Hafsah Faizal can do no wrong....except ending Tempest of Tea the way she did. I practically threw this across the room screaming and instead made my mother read it immediately. I love tea, vampires, and a good heist and this was PERFECT. I need the next one now - yesterday would have been great.

"The streets of White Roaring grew fangs at night. When the moon dragged a claw and the shop fronts cut dim and those who craved blood walked bold. Arthie Casimir couldn't be bothered. By the cold, by the dark, by the vampires. Business never stopped."

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, and I'm pleased that I enjoyed it so much. Although A Tempest of Tea has a slow build, the second half of the novel is a never-ending series of high-stakes events culminating in a nerve-wracking cliffhanger. It really picks up once you get through about a third of the novel. I will say that I expected Spindrift, the tearoom mentioned in the blurb for this book, to feature much more heavily than it did. Spindrift really only appeared in one or two chapters, which I'm a bit disappointed in as the concept of it sounded so fascinating. However, the heist and the plot really captivated my attention, so I'm not too upset that there wasn't more time to spend on Spindrift.

Faizal has managed a feat I didn't think was possible or easily accomplished: she has found a new way to write vampires. Vampires are such a classic literary staple that it's hard to create a "new" (or at least different and exciting) way of depicting them, but the vampires of A Tempest of Tea are exactly that. I enjoyed the concept of vampires being forced into the light of day by a Jack the Ripper-esque figure, and how they adapt to this. Spindrift, the Aetherum, and the vampire characters were all very fun to read about. Arthie, Jin, and Flick were all delightful POV characters.

This might not be the book for everyone, especially those just wanting another Six of Crows, but I really liked it. Easily one of my top books of the year.

4.5/5 stars
includes: vampires, unique world-building, a heist, and found family trope
similar recommendation: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (for a heist) and A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin (for more tea-related fantasy)
song recommendations: Bloodletting (The Vampire Song) - Concrete Blonde, No Time to Die - Billie Eilish, A Drop of Blood - Tamino, and A Vampires Heart - Peter Gundry

OH MY GOD??????

I knew I would love this after having read Hafsah Faizal's gorgeous Sands of Ariwiya duology, but I didn't know I would devour this book in one sitting (minus one time I got up to pace when we find out Arthie's secret [no spoilers!])

CANNOT WAIT for the next one in the series because that ending!!!!!!!!!

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I requested this because I was excited about a book with found family and a heist, and that was not what this book turned out to be. I found all of the characters extremely lackluster, I wasn’t invested into any of their stories. The writing felt convoluted and choppy and on top of that, the plot wasn’t anything special to me. I didn’t feel any stakes in the plot and had a hard time caring since I didn’t enjoy the characters.

Romance, revenge, chosen family. I need to give this a re read as I was not prepared for this to be an attention grabber but it definitely was. I did get tired of it near the end. I feel this could have been a shorter book. Reminded me of Six Of Crows. Great book just needed something big near the end for a wow factor.

From the New York Times–bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame comes the first book in a hotly-anticipated fantasy teeming with romance and revenge, led by an orphan girl willing to do whatever it takes to save her self-made kingdom.

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 night, 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—she can’t do the job alone.

This was a book I was very excited for. The gorgeous cover alone was reason to pick up this title. The premise was intriguing and the setting was imaginative. MC, Arthie Casimir, navigates the criminal underworld, while also hiding her tearoom's secret as an illegal bloodhouse for vampires. The plot was multi-faceted with a mix of fantasy, heist, and romance. However, the pacing felt uneven at times and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. Also, the large cast of characters often left me distracted. Overall, Faizal's storytelling and rich descriptions make this novel a good read, especially for fans of supernatural adventures.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, & Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book and read it one day! It kept me so entertained! I loved the vibes of this book and the heist was so fun. It was such a fun fantasy and the writing was so vivid I loved every moment of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this title. This one was top of my 2024 new releases and I was beyond excited to a chance to read this early. It causes me actual pain to have to say, but this book ended up being a DNF for me. I even tried the audio hoping to get through it but I just could not stick with the story any longer. For as far as I got into the story, it feels very unpolished and the pacing is excruciatingly slow. This felt like a book that didn't know if it wanted to be a low stakes, cozy read or a thriller. I had a hard time keeping track of all the main characters and wasn't particularly drawn to any of them. I think in the end, what finally convinced me to give up on the book was how slow the story moved.

This is giving Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows plus vampires, plus so many other things all wrapped into one and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I can’t Wait for the next part!

I picked this up when I was desperately in need of a book that felt like Six of Crows or The Gilded Wolves, and I was very much not disappointed. Heist-gangs are always one of the best types of found family fantasies, and I was very much content with that aspect of A Tempest of Tea. I think that this book was exceptional particularly in its skill in world-building. The vampire concept for this book was relatively fresh, and I enjoyed the more magical elements of the book. Really, this book was intensely character-driven, and did lean in to class and colonizer warfare, which may not work for all readers, but worked well for me. I do want to see more of the tea elements in the second book in the duology, but I am waiting (quite impatiently) for that second book.

I've seen this being marketed as Six of Crows meets Peaky Blinders and it's not really enough of either to warrant it. With that being said, this is a really enjoyable read.

I do wish it was more heist-focused than it was, but I thought the twists and turns the plot took were good and kept me hooked in reading. Arthie and Jin are great contrasts to each other and I REALLY appreciate that this may hint at potential romances - and there is some kissing - but overall this is a YA that doesn't focus on romance (we need more of those).

I'm really intrigued to see where Faizal takes the coconuts as a way for vampires to sustain themselves plot point and imagine that Jin's parents (or at least their research) will be a more prominent feature in the sequel.

Side note - the cover art is GORGEOUS.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a standalone so that cliffhanger did double damage.

Positives:
-i had fun reading this
-i love character driven stories, especially when it’s a weird mix of people with complicated feelings, secrets, and conflicting interests.
-I didn’t see all of the twists coming
-hot vampire artist
-so much betrayal

Negatives
-slow pace
-the tea house was the coolest aspect and we barely saw it
-I didn’t feel the chemistry between any of the “couples”
-not enough vampires doing vampire stuff


It being a dapper heist book, I expected to see a lot of people comparing it to Six of Crows. It’s more similar than I expected it to be but I love SOC so I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC

A book about vampires that you’ll actually really love
What I loved
Vampires… duh
Characters you can’t get enough of
Twists and turns for days
Baddass fmc
Heists

Sadly this book just didn’t grab as much as I hoped it would. I put it down and picked it up multiple times but I just couldn’t connect with it. Super bummed.

A new Hafsah Faizal book! That’s essentially an automatic 5 stars but if only I could increase the star rating after reading the book. The amount of insane plot twists that literally kept me on the edge throughout the last 30% of the book, the lovable crew of characters all with their own personal stories and quirks. The heist wasn’t really the most focal part of the book, but it was important to the storyline in general. I do feel like more of the book happened in the lead up to the heist and in its aftermath. Arthie was the best FMC, totally fierce and ready to fight colonialism, which as a POC, I related to so much. Anyways, after that ending, I don’t think I have the patience to wait for the next book!

Oh my gosh, you have to read A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal! It's absolutely incredible, like diving into this rich, wild world full of rebellion and super intriguing characters. I couldn't put it down; it's like she just knows how to pull you right into the story. You’re going to love it!

5.00⭐️

Move over, afternoon tea—Hafsah Faisal’s "A Tempest of Tea" is the only brew you'll need! (I’ve wanted to use this line since forever lol)
This book is an enchanting blend of magic, intrigue, and unforgettable characters that will have you hooked from the first sip to the last. I read it months ago and still think about it every day. That cliffhanger ending (!!!)

From the moment I opened the cover, I was swept into a world brimming with enchantment and danger. Faisal’s world-building is nothing short of spectacular. The rich, atmospheric setting is so vividly described that I could practically smell the spices and hear the whispers of magic in the air.

What Stole My Heart:
- Compelling Characters: Each character is meticulously crafted, with depth and complexity that make them leap off the page. Our protagonist is fierce and determined, leading a cast of equally intriguing and multifaceted characters.
- Magical Plot: The plot is a masterful blend of suspense, action, and heart. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and I was completely absorbed in the story from start to finish.
- Exquisite Writing: Faisal’s prose is lyrical and captivating. Her ability to weave intricate details into the narrative creates a truly immersive reading experience.
- Themes of Friendship and Loyalty: The bonds between characters are beautifully explored, adding emotional depth and making their struggles and triumphs all the more impactful.

Why It's a Five-Star Gem:
- Impeccable Pacing: The story flows seamlessly, with each chapter leaving me eager for the next. There’s never a dull moment, and the tension is perfectly balanced with moments of heartfelt connection.
- Unique Magic System: The magic in this world is both innovative and fascinating. It’s integral to the plot and adds an extra layer of excitement to every scene.
- Rich Cultural Elements: Faisal masterfully incorporates cultural nuances that enrich the story, making the world feel authentic and lived-in.

A Tempest of Tea is a must-read for anyone who loves a good mix of magic, adventure, and richly developed characters. Hafsah Faisal has brewed a perfect storm of a book that will captivate and enchant readers from beginning to end. Five stars, hands down!

Grab your favorite tea, settle into a cozy spot, and let this book sweep you away into a world of wonder and excitement. You won’t regret it!

I loved the Sands of Arawiya duology so this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and now that I've read it I can firmly say, well...it's a book. (This review is going to sound like I hated it, but I didn't. It's just...meh).

This was a frustrating read. A Tempest of Tea constantly treats the reader like you're stupid, refusing to allow you to come to a single conclusion on your own and never trusting the reader to understand what's going on in the plot or emotionally with the characters. The sheer amount of overexplaining happening here had me doing a lot of "I KNOW you don't need to tell me that!" It's not even just a matter of "show, don't tell," it's that the text often *would* show, and then just in case you didn't pick up on the very obvious thing it was showing you it would explicitly tell you too. Please, trust that readers can pick up on very obvious signs of sarcasm, emotional reactions, and plot connections.

Tempest is a heist novel and unfortunately I just don't think the heist is very good. Solutions are entirely too convenient, these characters we're supposed to believe are so smart and cunning that they can plan a heist in the most protected whatever make outrageously stupid mistakes that seriously undermine confidence in their ability to do any of this, and as always I simply cannot take seriously that these children are somehow renowned criminals respected and feared by actual adults. I would love to see a YA Heist novel like this that actually factors in that the characters are teenagers instead of expecting the reader to ignore that and pretend like it's totally normal that they're in these positions and no one questions their age.

The characters hold a lot of potential but because the book is so dead set on explaining every single interaction, there's never a chance to actually settle into a scene with them. This is especially prevalent in the romantic plotlines, which the book focuses entirely too much on in contrast to the actual plot. It often feels like it's ticking off trope boxes for the sake of it and lacks any real tension or sweetness because everything is being spoonfed to the reader. One of my favorite tropes is present in this book, one that usually suckers me right in every time, and the fact that it did nothing for me really hits home that the reasons successful tropes are successful isn't simply for the fact that the thing happens, it's what the author then has a chance to do with the characters in that moment, and I just don't think this book did anything great with them.

The connection to the Sands of Arawiya books too feels completely unnecessary and weirdly convolutes the story. It was a fun little easter egg in the first mention but then it kept going and honestly I don't think it should have. It raises too many logistical questions the book doesn't have answers for. Also a running theme in Tempest. The amount of times that something would be revealed/explained and my first reaction was <i>wait a minute then how does...</i> as it would open up a ton of questions it wants you to just not pay attention to, I guess. Quite a lot in this book feels like it wasn't entirely thought out and the reader is just supposed to accept things without questioning anything.

As always, this three star review makes it sound like I completely hated it and I didn't. Really. I was just wildly apathetic and the most reactions it ever got out of me were being frustrated at the text.

Very unlikely that I will be continuing this series, but we'll see if I've forgotten my frustration by the time the second book comes out.

I really enjoyed A Tempest Of Tea. I love a good heist story and this one was great. I loved all the different characters and getting to read the different points of view.

The story follows Arthie Casimir, a criminal genius, that runs a Spindrift. Spindrift is a tea room by day and a bloodhouse for Vampires at night. When the Ram, the ruler of White Roaring, threatens Arthie and Spindrift, she makes an unlikely deal with a vampire to save her precious Spindrift. Arthie gathers a group of fellow outcasts to infiltrate the vampire society. However as the heist continues, more and more secrets come to light. Arthie has to keep her team together or everything will be lost.

I had forgotten it was set in the same world as the We Hunt the Flame duology, so that was a fun thing to rediscover. I loved the characters and setting of this one. I loved the tea house aspect of this one too. Hafsah Faizal is a stellar writer and this book is a definite winner for me. Perfect for fans of Gilded Wolves and Six of Crows.