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Theodora's Tea Shop

A beguiling must-read fantasy debut full of witchy magic and secrets

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Theodora's Tea Shop

By: Christy Anne Jones
Narrated by: Eva Feiler
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'Occasionally, a book comes along that feels like real magic'


Perfect for fans of TJ Klune and Sarah Beth Durst, Theodora's Tea Shop by Christy Anne Jones is a fantasy novel brimming with witchy magic, found family, self-love and lots of warm cups of tea.

Nothing is more dangerous than a witch with secrets.

Dorothy Louise Walcott should have died at fourteen. She is now twenty-three, timid, chronically ill, and yearning for a life she can never have. Her dreams of studying magic and publishing her discoveries feel impossible: even if license-less magic weren't outlawed, her family would never allow it. But if Dot stays at home any longer, she will wither and fade away. So with nothing but a carpetbag and her ambergris tonic, Dot flees dreary Seafarthing for the capital city of Alliaster, where she tumbles headfirst into an apprenticeship with the most powerful witch in the city: Theodora.

Empress of an underground syndicate peddling magic through the quaint façade of her tea shop, Theodora is everything Dot wants to be: beautiful, witty, confident. An esteemed oil painter one day, a member of parliament the next, the many faces of Theodora have charmed power from the city's elite. Under her tutelage and in the company of the tea shop's eccentric staff - headstrong teenager Rupert, brooding and Byronic magician Lio, and the kindly spirit Belchambre - Dot finally has the chance to be her true magical self.

But the dazzling and enigmatic Theodora has more secrets than she does faces. When her dark past comes calling, it threatens to drown her entire empire - and take Dot, the tea shop, and the city of Alliaster with it.



PRAISE FOR THEODORA'S TEA SHOP:


'Occasionally, a book comes along that feels like real magic. Christy Anne Jones renders Dot's adventures with exquisite sensory detail and fabulistic gravitas. Theodora's Tea Shop is both intimate and grand, familial and brutal, and I'll be thinking about its witches and wretched spirits for a long time.' - Emily Yu-Xian Qin, author of Aunt Tigress


'This book is a true gem, with glimmering facets of darkness and light. Jones' lush descriptions evoke the dream-like quality of a Ghibli film, while her worldbuilding harkens to the wider scope of books like Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell or The Night Circus. Magic radiates off the page and Jones' world feels both historical and otherworldly. Theodora's Tea Shop is stunning!' - Moorea Corrigan, Sunday Times Bestselling Author of Thistlemarsh


'A lovely mix of tender found-family and magic that isn't afraid to charm and terrorize in equal parts, Theodora's Tea Shop doesn't hold back its punches or its hugs. A tale full to bursting with vibrant, achingly struggling (and prevailing!) characters, and a landscape of spirits and spells that weaves together a delightful and whimsical world.' - Lynn Buchanan, author of The Dollmakers


'A feast for the imagination, Theodora's Tea Shop is filled to the brim with delicious characters, luscious visuals, fragrant twists, and delectable morsels of heartbreak, joy, loss and hope. A remarkable book from a masterful new voice.' - Benjamin Liar, author of The Failures


'Christy Anne Jones has brewed a bewitching concoction . . . The perfect read for those who want a hint of darkness at the centre of their fantasy novels' - Books+Publishing©2026 Christy Anne Jones (P)2026 Headline Publishing Group Limited Fantasy Historical Magic Paranormal Sword & Sorcery Magic Users Witty Fiction Witchcraft
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Critic reviews

An effervescent delight! I know Theodora will be living rent-free in my head for some time to come...
A lovely mix of tender found-family and magic that isn't afraid to charm and terrorize in equal parts, Theodora's Tea Shop doesn't hold back its punches or its hugs. A tale full to bursting with vibrant, achingly struggling (and prevailing!) characters, and a landscape of spirits and spells that weaves together a delightful and whimsical world.
A feast for the imagination, Theodora's Tea Shop is filled to the brim with delicious characters, luscious visuals, fragrant twists, and delectable morsels of heartbreak, joy, loss and hope. A remarkable book from a masterful new voice.
This book is a true gem, with glimmering facets of darkness and light. Jones' lush descriptions evoke the dream-like quality of a Ghibli film, while her worldbuilding harkens to the wider scope of books like Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell or The Night Circus. Magic radiates off the page and Jones' world feels both historical and otherworldly. Theodora's Tea Shop is stunning!
Theodora's Tea Shop is wonderfully atmospheric and endlessly fascinating.
Christy Anne Jones has brewed a bewitching concoction . . . The perfect read for those who want a hint of darkness at the centre of their fantasy novels.
Occasionally, a book comes along that feels like real magic. Christy Anne Jones renders Dot's adventures with exquisite sensory detail and fabulistic gravitas.Theodora's Tea Shop is both intimate and grand, familial and brutal, and I'll be thinking about its witches and wretched spirits for a long time
All stars
Most relevant
Story starts with slow pace that establish main characters and world in way that keeps reader locked in to get more information.

As Dorothy 'Dot' Louise Walcott, seeks apprenticeship from witch Theodora in order to understand what happened for her in her childhood author does excellent job to weave establishing magic system and descriptions of state of world as part of story so that they don't feel like lore dump. Author first establish characters and some mysteries about them well, but in second half of the book when things start to happen in faster pace and there are lots of plot twists author also lost me somewhat as some of the twists didn't feel like they fit well in story that was already told. Like how it was revealed that coven of witches serial murdered dozens of people just to ask forgiveness of their haste in past that caused them almost to kill one of the characters and members of our main cast find this somewhat acceptable reason.

Also motivation of main antagonist made end chapters to feel bit convoluted. Story also failed to create sympathetic link between me and the characters, which left impact of them dying quite mild.

Book is easy to read and Eva Feiler does excellent job of narrating the story. I don't feel that I wasted my credits by buying the book, even though I didn't found some of the plot twist to make sense.

Intriguing, but flawed debut novel about witches

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Dot's character is wonderfully written and so is Theodora's. There are some truly beautifully written and enchanting chapters. The ending seemed a bit rushed but as a first published book, amazing! Can't wait for her next.

Simply lovely I’d say

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This isn’t the sort of book I’d normally read and I bought it because it’s always difficult to find something new. Boy am I glad I did! It’s an absolutely wonderful novel and is performed beautifully.

Even if witchy things don’t appeal to you, give it a go as it’s a truly magical read in all sorts of ways.

A totally unexpected delight!

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