Theodora's Tea Shop: A beguiling must-read fantasy debut full of witchy magic and secrets - Softcover

Jones, Christy Anne

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1035448521 ISBN 13: 9781035448524

Publisher: Wildfire, 2026

Synopsis

'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

About this title

About the Author

Christy Anne Jones is a speculative fiction writer, illustrator, reviewer and maker of things. Her first book, an illustrated memoir, follows her time as an English teacher and travel writer living in Tokyo. Her heart, however, has always been with stories of magic. She has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pen. Her short stories and nonfiction have been published in Australia and Japan. She lives in leafy Adelaide, on Kaurna Land, with her partner and puppy.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wildfire
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1035448521
• ISBN 13: 9781035448524
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 432