This book sounds so good and on paper it’s a book I should have loved. Found family, heists and cats! It breaks my heart that I didn’t. I kind of think I just don’t vibe with this authors writing style. I DNFd We Hunt the Flame when it came out.

However, I do feel like this will be a widely loved book. It just wasn’t for me.

This is the kind of book you find yourself reading with a mix of trepidation, elation, and utter awe because you never know what the characters might do next. Simply can’t wait enough for the next book already!

I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have been waiting for this book forever. I feel like it's been on Goodreads with expected dates that keep getting pushed back and we finally have an actual release date.

I LOVED A Tempest of Tea. Arthie is a morally gray character who is doing what she can to survive in a world that aims to tear her down. She is an orphan who saved Jin after his parents died in a house fire. She runs a teahouse that transforms to into a vampire bloodletting room at night. The Ram and the authorities have done random raids in hopes of catching Arthie's elicit dealings, but they have never been able to prove that it is anything over than a teahouse. When Arthie's teahouse is threatened by The Ram and is about to be shut down, Arthie is forced to join up with Laith, a member of the Horned Guard looking to get retribution for his sister's death, to find a ledger that they can use as leverage. Arthie and Laith have different goals in pursuing the ledger, and others have different plans as well. Therefore, the "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer" is prevalent throughout the story. Betrayal is inevitable as they seek to both accomplish their goals.

A plan is formed with Arthie and her right hand, Jin, as well as a forger, member of the Horned Guard, and a vampire to infiltrate the most prestigious vampire convention in order to find the ledger. And the cliff hanger at the end. I have some speculations, but it leaves you guessing about who the Wolf of White Roaring is. I can't believe I have to wait so long for the next book!

I love a good heist books with well developed characters and sub plots.

I'm a huge fan, again, of Hafsah Faizal and her storytelling. I highly recommend this one and am anxiously awaiting the next one!

I wish I could re read this right now like it was the first time because Hafsah Faizal HAS DONE IT AGAIN. I'm officially OBSESSED like I cannot believe what I just went through in the span of 350 pages what A RIDE! Genuinely I loved that this had such dark sinister historical fantasy vibes and really brought in the colonialism aspect of it! And the CHARACTERS oh my gosh I love them all (except [redacted] I actually hated [redacted] the entire time). Of course, Arthie was so much fun to read about especially as the plot thickened my jaw was oN THE FLOOR as the book was beginning to come to a close!

AND JIN MY LOVE OH MY GOSH I LOVE HIM. LIKE I LOVE ALTAIR BUT JIN IS RIGHT THERE AT THE TOP AND MAY BE PUSHING ALTAIR OUT OF THE WAY WHICH IS REALLY JUST WILD TO ME! I can't even discuss how cool this book was in terms of setting and just how *chef's kiss* the historical tidbits were! I loved the heist a lot but I lvoed the political discussion even more!

Really can't wait to have every copy of this book in my hands!

With a strong start and a strong end, A Tempest of Tea is a promising start to the series. I enjoyed most of the characters and while I think the middle of the book is bogged down by some plot twists that weren’t set up as well as they could’ve been, I had a fun time with the book and liked the world that Hafsah Faizal introduced to us.

Set in a universe where vampires exist and are known to the general public, A Tempest of Tea follows a group of ragtag characters who have to pull off a heist and insert themselves into the center of vampire aristocracy. Headed by Arthie, a young woman who was forced to come to the country after her parents were killed by colonizers, the group finds themselves in over their head as a new conspiracy comes to light.

Arthie was my favorite and I’m glad that we got so many chapters from her perspective because she’s such a compelling voice. I love her ruthlessness and her charisma, and I found her relationship with Jin very sweet and my favorite in the book. The ways in which these two are basically siblings and how they grew up and survived together was done well and I felt truly invested in them.

In contrast to these two, the other members of the gang are much weaker. There’s Flick, a forger whose issues with her mother ultimately felt too neatly packaged and shallow, and Laith and Matteo, a guard and vampire respectively that act as love interests for Arthie. I did enjoy Laith’s relationship with Arthie and how it develops throughout the book, but I really hope Matteo gets more character development and moments to shine in the sequel since he was just here in this book to be sexy.

As the heist actually goes down, I felt pretty underwhelmed. While the steps of it make sense, it’s just not very interesting. There’s also a twist at the end of it that made me go, “Really?” because it wasn’t properly set up and I had to read a monologue from a new and random character to get the info. This twist is offset by a couple of great twists near the end and I can see people reading the next book just to see what happens–I definitely will.

One final thing I’d like to praise the book for is its clear denunciation of colonization. Through Arthie in particular, you see a child whose life was shaped by the trauma of colonization and also see the self-made woman she became. There’s defiance in the ways she opposes the empire and allies herself with marginalized people of all kinds.

Overall, I enjoyed A Tempest of Tea and am interested in picking up the sequel. I’d love to know where Faizal is going next with what she’s set up in this book and what happens with Arthie and Jin in particular. While some of the characters resonated with me more than the others and the heist itself is a bit dull, I’m intrigued and invested enough to step back into this world.

Thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This review will be posted on my blog (clearsummers.wordpress.com), Goodreads, and Amazon on February 6, 2024.

"A Tempest of Tea" by Hafsah Faizal is a thrilling and captivating fantasy novel that transports readers to the enchanting yet perilous world of White Roaring. Arthie Casimir, a street-smart and resourceful orphan, leads an intriguing double life. By day, she runs a prestigious tearoom, but by night, her establishment transforms into an illicit bloodhouse catering to vampires who are shunned by society.

The story kicks into high gear when Arthie's teahouse faces a dire threat, forcing her into an uneasy alliance with an alluring adversary. She quickly realizes that to save her beloved establishment, she needs help from a diverse group of talented outcasts who come together to infiltrate the enigmatic vampire society known as the Athereum.

Hafsah Faizal crafts a vivid and immersive world filled with intricate characters, political intrigue, and simmering tension. The city of White Roaring comes to life with its complex societal structures, where vampires are both feared and alluring. Arthie's character is particularly compelling, as she is a charismatic and determined protagonist willing to do whatever it takes to protect her self-made kingdom.

The novel is a rollercoaster of action, suspense, and hidden agendas. As Arthie and her eclectic crew delve deeper into the mysteries of the Athereum, they uncover a conspiracy that has the potential to upend their world. Faizal masterfully weaves together elements of romance, revenge, and adventure, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The author's writing is lush and evocative, painting a vivid picture of this fantastical realm. The storytelling is engaging, and the pacing is brisk, ensuring that readers remain engrossed in the narrative. The diverse cast of characters adds depth and richness to the story, each with their own secrets, motivations, and backgrounds.

"A Tempest of Tea" is a remarkable beginning to a fantasy duology that promises much excitement and intrigue in the books to come. Hafsah Faizal delivers a narrative that is both dark and action-packed, with a touch of romance that will surely appeal to fans of the genre. This book showcases Faizal's growth as a writer, and it's clear that she's at the top of her game. If you're looking for an enthralling and multifaceted fantasy adventure, this book is a must-read.

I unfortunately had to DNF this book. I remember enjoying We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah but struggling to deeply connect with the characters. I decided to give THIS book a try because I understand that as writers our craft develops over time. I could definitely tell that she's grown a lot in her writing and I LOVED the vampires (when do I not?). But unfortunately I couldn't connect to the characters. I'm not exactly sure why that is but I am hoping to come back to this in the future because I could just be in the wrong mood for this book.

Thank you SO much to Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for my e-ARC

3.5/5 stars
Not sure if it's my mood reading or the story in particular but this one took me a while to get through. We Hunt the Flame is one of my favorite duologies ever so it really bums me out that I didn't vibe with this one as much. The writing is beautiful and lyrical (my favorite style of writing) but it was missing **something** I can't quite put my finger on.
However, if you love vampires with a whole lot of mystery in a setting that gives all the Six of Crows feels this is definitely the book you should read! I might give it another go after the book is out to see if my feelings about it change any.

I think this is a great book for the right person, and that person was simply not me. I'm not an enjoyer of fantasy set in modern times, so I was immediately turned off by the specific way modernity manifested in this book. That being said, Hafsah Faizal is a wonder and an incredibly talented writer, and I'm going to be excited to stock this.

Kind of debating rating this, but I feel like I got far enough in the book to earn it. This will be my last attempt with Hafsah Faizal. I know she’s weirdly divisive as an author- we hunt the flame is either a ride or die series for some or a massive disappointment. If you did not like that book, don’t try with this one.

Faizal has amazing ideas for stories, but her prose absolutely kills it for me. It’s very purple and slow. I’m tolerant of slow books, but something about her writing feels like work that doesn’t have a strong enough payoff to be worth it. I was hoping that as a seasoned author we would see a slight adjustment in style but I think we are simply not good for each other and this is just how she writes.

A side note on this, I do feel like she meets the criteria of “author who basically writes adult books but ages the characters down” and she would probably see a lot of success in adult spaces. For all my issues actually reading this book, it’s a mature and surprisingly dense read for a YA romp.

For those who adored we hunt the flame who also love fantasy heist books, I think this is going to be a favorite.

I may pick this up again in audiobook format later to see if listening will help me “get it” more.
13 likes

This was an EXPLOSIVE, action-packed new series from Hafsah Faizal! The Sands of Arawiya series is one of my favorite YA fantasy series of all time, and I knew that I would devour whatever other book Hafsah Faizal would write next. A Tempest of Tea is set in the same universe as Arawiya, just in a different city, and it was so cool to see this world expanded. The cast of characters we follow in this book--Arthie, Jin, Flick, Matteo, and Laith--were so much fun and I loved seeing their dynamic and banter. The subtle hints and not-so-subtle hints of romance dropped between some of the characters also had me kicking my feet. There were so many incredible plot twists and revelations dropped throughout this story as well, and I think any fan of Hafsah Faizal's previous books will love discovering them.

This book is a must read for fans of Hafsah Faizal and I can't wait to see where book 2 takes us, especially after that huge cliffhanger at the end! I'd rate this 4.25 stars rounded up.

SIX OF CROWS MEETS HOT VAMPIRES

As per usual for Hafsah's books, I simply loved this one. The writing was poetic, lyrical, and each chapter left me wanting more. This book had tension, suspense, and a plot twist I was not expecting. Pick up this book if you want a good read!

From Hafsah Faizal, New York Times–bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame, comes the first book in a hotly-anticipated new fantasy duology about an orphan girl and her crew who get tangled in a heist with vampires, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows.

Hafsah Faizal is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me. This book is superb. The plot, world-building, and characters are impeccable. A must-read!

I absolutely love Hafsah and her writing style!! I’ve been waiting for this book for what feels like forever and it lived up to they hype. Artie and crew are incredible. Hafsah knows how to write the found family trope and heists really well.

I was so excited when A Tempest of Tea was announced. We Hunt the Flame is, to this today, one of my favorite fantasies I've ever read. This book was so worth the wait. It has everything I want in a book: intrigue, mysterious characters, and vampires. I always say we need more vampire books. Hafsah Faizal heard me and delivered. She is an incredible writer and does such an amazing job of world building. I loved this book, definitely one of my favorites this year and next!

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

From the very beginning, the story has grabbed hold of my attention with its powerful opening. I loved how the author's descriptive style has painted vivid imagery, allowing us readers to immerse fully in every scene. The level of detail is truly commendable and added depth to the narrative. The storyline was engaging and definitely has me turning the pages, wondering what will happen next. So excited to see what Book 2 holds in store for us!!

Conceptually, it’s very interesting. While not for me, it’s very readable, flows really well, seems really well paced, and overall should go over well with the target audience. I stopped after chapter 1 (4%) but imagine it’s an easy 4 stars, 5 for the right readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC.

This book sucked me in from the beginning. The characters, writing, plot, and just everything was phenomenal. I'd read one of Hafsah Faizal's previous novels and loved it, but this one knocked it out of the park. Solidly one of the best renditions of vampires I've experienced in a novel. It was so different from other takes while still leaning into well loved aspects. I felt each individual personality of the characters. The multi POV really works for this story. This world is so interesting and developed. I feel like I haven't experienced world building this good in a while. I totally thought I was predicting the direction of the plot, but the ending was insane and totally unexpected. I don't know how to wait for the sequel with an ending like that.

wow, what a stunningly written novel. first of all if you thought WHTF was good, you’re not ready for how EVEN BETTER Tempest 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 so so excited to see where the rest of the story is going to and i promise this has been worth the wait