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rachel17's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There are so many things to enjoy about this book, but to be honest, I wasn’t captured by the writing style. It’s definitely more of a YA vibe. I found the romance to be a bit codependent, though also sweet. To be clear, “cozy” is not how I would describe this book, as it includes fairly gruesome injury recovery details.
The plot was the strongest aspect, and my favorite part was the bit about the griffons.
The plot was the strongest aspect, and my favorite part was the bit about the griffons.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
emherrick's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An overall entertaining read with cozy vibes and plays into the dream of giving up a fast-paced and high responsibility life for a more slow and meaningful one.
A similiar premise as Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. A mage and a crown guard give up their adventurous lives for opening up a bookshop in a quaint town. However in my opinion, Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is more centered around the relationship between the two main characters who happen to dream of opening a bookshop. While Legends and Lattes is moreso centered around the building up of the coffee shop and the budding relationship is more secondary. The plot for Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is a little more high stakes with the threat of being charged for treason looming over them, dragons attacking the town, and scenes where a main charcter is seriously injured. Legends and Lattes has the moments where the shop is being threated, but overall the stakes are not as high Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed them both and hope to see more books like these continue to be published.
A similiar premise as Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
0tter_a's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Books, tea, sappy romance. Who could ask for more?
I’m so glad there are more books in the series, I’m not ready to say good bye to these characters yet.
I’m so glad there are more books in the series, I’m not ready to say good bye to these characters yet.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol
kurumipanda's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Violence, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
blewballoon's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
If you liked Legends & Lattes, you will probably like this. The story is basically the same, but with a few tweaks. There are two main characters who are already a couple at the start of the book. There are books and tea instead of coffee. There aren't as many magical races of people; it doesn't feel tied to the D&D universe and feels more like a generic fantasy. I loved Legends & Lattes and I'm happy to have more of a good thing, but I did feel like this wasn't quite the same level of quality. I found the prose to be awkward in parts, especially the dialogue, and even the audiobook narrator seemed to struggle with the phrasing despite trying her best. I also got a bit frustrated with how much the narrative had to repeat and over-emphasize things without trusting the reader to interpret for themselves; a case of telling vs showing. In theory this book is full of stuff I really like, I adore cozy settings and good people, and yet I was cynically annoyed sometimes with the book's tone and wasn't properly suspending my disbelief. Maybe I was just cranky?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, and Murder
cmlalonde's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
maryellen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Alcohol
the_true_monroe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Classism
blattprinzessin's review against another edition
My first DNF
TL;DR Doesn't fit cozy imo. Writing isn't great. Characters contradict themselves all the time.
Let me start this by saying, I really really wanted to like this and I don't think it's awful- so much so that I bought the 30 € hardcover edition instead of the much cheaper paperback. I even send one copy back because it arrived slightly torn and I want books that stay on my shelf to be as perfect as possible.
I wanted to love this. Really. Cozy sapphic fantasy? Sign me up!
But I guess it was not my cup of tea! Excuse the pun.
TL;DR Doesn't fit cozy imo. Writing isn't great. Characters contradict themselves all the time.
Let me start this by saying, I really really wanted to like this and I don't think it's awful- so much so that I bought the 30 € hardcover edition instead of the much cheaper paperback. I even send one copy back because it arrived slightly torn and I want books that stay on my shelf to be as perfect as possible.
I wanted to love this. Really. Cozy sapphic fantasy? Sign me up!
But I guess it was not my cup of tea! Excuse the pun.
- I was expecting a cute cozy fantasy story with wlw romance but even in the first 100 pages, we get a lot of battles, recurring graphic descriptions of injuries, near death experience, anxiety attacks & fighting in the relationship. Not very cozy in my opinion. I don't mind these points itself, but I kept feeling like I'm sitting between two chairs. Am I supposed to be on the edge of my seat? Am I supposed to relax since now they're talking about the bookshop they want to open? No wait, one of them is almost dying now!
I don't mean to offend, but too many points feel not thought through, bordering on nonsense at times. I hate saying this but it reminded me of a fanfiction of Legends & Lattes, crossed with more high stakes fantasy. - Cool concept, just not that well executed.
- If they want to keep out of sight of the evil queen, why choose a town right on the border that's fought over?
- Reyna is always described as logical and careful. Yet the first chance she gets, she holds her sword with the queens insignia under the nose of strangers. While she herself said a couple pages ago, that the queen's spies are literally everywhere. While her girlfriend right next to her manipulates elements left and right including metal. It would've been a no brainer to remove that, it could've made for an emotional scene where Reyna gets to truly "let go" of her past life or something. But no, plot armor makes the strangers not dangerous and all is well.
- At first I was excited to see an established couple, so we don't waste time on "will they-won't they". However, I just don't see the chemistry at all. I'm not at all convinced they'd throw away their responsibilities and run off into the sunset together- it seems like they don't even know each other much and they're always one fight away from breaking up. Or at least that's what they believe themselves, as I'm constantly, literally told through Reyna's thoughts.
- I'm told they care so much for each other, but you could replace their relationship with a friendship for 99% of the time and it wouldn't change a thing. At least then you could speculate on them getting together.
All in all, I'm sure there are people who'll love this story regardless. I'm unfortunately not one of them, so I'll be returning my book. It's sad because I was so excited for the pirate vibes in the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail