keerti's review
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
4.0
beccabou's review
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.0
A cozy fantasy inspired by Legends & Lattes with a bit more adventure :)
bookmarktavern's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve followed Rebecca on TikTok for a while now, and when she announced she was offering ARCs, I leapt at the opportunity! A sapphic, cozy fantasy about a former palace guard and the powerful mage opening a tea and book shop? Yes please!
And this story delivered on everything I could have wanted. Reyna was once one of the private guards of a tyrannical and sadistic queen. Kianthe is the powerful mage who wants to be valued for more than her title and power.
The pacing in this was fantastic for me. We get brief moments of big fights and danger, interspersed with slow, lazy days in the shop getting to know the community. There’s also the ever present threat of Reyna’s queen in the background, adding an intriguing layer of tension to even the most cozy of scenes.
I loved all the wonderful characters we’re introduced to. Reyna and Kianthe are a lovely couple with genuine affection. And I can’t even tell you how much I appreciated seeing a couple on page communicating so well, even when they disagreed or were fighting. It was so refreshing! And I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for flirty banter and roll your eyes level of puns. All of the side characters are unique and fleshed out.
The world building wasn’t quite as expansive as I would have liked. We get so many hints of absolutely fascinating things, alchemical magic vs elemental magic vs draconic magic, the Stone of Seeing, but nothing gets as in depth an explanation as I want. Although that does mean there were no info dumps. But this is only the first book in a series to continue, so I’m happy to wait and see the world expanded.
This was a charming and fast read, full of cozy sapphic love, community building, and finding meaning in the work you do. Probably going to be one of my favorite reads of the year. Perfect for anyone looking for a change of pace from world ending stakes.
And this story delivered on everything I could have wanted. Reyna was once one of the private guards of a tyrannical and sadistic queen. Kianthe is the powerful mage who wants to be valued for more than her title and power.
The pacing in this was fantastic for me. We get brief moments of big fights and danger, interspersed with slow, lazy days in the shop getting to know the community. There’s also the ever present threat of Reyna’s queen in the background, adding an intriguing layer of tension to even the most cozy of scenes.
I loved all the wonderful characters we’re introduced to. Reyna and Kianthe are a lovely couple with genuine affection. And I can’t even tell you how much I appreciated seeing a couple on page communicating so well, even when they disagreed or were fighting. It was so refreshing! And I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for flirty banter and roll your eyes level of puns. All of the side characters are unique and fleshed out.
The world building wasn’t quite as expansive as I would have liked. We get so many hints of absolutely fascinating things, alchemical magic vs elemental magic vs draconic magic, the Stone of Seeing, but nothing gets as in depth an explanation as I want. Although that does mean there were no info dumps. But this is only the first book in a series to continue, so I’m happy to wait and see the world expanded.
This was a charming and fast read, full of cozy sapphic love, community building, and finding meaning in the work you do. Probably going to be one of my favorite reads of the year. Perfect for anyone looking for a change of pace from world ending stakes.
common_ghost's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
ryn_k's review
hopeful
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
3.5
fae_sarelfi's review against another edition
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 was 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 was 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.
lommelun's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
sirvex27's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
ourxstorybegins's review against another edition
Got through 1/4 and it just didn’t grab my attention. I think I want my fantasy slightly less cozy rn 😂😂
mediumyellow10's review against another edition
4.0
Much more intense than I thought it would be, but I love a cozy fantasy!! Love all the quirky small town characters and how much we get to peer into Reyna and Kianthe's mundane little lives in between all the insanity they're going through just to try and establish themselves. And I just want to live inside of New Leaf Tomes and Tea are you kidding me????