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righter_of_words's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mimipancakes's review against another edition
1.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio version of this book!
Yeah, so I did not like this book. As far as I know, this is the first cozy fantasy book I have read. I have read a couple other reviews and they said there was too much action and too high of stakes to count this book as "cozy." That said though, as I have no experience with what makes a cozy fantasy "cozy," I'm just going to focus on this book in general.
To start, I could not tell the two main characters apart. Even though I was listening to this as an audiobook and the two characters had distinctly different voices, I still couldn't tell the two apart. It was a third-person narrative, but would still go back and forth between the perspectives of the two leads. And every time a new chapter would start I would sit there and ask myself "okay, is this the mage or the guard?" and I would never figure it out.
As for the plot... everything was just resolved so quickly. Any time a problem came about, regardless of size, it was resolved within the same chapter it was introduced (sometimes even the same paragraph).
Lastly, the dialogue. Not good. It was either super cringey (for example, referring to the griffin as a "good boy") or just very exposition-y. The dialogue just kind of felt like a means to an end. The characters never felt like real people, they were just there to regurgitate information to the reader.
I just found this book so boring. The only reason I finished listening to it was because I was provided the audiobook through Netgalley.
Yeah, so I did not like this book. As far as I know, this is the first cozy fantasy book I have read. I have read a couple other reviews and they said there was too much action and too high of stakes to count this book as "cozy." That said though, as I have no experience with what makes a cozy fantasy "cozy," I'm just going to focus on this book in general.
To start, I could not tell the two main characters apart. Even though I was listening to this as an audiobook and the two characters had distinctly different voices, I still couldn't tell the two apart. It was a third-person narrative, but would still go back and forth between the perspectives of the two leads. And every time a new chapter would start I would sit there and ask myself "okay, is this the mage or the guard?" and I would never figure it out.
As for the plot... everything was just resolved so quickly. Any time a problem came about, regardless of size, it was resolved within the same chapter it was introduced (sometimes even the same paragraph).
Lastly, the dialogue. Not good. It was either super cringey (for example, referring to the griffin as a "good boy") or just very exposition-y. The dialogue just kind of felt like a means to an end. The characters never felt like real people, they were just there to regurgitate information to the reader.
I just found this book so boring. The only reason I finished listening to it was because I was provided the audiobook through Netgalley.
rfiddlesticks's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
roseleebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was a wonderful cozy fantasy and exceeded my expectations.
I appreciated that it is a book with a relationship already well established between the main characters, it allowed the plot points to carry the story while also showing the love and caring between Kianthe and Reyna.
The pacing felt consistent and the puns were a lot of fun. I didn't realize at first that there might be a sequel but would like to read more about Reyna and Kianthe's adventures!
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor/Forge for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication.
I appreciated that it is a book with a relationship already well established between the main characters, it allowed the plot points to carry the story while also showing the love and caring between Kianthe and Reyna.
The pacing felt consistent and the puns were a lot of fun. I didn't realize at first that there might be a sequel but would like to read more about Reyna and Kianthe's adventures!
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor/Forge for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol
annaszell's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
solid 4 ⭐️ read
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea has everything I'm looking for in a cozy fantasy read:
🐉 whimsical setting
🐉 books & tea
🐉 magical creatures, including DRAGONS!!
🐉 an atmosphere that feels like a big, warm hug
Even though I wouldn't say this book is low-stakes by any means, it was very relaxing to read. Reyna and Kianthe are relationship goals, and I can't wait to see where their story goes in the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea has everything I'm looking for in a cozy fantasy read:
🐉 whimsical setting
🐉 books & tea
🐉 magical creatures, including DRAGONS!!
🐉 an atmosphere that feels like a big, warm hug
Even though I wouldn't say this book is low-stakes by any means, it was very relaxing to read. Reyna and Kianthe are relationship goals, and I can't wait to see where their story goes in the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
theweightofstardust's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
doom_inique's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC of this book.
Cant Spell Treason without Tea is a wonderfully cozy fantasy read about two women who are just SO in love with each other.
Reyna is a royal guard for a psychopath Queen who runs away to live her life with Kianthe. Kianthe is the Arcandor, the powerful Mage of Ages, and she wants to run away from her life and open a tea and bookshop with Reyna. So they run away to Tawney and try to start a new life together. But their pasts wont let them get away easily.
I love that Reyna and Key had an established relationship before the book started and that we got to focus on the “moving in” part of their story. The banter, the passion, the worrying, it is all perfect. The side characters are all well fleshed out and interesting, especially the two Lords vying for control of Tawney. I hope we get to see more of them in future books.
This book nicely sets up the foundation for what could be many more books, with looming threats for both women.
Cant Spell Treason without Tea is a wonderfully cozy fantasy read about two women who are just SO in love with each other.
Reyna is a royal guard for a psychopath Queen who runs away to live her life with Kianthe. Kianthe is the Arcandor, the powerful Mage of Ages, and she wants to run away from her life and open a tea and bookshop with Reyna. So they run away to Tawney and try to start a new life together. But their pasts wont let them get away easily.
I love that Reyna and Key had an established relationship before the book started and that we got to focus on the “moving in” part of their story. The banter, the passion, the worrying, it is all perfect. The side characters are all well fleshed out and interesting, especially the two Lords vying for control of Tawney. I hope we get to see more of them in future books.
This book nicely sets up the foundation for what could be many more books, with looming threats for both women.
pcronn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alana_rorie's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
robbronnie's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars rounded to 4.
This book is exactly what it said it was, a cozy fantasy! I needed a palate cleanser and Thorne delivered.
The characters are so sweet and honest, I didn’t have to second guess a single word. The world was so lovingly painted and just enjoyable to be in. I’ll definitely read the next one!
This book is exactly what it said it was, a cozy fantasy! I needed a palate cleanser and Thorne delivered.
The characters are so sweet and honest, I didn’t have to second guess a single word. The world was so lovingly painted and just enjoyable to be in. I’ll definitely read the next one!