A cozy fantasy with a similar feel to Legends & Lattes. I really enjoyed the feel to this story. It's low stakes but there are some fight scenes and mysteries to be solved. I loved Reyna and Kianthe! I loved their relationships, their flaws, and their determination to get their book/teashop up and running! Reyna and Kianthe will have to compromise, adapt and find their balance if they want to succeed in their new business venture, as well as their relationship. I also really enjoyed the side plot with the dragon eggs and the Queen hunting down Reyna. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a sweet and warm-feeling book.

This book was sweet and fun with many loveable characters and a cool world that we get to know more and more as the story develops. I wouldn't say it's strictly cosy fantasy, as some dangers loom and there are fights and quests and sticky situations, but it's definitely sweet and you don't have your typical heroines.

I really liked all of the characters, the variety of them, their characteristics and how they interacted. The two protagonists had a lovely relationship with a healthy communication and I loved that we see them further along in their relationship and not how they fall in love. That provided opportunities for growth and deeper conversations which was sweet 🥰

The world was also interesting, even though most of the plot happens in a small town, with the typical small town charm and characters, which was fun. I thought the magic system was interesting even though it didn't play a major role and I find it funny that their deity is a stone 🤭 I also loved the supernatural creatures that appeared, I really want a baby griffin now! 😍

One thing that didn't work for me 100% was the pacing. I liked that it had fluffy moments and action scenes, it just was a little lengthy and tended to drag inbetween, but it wasn't a huge issue.

I listened to this book as an audiobook and unfortunately I didn't really like the narrator. Her way of speaking seemed stilted and she made awkward pauses between words so that no real flow could set in. At a speed of 1.25 it was tolerable, but I wouldn't recommend listening to this audiobook. When I continue the series I will probably read it myself 😊

Thanks to Macmillan Audiobooks and Netgalley for the ARC!

A queer cosy fantasy with magic, tea, and a bookshop? Sign me up. When I heard this description I just knew I had to read this, and I am so glad I did.

This book started my cosy fantasy era this year. I listened to the audio version and the vibes were immaculate.

This book has a lot of plot though, much more than a cosy fantasy usually has, and you can tell the author was setting up for more books. I’m not mad about it, but at the same time I also don’t know if I want to continue. This works well as a standalone, and the next book follows a new set of characters with appearances from the original characters, so I’m not too sure about that.

But as for this book, it was nice. There were a few hiccups here and there, like the multitude of plot threads. I also don’t enjoy pre-existing relationships. They don’t pack as much as an emotional punch for me. Reyna and Kianthe are already dating by the time we come into the story, and it took me a while to warm up to their relationship.

Other than that, it was a solid story and I highly recommend picking up the audiobook.

If you’re after a gorgeous, uplifting and cosy fantasy read, then definitely pick this one up - it was the perfect light read when I was in a little slump and couldn’t handle anything too serious!

Now i’ve never read the Legends & Lattes books but I’m basically assuming similar vibes because cute book/tea shop and lots of lovely, warm characters! You’ve got two brilliant female leads, who are both fierce and talented in their different ways, and who are absolutely adorable together 🫶 But the rest of the town of Tawney is also a total joy to spend time with, as well as the colourful creatures we meet along the way.

I’m not saying it’s necessarily a book I’ll remember in a few months, but when you just want a really lovely, entertaining, cosy read with a touch of magic, it’s perfect 😍 Loved the audio narration too, and can’t wait for another book in the series!

If you loved Legends & Lattes's then this one is 100% up your alley.
.
Cute Sapphic Romance, Cozy fantasy. We have action, Dragons, Griffins and amazing side characters.
.
A Mage and a Queen's guard fall in love, it is a crime punishable by death to abandon your position as a Queens guard, but the risk is worth it for Reyna, she wants to live a quiet life, with her love Kianthe. Their dream to have a shop that sells books and where you can get a nice calming cup of tea.
.
They find the perfect place in a small out of the way town called Tawney. How long can they stay hidden from the Queen?
.
Such a well written and cute story.
.
Big thank you to #Netgalley for providing me with the Audiobook

I kept going with this book because I’m a pretty stubborn anti-DNF reader and also because when I agree to read an ARC and review it, I like to see that commitment through, but I honestly found it pretty hard going. It just did not grab me.
I really thought this book had a great premise - cozy bookshop, sapphic romance, dragons, evil Queen - but it just fell a bit flat for me. The relationship between Kianthe and Reyna didn’t feel realistic - I actually think that if the epilogue or bonus scene that was put at the end that detailed how they met had been put in earlier, that might have helped a bit? But generally, I just didn’t emotionally engage with either character.
The setting up of the bookshop seemed to drag on and on and really did not excite me, I’m afraid. I’d also note that you really do get what’s on the front cover when it comes to tea - there’s so much steeping and stirring and so very many exotic blends I felt it was a bit overdone. I found it almost excruciating the number of times books were referred to as “tomes” (who does this? Is it a uniquely American thing? Because in British English it just sounds weird!) - but that may very well just be a personal thing.
The fact that the lovely MCs pretty much immediately made friends in their new town and didn’t seem to need to win anyone over felt a bit easy and not quite true to life. Although the blacksmith and his wife were lovely, it did seem a bit bizarre that they’d just welcome them with open arms just because they happened to have secured a table at a busy inn. However, I did enjoy a few of the subplots - like Gosling and his troubles, and the stolen dragon eggs, but it did feel very much like extra side-quests that didn’t impact the main story arc at all. The dragon egg situation wasn’t even resolved, which felt like a very obvious opening for a sequel - as did the bizarre honeymoon chapter at the end, which seemingly introduced two totally new characters for no reason at all.
I listened to the audiobook and I have to say I really struggled with some of the choices the narrator made. I get why she chose to do a different accent for Reyna so it was easier to distinguish whether it was her or Kianthe speaking but, my goodness, if you’re going to pick an accent, pick one you’re good at! As an English person, it was genuinely painful listening to her attempt at an English accent! There were several other weird accent choices but hers was the one that bothered me the most, and because Reyna was one of the protagonists, I was treated to a LOT of questionable English accent. Not a fan.

Overall it was ok. There were some parts that made me smile and I did like the magic system that the author created. I imagine it will do well off the back of popular books like Legends and Lattes (although I’m unable to comment on how it holds up against that as I’ve yet to read it!)
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC of the audiobook. I received a copy for free and all opinions are my own.

After being recommended this by a friend who read it when it was indie published, I knew I had to request it as she raved about it. Sadly I didn't enjoy it as much. Whilst the concept is interesting, I just don't think cosy fantasy is the right genre for me.

The writing was great though.

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea is a captivating tale full of magic, books and tea. It’s well-written and has likeable characters and a storyline that keeps the reader interested. This book is advertised as a cosy fantasy and often compared to Legends and Lattes, but I found this hard to agree with. Rebecca Thorne’s novel is instead an original blend of cosy and high stakes. While the characters crave peace and quiet, they are often forced to abandon their bookshop and face their past and other duties. This creates a contrast between cosy scenes and those full of action, which some readers might find annoying. For me, this only stressed the comfort of returning home. Also, I enjoyed reading a different kind of romance subplot from the usual new lovers slow burn, as Reyna and Kianthe have been a couple for a while but never had enough time for each other. Living and working together is a big step for them, and it was refreshing to see their relationship.

To sum up, I recommend this book to all fantasy fans but keep in mind that it’s not exactly what you would expect from cosy fantasy.

I've had a pleasure of reading yet another cozy fantasy lately. Can't spell treason without tea by Rebecca Thorne was on my TBR for a long time, in the version with the old cover. As I love cozy stories, I was happy to see it on Netgalley and decided to try it.

In the story we follow a sapphic relationship of two pretty distinct characters. It's really similar to Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, with a plot where characters that had lead pretty dangerous lives decide to settle down.

In the beginning, I've found something in the writing style jarring, though I can't really put my finger on what it was. I've just had a hard time with getting fully invested in the story. After getting used to it, I've enjoyed it quite a lot!

There was some action, more than I've anticipated by the premise, and the growth of characters, which I always enjoy. The relationship between the main characters seems pretty realistic, with each of them having some insecurities. I've really liked the approach to communication between them!

Overall, I'm really glad I've read it, it was fun. I won't remember a lot of the plot some months in the future, but I'll remember it as a good time.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for granting me access to an e-arc.

A cute sapphic cosy fantasy read perfect for fans of Travis Baldree and T Kingfisher, I’d definitely recommend it to those both new to fantasy and those more familiar with the genre

I really wanted this book to be all things cozy romantic set in a fantasy and I found the audio book foat and not what I thought .

Im sure others will love it but it just wasn’t for me .

Sapphic cosy fantasy with dragons - there was no way I wasn't going to love this. I enjoyed Reyna and Kianthe's romance and how they created their own home and helped the people of Tawney.
I would have liked a bit more of the cosy vibes but I did really enjoy it and I can't wait to see what happens next!
Overall, I really enjoyed the book but the narrator of the audiobook got on my nerves a bit.

Oh I just absolutely loved this. It was exactly what I needed. I just had such a lovely cosy time reading this., utter perfection in its genre. The audiobook was also great

4.5

I really enjoyed this book and have included it on the podcast, it is like Legends & Lattes but with tea, which means it is a winner for me. Lovely.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Can’t Spell Treason without Tea is so sweet, fun, cosy, romantic and has a beautiful LGBTQIA+ couple at its heart. It is a five star read and gorgeously narrated.

As someone who's struggled with cosy fantasy in the past I was pleasantly surprised with how much I adored this book.

Can't spell treason without tea by Rebecca Thorne is an adorable, sapphic fantasy that had me hooked from the beginning. The characters are so well written that I could help but root for them and even in the quieter moments Kianthe's humor kept things interesting.

While this is advertised as a cosy fantasy I would disagree with that and put it as more cosy adjacent. From the beginning some pretty high stakes are involved and there's even a couple of tense action scenes. Those high stakes kept me intrigued and definitely have a satisfying conclusion.

Overall this book was adorable and I loved it. The audiobook especially knocked it out of the park and the narrator really managed to breathe life into both Kianthe and Reyna.

Highly recommend if you want cosy with a little bit of action or if you're like me and you are unsure of cosy fantasy.

What a pleasant cozy fantasy! For me this genre is very much hit or miss - some of my past exploration with other titles had me disengaged by the lack of stakes, but in this case the mix is just right.
One thing the author did particularly well was to explore how two characters with radically different personalities and approach to life can both work in making the relationship healthy and solid - understanding each other's needs and trying to fulfill it by applying little communication tricks here and there but never turning into someone else to appease their partner.
For a first time cozy fantasy experience I would definitely recommend this over Legends and Lattes, not only for my clear tea preference but because it is a much more faceted and rounded book, it has a little bit of everything that is needed to make you experience yes cozy, but never boring.

This is a very cute cosy read that is a perfect pick me up read. I loved the main characters and watching how their relationship grew while they moved from a long distance relationship to building a bookshop and community together. There's a lot of fun in the various side quests they have, and the pun jokes were 10/10. I look forward to better things in the second book!

Despite the good job done by the audio narrator, this story wasn't gripping for me at all. I would have liked to see the world/society fleshed out a little more given that this is aimed at the adult market. Equally, I felt most things just seemed to come too easily to the MCs, both in low and high stakes situations. This may be a personal preference as a reader but I wasn't a fan of their relationship already being so established from a character development stance. As a story, it was...fine, however, cosy fantasy might not be for me.

This book has been compared to legends and lattes which i loved. But sadly comparing this book to legend and lattes actually causes disappointment because by making the stance your putting this book on a high pedestal.

For the size of the book i was expecting more. But there was little action, little development and at times was hard to know who is talking. It sadly wasn't ingaging and did feel like it dragged.
It was runaway, set up a book and tea shop (no problems instantly popular yet new to a town...) and other plots seem to get forgotten.