A review by rg9400
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

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? It's complicated

3.0

This book fits into a recent trend of cozy fantasy specifically centered around characters setting up shops in high fantasy worlds, most often exemplified by Legends & Lattes. This genre often markets itself as low stakes, and I do find myself feeling like the books end up feeling a bit inconsequential after finishing them. I was not the biggest fan of Legends & Lattes. I've enjoyed some Rebecca Thorne's other books, so I was curious if she could put a spin on this subgenre. She does, but with mixed results. A problem with L&L was a feeling of repetitiveness and a formulaic structure, and this book does not get stuck with that problem. There are a lot of different threads going on at the same time, leading to a plot that feels a lot more dynamic than you'd expect. However, because of all of these different threads, it sometimes feels like the cozy town setting doesn't exactly establish itself, and it's missing that community feeling and the roster of side characters outside our main duo. There are a few, but they aren't given a lot of personality or depth. Also, some of the threads don't get resolved in this book, instead being kicked down the road for the sequels; however, it feels like they could have had a more satisfying pause than just sort of being left hanging, especially considering this book isn't that long. This book often shines the most when focused on its duo. The story doesn't feel overly sentimental or sappy like some books in this genre can be, and the characters are not really struggling with some of the more melodramatic conflicts. They're interesting and fun, though I wish they were a bit stronger because I expected more considering Thorne's other books. Overall, it's a fine entry into this genre and does a few things differently without really making itself stand out still. I think I prefer it over L&L's formula but would have liked a bit more heft to it like I got from Small Miracles. I'd be interested in seeing cozy fantasy move a bit outside this "shop" setup or put a cleverer spin on it because there are too many books using the exact same setup now.