US traditional pub date: 5/7/24
Genre: cozy fantasy
Quick summary: A love story between a queen's guard and a powerful mage has to be dramatic, right? Reyna and Kianthe just want to escape and open their bookstore-cafe, but their past will eventually catch up with them...

From the description of this book, you're probably thinking of LEGENDS AND LATTES, which author Thorne admits was a huge inspiration. But I felt like this was different enough to keep me interested - I enjoyed how Reyna and Kianthe created their new life together. It was clear they were in love but didn't really fully "know" each other yet, so there were plenty of funny little conflicts that popped up. There wasn't much at stake until the last third of the book, so if you want an action-packed read, this probably isn't the book for you. But if you dream of escaping everyday life and opening a bookstore, definitely give this one a try! 3.5 rounded to 4.

Thank you to Tor/Bramble for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to enjoy this, for all that it looked like a Legends & Lattes clone. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the warmth, charisma, and humor of Legends & Lattes. The main couple alternately acts like they've just met and that they're in the incredibly dull part of a long-term relationship. I don't care about the townspeople. I never feel like the fire–or anything else–actually has warmth, and what else is cozy book but a sense of suffused warmth from sinking into a low-stakes world?

DNF 37%

2.5 stars. So far, Legends & Lattes is a fluke on how much I enjoy so-called cozy fantasies because every book after that one has been a disappointment, and unfortunately, this one was one too.

This book had a lot of telling not showing. We are told that Reyna and Kianthe are in love, and we are definitely shown their PDA in inappropriate times, but we are never shown how they fell in love and why they are willing to risk everything for each other besides they think each other is hot. We also do not see why they love this new town; they say it's now their home. I wanted to feel the intricacies of them falling in love with small-town life with the quirky neighbors with town fairs and festivals unique to this region. I wanted to see the town get together, help solve the magic problem, and show that their new neighbors become one of their own. Instead, we get a quick "yep, we built this tea and book shop in like 5 pages, and now somehow, even though we only know 2 couples in this town, we are accepted."

Besides lacking the cozy feeling I wanted, the higher stake plot points were never concluded. This could sometimes work in a series, but what this book did was extremely abrupt and literally made me say, "Wait, that's it????" I thought true treason was gonna happen, and I was so confused when nothing happened, and the dragon thing ended so strangely that it left the whole book unsatisfying and unresolved.

The writing was fine, and I could see this book being good with several more rewrites and editing. This book had the kernel of a great book, but with all the generic world, magic, unresolved ending, un-comfy feeling, and characters that were not memorable, it was just a disappointment.

"Legends and Lattes" was a breath of fresh air in a deep cavern of grimdark fantasy; I loved its unique approach and its charming characters. While the prequel didn't do it for me, I was happy to check out a new series of cozy fantasy, and "Can't Spell Treason Without Tea" seemed like a good bet with a sapphic romance and the main couple's ambition to open a bookshop.

Unfortunately, I was tired of literally every aspect of this book only a few chapters in. First of all - this is not cozy. Which is fine! But there are assassination attempts and violence and being wanted by the law and all of that pretty much immediately. I adjusted my expectations for something that was maybe medium-stakes rather than low - no big. But the characters were so bland that it was difficult to tell their voices apart in their POV chapters, the romance was already established so there was no character building there, and the worldbuilding was just nonexistent. It's like the author heard "low stakes" and drained the tension out of the wrong things. The writing was all "tell don't show", the villain comically evil, and the style reminded me a lot of YA writers trying their hand at adult rather than anything approaching depth.

I'm not sure who this was written for - I know this is a fantastic book for someone, and I can glance at the star rating and see that my opinion is an outlier. But it was a bear to get through. Not for me!

As a major fan of Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, it was a major disservice to this book to compare the two so closely in promotional efforts.

Does Can’t Spell Treason without Tea have similar elements at times to Legends and Lattes? Sure. But here is the biggest difference—Legends and Lattes is truly a cozy, low stakes fantasy read. CSTWT is a higher stakes fantasy read with cozy elements at times.

Unfortunately, the high stake elements of this book directly contradict the cozy fantasy vibes. Take out the added tension with Queen, and focus on the town and even the dragons? Even that would have passed my cozy fantasy vibe check. But two major conflicts outside of the central location/pairing (book/tea shop and main couple) detracted from the cozy vibes.

HOWEVER—that is not to say that I didn’t enjoy this book. I did, quite a lot. It is just slightly improperly labeled as a true cozy fantasy story.

Outside of this genre mishap, my only other complaint was that this story felt longer than it needed to. In general, I think focusing in on one big conflict and the relationships with the town and its residents would have helped this story flow a bit more smoothly. It just needs to be cut down a bit to help focus in on the best parts of this story.

I look forward to following Reyna and Kianthe as they continue their journey in book 2.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 (rounded up to 4)
Spice: 0/5

Okay. This was irresistible! The cozy fantasy vibes, the sweet endearing sapphic romance, and just the overwhelming kindness that just radiated through this book. I absolutely loved this.

Kianthe is the mage of ages and is in love with Reyna, a guard for a quite evil queen. They decide to run away together and find the perfect middle of nowhere town. They get to work opening their tea shop and bookstore, not yet knowing how attached to this town they would become or the difference they would make.

This has plant magic and earth magic, dragons and dragon eggs, and a very loveable griffin. Not to mention the utter calmness this book brought me with its wonderful townspeople and solvable problems.

I can't recommend this enough!

Out May 7, 2024!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Thanks to netgalley and Tor publishing group for the arc of this book.

I loved the story a lot! Kianthe and Reyna are so sweet together.

Kianthe os the mage of ages and Reyna a guard for the tyrant queen Tilaine. They want to open a bookshop with tea corner together, but that means they have to leave there responsibilities behind. One they Reyna leaves the queendom in the night to run of with Kianthe. They start their bookshop adventure in a town called Tawney and meet new, lovely, people.

The story is dual pov which I always love. I think this book is a great combination of cozy fantasy and a little action. It doesn't feel like high stakes but, I like that there's some action in the story. I love that the story starts at the point that Kianthe and Reyna are already in love and that you read about them settling down. The ending definitely shows there is going to be a second book. And I will definitely read that!

Rebecca Thorne's Can't Spell Treason without Tea marks an exciting new entry in the cozy fantasy genre, as a Queensguard and the Mage of Ages attempt to build a quiet, peaceful life together after years of adventures and dangers have kept them apart.

Reyna is one of the queen's guards, descended from a long line of palace guards who protect their sovereign with honor. But the queen's "quirks"--a too-kind euphemism for her bent toward cruelty and wickedness--have worn thin on Reyna's sense of duty, and she longs for a quieter life in the country with her girlfriend, Kianthe. "You like tea. I like books. Let's open a shop somewhere remote and forget the world exists," begs Kianthe, who just so happens to be the Arcandor, designated by the Stone of Seeing as a conduit, "channeling its immense magic into smaller spells that benefited the world at large." Simply put, neither can run off and leave their lives behind--until one day, Reyna does exactly that, and Kianthe decides to join her.

The pair end up settling in a far-off town, where they encounter leaders disputing land ownership, learn of increasing threats of dragon attacks, and take over a decrepit barn most likely owned by bandits who may or may not return to reclaim it. In other words, it's the perfect spot to open New Leaf Tomes and Tea, so dubbed by the ever-punny Kianthe ("New leaf? Tea leaves? Turning over a new leaf? A leaf of a book?" she smirks). But the outside world continues to intrude on their dream: spies of the queen are hunting Reyna, wanted for treason after fleeing the queen's employ; plus, there is the "required mediation" of the Arcandor any time magical creatures cross human boundaries--like the dragon attacks on their new hometown, to name but one.

The adventure (evil queens, inexplicable dragon attacks, politically minded mages) of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is tempered by the inherently cozy setting of New Leaf Tomes and Tea, filled with magical plants, walls of books, the scent of scones, and the quiet sounds of tea preparation. Thorne finds a perfect balance between the workings of a suspenseful fantasy novel and delightfully commonplace descriptions of a cozy, quiet life. In this, Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is reminiscent of Travis Baldree's much-beloved Legends and Lattes (indeed, Thorne credits Baldree's novel as inspiration in her acknowledgements). With a planned sequel in the works, Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is sure to appeal to fans of Baldree's work, as well as any fantasy lover keen to imagine the inner lives of adventurers, whether they be actively adventuring or sitting at home with a book and a nice, hot cup of tea. --Kerry McHugh, freelance writer

Shelf Talker: An exciting new voice in the cozy fantasy genre, as a Queensguard and a mage attempt to build a life far from adventure and danger in favor of a quiet life running a tea and bookshop together.

This delightful sapphic fantasy is perfect for fans of Travis Baldree's Legends & Lattes series. Reyna works as one of the Queen's private guards, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. After a secret courtship, the two decide they are ready for the next step--moving in together and opening up a bookshop/tea shop. Unfortunately, by leaving the Queen's service, Reyna essentially puts a bounty on her head and the two are forced to stay undercover to avoid detection. Likewise, Kianthe is shirking her duties to run off with Reyna. Between the murderous and vengeful Queen on their trail, unexpected dragon attacks, and the stresses of starting a small business, can Kianthe and Reyna find the peaceful life they both desire?

This was a fun read, although I will say the book didn't quite feel completely cozy--there's some pretty high stakes and danger lurking in the background (and sometimes the foreground) with the Queen and the dragons. But I felt like Kianthe's and Reyna's characters were well developed and it was rewarding to see them grow together and watch their relationship realistically develop as they embarked on their bookshop journey. The townspeople of Tawney, where they settle, are also fun and added some color to the story. My biggest complaint is that I didn't realize this was part of a series, and while Kianthe and Reyna definitely get their HFN (happily-for-now), a lot of the overarching plot points didn't get resolved and appear to continue in the second book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, god! How I loved this book!

I have a ravenous hunger for cozy fantasy, and an equally ravenous hunger for sapphic books.
This book was so funny, and heartfelt, and so, so, so unbelievably healing for my poor little soul.

Actual rating is 3.75, rounded up to 4 stars. People who have been wishing for their cozy fantasy to have a bit more plot to it would definitely enjoy this book. I did like the plot, but I was also a little disappointed that it came at the expense of some of the mundanities of the "cozy" element. It felt a little bit like the book/teashop was just a throwaway element - there were no difficulties attached to the opening or running of it. That being said, this story and its characters were still quite charming, and I definitely plan on checking out future installments in this series, which the first book left plenty of room for.

Can’t Spell Tea without Treason 🌕🌕🌕🌕/5

“Run away with me. You like tea. I like books. Care to open a shop and forget the world exists?”

Reyna is a palace guard for the spiteful queen Tilaine. She dreams of opening a Book and Tea shop with her girlfriend Kianthe, a powerful mage, the Arcandor of Shepara.
Reyna makes a risky escape. Her and Kianthe flee to the town of Tawney to set up shop, but they are weary of the spies and bandits throughout the kingdom, not to mention the occasional dragon raids!

After hidden secrets are unveiled, they find themselves on a dangerous quest!


What I Liked:
- This is an easy-going, cozy read full of adventure, romance, humor, and friendship.

- The FMC’s add enthusiasm and warmth to the story. Reyna is practical, daring, and easy-going. Kianthe is powerful, anxious and cautious. A perfect pair.

- Dragons and Gryphons! Tell me you aren’t hooked already?!

What Could Have Been Improved

- The confrontation with the queen lacked complexity and could have had more intensity.

Final Thoughts
I absolutely loved this book and definitely reading the next. Highly recommended if you enjoyed Legends and Lattes or want something light and heartwarming.


Thank you to @netgalley and @torbooks @forgereads for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely adorable sapphic cozy fantasy. I loved this more than Legends and Lattes, probably because it was a bookstore instead of a coffee shop, and those are obviously closer to my heart.

This was a highly enjoyable cozy fantasy! I love, love, love both of the main characters! The plot was so creative and fun, the sapphic rep was fantastic and the relationship was s9 realistic and adorable. Dragons, magic, sword fights, bookshops, tea. This one has it all.

This was a fantastic, cozy, romantic fantasy. I loved the easy worldbuilding, the sweet but strong characters, and, of course, lots of books and tea.

So this is a cozy fantasy about a sapphic couple who literally run away and start a bookshop with a tea bar in it together. About a quarter of the way through the book, I got really nervous that it was going to be a carbon copy of one of Travis Baldree's books, complete with finding contractors to carry out the needed renovations of the site they found. Happily, the book went in a different direction and included lots more plot and action, like fire-breathing dragons, spies from an evil queen, and baby griffons.

There's no relationship angst that can't be solved by a good conversation, no magical battle that can't be won, no neighborly conflict that can't be resolved with a good deed - and you know what? That's exactly why you read a cozy fantasy.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

I really enjoy cozy fantasy these days and this book is a perfect example of why. The setting is adorable and feels like coming home. The warm easy writing style and beautiful descriptions also makes everything feel so real.
I did feel this plot had quite a bit more going on than most other cozy fantasy books and I quite enjoyed that. The book was still beautiful and cozy but it had some really good action as well. I also enjoyed the little bits of politics in this as well.
Overall this was an amazing book. I would definitely recommend it to all my cozy fantasy loving friends.

Reyna is the queens guard and Kianthe is a powerful mage. The two are in love. In a spur of the moment decision, Reyna runs away from her position with the queen to be with Kianthe. They are going to start a new life in Tawney and run a tea shop. There were a lot of aspects of the story that I really liked. The adventure, the dragons, the community in Tawney were all lovely. I think the story would have benefited from some editing to tighten it up. It felt as if the story just rambled most of the time, and what I thought was the main focus was not resolved in the story. This is the first book in a series and the author has provided a lot of world building as set up. While the story is marketed as a cozy fantasy, I didn't find this one to have cozy vibes. There is adventure and peril and angst. The ending was unexpected, and seems to be a set up for the next book. I will definitely be picking up the next book to get the conclusion of this story.

Thank you Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book, and I think the world-building and character creation worked great together. I found them to be dynamic and very entertaining to read. I was looking forward to this book and it did not disappoint, I can't wait for it to come out so that I can have a physical copy of it

This was a fun addition to the world of cozy fantasies! This one was basically just girlfriends flirting with eachother for 300 pages. JK there is a nice plotline in this one, and the already established sapphic relationship is very sweet. I do wish the tea/bookshop renovations took longer, since they were done by half way through! The “treason” part of the book was interesting and definitely worked for me, it was juuust enough plot to keep me going, but never stressed me out at any point. Would recommend if you like cozy fantasies!

🌈Queer rep: FF main relationship, secondary nonbinary characters, M/NB couple, mention of a MM couple.