USA Today, Sunday Times, and Indie bestselling author Rebecca Thorne brings the Tomes & Tea series to a delightful, cozy close for our beloved lesbian book- and tea- sellers.
Reyna and Kianthe have no trouble ruling the Queendom, battling evil alchemists, and rescuing adorable baby dragons, but can they save their town from the ravening influx of.... tourists?!?
On the night of her kidnapping, all Reyna wanted was a relaxing cup of tea. She didn’t expect to be dropped in a hidden cell, but what the hells. She’s flexible.
When Kianthe “rescues” her wife, she expects they’ll be back at New Leaf having tea by noon. But there’s a problem: an alchemy circle marred Reyna’s cell. What does a radical group of alchemists want with the Queendom’s newest sovereign… and why did they think they could get away with this?
To make matters worse, Kianthe and Reyna’s hometown is having its own problems. Word of New Leaf Tomes and Tea―and its celebrity owners―has finally spread, and tourists are flooding into Tawney. As their friends struggle with the sudden influx, Kianthe and Reyna have to face a bigger conundrum than rogue alchemists: the fact that closing their bookshop might be the only way to save their town.
Rebecca Thorne is a USA Today, Indie, and Sunday Times Bestselling author, specializing in fantasy and sci-fi with romantic subplots.
She is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, lives near Denver, Colorado, and uses her ADHD as a superpower to write multiple books a year. When she’s not writing (or avoiding writing), Rebecca can be found traveling the country as a flight attendant, hiking with her dogs and lovely fiancée, or basking in the sun like a lizard.
☕️ Bookish Thoughts Reyna and Kianthe forever 🫶🏾 I’m so sad this series is over! 😭 Alchemy and a Cup of Tea was the perfect final chapter. It was just as cozy and whimsical as the others, and the epilogue completely melted my heart.
Getting to spend time with all my favorite characters again felt like a warm hug. I love them so much.
This series will always be my comfort read. And I’ll keep recommending the audiobooks forever! Immersive reading truly makes the experience even better.
✨ Favorite Quote “My wife, my love. You love tea, I love books. Aren’t you glad we opened a shop and pretended the world doesn’t exist?”
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📖 Final Score: 5 stars 🎧 Audio Score: 5 stars 📅 Pub Date: August 12, 2025 Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
A delightful conclusion to this cozy-adjacent fantasy series! Reyna is adjusting to being an unwilling queen while Kianthe is forced to deal with issues in the magical world. All they want is to settle down in their bookstore/tea shop but everything seems to conspire against them. It's a nice story with an established relationship hitting external road bumps. And we finally discover what happened to those dragon eggs! This mystery has been ongoing since book 1. It's funny and cute with cozy moments, and a bit of action and intrigue as well. I think it will be a hit with fans of the series. The audio narration is pretty good, though (as I've said since the beginning) the choice of voices for the two main characters always kind of throws me. I received an audio review copy via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
As the series comes to an end, tourists are swarming in Tawney, and the townspeople are getting fed up The tourists are are apparently attracted by the chance to see the Arcandor Kianthe and her wife, Queen Rayna. Kianthe must deal with some rogue mages and they are delighted to find a baby dragon. I enjoyed the world building and the descriptions of the griffon (sic) rides. Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC.
All of the adventures Reyna and Kianthe have had throughout this series, finally comes to a head in Alchemy and a Cup of Tea. When Reyna is kidnapped by a group of bandits, Kianthe and Reyna discover an alchemy circle with mysterious symbols. The two must travel to the Magicary to discover why a group of alchemists would try to kidnap their newest queen. As they work to find information on the circle, Reyna and Kianthe soon realize they have other issues on their hands. Tourists have traveled to Tawney in hopes to see the famous couple and their friends are struggling to keep up with the influx of travelers. As frustrations rise, Kianthe and Reyna must decide if their time is up in Tawney and if they should close New Leaf and Tomes forever.
The Tomes & Tea series was my favorite series in 2024, and I am sad to see that Alchemy and a Cup of Tea is the final book in the series. Rebecca Thorne knows how to write the perfect cozy fantasy. From the characters to the world building, every aspect of these books made me fall in love with the series. Alchemy and a Cup of Tea is the perfect ending for Reyna and Kianthe. There were so many questions I had throughout this book, and I didn't want to put it down. My heart broke for Kianthe and Reyna as they try to come to terms with leaving Tawney and the family they had built there. I felt that the conclusion was the perfect ending for my two favorite characters, and I cried to see that the story I had fallen in love with had ended. Although I am sad to see this story end, I am excited to see what Rebecca Thorne will come up with next.
If you are a fan of cozy fantasies full of a variety of characters and fun adventures, I would highly recommend the Tomes and Tea series.
Alchemy and a Cup of Tea comes out on August 12th.
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review Alchemy and a Cup of Tea. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved 90% of this book. I was all set to give it five stars like the others. The expansion of magic and exploring the alchemy aspect was really cool. Seeing how Reyna's and Kianthe's lives have changed since the queensguard became empress was enlightening. It really felt like their relationship grew so much from book #1.
Witnessing the Magicary? Winterhaven? The Stone of Seeing? Gentrification commentary? All top notch.
But the ending is where I grew frustrated.
I feel like Kianthe spent most of the series not wanting , so to have her reverse on that in the last few pages was. . . not an aspect I enjoyed.
The epilogue felt so random and tacked on that I didn't know what to do with it. Leaving missing or killed off-screen didn't sit right with me. They're one of And because this is the last book, we'll never know what happened to them. I can't stand by that at all.
All in all, I'm just not satisfied with I would have much preferred a final quiet chapter of our heroines sitting beneath the tree they planted reflecting on their adventures and hopes for a quiet life ahead. I wouldn't be so agitated with the epilogue if I knew it was leading into book #5.
I don't want to leave the impression I hated this book because, again, I adored the first 90 percent of it. I was as ONBOARD as I have been for the last three books. This has been my favorite fantasy series since I found it, so to have the ending leave such a sour taste in my mouth. . . it hurts more than a normal book would.
I'm sure I'll be in a lonely camp on this, and I'm making a mountain out of a molehill. I'm sure everyone else will love the ending and assume I'm off my rocker. But these are my feelings, and I love these books too much not to feel them so heavily.
It's been a great ride, and I'll absolutely be buying the paperback to complete my collection when it comes out later this year.
Thank you for these amazing stories, Rebecca Thorne. Onward to Guilded Abyss for me.
A wonderful conclusion to a fantastic series! Reyna and Kianthe will forever be relationship goals! I’m sad to say goodbye to this world and these characters.
One of my favorite from the series I think. There was a perfect mix of action and cozy vibes. I will admit the dragons did make me love this a lot. It's the same great characters and cute romance. Just a really sweet cozy read!
The audiobook was really good! I love the narrator for this series, both characters are easily distinguishable so you can tell who's POV you're following.
Thank You Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the Audiobook! *all Opinions are my own*
Starting with a failed kidnapping of the new queen Reyna, and her discovery of an alchemical circle in her supposed cell, this final entry in this series hints that Reyna, Kianthe and their allies will be dealing with a powerful practitioner and learning what happened to the one dragon egg they had not found, which they failed to do in book one.
And something not magical that is really bothering the residents of Tawnee: a constant stream of tourists, with their noise and intrusiveness, they are changing the feel of the once peaceful town. Should the happily married, and famous, warrior and mage consider closing their successful business and leaving, so their friends lives can return to normal?
Did I expect this to wrap up with numerous problems sorted and Reyna and Kianthe, and the dragons and gryphons, happy? Of course! And it did, and the way it did was lovely, and both Reyna and Kianthe are more comfortable with their roles by the end, and looking toward the next chapters of their lives, surrounded by their friends and tea and books, and then we got an epilogue I didn't know I needed, so yay!
Jessica Threet again narrates the novel, and I love the confidence she brings to Reyna -- knives secreted everywhere -- and the irreverence of Kianthe, lover of puns and fiery temper when her loved ones are imperilled.
Though I'm sad to be leaving this world, I plan to revisit this series sometime, and enjoy it all over again.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for my review.
4.5 stars...first off thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this audioARC of the book. This is book 4 in the Tomes and Tea series and I loved it! It's always an adventure with Reina and Keinth. This has got dragons, magic, adventures, light on the romance, LGBTQIA+, coziness, friendship and love. I would definitely recommend this series as a whole.
(3.75 rounded down) What an odd combination of issues to deal with… saving dragons and scaring off tourists all in the same day. I still wouldn’t qualify this as a cozy fantasy, but it’s entertaining all the same.
I liked this as a conclusion, especially considering the rude end of the previous book. There was a lot of how Reyna and Kianthe are moving forward with how everything developed and how they don't want everything to change and I liked how the author handled that.
Did not really love the epilogue, because it's so typical and cliché.
Reyna and Kianthe are having no trouble ruling the Queendom, battling evil alchemists, and rescuing adorable baby dragons. However, a recent challenge has emerged, and it might just be their most formidable challenge yet, saving Tawney from an influx of…tourists?
But first, Kianthe must “rescue” her wife, after she’s unexpectedly kidnapped. Of course, a seemingly straightforward rescue mission results in a shocking discovery, an alchemy circle marred Reyna’s cell.
What could a radical group of alchemists possibly want with the Queendom’s newest sovereign? While Reyna and Kianthe set forth to solve this latest problem, they must also figure out how to deal with Tawney’s growing popularity.
Word of New Leaf Tomes and Tea, and its celebrity owners, has finally spread, and tourists are flooding into Tawney. As their friends struggle with the sudden influx, Kianthe and Reyna must now consider the fact that closing their bookshop might be the only way to save their town.
I adore this series. It’s lighthearted, it’s wholesome, and honestly, it’s the perfect break I need between the intensity of the thriller and dark fantasies that have completely taken over my everyday reading journey lately. I always look forward to seeing what Rayna and Kianthe are up to! Even when there’s something more sinister at play, these two handle it with grace and ease, despite feeling a bit of doubt now and then, who doesn’t feel that way when facing challenges head-on? And Alchemy and a Cup of Tea is no exception, this one might be my favourite journey of theirs out of the four books! There was quite a bit going on with the evil alchemists, the baby dragons, and the influx of tourists, but for me, what stood out from the rest of the series is the alchemy storyline. I thought it was interesting and gave the story a slightly darker vibe without overwhelming it with too much darkness. As usual, they each had their own side quests, allowing the reader to connect with each of the characters a bit more, and I love that about this series, mostly because I love these two characters so much and can’t get enough of them. They are a great duo, but they are also strong characters when they are separated.
Another point I want to mention, and don’t worry, no spoilers, but the ending. It brought on some heavy emotions, and I was fearful of a heartbreak. Tawney and the people of this lovely town are exceptional; they have a place in my heart, and to see them upset made me upset too! It was a great ending!
I’m trying to refrain from being too repetitive; a lot of what I love about this series is, for the most part, apparent in each of the books, so I’ve said it all before. But what I will say again and again is that you should read the Tomes and Tea series! It’s excellent, the characters are amazing, the adventures are a lot of fun, and I can’t get enough.
4.5 stars rounded up - and it was still a pure 5 stars until I was 90% through the book.
We’ve finally reached book four and the conclusion of the beloved Tea & Tomes series that picked up the mantle after Travis Baldree’s ‘Legends & Lattes’ and turned it from a fun book into a burgeoning subgenre. One that has become a go-to for many people looking for sanity and simplicity in a world that has lost its mind.
We pick up where book three left us on a cliffhanger - Queen Reyna had just been kidnapped! Naturally this is resolved and we get to move on to the main plot elements of the book - and there are multiple, and that makes hopping from story to story lots of fun because they’re done in the perfect cozy way.
All of this happens while allowing the focus to be on how two of the most powerful people in the entire realm can life a simple life in Tawney. I love how this is handled - because all of it is a love letter to Key and Rey, the setting and to the other characters we’ve grown to love.
Actually - as I said i one of my reading notes, it is more like one of those bundles of love letter discovered in a Hallmark movie.
Not saying there are no stakes - in fact the core mystery and challenge has some significant stakes and perilous moments, and I love how that drama is interspersed and layered right up until it needs to be resolved and there are so many elements at play in those moments that make the conclusion so satisfying.
Random aside - other authors (S Usher Evans) have released separate shirt stories in the world of their novels - I would MUCH preferred that to tacking it on after the wonderful ending of the epilogue! In the ebook it wasn’t well differentiated so at first I thought it was part of the epilogue and it was really jarring! Fortunately I stopped and looked and saw it was a separate story.
I will miss this series, this universe and these characters that I’ve spent the last few years getting to know and love. But since we needed to say farewell, this was a great end to the series. Now we get to look forward to the next entries in the decidedly un-cozy Gilded Abyss series!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bramble, Tor Publishing Group. and Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy! You can pick up Alchemy and a Cup of Tea on August 12, 2025.
I just love this series so, so much. Rebecca Thorne has perfected the balance of cozy, sweet, magical, action-packed, romantic books, and this (in my opinion) is her best to date. It felt like we returned to the roots of the original Can't Spell Treason Without Tea but with higher stakes and a deeper emotional connection between Kianthe and Reyna.
I loved seeing into Kianthe's past at the magicary, and how excited (yet nervous) she was to show Reyna around. The tourist problem in Tawney actually had me sweating?? Because I'd have no idea how to solve it and would also resort to closing up my shop, but the way the townsfolk rallied around Kianthe and Reyna reminded me why I fall in love with this charming small town too.
The dragon and alchemy storyline had me HOOKED. I was genuinely concerned for Blue Spruce, and I loved the mystery aspect of who the rogue alchemist was. It felt like we expanded the world and magic system without leaving Tawney behind.
The ending had me in literal tears, and I just love the idea of Kianthe and Reyna continuing to go on adventures for the rest of their lives before returning home to New Leaf.
This series needs to be on everyone's cozy fantasy list rn!! Don't wait to pick it up, especially now that it will be completed!
The moment this landed in my inbox my entire TBR got ignored - and I have no regrets!
With every book in this series I decide it's my favourite one, and at this point I'm not sure if they actually continue to get better or if they're all just better than I remember by the time I get my grubby little hands on the next one. This book starts exactly where book 3 ended: Reyna has just been kidnapped and is predictably unimpressed by her kidnappers. Things don't calm down from there, the entire book was a chaotic joy to read. There's alchemists, tourists and more dragons than ever (though, sadly, the number of lesbians is no longer increasing). The stakes are even high and while the tone is cosy, the main plot isn't so much. Not that it bothered me at any point.
Completely as expected, this book is a few hundred pages of chaotic queer joy and I'm here for every second of it. Though a Dastardly Pirate Dreggs Spin-off does seem necessary after that ending. I'm just saying...
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for sharing an eARC of this via Netgalley!
4 stars for the final installment of the Tomes and Tea series! A fun conclusion that did a decent job expanding the world and exploring Alchemy as it compared to elemental magic. I wish the plot had been a little tighter, and there was some confirmation regarding why Reyna’s kidnapping happened rather than just the gang’s speculation taken as fact.
4 stars for the entire series as a whole! Indeed a cozy lesbian fantasy read that was just what I needed this year. Was extra special getting to read the third book as I was preparing for my own wedding of a wife-time. I know the author pumped these out extra quick, so I think if extra time was taken to tighten everything up it would have made it a 5 star reading experience.
. . . or was it? Something tells me this might not be the end just yet, as there is still a mystery afoot that was introduced in the final moments of this book . . . We shall see! When you’re ready, Rebecca!
The Tomes & Tea books have really grown on me. They’ve endeared themselves to me over time and I’ve looked forward to having one of these books to come to, as I know I’ll have a decent time and a good read. Are they the best? No. I can pick out some faults with the plotting and pacing and sometimes the characters get on my nerves, but in some ways these books feel a bit like family!
I liked how this one focused mainly back on Kianthe and Reyna and their small family unit. I liked seeing them, in some ways, return to their roots, and in other ways find themselves within their duties. And I always love seeing them banter and joke and fight and defend each other.
Loved getting extra dragon lore and I also love Visk and Ponder moments!
Excited to see whether or not this is the end for these characters…
"Leaving what we know is always a risk. But I think we're a lot braver than we know... And I think most choices turn out okay, eventually." -page 268
Welp, this is officially my favorite book in the series. I still have a strong desire for a Ponder tattoo. This series means so much to me. This book was such a great conclusion to the series. I'm so excited to reread them all going forward.
The soundtrack for this book should really be "Alchemy" by Taylor Swift ("Honestly who are we to fight the alchemy") because they are literally fighting the alchemy and also because Reyna and Kianthe have romantic alchemy. Such a fantastic conclusion to this series, looking forward to future stories in this Realm! Also, Rebecca Thorne's dedications are always the best.
I’m so glad this series is done. Rebecca can’t harm my favourite characters ANY LONGER. They got their ending. They’re happy, I’m happy…and I think Rebecca is happy too.
I do love this series so much. I’m as sad to say goodbye as I am relieved to see how it ends.
This was a perfect conclusion to my comfort series and I will miss Kianthe, Reyna and their found family. It was once again a cosy story with an intriguing mystery on the side, dragons and pages upon pages of queer joy.
Thanks to Tor and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC. All thoughts are my own.
This was nice, a good mix of cosy and adventure as this series typically is.
I liked the overall plot and I really loved the inclusion of the dragons and the continuation of their story in this one.
I’m not really sure what went wrong for me here, only that I found myself not really connecting with Reyna and Kianthe as much as I did in previous books, and I found myself just a little disappointed as a result.
It was still a nice read but my least favourite from the series.
Welcome to the review for the final book of the “Tomes & Tea” series! For those of you who have not read my reviews of the previous books, I am, once again, going to quote myself in describing this book and series as “a lighthearted non-challenging book that is akin to a sorbet palate cleanser for the mind.”
As with the previous three volumes, the author has stuck to the tried and true formula of a cozy sapphic fantasy romance built around the relationship between Reyna and Kianthe, the two FMCs, who are, respectively a warrior queen and a supreme mage (Arcandor). It is, above all, a very lighthearted but also touching, story.
Now that they have tied the knot and been recalled to a world of duty as Queen and Arcandor, their struggle to balance their responsibilities and personal lives gives a bit of depth to a cozy adventure with no huge surprises plot wise (main mystery: who is using alchemy on them and why?). As they travel from one place to another on their griffons, the assortment of situations includes conversing with dragons, solving an alchemical mystery, playing politics, and reconnecting with old friends (as seen in the series).
The whole thing felt very familiar but reading it was akin to putting on a pair of fuzzy pyjamas that give you a sense of warmth and comfort on a cold day. Even though this genre of cozy fantasy is not a favourite, it was a cute and easy read that, despite not being my cup of tea (pun intended) and a slow start, it improved in pace right until the end with a HEA that will not come as surprise to anyone. It is also always nice to experience a story where LGBTQIA+ characters are present and fully formed in such a matter of fact way.
This series might not be an all-time fav but it did provide me with some light hearted entertainment which is always needed these days considering how much real life (ie the world) currently sucks! Despite my lack of personal enthusiasm (as evidenced in my rating below), this is a well crafted series which I would recommend to those who enjoy the cozy genre and need a break from the harsh light of our current days.
Alchemy and a Cup of Tea isn’t just the fourth and final instalment in the series: it’s also the strongest.
This one gave us a true partnership between our leading ladies. It didn’t focus on one or the other; it didn’t give one significantly more power or influence. Both Key and Raine had a role to play, and it was combining their strengths that allowed the story to unfold.
This was the relationship we should have got throughout, given they were already established at the start. Part of me wonders if this one worked so well because the plot was focused on their adventure, and not trying to shoehorn them taking the next step in their relationship into said adventure.
Key was a calmer mage. The immaturity that annoyed me last time was less present, and the puns weren’t forced into the dialogue consistently. You see her in her role properly this time, even visiting her old school, and get a glimpse of her past that has been denied to us so far. Her magic wasn’t used for tricks, either, but to rectify dangerous spells and threats, and it gave her so much more depth. I wish we’d seen that Key from the beginning.
Raine, too, has come into her own. While she may be queen, her true power this time is her communication with the dragons. Admittedly, I’m still unclear how that happened other than her crisis of faith in the third book, but it’s a fun development and allows her to be involved in situations more than just those requiring a sword to be swung. Or kidnappers to win over. Either one.
The plot and pacing also felt stronger. As if Thorne had come into her own with her writing and developed her craft. There wasn’t a huge problem that felt too big for the length of a book that was trying to be cute and romantic. Yes, there was a serious threat, but it came with increased tension and pace, a sense of danger and the concern our characters were genuinely in real trouble.
The serious adventure was balanced by a more light-hearted issue of what happens to a small town when someone famous moves in, and the resulting issues. It was enjoyable having something set in Tawney and the townsfolk coming together to protect their homes. It gave the place a sense of home for Raine and Key, which felt important for a final book.
Overall, I’ve enjoyed this series. Yes, I’ve had issues with the individual books. But the writing has grown stronger as each book progressed. The whole premise is a cute one – and who doesn’t want to run away from their lives to open a bookshop with baby dragons on the roof?
While I wouldn’t read again, they are light, quick reads if you are after some escapism. If you don’t take them too seriously and can look past some quite major character flaws at times, this is a cute series I’d recommend.
Thank you to Tor/Pan Macmillan for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
TW/CWKidnapping | Violence | Death
Alchemy and a Cup of Tea is already the last book in the Tomes & Tea. I started this series with a lot of expectations regarding the characters and the cozy fantasy. It never could quite meet up to that. The last book follows on in that same vibe as the rest of the series. If you've enjoyed the other installements, you will enjoy this one.
At the end of book 3 we got an epilogue where Reyna got kidnapped. This is where the book starts from. I found it a lacklustre addition and it was just a means to an end to find something that is important throughout the rest of the book. But it was very obvious. The rest of the book kind of meanders from this to that just for those things.
I also took a bit of issue with Kianthe in this book who returns back to the magicary after she spends an awful time away. And she thinks she gets all the say about how things are being run there? Like no, that is not how that works. You might be the mage of all ages but you are not putting in the work there and you leave everybody else to clean up your mess all the time. You can't just come in and be the boss. I'm just kind of over that attitude of hers.
Reyna also just leaves Tillaine behind like she isn't the queen. And everybody excepts it. I get that they want the council to rule, and that is fine. But she is still a figurehead and she can't just run over the whole world, just because. It just takes a flimsy approach to responsibility in this book. They think they can take all these responsibilities and still be in the town with their bookstore. It was unbelieveable. Not realistic. For a while I thought they might actually have to take some kind of responsibility. But of course not.
It is a fine read, don't get me wrong, if you can see past the things that I just mentioned. Its just an annoyance I've had with these characters that has been growing throughout the series.
After bingeing the first three books in the Times & Tea series by Rebecca Thorne, I was so excited to read Alchemy and a Cup of Tea, the fourth and final installment in the series, and it may be the best book of them all!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
What you can expect: 📚Cozy YA Sapphic Romantasy Adventure 🫖Queer Normative 🪴Found Family 📚Elemental Magic 🫖Gryphon Companions ❤️ 🪴Dragons ❤️ 📚Witty Banter 🫖Anxiety & Trauma Representation 🪴Puns & Dad Jokes 📚Dual-POV 🫖Yearning for Peace & Adventure
This book is SO good! It made me cry, laugh, and is such a good time! Questions are answered, plot lines buttoned up nicely, and it is just a perfect end to this series. The whimsical writing style of these stories is completely enthralling and adds to the fantastical feel.
All of the residents of Tawney leave you loving them more, and seeing the growth of the community from book one is so wholesome. The character development of both Kianthe and Reyna is fantastic, with both coming so far, and working through significant personal struggles. It’s really heartwarming to see how much they both grow throughout the series. And while, of course, as personal circumstances change their relationship accommodates, the beauty, respect, steadfastness, trust, and love of their relationship is such a stunning constant.
Once again, Jessica Threet exhibits a total mastery of her craft. Creating and consistently demonstrating so many unique voices and accents, as well as an incredible depth of emotion, she takes this fantastic text and perfectly matches it with her skill to actualize a wonderfully immersive experience. Truly a fantastic performance!
I just adored this whole series, and this was the perfect ending! I am so happy to have found these books, and they will absolutely be joining the ranks of my comfort series. I highly recommend you check this series out!!
Thanks so much to Rebecca Thorne and Macmillan Audio for the NetGalley ALC- this is my honest review shared voluntarily.
5⭐️ Alchemy and a cup of tea is the final instalment of Rebecca Thorne’s cosy sapphic fantasy where we get to spend four books with the punny Kianthe, THE elemental Mage and Reyna, a fierce Queensguard.
Their relationship, at the centre of the story, is loving, romantic, respectful, loyal with the biggest touch-her-and-die vibes from both of these powerful women. I was so heartened to see that this beautiful relationship remained this way for the whole series.
Alchemy and a cup of tea was a higher stake read than the first three books, which all definitely had stakes. I appreciated that threaded throughout the action were many cosy moments which lead to the happy ending that we all enjoy in our cosy reads. Rebecca Thorne is the master of a balanced Cosy Fantasy!
One aspect that I truly adored, was that we were still being introduced to new elements within this world, even though it was the final book. Learning more about the dragons, the magic and the alchemy was a wonderful, surprising aspect.
I’m happy to say that this was the perfect ending to a wonderful series, and one that I will spend many years re-reading to spend more time with two of my favourite characters ever.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC!
I can't believe it is over. OMG this series has a hold on me that will never be released.
This was such a perfect ending for everyone. From Kianthe and Reyna, to our pirate/lord couple, to our hopeless town leaders, our midwife/blackwife, the baby dragons, the baby gryphons, and just everyone. I cried so hard at certain parts, and laughed harder at others. I felt pure joy while reading this series, one that focuses not just on grand quests and tasks, but also small things such as paying for inventory, reading a book, and learning to communicate with your partner. Kianthe and Reyna are a couple that I could see parts of myself in, the anxiety and fear and love. I picked up this series because I love tea and books, thinking I was getting a cozy story that I would forget tomorrow. Instead, I got a story that will stay with me forever, and one I plan on revisiting soon.
Goodbye, Kianthe and Reyna, I can't wait to see y'all again.