#can't spell treason without tea

[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 ABOUTAll 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.

[rebeccathornewrites]

I’ve heard some people say they’re upset that

***Burning Shores SPOILERS*** .

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Aloy is LGBT+.

How unfortunate (for them).

Perhaps the developers should try some lesbian banners in their marketing. Just to keep the heteros comfortable in their triggers.

Can verify. Works like a dream on my books.

[daydreamdoodles]

Every so often I like to read a 400 page book in a day. Just to make sure I still got it

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 2/5

Book Blurb: Now with beautiful jade sprayed edges and brand-new original art! In the tradition of Legends & Lattes, comes 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.

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 nestled in the icy tundra near dragon country, 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.

Review:

A cozy fantasy with a sapphic romance between a palace guard and a mage who just want to open up a bookshop and be together... that is if they can just get the rest of the world to leave them alone/ Reyna and Kianthe are secret girlfriends, Reyna is the Queen's own private guard who is constantly forced to do as the Queen wishes...even if it costs her her own life. After years and after the latest attack really proves to Reyna just how little her queen actually cares for her, she finally takes the leap that Kianthe, her powerful mage girlfriend, has been begging her to, and they run away together. The only problem with running away is that the Queen will see it as treason and will come after her. Kianthe and Reyna just want to set up a small cozy bookshop and live their life in peace... but mishaps, mysteries, and a vengeful queen will all come after them. Can they have their happily ever after? This one was definitely along the veins of Legends and Lattes except Reyna and Kianthe's relationship is already established and the story drags on a bit more. This book honestly felt 100 pages too long, it's meant to be a cozy fantasy with some romance but it just felt like it was lacking the charm and sweetness that Legends and Lattes had. I really wanted to like it but found myself getting so bored while reading it. Getting to the end was hard, but I pushed through and honestly, I think it just didn't live up to my expectations. This book definitely is for people who want cozy fantasy but on a much slower and longer paced story.

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group | Bramble for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[queerbookmasterlist]

(via Review - Can't Spell Treason Without Tea)

Representation: sapphic main characters, wlw relationship, nonbinary side character.

I found this book on TikTok and saw that this book was comparable to Legends & Lattes, aka my new favorite book – so of course, I had to pick this up! I’m so thankful that cozy fantasy is starting to pick up traction because I definitely need this in my life.

How did the author know that opening up a bookshop/teashop (or coffee shop) is my dream? My main issue with this book fell with the stakes being too high to be a cozy fantasy. There were cozy elements, but also quite a bit of action and adventure. If this is your vibe, I definitely recommend picking up a copy of this book as it has already been released!

Thank you Rebecca Thorne for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[gideonthe9]

y'all need to start reading can't spell treason without tea, its soooo good and so fun to read

[thehelldoievenputhere]

why is there not a single ao3 fanfic of rebecca thorne's tomes and tea series??? T_T

i wanted to binge some after finishing a pirate's life for tea, but noooo

[betterbooksandthings]

A Pirate's Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne

The second book in the a tomes and tea series, A Pirate’s Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne may just be the best steal from the rich and give to the poor pirate book out there. This cozy fantasy romance series started with a bang and book 2 does not disappoint. I would recommend reading book 1 if you want to know what’s happening here, especially since it’s still told from the point of view of the newly engaged couple, Kianthe and Reyna. They have come to the corrupt lord, Diarn Arlon’s land to find the missing dragon eggs and stumble upon a best friends to enemies to lovers relationship in progress. The book does promise double the lesbians and it delivers. Bobbie is an anxious crocheting constable trying and failing to make things better from the inside. She is in charge of tracking her former best friend and current pirate, Serina, who is stealing food from ships to distribute it to starving villages. Kianthe and Reyna involve themselves in Bobbie’s hunt for the pirate Serina only to discover they would much rather matchmake instead. In comes a plot with river skirmishes, nonbinary pirates, and a baby griffin doing her best to be intimidating (and actually being cute). That is to say, you have a fear of drowning this might not be the book for you. I think the development of Bobbie and Serina’s relationship was honestly a really great time. Would I have loved a section from their perspectives? Yes, I absolutely would. However, I still felt their connection grow and develop from afar as Kianthe and Reyna did their best to meddle. I would also like to add there was nothing funnier than Bobbie threatening someone about not pushing her any further with a mishappen crochet bee. It was perfect. No notes. In general, the world, side characters, and burgeoning relationship between Feo and lord Wylan is everything to me (please please be in book 3). It delivers on cozy vibes while having enough battles (both verbal and physical) to keep me invested. I will follow this series to the ends of the earth and highly recommend you do the same.

[dragonbadgerbooks]

August Fun Day Book Photo Challenge: August 25, 2023 Kiss and Make Up Day

[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.

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.

[rebeccathornewrites]

A major publisher bought my cozy fantasy series!!

https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/tor-serves-up-cant-spell-treason-without-tea-by-thorne

I’m beyond excited to finally announce that Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea and its sequels will be republished by Tor. TOR. I may have died and gone to heaven.

For anyone unfamiliar, this is Travis Baldree’s publisher too! Legends & Lattes. :D

THANK YOU for everyone who’s been a member of this journey. I am over the moon excited about this!!

[geek-and-nina]

I don't see enough people talking about Reyna and Kianthe from Can't Spell Treason Without Tea. I'm not your typical cozy fantasy guy but I'm loving this series

[out-of-the-forest-i-come]

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea

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

[vonzimofancy]

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

I'm almost halfway through this cozy fantasy and it's perfect to relax with and enjoy the peaceful vibes.

[radedneko]

And so Gossley stayed, ever-assuming that Reyna and Kianthe were brokers for a huge ring of bandits, and that he was apprenticing to become one himself. They never bothered to correct him.

~Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

[writers-potion]

🧦☕🧸A Guide to Writing Cozy Fantasy

Check out my masterpost for more tips :)

What is "cozy fantasy"? 🧺🪵

Cozy fantasy is a subgenre that is characterized by a more everyday approach to fantasy.

While its definition is not as clear-cut (everyone will have a sightly different idea of what it needs to look like), there are some general approaches to writing in this subgenre.

Elements of Cozy Fantasy 🕯️ೀ

A comforting, healing ambience 🍪

Rather than bloody battle and cunning witches, we have our next door wizard baker chumming up his special pumpkin pie.

Every magical book at their deepest core evoke a healing quality, but for these cozy novels, this warm element takes control.

2. "Kindness” and ‘gentleness” tropes 🍂

Found family/community, a sense of togetherness

Kind hearted protangoists

Plots gull of joy, hope or happy endings. Give your readers reassurance that everything will work out. And they do.

Ambience woven in the worldbuilding that gets the reader intitamely close to the world

Slower pace, allow the reader to delve into the story world and build stake in these kind, loving characters.

Slice of life: provide personal insight into the character’s “mundane” lives. 

The plot must take this "happy" nad kind" element as the MAIN theme. Every book provides catharsis at the end, but if the process if filled with dark, dangerous adventures, that's not cozy at all!

3. Cozy doesn’t mean “no/low stake” 📖

No novel would be interesting without conflict and some kind of loss.

Think of “personal” stakes. Cozy fantasy can be grand adventures, quiet magical quests, fairytales or healing slice of life stories.

For example, the protagonist can develop new relationship around town and figure out her passion to express the theme of importance of enduring. 

4. Generally slower pace, focusing more on the inner development of the protagonist and the main side characters.

Cozy Fantasy Starter Recommendations 🎧🌙

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J.Klune

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travie Baldree

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 📸