Shtora is a magical kingdom, with wizards and witches who command mighty powers in the service of a noble king Once beset by war 
and violence, Shtora has been peaceful for over a decade. Thus the wizards and witches whose gifts are geared more toward violent forces have grown bored. Politics within the court has replaced war as their game of choice.
It is a game which Remy Pullus wants no part of.
Other magic users can conjure great flames, summon pure light to banish the darkness, or craft magical weapons for the soldiers of Shtora. Remy’s magic allows her to brew amazing cups of tea. It is a pitiful power, useful only in peacetime, and it makes Remy an object of mockery among the other court mages. Remy doesn’t care, being content with her comfortable position, where the fact that she can craft teas that sharpen the wits, lighten the soul, and even repel poison is easily overlooked.
Such was the case until Princess Stella became enamored of Remy. Lonely and isolated, the young princess has no real friends and asks Remy to be her friend. Then she asks her on a date! Both are unthinkable, even ignoring that the princess is only 12. For Shtora has a firm caste system. And the other mages, who practice more serious magics, are jealous and more than capable of making Remy’s life difficult whenever Princess Stella does improper things like address her by name or skip out on her court duties to visit Remy in her office. Things are further complicated when Stella asks Remy to be appointed as her guardian before an official visit to the local market. This gives Remy all the attention and position that she never wanted!
The Elegant Courtly Life of the Tea Witch is a cozy fantasy comedy. The script does an excellent job of explaining the rules of magic in this world without feeling over-expository. As a general rule, wizards and witches can only work magic in one specific area. Remy, by contrast, can not only alter the nature of tea and tea ingredients with a thought, but she can enhance the natural properties of the herbs within it.
This allows her to calm an agitated noble by giving him a lavender tea and enhancing the soothing properties of the lavender. She manages even more impressive feats through clever use of her magic, but does not wish the responsibility such power would normally demand if all she were capable of were known. This is a clever twist on the usual fantasy hero, who typically wants to prove themselves as being worthy of their position and power. Remy just wants to be ignored, do her job, and enjoy a good book in peace along with her tea.
The artwork is similarly involved, but streamlined. The artwork of Yorifuji adheres to the usual shojo aesthetic. The character designs are all unique and memorable, with none of the sameness one sometimes sees in fantasy manga. Again, the word cozy comes to mind in describing the general look and fashion choices. There is something distinctly Victorian about Shtora, though the costumes, saving the maid outfits, seem more like something from Final Fantasy than Sherlock Holmes.
This volume is rated 15+ for Older Teens. This seems to largely be based on the awkwardness of Princess Stella’s crush on Remy and the whole “date” situation. Apart from that, and a discussion of how princesses are often married off as young as 12 in this world, there is no hint of sex or romance. There certainly is not any nudity or violence. However, I do think this series is fairly aimed at older teens and adults, who are more likely to appreciate the awkwardness of Remy’s position and her desire to live a simple life.
The Elegant Courtly Life of the Tea Witch
By Ameko Kaerudo
Art by Yorifuji Morrison
Titan, 2024
ISBN: 9781787743687
Company Age Rating: 15+
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
