A Coup of Tea

Tea Princess Chronicles, Book 1

By: Casey Blair

Narrated by: Natalie Naudus

When the fourth princess of Istalam is due to dedicate herself to a path serving the crown, she makes a choice that shocks everyone, herself most of all: She leaves.

In hiding and exiled from power, Miyara finds her place running a tea shop in a struggling community that sits on the edge of a magical disaster zone. But there's more brewing under the surface of this city—hidden magic and hidden machinations—that threaten all the people who've helped her make her own way.

Miyara may not be a princess anymore, but with a teapot in hand, she'll risk her newfound freedom to discover a more meaningful kind of power.

A Coup of Tea is the first book of the Tea Princess Chronicles, a cozy fantasy series full of magic tea, friendship, and lifting people up even when the odds seem impossible.

©2021 Casey Blair (P)2023 Podium Audio

Lots of social justice, deeper than it sounds

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book! Strong female characters, with magic central to the plot, but the story is really about social justice and advocacy for self and others. It's great watching this woman find her way in the world, and figure out how to best serve others. I bought the second book in the series before finishing the first, and I am finding excuses to block out the world to follow the pathway of Miyara. I'm sure my time with Miyara is part of what caused me to be called a "badass" at work by one of my friends, which was such a pleasant surprise for this 50-something usually meek reader.

New Start

When you pick up a book for a reading challenge you are never sure how well you will like it.

I was surprised by how much I loved this story. Miyara is like many young adults trying to figure who she is and her place in the world. The collection of people she brings into her life add to the richness of this story. It was remarkable to watch her grow and to see that her journey has just begun. #CMCon26

Very enjoyable!

I really enjoyed how easy it was to fall into this book. It was over before I even realized what happened :) . It felt good to read and I am looking forward to the second book.

Engrossing cozy fantasy of intrigue and magic!

If you had told me that I would be so thoroughly enthralled by a story about tea, I would never have believed you. And you would have been right. This story is not about tea. Or not just about tea. Tea is the vessel. But the story is something much headier. It is about finding acceptance. It's about joining community. It is about making space and finding happiness.

The narration is incredible. The story is well-paced.

I see there are two more books in the series and I am frankly quite scared to go and listen to them. Scared that they will never live up to the incredibly high bar set by this first novel.

Absolutely recommended.

Amazing book, wonderful performance

This book is a cozy, emotional, and socially conscious adventure fantasy. The characters are unique and delightful, the world is refreshingly not built on Western Europe, and the story is deep, spiritual, and meaningful without being heavy handed. The ending was incredibly satisfying. One of my favorite books of all time and I look forward to the next one in the series.