5/5⭐️
Cozy, Sapphic fantasy? Count me in!

Can’t Spell Treason without Tea is a cozy, sapphic fantasy. By no means does cozy translate to boring or simplistic. Rebecca Thorne weaves an intriguing plot together with excellent storytelling to create a book that captured my full attention from the first page. I couldn’t put it down and loved every minute of it. While the healthy sapphic relationship is central to the story, CSTWT is not a romance. We learn in the opening scene that the relationship between Reyna and Kianthe is already well established and secure. I loved the Griffins and all of the supporting characters, especially Matild, and only wish I could have read more about them. Hopefully we will get more of them in the next book.

This version includes a new bonus one shot story at the end, “Meet and Greet”. I loved it and am so glad it was added for this trad release.

Thorne’s story left me eager to read the next book in the series. I’m glad I won’t have to wait long for A Pirates Life for Tea.

Thank you NetGalley and Bramble for sending an early copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. I’ve now purchased my own special edition physical copy and cannot wait for it to arrive.

These books are just brilliant, and it is so nice to see this series get a beautiful print run! This is a great cozy fantasy story with a fun central romance, some interesting side characters and a little more plot than some. If you struggled with Legends and Lattes, and want a little more action with the same vibe, this is a great pick.

We’ve all dreamed of running away from our frustrating jobs, but for Reyna and Kianthe, such thinking is downright treasonous.

Rebecca Thorne would be the first to admit this book was initially inspired by Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes. It’s a (mostly) cozy romance in a fantasy setting about two women who open up a shop, grow to be part of the local community, and have pasts that eventually catch up to them. On the surface, that sounds like the same story, but it really isn’t; think of it more as a familiar framework to hang something new on.

Reyna is great at her job as a royal guard, but does not particularly enjoy dispatching the increasingly frequent assassins who threaten the throne. It is not, however, a role you can easily leave with your head still attached, as the Queen frequently demonstrates.

Kianthe is the Arcandor; the most powerful mage in all the land. She’s a magical troubleshooter, called in to deal with big (and frequently fiery) problems. But there’s a lot of stifling politics around the role, and many layers of ineffectual men trying to tell her what to do.

The two have also been secretly dating for years, and have a shared dream of running far away together to open a tea shop that sells books. Or, perhaps, a bookshop that serves tea. An incident at the palace makes their dreams suddenly a lot more real, and they end up incognito as small business owners in a forgotten corner of the world. There is just the small matter of Reyna committing treason against the Queendom, and Kianthe hiding from the Magicary, but I’m sure that won’t come back to bite them later (it will).

It’s worth keeping in mind that this is not quite as cozy or small scale as Legends & Lattes is. There is an underlying dragon-shaped mystery about their new town, which leads them into more adventure, and indeed more mortal peril, than you might anticipate. The two of them don’t always make the best decisions, particularly in terms of self-care and self-preservation. But this is an established relationship, and they are both supportive of each other throughout, which is certainly refreshing.

“Tomes & Tea” is planned as a four book series, and books two and three are already written. So, it will not be too long until we find out what is next for our couple, and I personally can’t wait. In fact, since the first two books were originally self-published before being picked up by Tor, I don’t actually have to wait; those two are currently available in ebook form. The physical books look very nice however, and I suspect I will pick those up for my shelves as they are released.

A fun tale, recognisable in some ways, but still very entertaining. Another sapphic shopkeeping success!

Thanks to Tor for the early review copy.

Thank to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of Rebecca Thorne's "Can't Spell Treason Without Tea" in exchange for my honest review.

This book tried to be too many things and missed the mark for a cosy fantasy. What is most unfortunate is that it was compared to Travis Baldree's debut novel "Legends and Lattes" which ticked all the boxes for the genre.

Warning: review contains spoilers.

Firstly the romance - Reyna and Kianthe are already in a relationship when we are introduced to them so we lose out on the slow kindling relationship building arc. Their romance was very verbal and physical - there was too much PDA which made me and the supporting characters feeling like we should leave the room. It also didn't feel real, I didn't believe in their chemistry.

Secondly, there was wayyyyy to much at stake for this to be labelled a "cozy fantasy". We have:
- A unhinged Queen with no emotional empathy who orders beheadings left right and centre.
- A character on the run; Reyna abandons her position as a royal guard to run away with Kianthe - her happiness now depends on not being found by the Queen so she is constantly on the watch. But the unhinged Queen won't let her get away easily.
- Kianthe is an all powerful mage who also abandons her duties to be with Reyna. She ends up battling a whole bunch of dragons and then promising to help the dragons find some lost eggs (set up for book two)

Third and most importantly, they built the bookstore/cafe far too quickly. They managed to source a location, fix it up using magic, and draw in customers within the first couple of chapters.

All in all I think the bones of the novel were good but it shouldn't have been set up as a cosy fantasy. It needs to be stripped of a few elements in order to make for a more engaging read.

Kind of obviously “in the mode of” Legends and Lattes, the cozy gay fantasy about tea shops and coffee shops and badass chicks with magic and/or weapons, but a delightful distraction from being home in bed sick nonethelesss.

I really wanted to love this, but it just wasn’t for me. I have enjoyed other books in this vein, but this one just bored me. I felt like the action didn’t happen fast enough, and when it did happen, it wasn’t enough to keep me invested. I just didn’t love it.

4.5
Reyna decides to run away from her job as a queen's guard and Kianthe from her position as a powerful mage to open up a tea and book shop in a little village. Of course this is a problem because Reyna is committing treason by leaving and the village they choose, while idyllic, is frequently attacked by dragons. It seems like someone stole some dragon eggs and the dragons want them back.

I really loved seeing a couple already in love and a few years into their relationship, not just falling in love. Reyna and Kianthe have the absolute sweetest relationship full of puns and banter but also a deep understanding of one another. Of course they draw a lovely found family to them while working at their tea and book store, including a grumpy teenager, the blacksmith, and his wife the midwife.

I was originally worried that this might be too similar to Legends and Lattes. However, while certainly inspired by it, this book certainly stands on its own. I appreciated the higher stakes (DRAGONS) and the more developed romance. There is a bit of a mystery as well, which is interesting and the epilogue will leave you excited for book two!

Genre: cozy fantasy

Reyna grew up knowing she’d be on the Queen’s Guard. Everything she ever did was earned towards becoming the best. When she catches the eye of Kainthe, a powerful mage, it takes time for them to 1) admit feelings and then 2) have the courage to run away together. A close glimpse with death send Reyna fleeing and Kianthe chasing after her, but also provides the perfect opportunity for the women to chase their other dream: setting up a tea and book shop, complete with perfect puns. But there are dragons circling and magic is afoot, and Reyna and Kainthe have to fight for the perfect life they want while hiding in case the Queen gets word her favorite guard has deserted.

Curl up with a cup of tea and the audiobook of this delightful cozy novel. I’ve said before that cozy fantasy doesn’t quite *hit* for me. I need a little more angst from somewhere in my fantasy novels, whether it’s plot, romance or character growth, or you know, external pressure from the world being about to end. One thing I liked about this more than Legends & Lattes is that not only is the story sapphic (that was too), it features human women (ok one is a mage). I like very much that Reyna and Kianthe are women and not orcs or other magical creatures, because the representation feels more genuine.

And let’s be honest, aren’t we all looking to get away from the stress of reality and start a new life in the mountains with our partners while curating tea and reading books? Like, that’s what bookstagram is all about, yes? This is also the first cozy fantasy I’ve read where I’ve felt there’s enough plot thread for me to confidently say I’ll pick up the sequel, because the mood for a gentle magical book does sometimes arise.

Did not finish. I found the use of DSM language in a fantasy book to be very jarring and couldn't get into the story. It was an interesting enough premise but I couldn't suspend disbelief.

5 ⭐️

‘Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea’ Was one of my favourite books of 2023. While it isn’t exactly a cozy fantasy, it does incorporate many cozy fantasy themes, such as running away from a stressful life, settling down, and opening a book/tea store.
I loved that the stakes weren’t too high, but also interesting enough to make me want to keep reading. I really liked the world that was created and I fell right into this book.
The two main characters, Reyna and Kianthe, were really cute and I loved their relationship. Tawney was an interesting town filled with people I wish I could've gotten to know more. I’m definitely picking up the second book.

Thank you to Netgally and Tor Publishing for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review.

Overall I enjoyed this book, I finished the main story in a day and was engrossed the whole time. I have to say that at the top because I’m about to complain a lot. The Legends & Lattes inspiration is obvious but not overwhelming; it’s clearly its own story. Which is partly the problem with the book - there’s too much going on and it’s mostly high stakes drama rather than cozy issues with the town and tea/book shop. Actually, there’s almost a lack of cozy issues? Everyone in town loves them, the shop runs smoothly, and so on. It’s unnervingly perfect. Give me a few more supply chain issues and put off the dragons for the sequel.

Honestly, it’s a surface level book. You’re meant to read and enjoy and not think too hard about how any of it works, because if you do it falls apart. How did Reyna and Kianthe keep a secret relationship going that long in a castle full of spies? How is a small town in the middle of nowhere this well supplied? Why does everyone have spare time during the day to hang out at a tea shop? Just put all that aside and enjoy some puns.

Sweet, queer, cozy fantasy. Two lovers-- a mage and a guard-- start over with a book-and-tea shop to fulfill their dreams. Of course their past comes back to haunt them, and they must fight to keep what they love, along with their newfound family. Plot dragged at times, and it was a bit rife with modern aesthetics/anachronisms, but very low-stakes.

Thank you @brambleromance #partner for the free copies of this book!

What’s not to love about a cozy mystery where the characters just want to open a tea shop with plants and chatty customers? That’s all Reyna and Kianthe want ☺️ It’s not too much to ask except for the fact that their backgrounds make it difficult to! Reyna is one of the Queens private guards and Kianthe is THE most powerful mage. What could possibly go wrong? Well, Reyna is taken by an assassin and after decides she’s done sticking her neck out there and risking her own safety while Kianthe just wants to be done with her responsibilities. Together they move to a small town filled with dragons where they can open their welcoming tea shop. These women will find out what it really means to be loyal to each other!

Thoughts: I was very excited to jump into this one because who doesn’t love dragons and tea shops?! It sounds like the perfect cozy fantasy book to me! What I enjoyed about this book was the found family and adventure! I thought this author did a nice job with setting up the mystery and action packed scenes. I think the characters were likable and witty which I always appreciate. I would say the only downfall was I do think at times it was a bit slow and wrapped up a little too quickly with a nice bow. I was hoping for a little bit more there. Regardless this book is left open for more to come and I am excited to see what’s in store for the next chapter!

This book took me FOREVER to read. BUT IN THE BEST WAY. This book is a go-to comfort read for me now. I thoroughly enjoyed it. When it comes to comfy fantasy books, I don't think you need a plot that draws you in and keeps you reading. Cozy fantasy provides a world I can come back to again and again and settle in with these characters. That's not to say that Can't Spell Tea without Treason doesn't have an interesting plot. I actually with is had a book two. It felt like we wrapped up plot points at the end bc there's no book two. Which I simply can't abide. Loved this and every one of the characters and hope to see more from this world and author!

At long last! A cozy fantasy with enough magical vibes and day-to-day life action to not put me to sleep! Humorous, romantic, and full of fantasy shenanigans, Reyna and Kianthe's story is not one of first love, but of an established relationship attempting their first real go at building a life together. If only their 'past' lives didn't keep intruding! I am absolutely in love with the rich yet familiar world, and with the growing sense of community as these two build the life of their dreams. The unexpected roadblocks they encounter just make the tension and wonder keep spreading across the pages so that the pacing holds steady and no chapter feels like a filler. The lovely bouts of humor and banter keep the chill and cozy vibes going at all times, even while dragons are attacking! I honestly can't wait for the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this one for both cozy fantasy and (even with no spice) romantasy enthusiasts.

[Netgalley ARC]

I would die a million times over for these lesbians. (Yes you can quote me on that).

I never thought there would be a cozy fantasy to top Legends and Lattes but Treason came in swinging!

Cozy fantasy romance with TEA and BOOKS /and/ PUNS ?!
I could not get this in my eyeballs fast enough!!
I also appreciated Reyna and Kianthe having an established, if still being refined, romance from the outgo;
falling in love is special, but staying in love deserves more ink as well!

A very cozy sapphic romance. This will be popular with Legends and Lattes readers. I really enjoyed this one and can't wait for the next adventure.

*Received as a free ARC*
No third act break up no third act break up! Ahem. I deeply enjoyed this. Definite Legends and Lattes vibes, but with established relationship and healthy communication. Reyna and Kianthe are delightful and I look forward to reading future books in this series. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting a cozy fantasy!

Love love LOVE!! A fantastic cozy read. It is just the right amount of every day life with the right level of excitement. I cannot wait for more of Rain & Key.