Alchemy and a Cup of Tea by Rebecca Thorne finds Kianthe and Reyna settling into their new life as a married couple, one as the most powerful elemental mage of the land and the other the ruler of the Queendom. It’s a lot of responsibility, though the two women are sure they can weather it—that is, until the cozy town of Tawney where they thought they could dwell in relative privacy becomes overrun by tourists hoping to get a glimpse of them. To make matters worse, it seems that a rogue alchemist is after Reyna and is causing strife within the Magicary. So as Kianthe and Reyna hunt down this alchemist, they have to grapple with what the rest of their lives will look like, and if they can keep their lives as small and safe as they want.

By the fourth book of this series, it’s nice and familiar to return to this world, and also kind of bittersweet that it’s ending. These books aren’t exactly cerebral or complex, but they’re a lovely escape from reality and a break between heavier books. (Listening to this audiobook in between reading sections of Words of Radiance, for example, is an interesting experience.) And though this is the last of the series, it’s nice to see Thorne still exploring the lore of this world, expanding upon the magic system. I was intrigued by the differences between elemental magic and alchemy, and how the power dynamic between the two types of magic users affects their society.

More than that, though, I liked how Kianthe and Reyna’s relationship has grown and evolved. They’ve always been an endearing couple, and I like that they have each other’s backs so much in this book. They work together, but are also willing and able to trust each other with separate missions. It’s refreshing to see a fictional couple not defined by dysfunction or miscommunication.

I also thought the subplot about tourists in Tawney was delightful. Seeing how much strain the locals were under with the sudden influx of rowdy, sometimes rude tourists was distressing, since by book four, I know a lot of these side characters well. It also demonstrates how tourism can be great for a local economy, but the townsfolk have to be eager to deal with it and to adjust their infrastructure to handle such a situation. But overall, this book shows the power of community and friendship, and I love that.

In the end, Alchemy and a Cup of Tea is a good conclusion to this series. It continues to build on the previous three books, and establishes new things, especially in regards to the magic. Also, there are baby dragons, which is always a bonus. And look, this series isn’t meant to be serious literature, so I really take it at face value—fluffy, self-indulgent fantasy with a cozy edge. It’s sweet and doesn’t require much thought, and while I won’t ever consider it a supreme favorite of mine, it isn’t bad. Nothing extraordinary, but nice. And sometimes that’s all one needs.