"Can't Spell Treason Without Tea" by Rebecca Thorne offers a cozy fantasy with an intriguing premise: two women in love escaping danger to open a bookshop in a small town. However, the pacing feels uneven, with rushed moments and slow stretches. While it has its charms with witty dialogue and a sweet romance, overall, it falls short of expectations. It might appeal to fans of light fantasy, but don't expect a fully immersive experience. The narration was ok, the accents were a bit distracting.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio version of this book!

Yeah, so I did not like this book. As far as I know, this is the first cozy fantasy book I have read. I have read a couple other reviews and they said there was too much action and too high of stakes to count this book as "cozy." That said though, as I have no experience with what makes a cozy fantasy "cozy," I'm just going to focus on this book in general.
To start, I could not tell the two main characters apart. Even though I was listening to this as an audiobook and the two characters had distinctly different voices, I still couldn't tell the two apart. It was a third-person narrative, but would still go back and forth between the perspectives of the two leads. And every time a new chapter would start I would sit there and ask myself "okay, is this the mage or the guard?" and I would never figure it out.
As for the plot... everything was just resolved so quickly. Any time a problem came about, regardless of size, it was resolved within the same chapter it was introduced (sometimes even the same paragraph).
Lastly, the dialogue. Not good. It was either super cringey (for example, referring to the griffin as a "good boy") or just very exposition-y. The dialogue just kind of felt like a means to an end. The characters never felt like real people, they were just there to regurgitate information to the reader.
I just found this book so boring. The only reason I finished listening to it was because I was provided the audiobook through Netgalley.

This was a fun cozy fantasy in the same vein as Legends & Lattes.
We have our 2 main characters Reyna and Kianthe. Reyna is one of the queen's private guards like her mother before her and Kianthe is the most powerful mage ever (I can't remember exactly what it's called since I listened to the audiobook). They secretly date for a while before deciding to run away. They settle in a small town and decide to open a book and tea shop. They make friends with the townspeople on their shop opening journey.
I liked both Reyna and Kianthe. They were dedicated to each other as well as their shop that was both of their dreams. Things didn't go perfectly, but they were able to figure things out and what worked best with the other to resolve problems. There were a lot of fun townsfolk that showed up a lot in the shop and to help. All the side characters were great.
The plot kind of moseys along at first, but it does have a little action and excitement at the end. It was fun to follow along as these 2 ladies in love figure out how to open a shop in a town they just moved to. One of my favorite parts is that they decide to open their shop in an old barn that was kind of a hideout for bandits. When bandits show up, Reyna and Kianthe pretend to be in the bandit ring and give out "assignments" to the bandits that show up that actually help the community or surrounding lands. I thought that was very funny. I actually really enjoyed the excitement at the end and thought that it really made the life they decided to create for themselves that much more cozy. There was a part that really would lead into a second book perfectly, something that wasn't quite resolved close to the end.
The narrator was great. She was so easy to listen to. Since this was a dual POV with one narrator, I think it was great that one of the character's dialogue had an accent. It made it easy to remember who was who. She really made my intrigue stay constant.

The book "Can't Spell Treason Without Tea," by Rebecca Thorne had such potential, yet I couldn’t quite fall in love with it. I mean, the plot itself was captivating, and there were points of actual suspense, but in the end, I just felt as if some fundamental piece was absent from the story.

The characters, while vividly depicted, sometimes left me unsatisfied. They appeared more like caricatures than people with complex personalities. Another element that didn't work for me was the pacing, as certain moments seemed to be prolonged while others felt quick and hasty.

It is difficult not to see Thorne’s writing as clever, and definitely, some witty dialogue made me laugh at least a couple of times. Still, not every joke hit the mark with me, and there were moments when it seemed more an effort than a laugh.

There are elements that were great about the book, but it just didn't measure up to what I hoped.

I was resisting this for a while, but I kept seeing in promoted everywhere. If you loved Legends and Lattes, this is fine. It's a very similar vibe. The sense of looming danger from the queen finding Reyna and Kianthe either felt too distant to care about or way to serious for what was happening. There are a lot of side plots being set up for a whole series in this world: dragon eggs, political intrigue, thieves guild, multiple side romances, evil queen. But instead of making me feel really curious to dig into them, it overwhelmed the story in front of me.

Kianthe is the head mage and one of the most powerful mages in existence. Reyna is part of the murderous queen’s personal guard. The two of them have been dating in secret for a while, but Reyna has been hesitant to leave her employment, as it means committing treason. When Reyna gets taken hostage by an assassin at the queen’s party, however, the self-centered queen does nothing. Realizing how expendable she is, she decides she’s done working for the queen. She and Kianthe leave and settle in a small village called Tawney, thinking no one will ever find them. They open up their own tea and bookshop. They are, however, soon mistaken at their anonymity. Dealing with dragons, bandits, queen’s spies, and more, their relationship and lives are put to the test. Will the two ever escape the queen? Will they find a way to balance a life of magic and love?

Narrator, Jessica Threet is an engaging narrator who brings the personalities of the characters to life. Her intonations are harder to distinguish, but her narrative pacing works well with the audiobook. The plot is entertaining and more character-driven. Listeners who were drawn to the book for the action and vengeance lure, however, will be disappointed. The action scenes are exciting, but are interspersed throughout the slower pace of the novel. The world building is intriguing and does draw the listener in. Characters are engaging and humorous, but the dynamics between them feels off and not fully developed. Main characters identify as LGBTQ+. Overall, fans of fantasies, mysteries, and cozy novels may want to pick this one up. Recommended for general purchase where such audiobooks are popular.

Please Note: A copy of this audiobook was given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. No other compensation was received.

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.

Alas, the whole story lacked a drive or structured buildup. there were the recurring themes of both Key and Rain not feeling like they were enough for the other, which then became a mini drama, which was then resolved within the same paragraph. maybe this was meant to be a building kind of energy? I felt like it was just - a thing happens - it's resolved - all is well - another thing happens - etc...
This plays into the rest of the book. Aside from the decision Reyna makes at the beginning to leave the queen, this is a story where the plot happens to the characters. a thing happens; and then the characters react, not vice versa.

On a completely personal note, I missed chemistry between Rain and Key. I think I wasn’t really fond of either of them as characters either. there were too many smirks and cackles for my personal palate, and my god, the second hand mortification of their cringy flirting /in front of the entire cafe/. please don’t slap each other’s ass and make raunchy innuendo’s with your clients as audience. /please./

i agree with some of the other reviews: their vibes feel a bit weird. totally googly eyed for each other, which is fine, but also feels a little like the early-relationship stage despite having been together for quite some time? but then they’re both also so insecure, which keeps happening, and it felt more that they were telling me how hot they both were to each other and how good at communication than showing me.

So…yeah. You'll not find complex worldbuilding, intricate politics or driving mysteries here. (I feel a little betrayed about that. The cover promises dragon mysteries, which were then mostly handed off to Feo and Wylan). It felt lacking.
There’s gonna be a part 2, and I will not be reading it.

This was such a cozy read, Very entertaining and kept my interest. I love the character relationships and the narrator did a great job at bringing them to life.

Ugh, this was just the most delightful little cozy fantasy! It was absolutely everything I wanted it to be and more.

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea follows Reyna, a private guard to a deeply unreasonable and unjust queen, and Kianthe, the most powerful mage their world has seen. The two of them have been meeting in secret and falling in love, until Reyna finally decides to leave the queen's court behind and start a bookstore with her girlfriend (no matter the consequences).

Learning about this land and its magic and politics was so fun, and we have a really great blend of cozy moments putting together a bookstore / tea shop as well as action, danger and adventure (but not so much that it loses the cozy feel). Kianthe & Reyna's love for one another really takes center stage in all of these moments, whether one of them was just in mortal peril or they are choosing what tea to present to their new patrons. It just created the most warm, fuzzy atmosphere full of so much love, and it extends to the side-characters as well. I loved the ending conflict and how it all shakes out, as well as the one shot at the very end and the way we've been set up for the sequel.. Fans of Legends & Lattes and Becky Chambers will absolutely adore this one, just as I did! Thank you to macmillan audio and net galley for this early audiobook copy!

This was an incredibly cute cozy fantasy. I enjoyed the narrator, though I did find the accents a bit distracting at times. I also found that the plot really struggled at some points and some character decisions were not believable. This book was a really fun way to spend the weekend listening to. Overall, I did enjoy this book and I will read the author's next book.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for this AudioARC!

Like someone else mentioned, labeling this as a book like Legends and Lattes does it a real disservice. This book unfortunately gave not even one vibe similar to L&L besides there being a cafe involved. I was also excited for the sapphic romance but it was lackluster. There was zero depth to the characters. We were told they were so in love and communicated perfectly to one another and we're understanding of one another's emotions and quirks. But actual communication between the two characters barely showed this. Side characters were not fleshed out. The town they were in had no appeal. I was literally left with no desire to be in this world and my imagining of it was very basic. The world building was not done well. The story was also high stakes which isn't cozy. But even though it was high stakes, I could care less about the drama.

I really forced myself to finish this. It was a huge disappointment.

Ugh. I did it. I finished the most boring book ever. It took me weeks. I hoped I would eventually enjoy the story. But it's definitely fan fiction of Legends & Lattes. I was hoping for something a tad different but it's basically the same and not in a good way.

This has been on my radar for a while so when I saw that it was picked up by Bramble I was really excited. Billed as a cozy fantasy with a sapphic romance, I went into this with such high expectations and I think it was to the book's detriment.

While this does have more plot than it's comp title, Legends & Lattes, the plot is still slow and meandering. I think where I struggled the most is in the relationship. At the start of the book, Reyna and Kianthe have already been together for a while so we don't get to see their relationship develop and while I liked seeing the caretaking elements of their relationship I had a hard time buying into it. This edition had an extra at the end that was their first meeting, and I think if the book had started with that I would have liked it more. Maybe it was the audio experience or my headspace but I struggled to remember the names of the main characters and with a cozy book, character buy in is a necessity.

While I'm disappointed I didn't love this as much as I wanted to, I have seen others adore it so you're mileage may vary. I'll probably pick up the sequel at some point when I'm in more of a cozy story headspace.

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea is a perfect addition to the cozy fantasy genre, including just enough action to keep you wanting more, and enough intrigue to keep you hooked. Kianth and Raina are lovable, sometimes goofy, and the perfect duo to open a bookstore/tea shop combo.

The world setting is queer-normative and features a cast of diverse characters. Some lovable and some frustrating. The lore is fairly deep, with good setup for future adventures, and the magic system is interesting. Overall it’s a fun read, perfect for anyone who enjoys their fantasy on the lighter and less world-ending side.

Most of "Can't Spell Treason Without Tea" leans less cozy than Legends & Lattes--meaning there is a lot more peril and stakes and tension and f-bombs, which somewhat defeats the intent of "cozy". I would categorize this one into general fantasy and leave out "cozy" for accuracy. There are dragons, gryffins, ruthless queens, rival town supervisors undergoing their own enemies to lovers plot in the background... there's a lot going on and not all of it is satisfyingly resolved at the end of this book. The writing style lean more modern/casual, which is fine for the Fourth Wing audience and less preferred by some, so be forewarned.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillain Audio for the early audio copy.

This was a cute book. A queen’s guard and a powerful mage run away together to open a bookshop/tea house. This had adventure, romance, a fantasy world and cozy setting. Overall I liked this one but didn’t love it. I think advertising it as a cozy fantasy similar to Legends & Lattes did it a disservice and set my expectations too high. It had cozy vibes sometimes but never really established a cozy community like I love in cozy fantasies.

I did listen to this on audio and enjoyed the narration and pacing.

Fans of Legends and Lattes won't want to miss Can't Spell Treason Without Tea. This delightful mystery is perfect for those that love a cozy thriller. I listened to the audible and the narrator added to the perfect delight of the story. If you like cozy mysteries set in bookshops with unique characters, you definitely won't want to miss this story. I couldn't put it down and finished in in a matter of hours.

“Can’t Spell Treason without Tea” by Rebecca Thorne is a sapphic medium-stakes mystery fantasy. I listened to the audio ARC provided on NetGalley.

The book starts off a bit difficult to distinguish between Reyna and Kianthe, the two FMCs. Kianthe is a powerful mage, while Reyna speaks with the Queen’s accent and is employed as a Queensguard, a position she inherited from her mother. The book starts off two years into the women’s relationship, and when Reyna decides to leave the Queen’s employ. The Queen is awful, and is a main conflict throughout the story, in addition to dragon attacks on the women’s new village. I saw the book is medium-stakes because the book is primarily character and relationship driven, focusing on the women’s establishing themselves, creating a business, while also being true to themselves, and becoming part of a new community. The ending does feature a chapter (flashback) when they met and began dating.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for those who enjoy low to medium stake mystery or fantasy that center on community.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Rebecca Thorne for the complementary audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I'm a massive fan of cozy fantasy, and there was a lot I was excited for with this one, but something baout it just wasn't clicking for me. I was hoping I could push through with the audiobook, but I couldn't get past the 15% mark, so I'm gonna set it aside and try to come back to it at another time.

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥: 𝓐𝓾𝓭𝓲𝓸𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴

ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: (𝟑.𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩!). 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 “𝐜𝐨𝐳𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲” 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐞! 𝐈 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧, 𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞/𝐭𝐞𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩? 𝐇𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧, 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠; 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬.

𝐈𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐚 𝐭𝐚𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞 (𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐳𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲), 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝!

𝐻𝓊𝑔𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝑅𝑒𝒷𝑒𝒸𝒸𝒶 𝒯𝒽𝑜𝓇𝓃𝑒, 𝑀𝒶𝒸𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒶𝓃 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.