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natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Cursing, and Violence
Minor: Murder and Death of parent
stine_0's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Vomit, Blood, and Sexual content
betweentheshelves's review
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Death of parent and Murder
ifoundcallie's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Vomit, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
wickedgrumpy's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.75
I have some qualms with this book.
If it were a romance it skipped all the fun parts of the forbidden nature into the growing pains of the relationship where they move in together but don't really know each other that well because they've been sneaking away previously. So, no pining, they're in love but not quite the fluffy happily ever after love. One is the super powerful mage with a penchant for puns and is perpetually horny and loves reading (the brains) and the other is a palace guard who bakes and loves tea along with battle sense and quick analyzing skills (the brawn). They are very much in a ride or die mindset and it's a bit repetitive until the cast of character is expanded to include neighbors/townsfolk and start to develop more of a found family.
The world building was... Both sparse and complex somehow. Imagine some nuggets of lore just dropped and seeming like it means something but is never fully explained. That is the majority of the book and while some of it can be figured out with context clues, there's still a lot of questions and I suppose I am used to a first book in a series spending adequate time establishing everything to reduce confusion through the remaining volumes.
As for plot, there were so many threads everywhere and only one was really tied up. I presume more will be addressed in the future but it seemed like a lot of plot for a book that was vibe heavy.
Finishing this and all I can think is that it was fine. The things I have issues with weren't particularly bad but I might hesitate to read more in the series.
If it were a romance it skipped all the fun parts of the forbidden nature into the growing pains of the relationship where they move in together but don't really know each other that well because they've been sneaking away previously. So, no pining, they're in love but not quite the fluffy happily ever after love. One is the super powerful mage with a penchant for puns and is perpetually horny and loves reading (the brains) and the other is a palace guard who bakes and loves tea along with battle sense and quick analyzing skills (the brawn). They are very much in a ride or die mindset and it's a bit repetitive until the cast of character is expanded to include neighbors/townsfolk and start to develop more of a found family.
The world building was... Both sparse and complex somehow. Imagine some nuggets of lore just dropped and seeming like it means something but is never fully explained. That is the majority of the book and while some of it can be figured out with context clues, there's still a lot of questions and I suppose I am used to a first book in a series spending adequate time establishing everything to reduce confusion through the remaining volumes.
As for plot, there were so many threads everywhere and only one was really tied up. I presume more will be addressed in the future but it seemed like a lot of plot for a book that was vibe heavy.
Finishing this and all I can think is that it was fine. The things I have issues with weren't particularly bad but I might hesitate to read more in the series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Death, Abandonment, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Outing, Vomit, Violence, Confinement, Deadnaming, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders
dancers_and_dragons's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book felt like a warm hug of a story, with adventures and magic like the ones we idealize, but with just enough tension and conflict to make it real and meaningful. The sapphic romance and queer supporting cast brought a smile to my face, and Thorne does an excellent job of detailing the world around them without dropping all of that information all at once.
The main characters are almost foils of one another, with the calculating and deliberative Reyna, and the spontaneous and idealistic Kianthe. But Thorne brings them to places where these two women learn how to love themselves and others in a new way. I personally deeply appreciated that there were a couple deep conversations between these main characters, and that they put in the work to make their relationship and their dreams come true.
While there are tense moments and the stakes of the book rise and fall at times, Can't Spell Treason Without Tea has the perfect mix of Hurt and Comfort to break your heart a little and then mend it again. I highly recommend this book, and can't wait to to revisit it again someday!
The main characters are almost foils of one another, with the calculating and deliberative Reyna, and the spontaneous and idealistic Kianthe. But Thorne brings them to places where these two women learn how to love themselves and others in a new way. I personally deeply appreciated that there were a couple deep conversations between these main characters, and that they put in the work to make their relationship and their dreams come true.
While there are tense moments and the stakes of the book rise and fall at times, Can't Spell Treason Without Tea has the perfect mix of Hurt and Comfort to break your heart a little and then mend it again. I highly recommend this book, and can't wait to to revisit it again someday!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Vomit, Blood, Violence, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
shaipanda's review
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 :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Vomit, and Cursing
Minor: Murder and Death of parent
shelvesofivy's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Vomit
Minor: Alcohol and Blood
ophycore's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Vomit, Cursing, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol
wardenred's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.75
Run away with me. You like tea. I like books. Care to open a shop and forget the world exists?
Such a wonderful, heartwarming story! I actually liked it more than Legends & Lattes, which the author cites as a direct inspiration for Can't Spell Treason without Tea. I absolutely adored Reyna and Kianthe and their entire relationship. I also loved that the relationship started before the story itself, so instead of all the first dates and growing attraction we got to delve straight into what I believe to be the most interest part of any relationship, fictional or real: the one where they actually build a life together, learn to co-exist, open up to each other about their insecurities and pain spots, overcome difficulties, help each other grow as people, make something wonderful and theirs. Like, you know, a tea shop/book store in a cold, dragon-plagued town full of nice, kind people.
Tawney is now firmly among my favorite settings, to be sure. There was something so vivid about every description that I now feel like I've truly visited it. I also found myself quite captivated by the broader setting it exists in, with the different cultures, the dragons, the entire Arcandor concept and all. The setting is built out of familiar fantasy tropes, but the way they're used and fitted together makes for something really interesting. Oh, and speaking of different cultures! That entire secondary storyline about Lord Wylan and Diarn Feo, vying for rulership and constantly bickering and looking all the time like they're one step away from a glorious queer enemies-to-lovers romance? Give me that romance. I need it.
I guess the one reason I'm not giving this a full 5-star mark is this weird ethical struggle I had around the entire concept of the book. :D Don't get me wrong, I absolutely appreciate the concept! In most typical fantasy stories, you would expect the most powerful mage in the world and the tyrannical queen's rogue bodyguard to, you know, topple the evil queen and bring kindness and justice to the world or something. In this book, the characters instead choose to escape the queen and build a quiet, kind life for themselves in this adorable town in the middle of nowhere. That's what makes the story so unique and so beautifully character-driven, and I totally get the reasons behind Reyna's and Kyanthe's choices. I loved their journey, as I've already said. But time and time again, I caught myself thinking that it was maybe... selfish? Imagine having the power and the insidious knowledge to try and make real change plenty of people could benefit from, and not using it. I'm one of those people who can't. For a long time now, I've been wishing so hard I could be someone with at least a 50% chance to, you know, topple certain world leaders. Hell, even a 10% chance, a 5% chance, anything. I am just a normal person, and I feel like a failure for it, that I live in this world where so many things are so wrong, and I can't do anything. From that point of view, putting yourself first when you really can make a difference against a sociopathic tyrant feels downright villainous.
I'll once again say: I did love the story very very much, especially when I could shove aside that ethical conundrum. But I suppose I would have preferred it if there was no tyrannical queen. Perhaps just a not-very-good-but-passable queen with a parliament to stop her from going overboard, and with Reyna being somehow bound to her service still, to keep the story mostly the same, but, you know, not in a way that makes her complicit in tyrannical crimes. Or if Kianthe was simply a mage, not the super powerful mage with a special connection to the Stone. I guess I overall prefer heartwarming slice-of-life stories when they either happen in overall optimistic settings, like Becky Chambers's Monk & Robot novellas, or when they have this hopepunk vibe of good people in bad worlds doing the very best they can, at least for themselves and their loved ones, even if that's never going to be enough to change the entire world. Reading a "doing the best we can for ourselves and each other at the expanse of NOT doing the best we could have done for everyone" story was perhaps a first for me, and this aspect doesn't sit 100% well with me. I'm weird like that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Medical content
Moderate: Death of parent and Vomit