4.5

This book was absolute fluff.
I did not read this book back when it was self-published, despite owning a digital copy, so when I saw that the audio book was on Netgalley, I absolutely jumped at the chance. Cozy sapphic fantasy? Yes, please!
And it did not disappoint.
The characters were three-dimensional, both MCs having a unique voice, though it took me some time to not get their names confused (which is totally on me). They are absolutely adorable together and mostly communicate well with each other. They’re also really funny.
The major side characters were interesting as well and the friendships and mentorships formed were nice to read about. I’m specially invested in the Dion and the Lord. Also, it is adorable how Kianthe and Reyna seem to accidentally keep adopting strays (people, animals, mystical creatures, plants, you name it, they will take it in, honestly).
I wouldn’t exactly describe the plot of the book as low stakes as there was a lot on the line for both characters, but most of the book was spent figuring out their relationship and building a life together, so it definitely fits the cozy premise. I would also very much like to visit that bookshop and maybe cuddle the griffins.
It was especially refreshing to read an adult romance with low to no spice, I need more please.
I also very much appreciated the bonus chapters, it was nice to see the MCs’ beginnings.
All in all a great read with lots of fluff and coziness.

3.5 stars rounded up.

I liked the sapphic romance, I just wish it had started with the prologue chapters at the end of the audiobook. I would have preferred a slower burn than an already established relationship. Didn't feel as invested in the characters as a couple until nearer the end.

The story was okay. There were times I zoned out a little but it is supposed to be a cosy fantasy with a slower pace so it's what I expected.

The griffin was my favourite character obviously.

Will probably read the next book in the series but it's not a priority on my tbr.

I wanted to love this but it didn't quite hit the mark. I think whoever compared it to Legend and Lattes set this book up to fail. L&L was such an incredible book and this didn't hit the same mark

Another brilliant cosy fantasy to add to the list!
I fell in love with these characters straight away, The relationship between Reyna and Kianthe is one of my new favourites!
Reyna is a guard to a brutal Queen, but is also anxious and sarcastic, and Kianthe is the world’s most powerful mage, but also protective and funny, she loves a good pun!

Their romance blossoms from a few stolen evenings together before Reyna finally agrees to leave the Queendom. One loves tea, the other books, what could be more perfect than opening up a bookshop that sells tea?! Opening up a bookshop on the edge of dragon country?

All is going well for Reyna and Kianthe, they’re making a life for themselves of their own choosing. Full of love, laughter, magic, tea and books! That is until the Queen sends spies to find Reyna, and dragons start attacking the village they’ve come to call home.

With help from the village, and their own ingenious plans, will they be able to save Reyna from the deadly Queen and stop the dragons from attacking the village?

I honestly loved every second of this book! Full of LGBTQ+ representation, magic, sword fights, griffons, dragons, puns, books and tea, what more can you ask for?!

Cosy enough
And there's lots of stakes/danger set up (of a level in keeping with cosy fantasy) but it all fizzles out like a series of wet squibs

The obvious comparison is to Legends & Lattes and this book has the advantage of being more 'realistic' about the difficulties of setting up a new business. However, none of the side-characters pop. This book is entirely focused on the central (sapphic) couple and all other characters are defined by how they interact with those two, whereas L&L makes you believe the side-characters have lives of their own.

The side-romances are especially flat as we only have the narration telling us they're happening; we don't get shown interactions and left to draw our own conclusions.

Also, there's two would-be 'lords of the manor' and their conflict progresses solely in response to the main couple. Thorne even lampshades how neither of them know how to win over the villagers until the protagonists show them!

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

I was incredibly excited to read this book as I loved the premise so much - the promise of a cosy read about an established sapphic couple escaping away to run their own book cafe is charming and full of whimsy. Unfortunately however, this story just didn't work for me. The writing didn't hold my attention and I felt like it fell a lot into the trap of tell don't show a lot - the book itself may have only been around 350 pages but I found the pacing to be rather sluggish throughout. Ultimately I found this story didn't hold my attention and I struggled to get through it. I will mention however that the audiobook narration was very well done and I really liked how much effort she put into the character voices, even with even little things like yawning which can often sound so fake.
I think for me the main pain point was our main two characters, Reyna and Kianthe. I really liked that the two were already in a relationship and was hoping to see their relationship from that perspective but I really felt like they didn't know each other that well at all, which resulted in a lack of communication often leading to drama, which is a trope in romance I always find very frustrating. I also just didn't really care much for either of them - the book alternates chapters between Kianthe and Reyna and I actually found their voices hard to tell apart as both come across as so similar. They have a few defining traits but their voices sounded very similar and both were incredibly anxious about their relationship, which again didn't really get me invested in them as a couple.
On paper interesting things are happening like Kianthe having to fend off dragons who are threatening their new home town but I found these elements detracted from the more cosy elements and didn't overly intrigue me, especially as they often just led to more drama between the couple. It's just a little TOO mundane in the more slice of life elements and I felt like their business automatically was succeeding and they weren't really going through any trials or issues with being accepted into the town itself. All the conflict comes from either things outside the town attacking them or between each other and I'd have liked there to have been more of a grounding in the location itself.
Overall, I think this book had some great ideas but the execution could have been better and it just personally didn't work for me and I found the overall story and conclusion to be rather dissatisfying.

I loved the narration on this. It really brought the story to life without losing any part of it, which occasionally happens

To preface: I did like this. It was cute, sapphic romances always get bonus points from me, but I did have a couple issues with it.

I listened to the audiobook, and it was jarring at first to have an American narrator, but every character bar one had a British accent of some kind. An… interesting choice, especially when the one character with an American accent that I remember was the one from the more advanced nation that had in fact invented a printing press. The narrator also struggled getting an English or Scottish accent around some words - water was particularly noticeable, but overall a decent performance.

Onto the book itself, it couldn’t quite seem to decide whether it wanted to be a fairly high stakes fantasy with political intrigue and dangerous dragons or a cosy fantasy about 2 lovers opening a bookshop and navigating living together for the first time. Not to say you can’t have both, but I didn’t feel this wove the two styles together particularly well.
The cosy side of this, the bookshop full of plants and baking and tea was cute. The setting could have been something really homely and made for a great story about figuring out who Kianthe and Reyna were in their new jobs around new people, and really gives an opportunity for an adorable romance to develop. But all the romance happened pre-book. We meet the two when they’ve already been in a committed relationship for 2 years. They’ve worked out all the teething problems and confessed their love and shared their deepest secrets, which makes the running around the bookshop a little… boring feels too harsh a word for what is essentially my dream life but it is the most apt.
The stakes that are then introduced to counteract this then just seem out of place. Theres this intense domestic life for a couple of chapters, and then BAM gotta do some stuff with dragons or spies that doesn’t feel particularly well fleshed out. Flip-flopping between the cosy and the high stakes just makes it feel like 2 distinct books with alternating chapters.

It is far easier to criticise than to praise so I do fear this comes off as if I hated the book which is not true! But it was just okay. I can’t sing praises about the relationship because I didn’t see them go through tough times and come out stronger, but they were cute I guess? They did get the bookshop they wanted but it’s not particularly satisfying when it was so very easy to do so. I would maybe recommend if someone said they were looking for something easy and sapphic and dragons but it won’t remain at the forefront of my mind when people ask for a good romance story.

🎧Audiobook Review:
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea (Tomes & Tea Book 1) by Rebecca Thorne
Narrated by Jessica Threet
Macmillan UK Audio, Tor Books, 9th May 2024

Tea, books, lesbian protagonists, a griffin, and sword fights. What more could you possibly want from a cosy fantasy? Up the stakes a bit by throwing in an evil queen and a quest for dragon eggs? Oh, go on then.

Reyna is a royal guard, and Kianthe a powerful mage. The couple run away together to a small town and renovate an old barn, turning it into a book and tea shop - Bookstagrammers form an orderly queue please! Of course, the path of true love is not without troubles, but with help from the local townsfolk, Reyna and Kianthe soon realise their dreams. There is just the small matter of that queen to deal with ...

This audiobook is a delight! Narrator Jessica Threet gives distinctive voices to Reyna and Kianthe, performing their dialogue perfectly. Although I'd have liked to have seen some loose ends tied up, Rebecca Thorne's cosy fantasy ticks so many boxes, and I absolutely love the story and the characters, with a soft spot for Kianthe's griffin.
The ending of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea sets it up nicely for the second Tomes & Tea Book, which is out in October. I cannot wait to see how the story continues!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Macmillan UK Audio and Rebecca Thorne for the audiobook provided via NetGalley; this is my unbiased review.

#CantSpellTreasonWithoutTea #RebeccaThorne #JessicaThreet #MacmillanUKAudio #TorBooks #BookReview #AudiobookReview

What a lovely treat the audiobook was. Is it a revolutionary epic that will change the world? No. And that’s the point. In the vein of Legends And Lattes, that redefined cozy fantasy for a mass audience, for the most part this books stakes are intentionally low.

Moving to a run down Ye Olde Stars Hollow, a little settlement where everyone helps everyone and the warring town officials are pompous but ultimately good eggs, our heroines just want a simple life. They decide to open every bookstagrammers wet dream, a bookshop that also sells tea, that also sells plants.

It the village big enough to support a niche venture? Shush. Can they renovate a large space overcoming mild to moderate hurdles oreeented sequentially like a cozy video game? Hush now. Will they be able to build a sustainable income based in a small remote settlement with no tourism? Shut up. You’re ruining this.

It’s all vibes. Your main couple will bicker but prove their love in a number of ways that will put a character in some peril.

Like Lattes, there is a small mystery surrounding a magical object - but this is where Thorne deviates from an entirely cozy time. Dragons, actual scary need fighting dragons form part of the story and not only are there some stakes, their story forms part of an ongoing wider narrative. Equally a vicious Queen and some court intrigue creeps in to be revisited later on.

Thorne could go one of two ways here, keep doing cozy romances with hints of epic fantasy bubbling under, or they have created a world here where there is the potential to build to something pretty epic.

Either way, I enjoyed the cozy vibes and wholesome townsfolk, and will continue reading Thornes work, whichever path is taken!

Reyna and Kianthe want to own a bookshop together that serves tea...but there's a problem... Reyna serves a vicious, unforgiving Queen and Kianthe is the realms mage.

But they fight for their dream and they run to a near forgotten place, Tawney,  fighting for their dream. But also in Tawney are....dragons!

I really enjoyed what I'd call a very sweet fantasy mystery! Reyna and Kianthe were so cute together, feeling out their relationship and themselves. I also loved the friends they picked up along the way.

The ending sets up for another book and I can't wait for it!

5 stars

A cosy sapphic read? yes please thank you. I love a cosy read and this ticked all the boxes.

The stakes were actually quite high though, which probably doesn't fit some people's definitions of a cosy fantasy. Yet it contains the cosy elements of cute and flirty banter between our main characters, the everyday worries of setting up a tea/book shop, making new friends and building a new life with someone you love. The side characters were excellent and I loved the dynamics between them all - especially the griffin!

They also have to deal with more dangerous problems from bandits to dragons to a disgruntled unhinged ex-employer - but they are all dealt with either in a humorous manner or everyone supports and works together.

For me this is a perfect cosy book as it has the action and plot that keeps me interested but is also heart-warming, sweet, and incredibly mundane in the best ways as well.

The audiobook was great - the narrator was fabulous and added to the banter between the characters. I really enjoyed listening to this while snuggled up with snacks.

I cannot wait for the next instalment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really loved Can't Spell Treason Without Tea.
The pacing was really well done, and I never found myself bored - it just flowed naturally!
It felt a lot like a Studio Ghibli film - cosy and warm; just like a good brew!
5/5

𝐂𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐚 | 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐚 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞
★★★.75

𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
One of the Queen’s royal guard, Reyna, and the most powerful mage in existence, Kianthe, run away together to open up a bookish tearoom.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟
⟡ Cosy fantasy
⟡ Dragons
⟡ LGBT+ rep
⟡ Animal companion (griffin)

𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝
This story is a medium-paced and heartwarming sapphic cosy fantasy that has higher stakes than I expected but is still lighter than most of the fantasy that I’ve read recently.

I enjoyed the characters at the centre of this book who were funny, strong, and fiercely in love with each other. I actually enjoyed their relationship the most when they were getting to know each other during the epilogue, I thought the timeline of that was off but I still enjoyed it due to their lighthearted banter.

I also loved the cosy setting. I could visualise this bookish tearoom in my minds eye and it filled me with such a deep longing. I loved that the characters were escaping their servitude pasts to live for themselves and I was definitely rooting for them to succeed.

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝
Although the focal couple had a preexisting relationship, they seemed to spend a lot of time reassuring each other of their love for one another. I needed it to be less gooey and more of the glimmers of humor that I saw and enjoyed.

This book is more of a set up rather than a fully fleshed out standalone and so I feel coerced into picking up the next one rather than enthusiastic, because there was so much that was unresolved it’s hard to get excited for a potentially clever plot. In extension to the plot, I really wish the mystery element of the dragon eggs was pushed more as I found myself most invested in this subplot.

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬
“𝘙𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢. 𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴. 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴?”

Rebecca Thorne's "Can't Spell Treason Without Tea" brews a delightful concoction of adventure, romance, and magic, served with a comforting dose of tea. Set in a whimsical world where dragons soar and queens scheme, this heartwarming tale follows the journey of Reyna and Kianthe as they chase their dream of opening a cozy bookshop amidst the chaos of their own extraordinary lives.

The story unfurls with a charming premise: two women with vastly different backgrounds—a skilled bodyguard and a powerful mage—yearn for the simple joys of running a bookshop together. Despite the odds stacked against them, they flee to the tranquil town of Tawney, nestled amidst the icy peaks of dragon country, to realize their dream. What follows is a delightful blend of mishaps, mysteries, and magical encounters that keeps the pages turning.

Thorne's writing exudes warmth and whimsy, painting vivid scenes of worn wooden floors, flickering firelight, and the aroma of freshly brewed tea. The dynamic between Reyna and Kianthe is beautifully portrayed, their bond deepening amidst the chaos swirling around them. Their sapphic romance is both tender and empowering, adding an extra layer of depth to the narrative.

The world-building is rich and immersive, with dragons soaring overhead and a vengeful queen stirring up trouble at every turn. Thorne effortlessly weaves together elements of fantasy and adventure, crafting a captivating backdrop for her characters' journey. The pacing is brisk, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers on their toes.

While "Can't Spell Treason Without Tea" is a delightful read overall, there are moments where the plot feels slightly rushed, with certain developments lacking the depth they deserve. Additionally, some readers may find themselves wishing for more exploration of the secondary characters and the wider world beyond Tawney.

In conclusion, "Can't Spell Treason Without Tea" is a charming and uplifting read that will leave you craving a steaming cuppa and a cozy nook to curl up in. Rebecca Thorne's debut novel is a delightful blend of adventure, romance, and magic, served with a generous sprinkle of tea leaves.

Cosy fantasy done right. 4,25 ⭐️

Can't spell treason without tea by Rebecca Thorne is a lovely book about Reyna and Kianthe who run away to open a book and tea shop in a small town. In Tawney, they renovate a barn to become their shop and they meet and befriend the local citizens.

The book had a lot of cozy, entertaining scenes (mostly in the shop) with great banter between the characters. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly suprised to see that there was quite a lot of action for a cosy fantasy book. The stakes in this book were on a perfect level. Low enough so it's still cosy but high enough so the story doesn't get boring.

I just loved the vibe of this book! It was a heartwarming story and I look forward to reading the sequel!

The narrator of the audiobook by MacMillan Audio did a great job. She was pleasant to listen to and she gave both Kianthe and Reyna distinct voices.

*Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

While I really enjoyed the narration of this book it really felt like a Romantasy version of Legends and Lattes.
In this book we follow a mage and a guard from a queendom who run away at the chance of having a relationship together.
In this tiny town they start a book and tea shop which is quite adorable.
We follow small adventures with dragons and griffins which is quite fun.
The main focus however is really the relationship between these two characters and I didnt always feel it was good. Especially since one of the two feels like she has to "earn" it which was not handled very well in my opinion.

I do really recommend it if people look for a low stakes tea adventure. Especially if you are into queer romance.
I am intrigued by the title of the second book to continue this series because PIRATES!!!

A cozy, domestic sapphic fantasy, where the royal guard of a cruel queen follows the call of the most powerful mage in this plane of existance to find their little place of peace. And a teashop with an included bookstore at the very edges of the ruling countries, bordering the land of dragons, seems like just the perfect place to settle.
But running away from responsibilities and bounds never went without consequences.

This was super enjoyable to listen to. The Narrator kept the story interesting, the voices, especially of the main characters, absolutely lovely and fitting to their personalities.
The people in the town they settle into seemed a little toooo naively supportive and accepting but...
for cozy stories, people being nice is maybe the best thing.
The love between Reyna and Keanth is clearly tangible, the connections they form with the other people of the town are heartwearming.
The story around everything else, the dragons and the queendom (and relationships forming between other characters - ah, i love them) is interesting, and i didn't particularly feel like either the domestic feel or the actual story behind everything fall short.

But, it didn't feel special, even though i have never read anything like it.
I love how casually lgbt themes are handled in this world, how softly things are turned to brighter themes - tricking bandits into doing good is just amazing. And the magic system is decently interesting.

But not extraordinary.

I did thoroughly enjoy the short story about the beginnings of their relationship, Keanth is absolutely gay panic and i love it. Maybe a story about the forming of their relationship would have captured me more?

Still, this was well worth the listen :)

This was a warm hug with a little bit of tension and I loved it.
I originally read the self published version and I have to say I enjoyed it more than I did before. The narration was excellent

I enjoyed the world so much. And the characters. Though I struggled to see the connected between the two love interests (though one of the last scenes showed this) I still enjoyed them. And a bookshop? What is not to like.

However the antagonist felt a bit shoved down my throat. Same with the resolution. Personally I wished a bit more thought had gone into it as it seemed it relied too much on the antagonist believing what I could see was a foolish lie. But this could leave it open for another book so I’m not too bothered.

And dragons. DRAGONS. I loved this part of the story the most (well second to the training a bandit)

This was such an enjoyable story and is perfect if you’re looking for something lighter or are struggling in life.

Rayna, a guard serving a murderous Queen and Kianthe, the most powerful Mage have been defying their countries and secretly dating. Weighed down by lack of freedom and responsibility, they make their escape. Their goal? To open a book and tea shop in Tawney far from the clutches of their pursuers and live the life they have dreamed of together. But will this young love succeed in their quest? What problems and mysteries await them in their new home? And ultimately, can they outrun their pasts?
From the outset, I was hooked. The focus is on the storyline and characters and so we are thrown straight into the story with little world building or preamble which I really liked, and the reader slowly finds out more about the characters, their back stories and their world as the book progresses.
It made a nice change to read about a couple who have already committed to each other and so focuses on the development of their relationship, rather than it being a ‘falling in love’ story. The narrator of the audio does a brilliant job of differentiating between characters. We are constantly reminded that Kianthe and Rayna come from different countries; Kianthe is portrayed with an American accent and Rayna with an English accent. I was particularly impressed by the way in which the narrator switched between them easily and how didn’t distract from the story.
I have to say that ‘Tomes and Tea’ was my favourite part of the story and the shop is thought out so beautifully that I can just picture it.
The cast of supporting characters who live in Tawney are also well thought out and I especially liked Gosling and his character development but thought him maybe a bit too gullible.
There is a great mix of slower cosy slower cosy scenes in the shop as well as plenty of action and adventure. I found it to be much less predictable than other books of the genre which I enjoyed immensely. As it finishes with loose ends, I am excited to read/listen to the sequel. I want to know what happens next!