Absolute hug in book form. This funny, queer cozy fantasy has relationships - both romantic and platonic - at its heart. Rayna, Queensguard, flees her job with an unstable monarch. Kianthe, Rayna's lover and a powerful mage, meets up with her. The two find a small town and pursue their dream of having a book and tea shop. The community flourishes around them.

Some mysteries and conflict but mostly low stakes. The love and care the characters, main and supporting, have for each other is at the center of the narrative and makes it shine. The supporting characters are as well realized as the main ones.

This was both a delight and wholly unexpected! I think I was fooled by the title into thinking it was a mystery and a cozy fantasy. This was a full blown magical fantasy adventure with all the coziness of a warm cup of the best tea you've ever had. I'm so thankful that cozy fantasy is becoming a more prominent genre. I want more of this. magic in my life.

WHAT AN ABSOLUTE DELIGHT.

This may be my new favorite genre. This is sweet, homey, comforting and funny. The characters are well developed, the setting is engaging and light, and the stakes are just high enough to keep you reading past bedtime. What a hug of a book 😍

The writing is easy enough to read and moves along just fine. I stopped after chapter 2 (5%), but I imagine this will be an easy three stars and four to five for the right cozy fantasy readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.

3.5/5

This was a lovely cozy fantasy featuring:
- an adorable sapphic romance
- found family/found community
- an adorable bookshop/teashop as our main setting
- humor (including quite a few puns)
- a dash of mystery
- gryphons
- a guest appearance of dragons

I really enjoyed this book, but considering how long it was and the pacing of the rest of the book, the abrupt ending that didn't wrap up the subplot (it alluded to an ending, but it was unsatisfactory imo) felt unnecessary and knocked at least half a star off my rating.

With that being said, I did really enjoy this book and would be willing to read more books by this author.

This sweet, short read hits all the notes that a queer cozy fantasy calls for. A bit of risk with enough assurance that the main characters will endure. Lovable side characters (and pets), and an enchanting setting. This book goes further with interesting world building and a depth and realism to the romance between our two main characters. I enjoyed every moment of reading this book, and when I wasn't reading it, I wanted to go back to doing exactly that.

I can't stop thinking about this book. It is cozy. It has lesbians. It has puns. I'm honestly what more is needed in a book - oh wait magical creatures, a cafe, and books. It has all of that too. I think this is a formative book in the blossoming cozy fantasy genre, and am beyond delighted that it got picked up for a broader publishing setting. I can't stop raving about this book and the polish it got only makes it even better!

"Can't Spell Treason Without Tea" by Rebecca Thorne is a delightful and cozy fantasy steeped in sapphic romance. The story revolves around Reyna, one of the Queen's private guards, and Kianthe, the most powerful mage in existence, who share a dream of opening a bookshop that serves tea. However, their aspirations are hindered by their current roles, with Reyna risking her life for a self-centered queen and Kianthe burdened by responsibilities.

When an assassin takes Reyna hostage, she decides it's time to leave behind the dangerous life she's been leading. Kianthe, eager to escape her own obligations, joins Reyna in pursuing their dream. Settling in the town of Tawney, they embark on a cozy adventure filled with mishaps, mysteries, and the challenges of a murderous queen.

The novel is a heartwarming exploration of love, companionship, and the pursuit of one's dreams against all odds. With a backdrop of a charming bookshop, wooden floors, plants, and firelight, Thorne weaves a tale that combines romance and fantasy, creating a world where two women find solace and joy in each other and the simple pleasures of life.