Title: Alchemy and a Cup of Tea
Author: Rebecca Thorne, narrated by Jessica Threet
Length: 10 hours, 22 minutes
Genre: Cozy Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ
Is this book part of a series? Yes, this is the fourth and last installment of the Tombes and tea series.
I discovered this book via… Netgalley working with Macmillan Audio
Publish date: August 12th, 2025
Summary (courtesy of Goodreads):
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.
My thoughts:
Spoilers ahead, I will try to keep it to a minimum.
I have read all these books and I adore them. While a bit spicier than the usual cozy series, it has all the other trademarks.
- Charming setting
- Wonderful characters that make you feel like you’re coming home every time you revisit them (seriously, I can’t pass the books in stores without wanting to touch them).
- Action that, while often high stakes, never seems too explicitly gory or graphic.
- Pockets of levity, adorable moments… all the feels honestly.
Reyna and Kienthe have been through everything- leaving their old worlds behind, fending off dragon attacks, outwitting bandits and pirates, learning how to be shop owners, getting married, displacing a corrupt monarch and finally becoming soverein. You woulds think this would allow them a moment’s rest. No. Now we have innept kidnappers, sick stones, enslaved dragons and… tourists. Their little town is overrun and their neighbors are at their wits end. Rogue alchemists and messy magical politics have nothing on the mass that have camped out waiting to see the tea shoppe like it’s freaking Disney Land.
Filled with warmth, laughter and terrible puns; returning to Tawney with this couple is like coming home. When it looked like the shop would have to close, even I cried. We got to see a lot of old characters here, and meet a few new ones. I actually loved Al Chemicore (the Alchemicore- alchemists’ answer to the mage of ages). He was interesting, funny and charming in a “what the heck are social niceties” sort of way. This book threw me a couple curveballs and made me re-evaluate characters. There’s a lot of growth, and we see several relationships grow. I loved this. For me, this was a five star book.
As far as adult content, there is light sexual content (level two spice tops), language, drinking, violence, trauma and references to animal abuse. I would say adults, possibly new adults though younger would find it interesting too.
While this does wrap up the tomes and tea series, it leaves room for new series. A beloved pirate is missing, a pirate war is on the horizon…. and there may have been talk about a favorite couple’s child getting a story down the line. I am here for this.
I was lucky enough to recieve an advanced audio copy of this book from Netgalley and Macmillan audio in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my owm. My thanks!
The book comes out in August! Are you ready?
Happy Reading! See you next time!
Gwen
