
Member Reviews

What a perfect way to end a series! Such a heartfelt, cozy, romantasy that I had to finish in one sitting! Will definitely be missing this series!

Alchemy and a Cup of Tea by Rebecca Thorne is a charming and cozy conclusion to the Tomes & Tea series, blending whimsy, romance, and fantasy with a heartfelt exploration of community and belonging. This deluxe edition, featuring a never-before-seen bonus short story, is a beautiful collector’s item for fans of the series and new readers alike.
Thorne’s storytelling shines through her beloved lesbian protagonists, Reyna and Kianthe, as they navigate everything from rescuing baby dragons to dealing with the unexpected consequences of newfound fame. The narrative balances lighthearted moments with genuine stakes, such as Reyna’s mysterious kidnapping and the challenge of preserving their quaint town’s charm amid a tourist invasion. Narrator Jessica Threet’s warm and engaging performance adds an extra layer of intimacy to this cozy fantasy romance, making it an inviting listen.

This was the perfect ending to this series. Alchemy and a Cup of Tea reminded me why I fell in love with this series in the first place. It tugged on the heartstrings while also brining in the heartwarming moments between the characters. This was truly a warm hug, cozy vibes book. I appreciate how Thorne incorporates more action and adventure into the story while still staying in the cozy genre. I also adored how there were so many tie ins to previous books that had little side plots left open ended that now have resolution. I loved the audiobook narration for this. I’m a huge fan of Threet’s narration and the clear distinction in voices used for the different POVs. There’s no confusion whose POV we’re in which I really appreciate. I also love the emotion that’s wrapped into the narration. You can’t help but feel what the characters are feeling. Overall, I adored this series and felt this was a fitting wrap up.

🙌🏻 What worked for me:
• I absolutely loved this book; it was a wonderful wrap-up to the series!
• I'm a Reyna and Kianthe stan forever – their dynamic is just the best.
• The epilogue was a beautiful way to see what became of our favorite characters, tying everything up so wonderfully.
• The dragon storyline was fantastic, expertly bringing things full circle back to the first book and resolving lingering plot lines.
• Ponder (the little gryphon) and the baby dragons are the most adorable things ever – I loved them!
• The found family aspect continued to shine, showing the residents of Tawney unite to keep New Leaf open amidst the influx of tourists.
🚫 What didn't work for me (because I wish this series could go on forever):
• WHAT HAPPENED TO DREGGS?! Will I ever find out?
• And Feo and Wylan?! Are they not together?! 😩
🤜🏻 Would I recommend: Absolutely! This series conclusion was a joy to read, and I'm desperately hoping for a sequel series (hint hint Rebecca 😉). Overall, infinity out of 5 stars!
Read if you enjoy:
✔️ Cozy fantasy with heart
✔️ Found family stories
✔️ Adorable magical creatures
✔️ Charming small-town settings
✔️ Satisfying series conclusions

God I loved this series. It was romantasy with a dose of extra heart. LGBTQ, humor, love, tension… yes to all those things. I am only sad to see it have to end.

This whole series was an absolute delight!
I love how Thorne manages to introduce tension and action into the story while somehow not losing that cozy vibe overall. It's a tricky balance but she pulls it off brilliantly! The griffon and dragon characters are so engaging and make for a wonderful addition to the comfortable feel of the book.
I know Thorne has indicated that this is the last book in this series, but near the end, we hear about some unresolved drama involving characters from one of the previous books, so this lights the fires of hope in my reader's heart that she might consider more spin-offs or revisiting this world in future.
Thanks to NetGalley, Tor, and Macmillan Audio for providing me with advance copies of the ebook and eaudiobook. The audiobook is very well done. The narrator, Jessica Threet, does a wonderful job creating unique and distinctive voices for the various characters. She has exceptional diction and is a pleasure to listen to.
This is a series I could see myself enjoying as rereads multiple times. It would be perfect as a palate cleanser between heavier, darker reads as a comfort read or a reset.
There are same sex relationships in the story, but everything is very chaste. I think there may be a kiss or two at most, and some handholding. The healthy relationship modeling game is strong in this book, both with our main couple, and with tertiary characters in the story, as well.
I would recommend this to patrons who love cozy fantasy. Readers of the Legends & Latte series would absolutely enjoy this series, for sure. I think folks who like gentle sapphic romance, low-stakes fantasy, and small town slice-of-life books would enjoy this title.

A perfect end to a wonderful cozy series!! I really had a great time with all these books and I'm a little sad it's over.
But the story lines all wrapped up nicely and even saw the end to one that I kind of forgot about so there's no major loose ends!
However I feel there's still so many stories that could be told if a spin off series is ever written!
This book still had a really engaging mystery, while also having some good topics on how our two main characters had some choices to make with their lives being extremely public and high ranking officials but still kept the cozier lower stakes atmosphere.
There was even more world building expanding on the alchemy of this world which was so cool and fun to see and definitely could have another series with an alchemist as an MC.
But for now I'm very happy with where this left off and have enjoyed my time with Reyna and Kianthe!!

Another 5-star book from Rebecca Thorne! I am obsessed with this series. I am heartbreaking that this is the end. I loved the way the series wrapped up, but I am so sad to leave these characters. I guess it's time for a reread.

I was super grateful to receive this ARC, especially after enjoying the first three books so much, but it just didn’t land the same way for me. The cozy magic and sharp character dynamics I adored in the earlier stories felt a little muted here. The pacing was slower, and I found myself missing the emotional tension and whimsical banter that made the others so addictive.
That said, I still believe in this world and these characters, so I’m hoping that when I revisit it with fresh eyes, I’ll find the charm I was looking for!

Rebecca Thorne closed up the series fantastically and made me fall in love with Kianthe and Reyna all over again.

A great ending to an excellent series. I love how this story was wrapped up and have Thoroughly enjoyed each installment, all the crazy adventures, and of course the puns. Looking forward to the author’s next story!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

The perfect cozy wrap-up for this series. Full of adventure and whimsy, you’re set right back into a world with your favorite mage and queen who just want to be a bookseller and tea maker. Tasked to once again save the realm from an unknown foe, this time an alchemist using runes to siphon power from a range of sources. I could read about Reyna and Kianthe forever and ever, five glowing stars.

What a way to wrap up this series! The threads of the first three books really come together in this finale while weaving through some consequences from how the characters have changed over the years. We see new and old favourites come together and witness the depth and maturity that Reyna and Kianthe’s relationship has found due to their individual growth and together. I will miss this world and will be happy to reread.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy!! What a wonderful series. This one is a delight to read as all the rest have been all the characters are fully realized and now we get to see them try to navigate life after the emotional turmoil. I can't wait to see what is next on this for Rebecca.

This book takes what the previous three gave and raises the bar for a satisfying, cozy ending!
I'm a fan of cozy fantasy and I think this book's climax was done beautifully. Those in this for Kianthe and Reyna's relationship will love seeing them put everything into sticking side-by-side. What I love most about this series is its sense of justice towards those who've been mistreated, and I think this book delivered on that front best!
I love a good lore drop, and I love when it's sprinkled through multiple books so that you're gradually gaining understanding with the characters. I feel a lot of the things hinted at previously were answered, and this world feels deeper and full at the end!
Overall, I think this book stands above the others and elevates the whole series with how well it's put together!
I am reviewing an advanced copy that I received from NetGalley; the opinions above are my own.

A cute and cozy wrap up to this series. I've loved all of the books in it, but this one ended with happiness and a glimpse toward the future of all of our friends in this series. I'm so glad I got to read it early! Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5
What a wonderful way to end the series. With how the third book ended, I was concerned that maybe this book wasn't completely necessary, but I'm so happy we got it. It answered a lot of questions and solved some mysteries that have been around since book 1. Also, I liked seeing them trying to get back to normal life and the struggle it was for them. Reyna and Kianthe are one of my favorite couples in fiction and since the beginning, I just wanted them to be happy and live their life peace. Very happy with this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the ebook and Libro.fm for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Rebecca Thorne doesn't miss in this series. Like the rest of the series, this is best read while wrapped up in a blanket with a hot beverage because it is COZY! But don't worry, there's plenty of action and suspense to keep you on your toes.
We see many of the events and story lines come to a beautiful and satisfying end. We get more deep into Reyna and Kianthe's relationship and see what it looks like for them in the future along with the community they've built. I also loved that we got to learn more about the magic that is prevalent in this world and their connection to it.
Highly recommend this series! While I am so satisfied with the ending to this story, I truly hope we're not seeing the end of this world and some of these characters in Rebecca Thorne's writing.

I have to say I was happy to get my hands on an ARC of this one after the cliffhanger ending in book 3! (Thanks Netgalley!) In this one Kianthe & Reyna find that their roles as high-profile figures begins to catch up with the little slice of home they've carved out for themselves in Tawney.
From kidnapping, conferring with dragons, and hunting down alchemists, to city planning and tourist crowd control, this book really has a little bit of everything. As these books have gone along, they have gotten decidedly less simple and cozy, but I guess that's true to life. As soon as we find something to settle into, something else comes along to shake us up.
I really enjoy how the found family that began in book 1 has continued to grow in size and strength of bond. As well as the discussions on magic, it's origins, and uses.
The scope of the book has it feeling a little scattered or less focused, as there are multiple pulls on Reyna and Kianthe's attention, and I felt this did take away from a smooth narrative in some areas. The story does come together well in the end, just follows a couple rabbit trails along the way.
This is definitely a book where reading earlier books in the series would be a smart choice. And it does provide a satisfying end to this leg of Reyna & Kianthe's journey.