Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne, just not for me. I tried to get into this book and it simply failed for me. Thank you for giving me a chance with this book and I do think others will enjoy it

Can’t spell treason without tea was a fun lightweight story with just the right amount of charm to keep me turning the pages. I loved the world-building and the characters, and if you are also looking for a fluffy and a wholesome story, then like me, you too would definitely enjoy this one.

If you are looking for a cozy (closed door) romantasy then this book just might be it. Our characters escape from unpleasant situations/jobs and hide out in a faraway village on the edge of Dragonland. They open a tea/book shop, explore their relationship, fight dragons and when their old lives come crashing back they figure out a way to have a happy ever after. It's a sweet, fluffy, and very low-stakes story that ends with a gentle cliffhanger making you want to see what comes next for our 2 main characters and the cast of friends they have made along their journey. For readers of Legends and Lattes with a side of Fourth Wing.

Oh, this was lovely! It reminded me a lot of Legends and Lattes and that's a great thing, I love the idea of just because the adventure is done, doesn't mean the story is. I hope we get more, the characters were great, I loved the setting, it was the perfect vacation read.

I love this book, full stop. I'm so glad Tor picked up this series, even if it means I have to buy duplicate copies so that the editions match.

I loved this book! It's so cute and wholesome, and the world is very well developed. The story is well balanced between romance and external plot. I can't wait to read more!

Can’t spell treason without tea is a delightful dose of escapism into a tea/plant/bookshop with your love, where you meet friendly neighbors and find community.

I can’t say much critically, I only wished it was a bit shorter because repetition is my enemy and I hate when I like a story but get a bit bored.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

I really wanted to like this book, based on the description of it. Sadly, the book failed for me on too manylevels.

The main characters are both supposed to be somewhat mature women, both having excelled in their respective fields for several years, but they each keep making truly horrible decisions. Their brains turn to mush any time the other is in any kind of trouble. They decide to move/retire to a small town on the border of the very kingdom of the queen who is horribly vindictive and known to take excessive measures against any perceived slight; what could go wrong with that? Several denominations of currency are given names, but with no context as to how the denominations relate to each other. The book talks about them using savings to pay for renovations to the building that will be their shop and home, but the warrior character fled from their job on a moment's notice and had no time to recover said savings. And the magic user is given mastery of way too many types of magic.

On the plus side, the food descriptions were pretty good, and there was an interesting mix of townfolk to be interacted with.

Thank you Net Galley and Bramble Publishing for this digital ARC!

This was excellent! I can see why people are comparing this to Legends and Lattes, and there are some similarities between the two, but don’t be mistaken. Can’t Spell Treason without Tea is unique and incredible all on its’ own.

Kianthe and Reyna are the perfect pair. They balance each other so well, I could keep reading their story for ages. There’s the perfect amount of everything in this book, with a little political intrigue, mystery, coziness, found family and GRIFFONS with personality!

This story is as warm and inviting as it is fast-paced and exciting. The author does a great job of balancing out the adventure with quiet days in the tea/book shop.

This book is a great read all around, and I am so excited for book two, It’s a Pirates Life for Tea!

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.