Thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for the ARC.

DNF at 60 pages.

For me, the biggest struggle with this book was that the POV chapters of our two main characters seemed exactly the same. There was nothing that made them differ from each other and I had to keep double checking who’s POV I was on as I couldn’t work out who’s head I was supposed to be in. The personalities were very similar, and I feel the author really could have developed this more.

I will aim to perhaps revisit this book in the future if I can, as I can see the potential! The set up seems to be very good, I love the concept, but the characters just aren’t it for me.

3.5 stars (rounded up)

This was a lovely story to read, though I am hesitant to draw comparisons to Legends and Lattes, as I think has been done a fair bit - this book I felt was much more focused on the romantic relationship between Kianthe and Reyna than the establishment of their tea-and-bookshop, and the hurdles they had to overcome tended to be external (such as the queen's guards searching for Reyna) rather than directly linked to them setting up their new life somewhere quiet.

That aside, Can't Spell Treason Without Tea was very enjoyable, and definitely a fantastic cozy fantasy. I loved the unusual pairing of Kianthe and Reyna, who come from very different worlds, and how they interact with each other and everyone else that reflects that. I liked all of the characters, really, and the way that everyone is so willing to pitch in and help when needed which is one of the aspects of cozy fantasy that I tend to appreciate the most. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys relatively low-stakes fantasy and stories about choosing the path you were not supposed to take.

Thanks, netgalley, for the arc !


This is peak cozy fantasy, with still a bit of tension to keep us hooked throughout the story without ever getting boring. It's honestly impressive how I would keep walking just to listening to this because I wanted to see how things would go.

The cast of characters is vast and you can't help but care for each of them, and would like to go live in Tawney pls and thanks.

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea is about following your heart and giving up everything to pursue your dreams. It’s about settling down and fighting for what you want for yourself. Ultimately, it’s about love and being kind to yourself. Reyna is a royal guard, secretly dating Kianthe, who also happens to be the most powerful mage in the world. She thought she would remain a royal guard until she either retired or died on the job, but one night she throws it all away and flees so she and Kianthe can open their own bookstore and tea shop. Doing so is not easy, but the town where they settle is welcoming, and they are happy together. Except neither can flee their old life entirely, and the Queen Reyna served is furious about her betrayal.

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea is an undeniably sweet and lighthearted read. Kianthe and Reyna’s relationship is adorable, and refreshingly funny, and following them on their journey made for an pleasant read. I also appreciated the pacing of the books, because it did not fall into routine, but instead kept me interested through Kianthe and Reyna’s hardships.

Ultimately, though, I merely liked Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea instead of loving it. I suppose some of it might have to do with the fact that I prefer books with higher stakes, and as it was my first time reading cosy fantasy, I have nothing to compare this novel to. But I also felt like the characters weren’t fleshed out enough for my liking. They weren’t one-dimensional, but it was hard to like them beyond a surface level. The same went with the secondary characters; I loved their personalities, but I wanted to actually get to know them beyond interactions that felt superficial.

Despite this, people who are looking for a sweet, cosy read, and who want to read a story that doesn’t involve world-ending stakes while still reading fantasy will probably love this book

LOVED this one so much, such a delightful sweet read and just totally adorable. Absolutely love a cosy fantasy

Reyna is part of a controlling Queen’s personal bodyguard, she has a secret girlfriend in the form of an all powerful mage who has been trying to convince her to run away and open a book shop that serves tea. When an incident occurs that draws further attention to just how terrible the narcissistic Queen is, Reyna finally agrees and the couple flee to a small town to start afresh and build their dream.

I just couldn’t get into this, which was a massive shame as I adore the ingredients and was so hyped for it, and in fact it joined my small DNF pile at 39% read. There were plot holes before I even got to the end to see how things would wrap up, Reyna’s new identity lasted all of 2 minutes even though they’re in fear of being chased down due to her treason. But maybe I could have gotten over those if it wasn’t for the dialogue between the characters.

There’s a couple of significant gripes with this book; firstly, it is being sold as a cosy fantasy but it is not at all a cosy fantasy. It’s not entirely low stakes, there’s a risk of the Queen finding them at any moment and exacting her revenge for Reyna’s treasonous abandonment, there’s an assassination attempt right at the beginning; nor does it feel laidback and cosy. Legends and Lattes it is not.

Secondly, and the biggie as it really effected my enjoyment is the relationship between the main characters not convincing me. Each conversation between them either felt like them reading a relationship self help book to each other or were constantly punctuated by ‘darling’ or ‘dear’ and far too falsely saccharine. I couldn’t bare to read pages of it at a time, it just wasn’t believable. It felt smug and irritating. There was a severe lack of personality and it was all rather 2 dimensional.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this review copy, of course this review contains my own thoughts and opinions on this book.

Cosy Fantasy is a genre that you definitely need to be 'in the mood for' as it's often found to have a slower pace with very little to low stakes. Can't Spell Treason Without Tea delivers on its whimsical and magical promise as we're introduced to Reyna and Kianthe as they look to open their own book and tea store, with a bit of danger and thrill along the way. I devoured this story in one sitting as I found the pacing to feel steady and consistent, the story was easy to take in and the characters were a lot of fun to follow on their adventure. I had the constant sense of 'home' and 'comfort' when reading this story, and without spoiling its contents I really couldn't recommend further.

This was such a delightful read with a lesbian couple, a whole lot of tea, a few stabbings, griffins and dragons. Not sure what else you need in a fantasy book! Although this is described as a cozy fantasy book it still manages to have lots of action, thrill, danger and a few mysteries to solve.

Reyna finally decides to run away from her dangerous life as a bodyguard for the Queen with her love, Kianthe, to set up a cozy tea shop somewhere. Kianthe also happens to be a powerful mage with duties of her own. They find themselves in Tawney, a small town where they begin to build a life for themselves, but that only lasts until the Queen's guards begin to search for the traitor, Reyna.

I found this a really easy read and I loved the found family in Tawney. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely adored this book. Its the ultimate cosy fantasy. Our main character couple are just so adorable and clearly deeply in love with other. The description of owning and running a bookshop, and all the wee comments and quirks and references towards books will really hit home and greatly appeal to readers. Thorne really summed up all the wonderful and funny parts of reading and summed up why people love and adore books. As a tea lover, the descriptions of brewing and cosy feelings generated with the tea shop, alongside the ultimate atmosphere generated by the shop really filled me warmth and happiness and made me feel like i was there in the shop. Loved we had a running plot throughout that kept everything turning over too. And an absolutely fantastic side cast of characters that i want to get know more of for sure!

I've been seeing this book all over the internet and I am so happy that I finally read it. It was such a wholesome story to read. I loved the characters so much. This book has everything I wanted. It is queer, cosy, and adventurous. I loved it a lot and can't wait to continue the series.

"Can't Spell Treason Without Tea" by Rebecca Thorne invites readers on a delightful journey through a world brimming with love, magic, and intrigue. Thorne's narrative skillfully immerses us in the lives of Reyna, a steadfast Queen's guard weary of her ruler's tyranny, and Kianthe, a gifted mage longing for a simpler existence alongside Reyna. Their forbidden romance blossoms as they dare to dream of escaping to open a quaint book and tea shop, but their path is fraught with challenges from both past and present. Despite occasional pacing fluctuations, Thorne's adept storytelling maintains reader engagement throughout. The charming town of Tawney and its eccentric denizens provide a cozy backdrop that enhances the enchanting ambiance of the tale. "Can't Spell Treason Without Tea" strikes a harmonious balance between romance, magic, and mystery, weaving a captivating tapestry of fantasy that ensures a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience from start to finish.

The Queens Bodyguard and the Mage of Ages running away together to open a bookshop, plus a sapphic romance?! Yes Please!! 😍

In the beginning I was really enjoying the story. I liked our two main characters and I enjoyed watching them restore this old barn and turn it into a tea/bookshop. We got introduced some of the locals, all of whom were just the right level of quirky, and we also learned a bit about their ongoing issues with some nearby dragons.

Around the 50% mark, however, I found I was beginning to struggle with the slow pace, and it was beginning to feel a little repetitive. It got a lot more interesting again towards the end but I felt like it could’ve been a little shorter.

The ending set up the sequel pretty nicely and I hope to pick it up at some point soon.

After hearing so much about this book, I was really excited to finally be diving in. Admittedly, I don't have a great deal of experience with cosy fantasy, but I have ADORED the cosy fantasies I have read so far.
Unfortunately, I don't think this one was particularly for me. I loved the characters and how different they were, but I wasn't a huge fan of the world created. It was intriguing, but not really for me.
I thought the writing was great, and while I would 100% recommend this book to other people, I just feel it wasn't for me.

I first read this book back in 2022 when it was independently published, and I'd just got into the world of Cosy Fantasy and wanted MORE!! I only rated it a 3/5 which I do think was very unfair, and I'd have to blame it on reading it initially just after reading Legends & Lattes which has a lot of similar elements but the world is a little less fleshed out than this book. Reyna is a Queen's guard (ignore for now the fact that the queen is a psycho) and her girlfriend Kianthe is basically the head sorceror in the world. After being threatened by an assassin and basically told to shake it off Reyna escapes the palace and her nutball boss to go and start a book/tea shop in a remote town. There are a lot of side characters in this book who add to the feeling of community in Tawny, and the cooperation and friendliness that they're trying to build. There are several side stories that expand into the other books in the series (I'm guessing from the sneak peek at book 2 and where the plans were left at the end of this book anyway!). I'm really glad I gave this book another chance, I enjoyed the story a lot more when not comparing it so heavily and I'd say it's a 4.5 star read.

Loved it!! 🤩 Definitely Legends and Lattes vibes! Cosy fantasy with the most wholesome adorable sapphic romance. Dragons, baby griffins, bookshops and tea! What more could anyone want in a fantasy novel?! 🤩

"Can't Spell Treason Without Tea" by Rebecca Thorne is a delightful story that takes readers on a charming adventure through a world filled with love, magic, and mystery.

Thorne's writing brings readers into the lives of Reyna, a determined Queen's guard weary of serving a harsh ruler, and Kianthe, a powerful mage yearning for a simpler life with Reyna. Their forbidden love grew as they dreamt of escaping their oppressive circumstances to open a quaint book and tea shop. After their escape, they both navigate challenges from their past and present, and their relationship develops, offering a sweet f/f romance.

While the pacing is uneven at times, Thorne's storytelling skills keep readers engaged. The charming town of Tawney and its quirky residents create a cosy atmosphere that draws readers into the magical world of the story.

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is a good blend of romance, magic, and mystery. Thorne weaves together elements of cosy fantasy with moments of tension, ensuring an enjoyable read from beginning to end.

For fans of Legends & Lattes looking for an f/f romance in a charming fantasy setting, this book is for you.

4/5 stars

This is book is pure cosy fantasy. I really enjoyed the world building, the magic, the characters and their journey together. Dragons are always an essential addition to a good book. A hug in a book!

“You like tea, I like books. Let’s open a shop somewhere remote and forget the world exists.”

I loved this book! It was super cosy but had enough action to keep me engaged. The relationship between Reyna and Kianthe was adorable and I loved the found family in the town that they choose to set up shop in. There were a LOT of plotlines and I can’t wait for the second book to come out as some of them weren’t concluded!

The author mentions that this was influenced by Legends & Lattes and that definitely comes across. It’s the perfect book for cosying up with a hot drink and relaxing.

I am going to start this by saying that I did end up DNFing this book. I was so excited for a sapphic cozy fantasy and that’s not what I got. This is a standard fantasy book. The world building is big, the pace is fast and I can see this working for a fantasy reader but I am not one. I did like Legends and Latte which is what prompted me to request this but this just didn’t feel cozy to me.

Firstly, thank you to Rebecca Thorne and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Can’t spell treason without tea is described as a sapphic cozy fantasy- I love fantasy, I love sapphic books, and yet this book was such a letdown.

I genuinely don’t understand why this book is labelled as a “cosy fantasy,” it didn’t feel cozy in the slightest. This book constantly see-sawed between “cozy” and high stakes fantasy and the way this book was marketed does not make sense. High stakes fantasy and cozy fantasy can definitely exist in the same book however, this was very poorly executed in this book.
Personally, I felt like I had no connection to any of the characters as they all felt painfully underdeveloped. In comparison to most fantasy novels there was almost no worldbuilding which felt incredibly lazy- almost as if the author thought that the book could rely on the very little description just being centred on the bookshop/tea shop. Alongside this, very few plot points in this book made sense and overall the writing felt clumsy with an unorganised plot.
Despite the main characters being in a relationship for roughly two years at the beginning of the book, it felt like there was almost no chemistry in their relationship. They communicate in a very healthy way and it’s clear that they have a lot of respect for one another but throughout most of this book it felt like they were two friends who just occasionally kiss. As a queer woman, I find this kind of representation incredibly frustrating and it feels performative and lazy.
On the whole, I found myself forcing myself to read this book and it felt so boring and underdeveloped. I will not be reading the next book in the series.