I ended up not really enjoying this as much as I wanted to. That's not to say there was anything bad about it, but I just didn't love it. It was a nice chill read and very much gave me those cozy fantasy vibes. There was a bit of intrigue but nothing too out there. I'm interested about the ending, so I think I will be continuing the series, but just overall this one wasn't really what I was looking for in this moment in time. If you're looking for a nice cozy read (and griffins), then I would recommend this. The griffin brought me PURE joy.

I think a lot of my issue, unfortunately, was in the narration. The narrator did a good job, but I found myself getting confused on which of the main characters had which background. I think that the narrator did a good job at differentiating their voices and stuff, but just something about how the story was being read or told just made it hard for me to keep track of things for a good chunk of the beginning of the story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with the advanced audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while, but I was waiting for the audio to come out. Described as a read alike for Legends & Lattes, it felt very reminiscent of that story. I think readers of the cozy fantasy subgenre will enjoy this story.

If you’ve ever wanted to leave your life behind, runaway with the person you love, and open a book/tea shop, then you’re going to feel right at home with this book. The two characters, Reyna and Kianthe create this new wonderful new life for themselves. Even though their former responsibilities keep trying to call them back, they are prepared to fight for their newfound peace.

This book is definitely a slower pace than some readers will like. It spends a lot of time enjoying the leisure’s of their new life and some won’t like the lack of action but I was really okay with it. It felt peaceful and loving. And the town members who visit the shop were delightful. There is a little bit of a mystery element to this story for some hidden dragon eggs that I think will continue in book two, which I will be excited to continue with.

The narrator did a great job with multiple accents for various characters. She had a great talent for a leisurely, peaceful voice when the story called for it and then ramping up the intensity during action scenes.

All in all a really fun sapphic cozy fantasy/mystery. Enjoy this with your favorite cup of tea and a baked good to pair with.

This is a lovely series starter - the characters are great and I can certainly see them continuing to be interesting for many installments to come. There is a good balance between the central couple's relationship and the gradual introduction of their friends and acquaintances, so it never feels like too many characters are thrown at you all at once, and the relationships feel organic. It has the feel of Terry Pratchett or Becky Chambers - a fully formed world, and we're just hearing a story about a few people in it rather than a detailed description of an entire civilization.

The only thing that felt off was the tone of the first couple chapters - the story seemed to start midstream, and it took its time settling into the more cozy vibe it was going for. At the very end of the book (at least the audio version), however, was a "bonus story" that appears to be the original first few chapters. If you can, read that first, then go back to the beginning of the book - it sets up the story perfectly both in terms of plot and tone, and I have no idea why anyone thought it was a good idea to remove it.

Happily, the introductory chapter of the next installment that is also included at the end seems to indicate that the tone will be more consistent from the start in the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC Audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I just want to say I DEVOURED this audiobook. This is a fun loving adventure between two girlfriends, Reyna and Kianthe, who decide to leave the roles they know in their kingdom to start their own cozy bookshop business.

I loved how I could relate to both main characters at different moments and I found myself laughing out loud at some parts. This book had a bunch of awe moments as well as a good balance of thrilling action. I appreciate the pacing of this book, it wasn't too fast, but it also never felt like it dragged. I cannot wait to listen to the second book!

If you liked Legends and Lattes, then THIS is your next read!


I just reviewed Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne. #NetGalley

♡ 𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ♡
3 ⭐️
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𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚜 :
•fantasy
•queer romance
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The narrator, Jessica Threet, did a great job. I'm giving 3 stars simply because the narrator did a great job, and her voice was very cozy and went with the characters. I just think this storyline wasn't for me. It just couldn't keep my attention. I will definitely try to read this another time, but at this moment, I DNF @28% . I will definitely recommend it if you enjoy queer romance with fantasy.
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♤ 𝚁𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 May.7 ♤
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Thank you, Netgalley, and MacmillanAudio for the (ALC)-Audiobook for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the eAudiobook ARC! A royal guard and powerful mage attempt to live a quiet life running a books and tea shop in a small town, but when you abandoned your post, every day is a risk. Reyna used to protect her queen, but one day, after a serious injury, she decides to put aside the battles and live a quiet life with her partner, the most powerful mage in the kingdom (and beyond) Kianthe. What follows is a mostly cozy tale of setting up shop, dealing with the townspeople (and their opposing politicians), searching for dragons, other magical/mythical creatures and the whole "the queen views your desertion as treasonous" issue. With mostly low stakes, bits of humor and a diverse cast of characters, Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is perfect for fans of Legends and Lattes and cozy fantasy.

This book made me want to have all the tea all day everyday. The story has everything; an established couple, a tea shop, dragons, cozy moments, fights and found family. It was really a nice read!

For fans of cozy fantasy like Legends and Lattes, this is a fantastic read! I loved the mix of magic, government, and good old fashioned small town vibes that this story brought. The two main characters are literally opening my dream store, just sub coffee for tea!

I enjoyed following along with this cozy fantasy containing elements of low stakes 'slice of life' and 'fantasy character leaves former job to open a quaint small business' plot lines (very akin to "Legends & Lattes") mixed with the more high stakes problems of 'dragon attack' and 'evil Queen' tropes.

While I enjoyed the general story, world building, and sapphic representation, I did find the romance at times cringy and other times flat (though I am not a romance reader/fan to begin with). I also never fully became attached to the main characters - perhaps this was the fault of the audiobook, as I didn’t always connect with the accents or occasional overt enthusiasm of the narrator used for character dialogue (though did eventually get used to both and they stopped bothering me). I didn’t mind the writing (though wordy, slowly paced, and/or convienient at times) and while the ideas are not unique, the author did keep me entertained and I wanted to find out what happened in the end.

On the whole, this cozy fantasy-romance had enough plot intrigue to make me interested in reading the next book in the series. I’ll likely try the next book as print instead of audio in order to decide if it was the author’s or narrator’s voice I didn’t quite connect with.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I tend to really like cozy fantasy but this one just felt incredibly mediocre to me. let me list off the reasons I was disappointed
- lack of worldbuilding, there felt like an inappropriate use of contemporary items and words without a contemporary setting.
- The plot devices were ridiculous for a cozy fantasy. Everything was set up for high stakes but its a cozy fantasy so nothing bad is ever going to happen. Things were resolved in the goofiest, unrealistic ways.
- Not a lot of Character or relationship development making it hard to care or root for anyone.

I did like the sapphic relationship, I always like books about bookshops, and there was never any stress or anxiety while reading this. It definitely could be for somebody, just not for me.

✨ 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ✨

¢αη’т ѕρєℓℓ тяєαѕση ωιтнσυт тєα 𝚋𝚢 𝚁𝚎𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚌𝚊 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚗𝚎
𝘊𝘰𝘻𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 • 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 •. 𝘚𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 • 𝘓𝘰𝘸 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴
🎧 𝘈𝘓𝘊 • 𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦: 7 𝘔𝘢𝘺 2024

Marketed as a “cozy fantasy steeped with love,” this book clearly takes its inspiration from Travis Baldree’s Legends and Lattes and Bookshops and Bonedust series, so if you loved those, you’ll want to read this one. There will be baking of yummy pastries and steeping of aromatic teas, followed up with a little sword play and griffin riding, and maybe a dragon egg hunt. There will be hidden passage ways in the castle and an evil queen and a powerful mage and queens guard who just want to be free of their old lives. And there will be a bookshop.

This is a cozy book about books first, and a low stakes fantasy and love story second and third. Themes of friendship, belonging and found family leap from the pages. You’ll love this one if you value the cozy journey over the destination & suspense. If you’re here for faster-paced action and epic battle scenes, look elsewhere.

🎧 Jessica Threat narrated this one on audio, which I enjoyed as I love a British accent.
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for granting me early access to this audiobook, which releases May 7!

The cozy fantasy novel “Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea” by Rebecca Thorne follows the two former royal servants Reyna and Kianthe who run away from their old life to open a bookshop that serves tea.

I wish I enjoyed this book as much as I had anticipated. I’m a fan of cozy fantasy and the combination with a mystery really intrigued me. I wanted to love the journey of them building their new shop but I sadly couldn't connect to the protagonists.

Also the book took a long time to establish the new location and couldn't hold my attention which was enhanced by the rather monotone audiobook narration. So I had to DNF it with a heavy heart.
I would however be delighted to give the author a second chance on their next novel.

A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Macmillan Audio for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was something alright. There's so much I wanted from this book, and I didn't get it. So let me start off by saying that the idea of the story was cozy -- a couple running away from their lives to live together in peace and run a bookshop/sell tea. Okay yay! One problem for me is that the book had cozy moments, a cozy setting, but it was not a cozy fantasy. There were just too many times that their lives were in danger/they almost died for it to be considered cozy. The stakes should be low! But, despite that, I found myself enjoying the book.

My biggest issue wasn't the coziness -- or lack of -- but the characters themselves. I never connected to any of the characters, and what made it worse was the fact that Reyna and Kianthe felt like they were interchangeable. There were so many times I kept confusing their names or forgetting whose head we were currently in because they were just that similar. And yet, despite that, I now need book 2. Why? Because like I said, I found the book to be super entertaining despite its flaws.

The audiobook itself was great, the narrator did a good job with bringing a lot of it to life.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

If you loved Legends and Lattes, you are going to love this! A perfect blend of cozy fantasy, political intrigue, and sapphic romance. I loved the relationship between the two main characters, and the backstory we got on how they met. I also love the teashop and book store aspect, as a tea lover and bookstore fanatic. I cannot wait for the second book!

Thank you so much Netgalley, Rebecca Thorne, and Macmillian Audio for giving me the advance audio version of this book.

Cozy fantasy, a bit of royal intrigue and positive lgbtq+ representation.

The narration by Jessica Threet was kind of a kit or miss for me, her regular speaking voice sounded young to me (too young) some of her old men sounded like they had a cigar hanging from their mouth but other characters were very well done her accents were good.

If you like Legends and Lattes you’ll like this one!
3 ½ stars

I received this audiobook from the publisher Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

Very delightful! It’s cozy but there are stakes. Also love the sapphic relationship and queer positive world. Excited to dig into the second book soon. I hope the author writes more in this world.

If you like cozy fantasy books then this will be your jam. Who doesn't want to open a book and tea shop, and it's even more fun to read about when former assassins / magicians / dangerous people with lots of power just want to chill and dive into a good book in a sleepy town. There is lots of drama in this book, but it is done in such a cozy and less threatening way - your heartrate won't spike, but you will be completely invested in all the storylines. I especially love reading about how the two MCs meet and also their open communication with each other that prevents any misunderstandings due to miscommunication.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and while I enjoyed it, it would have been easier to follow if the characters had more of a distinct voice during their different POVs, instead of the same voice for all the narration.

If you loved Legends & Lattes but wish it had a bit more action to it, then I think you'd love this book. It very much fits into the "Cozy Fantasy" genre, but I wouldn't say it brings anything new to the concept. There wasn't anything actively bad about this book, but I just don't think it was for me.

I was so excited about this but unfortunately the cosy fantasy sell is so off base. Why are the stakes so high?! I also didn’t feel connected to the main romance, i rooted for them but wasn’t invested

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook.

Audiobook & narration: 5/5
Book content: 3/5

I really loved this audiobook's narration style. Jessica Threet did an exceptional job with creating unique character voices, adding helpful sound effects, and providing the perfect amount of emotion throughout the book.

As for the actual book, I was really let down by this one. I am a fan of cozy fantasies, but this was not cozy to me. When I think of cozy fantasy, I expect the story to feel warm, inviting, and have low stakes. Don't get me wrong, there were definitely cozy moments. However, to market this book as a cozy fantasy feels misleading. Because of the lack of "cozy" in the book and the odd pacing issues, I really struggled to get into it. I was hoping that the story would pick up and grip me at some point, but I was really left disappointed. Ultimately, this was just not for me. But it does have some really delightful moments, sapphic romance, and magical creatures, so definitely give it a try if that sounds like it's up your alley!