Two for Tea: Welcome to Azathe

                            

Title: Two for Tea: Welcome to Azathe

Series: Cambric Creek #4

Author: C.M. Nascosta

Published: September 29, 2023

Pages: 174

Genre: Paranormal Romance

The Azathé Tea Room is a strange place, indeed.
There are no servers, no menus — do mind our hostess, though, she can get a bit underfoot! Help yourself to a book while you wait, and be sure to shuffle your tarot deck well before placing your order.

Harper Hollingsworth wasn’t looking for a friend. She wanted peace and quiet. Someplace to lose herself in a book and not think about being a misfit; not think about her coven or her disconnect from the craft as her mother taught it, not think about being the odd goth out everywhere she went. She didn't want to think about her lack of magical ambition, as she was regularly told by her mother's poison-tongued familiar, and more than that — she didn't want to feel. Anything.

Companionship wasn’t her aim the day she stepped into the odd little tea room, just off Cambric Creek’s bustling Main Street. She wanted to settle into the shadows and get lost there, and if she had to talk to anyone, it would be to herself.

She didn’t expect the shadows to talk back.

To the strange, seldom seen owner of one of Cambric Creek's oddest businesses, tea is more than just a beverage. They take pride in both their blends and their unorthodox method of teasing out the order each guest needs to sate more than their thirst. Azathé brews more than a fine cup of tea — they steep the smell of memories, the anticipation of the future, pain and loss, hope and longing, an elixir of health and comfort and feeling in every cup. Residing unseen in the shadows gets a bit lonely at times, an undignified emotion for one as old as themselves, and so they have made it their business to get to know their unwitting neighbors one cup of tea at a time. Guests may not know what to expect when they step over the shop's threshold, but the owner guarantees they will feel something before they leave.

The shadowy proprietor of the Azathé Tea Room isn’t content to watch Harper sink into depression day after day within the walls of their establishment. Once they intervene, Harper is drawn into their world of oddity and emotions, where the darkest shadows can reside in the light, and even the most mildly macabre witch can find her place.

Harper is having a rough time. She's lost her father, and her mother has packed up their life and moved them to a tiny town. But don't you worry because that tiny town is Cambric Creek, Harper!! 

All joking aside, this book is beautiful. Harper's struggle with depression through grief is palpable. But seeing the sun peak through the clouds of that depression and grief is also really lovely. Then you also get to see her working her way through the choices she made while in the thick of that grief. Specifically the choice to leave the witch college. 

Obviously, the best part of this is watching Azathé slowly introduce themself to Harper. She walks into their tea shop, and they are drawn to her. They give her perfect tea pairings for her moods and the books she's reading. They guide her back toward her craft. Teaching her that she can learn and grow in her craft without a formal university setting. And maybe that's how she will best flourish. 

And of course all of this is taking place in Cambric Creek. So we get all of the Easter Eggs and cameos! I've got my eye out for a few things that were hinted at in this one! We also get some very steamy moments between Harper and Azathé. This is definitely the least horny of the Cambric Creek books in the world. But don't let that fool you. These two get up to some good stuff. Azathé is a living shadow and can take any shape they choose. And I do many any... So sign me up for the soft dom, living shadow partner who tells you what to read and serves you tailored afternoon teas and snacks to curate the most perfect afternoons!

Ratings

Stars: 5/5

Spice: 4/5