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A review by aliciasrealm
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
3.5
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars. I was expecting this story to be a love letter to books and tea and was disappointed. The whole setup of the shop felt skimmed over, condensed into paragraphs with unnamed townfolk and laborers doing most of the work. There were few descriptions or discussions of the tea and baked goods. Reyna goes to a shop to buy tea, but I'm not sure how or where they acquired things like tea kettles, tea cups, or plates for their customers. Occasionally we get brief descriptions of the tea or food, but it felt lackluster. The presence of a bookshop ≠ cozy fantasy.
The plot was more focused on the dragon issue and the Queen. Given the amount of action and the high stakes, this didn't feel like a cozy novel. Reyna's choice to leave her post is considered treason, which could have deadly consequences if she's discovered. There is a dragon problem that threatens the town. There are multiple life threatening situations where people are injured. Both women spend a lot of the book being incapacitated in some way, with one being hurt or sick while the other has to take care of them.
The relationship was also more tumultuous than I'd expect for a "cozy" novel, especially one described as "steeped in love." Both women are insecure and feel as though they don't deserve the other, they bicker often, and they don't always communicate well. They each do things without discussing it with the other first, which leads to issues. Reyna is often worried that Kianthe is going to leave her. There are often minor conflicts between them. I wanted more stability and sweetness, but they just weren't there yet.
I was also hoping for more development in the relationship with the townfolk, but that was similarly neglected. I didn't really fall in love with any of the side characters (aside from the griffin and the horse).
The plot was more focused on the dragon issue and the Queen. Given the amount of action and the high stakes, this didn't feel like a cozy novel. Reyna's choice to leave her post is considered treason, which could have deadly consequences if she's discovered. There is a dragon problem that threatens the town. There are multiple life threatening situations where people are injured. Both women spend a lot of the book being incapacitated in some way, with one being hurt or sick while the other has to take care of them.
The relationship was also more tumultuous than I'd expect for a "cozy" novel, especially one described as "steeped in love." Both women are insecure and feel as though they don't deserve the other, they bicker often, and they don't always communicate well. They each do things without discussing it with the other first, which leads to issues. Reyna is often worried that Kianthe is going to leave her. There are often minor conflicts between them. I wanted more stability and sweetness, but they just weren't there yet.
I was also hoping for more development in the relationship with the townfolk, but that was similarly neglected. I didn't really fall in love with any of the side characters (aside from the griffin and the horse).