"Why save the world when you can have tea?"

When Hafsah Faizal started teasing about this book, stating it was "Peaky Blinders meets King Arthur with vampires and a heist", I knew I just had to get my hands on it somehow.
Such a description put the bar very high for me and I'm so happy to say, Faizal ate and left no crumbs.
February/March was really my vampire era because I was also reading An Education in Malice at the same time. And I just love how authors are able to take a mystical creature, add their personal touches and create a whole world around them.
The wordlbuilding here is incredible. You can feel how much research the author did to make sure she created such an authentic and meaningful. Everything is so vivid, especially with the audiobook. The narrator did such an amazing job, transporting me in White Roaring, making me feel all the feels and the vibes just right.

This story is one that shows how a band of misfits can come together and create a wonderful found family. In the words of Arthie, "Family isn't who we live with, but those we would die for." I loved seeing how they all interact with each other, the banter, the fights, how they showed each other love, how they fought for one another.

But most of all, this story is about colonisation and the actual impact it has on people. I feel like it's something that is glossed over in history books. Colonisation is presented as something that happened, a long time ago. Something that we should all get over because it's done, and there is no visible consequence today. Well no, colonisation is still happening everywhere in today's world and it's important to have these conversations.
Here Faizal tackles the issue brilliantly. She's not afraid to actually say the words; and it makes you reflect and ponder about how we deal with colonialism today.

Sidenote : I had read We Hunt The Flame but not We Free The Stars at the time of listening to this book, and I had zero difficulty understanding everything. While both series are set in the same world, they can be read in whichever order you prefer.

Thank you NetGalley, MacMillan UK Audio and the author for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll start with the narrator, I really enjoyed them. Their voice was brilliant and really fit the vibe and helped immerse the reader.

I was very excited for this book but unfortunately I just don’t think it was quite for me. But that’s okay, not everything is. I do think a lot of other people will appreciate this book and really enjoy it though! For me the pace was a bit all over the place and I also didn’t care much for the heist overall. It felt rather drawn out and I just couldn’t concentrate.

However I did really like some of the characters and thought they were genuinely pretty cool. Whilst I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I was hoping, I do think many others may find their favourite book in this.

Just a lil side note: this cover?? Beyond gorgeous! I also purchased the Waterstones Exclusive with the most gorgeous sprayed edges and it has to be one of my favourite covers this year!

“Why save the world when you can have tea?
I enjoyed it. I look forward to reading the next one when it comes out.

If not for reviewing purposes and me having already pre-ordered this book(and me hating myself apparently) I would and probably should have DNF'd this book.

This has to be my most disappointing reading experience so far in 2024.

he writing style was INSUFFERABLE and it's a real talent to make a plot that is this straightforward be so confusing! The story is so bogged down in dialogue & was trying so hard to be ~quotable~ that it ended up coming across unnatural, clunky & pretentious. The characters were flat caricatures of "British gangster" clearly written by someone who isn't British.
You're really trying to tell me that royal guards are intimidated by two teenagers? Because she "knows secrets"?? PLEASE be for real.

The narrator added nothing but to make the whole thing more insufferable.

Predictable, cringe-worthy and wholly disappointing, I honestly do not know what would have saved this book,

I went in to reading this book knowing that this was a heist book with a vampire twist, and I loved it. I hadn't read anything by Hafsah Faizal before, but i definitely will now. I loved the concept of the teashop Spindrift as a front for a blood den for vampires, and I thought the world building was really well done.

I love a book with a group dynamic, i wish all of them had POV chapters! Personally Flick was my favourite POV to read. All characters have their secrets, and I can say i did not see some of them coming at all. I did enjoy Arthie immensely, and i was a big fan of her dynamics with Leith and Matteo.

As someone who is British and half Indian, colonialism was explored really well. I hope we get more development of the different countries in the next book because i'm very interested! Speaking of, i had no idea when i picked it up that it was going to be a duology and im so glad because i want to be in this world for longer!

I will be talking about this book on my youtube channel! Thank you for approving me!

A phenomenal story that you need to get into!
I was planning to listen to the audiobook in the evening before bed or while doing chores around the house but that is not possible. You need to really be invested and sit down and concentrate for this one.
It's an absoluetly gorgeous piece of fantasy lterature, similar to Schwab's books, but you need to keep up to not get lost while listening to the story. The worldbuilding was great, as was the magic system and as a fan of urban fantasy it's a joy. Teh characters are complex and unique, have their own agenda that keeps them in the story very nicely
As for now it'll get 3/5 stars from but only because I've only listened to the audiobook and that might have been a mistake. I think if you read the book it's a different experience entirely and that might work better for it. I will definitely get the physical copy of the book and revisit it!

although I liked the writing style and the vibes, I just couldn't connect to the storyline and characters at this time. DNFed at 40% or something. Will definitely try picking it up again sometime.

Dnf but hoping to buy and listen to the audiobook at a later date.

*words below are what I posted about the ebook I was also accepted for. I was hoping that the audiobook would engage me more but at this moment it didn't*

For my first readthrough of the arc, I just felt like it took too long for anything to happen and the characters also felt a bit flat at times.

The concept of the book excited me so much and I'm sure I will love this book but since I had to keep stopping and starting out of, not boredom but just not feeling engaged or eager to read more, I'm making the decision to put the book down ans try at a later date.

I will still post about the book on my socials but won't be providing a review until I have actually read the book.

If you ever wished Kaz Brekker was a girl, or Peaky Blinders was made for a more magical YA audience, A Tempest of Tea is worth a few hours of your time.
A found-family heist, it will find its feet amongst classics of the YA genre like Aurora Rising and The Gilded Wolves, but will stand out for its setting and the secrets that are hidden in plain sight – having finished it a week ago, I already want to dive back in to see what clues I missed the first time.
Like many readers, I am unremarkable and enjoy a hot drink with something sweet when I read, and I loved how this book celebrated that with tea and its ceremonies at the heart of the book.
Arthie is a fiercely smart protagonist, bettered by the family she creates. Through her story, Faizal explores how this young POC woman would find her way and her revenge in a world established by a white empire.
The setting had hints to Faizal’s past duology for readers to recognise if they have already read the Sands of Arawiya trilogy, but it doesn’t isolate those that haven’t; it allowed her to enhance an already rich setting.
I really enjoyed the vampires that society more or less ignores and how their lore was developed for this story.

Both romances were bleh. Arthie is a boring MC. She has the potential to be more interesting but WHO IS SHE?! We don't get much from her at all.

Hearing them talk about scams made me want more. We got the heist and a weak reveal at the end.

Cliffhanger ending.

Also you're telling me we have a world with vampires and not one of the 5 MCs are explicitly queer?

Tbh i read 40% of this and HAD TO GO BACK because I keep zoning out while gardening/working. The only reason I went back was because it was an arc. If it was an ebook and NOT an arc, I would have DNFd.

I didn’t care enough for We Hunt the Flame to read the sequel. If the MC falls for a bland man, I usually really dislike the book. I think this one might be similar. While yes, 'Drink from me’ was definitely an ‘Oh. okay that's a bit hot’ I didn’t care for either characters.


Free eARC provided via NetGalley from Macmillan UK Audio | Macmillan Children's Books. This review is written voluntarily.

I was kindly given the opportunity to listen to an audio book ARC of this book. I was obviously persuaded by the exceptional cover artwork and the tea theme. What I got was a Young Adult Fantasy story addressing societal issues through the lense of a vampire-human devision in the depicted world. I was very much enchanted by the language used, as it felt very poetic and wise without losing its youth and faster pacing. What I had more troubles with was the worldbuilding. It felt referencial to other fantasy worlds (King Arthur being one I quickly picked up on), but I had my problems keeping all the characters, alliances and sideplots apart (I don't read fantasy too often).
I also felt the plot fell a bit flat in the middle part, focussing on two love stories that lacked a bit of character depth or complexity. I still loved the strong female characters depicted and the development in the later part of the story. The reading performance felt regal and mystical which perfectly fit the theme.
I would recommend this to readers of (Urban) Fantasy stories that are in their middle teen years.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal. This was such a fun fantasy read and I definitely recommend! The plot was so unique and entertaining and I enjoyed it from start to finish. I really enjoyed reading about vampires - I didn’t even know that’s what this book was about!

However, I did rate this 3/5⭐️ as there were some things missing for me. I loved Flick as a character but the others seemed forgettable. I found myself zoning out of the story multiple times and even after just finishing the book I’m struggling to remember all the details. I did enjoy it but I don’t think this story will stick with me.

This book was SO MUCH FUN! It's described in many reviews as Six of Crows with Vampires, and it honestly couldn't have a better tagline. A Tempest of Tea is a heist featuring vampires, and Hafsah Faizal captures such a stunning atmosphere, along with layered characters you can love(or hate).,

I gave A Tempest of Tea four stars (more like 3.75)

On the streets of White Roaring, Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind and collector of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by dark, catering to the vampires feared by society. But when her establishment is threatened, Arthie is forced to strike an unlikely deal with an alluring adversary to save it—and she can’t do the job alone.

Calling on some of the city's most skilled outcasts, Arthie hatches a plan to infiltrate the sinister, glittering vampire society known as the Athereum. But not everyone in her ragtag crew is on her side, and as the truth behind the heist unfolds, Arthie finds herself in the midst of a conspiracy that will threaten the world as she knows it.

-------- REVIEW --------

First of all, that cover! It is so pretty. Second of all, how can a book about tea, vampires and with a British narrator go wrong? I really enjoyed this new fantasy book. I thought I was tired of vampires books, but we got many great characters in this one.

I felt like it was very similar to Six of Crows, but nothing can be better than that book. This was an okay copy of it.

I had a fun time while listening to the book and would recommend it to people who love YA Fantasy.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a good start to a series but not a great start, It’s such a short book so I felt like the romances were rushed.
The heist was only a couple of pages and had some really convenient moments just to allow the characters to move on to the next step without consequence.
It also felt like Arthie was written to be this mastermind but unfortunately it felt forced, like a knock off Kaz Brekker

I did like the twist at the end even though I predicted most of them, for a YA book I think the twists are perfect for a younger audience
I personally wont be continuing the series but I can see some people liking this one

A Tempest of Tea

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have been so very excited for this book release for MONTHS and I'm so happy it met my expectations; I find I often set the bar too high out of excitement but Hafsah Faizal did not disappoint!

Throwing Peaky Blinders, Vampires, Arthurian legend, Heists, Tea, and an array of diverse POC characters, and you have A Tempest of Tea.

"Why save the world when you can have tea?"

A Tempest of Tea is the first in a duology set in the streets of White Roaring, a city in the country of Ettenia. Our leading lady Arthie runs her prestigious tea room, Spindrift, alongside her adoptive brother Jin. The thing about Spindrift that makes it special? By day, it's a popular tearoom. By night; illegal blood den for vampires.
Spindrift is their entire livelihood, something they built from nothing, and when a corrupt government threatens to bring it down, Arthie gathers a team and conducts a plan to save it, no matter the cost.

AToT is multiple POV; following Arthie, Jin and Flick. I normally don't enjoy multiple POV but I found myself engrossed in each character and their own thoughts and personalities, so I didn't find myself minding at all.

Some key themes;
- Found Family
- POC cast of characters
- Fantasy World
- Love Triangle
- Political Intrigue
- Morally Grey Characters
- Multiple POV

Will be recommending this to anyone who will listen. It's definitely a new favourite of mine!


Thank you to NetGalley & Pan Macmillan for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

First in a fantasy duology, this novel follows protagonist Arthie: orphan girl, criminal mastermind and collector of secrets, who runs a tearoom by day, illegal blood house for vampires by night. When her business is threatened, Arthie strikes a dangerous deal and calls together an unlikely crew to infiltrate the dark and glittering vampire society.

This was an enjoyable, quick read. The atmosphere and dark, magical vibes were the strongest aspect of the novel for me. I really enjoyed experiencing the different settings throughout, and learning about the hierarchies and politics of the world. The cast of characters were also engaging and fun - a band of misfits never goes amiss in fantasy novels!

This being said, I didn't find the plot to be especially strong, and no element struck me as being particularly fresh or original. While this did give me the dark, quirky, action-focused experience I was hoping for, I'm not sure how long this story will stick in my mind. As such, I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a quick, entertaining read, but I don't think I will be picking up the second installment.

I am so thankful to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen to this audiobook.

I absolutely loved this book! Vampires, gangs, heists and tea with Six of Crows vibes is one of the best combinations I could have dreamed of.

Maya Saroya did a brilliant job of narrating this and I was always kept engaged and wondering what would happen next.

I highly recommend this book to anyone and can't wait for the sequel!

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal is the first book in the Blood and Tea Series.
 
I really enjoyed the author’s other series We Hunt The Flame and the cover and blurb of A Tempest of Tea immediately intrigued me. A story with vampires and a tearoom sounds absolutely amazing and this story is definitely worth reading.
 
The protagonist Arthie is a badass woman and criminal mastermind and she caters to different creatures with her tearoom by day and bloodhouse by night. This setting was so atmospheric and my favorite part of the story. A lot of people dislike her for associating with vampires and when her establishment is threatened, she finds an unlikely ally.
 
Vampires are seen rather negatively in this story and that is something I didn’t like. They have secret societies with lots of conspiracy and mystery surrounding them and that left me with a lot of questions. Arthie and her crew go on a heist that was definitely entertaining and action-packed but couldn’t fully satisfy me. I listened to the audiobook and that definitely made my reading experience more enjoyable, and the narrator Maya Saroya did a good job.
 
Overall, I expected a bit more from A Tempest of Tea, but it was still an enjoyable first book. 3,5 stars.
 
(ALC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

Cards on the table, I have no idea what the fuss is about with this one. I've given it three stars because it seemed fine and I appreciate that the YA fantasy tone of this (even if it's supposed to be NA it read like YA) may not have been aimed at me. However, nothing really stood out to me here. It might be that I just don't connect with this author because I had the same issue with this that I had with We Hunt the Flame - no connection with the characters, no deep characterisation, no sense of stakes. There were parts of the plot here which just didn't really make sense, either - the length of time to plan the heist where no actual planning takes place for example. And part of the problem with writing something designed to appeal to a popular franchise - ie Six of Crows - is that you'll get compared to that franchise. Unfortunately, this isn't a patch on SoC. The author was nowhere near ready to tackle something that multilayered and deeply characterised, so it came off as a weak imitation. So overall, this didn't land for me. Competent but not especially gripping.