Oooh I remember reading the first one way back, didn’t realize the third book was out already. Exciting to hear that it’s got an intriguing plot, I’ve honestly never managed to get into cozy fantasy as a genre that much since I often just find myself… bored I guess.
Have you read her other book This Gilded Abyss? It was really fun and a very stark departure from the cozy genre
Yes!! I prefer Tea You at the Altar over This Gilded Abyss, but I do wonder when the sequel to that one will come out. Ironically, the second Tea & Tomes book ran into the "cozy fantasy" problem for me, which is in part why I didn't like it as much the other two. The genre is definitely still figuring out its strength and weaknesses, and I think it's always interesting to see discussions about it online.
Oh for sure, definitely exciting to witness the birth of a new (sub?)genre.
It’s a tricky genre for sure, and one with much much more reliance on characters since they often lack a central driving threat to create tension. Even still, I feel like characters can’t be the only thing fueling the story.
I absolutely adored House on the Cerulean Sea, whereas some other titles even if I really like the characters I just end up not having the motivation to finish.
I think maybe another (often underdeveloped IMO) aspect is the worldbuilding. Quite a few of the cozy fantasies I’ve come across have had rather generic settings, which is quite a shame since even a bit of spice would go a long way when the characters are so well written.
When you look at books from like Becky Chambers for example, which I think often borderline the cozy genre, even with a completely meandering plot they never fail to grab my attention through super intriguing worldbuilding and seeing how characters navigate their lives in it.
Oooh I remember reading the first one way back, didn’t realize the third book was out already. Exciting to hear that it’s got an intriguing plot, I’ve honestly never managed to get into cozy fantasy as a genre that much since I often just find myself… bored I guess.
Have you read her other book This Gilded Abyss? It was really fun and a very stark departure from the cozy genre
Yes!! I prefer Tea You at the Altar over This Gilded Abyss, but I do wonder when the sequel to that one will come out. Ironically, the second Tea & Tomes book ran into the "cozy fantasy" problem for me, which is in part why I didn't like it as much the other two. The genre is definitely still figuring out its strength and weaknesses, and I think it's always interesting to see discussions about it online.
Oh for sure, definitely exciting to witness the birth of a new (sub?)genre.
It’s a tricky genre for sure, and one with much much more reliance on characters since they often lack a central driving threat to create tension. Even still, I feel like characters can’t be the only thing fueling the story.
I absolutely adored House on the Cerulean Sea, whereas some other titles even if I really like the characters I just end up not having the motivation to finish.
I think maybe another (often underdeveloped IMO) aspect is the worldbuilding. Quite a few of the cozy fantasies I’ve come across have had rather generic settings, which is quite a shame since even a bit of spice would go a long way when the characters are so well written.
When you look at books from like Becky Chambers for example, which I think often borderline the cozy genre, even with a completely meandering plot they never fail to grab my attention through super intriguing worldbuilding and seeing how characters navigate their lives in it.
That's a great anaylsis, agreed with everything you said!