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.

While I didn't realize this was it was the 4th book in a series I still had a love of fun listening to it. I plan to buy books 1-3 and then do a reread of book 4. But I really enjoyed this one no matter what and I highly recommend this book to everyone.

This was a cozy and magical listen that I finished in one go. Rebecca Thorne was new to me, and I enjoyed her relaxed, low-stakes fantasy style. The narration was excellent, engaging, easy to follow, and added warmth to the story. While the plot was on the lighter side, I think it works well for readers looking for a feel-good, whimsical escape. I’d definitely listen to more from both the author and narrator.

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.

My favourite couple is baaaack!

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. However, I will say again and again 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.

I’ve really enjoyed this series! While it has those cozy vibes, there’s also plenty of intrigue and a compelling plot behind each book. I want to hang out and sip tea at the bookshop, but also go on adventures with these two! I’d love to read more stories set in this world, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on what the author does next.

I’ve really enjoyed this series! While it has those cozy vibes, there’s also plenty of intrigue and a compelling plot behind each book. I want to hang out and sip tea at the bookshop, but also go on adventures with these two! I’d love to read more stories set in this world, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on what the author does next.

I'm so sad that this series is over now, I absolutely loved each of the books in this series and this final one was no different!

If you like cozy fantasy but want something with a little more adventure in it, I highly recommend giving this series a try - there's magic, pirates, dragons, griffins, and even a coup against a terrible queen!

I listened to the audiobook for this one and I really enjoyed the narrator, although I will sy that it still throws me off which voice is for which character!

I don't want to give anything away since this is the final book in the series, but I enjoyed seeing various storylines wrap up and seeing all the characters we've come to love for one last time. The epilogue almost had me crying, it was just nice seeing where everyone ended up!

Thank you so much to MacMillan Audio for the audiobook arc, Alchemy and a Cup of Tea comes out on August 12th and if you haven't started this series, now is a great time!

In this cozy fantasy book we follow yet another great adventure with our main characters Reyna and Kianthe! Their love for each other shows up even more in this book along with their bravery. The quest to fix the world of alchemy in this book really keeps the readers hooked. I really enjoyed reading about the animals in this book and how they assisted our main characters. I would recommend this series to anyone who wants a cozy fantasy with sapphic love and adventures that keep you on your toes. The sense of community in this book is amazing, with their town doing anything for each other. This book was a great addition to the series and one that dives deeper into the magical workings of their world and the costs of secrecy. The audiobook for this series and book is amazing with the narrator really expressing each character personalities and emotions!

Fantastic ending to Reina and Kianthe's story, including a 10 years later epilogue. Getting to explore the Magicary, as well as learn more about alchemy was a lot of fun

This was a lovely end to this series. I really enjoyed getting to know Reyna and Kianthe over these four books. Book three is still my absolute favorite. I liked this one a lot but it didn't sink its teeth in me quite as much as the previous book did.

It was fun and bittersweet to reach the conclusion of this series. I did think the ending was a little rushed (or else maybe I didn't want it to end so soon) but overall this is a good end. This is definitely a good series for anyone who likes a cozy fantasy book (I think fans of Legends & Lattes would also enjoy this one).

I received an ALC of this title from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Where to start? Book Four of the Tomes & Tea series immediately pulls us back into the cozy fantasy world with our FMCs Reyna and Kianthe. Some time may have passed, but the shenanigans haven't subsided at all. I love that after all this time throughout the series Thorne continues to write these characters with the same amount of love (and banter) as they started with in Book One. While this new story encounters the inevitable problems that come with the positions Reyna and Kianthe hold, their dynamic and relationship shows through on top of it all. There aren't many series where you can pick up the fourth book after a few years and feel just as connected to the characters as you do with Tomes & Tea. I think the ending of the story, tying up of the storylines and where we left out FMCs was perfect.

Jessica Threet does an amazing job at narrating this final installment of the series. Her warmth and depth brings life to the characters and helps define their specific personalities.

***4.0 Stars***

Overall,
I loved coming back to these characters and this world. Rebecca Thorne has created a series of books with amazing characters and a world that is cozy with a side of action. I never quite know what's going to happen but the found family, the dragons, the gryphons the magic its all so much fun. This book picks up about a year after the last. Our queen and arc andor are setting out on a new mystery, going to new places and drinking tea all the while. Well done Rebecca. I am not sure if this will be the last book in the series. There is potential for more. I wont spoil it but I can definitely see a 5th book in the series. Recommended to those who loved the first 3 books in this series. This series is for people who like a little cozy in there fantasy but there are definitely stakes and characters in peril.

I received an AudioArc of this book and the narrator is the same who has read for the last 3 books. She does an amazing job. If you you like I audio I would recommend this.

***thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my free and honest review.***

Cozy and whimsical with just enough conflict and scheming to make this a great fantasy read! Kianthe and Reyna are such a cute couple and I love their teamwork and support of each other throughout the book, they are truly couple goals. I loved the dialogue with the dragons and of course Blue Spruce was such a cute character. The magic system was really interesting and unique and the author did an excellent job with world building in this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with the ARC!

This series is often talked about when people list cosy fantasy. I'm not sure I agree. The first book could definitely fit that sub-genre, but as the series has gone on, the stress and responsibilities of the characters have grown and the vibes are less cosy.
Definitely still a low-trigger fantasy story though!

I like the characters a lot and I liked how the whole series was wrapped up in this one. It was interesting to see the dots connected at the 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.

Thank you NetGalley for a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thoroughly enjoyed this last installment of the series. For all the books I’ve particularly enjoyed the fantasy and stakes of the plot while still delivering a cozy and engaging narrative.

Is this really the end?

I enjoyed this series so much. Alchemy and a Cup of Tea is wonderful conclusion to such a lovely series, but does it really have to end? Rebecca Thorne created such a beautiful world, I really don't want to leave! Each book was better than the previous, in my opinion.

I felt as if the characters in this fourth installment were old friends. I didn't struggle at all falling back into the story. The mystery of the three dragon eggs is finally solved. This book still felt cozy and comfortable but with stakes just high enough to keep the reader invested. Once again, the village of Tawney felt like found family, even though they were bombarded with tourists. The core "family" still stood together and supported each other. I thought I would cry at the end of this series, but I actually felt myself smiling... but I could still use some more!

5/5. Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ALC.

What a fantastic end (?) to this series. I think Thorne did a magnificent job tying everything together, bringing in plot threads that were half-forgotten but still lingering to a neat bow. From dragons to griffins, alchemists to mages, and our newest queen, this novel has it all in abundance.

Without spoiling, we pick up a little after the third book with Reyna in her new role, discovering what it's like to be Queen while also striving for the quiet life of running New Leaf. Quickly, she and Kianthe have learned that to have both means a huge change not just for them, but also for the entire town of Tawney. Not to mention who kidnapped Reyna, why there are strange symbols by the Stone of Seeing, and who will become the new Alchemicor?

I think most readers of this series will be more than satisfied with the conclusion. Of course, the end though... Is it the conclusion?

The narrator was excellent. I really enjoyed the voice acting and the flair brought to each character. Unfortunately, the story itself felt meandering and didn’t hold my attention. That said, I did appreciate the sense of humor throughout.

The fantasy elements and world-building were okay, but the mystery and intrigue lacked the thrill and captivation I was hoping for. I can see this appealing to readers who enjoy slower-paced stories with rich detail, even when those details aren’t directly tied to the plot.

The villain’s backstory didn’t feel fully satisfying to me, though others might find it more acceptable.

Spoiler Alert:
I did love the dragon rescue storyline. It reminded me of animal rescues and was genuinely sweet.