Nothing is more dangerous than a witch with secrets.
A DESPERATE APPRENTICE.
A CHARMING WITCH.
A SECRET THAT THREATENS TO SHATTER IT ALL.
Dorothy Louise Walcott is a timid young woman. Twenty-three, chronically ill and over-educated, she dreams ceaselessly of running away from her drab existence to learn magic. But, in her country, the use of magic is strictly prohibited to all but an esteemed few.
In a moment of uncharacteristic bravery, Dot flees her dreary hometown and journeys to the capital, Alliaster, a city where spirits play cards with kings. She tumbles headfirst into an apprenticeship with the witch Theodora. Empress of an underground syndicate peddling magic from the quaint façade of her tea shop, Theodora is everything Dot wants to be: beautiful, witty, confident.
But the enigmatic Theodora is also hiding secrets. When her dark past comes calling, it threatens to drown the witch's empire, and take Dot, the tea shop and the city of Alliaster with it.
Theodora's Tea Shop is a dark and dazzling fantasy novel from the wondrous new Australian novelist, Christy Anne Jones.
'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
'This bookis 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
'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
'Christy Anne Jones has brewed a bewitching concoction . . . Vivid and well-crafted, with an eye for clever details . . . The perfect read for those who want a hint of darkness at the centre of their fantasy novels' Books+Publishing
