I was absolutely hooked with this book, make room for the brand new wonderful version of Six of Crows! Every character in this books had my interest and I fell in love with their back stories and their relationships with one another. Sure, I'm a sucker for vampires but everything else about this novel drew me in entirely. I can't wait for the next book in the series and the first one isn't even out yet!

EXCUSE ME! THAT ENDING HAS ME NEEDING BOOK TWO LIKE NOW
I ate this book up, I read it in its entirety in a day and I don't regret a single moment.

Imagine, Six of Crows but with vampires, an impossible heist, which turns into more than just a plan to save the home the crew have made... but instead will affect the wider realm.

After Hafsah's previous works, the hype when I saw this was REAL and it lived up if not exceeded it! From the twists and turns, the characters, the found family and exploration of effects of colonisation has on those whose countries and homes torn apart for the land and goods, everything is expertly woven into a action packed tale.

These characters, have my ENTIRE heart. The crew is just FOUND FAMILY in all the best ways. All the characters are complex and real and their growth and exploration of their pasts just had them worming themselves further into my heart.

Oh wow this book was such a treat! This is the first book I’ve read from Hafsah Faizal and I have to say I am now a fan!

A Tempest of Tea was such a fun read, and I can’t resist a book with a heist and found family, but also throw in some vampires and it's a game changer. This book had everything you could possibly want:

🩸Vampires
🩸Found Family
🩸Heists!
🩸POC MCs
🩸Feet kicking romance

The characters in this story really made it for me, you have Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind & also a badass! Arthie was such a strong independent character but she is also flawed and dealing with a lot of past trauma - I really enjoyed learning about Arthies culture and her past. Now onto Jin…. oh i loved him a lot, he was such a flirt and extremely charming but also such a kind soul! A special mention to Matteo, Flick and Laith, I don’t want to spoil too much but all the characters are so unique and flow together so well (expect lots of banter).

I don’t want to say too much about the heist itself (spoilers obviously) but everything was so well thought out and the setting was just perfect, I was on the edge of my seat for most of this book and the ending…. I need book 2 rn please!

Overall I thought this book was fantastic and can’t wait to see what book 2 brings!


“Family isn’t who we live with but those we would die for”

What a deliciously written novel that sucks you in from the very first page! Full of intrigue and dimensional characters, A Tempest of Tea is everything a YA novel should be. The world-building was phenomenal and I loved the build up to the finale. Also, I ate up the romance! If you’re a fan of Hafsah Faisal’s previous books, you will be BLOWN away by this!

I don't want to review this, because once I do I have to admit I've actually finished it...

I loved this, so much. I need more of these characters, I want to know more about this world, I slightly want to live here tbh

Some really lovely phrasing in the writing too, sadly none that can be posted without spoilers, but if you're even slightly considering this book please do read it!

I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley, on the expectation that I would provide an honest review.

Rating 4.5

I was sent this eARC from NetGalley, Panmacmillan and Book Break UK in exchange for an honest review.

I remember when I first heard about this book and was really eager to read. I tried to go into it as blind as I could and was pleasantly surprised by the outcome.

This book really pulled me in. The main characters Arthie and Jin were fantastic and their personalities really shone. I found that I couldn't really connect with Flick's character as much as I would have liked but hopefully her character helped move the plot forward somewhat.

The banter, tension and just the overall interactions between all the characters was fun and written quite well.
I enjoyed following the plot and the development that was revealed along the way.

I can't wait to read the next book!

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for allowing me early access to this fantastic work of art!

A Tempest of Tea is everything I had expected and so much more. The concept of this book was in theory a bit of an Arthurian retelling but with the most intriguing twists, imagine King Arthur mixed with Peaky Blinders and throw in some Vampires and you have A Tempest of Tea.

This YA story follows criminal mastermind Arthie, an owner of a tea room, but by night it becomes a shady blood bar for vampires. When her tea room Spindrift is under threat, she must enlist the expertise of fellow misfits in order to plan and successfully pull off the heist of their lives in order to save it.

There are many reasons why I absolutely adored and devoured this book, of course the plot was very unique in its own ways, while still taking inspiration from classic stories of a similar tone, this makes it so diverse and a very exciting read. The story moved along at a good quick pace all the way through and included some great unexpected twists and turns along the way.

The characters in this book were so well thought out, their backgrounds and histories were fleshed out with great detail making it easy to connect to them even if they aren't the sort of people you'd want to be familiar with in real life.

Arthie herself is not the most likable of people, but you do feel a real sense of need to connect to her and to be able to sympathise with her cause and her motives. The connection that she and her 'brother' Jin have is tragic yet also somewhat hilarious and full of sarcasm.

But it's not just the main characters that have been out together so well and that really draw you in, side characters Flick, Laith and Matteo all have their own interesting and somewhat heartbreaking stories that they also want to be made known. The attention to detail on them all is fantastic, so much so that I could already easily cast them all for a live action version. One character that really stood out for me though was Matteo, a character that I really did not expect to like or find any sort of connection to. Although everytime I read his quick witted one liners all I could hear in my head was Asterion from the hugely infamous video game Baldurs Gate 3. If you know, then you won't be able to unsee it ever again. For me Matteo is Asterion, which as a Dungeons & Dragons fan, I absolutely love!
When it comes to the characters, there are also some great scenes that are full of sexual tension without the need for spice.

Another great aspect to this book is the inclusion of illustrations of maps and blueprints. It really helped me to be able to picture things in much finer details.

A Tempest of Tea is a story that I will be recommending to everyone that I know for a good while to come. It is 100% a fantastic read that got me gripped and excited to turn to the next page as quickly as I could. I have also already placed a pre-order for a physical copy upon release day, so I can have it proudly on display on my bookshelves at home.

If you haven't added this book to your want to read list or TBR then I highly recommend that you do so.

This book was so engaging from the first page. It has amazing flow, fast pace, and beautiful characters. I read somewhere that this was spicy, and I doubted very much, and it is not. But there is a lot of innuendo and heat, but that's it, so don't go in, hoping for spice because you won't get it. I don't want the book to get bad reviews because someone said somewhere something that is not true. 
You will fall in love with all the characters, their inner turmoil, their traumas, and how real they feel. 
It is supposed to be set in the same word as we hunt the flame. But Ettenia is obviously England, and that gets confirmed when they mention the name of the river in the city, the river Tamesis, or Thames, but in Spanish. Also, Artie is from Ceylan, which is a mix of Ceylon in English and Ceilan in Spanish, the country island now known as Sri Lanka. I have no problem with these details, but I would have appreciated a whole different world or a parallel reality to ours. Instead of making it a mixture just to set it in the same word as we hunt the flame, as this feels more to attract readers than to actually serve a propose in the story. 

I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this book. When the book was first announced, the author did various Q&A, and I made a question many times that was never answered, and I doubt I was the only one to ask it. I wanted to know if there would be LGBTQ+ rep in the book. I have no issue with books not having rep, although I absolutely prefer they do. I know many authors who prefer to write about what they know and their experiences or that are simply scared of not doing good representation, and they will rather have no rep than bad rep. But I was inquiring, as I've done in many others Q&A of other authors, as knowing about it would place the book higher on my tbr. Now that I know the book has 0 rep, I guess she just didn't want to share it in case it put off readers? I don't know. 
Other than this, the book was perfection

Peaky Blinders meets Six of Crows with a dash of Twilight? The way I ran to request this book because a) hafsah wrote this and b) I fear my vampire obsession will never leave.

This book was everything that I needed and more. These characters are so clever, and have such a rich history and depth to them that I felt Arthie and Jins pains with losing their family, I fell in love with matteos charm, how he was so different to other bloodthirsty vampires we’ve meet in other books, he was the artist with a quick wit and oozes sensuality. And Laith, Laith Laith Laith where do I even begin with him 😭😭😭 he had me from the first time he called Arthie habibti AND criminal. Just marry me why don’t you.

Hafsah is such a talented writer, she’s able to weave such an amazing world rich in heritage and culture, I felt angry on behalf of the ceylani for what the colonisers and ettiennes have done. I adored the atmosphere of spindrift and wish I too could go there for tea. And the quest! God the arthereum scenes were by far my favourite.
Hafsah we need to talk about the ending and I expect book 2 in my kindle like tomorrow 😭😭😭 how can I WAIT?!

I’m so happy I get to start off the new year with this amazing book and the beginning of another unforgettable duology. Thank you so much to netgalley, the publishers and hafsah faizal for my arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was everything I hoped it would be, a fun adventure through White Roaring (think Peaky Blinders-esque London but with vampires) with a loveable cast of characters and a plot absolutely full of mystery and intrigue - plus there’s a heist!

A Tempest of Tea is the perfect YA historical fantasy novel: the plot is super engaging, the characters are all unique (we have the badass female lead, a suave male second in command, sensual vampire artist, mysterious assassin, sunshine forger, ragtag group who work at the teashop, and a random kitten), there’s a love triangle, a friends-to-lovers story, twists and turns aplenty, and enough mystery left to have you begging for the next instalment in this duology.

If you’re looking for a fun YA read that will have you practically feral for the next book - this is the one. But just because it’s a YA novel doesn’t mean Hafsah Faizal shies away from deeper and darker themes, the topic of colonialism and looting is explored (though I wish it was explored more and we saw more of Arthie’s past and what drives her forward).

This books is essentially a YA Peaky Blinders with vampires and it was so, so good! I was hooked from the beginning and loved this spin on vampire folklore. I didn’t realise this story is set in the same world as We Hunt The Flame when I started reading, which was a lovely surprise and enriched the worldbuilding even more. Something I really enjoyed was the action and suspense that comes with heist books, made even better by the interactions of these characters and their banter. Don’t even get me started on the plot twists!! One of them I didn’t see coming and raised the stakes even more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what happens next.

“How did you find such confidence?” he asked. “Finding it suggests I had no part in its making.” - Arthie Casimir, the woman that you are!

Already preordered a physical copy to keep re-reading until the sequel is out.
4.5/5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the access to the ARC of this book.

I’m a sucker for multiple POV books, and the fact that it was heavily influenced by Peaky Blinders? I was sold immediately.
The characters are great, world building satisfying and the plot interesting. The end will leave you shaken and craving (pun intended) more.
A triumph, a tip my baker hat to you Miss Faizal.

(Side note: I have not read the Six of Crows but I do find it unfair that every found family book nowadays is getting compared to it. Leah did not invent the genre.)

A Tempest of Tea was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. As soon as I heard it had vampires in, I knew I had to read it.

An incredible heist with a gang of lovable misfits and put in the mix a tea house with a secret and vampires. If you love Six of Crows and you’re looking for a new vampire book then you need to check this out.

Lovable characters, romance and beautifully written.

I’m not the same one book ago. Book of the year, if you ask me.

Look, imagine this was Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo BUT with vampires. Now I love that book and it getting mixed with this definitely compelled me to read it. POC sexy vampires going on a heist and drinking tea and just casually betraying each other?? Hafsah Faizal, I wasn’t familiar with your game but I can say I’m amazed. The magic system was written in a way that you’d notice Faizal’s improvement and it wasn’t hard for me to understand it at all. The premise was chef’s kiss and the plot was thickly layered in a way that will make you NOT want to end the book (so sad I still did).

However we don’t get a deep view on the plot’s progression as it felt too character-driven for me by the time I was 250 pages in. Still, the characters were amazing, complex, and you’d want to delve right into their personalities which makes this book even better. The characters don’t overshadow anyone and they actually have pasts that’s worth sticking to (as a reader). Romance is TOP-TIER because it’s Hafsah Faizal writing them. I swear to god I can’t talk about the romance in this for fear I might just spoil everything. But when this comes out I want everyone to read it and swoon over *them* with me. 🫡

And, of course, it has found-family. What more do I have to say?

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC :))

This was my first Hafsah Faizal read but will 100% not be my last!

I had seen this book hyped as Peaky Blinders meets Six of Crows with vampires - that is such a bold claim however this book fully lives up to the hype! I had already preordered and I am so glad that I did.

A Tempest of Tea introduces us to Arthie and Jin Casimir proprietors of Spindrift tea room by day and blood den by night and to say they have some high level enemies is an understatement, Arthie is tough, streetwise and has a history that as the world builds we learn more and more of. Jin is sweet, charismatic, utterly loyal to Arthie and made me laugh a lot- while Jin comes from a very different background they are kin.

When an opportunity arrives from a very unexpected place which could help bring down Spindrift's enemies a plan is put into place which will lead Arthie and her gang in to danger!

While the world building is fantastic with an interwoven story of colonialism and it's effect and impact this is very much a book that is character focussed with the story told from multiple POVs including those of Arthie and Jin. The side characters were crafted so well and my favourite has to be the Matteo!

This book has romance, secrets, found family, a heist - this book had me so invested and while there were certain breadcrumbs this book instantly blindsides you and the ending was too much, that final line had me screaming, what an ending! When is book two due because I really need in it my hands now.

This was such an easy 5 star read for me, thank you so much to Pan Macmillan for approving this one.

4.5 stars for me

I'm a sucker for two things: vampires and a good heist story. And this had BOTH. I just wish I'd taken the time to read Ms. Faizal's Sands of Arawiya series beforehand (not a necessity, but it links to characters from that series, and has also been on my TBR from a long time).

I loved Arthie and her gang! Every character is memorable in their own way, and have their own thing happening that adds more flavor to the story. I read this in one go because I just could not put the book down! So many secrets and so many possibilities happening, ugh I loved every second of it. And I did not predict that ending!! Can't wait for part two and see where this goes.

Special thanks to Macmillan's Children's books and Netgalley for providing me an advance copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review!

a tempest of tea is an ambitious powerhouse of a book that meets every expectation set by the incredible concept it promises. there are so many things to love about this book - from vampires and tea, to the stunning writing style, interwoven discussions of the impact of colonialism and the enthralling heist plot line - but everything is drawn together by its cast of characters, who are all so compelling. arthie is, however, by far my favourite, and i loved seeing how her carefully built facade starts to unravel slightly as the plot progresses. the romance in this book wasn't necessarily my favourite, but i think, given the space of a second book, the relationships will be able to flourish, which i am very much looking to.

a complex and layered narrative with cast of characters that make for an emotionally engaging story. 4 stars.

Utterly captivating and fabulous. I had no idea how this would play out as we meet a young woman running a teahouse by daytime that transforms at night into a blood haven for Vampires ! In a city rife with corruption and division our intrepid heroes straddle a dangerous line between life and the loss of everything they work for.
The characters delight and surprise constantly, the story twists, turns, builds and then wham totally blindsided the reader in the most delightful way. Yes there are insidious clues along the way perhaps but played down beautifully to truly entrap the reader. I defy anyone to read this and not instantly want more because trust me the journey is most definitely worth it !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I think I should start by saying that I pre-ordered this book way back on the 3rd March 2022 (basically as soon as I was able to) having waited patiently since it was even hinted at over on Hafsah Faizal's IG so my anticipation was already through the roof when I requested it, and got it! I GOT IT!!! (Thank-you so much to all involved in making that happen!)

I have deliberately savoured this, taking over a month to finish something I could have devoured in mere days, hours if I didn't have to adult. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

The world building was a delightful extension of what we know from the truly beautiful Sands of Arawiya duology, skillfully bringing to life an else world London type town. The - often - savage, thieving, and heartbreaking history of colonialism laces through the story heavily, and it's truly vital to the story as a whole, to our character motivations, their presence in White Roaring and, in each instance, the why for saying yes to the heist.

Arthie, Jin, and the rest of our main characters are a true wonder. They are fully formed, each with history, secrets, love and pain, Faizal writes them into being, laying for them a path towards our dislike of the ones that deserve it, love of the ones that capture our little reader hearts and we cause us to fret over our feelings towards the morally grey.

The pace is good, with a steady introduction leading quickly into the planning and the heist itself. While the whole book takes place over barely 2/3 weeks, its peppered with the history of our characters (which just makes us love them more) but that last 20/25%, you are in for a ride.
I was blindsided thrice - having to pick my chin up off the floor, wished for something different at least once (okay, maybe 10 times!) and had my heart crushed and repaired multiple times...and the ending. Just cruel.
Please can I have more?

5 huge stars

When this was revealed to be a crime filled dark fantasy duology featuring a deadly heist, with a pinch of King Arthur, a dash of Peaky Blinders and lots of blood, I was sold.

And this book did not disappoint, a wicked blend of Secrets, Heists and Vampires, blended to perfection by Hafsah Faizal to create an unforgettable read that I could not put down.

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

The world building was impeccable, the complexity of White Roaring and its government structure, the allure of Spindrift and its secrets and the mystery of the deadly glittering vampiric underworld of The Athereum kept me enthralled.

The characters equally are just as appealing, I love a book with multiple povs and this book flits between the three view points of Arthie, Jin, and Flick. With the main protagonist being Arthie the gritty, unapologetically angry owner of Spindrift, a teashop by day and an illegal blood den for Vampires by night. Her determined nature makes her ruthless in her drive for revenge and there is no better revenge than to succeed in the country that ruined her life. So when her enterprise is threatened she doesn't hesitate to protect her people, save her Spindrift and destroy her enemies, by any means possible. She was undoubtedly my favourite of the three.

The story is full of intrigue and suspense, it was unbelievably clever full of reveals and twists that kept me turning those pages until the most jaw-dropping last line. I am still reeling now and I need the sequel.
In fact I am so desperate to know what happens next I may have to pull a heist of my own... does Macmillan have an arc of book 2 yet?!?!

I am such a sucker for Faizal's writing. It's so lush and prosaic, always creating the exact atmosphere needed for the specific scene. She also writes the most realistic and lovable characters that are generally a little broken with some tragic backstories... so you'll know how sad I feel when I say this one didn't quite live up to my expectations.

I'm not sure what it was exactly, but I didn't quite feel that I got as invested in the story as I did with her previous sands of Arawiya series. I loved the characters, the plot, the world building, but all put together it didn't quite gel as much as I wanted it too. Now, this could be a me thing. Because of how much I loved her first series I went into this with the highest of expectations, so I could just be being picky. But as much as I loved all the individual elements, as a whole it never quite lived up to my own hype.

Arthie, Jin, Flick, Laith & Matteo... every single one of these characters are so well developed, even those we don't get POV's for. Arthie is someone who has had to fight for her place in the world. She had no one, her parents died when her country was colonized and she found herself alone in a strange place where her skin colour and language ensured she didn't fit it. But that's not something that would ever stop her from claiming her place in the world. Jin, another orphan who Arthie found at the site of his parents supposed murder, is similar to her in a lot of ways, and yet wholly different in others. Someone else who doesn't quite fit into society, he longs for somewhere to call home, but doesn't quite have the vengeance streak that fuels Arthie. Flick is the daughter of a noble with a penchant for forging anything from documents to signet rings. Laith, a boy from Arawiya who has come across the sea with his own plans, plans that swiftly involve Arthie and co. And Matteo, Vampire artist extraordinaire.

Every one of these characters has some kind of tragic backstory, something Faizal does incredibly well, so even the characters we're not sure we can trust worm their way into our hearts. And I adored the interactions between them all, the flirtation, familial bonds & simple friendships that were shown. This is certainly a crew of misfits, all keeping some kind of secret from each other, but Faizal that ensures we get plenty of humour included with the drama and danger ensuring we don't get too bogged down.

The world building was amazing, something I've come to expect from Faizal, and fans of her Arawiya series will love the little nods to it throughout the story. But she takes the world she had previously built and expands on it massively. The city this book is set it is reminiscent of Victorian England but with magic, I have seen it compared to King Arthur, but that certain part of the book plays a very small part in the overall story. Instead, Faizal takes the time when England was at it's height as an Empire and weaves it into her story to show it from the view of those colonized. Those that saw their families, entire countries murdered and pillaged all so they could gain something from their culture. It's easy to see why Arthie and the crew are so willing to bring it crashing down, and the more we read of the story, the darker and more sinister their actions become.

There were two romance arc's in the book, one I loved, and one I felt was just not needed at all. The first was a sweet almost innocent/rake style romance, it was slow burn and certainly added some steam and tension to the story. I was so happy when these two characters finally admitted their feelings instead of just being idiots in love. The other was an almost weird love triangle, and it seemed overly rushed on one side. The two characters seemed to almost fall in insta love, or insta lust at least, and I think this might be where my lack of love for the story stems from because one of the POV characters spends far too much time talking about how she likes how he looks, should she trust him etc, and I felt like it detracted from the main plot in parts.

Another part that I didn't overly love was our lack of insight into the planning of the heists in the story. Because we don't get an inside view to it a lot of the actions seemed unnecessarily rash and I felt like they survived on luck alone at some points, something that seems at odds to a person who has crawled from the gutter to create one of the most prolific tea houses in the city. (The tea parts were great btw, I've never been a fan, but it made me want to try some of the flavours mentioned.) The ending certainly threw a few spanners in the works, and there was a certain plot line that definitely shocked me. Faizal certainly knows how to end of a bang and leave you wanting more, and despite my not wholly loving this one, I am certainly eager to get my hands on the sequel and find out what happens next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.
I loved this book so much, I can't wait until the physical copy is in my hands, and I can gush about it to customers at work.
The plot never gave up, it was action after action, every page had something important going on and yet it didn't neglect to give the characters growth, humour, and personalities, which I have been having a hard time in finding lately.
(I will say the mention of elves nearly pulled me out because I'm sick of elves/fae in books now, and the world didn't feel magical enough for elves to be involved?)
This is a book you won't want to miss - the hype is real.

Arthie and Jin are an unlikely pair who’ve been at each other's side for years running a tea house by day and a vampire bar at night. While business is booming, vampires are going missing and their tea house is being threatened by the Ram. When an unlikely player enters the game, Arthie and Jin are forced to hatch a plan to smuggle a ledger from the vampire sanctuary. They have to add some new members to the team and unfortunately, everyone has their own agenda.

I loved this! It was gripping, full of great characters and fun world building! I really enjoyed the mix of era's as inspiration and the twist with King Arthur legends. The themes discussed were great too like colonialism and grief. I cant wait for the next book!

Six of Crows, vampires, a tearoom standing as a front for a bloodhouse, and vengeance.

Spindrift: tearoom by light, bloodhouse by dark. Spindrift was more than just a business though, more than a means of vengeance for Arthie. It was a safe place, and not just for their crew of orphans and castaways, but for vampires who were now indistinguishably hated by the rest of society despite most being as decent and relatively harmless as the next person.

When Laith, a striking figure from Arawiya and a Horned guard, begs Arthie’s help in retrieving a ledger which will topple the King, Arthie assembles a team to do the impossible.

Arthie is a tempest in a bottle, tiny and simmering and ready to obliterate. White Roaring has whittled her sharp as a blade with her homeland destroyed by those claiming to ‘civilise’ it. She is eager to tear down the place which caused so much ruin in their greed.
Her crew consists of Jin, a genius orphan she rescued from a fire and her partner in crime; Flick, a noble daughter practising criminal craft as a forger; Matteo, an artist vampire; and Laith, the mysterious boy who appeared at her window.

The heist was tonight. There was a chance he might die, but there was also the utmost certainty that he would do so in style.

This hit a lot of YA troupes - enemies to lovers (to enemies), a literal ‘touch her and you die’ moment (verbatim word for word), betrayal, dress gowns, instant love…. You name it.

The writing was spectacular. Evocative, luscious, and extremely compelling. I now really want to read an adult historical fantasy written by Faizal.

”We are the same, Arthie. We understand what it's like to grieve with fire and not tears. What it’s like to do anything for those we love.”

Overall, I think this will be a hit! And do be worried - major cliffhanger!
What a bloody good time!🩸🧛🏻‍♀️

Thank you to Pan MacMillan for providing me with the physical arc in exchange for a review!

Peaky blinders + Victoria style setting + found family + vampires = A tempest of Tea

What more could a girl want? I really enjoyed this, I was reading at a slower pace at first struggling to get into it, but then after about 20%/30% it had me hooked.

I can’t wait to see where this story goes !

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'A Tempest of Tea' by Hafsah Faizal.

I adore Hafsah Faizal's writing and this new book from her is no exception. I'm not a vampire girl, I'll be honest. But this book is so well written, I felt okay reading the vampire bits and I didn't feel bored like I usually do when I read these types of books. I truly did enjoy this.

First of all, can we talk about the cover of this book? STUNNING! Secondly, apparently this had been a lot of people's anticipated reads for over two years now and I can see why.

A Tempest of Tea is described as 'Peaky Blinders meets King Arthur with vampires' and it also has an element of Six of Crows, which is such a delightful combination. AND this is a YA novel too, so it has all the glorious parts of one great novel, which this is. This book is going to do incredible things once it comes out. I could also see it making a brilliant on-screen adaptation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

I find it hard to review A Tempest of Tea because on the one hand, I loved the premise, I really enjoyed the take on colonialism, the way cultures are built and spoken about, and the twists (even thought I had guessed a few of them!) On the other hand I found some of the world building quite clunky and hard to follow, there a few instances that I am hoping are maybe just errors that will be caught before the final version goes to print were interactions just don't seem to make sense. The sentence seems to run into something new, or the speech doesn't seem to got together. Similarly, I found the action sequences a tale of two halves. Some of them were excellent, cinematic and lyrically described. Others were difficult to track, I was more assuming than understanding. However, overall, I really did enjoy A Tempest of Tea a lot.

The romances in this book are beautifully built, I am not anti-love-triangle, but this is the obligatory warning that there is something of one in this book! I really liked how Faizal built romance into the characters; Arthie was resistant to romance in exactly the way you might expect her to be; Flick was enamoured by romance in exactly the way you might expect her to be. It was really refreshing to see an author consider how romance fits into the wider characterisation of a person, and consider that in how the relationship progressed.

I loved the ending, I think the last 1/3 of A Tempest of Tea is the strongest. I had guessed at some of the twists, but I think that just shows the success of Faizal's foreshadowing. Other twists were genuine surprises, and some sat in the middle, not totally shocking, but not expected either. Regardless of the category they sat in I would describe all of the twists in this book as deeply satisfying.

This is a twisty, romantic, well-plotted adventure of a novel. Whilst I have some niggles with the writing, overall I think it is a brilliant start to what I am sure will be a spectacular series. I am looking forward to the next one!

Holy moly. This book was brilliant; absolutely fantastic.

First of all, I was intrigued by the plot. It sounded so wacky and random, that I just knew that I had to read it. It is presented as Peaky Blinders meets Six of Crows, but with vampires. That is one hell of a plot.

Arthie is a fantastic protagonist. She is the leader of an enterprising gang, who run a tea shop while also running a sort of vampire speakeasy, supplying blood in a society which abhors vampires. She is so great because she’s a woman in a man’s world, but doesn’t let that stop her or frighten her. She’s strong and independent, while being fiercely loyal to those that matter to her But while she collects secrets like currency, she is also keeping a few herself, which she keeps from even the most important in her life. Namely, her adoptive brother, Jin.

The whole cast of characters are so well written and integrated; no-one lets the team down and they all work together so well. There is lots of banter and funny moments, which compliment the angsty and angry moments fluidly.

It is so well-written than I could not put it down and read it entirely in one sitting. It’s a very atmospheric book, with lots of beautiful descriptions. I particularly liked the attention to detail when discussing tea (I love tea).

This book is so fast paced and exhilarating; you’re kept on your toes until the very end. There are so many twists and turns that keep you holding your breath.

While this is a fantasy book, there are serious discussions of colonisation which I think are dealt with well and not written about lightly. There is passion behind the writing and I think it really shows.

It’s difficult to put into words just how much I enjoyed this book. It’s an absolutely brilliant fantasy read and I cannot wait for the next book. Especially after THAT ending! Wowzers.

Thank you NetGalley for the E-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This was such an amazing book, I was hooked from start to finish. This felt a lot more like The Gilded Wolves series rather than Six of Crows, but still had very similar aspects to both. I really loved Arthie as a character, I thought she was very strong. I would’ve liked if there were POV’s from Matteo and Laith. I need book 2 now!

The obvious comparison (indeed one that has been used in the marketing copy) for Hafsah Faizal's newest book 'A Tempest of Tea' is Leigh Bardugo's 'Six of Crows' duology. For those who don't know, Six of Crows is a heist story about a group of young criminals working out of the seedier part of a city rife with corruption. Many books have been compared to Six of Crows and it's hard to really say whether that comparison has been beneficial or not, given the sheer size and passion of that particular fandom.
However, in this instance, I do think Hafsah Faizal's work manages to touch on some of the particular elements that made Six of Crows so compelling while bringing in enough new elements to the story that the book doesn't feel like a copycat.
Of course the main difference is the fact that this particular series has everyone's favourite paranormal friend - Vampires. I thought this was an excellent take on Vampires with some very interesting worldbuilding implications for a world aware of paranormal creatures.
The other thread running prominently through this story is that of colonialism and the idea of having a place to belong. I thought Hafsah Faizal managed to navigate an exploration of those themes without compromising on the 'fun' heist storyline. It is very much a sense of a theme that has shaped this world and the feelings of characters within it but the characters are primarily engaged in this particular adventure.
I think one of the things that made this slightly less enjoyable to me was that there were a couple of elements that felt tonally odd. I can't mention some of them without a spoiler but there were some 'solutions' that felt rather pulled out of nowhere.
That being said I think this book is well worth reading, sometimes you just need a YA heist novel that hits you in the found family feelings.
I receieved a free digital review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for sending me an early copy in exchange for my honest review!

A Tempest of Tea is the first book in the Blood and Tea duology from “We Hunt the Flame” author Hafsah Faizal. A Tempest of Tea more than exceeded my expectations, with Vampires and heists, what’s not to like? If I could give this book infinite stars, I would. There are just not enough stars on here.

🫂Found Family
🧛‍♀️Vampires
3️⃣Multi-POV
🦹‍♀️Heists
🩶Morally-Grey characters
💞POC Main characters

In A Tempest of Tea, we follow Arthie Casimir, a criminal mastermind who deals in secrets. During the day, she runs a tearoom, by night, it’s an illegal bloodhouse which caters to the vampires that society fears. When it’s threatened, Arthie’s hand is forced, and she strikes a deal with an alluring adversary to try and save it. There’s only one problem, she can’t do the job alone. She puts together a plan and brings together a group of misfits to infiltrate the Arthereum, the dark vampire society. However, not every member of the crew is on her side and the real reason behind the heist becomes clear. She finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy that will no doubt threaten the world she lives in.

If you're a fan of Six of Crows, you will LOVE this book!

This book was so well written. I absolutely devoured it, I could not put it down. This book will easily lure you into the trap of one more chapter. I certainly did. Every character is so well developed, Arthie, who trades secrets, has secrets of her own, Jin is a charmer and Flick is someone who is desperate for her mother's affection and will do anything to get it. I am obsessed with these characters and cannot wait to scream about this book and the characters. Everything was on point, from the description of the world and characters to the descriptions of the tea. I felt really immersed in this world and wish I could read this book for the first time all over again. I kid you not, when I finished this book, I started at it for a solid half hour contemplating what to do with my life next.

There is some romance in the book, Arthie is stuck in a somewhat love triangle and Jin, well, you'll have to wait and see who his love interest is 😏. There were some squeal-worthy, leg-kicking moments in this, it was so hard to keep quiet so I didn't wake up everyone else in the house. The romance we got didn't overpower the plot and main focus of the story which I loved. Some books now, particularly fantasy, seem to add too much romance and it takes away from the main plot. Faizal didn't, she added just the right amount.

I had so many crazy theories during this book, none of which were right. The amount of times I gasped or went "WTF?!!" is unreal.

All in all, A Tempest of Tea is such an enjoyable read. It will capture you and drag you into the world almost instantly. Add this book to your TBRs now, I have a feeling this will become one of 2024's biggest releases.

I will gladly give Arthie all my secrets for the next book, like now. Now, I'm gonna cry whilst I wait for that.

I was absolutely hooked on this book. The new version of Six of Crows is excellent! Every character in this book had my interest, and I fell in love with their backstories and relationships. Although I'm a sucker for vampires, everything else about this novel drew me in entirely. I can't wait for the next book in the series, even though the first one isn't out yet."
.
I recently read A Tempest of Tea, which was a very enjoyable book. I particularly like stories involving heists, so this book was right up my alley. I also read Family, which includes vampires and it completely changed the game. This book has everything one could possibly want in a story."
🩸Vampires
🩸Found Family
🩸Heists!
🩸POC MCs
🩸 Feet-kicking romance

The characters in this story really made it for me. Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind & also a badass! Arthie is a robust and independent character but also flawed and deals with many past traumas. I really enjoyed learning about Arthie's culture and her past. Now, onto Jin…. oh, I loved him a lot; he was such a flirt and incredibly charming but also such a kind soul! A special mention to Matteo, Flick and Laith: I don't want to spoil too much, but all the characters are unique and flow together so well (expect lots of banter).

I don't want to say too much about the heist (spoilers obviously), but everything was so well thought out, and the setting was perfect; I was on the edge of my seat for most of this book and the ending…. I need to book 2 right now, please!

Overall, this book was fantastic, and I can't wait to see what book 2 brings!
#ATempestofTea #NetGalley #Bookreview #bookbloggers #5starreview

“We were made for trouble, you and me.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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 upon a band of misfits, Arthie formulates a plan to infiltrate the dark and glittering vampire society known as the Athereum. But not every member of her 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.

Arthie is a bit of an enigma, wrapped in mystery and steeped in tea. Someone you certainly don’t want to cross but if you have her on your side, you’ll certainly do well for yourself. She’s spirited for want of a better word and the dedication she has to her business and those in it is incredibly admirable. I think she has a great arc with a lot of growth in this story. We get to know her decently well but there is still an intrigue to her, even at the end which absolutely thrills me. I love it when there are many layers to a character to peep back and discover. Arthie is a wonder!
Jin is, without a doubt, cocky. But it really works for him and his character. He offers a lot of comedic relief for the story whilst helping keep it grounded. He’s an anchor for Arthie in the dangerous life they live and I really enjoyed seeing that sibling bond between them. Initially, I saw mentions of his name and thought he may be Arthie’s love interest but I am glad things did not swing that way. I think their dynamic would have been off if that happened - the sibling rivalry and protectiveness over each other is perfect in my eyes.
Flick has lived a very sheltered life so she jumps at the chance to be independent - no matter the consequence. I really liked Flick and the growth she goes through in this book! She’s a delight to read about and her POV is certainly interesting. The relationships she builds with the other main characters are fantastic. I hope we get to see more of Flick in the future!
Laith is someone who rather annoyed me across the book. He hovers a lot, thinking he knows best. I did think there was a possibility of me liking him towards the end of the book but no… definitely not.

I must admit, when I see a story includes vampires I tend to avoid it. It’s never much been an interest of mine to read - I was never a fan of Twilight and just have never entirely understood the hype. However, I am such a big fan of Faizal’s previous works that I was happy to just dive in feet first and see what I thought of her newest book. And I am so glad I did! The plot is relatively seamless, moving from event to event with nary a pause which helped keep the story exciting and engaging. The descriptions of the tea in this novel make me so sad I’m not a tea drinker. They sound so yummy and I just wanted to dive in and have Arthie serve me tea until I liked it! The characters all felt real and interesting. I was totally invested in each of them, wondering how they would contribute to the overall story and what would happen to each of them. There is little romance but oh lordy is there a lot of angsty longing and I AM HERE FOR IT! I definitely love me some angst and Faizal is flawless at writing it. It went perfectly hand in hand with the tension from the heist, keeping me on tender hooks and eager to finish. That ending though… Hafsah, what have you done to me?! It was so brilliantly written and has left me feeling incredibly bereft and desperate for the next book. Bravo!

Overall, A Tempest of Tea is another stunning book from Faizal!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Books for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on release day.

☕A Tempest of Tea review☕

Thoughts:
- As soon as I heard this being described as perfect for fans of Six of Crows, I knew this book was a must-read for me, and I am so happy to say that it didn't disappoint.
- It features a crew of misfits, vampires, a heist, a bit of whimsy, a lot of tea, found family, and truly beautiful writing.
- The novel was entirely action packed, and about 2/3 of the way through the action picked up even more and I was completely shocked by the turns the story took! The last section of this book was mind-blowing, and made the entire book a five star read for me, and has also made me desperate for the next book.
- There were plenty of twists throughout the story, and I was constantly second-guessing each characters' motives, which made for some really exciting character development. I think the pacing was perfectly balanced, with a great mix of action, world-building and character backstories.
- This book had so much heart - it had me all over the shop emotionally - laughing, at points holding back tears, outraged, shocked, at times confused, and really touched at heartwarming moments throughout.
- I will 100% be reading the sequel whenever it comes out, and I can already anticipate this book being one of my favourite releases of 2024.

A Tempest of Tea follows Arthie, a young woman who runs a teashop by day and an illegal bloodhouse for vampires by night, who along with her crew of friends and reluctant allies finds herself on a daring heist to save the teashop and, quite possibly, the entire country.

This book has absolutely everything. It’s split POV from three fascinating characters – Arthie, her co-conspirator Jin, and reluctant-criminal Flick – and follows a whole ensemble cast of rebels and outcasts who I absolutely adored. Arthie is one of the most exciting, intelligent, morally-grey protagonists I’ve read in years, and her charming chosen-brother Jin is my latest fictional obsession, whose every line had me grinning. Flick offers a great contrast to their natural criminal instincts, and the other new additions to their crew were equally fascinating.

With swoon-worthy romance, an incredible cast of characters, a complex, high-stakes heist, the most genuine found-family I’ve read since Six of Crows, and witty, hilarious dialogue throughout, this is easily one of the most entertaining fantasy books I’ve read in years. I was drawn in by the absolutely stunning cover but stayed for the incredible writing, and cannot wait to force this book on everyone I know.

Fast-paced and character-driven, A Tempest of Tea will hook fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows. High stakes, a daring heist, and a diverse cast of characters come together to make an overall successful story. Oh, and there’s vampires.
Slightly predictable and literal to an adult reader, it would however suit teen and YA readers by proposing a thrilling read.

“she liked her men a little afraid of her”
“one gets a taste for blood when they have to lick their own wounds”

I have been DYING for Hassan Faizal to write a new book ever since i fell in love with the “we hunt the flame” duo logo, so as soon as I saw this- I knew i had to get my hands on it. I am so so so happy i did, because it did not disappoint.

this is marketed towards fans of peaky blinders and six of crows- which i would say is accurate. the world building managed to combine both of these worlds to create this super atmospheric, fun and entertaining world. I was so invested in the setting, dying to know more about the vampire high society and all of the blackmailing that somehow makes this place function. It was just so fun to read and i genuinely could not put it down. on top of the great world building, the characters were also just as good. like it says, if you’re a fan of the found family within six of crows, this is 100% up your alley. I became so emotionally invested in this little rag tag crew, i was dying to read about their interactions and how to watch their bond develop. I thought they were all so layered and complex. I love how we have a young woman of colour as the main character, in a typically male dominated trope, just being herself and killing it whilst she does. arthie is quite possibly one of my new favourite characters, the author managed to capture the strength and determination so beautifully but then also portray the hidden anguish and fear in a way that felt so raw and relatable. Jin is the perfect, cocky, attractive maniac of a man that we all love 9very similar to Jesper in that sense, so if he’s your comfort character, again, you will love this.) flick is Whalen, a spoilt princess who grew up sheltered but then finds out the ugly truth about her parent, choosing family that found her rather than the family she was raised with.

the plot was somehow high stakes yet cosy fantasy, which i think is amazing because I couldn’t put it down yet it was so comforting. It had a really steady pace where everything felt thought out and thorough, but didn’t drag or feel boring at times. there were some aspects that I predicted, but I wasn’t even mad about it because the way it was uncovered still made the storyline interesting. BUT??? THE ENDING?? the only thing worse than a cliff hanger is a cliff hanger on an ARC because now i have to wait twice as long for book two. this was amazing, and i am so so excited to see where this continues.

I cannot thank you the publisher enough for the opportunity to read this before the release in 2024.
I was such a huge fan of Nasir and Zafira and that universe but this book might have surpassed that.

🫖Arthur, Jin, Matteo, Laith and Flick are very different people that meet under such unusual circumstances but still they managed to work together and in some cases to have a bond stronger than real family.

🫖Now let’s talk about my baby and my love: JIN

🫖He comes on the page and I knew it was game over for me. He was so funny, honest and so sure of himself that it’s impossible not to fall in love with him. Also let’s talk of his usage of the world “love”. Cause I was dead every time 😂

🫖I loved how so many thematics where introduced in the book and how the author stress the immigrant aspect of the characters.
There is a scene I really loved, where the two main female characters talks about skin colour and how when people look at them that’s the first thing people notice, and especially for this reason one of them decides to die her hair. In this way people notice her hair colour before the colour of her skin. And it made me think a lot.

🫖The found family was such a great aspect and how willing they are to die for each other.

🫖 The Tea culture was amazing to see. And to witness how important it was for some people in the book. And how it was the main event.

🫖What was really cool was seeing the leader of the band a female. And how it was stressed for the entire of the book until the very end that no one ever complimented Arthie for her intelligent, just because she was a girl.

If you think I don’t ship characters in this book we are so wrong. 🙃🙃

All I ask now is for book 2 cause that ending was illegal

A Tempest of Tea is the first book I've read from Hafsah Faizal and what a great introduction to her writing. This book has made me an instant fan and I will be catching up on her previous work sooner rather than later (especially since this one sort of tied in to it).

I absolutely loved Arthie. What an icon. I loved her intelligence, her ruthlessness, her sass, her care for others. I loved her scheming. What a brilliant protagonist. I liked how Faizal showed Arthie's rage, her quest for vengeance, her sadness, her ambition. She was such a well rounded and in depth character.

Faizal's worldbuilding is top tier. THE ATMOSPHERE! THE VIBES WERE VIBING! The setting was so vivid, and it did not take much effort at all on my part to picture the scenes as they were happening. I felt fully immersed in to the world throughout the entire story.

Faizal cut to the core and did not beat around the bush (nor should she) on the topic of colonialism. She exposed it for all it's ugly elements, with scathing descriptions, showing the impact that colonialism has on people. This really opened up a dialogue o the state of our history and our present - this might be a fictional world, but what Faizal is writing about, where she is drawing from, is anything but fictional. This is the reality, and has been the reality, so many are afraid to face or outright deny (all, typically, for their own benefit or privilege).

I really enjoyed the plot twists and the reveals. There's one big one, which in retrospect was so glaringly obvious it was ridiculous that I did not notice. But I was GASPING. Like OH MY? It was WONDERFUL. I LOVED IT. I genuinely want to yell at everyone about how brilliant it was but I'm keeping my mouth shut because I believe everyone deserves the thrill of experiencing that reveal for the first time.

All the characters were great in their own ways and I loved the dynamics. I want to comment on Arthie and Jin - I love their found family relationship. I cried at several points in the book because of them.

I'm really excited for the next book for so many reasons. I've got a few theories that I need answers to (I think I'm right on at least one of them!!!!).

Just had to drop that I love Matteo before I end this review.

I recommend this book to literally everyone because it is brilliant and I'm really sad that it isn't out yet because 1) have to wait for people to get it to shout at them 2) a longer wait for the sequel for me.

Thanks to Macmillan Children's Books for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. Please send me the second one whenever you receive it, please and thank you.

This is going to be a game changer for the YA Fantasy genre.

Thank you so much Netgalley UK for giving me an E-Arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Tempest of Tea" by Hafsah Faizal is a spellbinding journey through the city of White Roaring in the country of Ettenia, filled with complex characters, political intrigue, and a dash of romance. The author's prowess in writing and world-building shines through, creating a vivid tapestry that captivates the reader from the very beginning.

The writing style of Faizal is commendable, drawing the reader in with rich and descriptive prose. The city and capital of White Roaring, reminiscent of Ketterdam, are brought to life with evocative details that immerse the reader in the world of "A Tempest of Tea." The author's ability to create a captivating atmosphere contributes significantly to the overall appeal of the narrative.

Arthie, the main protagonist, is a multifaceted character who exudes strength and wit. Drawing parallels to Kaz Brekker, her prowess in business and negotiations is evident from the early stages of the story. The narrative skillfully unfolds Arthie's journey from a girl in rags to a master of her trade, showcasing her progression and resilience. The use of humour, sarcasm, and wit in Arthie's character, adds a layer of charm to her personality.

The world-building in "A Tempest of Tea" is intricately crafted, with Ettenia being a realm filled with political strife, colonial influences, and hidden secrets. The establishment of Spindrift, Arthie's tea house by day and vampire haven by night, adds a unique layer to the world-building, creating a safe space for vampires and outcasts alike.

Magic, an integral part of the narrative, is seamlessly woven into the plot. Arthie's actions, especially her involvement in reclaiming stolen artifices and her interactions with vampires, showcase the magical elements present in Ettenia. The incorporation of vampire lore and their covert existence in the city adds a layer of mystery and intrigue.

The plot unfolds perfectly with action, suspense, and political machinations. Arthie's motivations rooted in revenge against colonial oppression and her determination to protect her found family at Spindrift drive the narrative forward. The heist setup, involving Arthie, Jin, and their crew, introduces a thrilling and unpredictable element that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

The characters, individually and in their relationships, contribute significantly to the richness of the narrative. Arthie and Jin's sibling bond is portrayed with affection and warmth, while the dynamics between Arthie and Flick showcase the strength of female friendships. The budding romance between Arthie and Laith adds a delightful layer of complexity to the story. Additionally, the interactions between Flick and Jin hint at a potential romantic subplot, creating an intriguing dynamic within the group.

The introduction of Laith Sayaad adds another layer to the narrative, with his charm, mysterious past, and undeniable chemistry with Arthie. The depiction of their interactions reveals a captivating dynamic that promises further exploration in the narrative.

In summary, "A Tempest of Tea" is a compelling fantasy novel with impeccable writing, immersive world-building, magical elements, intricate plot, well-developed characters, and nuanced exploration of themes such as colonialism, revenge, and found family. Hafsah Faizal's ability to create a world that is both enchanting and thought-provoking makes this book a must-read for fans of fantasy and heist narratives.

I enjoyed this book so much! The characters were amazing, the story was incredible, ever changing, quick paced, so many twists and turns throughout! I’m beyond excited to read the next book!

This book is a wild ride - right from the get-go, and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last sentence. A truly brilliant mash up of Arthurian and Vampiric lore, with all the jeopardy of a classic heist movie. Plus tea! What's not to love?

This book reminded me of all my favourite things... The scene setting and world building reminded me of Laini Taylor's 'Daughter of Smoke and Bone', the incredible characters and shady dealings brought to mind Scott Lynch's 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' and the Scooby-Gang/found family vibes were as fun and witty as the 'Firefly' TV series.

Faizal has given us a fun and exciting book that also explores class, race, revenge and effects of colonisation, through the lens of some well-rounded and interesting characters. I had such a good time reading this book and I just know it will be one of my favourites for the year.

This was such an enigmatic read! I was enamoured by the writing style from the get go, the worldbuilding so fascinating without being too overwhelming to follow. I was addicted, flying through the pages, obsessed with our heroine Arthie — she’s truly the shunting star of the book, her chapters were my favourite and the love triangle she finds herself in was one of the best aspects of the book for me! I haven’t felt this strongly about a love triangle in forever (team Matteo always <3). I love the Victorian and Wildean quality of the aesthetic and setting, plus the Six of Crows inspired heist with a group of mismatched misfits was just so fabulous to read.

My only critique would be Flick’s POV felt a bit unnecessary. I much preferred following Arthie and Jin, both equally fascinating as individuals but I also adored their deep platonic bond and admiration of one another.

I really can’t wait for the next book, ahhhhh! I have some theories about the ending and I’m just praying for an Arthie and Matteo endgame!!

STUNNING. i am so in awe of this masterpiece. will never be the same again and i need book two in my hands asap.

My first impressions of this book were quite simple - tea, vampires, heist, found family.
I don't like to fall for the idea of a book when I have such a vague idea of the plot, but I couldn't help but have my curiosity piqued when the synopsis for A Tempest of Tea came upon my radar.
Our story follows the perspectives of a handful of characters, primarily those of Arthie and Jin. Arthie and Jin are two young adults who run a tea house by day, which becomes a place for vampires to come to feed under the cover of night. The Spindrift (their tea house) is not just their place of work, but also their home. When The Spindrift comes under threat, an opportunity to break into a building to retrieve a document crosses their laps, and if successful, they'll save their beloved cafe.
This is a YA novel, and so there isn't any heavy world building, and the story is plot heavy. It feels quite dark, without being too sinister, and manages to retain an element of fun throughout, while dealing with some heavy themes.
I enjoyed the book throughout, but it absolutely levelled up in the last third of the book, becoming incredibly fast paced, full of action, and incredibly twisty.
The only real complaint that I have about this book is that it's the first book in a series, and I'm going to have to wait far too long to get the opportunity to pick up the second book to find out where the story goes.

this book was so fun!!! i didn’t know what to expect but i was truly obsessed and will be needing more from faizal!! <3

A Tempest of Tea is a delightful, atmospheric fantasy about an unlikely group of social outcasts tentatively working together to go up against some of the most powerful in society and pull off a heist.

Secrets, and the power you can have over someone by knowing their secrets, play a big role in this story. There is some clever plotting that meant some of the revelations I had started to piece together, whilst others took me by surprise which made it a very satisfying read. The setting is an urban historical fantasy world, not our own, but the parallels are clear. There is some romance element, but the development of the familial and friendship relationships was much more interesting to me and I would most happily return to their world for a sequel.

Recommended to all fantasy fans.

A great novel full of intrigue and suspense, as well as a satisfying romance element. It had a slow start, with a less exciting first half followed by a very good latter half.