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!!

This book is everything I wanted it to be. Cozy and warm like a knitted sweater, a cup of tea, and a book in front of a fireplace while it storms outside. From the leap into a new life to the ups and down of establishing a dream to the satisfying and comfortable conclusion, reading this book felt like a hug and we need more cozy fantasy in this world.

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!

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is a tale of enchantment and quiet joy. The narrative follows Reyna, a palace guard who serves under the iron fist of Queen Tilaine. Discontent with the relentless demands of her position, Reyna seizes her chance for freedom, fleeing with her lover, the formidable mage Kianthe. Together, they embark on a journey to Tawney, a quaint village teeming with warmth and charm, where they open a book and tea shop, far from the chaos of the palace.

This novel is a charming cozy fantasy. The story strikes a fine balance between the gentle cadence of daily life and the thrill of adventure, ensuring that the stakes remain engaging without ever overshadowing the warmth of the narrative. Reyna and Kianthe’s relationship is a refreshingly realistic and healthy depiction of love that feels both genuine and aspirational.

Cozy fantasy is my new favorite thing. I spend every Sunday curled up with a new cozy fantasy novel, and Can't Spell Treason has been on my TBR for a long time. I was so enamored with this book, with the main characters, their little shop (when can I move in?!), the neighbors, and the plot. Everything about it was so fabulous, and I relished in every chapter. I loved watching Rain and Key fall even harder for each other and become more secure in themselves and each other. This is a cozy fantasy perfect for a snowy winter day, with a steaming mug of tea and a cozy blanket. I loved this book, and can't wait for the next one!

Classic cozy fantasy-- a warm hug, with lovable characters and a fun twist on the “running away from it all” trope. Strong community themes <3

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne is a delightful mix of cozy fantasy and heartwarming romance. The story follows Reyna, a former royal guard, and Kianthe, a powerful mage, as they leave their dangerous lives behind to open a bookshop and tea room in a charming town filled with dragons. The book beautifully balances lighthearted moments with deeper themes of love, loyalty, and finding peace. Though the pacing slowed at times, the enchanting world and lovable characters made it a truly enjoyable read. Perfect for fans of cozy, feel-good fantasy with a touch of adventure.

I really enjoyed this latest cozy fantasy addition. It’s fun, inviting, and easy to dive into, letting you imagine your place in its magical world. The book strikes a great balance between coziness and adventure, keeping the stakes high enough to stay engaging without losing the cozy feel. I particularly loved the realistic and healthy relationship between Reyna and Kianthe.

I was really looking forward to a cute, cosy fantasy but sadly this one missed the mark for me. It is decidedly not a cosy fantasy. Yes there are cosy aspects like the tea and book store, but the stakes are way too high. I would call it cosy-adjacent. I can see why some love it, but it just didn't work for me.

Thank you so much Bramble Romance for sending me over a copy of this one! I was so excited for more Legends and Lattes vibes ☕️

I will say this one delivered! I loved Kianthe and Reyna! I loved their relationships, their flaws, and their determination to get their book/teashop up and running! I thought this was so adorable but also a bit stressful which I was not expecting! lol.

The only reason it’s not 5 stars is because I felt like it dragged a bit in some places for me, but otherwise it was incredible 👏🏽

Cozy fantasy that is like a warm hug. Definitely recommend! Fans of Legends and Lattes would love this book. First in a series.

too long. i was intrigued at first, but after 65% i started to lose my interest.

slightly has a higher stake than the other cozy fantasy i’ve read, but i get the coziness. a mage—kianthe, and a queen’s guard—reyna running away to a small village to build a new life together, planning to open a bookshop-slash-tea cafe. but kianthe still have a responsibility as the mage of ages, and reyna was considered a traitor since she abandoned her post. and they could only ignore those for long.

with the book being this long, it’s funny how it actually didn’t explain a lot of setting or magic system and after a while i stopped trying to wove them in my head, and just accept the plot on face value. there’s too much empty patches.

on the other note, it WAS brimming with love. the couple was adorable. and the epilogue insinuating that they appear again in the next book? we’ll see.

dnf @10%

I just could not get into the narrative tone/style of the book. I think I finally need to accept that cozy fantasy is not for me. The characters seemed fun, but the stakes were so low that I couldn't keep engaged.