Review by Frank Plowright

Remy Pullus is one of a council of mages maintaining a fragile peace on a world several years in the past ravaged by war. However, rather than be among the decision makers she prefers an anonymous life in the castle kitchens where her speciality of making the perfect cup of tea seems appropriate. What she keeps from everyone is that her abilities have greater application than anyone else realises, but her life has been complicated by the young princess enjoying her company and so drawing unwanted attention to Remy.

As far as can be ascertained, The Elegant Courtly Life of the Tea Witch is comic creator Yorifuji adapting a story written by Ameko Kaerudo, so Kaerudo deserves the credit for the imaginative use of magic in the series. Remy isn’t the only mage working magic through unconventional sources. We met others in Vol. 1, and the opening chapter introduces a practitioner able to use books as their conduit. It’s consistent with the sense of wonder introduced via Princess Stella seeing much of the world for the first time, and visually provided by Yorifuji.

Having introduced the premise in Vol. 1, we’re now told more about the past via Remy’s thoughts as she goes on what Stella refers to as a date. Stella’s position is disturbing. Fantasy series commonly take a medieval past and add magic, and in centuries past very young children were either married or betrothed to seal political advantage. The Elegant Courtly Life of the Tea Witch uses this as a major premise, Remy aggressively opposed, but Stella, perhaps far too worldly at twelve, accepting the political reality. It’s a shocking and unsavoury topic in an otherwise relatively gentle series.

The background of trouble brewing continues to influence events, and it seems Remy’s being pulled in whether or not that’s what she wants. From the beginning, ceremony and procedure have been important, and we’re shown more courtly intricacies as Remy becomes more involved again, and much of her past is laid out, showing who she was and why she now prefers anonymity.

Everything builds toward a cliffhanger ending to be picked up in Vol. 3, and it’s another beguiling brew, at times soothing and at times sharp, but always with a hint of something special.