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.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the review copy!

If you are a fan of cozy fantasy, you’ve likely heard of this one already. But if you’re curious about the genre and looking for someplace to start, this one might be for you. If reading about characters opening a bookshop or cafe (or in this case - both) generally sounds like it will bore you to death, “Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea,” doesn’t focus on the store the way many cozies do. It’s there, and it’s definitely a big part of the plot, but more so as a plot device to help the characters get to know their new town, and to build that cozy found family feeling we all love so much.

There is a little more sense of danger in this one than other cozies I’ve read - Reyna abandons her post as a queen’s guard to embark on this quest for coziness, which is punishable by death. And the village gets attacked by dragons!

My only wish was that there was more of a focus on the romance. I wish we had gotten to see Kianthe and Reyna fall in love! Their meet cute was included in my audiobook as a bonus chapter, and I wish that was how the story had started.

For me, the added dangers took away from the cozy vibes, and I could never quite settle into the story. Overall, I liked it, but I would have liked it more if it were either cozier or more traditional fantasy, or more romantic!

🎧The narrator made some interesting choices that I didn’t love. For Reyna, the palace guard, she gave a very proper British accent. No one else spoke that way, and she was raised in the castle, so that just didn’t make sense to me.

In all honesty, I couldn't get myself to finish this book. I'm sure it is a great read for people who are a fan of “the cozy fantasy” genre because this definitely fits between the ‘legends and lattes’ - esque stories. I, unfortunately, wasn't hyped by the book.
That being said, the author has obviously tried to make this book feel like a warm hug and has SUCCEEDED. It is cute and heartwarming and light. Again, not for me, but I'm sure there are people who will love Can’t spell treason without tea.

DNFed at 50%

Unfortunately this one just wasn't for me. I found the writing style very jarring because of the use of really modern words (i.e. dating, girlfriends) in a fantasy book made it feel more like a contemporary romance than a fantasy book! I also couldn't see the main characters staying together in the long run - they barely knew each other and had a LOT to unpack. Therapy first, starting a business together later.

I loved the concept of the book and will try whatever she writes when this series is done.

This. Book! I really enjoyed this journey! If you love Legends & Lattes, this one will be even better! I got to meet the author at an event in Austin, TX and it was so cool to listen to her talk about her process and inspiration. This was the queer cozy fantasy I’ve been wanting!
My favorite part is that the two FMCs are in an established relationship at the beginning and that was honestly refreshing. I’m excited to see where their relationship and plot goes in the next couple books!
A lot of reviews complain about it not being cozy, and I really didn’t agree. Honestly Cozy Fantasy is what is cozy to you! Low stakes doesn’t mean no stakes. Like things still need to happen. I don’t know. I really enjoyed the premise of the book and how the plot went.
Definitely check this one out! It’s definitely worth the read. Don’t count it out based on the 1 star reviews. <3

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is the first book in a cozy fantasy series by Rebecca Thorne. Released 7th May 2024 by Macmillan on their Tor imprint it's 352 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a lovely, immersive, well written cozy fantasy with F/F romance. A royal mercenary and a high ranking magic user just want to be together, to have a cozy bookstore with a big fireplace, tea and baked goods and nothing is going to stand in their way if they have anything to say about it.

It's full of magic and world building and if the characters are maybe a tiny bit tropey, well, that's why readers *love* cozy fantasy. Inevitable comparisons will be drawn between this series and Travis Baldree's wonderful Legends & Lattes, and while it's true they share a niche genre, this series is not at all derivative and readers who enjoyed L&L will likely love this one as well.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 11 hours 36 minutes and is capably read by series narrator Jessica Threet. She has a well modulated voice and does a surprisingly good job of the disparate fantasy acents. Her voice is a tiny bit sharp to actually fade into neutrality during the read, but it's not at all intrusive and there aren't any accents that come across as patently fake or forced. Sound and production quality are very high throughout the read.

Four and a half stars for both the book and audiobook. Highly recommended for fans of cozy fantasy. There -are- violent scenes with battle descriptions. There is some light sexual content, but nothing NSFW. With two books out and a third due out in late first quarter 2025, it would be an excellent choice for a series binge or buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Reyna and Kianthe want to open a bookshop that serves tea. They're both tired of the heavy expectations placed upon them. Reyna serves as the Queen's guard, and after an attempted assassin takes her hostage, she's ready to leave her old life behind. Kianthe is the most powerful mage alive, and the responsibility of it is overwhelming. When the two flee to a quaint village named Tawney and open a bookshop, they make new friends and form a bond stronger than ever before.

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is a cozy fantasy book with low stakes and a slice-of-life story. Although there's tension in the book, it's nice to know that things will ultimately work out. If you need a break from dark, high fantasy and want a book with characters in an established relationship, this is a great one to pick up!

I also feel the need to compare the book to Legends & Lattes. Both books are brilliant, and I highly recommend adding them to your TBR if you haven't already. I'm so excited to read the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for so graciously providing me qirh this e-ARC! I am very thankful and once read will update this review placeholder with my thoughts and also review on my Social medias.

lol… yeah, after reading legends & lattes I’m sorry to say this is basically low-grade fanfiction of that. oof. i mean. it wasn’t bad, but… it wasn’t good...?

the book can’t decide whether it’s cosy or high-stakes, and though i was intrigued by the premise of a vengeful queen she wasn’t actually present much. except at the beginning, and of course at the end. which is a whole nother can of worms -- this big thing looming over them resolved /that/ easily? c'mon. it just felt too shallow and simple.

An absolute delight of a book! I recommend it to everyone that breathes on it! I can’t wait for book two!

I loved the cozy energy of this book, while there was some stacks none of them were too high that it was tense. I loved the energy that the town had and the mystery of the dragons. I cannot wait to see what comes of all the stories that have been opened in this world and see what next for these two!