frankenbookie 's review for:

Tea & Alchemy by Sharon Lynn Fisher

4.0

lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

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 Tea & Alchemy is a cozy historical paranormal fantasy with a heavy dose of romance and a  mysterious twist on a familiar supernatural creature which I really enjoyed. Fisher took the usual story and gave it a unique makeover. 

Set in 19th century Cornwall, Mina Penrose works at a little village teahouse called The Magpie. When a new ability awakens in Mina she is able to read tea leaves, and sees an ill omen leading to her discovery of a body on the heath. When Harker, the reclusive alchemist of a crumbling estate is blamed, Mina is drawn into his haunted past and the mystery of the killer.

You can tell how much research went into creating the setting, characters and mystery at the heart of the book. The writing is immersive with strong historical detail and added folklore elements are woven throughout the story giving it a dark and haunting atmosphere. I liked the way the mystery unfolds, how the characters learn about the information and how it all comes together in the end.

Mina is logical, curious, and a bit headstrong which comes in handy as she tries to unravel the mystery surrounding the dead man and Harker. I enjoyed how she took control of her life and got a job, learnt to read and write so she would have something of her own. The dual POV adds depth to the romance which unfolds between Mina and Harker. I loved how slowly and gently they developed together. The book focuses a lot on internal reflections and character dynamics in the first half, where the second half picks up so we get more action, and emotional development.