What an absolute delight it was to once again visit my friends in the Realm. I'm not going to say much about the plot, because if you're three books into the series, I have no doubt you're anxiously awaiting the chance to read this one. However, I will say, just you wait until you see the library- absolute magic.

Unsurprisingly, Jessica Threet knocks it out of the park once again. She brings the humor, seriousness, and authenticity to this beloved cast of characters seamlessly.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Thorne, Bramble Publishing, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!! this book will be released on Aug 12, 2025, but can be pre-ordered now. This is book 4 and the final to close out the Tomes & Tea series. It is LGBTQ friendly. If you like dragons, alchemy, and cozy reads, you're going to really like this one!

Possible spoilers and author notes:
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 commanding the Realm, running a bookshop, or rescuing baby dragons...but can they save their town from the swarming 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 prison cell, but what the hells. She’s flexible.

With appropriate fanfare, Kianthe “rescues” her wife...but Reyna’s actually a terrible damsel in distress. Even worse, Reyna's cell was booby trapped with a mysterious alchemy circle. What does a radical alchemist want with the Arcandor’s wife? And why did they think they could get away with this?

While they investigate, another problem surfaces in their hometown. Word of New Leaf Tomes and Tea―and its celebrity owners―has finally spread. Tourists are everywhere, harassing the locals and ruining the charm of 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.

Things can’t just be simple, can they

This is the last in the Tomes and Tea series by Rebecca Thorne.
Reyna and Kianthe are great characters who go in fun adventures but I think 4 books was a great place to land with this story.
Alchemy and a Cup of Tea did a great job of having them go on a new adventure while also wrapping up the story and giving a good jump to where they are at in life with the epilogue.
I’d hate for it to get bland just to have more from these two.
This series is perfect for those that love a sapphic cozy story with a bunch of fun characters.

Thank you Net Galley, Macmillan Audio and Rebecca Thorne for the audio arc in exchange for my honest review.

We follow Kianthe and Reyna for one last (?) adventure, this time on the hunt for an evil alchemist, while rescuing both the dragons and their small town home from…tourist capitalism?

The third book wrapped up extended plot points and provided a happy ending - I would’ve been satisfied if the series ended as a trilogy. But, the last chapter introduced a cliffhanger, which is promptly resolved very early on in this fourth book before a new set of baddies are introduced, making me wonder if this volume was an add-on or even necessary. While I think both the author’s writing and audiobook narration has improved over the series, this is yet more of the same and I wasn’t very interested or invested, reading on more for the series conclusion than engaged enjoyment (and to that end I wasn’t completely satisfied because the epilogue leaves it wide open for a fifth book…).

Overall, if you liked the cozy fantasy adventure/romance and punny humour of the previous books then you will likely enjoy this one as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me early access to this audiobook.

Alchemy and a Cup of Tea is the final installment of the Tomes & Tea series, and what a finale it is.

We follow our beloved couple Reyna and Kianthe on another harrowing adventure, because their lives can’t just be simple and calm; that would be too easy.
This book beautifully wraps up all our characters stories, even the background characters, and leaves (ha leaves! like tea leaves? get it?) you feeling warm and cozy just like a good cup of tea.

If a cozy LGBT+ friendly fantasy romance is your ~cup of tea~ ((Kianthe would be proud of my puns)) look no further. This series is amazing from start to finish, a solid 4 stars for all four books.

I typically love a good cozy fantasy book. I didn't love this series overall, but it was good. I like that the author catches you up from book to book so if it's been a minute, you don't feel like you've forgotten everything. The characters were lovable and fun and the narrator was good.

This book came in at a 4.5 for me and I can't wait to see what happens next. I really enjoyed this one because it took us on a different path than the other books. Thorne does a good job making each book it's own entity. The characters you love are still ever present, but this one focuses on the Magicary and Alchemists which was really exciting. The mystery of the archemical circles was creative and really kept me playing and playing this audio book.
The narration was amazing and she did a great job giving everyone very prominent voices.

Cozy fantasy is a genre I didn't know I needed! I really enjoyed this book! I hadn't read any of the other books, but I didn't feel like I missed anything. Teh author caught me up in what I needed to know without spoiling too much of the books before, so I can go back and read and enjoy them. I loved the characters, and the plot was enjoyable. I liked the narrator and how she gave each character their own voice. I look forward to the next book!

Alchemy and a Cup of Tea by Rebecca Thorne is the fourth and final installment of the Tomes and Tea cozy fantasy series. I think this one was my favorite. I loved seeing Kianthe and Reyna on another adventure as well as settling into a happy life together. The audio narration was perfect, as usual for Jessica Threet.

The fourth installment in the Tomes & Tea series, Reyna and Kianthe are back ruling the Queendom with one notable foe this time around: rogue alchemists. When Reyna is kidnapped and later rescued by Kianthe, they find themselves in a trap. Meanwhile their once cozy tea shop is experiencing its own crisis as tourists flock for a peek at its celebrity owners. They’re in for a lot more than they’re prepared for.
I find this series sweet and easy to read. Fantasy mixed with romance & adventure - complete with a happy ending. The audiobook narration also did a good job at bringing this story to life.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Book 4 of the Tomes and Teas series doesn't disappoint! Reina and Keinth are settled happily into wedded bliss, but things just can't be simple, can they? A lovely finale to the series!

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.

I have such fond memories of reading CSTWT back when it was self published and it's crazy to think that now I'm here, having just finished the last book in this series as it's traditionally published. It's bittersweet to say goodbye to all of my friends.

I found myself tearing up at multiple moments of this audiobook, which was embarrassing, because I was listening to it at work. Especially when they were thinking they'd have to shut down the shop- that got me in my heart. Reyna my beloved DONT CRY!!!! I just love her.

I think the only thing I'd say about this book is that everything was just... kind of dour. The situation was looking down from page 1 til like 85% into the book with very little silver lining or light at the end of the tunnel. It ended wonderfully and happily and I really enjoyed the Serena epilogue (spin off, perchance?), but I wanted some more happiness and coziness in between tense moments! And I wanted more out of how the visitors were going to settle into the village and how they handled it in the end. It felt like a much more serious entry in the series than the past 3 books, which wasn't all bad, it just doesn't quite fit as comfortably in with the others. Still, I really enjoyed it, and I cannot WAIT for Rebecca's next books!

P.S. Maybe a This Gilded Abyss sequel soon???? eyes emoji

First.... I want to say that I did this all wrong 🤣 this series HAS been on my TBR but I haven't gotten to it yet. Also I uh.......didn't realize it had so many volumes already 😅 So this is book four......so I have now started this series VERY out of order lol 🤣 No matter, this is not the first, nor I'm sure it will be the last time I'll accidentally read a series out of order. (that all being said I was truly NOT confused at all jumping into the series at book 4 🤔 so props to the author big time on that)

ANYWAY.......this book was AMAZING 😍😍😍😍!!!!

It just blew away all my expectations of a cozy fantasy read 💗 I've been a BIG fan of cozy fantasy ever since I picked up a few books in this genre last year. I just really enjoy the way cozy fantasy focuses on character driven stories and beautiful settings.....the low stakes feel of the conflicts is so effortless...I just have never read a cozy fantasy I didn't enjoy.

Now THIS book, this book takes ALL the best of cozy fantasy but dials up the conflict just a bit more. I think this book is honestly an amazing in-between for people who want the vibes of cozy fantasy but get bored sometimes with the relaxed/calm pacing. This book had amazing pacing, just so exciting. I loved the way the story all came together with the big villain reveal at the end.

I will definitely be going out of my way to acquire books 1-3 of this series ASAP!!! I'm just so very excited to read more adventures with our 2 FMCs 💗

I received the audiobook version of this story from NetGalley in return for a full and honest review. The audiobook was fantastic 😍 just so enjoyable to listen to.

I think this book would be perfect for anyone wanting to try out cozy fantasy, also for anyone who wants to read a sapphic love story 😊

My review was posted of Goodreads and Fable.

So sad that this series is ending! Tomes and Tea has been such a fantastic series to follow, and I wish we could stay with these characters forever. Sapphic, cozy, and magical, this series evokes the feeling of enchantment, whimsy, and wonder. All the different fantasy elements like pirates and alchemists bring a classic 'fantasy book' feel, but with the addition of a diverse queer charcters, adorable anaimal compainsions, and a ton of bad puns, the story still feels light and fun. As a huge lover of fantasy but not necessarily all the darker themes, this is the perfect blend for when I want something more cozy and engaging. I have been following this series since the first book release, and I highly recommend the audiobooks because the narrator is phenomenal.
Diving into the actual review, I think this book did a great job closing out the series, even though I did feel like this book was a bit rushed. There was just so much introduced throughout the series that in order to close the series, there was a TON of stuff to address. So while I think the book did a good job touching on everything and overall it was very satisfying, it felt like we were going from one point to another very fast. I think there was just so much stuff in this series and it could have benefited from either a longer book, a spin-off, or ending some plots earlier to help account for the layout. The connections for the conclusion were done very well, and I could follow quite easily, but again, the main character for that felt last-minute or rushed. I would have liked to explore it more as I felt we didn't get to see enough of their motives or how the magic worked.
Even though this book was more plot than romance, I still loved getting to see Kianthe and Reyna again. I do wish there were more romance vibes, but I get why this one had to focus more on the plot. But I do want more romance and cuteness. This book took a step away from what I was expecting (not in a bad way, just different). Reyna as queen was amazing, and the cute winter holiday town was so random and fun to read about. Some elements of this book felt a bit like dart dartboard and see what sticks, but it was pretty fun. Looking back at the plot/story, things were a bit random, but while reading, I didn't care. It was fun, cozy, and entertaining

I find myself struggling because while I don't care too much about the aforementioned issues, I do feel like this book could have been a bit smoother in flow and format, but I love this series so much and did enjoy the book. I wouldn't even say I'm disappointed, cause I am not, but I think this book just didn't fit with the rest of the series. Maybe because it was the last but it just didn't bring the same vibes of romance, action, and cozy adventure experienced in the previous books. May update as I process on this.
Thank you for the audiobook arc! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I think this final book was the perfect wrap up for the series. I liked this book the most. It had the perfect amount of action and love. I think the way this series was wrapped up was perfect.

Cozy vibes, magical slow burn, and a tea shop I wish I could actually visit

Alchemy and a Cup of Tea by Rebecca Thorne is like curling up with a warm blanket and your favorite mug—comforting, a little whimsical, and full of charm. The story has this really gentle magic to it, both literally and emotionally, and I found myself smiling more than once while listening. The narration by Jessica Threet also really helped bring it all to life—soft, expressive, and cozy, just like the book itself.

Pros:
• The vibes are immaculate. A magical tea shop, a slow-burn romance, and a sense of community made this feel like a warm hug.
• The main characters have great chemistry, and the emotional depth sneaks up on you in the best way.
• The worldbuilding is subtle but effective—never overwhelming, but it makes you wish you could live there.
• Jessica Threet’s narration is a perfect fit—she really nails the tone and pacing.

Cons:
• The pacing is very slow, which mostly works, but there were a few points where I wished things would move along just a little faster.
• Some of the side characters felt a bit underdeveloped, especially considering how rich the setting is.
• Not a ton of high-stakes plot, which is fine if you’re here for the vibes, but maybe not if you’re looking for action or tension.

Overall, this book isn’t trying to be flashy or fast-paced—it’s soft, steady, and emotionally satisfying. If you’re in the mood for something cozy with a touch of magic (and you’re okay with a slower journey), it’s absolutely worth the listen and a read!!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Tor & NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

Jessica Threet has just become an auto listen narrator after listening to this. Her narration and passion for these characters really came through her performance and really contributed to my enjoyment of the book. I did not realize this was part of a series and had no issue with the story and I really look forward to listening to the rest of the series in the future. Alchemy and a Cup of Tea is perfect for all cozy fantasy fans who are looking for a book that's low stakes and heart warming.

An amazing addition to this series I was hooked form the very beginning. I’m obsessed with the characters and can’t get enough! Cant wait to read more and force anyone who will listen to pick up this series!

I really enjoyed this book. It is fun and entertaining. I love how the characters developed in this book and the more detailed explanation of the magic. This book is full of adventure and humor. This is a fantastic cozy fantasy.