About this book
(blurb from Pan MacMillan SA)
A heart-warming, sapphic journey brimming with jeopardy, magic and a love of tea – for fans of Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes and TJ Klune.
Two women wanted to open a cosy bookshop. They discovered a world of adventure.
Reyna and Kianthe dream of opening a friendly book shop together, serving the very best tea and cakes. Worn wooden floors, plants on every table, firelight drifting between the rafters – all complemented by love and good company. But Reyna is an elite bodyguard to a vengeful queen, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. Leaving their lives behind seems . . . impossible. Yet they flee to Tawney, a town nestled in the icy peaks of dragon country. There, they open the bookstore they’d always wanted.
What follows is a tale of mishaps, mysteries, dragons, and a murderous queen throwing the realm’s biggest temper tantrum. Through it, these two women will discover what they mean to each other – and their world.
Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne is a gorgeous treat of a book, filled with cosy adventure, sapphic romance and good feelings. The story continues in the swashbuckling A Pirate’s Life for Tea.
Can’t Spell Treason without Tea was a Sunday Times HB fiction bestseller in May 2024.
352 pages
ISBN 9781035031009
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Cozy Mystery, LGBT
My thoughts:
“Run away with me. You like tea. I like books. Care to open a shop and forget the world exists?”
Initially, the book did remind me of “Legends and Lattes,” but I didn’t find it as cozy. The comparison aside, it turns out to be quite a charming read with a lot of action.
What I liked:
- Cute and Fun: Once you get past the comparison to “Legends and Lattes,” the book stands on its own as a cute and fun read.
- Engaging Characters: The characters are engaging and well-constructed. Side characters, in particular, shine with distinct personalities and motivations.
- Realistic Relationships: The mentally and emotionally healthy relationships are refreshing, with characters that actually communicate effectively. No annoying miscommunication tropes here!
- Low-Stakes Events: While the stakes are low, it provides a relaxing and immersive experience.
- Premise: The idea of starting a combined bookshop and tea room, with a sprinkle of magic and adventure, is delightful.
What could be better:
- Lack of Coziness: Despite being labeled as cozy fantasy, it felt more like a typical fantasy book with too much going on and not enough focus on the cozy elements.
- Writing Style: The writing style was too simplistic, with a lot of filler trying to convey emotion. Some dialogue felt awkward and didn’t resonate well.
- World-Building: The world-building needed more depth and attention. The queendom felt cartoonish, and the magical aspects seemed disjointed.
- Tedious at Times: The story dragged at points, and even at 1.5 speed, it felt tedious with non-existent character development.
- Unnecessary Prequel: The book seemed to conclude at one point, but then continued with a prequel-like section that felt unnecessary.
“Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea” is a fun and engaging read, especially if you enjoy cozy fantasy with a touch of action. However, it struggled with certain aspects like world-building and writing style. If you’re looking for a relaxing book with lovely characters and low-stakes events, this might just be the perfect fit. I will probably check out book 2, but I’ll wait until I’m in the mood for a light-hearted, palate cleanser kind of read. A good attempt at cozy fantasy but missing some crucial elements. If you’re after a cozy fantasy with more action, give it a try!
Thank you to Pan MacMillan SA for the opportunity to read this book.
About the author:
@roelia_reads♬ Last Hope (Over Slowed + Reverb) – Steve Ralph
