In the city of White Roaring, Arthie Casimir runs a tea house that secretly doubles as an illegal blood house for vampires. However, when the Owl threatens to shut her establishment down, she plans a daring heist to steal incriminating evidence against them in order to blackmail them into letting her keep the place.

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal is a delightful romp that made me realize how much I missed fantasy heists along the lines of Six of Crows. There’s witty banter, found family, and a ride or die crew.

The main cast is charming and endearing, and each of them feels distinct and fleshed out, which I’ve sadly been missing out from a lot of other fantasy novels with larger casts lately.

However, for a high fantasy with multiple POVs, this is definitely a book that should have been longer since the final third felt incredibly rushed. There were so many plot twists and major events back-to-back that it gave me whiplash, and they began to lose their emotional impact. I wish the story had been at least a good 40 pages longer so it could spend more time on certain plot threads and character beats. Heck, some of the reveals probably should have been saved for the sequel.

Pacing flaws aside though, this is still a highly entertaining read and that cliffhanger at the end has left me frothing for the sequel.

DNF 25%. This book wasn't bad but I didn't love it. This book is heavy on business and deals which I should have expected based on the description. The writing didn't amaze me and nothing happened in the parts that I listened too. Maybe I will return to in the future but as of right now it is not my cup of tea. (less) [edit]

The growth in Hafsah's writing is incredible . I enjoyed her duology but tempest blew my mind ! the concept and execution was well done and arthie is my favorite character ever !

thank you for the arc .

A special thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for sending me an arc of A Tempest of Tea!

A Tempest of Tea follows the Sands of Arawiya duology and the destruction of the Arz. Hafsah’s writing has greatly improved since her debut. If you’re a fan of Hafsah Faizal already, you’ll like this one. Without giving anything away, the plot is vaguely reminiscent of Captain Britain and MI13’s Vampire State in that Arthie reminds me a lot of Faiza Hussain. I have some students who will be happy to continue this series.

The start of what looks to be a promising new series full of mystery and adventure. The fantastical elements are great, but what really shines through is the character development - they are well rounded and have depth.

Do you like Six of Crows? Do you want Six of Crows with more diverse characters and fewer details on the actual heist and vampires instead of magic? Then this is the book for you.

I enjoyed this book, but the entire time, I kept thinking about Six of Crows and comparing it to that book. We got Arthie (Kaz), her crew, and the side characters she brought together to pull off a heist, infiltrating the vampire society and stealing an item that apparently will save their city and topple the current tyrant. I loved all the characters, especially Arthie's adopted brother Jin. Flick was a great character who grew up within the pages and was able to see past her innocence and see the corruption that was before her. The other heist members were a little confusing, and we didn't get much from them. This may be because we didn't get their POV, but I feel like Laith and Mateo felt lacking compared to the others (especially Laith).

I liked most of what was there, but I wanted more. Many things could have been expanded on, like the environment and what the city felt and looked like. There could have been more times of the characters riffing off each other so we could understand their dynamics more before the heist began. And there should have been more to all the instant love with Arthie (I thought the Jin love was handled better). I thought the book's romantic parts were rushed and unnecessary and should have been left out unless they were expanded upon.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will probably read the next one, especially since it ended on a cliffhanger, but I am slightly disappointed with what could have been an AMAZING book that turned out just good.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy of this title.

I really enjoyed this book. It was my first by this author. There was a lot going on and it was all brought together by the end very well. Lots of twists and turns, some I predicted but others not. And the ending was killer! I need the next book.

A MILLION TIMES YES!!!!! I absolutely loved this book. Genuinely, THE YA release of the year!!! I know we're only two months in but this is a star. Six of Crows with vampires like what more could you ask for??

We have Arthie, an orphan and absolute badass, who runs a blood bank that moonlights as a tea shop in the daytime. She runs the shop with her CHARMING AND BADASS brother of sorts, Jin. He's violent and sneaky and an excellent pickpocket.

When Arthie is approached by a member of the government guard, (enter Laith), to steal a ledger back from the society of vampires, Arthie assembles a fantastic crew to succeed. With the shy aristocratic forger Flick and the seductive vampire artist Matteo, the crew attempts to steal back a ledger from a house full of vampires.

Fantastic cast of characters, amazing romantic tension, banter, love triangles, bad ass middle eastern main character, SEXY vampire, SEXY ASSASSIN. Basically everyone in this book is hot. I could not PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! I already own two copies of it I'm foaming at the mouth for the sequel. Go read this book!!!!!

Compare any novel to Six of Crows, and I’m pretty much guaranteed to read it. Same with vampires and heist stories, so this was a no brainer to request from NetGalley.

A criminal mastermind and collector of secrets who owns a tearoom she transforms into a bloodhouse at night for vampires in a Victorian London setting? I wanted to meet this character, and Arthie didn’t disappoint. She doesn’t trust easily and will protect those she does with her life. As a child on her own in the world, she encounters Jin, a boy her age who just lost his parents in a fire, and she takes him under her wing. Years later, they consider each other siblings, and Jin works for Arthie doing – various things. Their relationship is one of my favorite parts of the story – I love the found family trope. Jin is clever and charming, while Arthie is cold and calculating. They make a good team.

The King, aka the Ram, takes notice of Arthie and the power she holds over the city with her secrets and is determined to put her out of business. The Ram also isn’t a friend of the vampires, and many have gone missing. To save her business/home, Arthie puts together a team made up of herself, Jin, Flick (forger), Leith (guard and cat lover), and Matteo (vampire) to steal the Ram’s ledger filled with dastardly deeds. Although the heist is full of tension and some surprise, it’s overshadowed a bit by a couple romances and didn’t take up as much of the plot as I’d expected. I liked all five of these characters, and the story is made up of three POVs (Arthie, Jin, and Flick).

The jaw-dropping twist near the end made me wonder why I didn’t see it coming, and there’s a perfect setup for the next book. Which I will absolutely be impatiently waiting for. I’d recommend this novel to fans of found family, strong female MCs, and surprising betrayals.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Vampires, gangs, a heist and badass characters? SIGN ME THE EFFFF UP!

I freakin devoured this book! The story was very well written and held my attention from the first page. The pacing was a little slower but once it picked up, it was nonstop. I really enjoyed the plot and the characters. Arthie and Jin’s relationship was adorable. I loved their sibling banter. They are the perfect definition of family doesn’t have to be blood.

After that cliffhanger, I’m really excited to see what Hafsah does with this series!

WOW - I knew I was going to love this one and BOY did it still blow my expectations out of the water. What a GREAT first book in a new duology by Faizal.

This delivers an intense and luxurious story set on the streets of White Roaring, where Arthie and Jin Casimir operate a prestigious tearoom that clandestinely caters to vampires at night. The novel has an atmosphere that reminds me of Peaky Blinders vibes that are mixed with vampires. This has layers of romance, revenge, and the determination of an orphan girl to protect her self-made kingdom.

Arthie, a criminal mastermind and collector of secrets, faces the threat of losing her beloved establishment. She forms an uneasy alliance with an alluring adversary and assembles a team of skilled outcasts to infiltrate a secret vampire club. That's right, a heist!! This story has a series of twists and turns that entice readers and the ending is a punch in the gut.

These characters are SO well-developed, each harboring their secret desires and the potential for betrayal. The exploration of themes such as colonialism and self-discovery adds so much depth to the storyline. The book maintains a dark, action-packed atmosphere, and Faizal's storytelling prowess shines throughout the narrative. She writes such amazing characters and I love the constant theme of found family in her books. As a reader, I found myself deeply invested in the characters and their fates, appreciating the complexities of their relationships.

This is a compelling and well-crafted fantasy novel, showcasing Hafsah Faizal at her best. The blend of intricate world-building, engaging characters, and a riveting plot makes this a must-read for fans of gaslamp fantasy.

*4.5 Stars*

This was great. I didn't know what to expect when I started reading it and I don't regret that at all. It took me by surprise left and right and I loved the intrigue and the characters and the twists. I was stuck to the page and cannot wait for book two. I loved all the different points of view. I felt like they all brought something different and so interesting to the story.
I've been meaning to read We Hunt the Flame since forever and now I just know I have to. I just really want to read more from Hafsah Faizal.

Easy 5/5 review. More details to come later, but I adored reading Tempest, and I devoured it, as I do most of Hafsah's work. Impeccably written, wonderful premise, and a definite must-read for any reader looking for a spicy thrill paired with luscious prose, plot, and characters who stay with you long after you hit "The End".

This book has so many aspects that could lead to an epic plot: vampires, magic light, heists, long burning revenge, with a little romance on the side. Despite all this, however, I found myself a little bored! I didn't enjoy the main character's point of view and the writing style in places felt overly ornate (which may have been intentional for characterization, but didn't work for me). I did really enjoy Flick and Jin, so I spent a little more time savoring their sections, and the actual heist scene and subsequent conclusion were satisfying, conclusive, but open ended enough for future books. While in the same vein as "Six of Crows" or "Peaky Blinders", it's missing a little bit of the grit and intensity I associate with those two. If you enjoy heist stories generally and have enjoyed Faizal's books in the past, you'll enjoy this one too!

This book has more twists than a roller coaster!

Arthie runs a tea shop (that serves as a blood shop at night for vampires). It's not legal, and the Spindrift serves the everyday working person vampires, meaning she has to stay one step ahead of the police and the courts. Her best friend Jin runs the shop with her. They are both orphans and have survived the streets together.

Now the government wants to shut the Spindrift down, and Arthie and Jin must make some unholy alliances to save their shop, and their lives. A vampire, the daughter of a shipping magnate, and a member of the police force (the Horned Guard) join her crew to bring down the Ram. But what sacrifices will they have to make to succeed?

I adore this book. There is action, romance, heists, double crosses, and the aforementioned twists that had me gasping. The sequel can't come too soon! If you like historical mysteries and fantasies, this book is the perfect combination of the two.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

I’m obsessed with this book, I got to the end and immediately wanted to turn back to page one and start reading all over again.

Arthie Casimir runs a tearoom that turns into an illegal bloodhouse at night for the vampire population, but when threatened by the authorities, she has to use all of her wits and more than a handful of bribes and manipulations to pull off a heist to bring down the corrupted government. Betrayals, secrets, vampires, magic, and of course tea and blood all come together in this magical story.

So many twists and turns, I love a good heist book, but this one was more than just a heist book. There were so many layers of secrets (some came out early, and some bombshells came later) from all of the characters. I normally can figure out who did what now, but this book actually kept me on my toes and the ending really threw me for a loop.

Can not recommend enough if you enjoyed reading The Gilded Wolves, Six of Crows, and liked the aesthetics of Peaky Blinders and Gangs of New York, then consider giving this a try.

Vampires, Peaky Blinders vibes, Arthurian remix storytelling, and a badass crew trying to pull off the heist of their lives?? Sign me up for this phenomenal book! Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for this early E-ARC.

A wonderful story of camaraderie within our group of thieves that are trying to survive and thrive in the city that Vampires are the ruling class, and trying to bring down it's force will prove that this ragtag crew is entering a conspiracy they were not quite as prepared for.

Arthie is the perfect female representation of Thomas Shelby from Peaky Blinders, and the fact that the story being remixed as she is a prophesied figure in her community just like King Arthur was, it made me needing to burn all midnight and even early morning oil to finish this amazing book!

Cannot wait for more from this crew and story!

Oh this book was really cool! The story was new and fresh, the prose was very vivid and descriptive, and I might, maybe want to read it again before the next book comes out. I really wish we could give half stars on this app. If that was possible, this book would be an easy 4.5 stars. I won’t round up to 5 simply because I’m not sure I would read it again. Some people have said they don’t feel the characters were fleshed out enough, I beg to differ. I feel they were written in such a way that I could understand their thought processes and why they made the choices they made. There were some surprises - I won’t spoil them - and they were great! The tea room was super cool and described well, but I do wish the Atherium (sp?) was described more. I’m not going into the synopsis, you can read that for yourself, and probably have. You want to know if you should read this book? Is it worth your time? Absolutely! It’s a great little read, with a rich storyline that feels fresh, and likable characters that you can get behind. The only problem with reading it now? You have to wait a year for the sequel!!

This was an absolutely beautiful book. Matteo is dreamy. I always love Hafsah’s writing, and this was no exception. This book is ethereal, fun, and quick-witted.

I really wanted to like this! The premise for this promised vampires, heists, and tea magic, but fell flat on all fronts. The heist is only a small portion of the plot and the tearoom was not a prominent setting. I also feel like the vampire aspect was quite underdeveloped. Overall, this book had great potential and a fantastic cover but I was disappointed by the plot development.