I knew I needed this book when I saw the title and I was right. It was a fun fast pace but also a cozy read. Great plot and the characters were very relatable.

Unfortunately this one wasn't for me.

The marketing material compared this to Legends and Lattes which was a 5 star read for me. I expected a cozy, sapphic story with found family, tea and witty conversations, but that didn't live up to the expectations. I didn't feel any romance or passion between our two FMCs, Reyna and Kianthe. There are dragons and illnesses and an unlikeable queen, which keeps the story from being a truly cozy one, in the vein of Legends and Lattes.

Thank you to Netgallery and Macmillan Audio for an early release audio book copy of Can’t Spell Tea Without Treason written by Rebecca Thorne and narrated by Jessica Threet. This audio book will be available on May seventh of 2024.

I ended up buying the ebook of Can’t Spell Tea Without Treason to follow along with the audio because with just the audio book alone I was really struggling to follow along with it (this is a me problem it has nothing to do with the narration at all!!)

I liked the book, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to connect/like our character with the already pre established relationship but I really liked Kianthe and Reyna, I thoroughly enjoyed their relationship, interactions, and banter throughout the book. It was refreshing to be able to read a more positive relationship with characters that could communicate properly with their partner. I loved the magical aspects with Kianthe’s elemental magic and the addition for mythical creatures like visk the griffon.

I liked the idea of these two finally thinking more about themselves and their relationship, the idea of opening up a bookstore/tea shop was a interesting idea and while this book does deliver on some fluffy scenes and we do get a bit of action I was a little let down because of the books pacing. It’s very slow, I kept finding myself easily getting distracted while reading this even though I was enjoying it, I was wanting a bit more even when the story had moments where it picked up it doesn’t last long at all. The book was building up these big exciting moments but unfortunately we won’t get to know how they are solved until the next book.

Overall, I enjoyed the plot, characters, and relationships but the pacing is really slow and the build up of action moments are unfortunate not going to be solved until the next book. This book is more of a build up with action more then anything. The narration I enjoyed Jessica Threet did a really good job at giving each of these characters a voice, it really helped bring them to life and make them more vivid.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an early audiobook copy!

I have been eagerly awaiting this book since I heard about its re-release earlier this year! It was just as good as I'd hoped it would be! Can't Spell Treason Without Tea follows Reyna and Kianthe as they decide to change their lives and open a bookstore/tea shop! This book took cozy fantasy staples and added more humor and depth than some of the typical standards. It was delightful and cozy while not being overly soft and plotless! I recommend picking this one up!

The cover for this book instantly drew me in, but that's as far as the joy went. I struggled to have interest in the characters or the plot. I DNFd around 15% in after trying both eBook and audiobook versions to see if my opinion changed. Nothing specifically is "wrong" with the book, outside of my having no vested interest in what was going on.

If you're looking for something like Legends & Lattes but with more political intrigue, this is the perfect book for you! This cozy fantasy is about two female characters who fall in love, leave their kingdom behind, and open a cozy teashop in a far away village. Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely adore this book! Anyone who loved legends and lattes or bookshops and bonedust will find a new home with this cozy fantasy. The narrator is wonderful and gives extra life to the story. Could not be better

Reyna is one of the closest bodyguards of the queen, Kianthe is the most powerful mage. They are in love but life and work keep them apart. After a near death experience, Reyna decides to commit treason and flee the palace to spend the rest of her life with Kianthe. Kianthe has begged Reyna to run away with her and open a bookshop that serves tea so now that Reyna has taken this leap of faith to leave the queen’s side, the two have decided to move forward with this seemingly unattainable dream. In the small quiet town of Tawny the ladies have set up shop and thought things were going their way. Life certainly doesn’t stop though and as each of their pasts start to catch up to them, it puts their relationship to the test.

Cute. That’s the short review. Truly I wished this book was more cozy and less romance. I knew there was love and romance in the book but I feel it is misrepresented as a “cozy fantasy steeped in love”. It was a romance book set in a fantasy world with cozy moments. That’s not to say the book isn’t good, it’s just not my cup of tea (ah, ah?! Get it??). Anyway, I enjoyed the supporting cast of characters and the relationships built between all of them. The cozy parts were my favorite. Overall, I would give this 3/5 stars. I may read the second book in the series but will go into it with different expectations. The narrator was great! I appreciate her inflection and voices. It was a breeze to listen to and made the story easier to get through as I felt the lag in the story.

I absolutely LOVED this book! It is so cozy and so cute and I cannot wait for the next one to come out!! I love the relationship between the main characters and I like that we get a flashback to how they met too! I highly recommend this one if you like cozy, sapphic, fantasy stories where they quit their adventurous lives (partially) and open a cafe and bookshop/library!! It is the perfect blend of fantasy, cozy, and romance!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC! ♥

This is a cozy fantasy with a few stakes and I loved it! Instead of focusing on the political machinations of various characters, we focus on the tea shop/ book store that Reyna and Kianthe are starting. So when the stakes are raised, we care about their little shop, the friends they have made, and the town they are working for. It was a great mix of political fantasy and cozy fantasy.
Also dragons, gryphons, and secret histories! This book has everything I could want.

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 ⭐️
-
𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚜 :
•fantasy
•queer romance
-
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.
-
♤ 𝚁𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 May.7 ♤
-
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.