This heist novel is a fun romp with complex worldbuilding.

The main characters, Arthie and Jin (with a few secondary characters of almost equal importance), are likable rogues on a quest to find blackmail material on the mysterious masked ruler of their colonial capital, who has decided to take down their illegal enterprise of serving blood to vampires after hours in their tea shop. The Prohibition-like vibes make it easy to root for people who are decidedly on the wrong side of the law, and while the object of their heist is a bit far-fetched, it's a fun adventure while they're trying to get access to it.

Parts of the storyline didn't quite work for me as the present-day narrative collapses onto revelations about past activities/events, but overall it was a fun read and one I'd gladly read the sequel to.

In Faizal’s sophomore series, we get to expand the world of We Hunt the Flame to Ettenia, a fantasy counterpart to the British empire. While there are interesting elements in the new cast of characters, the story fails to deliver on pacing, plot, and tension. Even the attempts at poignant political commentary on colonialism becomes lackluster when everything is so explicitly stated aloud instead of revealed through engaging storytelling. I don’t know why this book was marketed about vampires when that aspect of the story was heavily sidelined for most of the first part of the book, without the thrilling development of lore that would make a book like this stand out in the genre. Altogether, this book isn’t quite beating the SOC allegations

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this DRC.
Orphans Arthie and Jin run a respectable tea house by day and a classy vampire bloodhouse by night. Then she gets asked to help find a stolen government ledger. She has to get crew together, an upper class girl who is a world class forger, an elite vampire artiste and a somewhat mysterious government guard. No one is what they seem, and more mysteries pop up at every step.
It’s a heist book! Admittedly, I read this book because of the author. When I started and there were vampires, I paused (not my thing), but read on and was really pleased with this book. The characters and their relationships are fantastic and believable. And there is a tea house. The descriptions of the characters attraction to each other are swoonworthy.


#ATempestofTea #NetGalley

I don’t think I’ve had more fun with a book this year. This book is my fourth wing. But instead of dragons, it has vampires and women of color committing crimes & running lucrative criminal empires.

Arthie has the best tea shop in the city, during the day she serves tea to the gentry and at night she serves blood to the vampires who roam the city. She uses the information she overhears to blackmail folks to get anything she needs.

The governing body has no love for Archie not just because she’s a criminal but because she and her brother are both immigrant living and thriving in the homeland of their colonizers.

Archie is forced to strike a deal with her enemy in order to try and save her tea shop and the life and family shes built.

This is a heist book. It has everything that you like, if you like, if you like heist and gangsters and women’s wrongs. It has Romance and action and adventure and a really cute cat. I read we hunt the flame and I wasn’t blown away by it but this book is significantly better, in my opinion. The world doesn’t feel as large, the mythology doesn’t feel as cemented but I don’t think it needs to be.

I truly think this is going to be on my favorite reads of 2023.

First, we need to take a moment for the cover. It's absolutely gorgeous. Wow, what a stunningly written novel. First of all, if you thought We Hunt the Flame was good, you’re not ready for how much better A Tempest of Tea is. I ate this book up so quickly and immediately fell in love with the whole cast of characters. It’s Peaky Blinders meets Six of Crows if it was set in colonial England with a heavy emphasis on the dangers and repercussions of colonization. I’m so excited to see where the rest of the story is going and I promise this has been worth the wait.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

initial reaction: IM SORRY WHAT

Where do I even start?

We Hunt The Flame was so incredibly special to me- a fact I've been so vocal about. Tempest was one of the most anticipated reads for me and as excited as I was, there's always that sliver of doubt. "What if I'm disappointed? What if it doesn't measure up?" I am a FOOL. Tempest was everything I could have thought and more.

First things to get out of the way, Tempest is it's own book. It's set in the universe of We Hunt The Flame but in a different country and there's brief mentions here and there but that's all! Now that we've settled that, if you loved the zumra, you're going to LOVE this group! It's very much a bunch of people who don't trust each other at all getting together to try and pull off a heist and they're so perfect I could cry. I love each and every one of them so much.

Arthie and Jin have wormed their way into my heart so bad I should see a doctor. Arthie is such a badass (sorry for swearing, there's no other word that better fits her) and she's so SMART, I love being in her head and seeing how much she cares without actually showing it. Jin is perfect in every way and he balances out Arthie so well with his wit and compassion. They're the epitome of found family with just each other and we see that found family expand a bit with the new characters. With that said, I was losing my mind over Laith and that's all I can say without spoilers.

Hafsah's writing only gets better and better. We get multiple POVs in this book and she fleshes out each individual character so well. The world and magic system were written really well and I still have so many questions that we hopefully get answered!

The end was WILD and I need the sequel right now!

On shelves in three months!!! go preorder!!

This was such an incredible read! It was atmospheric and magical, and I could not put it down! I genuinely can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on it in February.

I LOVE IT. I love it when the main character is a clever, cunning, morally grey woman. I love it when they have platonic love. I love it when there are layers of antagonizing colonialization and tackling one or two real life issues with the power houses. I love it when they have slow burn romance as the subplot (with other characters). It's a well-written fantasy of heist and found family.
Everyone has their own background and the main 5 characters are lovable, and the world building is nicely described. I need to visit Spindrift and order a cup or two. Yes, the writing is (typical Hafsah) very atmospheric.

The story plot itself is very gripping. From start to finish, layers upon layers of alibis and plot twists:))))
(I kinda need book 2 right now!!!)

This is a story about a society of thugs, aristocrat, and vampires running a country. It's a fight against powerhouse to keep on living from what they've built bricks to bricks. 5 creatures who didn't really trust one another securing an important evidence of savagery acts. It bleeds betrayal and tricks.

Heard that this book sit on B&N an WS front page? Well deserved indeed👌

It makes me want to re-read Sands of Arawiya duology :)))
And NO you don't have to read Sand of Arawiya first before diving into this story, but I bet you would want to read Sands of Arawiya duology after reading this 🥰🥰🥰

If you love beautiful writing, clever plot, and Six of Crows, go read this book!!!!!!!

Hafsah Faizal is back! And with vampires and tea and all sorts of shenanigans! Consider me signed and sealed.

This book was wonderful— I’d forgotten how much I love her easily digestible, atmospheric and emotionally driven writing style. Set in colonial England and pitched as Peaky Blinders meets Six of Crows, it was the perfect mix of action, thoughtful conversations around colonisation, and deliciously slow burn romance. I adored the magic system and the heist was so fascinating, plus that ending!! Needless to say, I’m eagerly awaiting the sequel. I think this will go down very well with Faisal’s fans both old and new, and it’s a great start to what will sure to be a fantastic new series.

I absolutely adored this book from Faizal and couldn't put it down. Refreshingly inventive and magnificently rendered, I can't wait to shout about this from the rooftops!

We're nearing the end of 2023 and I have found my first five star read of the year! I think we can all agree that title comparisons are rarely accurate, but trust me when I say that if you're a fan of Six of Crows you will love this. It has all the same ingredients - found family, a diverse cast of characters, a heist, and ship worthy romances. On top of all that there is an all POC cast, vampires, and colonialism!

A Tempest of Tea is told from the point of view of Arthie, Jin, and Flick. Going back to the Six of Crows comparison, Arthie is Kaz Brekker coded and Jin is Jesper coded, in my opinion. I really enjoyed their brother/sister type relationship, and how he balanced her serious nature with his charm. Both are orphans who have worked hard to make a name for themselves. Completing this trio, there is Flick. She is from a more privileged background and while not quite as interesting as Arthie and Jin she is no less likable.

I had a hard time putting a Tempest of Tea down, it was action packed from the get go and the short chapters made it fast paced. It delves into talks of colonialism, which I wasn't expecting but loved. There is even a East India Company adjacent called the East Jeevant Company. I also found the heist aspect of the story, from the planning to the actual execution to be fun. Add in Vampires, my favourite supernatural creature, and a tea room that turns into a bloodhouse for vampires by night and you've got yourself a winner.

There are two central romances. Arthie's romantic arc involves a love triangle, but I say that in the loosest sense of the word. I wasn't really keen on the obvious love interest, he wasn't giving anything. The second and more subtle love interest is Matteo, and let me tell you as soon as he appeared on page I was captivated. There isn't really anything concrete between them, romantically, apart from a very small sprinkle of tension. However, I can see something potentially developing in the sequel. At least, I hope so!

I will say that to me the twist was quite obvious from the start, but honestly that didn't take away from my enjoyment. If anything, I was more invested and wanted to see how it would play out. If you can't already tell I absolutely devoured A Tempest of Tea and am so, so excited about the sequel.

This was a story full of complex, ever-evolving relationships.
Arthie and Jin run Sprindrift; a tea house by day for humans and a blood house by night for the vampires of White Roaring. When Spindrift is threatened, Arthie is forced to bring a small group of people with different goals to complete a heist with the goal of exposing the government.
The characters in A Tempest of Tea are so fully fleshed out, with each POV contributing a unique voice. Every character has their own developed backstory, arc and motivations for their behavior, they seem more like real people than fictional characters. As readers, we are given information as we need it, not in a huge world dump at the beginning of the story. New information is constantly being revealed, which kept me engaged and curious. Things are never really as they seem, and I was constantly guessing about possible betrayals and loyalties.
On the surface, this book may seem like a lighthearted story about a heist in a fictional world, but there are very real and prevalent undertones and discussions about colonialism and the repercussions on oppressed people.
The cliffhanger that this book ends on has ensured that I’ll be counting down the days until the sequel.

I am so obsessed with this. The tone is different from #WeHuntTheFlame, but I still really enjoyed it. I also think the perspectives are very well balanced and I am super excited for the sequel. I highly recommend ATAT and I can't wait to discuss it with more people!!

This book was a page turner. I found the characters to be immensely likeable and relatable. The interesting look at colonialism and the addition of tie into King Arthur and Excalibur brought the book to the next level. Arthie is a well-rounded character who has overcome the odds to find a family and create a life for herself. It seems like this will have a sequel and it is definitely one I would want to read.

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

How many tea puns can there be in one review, I wonder.

A Tempest of Tea has a lot going for it. A unique world, with intriguing main characters, and twists and turns that make for a wild ride. Even though the romance is subpar, and some of the reveals came a tad too late in the story, overall this is a fun and gritty novel.

Characters:

There's quite a large cast of main characters, but one stood out. Our three POVs alternate between Arthie, Jin, and Flick. Arthie is easily the most intriguing out of the bunch. After her island was brutally colonized, Arthie can think of no better revenge than to succeed in a country that ruined her life. She's gritty, ruthless, and determined in the best of ways. She takes care of her own and doesn't hesitate to destroy her enemies. Completely unapologetic in her anger towards colonialism and how it has ruined her life and so many others, Arthie has such a strong voice that it overshadows the other characters.

Jin is Arthie's brother in all but blood. He combats racism and discrimination with his unending charm and wit. The relationship between Jin and Arthie is so strong, in the platonic sense. Their bond is unbreakable, and seeing them outwit and outrun their enemies together was fantastic. Some of his chapters focused too much on his crush, but otherwise, his POV is enjoyable.

Flick's POV felt unnecessary in this book. She's incredibly naive in certain aspects, and her constant blushing and nervousness are hard to read about. She isn't the worst POV, and towards the end, her voice and confidence finally gained some strength, but by then I was content to skin her chapters and only pick up the necessary information.

Plot:

Heists, undead vampires, and posh tearooms that double as blood providers. The plot had a great deal of potential. It follows a heist, but my lord it is so slow in the beginning. There's a lot of prepping and conversations about what is going down, but the action segment was disproportionally short in comparison. It is disappointing that so much time was spent talking about what was going to happen, but then the heist was anticlimactic. Maybe this is on me since I was expecting something very detail-oriented and riveting, but some of the plans Arthie's crew brewed didn't make much sense. There is a lot of luck and coincidence needed for everything to go relatively smoothly.

The plot's saving grace is the world-building. Think Victorian England, but with fantasy. The rich, poor, humans, and vampires all layer into a complex world I am dying to visit. Our characters move between all different social groups and areas, so there's constantly new information and places being visited. The political/government structure is just touched on, but by the end, it's clear why much isn't revealed. I'm already looking forward to the second book, so hopefully, there are more details on that side of things.

Romance:

Way too much time in the book is dedicated to the romance, so let's keep it short and sweet here. I didn't like it. Arthie is described as emotionally unavailable. For the most part, she is. Yet, she ends up in the middle of a weird love triangle. She spends way too much time ruminating on her feelings for these two boys that I as a reader didn't get to know. It's not the worst love triangle in YA, but it is unbelievably silly for it to be there. Considering this is a duology, it would have made sense for Arthie's character if the romance was more of a slow burn.

The other romance is only slightly better. At the very least, it makes sense for the two characters to fall in love. Again, it just took up too much page space. For what's supposed to be a high-stakes book, the sheer amount of tension, flirting, and almost kisses is ridiculous.

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This book hovered at three stars for me, but the ending took me by surprise. The lackluster heist faded from my mind at the incredible and reveals and twists towards the very end. I was frantically turning the pages at 2 AM desperate to know what happened next. I don't know how I'm supposed to wait a whole year for the next one. Maybe I'll take a lesson from Arthie and turn to blackmail...

If you're a fan of Hafsah Faizal already, you'll like this one. While I didn't enjoy her debut, some of my issues with it were improved on in A Tempest of Tea. If you're willing to sit tight for a fantastic finale, and meander through some cheesy romance, give this one a go.

The biggest thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Exceptional. Unputdownable.

Vampires, heists, speakeasies- what more could you ask for?

This book is bound to lure you in but prepared for surprises and secrets along the way. And a whole lot of banter 😍

A Tempest of Tea is a wonderful installment set in the same world as Hafsah Faizal’s We Hunt the Flame duology, shedding light on what the rest of the world is doing while Arawiya is recovering from its age of magical separation. This title is a grand high stakes adventure story about a ragtag band of misfits trying to save their home and livelihood by executing the most daring heist ever to have been attempted. Steeped with intrigue and shrouded in mystery, with vampires and magic, and charming characters.

A Tempest of Tea ended up being so much more than I expected. It is about Arthie, a nineteen year old who runs her own teahouse with her adoptive brother Jin and a motley crew of friends/family/fellow outcasts. It is an open secret that the teahouse turns into a bloodhouse for the local vampire underworld at night, but they make such good tea that most people don't care. Most people except the emperor, who has a major problem with vampires, and more especially with immigrants like Arthie who rise above what the emperor thinks they should.

There is so much topical, hard hitting stuff in this book, about colonialism, racism, classism, the list goes on. It handles the heavy topics well, Arthie is angry, so so angry, but she is using her justifiable rage as fuel to succeed in a world against her. The writing is lush and the pace is fast, and the setup to the ultimate climax is well done, there are things that happen which I did not see coming but looking back, I can see how they were hinted at and built up throughout. The book ends on a cliffhanger which I always find frustrating, but there is enough resolution that it didn't take away from my enjoyment. It's going to be hard to wait for the sequel though!

Hafsah Faizal's A Tempest of Tea is a thrilling heist packed with romance, revenge, and the beautiful and thoughtful prose that she is known for.

Arthie Casimir is the criminal mastermind who owns and runs Spindrift - a tea house by day, and a bloodhouse serving the city's vampires by night. Think of her as a feisty, anti-colonialist Kaz Brekker. She is an agent of chaos hellbent on revenge, and she enacts that revenge by maintaining careful control over the business that she's built collecting secrets from the city's most powerful. Her establishment thrives despite opposition from the Ram - the city's mysterious and corrupt leader - and his Horned Guard.

When Spindrift is threatened in a way that Arthie can't maneuver her way out of, she is faced with a choice: steal a document containing damning evidence of the Ram's corruption from the Athereum - a highly secretive and heavily guarded vampire society - or lose the safehaven she's built for herself and the city's outcasts.

Together with her charming adopted brother Jin and a ragtag, highly skilled crew, she plans a heist worthy of the history books and ends up in more trouble than she bargained for.

A Tempest of Tea is delight to read. It overflows with the vivid imagery and beautiful prose that you expect from Hafsah, and she's crafted a diverse cast of characters whose competing priorities create meaningful conflict. With each chapter the crew's secrets unravel, drawing you into their inner world in a way that makes the twists and betrayals feel especially heartbreaking.

The book has a medium pace, steady mystery beats, and some really delicious romantic tension, which makes it a strong fit for ADHD readers.

If you love heists, found families, and surprising plot twists, you're going to love A Tempest for Tea!

Thank you to Macmillain Children publishers and Net Galley for providing a digital ARC copy for review! I've added to Goodreads and The Storygraph and will post additional content on my Instagram profile.

Hafsah Faizal has done it again! This new duology has the same wonderful world building and likable character that made me love her last series.

Arthie, a tea shop owner that doubles as a blood den at night for vampires is dragged into a heist in order to save her tea shop.

What I found to be this books strong suit was it's examination of colonization. Faizal brings that perspective and does a great job of talking about it.

She created likable character that you want to root for. Arthie is a strong leader. The other characters complemented each other and some brought levity.

A weak point I'd say was the pacing of the romance. There was very little development for them to be declaring such feelings for each other, but maybe that's just a me thing. I enjoy slow burn and lots of development before any romance.

Definitely recommend to anyone who loves heist books or found family!

Thanks netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!