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A review by curarkaig
A Pirate's Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.0
A fun read, in some ways better than the first book. Kianthe and Reyna’s relationship is well established by now so the interpersonal conflict of this book is focused on a new pair of characters. Bobbie and Serina’s characters are more interesting but their will-they-won’t-they dynamic wears out its welcome pretty fast.
There’s a bit of a tonal shift from the first book, not insignificant. Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea felt more like cozy fantasy, while this leans more into the action. Conflicts have urgency; stakes are higher, consequences have more weight. On one hand, it’s nice to see conflicts arise that don’t also get resolved within the same chapter. It’s better storytelling. On the other hand, I was seeking the low stakes cozy fantasy of the first novel. And as an adventure story, it’s not very compelling.
I also noticed that the author overused a few choice phrases, to the point that they seemed like a crutch for describing body language. “So-and-so set their jaw” and “So-and-so’s cheeks warmed” occurred so often one could make a drinking out of it. This and the tonal shift might just be nitpicks but they caused me to enjoy this book less than the first installment.
Side Note: There’s a short story tacked onto the end of the book, a very explicit lewd short story about Reyna and Kianthe. I’m no prude, I’m down for reading this kind of material when I feel like it, but I neither needed nor wanted the author’s own thirsty fan-fiction. I bought the book for cozy fantasy and wholesome characters who, at most, typically include a bit of cheeky innuendo among their usual banter.
The sex scenes are actually very well written, with a lot of intimacy and vulnerability. I would’ve been really into it under different circumstances. It just REALLY isn’t what I want from these characters. Besides that, now I don’t feel comfortable recommending the book to my niece, which is something I originally planned to do.
There’s a bit of a tonal shift from the first book, not insignificant. Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea felt more like cozy fantasy, while this leans more into the action. Conflicts have urgency; stakes are higher, consequences have more weight. On one hand, it’s nice to see conflicts arise that don’t also get resolved within the same chapter. It’s better storytelling. On the other hand, I was seeking the low stakes cozy fantasy of the first novel. And as an adventure story, it’s not very compelling.
I also noticed that the author overused a few choice phrases, to the point that they seemed like a crutch for describing body language. “So-and-so set their jaw” and “So-and-so’s cheeks warmed” occurred so often one could make a drinking out of it. This and the tonal shift might just be nitpicks but they caused me to enjoy this book less than the first installment.
Side Note: There’s a short story tacked onto the end of the book, a very explicit lewd short story about Reyna and Kianthe. I’m no prude, I’m down for reading this kind of material when I feel like it, but I neither needed nor wanted the author’s own thirsty fan-fiction. I bought the book for cozy fantasy and wholesome characters who, at most, typically include a bit of cheeky innuendo among their usual banter.
The sex scenes are actually very well written, with a lot of intimacy and vulnerability. I would’ve been really into it under different circumstances. It just REALLY isn’t what I want from these characters. Besides that, now I don’t feel comfortable recommending the book to my niece, which is something I originally planned to do.