Reviews with content warning for Cursing - Can't Spell Treason Without Tea

Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

9 reviews

arlaubscher's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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

3.5

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natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

A warm, cosy hug of a read with an uplifting premise (and endearing cast of characters) that thoroughly stole my heart! If you loved Legends & Lattes or have been in a book hangover ever since reading and in desperate need a new cosy fantasy to fully immerse in, then you must consider checking this out!

Though not entirely low stakes (we do get a pretty action filled sequence involving dragons,as well as a stand off or two) the character development and dynamics between lovebirds Reyna and Kianthe was beautifully heartwarming. And I enjoyed watching them working to make their dream of running a tea serving Bookshop (called Tomes & Tea) a reality.

Having loyally served a tyrannical Queen for almost all her life, we follow former Queen’s guard Reyna who has decided to run away with her girlfriend, (the quite important and powerful Mage of Ages) Kianthe to pursue their dream of opening up a Bookshop—where tea and tasty baked goods are just as plentiful as the books!

Yet all is not quite well, for their new hometown of Tawney is under constant siege by dragons, which has seen this once prosperous town struggle to sustain its community. Wanting to solve the mystery and protect their new home, Kianthe and Reyna decide to investigate the possible motives behind the Dragon’s ire. But their discovery goes far deeper as the pair, in the midst of building a new life, learn just what they mean to each other…

Full of mishaps, mysteries, dragons and vengeful Queens— I was utterly ensnared by this whimsical, cosy, sapphic fantasy and didn’t want to put it down! Rebecca Thorne’s well plotted and character driven prose had me emotionally invested from the very start. And not only in the lives of Reyna and Kianthe either, but also the supporting cast who make up the loveable, tight-knit community within Tawney.

I adored Kianthe, who was an enthusiastically smitten ball of elemental magic (and cheesy puns) that I found instantly endearing. Her outgoing personality and sense of humour was delightfully infectious and complemented Reyna’s introspectively wary demeanour soo well.

They do both struggle a little in their new roles (and dynamics) at first, but their support: in inspiring and challenging one another to be themselves (in ways they’ve never been allowed to before) was what really had me rooting for them.

Overall, an enjoyably engaging and comforting read that (as controversial as it may sound, and please don’t hate me) I actually preferred more than Legends & Lattes. I don’t know if it was the banter, the dragons or Kianthe’s sassy Griffon Visk, but Thorne’s take on the Cosy Fantasy genre was simply marvellous!

Also a huge thank you to Book Break UK and Olivia-Savannah at Tor UK for the proof & finished copy.

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betweentheshelves's review

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adventurous lighthearted 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? No

4.0

This was a delight! The perfect book to read on vacation, honestly. I think it might have been a little longer than it needed to be, but I enjoyed the overall atmosphere of the book. The cast of characters were lovely, making a little found family in this town that they settle in. I'm loving that we're getting more of these cozy fantasy books, because they're fun to read if you're not looking for something that's too heavy. There's still some action and adventure, but for the most part, the stakes are relatively low.

I also love books where they open a little bookshop because it's always such fun. The magic system in this was interesting, too. I'd love to learn more about it!

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saintyeehaw's review

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book just wasn't my cup of tea which is disappointing. I found it a bit immature and overwritten in parts. Kianthe and Reyna's personalities are just too similar to tell them apart much.

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catherinedsharp's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

An interesting concept, somewhat repetitive in places with cosy vibes. I liked it.

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shaipanda's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense 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? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loveddd this. This is the blueprint of cozy fantasy and literally was perfecttt for me!!! I definitely think this is a good book for ppl who find cozy fantasy like Legends and Lattes to be anticlimactic and need more action. Cause while it is still adorable and domestic, it also definitely has action and conflict that comes up

I desperately need the second book and will have to see if it’s out/when it’s coming out so I can keep reading. Also this 100% cemented cozy fantasy as my favorite genre/sub genre and I don’t think I’ve read a single cozy fantasy book that I haven’t absolutely loved and rated 5 stars :)

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shelvesofivy's review

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adventurous funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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ophycore's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful 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

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purplepenning's review

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Yeah, this was lovely. I was afraid the murderous tyrannical queen would harsh the cozy vibe, but it managed to play out in a way that didn't feel like a cheat but also didn't ruin the relaxing read. Very similar to the way Legends & Lattes balances legitimate threat without dousing the warmth of the developing domesticity. I liked Legends & Lattes just a bit better — probably because the humor worked so well for me — but this is a great addition to the cozy fantasy subgenre. And the relationship communication and caring here! 🤌 If you're looking for a cozy fantasy with a great lesbian couple that's totally hot for each other but has caring communication and mutual respect as their foundation, you've found it! (They're super into each other, but this is a no steam read — all closed door or implied.)

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