Two Cozy Fantasies to Read With a Cup of Tea
The Tea Dragon Society & The Crescent Moon Tea Room
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Hi Cozy Readers,
How is your summer going? We’re now squarely at the midpoint, with heat waves rolling in and out. Have you found any good books to read? Have you enjoyed some time reading outside? I’d love to hear about it!
Right now, I’m in the thick of moving. My days are full of packing, decluttering, and tackling all sorts of life admin. Still, I’ve been carving out at least half an hour most mornings to read—because in stressful times, I want to make sure there’s still a bit of daily pleasure that brings me back to myself.
This month, I’ve been hunting for cozy fantasies that feature tea. And good news: there are quite a few!
My first pick was The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Savinski. This historical, witchy tale takes place in late-1800s Chicago, where three sisters have opened a tearoom.
But these sisters are also witches with the gift of divination. So their tearoom isn’t just about the joy of sipping tea—it’s also a place for tasseomancy, the art of reading tea leaves to glimpse the future. The story centers around a pivotal moment in their lives, as they face a curse, an impossible task from the council of witches, and the pull of passions that might lead them away from one another.
I’m currently halfway through, and while I don’t think I’ll finish it right now, I’m still glad I picked it up—it’s offered some beautiful, cozy moments when I needed them. And even though the pacing is slower than what I’m craving at this particular moment in life, it still has an adorable sentient house and a time-traveling cat (!)—so if you love slow, ethereal, character-rich stories, this one might be perfect for you.
Now, let’s talk about the tea—because that is something I’ve truly loved in this book. The sensory details are delightful: the scent of herbs wafting through the house, the clatter of teapots, and women in elegant dresses sipping tea as they await their readings. Here’s a favorite quote:
“Time at the Crescent Moon continued to turn, and before anyone thought to notice, summer slipped ever so slowly into autumn. The house took all the light linens that had still been resting against some of the more comfortable chairs in the parlors and exchanged them for thick woolen blankets that customers could use to ward off the brutal Chicago chill. Then it collected the floral decorations that were lingering in the corners of the shop and replaced them with dried marigolds, crisp red and brown leaves, and cinnamon sticks.
The customers certainly noted the difference with a surge of delight. They lingered in the threshold of the shop just a moment longer to savor the first whiff of cloves and cardamom and then sank into their chairs in a way that suggested they would order a second pot of tea and enjoy the present company a tad longer than originally planned.”
—Stacy Savinski, The Crescent Moon Tearoom
It’s a sensory-rich, witchy fantasy that weaves tea into every corner—even as the story stretches into the world of circuses, writing, and deeper forms of divination.
The second book I picked up was The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill. This is a middle-grade graphic novel series (currently three books) about a young girl, the daughter of a blacksmith, who stumbles upon a tea dragon house in the woods. Tea dragons are small, adorable creatures—with tea leaves and flowers growing from their antlers—though they’re known to give a playful nip now and then.
This book has been recommended to me so many times, and I finally picked it up. I’m so glad I did—it’s completely charming. The artwork is cozy and calming, and the story is full of warmth. There’s plenty of tea-drinking on the page too, with lovely teapots, wisps of steam turning into memories, and the quiet joy of being in community.
If you’re looking for a gentle, tea ritual experience wrapped in adorable magic, this is a perfect read—especially for a quiet afternoon when you want something soul-soothing and beautifully illustrated.
☕ So those are the tea-ish cozy fantasies I wandered into this month. Have you read anything recently that made you want to brew a pot of tea or curl up in a quiet nook? I’d love to hear your tea-themed book recs—or anything cozy you’ve loved lately!
—Emma
Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens! When I'm not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me crafting fictional tales in my notebooks, spending quality time with my adorable pet bunny, or savoring a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
You might also enjoy my other newsletter, Mystics Reading Society, a welcoming space where books, personal growth, and magic intertwine, nurturing your soul one page at a time. We’re currently slow reading When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. Join us as we study one chapter at a time. Read the most recent post here: This Very Moment is the Perfect Teacher
I have never heard of either of these books, but saving this to remember to read these when the rainy season starts here in Portland. They sound like perfect companions for an afternoon in a comfy chair at a teashop. ☕ 📖