I’ve read this book twice now, but it’s the first time I’m reviewing it…because I just kept procrastinating on writing up the review after reading the indie version of this book last year. But I can say that I was approved for the second (and even the third) book in the series via NetGalley, so it’s about time to get the reviews rolling out. I’ll try and have the review for book two, A Pirate’s Life for Tea soon because I read that last month…and if I can really get on top of things, I’ll read and review Tea You at the Altar before its release date in Spring 2025.

I can fully say now, after having read a number of stories pitched as being cozy reads, that I am very much a fan of cozy fantasy books. And yes, some of them are full slice-of-life low-stakes comfort, while others have a bit of action and tension to them while overall retaining the heart of coziness and comfort. If it has cozy vibes, then I am totally here for it.

Reyna and Kianthe definitely have a little more action in their story than some other cozies I’ve read, but at its heart, in spite of the political maneuvering and the danger of dragon attacks, this is about two women who mostly want a simpler life. They do mostly run away from the dangers of their lives to settle in a small town and open up a little shop with books and tea.

Oh, and there are so many puns. Kianthe is a big fan of puns, and honestly it’s fun and cute. I loved getting to know both of these women, and get to reminisce about how they met and fell in love. And it was equally nice to see them decide to run off towards a new life and new adventure together, and find this small community that starts to feel like a found family and a nice home.

Both times I read this book, I just really enjoyed the experience, and I am happy to have this book in my collection. It definitely made me want to read more Rebecca Thorne, so hopefully I’ll be able to catch up on her backlist soon enough.

This is such a cozy and heartwarming book I couldn't put down. I love the overall concept and know that my library patrons will appreciate this book as well.

Rebecca Thorne’s Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea is unashamedly inspired by Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes, tapping into the same “stone-cold badass decides to settle down and serve hot drinks” vein. Reyna is one of the queen’s elite bodyguards, but after a serious incident in which she nearly gets killed in the process of protecting her queen — a queen who is clearly psychopathic — she decides to listen to her girlfriend’s suggestions and run off to run a bookshop/teashop somewhere the queen won’t find them for a while.

This is all somewhat stymied by her girlfriend Kianthe being the most important mage in her country, if not the world, and also as a result effectively a foreign diplomat. Needless to say, they can’t settle into total obscurity: Reyna’s battle prowess is quickly obvious, as is Kianthe’s ability as a mage.

Because of the psychopathic queen and the action scenes, this doesn’t quite fit into the same niche as Legends & Lattes, to my mind. Reyna hasn’t really put down her sword so much as decided to stop serving that queen, which is really not the same. It also feels a lot “younger”, perhaps because things are very black-and-white: the queen is obviously a monster, from a line of monsters; Reyna’s old partner in the guard is a bit slimy and definitely after her body; Kianthe is at times a bit of a sullen teenager about her power and how it marks her out without making people care for her as a person (and even obscuring who she is as a person). It doesn’t reckon very well with Reyna’s probable trauma or even with Kianthe’s anxiety (though we see her having panic attacks, it doesn’t feel like they get addressed very seriously).

It also focuses a bit more on the romance aspect, and a lot less on the practicalities of putting together a shop and drawing in customers, compared to Legends & Lattes. All in all, it feels like some of the themes and framings of YA, and it left things feeling less complex. That’s not a bad thing if that’s what you’re interested in reading, to be clear — but it could be disappointing for those who really just want another Legends & Lattes, and I found it a mite unsatisfying.

There is an ongoing plot as well which will clearly continue through at least another book, so there’s that as well. That’s an opportunity for some of the things I’ve mentioned to change/develop, and I’m curious enough about the characters and world to read it.

Overall, I had a fun time, without falling in love with it.

Rebecca Thorne has created a really fun world and such cute and cozy characters in the vein of Legends & Lattes. I love that this series is continuing and I hope the genre gets bigger and bigger because these types of stories are so charming and quirky.

This is just as sweet and cozy as I thought it would be. I am officially a fan of this adorable series. I'm very much looking forward to continuing this adventure in the future books. The characters were easy to love and root for, and they truly have the sweetest romance!

I'm glad Rebecca Thorne referred to Travis Baldree directly influencing this book because it is absolutely the fraternal twin sister to Legends and Lattes--which I loved, so I'm not complaining! It has the same sense of found family, coziness, and solid romantic relationships of that book and The House in the Cerulean Sea. So, if you're looking for a D&D-esque fantasy to curl up with during this cold season, I highly recommend this one.

I had a lot of fun with this one, considering I didnt really understand what one of the characters even was. I would love there to be a second book. This was cozy but dark and still sexy which is a balance that is hard to achieve. Well done!

It saddens me to write a low-rating review for this, but here I am. As someone who loved Legends & Lattes, and thought cozy fantasies were my thing, this one just felt short. My expectations definitely ruined my reading experience with this one. Reading through it, I was already forgetting things that had just happened, well on its way to become an unforgettable read, unfortunately.

Reyna works for a self-centered queen who wouldn’t care if her personal guards can’t serve anymore. Kianthe is the most powerful mage in the world. Together, they abandon their responsibilities and accomplish every booklover’s dream - opening a tea/bookstore!

If you’re a fan of Legends and Lattes, pick this up immediately. It has all the charm, humor, and adorableness with the addition of dragons. Cause everything’s better with dragons. Kianthe is aggressively protective of Reyna, and Reyna will end anyone who stands between her and Kianthe. These two make some odd friendships in their icy tundra home, but they also learn to redefine what home means for both of them. All the stars. All the love. Ready for the sequel: A Pirate’s Life for Tea.

With the weather getting colder and the… general state of the world, I’ve been gravitating towards cozy fantasy lately, which is why I finally picked up a book that’s been on my TBR for far too long: Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne. This is the first in the Tomes & Tea series, and it’s one I knew I would like, but I’ve been squirreling it away for a rainy day. And let’s be honest, it’s been a rainy month.

Like many other readers, I fell in love with cozy fantasy by reading Legends and Lattes (and before that, the Tea Dragon Society series). Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea has some things in common with it—Legends and Lattes, its prequel, and this one all center on renovating a building for a small business, for instance. Which seems very specific, but I’m here for it. There are also some big differences, though, which show that there are many ways to approach the cozy fantasy genre.

Before starting the Tomes & Tea series, I heard some debate about whether this is a cozy read: can a plot that includes fighting dragons while riding a griffon be called a cozy fantasy? To me, though, it fit the bill. It essentially takes the usual ratio of calm/comforting scenes and action scenes in an epic fantasy novel and reverses it. I loved the premise of these two characters who seem fated to be in an action-packed narrative—Kianthe is the most powerful mage in the world and Reyna is a guard for a queen who rules with an iron fist—and who turn their backs on it to start a tea and bookshop. Any action is handled reluctantly by the main characters, who want to return to their gentle life together as soon as possible.

Reyna and Kiantha shine as characters, and that’s the biggest strength of this story. The writing seemed a bit clunky in places, but the characters feel so real. They have an interesting dynamic at the beginning, because this is an established relationship. At the same time, their relationship up until this point has been made up only of stolen moments; it’s very different to be living together and working together all the time, and they’re still a bit shy with each other and unsure about whether this will work.

They’re both also stubborn, flawed people. Reyna’s entire life has been about being a guard, and she has internalized that sense of being disposable. She pushes through pain and injury regardless of its impact on her. She’s also insecure about dating one of the most powerful, famous, and influential people in the world. Kianthe is frustrated that Reyna doesn’t value herself enough. She also struggles with anxiety, and strong emotions combine with her magic, which can cause her to spiral dangerously. Only Reyna can pull her back.

Over the course of the novel, we get that cozy feeling of the tea shop/bookstore getting put together and the community that forms around them. There are plenty of fun side characters that the two of them get to know, and they start to really make a home for themselves. They also settle into their relationship, realizing that they’re both committed to making it work. Along the way, there are obstacles to overcome—including, yes, a death-defying fight with dragons—but the heart of the story is a quiet one between two vibrant characters.

I’m really looking forward to reading book two, A Pirate’s Life for Tea. Book three, Tea You at the Altar, is out in March! If you’re looking for a gentle, comforting read to soothe your sapphic soul, I definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Dragons and books and tea, oh my!

This book was such a warm hug that I didn’t want to end! Rebecca Thorne brings us into this wonderful queernormative world full of magic, love, and a sense of belonging.

After stopping another assassination attempt on Queen Tilaine, Reyna decides it’s time to hang up her Queensguard cloak and take up her girlfriend’s offer to run away and open a bookshop that serves tea.
Even though she’ll still have Arcandor duties to attend to, Kianthe, Mage of Ages, is excited at this opportunity to settle down with Reyna, with whom she’s only been able to spend moments here and there with, in secret, for the last two years.
The couple find a quaint little town in the middle of their two warring countries, Shepara and The Queendom, in an effort to throw off those the Queen would inevitably send for Reyna for her treasonous abandonment of her post and to stay somewhat close to Shepara for Kianthe’s duties.
Once they start the ball rolling on their book/tea shop, we follow Reyna and Kianthe’s journey as they learn about each other in a new and [mostly] cozy space, meet and make friends and frenemies, trick bandits, battle dragons, and discover magical mysteries. We are also blessed with Kianthe’s AMAZING puns throughout the book.

Being in my Xena-era, this scratched my itch for something similar; I could easily picture which of the books’ characters could be Xena and Gabrielle (and a couple of supporting characters from the show), and it played like an alternate-universe adventure (for me anyway). I’m not sure if the author intended that at all, but I did gasp and freak out when the character I assigned as Xena said “I’m quite adept in many avenues,” since one of Xena’s famous lines is “I have many skills.”

Overall, I loved this book! If you liked Legends & Lattes and want something with a similar vibe, this is it. I am so excited to read the next installments of Tomes & Tea!

🌿📚☕️

This was such a cozy little read! Even though it was cozy it was still keeping me on my toes wondering what would happen next. This is the perfect read for someone who loves books with some tension but is dipping their toes into the cozy vibes. I recommend this as a great fall read and I can not wait for the second one!!

I couldn't help myself—I ordered a physical copy before finishing my NetGalley one! This book is just so cute and sweet; it feels like a comforting hug in book form.

One of the things I absolutely adore is when characters don't fall in love—they just fall more in love. Watching Reyna and Kianthe's already-established relationship flourish was an absolute joy. Two badass women who are great at their jobs and just want to live life together? Their dynamic is so relatable and endearing; you can't help but root for them as they pursue their dream of opening a cozy bookshop that serves tea. It's like the author read my mind.

Sure, at some points, things seemed to resolve a little easily, but that's cozy fantasy for you. Magic is a great plot hole patcher, and in this story, it adds to the charm rather than detracts.

I can't wait for the next one—I just can't get enough of these characters! If you're looking for a feel-good read with a touch of magic, strong female leads, and a heartwarming romance, this book is a must-read.

A delightful queer cosy with an interesting world and engaging heroes; it's great to see indie works getting the mainstream pick up which they deserve.

High stakes Legends and Lattes with some logic that wasn't logic-ing. Enjoyable nonetheless, and I do plan to pursue the sequel.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea also has characters running away from bad politics - in this case, one main character leaves her family business as a Queensguard because the Queen is so terrible. These two just want to run a tea shop and bookstore (don't we all), and together find a town at the border of their two countries that they can move into. Of course, running away causes difficulties, but they also collect great new friends while building their relationship and new life together. They also end up binding themselves to a quest - for dragons! Another just delightful read

I had been looking forward to this one, but sadly I was just plain bored for most of it.

I enjoy cozy fantasy and slice of life type stories so I couldn't figure out what my main problem with this was. Until I realized how much I didn't care about any of the characters or the setting. Having the main romantic relationship already together didn't bother me, it was that they had extremely little development when there was sooo much potential for it. You're told at the beginning that they've been in a relationship for awhile but haven't spent long periods of time together. This could've shown them solidifying their connection and truly becoming partners but it just stayed the same. The characters themselves also felt shallow at times and with the back and forth POV I sometimes got confused.

This also was not cozy by the end and I honestly think it should not have been marketed as such. The fantasy elements were interesting and a little different which I enjoyed. Sometimes though it felt like random things were inserted into the world with no real explanation. Again, if this had solely focused on the relationship, them making friends, and starting their cozy business the external fantasy elements could be somewhat glossed over. But the story kept coming back to more high stakes issues.

For all my issues, I did enjoy the plot and thought that Reyna and Kianthe's relationship was indeed sweet even if it felt a little hollow.

This was a really fun, cozy read- however, I didn't feel it did enough to differentiate itself from other books in this genre. I found myself comparing it to other cozy fantasies I've read by accident purely because a lot of the plot points felt similar. I think had this been my first foray into the genre I would've enjoyed it a lot more. That being said, I really loved the dynamic between the main characters and this still was an enjoyable read!