Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea – Rebecca Thorne

Published By: Tor
Pages: 352
Released On: 09/05/2024

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.

*****

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

***Contains Slight Spoilers***

It was said that this book is ideal for fans of T.J Klune – who I absolutely love – and Legends and Lattes – which I absolutely did not, so this could have gone either way. Having finished it, I would say it’s more on the Legends end of that scale, which is possibly why I didn’t take to it completely.

But first, the positives.

This is my first book by Rebecca Thorne, but I can say she is very good at creating a wonderful sense of place and setting. The physical setting, the furnishings, the clothes, the sights, sounds, and smells, the people – it really paints a picture so you can become more invested in the story.

Reyna and Kianthe make such a gorgeous couple. Two powerful women that are just fabulous. They make a formidable team.

I know it’s more complicated than this, but to open a tea room filled with books, and magic, it just sounds idyllic, and if you could promise me less violence and worry, then sign me right up!

Now for the not so positive.

I was expecting a cosy crime situation, which it was sometimes. It hits the ground running and you’re instantly involved. Having said that, it quiets down quickly and takes a while to pick back up again. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it’s going to be a series so I suppose it works to set the scene and introduce the characters etc. but it means there’s some loose ends here and there and it just didn’t feel like it ever got going. It’s not bad, it’s interesting reading and enjoyable, but the full-on drama we got in the first chapter promised a bit more.

I did read a review that said it all seemed a bit too easy, and I do agree. Reyna has no difficulties fleeing the Queen, they have no problem finding a venue, the venue is kitted out in one day, they stumble upon other characters who are willing to drop everything to help – it all seems a bit too tidy.

There were a few moments where we are told what is happening rather than shown. The sort of thing where it goes: “We need to get to PLACE NAME”, and the other person goes “PLACE NAME? The town up North in the mountains where the Smurfs used to live? The place that is now under the rule of the toilet paper man and you have to ring a bell three times to get in? That place?”. Conversations that wouldn’t need to happen because the characters would already know of it, and it just feels a bit stilted to the reader. It doesn’t detract from the reading as such, but if I’m going to write an honest review, then I need to include it. I just think it needs tidying up a bit.

The start was fantastic. The ending was great. And for the most part – 85% perhaps – it was jolly good. There was just a bit, about 20% of the way in that was a bit too slow for my liking.

There’s lots I could say about it, and have said about it, but on the simplest terms – I liked it for the most part, but there are some issues for me. It is full of fun and love and magic, is warming and cosy and adventurous – but a bit messy. I think it would be more suited for an autumn/winter read than Spring. I think I would still recommend it, because I know how much people loved Legends and Lattes, and I think it would appeal to those readers too, but I was slightly disappointed.