struggles doing that, here I found that I just did not care at all. From page one.
Some people have complained that this actually has too high of stakes for a cozy fantasy since monarchs and treason and such are involved, but for me cozy fantasy is about the vibes, and this was definitely going for that. Where I think it lost its grip on stakes is emotionally. Even stories with low stakes have to have narrative tension, and there was absolutely none to be found here, I think for several reasons.
The main reason, unfortunately, is that I don't think Thorne has much of an instinct for storytelling. Storytelling is about building expectations, and then satisfying them. At no point did I develop any sort of expectation or yearning to see what would happen, plotwise or characterwise. Probably you could go in to this book knowing the trajectory of this plot pretty accurately based on the genre, so plot tension is not going to cut it, there also has to be character tension, and Thorne's characters were very dull for me. I couldn't attach to them. We enter their relationship with them already two years in love, we at no point think they won't end the story in love, and the characters themselves have very little personality to make up for any lack there. The prose is also very into telling, not showing. We are told things about the characters, we don't see them doing or saying things that would make us FEEL who they are.
Also, the queen and the politics, as well as the worldbuilding in general were sort of irritating. Also irritating, the love story between the two main characters. I didn't feel it at all, and resented being forced to read about it. I don't think I will be reading any more of this author's books, and I'll be selling my self-pub version of this on Pango, bc mama needs money.
April 29, 2023
This is a decent story that doesn't deserve the heavy comparisons to Legends & Lattes. Yes, it features characters who are giving up their violence-laden lives to open up a shop and yes it features building community and the shop itself, but...I don't know. Something about the stakes felt a little too high to be properly cozy. Just talking about opening a shop and building it and making tea and liking books doesn't make something cozy fantasy. It's a feeling, along with ultra low stakes and I think the stakes here were too high. Part of it also felt like it was all telling and no showing, especially with the romance between the two main characters.
It's absolutely solid for a self-published book on Kindle Unlimited. Just temper expectations and enjoy your time.
It's absolutely solid for a self-published book on Kindle Unlimited. Just temper expectations and enjoy your time.
May 15, 2023
It's official. Cozy fantasies are my jam and I am so delighted by it! I loved everything about this book. Reyna and Kianthe are wonderful characters and I adore both of them equally. They both stand on their own but, work better together which made this book even more enjoyable. I loved the world and the shop they created. While this is cozy there were exciting things that happened throughout the book and problems that needed solving which kept me invested and turning the pages. I am so glad I read this book and highly recommend.
March 20, 2024
4/5
Thank you Macmillan for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was so sweet! I had such a nice time reading this book, it's astoundingly comforting, another brilliant cosy fantasy! It's incredibly reminiscent of Legends & Lattes but also defined enough to be uniquely its own tale. If you loved L&L or other books within the cosy fantasy subgenre, I'm sure you'll love this book too.
The characters were engaging and I loved that we followed an established sapphic relationship as they tried to escape the pressures of their lives to create something wholly new. I loved watching them try to make their dreams become their reality, I loved that they were prepared to fight for their peace.
There were many intriguing factors in the world-building, and the supporting characters were lively and fun. It's just such a good time. More cosy sapphic fantasy will never be a bad thing!
Thank you Macmillan for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was so sweet! I had such a nice time reading this book, it's astoundingly comforting, another brilliant cosy fantasy! It's incredibly reminiscent of Legends & Lattes but also defined enough to be uniquely its own tale. If you loved L&L or other books within the cosy fantasy subgenre, I'm sure you'll love this book too.
The characters were engaging and I loved that we followed an established sapphic relationship as they tried to escape the pressures of their lives to create something wholly new. I loved watching them try to make their dreams become their reality, I loved that they were prepared to fight for their peace.
There were many intriguing factors in the world-building, and the supporting characters were lively and fun. It's just such a good time. More cosy sapphic fantasy will never be a bad thing!
March 26, 2025
oop! did not care for this! poorly written on like, a craft level. poorly constructed similes!! poorly constructed sentences!! using words in weird and baffling nonstandard ways (referring to the current queen as an "impending royal" is BONKERS)!!
this is a review of me being mean to/about a pretty readable book, so if that's not your jam, avert your gaze, but yeah, I probably should have DNFd this one. just overall very mediocre broadly speaking (infuriatingly episodic, exceptionally boring established relationship, etc.), but other people have already gone into that, so I will merely present my specific petty gripes:
- wish thorne had done more with reyna's self-flagellating puritan "all the best things come alongside responsibility" / "I like responsibility" work ethic as contrasted with kianthe's 'fidlar yolo the continent can burn down for all I care' vibe (see also: "a person could work and work, and still never 'earn' their dues"), but it's kind of just wasted.
- hated that they called each other "rain" and "key" for short lol. WHY NOT REYN AND KI??? WHY???????
- fanfic-ass language..."the mage" this, "the mage" that...no thank you. at one point reyna calls kianthe "you ridiculous mage" and it's so weirdddddd because like the whole book is about how like it's okay to thoreau your life away while also like balancing your responsibilities or whatever but like You Are Not Your Job and I can tell you that if a romantic partner ever called me "you ridiculous teacher" in a conversation that had absolutely nothing to do with my teaching they would immediately become an ex
- um, weird stuff about land ownership, couldn't really suss out like, the point of it all
- the magicary is not all-women so why is kianthe using mildly derogatory gendered language to describe it ("they're old bats who can wither in the five hells")
- the whole chocolate thing was too emphatically stupid but I'm exhausted and have a headache (not a metaphor, my head has been pounding all day) and so I won't be going into it again. truly the beginning of the end for me and the point I should have recognized as the point of no return. let the question of "sweetened cacao" stand in as representation for the shoddy worldbuilding of this novel as a whole (LANGUAGE IS A TRICKY BEAST AND IT'S SO FUNNY THAT IN WRITING A LITTLE COFFEESHOP THING YOU ARE SUDDENLY CONFRONTED WITH WHAT TO DO ABOUT WORDS LIKE "CHOCOLATE," "CACAO," "OOLONG," "CROISSANT," AND "YERBA MATÉ") (for the record, in another instance thorne talks about a "ponderous" pine lmaoaosdfioisisfdoifosdio so. where is the consistency)
- I detest the lazy interjection of indisputably modern language into this kind of fake-old-timey-fantasy thing, unless done very intentionally and purposefully. venne is a "nice guy," is he? cool.
- absolutely bonkers that you would choose NOT to worship a deity that has inarguably demonstrated that it rewards its worshippers, and only its worshippers, with magic powers lol. even the people who don't worship the stone of seeing accept this!! friends, why haven't you converted already?? accept the stone of seeing into your hearts!!!
- if I have to be told that something that happened in a book was "hilarious," it probably wasn't
- stop sexy whispering in each other's ears in front of your friends...I'm begging....they are tired
anyway here is what thorne thinks about her own work
CORNY. I'M TIRED
this is a review of me being mean to/about a pretty readable book, so if that's not your jam, avert your gaze, but yeah, I probably should have DNFd this one. just overall very mediocre broadly speaking (infuriatingly episodic, exceptionally boring established relationship, etc.), but other people have already gone into that, so I will merely present my specific petty gripes:
- wish thorne had done more with reyna's self-flagellating puritan "all the best things come alongside responsibility" / "I like responsibility" work ethic as contrasted with kianthe's 'fidlar yolo the continent can burn down for all I care' vibe (see also: "a person could work and work, and still never 'earn' their dues"), but it's kind of just wasted.
- hated that they called each other "rain" and "key" for short lol. WHY NOT REYN AND KI??? WHY???????
- fanfic-ass language..."the mage" this, "the mage" that...no thank you. at one point reyna calls kianthe "you ridiculous mage" and it's so weirdddddd because like the whole book is about how like it's okay to thoreau your life away while also like balancing your responsibilities or whatever but like You Are Not Your Job and I can tell you that if a romantic partner ever called me "you ridiculous teacher" in a conversation that had absolutely nothing to do with my teaching they would immediately become an ex
- um, weird stuff about land ownership, couldn't really suss out like, the point of it all
- the magicary is not all-women so why is kianthe using mildly derogatory gendered language to describe it ("they're old bats who can wither in the five hells")
- the whole chocolate thing was too emphatically stupid but I'm exhausted and have a headache (not a metaphor, my head has been pounding all day) and so I won't be going into it again. truly the beginning of the end for me and the point I should have recognized as the point of no return. let the question of "sweetened cacao" stand in as representation for the shoddy worldbuilding of this novel as a whole (LANGUAGE IS A TRICKY BEAST AND IT'S SO FUNNY THAT IN WRITING A LITTLE COFFEESHOP THING YOU ARE SUDDENLY CONFRONTED WITH WHAT TO DO ABOUT WORDS LIKE "CHOCOLATE," "CACAO," "OOLONG," "CROISSANT," AND "YERBA MATÉ") (for the record, in another instance thorne talks about a "ponderous" pine lmaoaosdfioisisfdoifosdio so. where is the consistency)
- I detest the lazy interjection of indisputably modern language into this kind of fake-old-timey-fantasy thing, unless done very intentionally and purposefully. venne is a "nice guy," is he? cool.
- absolutely bonkers that you would choose NOT to worship a deity that has inarguably demonstrated that it rewards its worshippers, and only its worshippers, with magic powers lol. even the people who don't worship the stone of seeing accept this!! friends, why haven't you converted already?? accept the stone of seeing into your hearts!!!
- if I have to be told that something that happened in a book was "hilarious," it probably wasn't
- stop sexy whispering in each other's ears in front of your friends...I'm begging....they are tired
anyway here is what thorne thinks about her own work
"I thought all stories needed heart-pounding action, but that one proved me wrong[...]"
"mmm. they say the stories we love share a bit about ourselves."
CORNY. I'M TIRED
September 10, 2024
I have worked myself into such a fury that I can't help but rate it 1 star.
It is fucking boring. The ending is as boring as the beginning, so I'm giving up on the middle.
I absolutely hate how Thorne used gender and sexuality in this book. There were implications of social tension around queerness, but no actual problems for the characters in that regard--at least that I ran into by page 95. Just leave out the tension, please, Thorne. Make it normal to be LGBTQ. No one will mind that it's "unrelatable." Just make it normal to be nonbinary or gay.
And STOP describing someone's [darker] skin tone as contrasting beautifully or strikingly either with their own lighter eye/hair color or someone else's lighter skin color. Stop. That is so gross. If someone's blue eyes are striking, you can just say that.
The author's acknowledgement was frustrating. Baldree didn't invent cozy fantasy. It does make sense that it "inspired" this copycat, though--yet if somebody did help Thorne "develop" the so-called plot and characters... holy fuck. 2 heads were not enough. But do be sure, readers, to use #treasonandtea to promote the book for her on TikTok. Booktok is what inspired her to write in this genre, after all.
Are you fucking for real.
It is fucking boring. The ending is as boring as the beginning, so I'm giving up on the middle.
I absolutely hate how Thorne used gender and sexuality in this book. There were implications of social tension around queerness, but no actual problems for the characters in that regard--at least that I ran into by page 95. Just leave out the tension, please, Thorne. Make it normal to be LGBTQ. No one will mind that it's "unrelatable." Just make it normal to be nonbinary or gay.
And STOP describing someone's [darker] skin tone as contrasting beautifully or strikingly either with their own lighter eye/hair color or someone else's lighter skin color. Stop. That is so gross. If someone's blue eyes are striking, you can just say that.
The author's acknowledgement was frustrating. Baldree didn't invent cozy fantasy. It does make sense that it "inspired" this copycat, though--yet if somebody did help Thorne "develop" the so-called plot and characters... holy fuck. 2 heads were not enough. But do be sure, readers, to use #treasonandtea to promote the book for her on TikTok. Booktok is what inspired her to write in this genre, after all.
Are you fucking for real.
February 18, 2025
I loved the epilogue most. It went over how Kianthe and Reyna first met each other and their first date.
This story was okay, not as adventurous of a runaway as I thought it would be. Kianthe, a mage who can do magic and ride griffin to get around. She battled dragons who tried to burn down the town she was living in to save the people there. Reyna, a royal guard who got injured trying to save the Queen from an assassin. They both already dated as the story started. Reyna felt life is precious when she got injured, especially dating her Kianthe was always in secret. She asked Kianthe to ask her that question again.. the question where Kianthe wish they would both run away together to open a bookshop that also sells tea. Kianthe asked and they left. They eventually settled at this small town. There, while settling down, Reyna got sick from her injuries. Later Kianthe was sick from her injuries. The neighbors are very nice and helpful. They were being hunted by the Queen for deserting their duties.. there aren't any romance.. the epilogue has some humor.
The audiobook was good. I enjoyed the accent of some characters.
Thank you Bramble Romance and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read, listen, and review.
This story was okay, not as adventurous of a runaway as I thought it would be. Kianthe, a mage who can do magic and ride griffin to get around. She battled dragons who tried to burn down the town she was living in to save the people there. Reyna, a royal guard who got injured trying to save the Queen from an assassin. They both already dated as the story started. Reyna felt life is precious when she got injured, especially dating her Kianthe was always in secret. She asked Kianthe to ask her that question again.. the question where Kianthe wish they would both run away together to open a bookshop that also sells tea. Kianthe asked and they left. They eventually settled at this small town. There, while settling down, Reyna got sick from her injuries. Later Kianthe was sick from her injuries. The neighbors are very nice and helpful. They were being hunted by the Queen for deserting their duties.. there aren't any romance.. the epilogue has some humor.
The audiobook was good. I enjoyed the accent of some characters.
Thank you Bramble Romance and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read, listen, and review.
January 13, 2025
2 stars
I really don't have very strong feelings about this book, it was solidly "okay". It calls itself a cozy tea time romance, but then we really don't get much about running a tea/bookshop and not very much romance. It was more about royal politics and bandits and such. I read this at the beginning of 2025 (about 2 weeks ago) and have already forgotten most of it.
I really don't have very strong feelings about this book, it was solidly "okay". It calls itself a cozy tea time romance, but then we really don't get much about running a tea/bookshop and not very much romance. It was more about royal politics and bandits and such. I read this at the beginning of 2025 (about 2 weeks ago) and have already forgotten most of it.
February 15, 2023
Honestly I don't have anything nice to say so I'll just keep it short : I was promised cozy lesbians having domestic moments in a teashop and bookstore and I can't say that it's truly what this book is. I couldn't care for the characters and the plot felt the opposite of cozy fantasy - don't get me started on the surface level romantic interactions between Kianthe and Reyna who, at this point, were just corny and with the chemistry of a toast.
And I usually like corny.
And I usually like corny.
May 8, 2026
I’ve never understood what people meant when they said that a book felt like a warm hug or lying on the couch under your favorite blanket, but now I do because of this book. This was a low stakes, super cozy fantasy book with a lot of moving pieces in the background, so the romance was not the main focus, but it did drive the story. (I have no idea if that makes sense.)
I’m glad that this is a series because I don’t want to leave this world. I definitely want to spend more time with these characters and the found family that they are building in the small town in the middle of nowhere. I think they’re brave for choosing to do with their lives as they please because they were both under very strict rules by other people on how they were supposed to live their lives.
Even though this is a low stakes fantasy, I feel like there is a sense of danger looming over them because of how they got to where they are and what is currently happening in the town they are now residing in, so I’m definitely looking forward to continuing the series for sure.
I’m glad that this is a series because I don’t want to leave this world. I definitely want to spend more time with these characters and the found family that they are building in the small town in the middle of nowhere. I think they’re brave for choosing to do with their lives as they please because they were both under very strict rules by other people on how they were supposed to live their lives.
Even though this is a low stakes fantasy, I feel like there is a sense of danger looming over them because of how they got to where they are and what is currently happening in the town they are now residing in, so I’m definitely looking forward to continuing the series for sure.
July 20, 2026
reading vlog: https://youtu.be/kTN0UXf6-yc
sadly a cosy fantasy that didn't work for me! i found in places it felt a bit stereotypical for the genre - doing and saying things just because they're the 'done thing' for cosy fantasy. i also found the romantic relationship unrealistic at times - their communication felt 'too perfect', and not realistic to some of the conflicts that they were facing together!
sadly a cosy fantasy that didn't work for me! i found in places it felt a bit stereotypical for the genre - doing and saying things just because they're the 'done thing' for cosy fantasy. i also found the romantic relationship unrealistic at times - their communication felt 'too perfect', and not realistic to some of the conflicts that they were facing together!
February 22, 2023
Kindle Unlimited. Cozy adventure fantasy! In a similar vein to Legends & Lattes.
https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Spell-Tre...
This was a lovely, fun, story that I think anyone who ever had that cottagecore dream where you run away with your spouse and open a little bookshop cafe, in an accepting community with good friends; will enjoy!
The two women have a fun banter together. Reyna is a Queens bodyguard, for a cruel uncaring queen that doesn't deserve her loyalty. Her girlfriend, Kianthe, is a mage of the highest order, and in demand but resents being pulled from pillar to post for her magic uses.
The two have an already established connection, where Kianthe is more rebellious and fun, so has tried to persuade Reyna to 'run away' with her, to open a tea and book shop together, but previously Reyna's family legacy and loyalty to the crown had always deterred her from such a whim. Also the far reaches of the Queen and her petty ire, had made her stay, too fearful of the consequences. But a near-death experience has her realizing what and who is truly important in life, and what she wants from it - so now she is taking that chance.
They end up in a small border town with no real ownership, where others like them have come to evade various kingdoms. They think they can start fresh and be just far enough out of reach to start a life together. The book is full of details of the ladies setting up their shop and home, plus the community at large with their weird and whacky antics of the townsfolk and friends they meet, and those who help them. There's a lovely 'found family' and community feel that comes about, and its just everything warm and fuzzy you want from that sort of tale.
But there's also magics and fantasy elements, too. A griffon. A tiny bit of a mystery with some dragons and their eggs, and just a lot of fun banter and antics from Kianthe most of all, who loves puns and is sassy and vibrant. While Reyna is more stoic and controlled, but learns to talk more and share her feelings and emotions.
It leaves off with a bit more story still to come, so I really look forward to the next installment. I would absolutely recommend this story! Check it out on KU.
https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Spell-Tre...
This was a lovely, fun, story that I think anyone who ever had that cottagecore dream where you run away with your spouse and open a little bookshop cafe, in an accepting community with good friends; will enjoy!
The two women have a fun banter together. Reyna is a Queens bodyguard, for a cruel uncaring queen that doesn't deserve her loyalty. Her girlfriend, Kianthe, is a mage of the highest order, and in demand but resents being pulled from pillar to post for her magic uses.
The two have an already established connection, where Kianthe is more rebellious and fun, so has tried to persuade Reyna to 'run away' with her, to open a tea and book shop together, but previously Reyna's family legacy and loyalty to the crown had always deterred her from such a whim. Also the far reaches of the Queen and her petty ire, had made her stay, too fearful of the consequences. But a near-death experience has her realizing what and who is truly important in life, and what she wants from it - so now she is taking that chance.
They end up in a small border town with no real ownership, where others like them have come to evade various kingdoms. They think they can start fresh and be just far enough out of reach to start a life together. The book is full of details of the ladies setting up their shop and home, plus the community at large with their weird and whacky antics of the townsfolk and friends they meet, and those who help them. There's a lovely 'found family' and community feel that comes about, and its just everything warm and fuzzy you want from that sort of tale.
But there's also magics and fantasy elements, too. A griffon. A tiny bit of a mystery with some dragons and their eggs, and just a lot of fun banter and antics from Kianthe most of all, who loves puns and is sassy and vibrant. While Reyna is more stoic and controlled, but learns to talk more and share her feelings and emotions.
It leaves off with a bit more story still to come, so I really look forward to the next installment. I would absolutely recommend this story! Check it out on KU.
March 31, 2024
Note to readers: this audiobook is best enjoyed with a steaming cup of chai and a sweet treat. Trust me now and thank me later!
Not all partnerships are created equal but cozy fantasy and audiobooks are an absolute power couple. As are our two main characters in this charming magical adventure. Reyna and Kianthe escape the daily grind of a high-powered mage and bodyguard, to enjoy the rural, anonymous life they've always dreamed of together. Their first Hiccup (wink wink) comes as our couple learns that the simple life becomes a tad more complicated when the sleepy town you choose to settle in to open your bookshop, just so happens to be plagued by dragons.
Don't let anyone fool you into thinking cozy fantasy always has to be mellow and low-to-no stakes, this is a lovely balance of relaxing slice-of-life style descriptions and the odd magical mishap to keep things interesting. I can definitely see the parallels between this book's format in comparison to Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust. It is essentially the same story framework with different characters. However I must say, I personally enjoyed Can't Spell Treason without Tea more, as I like my cozy fantasy with an extra dose of mystery and magic - which this book definitely delivers.
Thank you to Macmillan & Rebecca Thorne for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Not all partnerships are created equal but cozy fantasy and audiobooks are an absolute power couple. As are our two main characters in this charming magical adventure. Reyna and Kianthe escape the daily grind of a high-powered mage and bodyguard, to enjoy the rural, anonymous life they've always dreamed of together. Their first Hiccup (wink wink) comes as our couple learns that the simple life becomes a tad more complicated when the sleepy town you choose to settle in to open your bookshop, just so happens to be plagued by dragons.
Don't let anyone fool you into thinking cozy fantasy always has to be mellow and low-to-no stakes, this is a lovely balance of relaxing slice-of-life style descriptions and the odd magical mishap to keep things interesting. I can definitely see the parallels between this book's format in comparison to Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust. It is essentially the same story framework with different characters. However I must say, I personally enjoyed Can't Spell Treason without Tea more, as I like my cozy fantasy with an extra dose of mystery and magic - which this book definitely delivers.
Thank you to Macmillan & Rebecca Thorne for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 20, 2022
A cozy fantasy that was a nice read overall, but wasn't quite what I'd hoped it would be.
Firstly, what I enjoyed:
Reyna & Kianthe are both great characters with distinct personalities and I really enjoyed their relationship and dynamic.
The lands in general and the specific town of Tawney made for an interesting setting with good world building. I felt like I understood what I needed to understand about the countries, rulers, different cultures, magic etc. This also included excellent incorporation of non-binary characters into its setting.
There was lots of humour that did actually make me laugh/smile at times (and then despair of myself in the case of some of the puns).
What didn't quite work for me:
It often felt like it wasn't sure whether it wanted to be a cozy story or a more high stakes adventure, which lead to some slightly off-pacing in places. Personally, I went into this wanting to read a cozy fantasy about a lesbian couple setting up a book & teashop, so I would have preferred more of an emphasis of that and less of the queen/ dragon eggs sub-plots, and perhaps a slightly shorter condensed story overall.
Some of the writing choices were quite jarring and pulled me out of the story. For example, the use of descriptions rather than the character's name/ pronouns. (Reyna is repeatedly referred to as 'the ex-guard' even when her former profession has zero bearing on the current scene, and this is one of those things that once I notice an author does it, I can't stop noticing it.) Also, there were some words that stood out to me in the quesi-historical fantasy setting, such as referring to a vest top as a 'tank' or repeated use of the word 'vacation.' (This last one may have been particularly jarring to me as I'm a Brit and it's such an well-known Americanism that I can't dissociate it from the modern real-world place of America.)
All in all, I still mostly enjoyed this, and anyone looking for a cozy fantasy with a little bit more plot/stakes probably will as well.
My thanks to the author for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly, what I enjoyed:
Reyna & Kianthe are both great characters with distinct personalities and I really enjoyed their relationship and dynamic.
The lands in general and the specific town of Tawney made for an interesting setting with good world building. I felt like I understood what I needed to understand about the countries, rulers, different cultures, magic etc. This also included excellent incorporation of non-binary characters into its setting.
There was lots of humour that did actually make me laugh/smile at times (and then despair of myself in the case of some of the puns).
What didn't quite work for me:
It often felt like it wasn't sure whether it wanted to be a cozy story or a more high stakes adventure, which lead to some slightly off-pacing in places. Personally, I went into this wanting to read a cozy fantasy about a lesbian couple setting up a book & teashop, so I would have preferred more of an emphasis of that and less of the queen/ dragon eggs sub-plots, and perhaps a slightly shorter condensed story overall.
Some of the writing choices were quite jarring and pulled me out of the story. For example, the use of descriptions rather than the character's name/ pronouns. (Reyna is repeatedly referred to as 'the ex-guard' even when her former profession has zero bearing on the current scene, and this is one of those things that once I notice an author does it, I can't stop noticing it.) Also, there were some words that stood out to me in the quesi-historical fantasy setting, such as referring to a vest top as a 'tank' or repeated use of the word 'vacation.' (This last one may have been particularly jarring to me as I'm a Brit and it's such an well-known Americanism that I can't dissociate it from the modern real-world place of America.)
All in all, I still mostly enjoyed this, and anyone looking for a cozy fantasy with a little bit more plot/stakes probably will as well.
My thanks to the author for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2024
This was a pretty cute read - but it was misgenred. It’s more in Low Fantasy or Fantasy than Cozy Fantasy.
Honestly, this had a whole bunch of things that were right up my alley. I was JUST complaining that we didn’t have enough queer FMCs in Fantasy. And I was gifted with that absolutely lovable couple. They had an already established relationship (which we also don’t get enough in Fantasy). AND to top it off - they helped an orphan teenager.
Sadly, I felt like something was missing. I have a feeling it’s because we don’t get enough backstory before they run away. And the stakes were incredibly high? We’re talking about life or death. Which didn’t suite the Cozy Fantasy it was genred it.
I liked the story but really began to love it when Gossley appeared. He was such a cutie. I just wish he took more space in that story.
I really loved the bonus chapter with Kianthe & Reyna’s meeting. It was absolutely cute.
I’m actually looking forward to the rest of this series.
Honestly, this had a whole bunch of things that were right up my alley. I was JUST complaining that we didn’t have enough queer FMCs in Fantasy. And I was gifted with that absolutely lovable couple. They had an already established relationship (which we also don’t get enough in Fantasy). AND to top it off - they helped an orphan teenager.
Sadly, I felt like something was missing. I have a feeling it’s because we don’t get enough backstory before they run away. And the stakes were incredibly high? We’re talking about life or death. Which didn’t suite the Cozy Fantasy it was genred it.
I liked the story but really began to love it when Gossley appeared. He was such a cutie. I just wish he took more space in that story.
I really loved the bonus chapter with Kianthe & Reyna’s meeting. It was absolutely cute.
I’m actually looking forward to the rest of this series.
April 27, 2024
II think the blurb said that this was an adventure with a healthy dose of romance. I'd say, after finishing it, it was a romance with a vague storyline supporting it. There was certainly very little adventure involved. What we did get was a slight amount of hardship and peril which was quickly resolved. Even the most hazardous of episodes were turned round within a paragraph or two.
The basic story is that a Queen's guard and a magician have fallen in love and decide to run away to a not so far flung town where they set up a bookshop/cafe that is an instant success. They then have a couple of very minor adventures which are cleared up remarkably quickly. And throughout the entire book they spend the rest of the time telling each other how marvellous they think the other is and how sexy and how they don't feel they deserve the other person. This went on for the lion's share of the book.
In summary if you like a Mills & Boon style romance then you'll love this. If you want an adventure then I'd give it a miss.
I listened to the audio which was very clearly read by Jessica Threet. However she has a very melodramatic delivery, which I really don't enjoy. I like to be read to, not acted at.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Macmillan UK Audio for the advance review copy.
The basic story is that a Queen's guard and a magician have fallen in love and decide to run away to a not so far flung town where they set up a bookshop/cafe that is an instant success. They then have a couple of very minor adventures which are cleared up remarkably quickly. And throughout the entire book they spend the rest of the time telling each other how marvellous they think the other is and how sexy and how they don't feel they deserve the other person. This went on for the lion's share of the book.
In summary if you like a Mills & Boon style romance then you'll love this. If you want an adventure then I'd give it a miss.
I listened to the audio which was very clearly read by Jessica Threet. However she has a very melodramatic delivery, which I really don't enjoy. I like to be read to, not acted at.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Macmillan UK Audio for the advance review copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2022
the characters here are living the life i want and i am very envious. /pos
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