A good cup of tea can fix any problem, she’s always said. For this one, she’s going to need more tea.
To Glendevyn, the Infinite Pantry is far more than a magical museum of the world’s most treasured foods. It’s the home she’s always longed for. As the new head curator, she expected to wrestle with ornery funders and too-tight budgets… but when rare items in the collection suddenly start decaying, reduced to dust despite their protection spells, she’s out of her depth.
The elven mage Irdruan would do anything for Glendevyn—even hide their feelings for her. She clearly doesn’t return those feelings, after all, and how can they risk their friendship when she’s relying on their support? But even with all Irdruan’s magic, they can’t find a way to do the one thing Glendevyn needs from to put a stop to the growing destruction.
Caught between an unknown magic threatening everything they’ve built and a wealthy funder pushing to take control, Glendevyn and Irdruan will do whatever it takes to save the Infinite Pantry. They’ll have to learn to trust each other—and themselves—as they fight for their home with the power of love, friendship, and delicious food.
The first book in a new series, this sweet cozy fantasy is steeped in magic and deliciousness, like curling up with a warm mug of tea.
Jo Miles writes optimistic science fiction and fantasy, including queer space opera trilogy The Gifted of Brennex, which begins with Warped State. Their short stories have appeared in Fantasy & Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, Lightspeed, and more. Jo lives in Maryland, and you can sign up for email updates at www.jomiles.com/newsletter.
Extremely earnest in a very specifically mid-2020s way that will date it quickly, but if you read a lot of cozy fantasy, you're either looking for that or at least don't mind too much.
It's an original concept, though. Instead of a library or a hospitality business, we have something that combines elements of both: a kind of museum of magically preserved food (which also has three libraries and a hospitality business attached). But something has started going wrong with the preservation magic, not to mention that a major funder has just been lost, and Glen, the recently appointed head of the institution, has to pull everyone together (and hold herself together) while they all try to solve the problems.
There's never any indication where Glen fitted into the picture before she was promoted, which to me was a notable omission. She shows no particular in-depth familiarity with any of the areas of work in the institution, the heads of the departments that play major roles in the crisis all seem to have had their positions for a while, and nobody acts like they recently reported to her specifically. She has long backstory (raised by a grandmother who emotionally abused her and made use of her while undermining her self-confidence), but no recent backstory that I could see.
I spotted the source of the issue at the 10% mark. I didn't spot the mechanism, though I probably should have; there were plenty of clues. But this book isn't primarily about solving the mystery, but about the journey of the people who are trying to solve it, and their relationships, including a romance that emerges in the course of the story.
There's a nasty rich noble guy who's the main villain. The rich and the noble are overlapping groups, and apparently hold enough power that there's no suggestion that he face any consequences for , though there are also no immediate consequences to the institution from defying and thwarting him. It was another pair of what struck me as odd omissions.
The editing, happily, is above average, with few and minor glitches, which helped it hold onto its fourth star, despite the fairly basic worldbuilding (usual in cozy fantasy) and the couple of holes I mentioned above. The other thing that got it four stars, though, was that I enjoyed visiting the place and following the people, most of whom are lovely. I will be watching out for a sequel.
I received a pre-publication version via Netgalley for review.
Did I already have too many ARCs and other books on my TBR when I saw this one pop up on NetGalley looking for reviewers? Yes, absolutely, but after reading the descriptions I was sold and requested it immediately - and it did not disappoint! This was so cozy and right up my alley and I'm so grateful to have received an ARC of "Tea & Treachery at the Infinite Pantry"!
This cozy, heartwarming story follows the staff of the "Infinite Pantry", a museum with magical pantry that preserves unique, once in a lifetime type foods for its visitors to smell. From the rarest tomato only grown in one specific farm from hundreds of years ago to a slice of cake saved from the birthday party of a famous monarch, the exhibits are truly a unique and wondrous experience! That is, until something starts causing these foods to rot instantaneously, causing a sudden close to the museum exhibits and the loss of these irreplaceable items. We follow the curator of the museum Glen and her team as the race to find a solution before they lose all these precious foods forever.
This story was so entertaining! The author's descriptions of some of the wonderful foods made me wish I could be there too, eating with all the characters. I loved exploring found family, a sweet and tender romance between 2 of the main characters, and all the foods from this magical world. While this is definitely super cozy, there is some action and the stakes are pretty high! So for those who like a little more plot in their cozy fantasies, this one's for you.
The only thing I was a little disappointed in was that I guessed the trajectory of the plot 5% of the way through the book. I could immediately tell who the antagonist/the main villain of the story was as soon as they walked on page, along with their motivations and what caused all the trouble in the food pantry. The foreshadowing was either too heavy handed, or the author could have led you on a bit more of a wild goose chase, making you think it was a different villain for a little bit. But I still really loved this story! I found the setting so unique and would love to learn more about this world.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Jo Miles and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel early and provide a review.
I have heard of all different kinds of libraries, but I have never once considered a library specifically for food. That is where this story finds itself, in the Infinite Pantry, where something has gone seriously awry with the spells protecting the different food exhibits, and it is up to the new Head Curator to figure it out.
This book is part mystery, part adorably slow romance, and part cozy fantasy, all wrapped up into a neat little novel. We have a world filled with numerous fantasy characters all working together in this library, meant to provide a look at different food and recipes that are preserved within the library. Like many non-profits in our own world, the Infinite Pantry requires funding from wealthy sponsors, and we begin this novel with the largest of those sponsors having passed away.
I genuinely enjoyed reading this story. The location of the Infinite Pantry sounds like a food lover's dream. To be able to see all of these plants, dishes, and recipes from all over the world. The magic that allows you to experience them, frozen in time, but also experience other foods from different cultures. Wouldn’t it be absolutely amazing?
The romance in this novel is absolutely adorable. It isn’t the main focus of the story, but I am a huge fan of it. It was the kind of cute romance that makes you smile and brings a nice warmth. Sometimes that is everything that I need in a novel. In this story, it worked wonderfully, and I found myself rooting for the couple.
If you enjoy your cozy fantasy with a side of mystery and a dollop of romance, I would definitely give this a try. The world itself is wonderful, and I wish I could insert myself into this novel, even if it's just to visit the Infinite Pantry. As far as I know, this book will be a series, so you’ll get to spend more time in this world if you enjoy it. The novel releases on April 21st, so you won’t have long to wait if this is something you would enjoy!
Following a dual POV of the head curator, Glendevyn, and the preservationist, Irdruan, we enter the Infinite Pantry, a museum, restaurant, and farm centered around all things food, from recipes to ingredients and even things lost and forgotten. But when items are found destroyed, its a race against time to solve the problem.
I loved this story. First, the setting itself was fantastic, a place I would absolutely love to visit. A place I can try unique things, and see and smell foods and ingredients both old and new? Fantastic.
Glendevyn is such an interesting character. She's dealing with a lot of imposter syndrome as she takes on the role of head curator, a feeling that is all too relatable. But she leads her found family through this disaster, managing a million things to keep it all together. I loved her with all my heart.
Irdruan was interesting as well, a rather different character. They're an elven mage responsible for the spells that are suddenly crumbling, and take the world on their shoulders to try to fix it. They face unique peril in the middle of this mystery tale.
The romance makes for a solid slow burn, with minimal miscommunication. Leave it to a crisis to get people to admit their feelings, I suppose.
I had a fantastic time, and I recommend this for cozy fantasy readers (for the setting, the story is a little stressful!) and for those who love books tied to food.
I got this ARC from Netgalley in return for a review.
This definitely joins the ranks of great cozy fantasy books! First, it's a unique concept. Yes, it centers around food (and tea) like a lot of cozy fantasy does, but it handles it in a unique way... this museum (Infinite Pantry) that preserves food magically for people to visit, learn about, and enjoy. It's such a cool concept.
Second, the characters, especially the two main characters, are wonderful. I like it when the characters aren't perfect. They make mistakes, they misunderstand, they apologize and make things right. The book switches perspectives between Glendevyn, the new head curator, and the mage at the head of the preservation team, Irdruan. Jumping perspectives can be tricky sometimes, but in Infinite Pantry I think it was handled really well and the dual perspectives were important, both from a plot standpoint and to further the gentle, light romance that veeeery slowly develops between the two of them.
Finally, the found family aspect of the staff and the descriptions of food were wonderful, embodying the cozy vibe. I'm a bit sad the Infinite Pantry doesn't exist, because I really want to try Ambrosine's food!
My main criticism, which brought it from five stars to four, was that you could see who the villain would end up being from a hundred miles away. A little too much mustache twirling (so to speak), snide remarking, and all that. Maybe that was intentional foreshadowing, but I think a bit more subtlety would have smoothed out the plot and given it a bit more mystery.
Still, overall I really enjoyed the book. There was a hint at the end that there might be a sequel, and I'd love to return to this world, maybe focused on one of the side characters.
had the chance to read Tea & Treachery at the Infinite Pantry and this was such a fun, cozy surprise for me.
The premise alone hooked me. A magical pantry that connects worlds, tea, a castle, secrets… it’s exactly the kind of cozy fantasy setup I love. The whole vibe feels warm and whimsical, but there’s always this quiet sense that something isn’t quite right underneath it all.
The main character really worked for me. She felt grounded and relatable even as everything around her got more and more strange. Watching her slowly figure out what the pantry actually is and what role she plays in it kept me fully invested.
And the treachery… once things start unraveling, it shifts in the best way. The betrayal isn’t over the top, but it lands. It makes you stop and rethink everything and everyone, which I loved because it added real tension to such a cozy setting.
The middle dragged just a little for me, I wanted things to move faster as the mystery was building. But once it picked up, it really delivered.
The world is honestly the standout. The idea of an infinite pantry tied to magic and power is so unique, and all the little details with the tea, food, and atmosphere made it feel immersive without being overwhelming.
Overall, this is a 4 star read for me. Cozy, magical, a little mysterious, and just enough edge to keep it interesting. I’d definitely continue the series because it feels like there’s so much more to uncover.
I received an ARC copy of this book to review, thank you to Netgalley and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
All opinions posted below are my own.
The story follows Glen and other staff of a special museum called the Infinite Pantry - where delicacies from across the world and history are stored magically and what happens if that magic decayed.
Each of the main characters is well fleshed out, there’s themes of found family and solidarity throughout that were enjoyable. Descriptions of food were a delight and made me imagine the delicacies the same way Studio Ghibli movies portray meals. There was a wide cast of genders and species, the ursine character was an excellent addition too and made a change from more common beast species.
I loved mentions of the cats that make themselves at home in the pantry and how they interact with the gargoyles (for example where its mentioned the black cats show less fear of gargoyles and thus earn more snacks).
The plot is predictable, I quickly guessed where the story flowed but it still told the tale in an enjoyable and meaningful way. I would recommend this book to fans of other cosy fantasy titles like Legends and Lattes.
If you need some escapism and are looking for a comforting read, you can never go wrong with a cozy fantasy. Especially one with food descriptions that make your mouth water!
After reading many cozy fantasy books about coffee shops, tea shops, book shops… I love how unique and refreshing the concept of the Infinite Pantry felt. It really highlights how important, personal and healing food can be and how a shared meal can bring together people from different cultures and backgrounds.
I liked our main characters and how they all felt quite distinct. I enjoyed the relationships and friendships between the staff members and I just love a good found family trope!
The story was entertaining and the stakes were high enough to keep me interested while still being a light and easy read.
Some parts were a bit predictable but I honestly don’t mind that too much. I don’t think cozy fantasy needs jaw-dropping, crazy twists anyway.
This book was unlike anything I had ever read with such a wonderful, unique plot. It's a great cozy book to curl up with! I was immediately pulled into the world and loved the characters. The mystery surrounding the collection kept me intrigued. As I dove more into the book, I was not prepared for Kallas' secret meeting with the Lord, but I should have seen it coming as he walked in with a big, round cheese - the way he was acting and speaking was a bit... shady. Finding out Kallas was going against those whom I thought they saw as friends stung a little, but Irdruan going after him made it better, and their chemistry and dynamic with Glendevyn gave me the butterflies and had me rooting for them.
This is a very cute and cozy fantasy with a touch of romance. It follows Glendevyn, the head curator of a museum that showcases magically preserved food. All of a sudden, the preservation spells stop working, and the food goes bad. Glendevyn, along with her friends and staff from the museum, must figure out how to save the museum from disaster.
This book was very cute and unique. It had wonderful found family that I absolutely loved. I loved the plot, characters, and romance. Glendevyn and Irdruan are so cute I was obsessed from the beginning. Everything about this book was very comfy, with the vibes of being curled up next to a fireplace with a cup of tea and a cat in your lap. Absolutely loved it, can't wait for the next one!
I received an advance copy from the author. I loved this book, really and truly. It was just what I needed this past week. I mean, I'm in Minnesota and 2026 has already been... a lot. In times like this, it's important to have a book where justice is served, the romances are sweet, and the food descriptions made me wish I could hop in a portal and visit the Infinite Pantry for myself.
Here's the whole blurb I sent:
"A cupful of sweetness plus equal measures of found family, tender romance, and lusciously-described food make for a satisfying escapist read. I'm already hungry for the next book. Bon Appetit!"
This was an ARC from NetGalley. Thanks to the author and publisher for providing this advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily. This was a cozy fantasy with a unique premise and quirky cast of characters. The Infinite Pantry is basically a museum devoted to the magical preservation of food. This has your typical low stakes cozy tea shop vibe focusing more on food in general (particularly cheese I noticed) and it really made my mouth water multiple times. There was a little bit of romance and some laugh out loud moments in this refreshing palette cleanser. This ARC gets 3.5 stars and I would be interested in seeing more of this cozy magical world of food stuffs!
3.5*** This is an intriguing set up and magical system. We were told there are lots of different species and cultures who work at the Infinite Pantry, but it feels like a throwaway because there was little description or tie-in to the main plot. The main romance seems more tell not show, and it’s unclear what draws the characters together. The cozy magical problem they’re encountering was interesting enough, but things developed slowly. Overall, this book was a cozy, light read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a ARC for an honest review.
I received this charming and delicious little morsel of an ARC generously through NetGalley. Love the world, the concept of a library/museum of food and smells and the inclusivity of the characters. While slightly predictable in some aspects, quite the scrumptious popcorn book with a world you’ll want to come back to when the next installment is delivered!