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marylu412 's review for:
Tea & Alchemy
by Sharon Lynn Fisher
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I gave Tea & Alchemy 3 stars—not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because I wanted to love it more than I actually did. The setup had everything I usually fall for: a tea leaf reader in a misty Victorian village, a mysterious alchemist in a gothic tower, and a slow-burning thread of romance tangled up in a murder mystery. It gave cozy autumn vibes with a bit of shadow and magic. But as much as I appreciated the aesthetic and premise, the execution didn’t fully land for me.
Mina was a likable main character—gentle, intuitive, and quietly determined—and I loved the tea shop setting. Those scenes felt warm and atmospheric, and the idea of her seeing visions in tea leaves was such a cool magical touch. But the story’s pacing felt uneven, and the romance, while sweet, didn’t quite have the buildup I was hoping for. Harker, the broody alchemist love interest, intrigued me at first, but I never felt like I really knew him. Their relationship moved quickly, and I found myself wishing for more emotional depth between them.
The mystery had a strong start, but it kind of fizzled in the middle. I was curious to see how it all played out, but I didn’t feel totally gripped by the suspense or tension. And while the writing was lovely in parts, it sometimes leaned more tell than show.
That said, this was a cozy and atmospheric read that I think will appeal to fans of gentle historical fantasy with romantic and mysterious elements. It just didn’t sweep me away like I hoped. Still, I’m grateful to NetGalley and 47North for the ARC—I’ll definitely keep an eye out for more from Sharon Lynn Fisher.
Mina was a likable main character—gentle, intuitive, and quietly determined—and I loved the tea shop setting. Those scenes felt warm and atmospheric, and the idea of her seeing visions in tea leaves was such a cool magical touch. But the story’s pacing felt uneven, and the romance, while sweet, didn’t quite have the buildup I was hoping for. Harker, the broody alchemist love interest, intrigued me at first, but I never felt like I really knew him. Their relationship moved quickly, and I found myself wishing for more emotional depth between them.
The mystery had a strong start, but it kind of fizzled in the middle. I was curious to see how it all played out, but I didn’t feel totally gripped by the suspense or tension. And while the writing was lovely in parts, it sometimes leaned more tell than show.
That said, this was a cozy and atmospheric read that I think will appeal to fans of gentle historical fantasy with romantic and mysterious elements. It just didn’t sweep me away like I hoped. Still, I’m grateful to NetGalley and 47North for the ARC—I’ll definitely keep an eye out for more from Sharon Lynn Fisher.