#can't spell treason without tea

[torpublishinggroup]

Celebrate Pride with Tor Publishing Group!

Rakesfall by @adamantine

They met as children in the middle of the Sri Lankan civil war. Later, in a demon-haunted wood, an act of violence linked them and propelled their souls on a journey through the ages. As they reincarnate ever deeper into the future, a truth emerges: Some stories take more than one lifetime to tell.

Running Close to the Wind by @ariaste

In this queer pirate fantasy, Avra Helvaçi has accidentally stolen the single most expensive secret in the world. To avoid capture, he flees to the open sea, where only his on-again, off-again ex aka pirate Captain Teveri az-Ḥaffār can help him survive, profit, and become a legend.

Cuckoo by Gretchen Felker-Martin

Something evil is buried deep in the desert. It wants your body and wears your skin. Welcome to Camp Resolution, a queer conversion center where everyone leaves a different person. In 1995, seven queer teens were abandoned here by their parents, but survived. Sixteen years later, they’re scarred and broken, but back to face an evil that threatens the world. 

Kinning by Nisi Shawl

In this alternate history where barkcloth airships soar and former colonies claim freedom from imperialist tyrants, the identity of the island of Everfair still wavers. Victorious in the wake of the Great War, a new threat looms. Can Everfair continue to serve as a symbol of hope for anticolonial movements around the world, or will it fall to forces within and without? 

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by @rebeccathornewrites

Can one of the Queen’s private guard and the most powerful mage in existence leave their lives behind to settle down in their new bookshop that serves tea? This cozy fantasy is steeped in sapphic romance and nestled on the edge of dragon country. 

The Fragile Threads of Power by V. E. Schwab

Once there were four worlds, nestled like pages in a book, each pulsing with fantastical power and connected by a single city: London. After a desperate attempt to prevent corruption and ruin in the four Londons, there are only three. Now the worlds are going to collide anew—brought to a dangerous precipice by the discoveries of three remarkable magicians.

Now available in paperback!

The Archive Undying by @emcandon

This is a story about misplaced faith, complicated love, so much self-loathing, and yeah—giant robots. Plugged into his AI god when its apocalyptic corruption renders him unfortunately immortal, sad gay disaster Sunai takes a die-again-or-die-trying approach to things. Unending life’s tough when intimacy is somehow scarier even than either of the warring police states set on turning you into a weapon or the rogue undead mecha-fragment of your old god that wants to eat you. 

Now available in paperback!

The Bell in the Fog by Lev AC Rosen

A dazzling historical mystery that dives into the shadowy, closeted world of the Navy, emerging in the gay bars of the city. It’s a whirlpool of missing people, violent strangers, and scandalous photos in 1952 San Francisco. 

Now available in paperback!

Celebrate Pride with more titles from Tor Publishing Group here!

[theafictionado]

Comfort and Catharsis: Or, What Even Is “Cosy Fantasy” and Why Does It Work?

I recently finished Sarah Beth Durst’s The Spellshop, a fantasy novel about a runaway librarian setting up a new life on an island: selling jam, refurbishing a rundown cottage, befriending the neighbours despite her bookish awkwardness, and using a cheeky bit of magic to heal the island’s failing natural resources. It’s all very quaint and comfy—definitely earning it the label of “cosy fantasy” that I’ve seen applied to it. Well, except for the bits where the librarian flees a burning city destroyed by revolution, has to reckon with the ways that she’s been complicit in the elitist rule of the Empire, discovers how many of her new friends have deeply tragic backstories, and lives in near-constant worry that she could be hunted down and arrested for the use of technically illegal magic at any time.

That all doesn’t sound super cosy, does it? But then again, what defines a book’s cosiness? Is cosiness antithetical to darker and more serious themes and dire plot moments… or does the comforting feeling a cosy fantasy novel leaves you with actually come from them, in some cases?

Keep reading...

[bibliophilicwitch]

By Eilene Cherie

[kingsonne-zedecks]

I love you Beware of Chicken. I love you Bee Dungeon. I love you Legends and Lattes. I love you Can't Spell Treason without Tea.

I love you stories of settings and tropes that highlight the love and compassion of everyday normal people rather than the power trip and violent fantasy their genres normally glorify.

[sailtomarina]

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

- Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

[the-ghost-light-and-the-book]

here are all of the books ranked so far. argue later.

best books:

Category: Light Novels. Don't care, but these are awesome for decompressing after a stressful day.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree I want to be a receptionist in this magical world Dahlia wilts no more

Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan (Time of Iron)

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede (whole series is so good, no not like other girls, and has a decent plot for a kids series)

The Tea Dragon Society

The Little Thieves Series

Enola Holmes. The Netflix movies did my girl so dirty.

Crazy Rich Asians

Once Upon a Con series by Ashley Poston (she is so middle school favorite tbh)

Dragon Spear, Slippers, Flight by Jessica Day George (this is a trilogy with so much intricate world building, it is a great book for kids!)

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory (honestly fairy tale retellings just are good when done right)

The Princess Protection Program by Alex London (Another excellent retelling!)

Princess of the Midnight Ball

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

Funny Story by Emily Henry

Best Served Hot by Amanda Elliot (Rivals to lovers! Two food critics who compete: new vs old, papers vs videos)

Icebreaker Series (Honestly. excluding the sex, I think it's well written, and honestly kinda sweet.)

Red, White & Royal Blue

Half a Soul series by Olivia Atwater

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer (decent, honestly funny af, also that twist at the end mwa)

The Dark Lord's Daughter by Patricia C. Wrede (Good, could have been more interesting. Definitely not a DNR)

hell level:

Awk-weird by Avery Flynn (...stop being horny. also use protection, y'all are adults.)

Fourth Wing. Controversial, but also...I did not need to know about why the lightning happened.

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne (0 plot...as much as I love a cozy read, uh...this one was just strange to read.)

[pheenic]

I am now a one woman fandom for this book series. I need my preorder for the next book NOW.

[topsyturvy-turtely]

started reading a new book and-

"run away with me. you like tea. i like books. care to open a shop and forget the world exists?"

PRETTY PLEASE 😭

[patroclusdefencesquad]

i only read 5 books this month because brain went BLEUGH (i also picked up my crocheting again which consumed my brain) but here's my top 3 queer recs for april :

a dowry of blood by s.t gibson

dracula's brides. polyamory. queer. what more need i say? beautifully lyrical writing style. slaying (literally).

can't spell treason without tea by rebecca thorne

it's like legends and lattes (the author literally says its heavily inspired by it) but a lot more plotty and in depth which i loved. i love both the main characters i love their relationship i love the vibes i love the story it's just an excellent cosy read i want to run a bookshop tearoom with my girlfriend where there's magic n dragons n shit it's not fair

cemetery boys by aiden thomas

again an excellent premise and plot (even if i did guess the twist like immediately lmao) because who doesn't love queer people and ghosts. i may or may not have shed a tear or two and if by the end of the book yadriel and julian hadn't found a way to be together it was going to be ON SIGHT but everything turned out okay and i really enjoyed it :')

[ninsiana0]

Read CAN'T SPELL TEA WITHOUT TREASON by Rebecca Thorne if you love adorable lesbians, evil queens, running away, endless cups of tea, small towns, ley lines, dragons, baked goods, starting over, home renovations, so many books, griffins, moonstones & not so secret identities.

[torpublishinggroup]

This advertisement is for Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne, a cozy fantasy steeped in sapphic romance about one of the Queen’s private guards and a powerful mage who want to open a bookshop and live happily ever after…if only the world would let them. Cover art by Irene Huang.

WHAT IT’S ABOUT

All Reyna and Kianthe want is to open a bookshop that serves tea. Worn wooden floors, plants on every table, firelight drifting between the rafters…all complemented by love and good company. Thing is, Reyna works as one of the Queen’s private guards, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. Leaving their lives isn’t so easy.

But after an assassin takes Reyna hostage, she decides she’s thoroughly done risking her life for a self-centered queen. What follows is a cozy tale of mishaps, mysteries, and a murderous queen throwing the realm’s biggest temper tantrum.

[waffle-sorter]

So... is this a setting where everyone is assumed to be bi/pan until indicated otherwise? Because in the various useless-lesbianing in the prequel short, I didn't notice even one form of "does she even like girls?", which is generally a staple.

[bibliophilicwitch]

READ IN 2024 ⇢ can't spell treason without tea by rebecca thorne

“ A person could work and work and work, and still never 'earn' their dues. Sometimes success meant determination… and sometimes, it was just luck. ”

[gardenfeather-book-reviews]

"Can't Spell Treason Without Tea" by Rebecca Thorne

 Kianthe and Reyna just want to run off and open a book and tea shop. But, Reyna is a guard for a selfish and murderous queen. And Kianthe is the Arcandor, the most powerful mage in the world. So, their relationship must stay secret. 

       But when someone attempts to assassinate the queen and Reyne ends up injured, they both agree that it is time to fulfill their dreams. They run off to the town of Tawny, where they open their cozy shop. But the town lies next to Dragon Country, and the queen's spies might catch Reyna at any minute.

       This novel is so cozy. Even though the stake felt very real, it was also very peaceful. The world building is incredible. The way Thorne introduces the magic and tells us how it works is a perfect balance of giving us enough information when we need it without info dumping. The magic system made perfect sense. 

       The characters only add to the warm vibe. The book shifts between the perspective of Reyne and Kianthe. Both of their voices are incredibly unique. 

        This book had a delicately crafted plot while still encapsulating the queer dream to run off with your partner and open a book/ tea shop. This book was the perfect cozy story.

[seileach67]

WATCH: Right-Wing Megadonor Brags How Brutal Trump Is To Palestinians Antisemitism and Islamophobia both have roots in white supremacy. We must firmly reject both, as well as all other forms of discrimination and bigotry. 

[pagesandpothos]

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

Official Summary:

All Reyna and Kianthe want is to open a bookshop that serves tea. Worn wooden floors, plants on every table, firelight drifting between the rafters… all complemented by love and good company. Thing is, Reyna works as one of the Queen’s private guards, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. Leaving their lives isn’t so easy. But after an assassin takes Reyna hostage, she decides she’s thoroughly done risking her life for a self-centered queen. Meanwhile, Kianthe has been waiting for a chance to flee responsibility–all the better that her girlfriend is on board. Together, they settle in Tawney, a town that boasts more dragons than people, and open the shop of their dreams. What follows is a cozy tale of mishaps, mysteries, and a murderous queen throwing the realm’s biggest temper tantrum. In a story brimming with hurt/comfort and quiet fireside conversations, these two women will discover just what they mean to each other… and the world.

My Thoughts:

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is incredibly cute and is the perfect read when you want something light, fun, and cozy.

This is the first book in a series that was inspired by Legends and Lattes. It follows Reyna and Kianthe as they run away together and start a shop that sells tea and books.

The two women are delightful. Their relationship is already established, but this will be the first time they've lived together. Seeing their relationship grow and develop throughout the first book was lovely, and I'm excited to see how they continue to grow in the next books.

Their shop, the town of Tawney, and the supporting characters fill out the story and add lots of depth. By the end, I loved their shop (and town) nearly as much as they did, and I adored all the townspeople and the friendships Kianthe and Reyna built with them.

Though it is a cozy fantasy, there's more action than in other books in the same genre. Reyna is fleeing from a vicious tyrant, and Kianthe is given a quest that, it seems, will drive the plot of future books in the series. Those plots added stakes and kept me wanting to return to the book to see what would happen next.

I adored this! I loved Legends & Lattes but wanted it to focus more on the relationship, so this book was perfect for me! I'm really looking forward to reading A Pirates Life For Tea soon.

My Rating: 🌕🌕🌕 🌕🌗 (4.5/5 stars)

Pages: 336 (Paperback Edition)

Tropes/Tags: Queer, Sapphic, Cozy Fantasy, Established Relationship, Dragons

Spice Level: 🌶️/5. There are kisses but no on-page spice.

Other Notes: There's a really good short story at the end of the book that tells the story of how Kianthe and Reyna met.

Links: Storygraph | GoodReads | RebeccaThorne.net

[ See Everything I’ve Read in 2025 ]