If you are looking for fantastic diverse voices who know how to write a story full of romance, intrigue, and adventure - look no further than Hafsah Faizal. She is absolutely superb and I don't know what I did before her books were published. I was eagerly awaiting this one and saved it for the perfect moment, and it was everything I had hoped for and more! If you are needing a fix to your Sarah J Maas or Fourth Wing addiction, may I earnestly suggest this latest treasure? The world-building is perfect, the prose excellent, and the characters are so well-drawn they might have been in the room with me. I cannot wait to see what Hafsah Faizal writes next! Highly recommended!

This was teetering between 2 and 3 stars until the ending hit, and because of how wild it was, I’m bumping it up to 3.5 stars. Unfortunately, as great as the ending was, it’s not enough for me to justify recommending the book. I had so many hopes for this story—especially in the beginning. The premise was promising, the characters were interesting, and I really enjoyed the writing.

But it’s an excellent example of good idea, poor execution. I wouldn’t have minded the slow pace so much, except the story is so bogged down with backstory and world-building info-dumps that it was hard to get into the story. The plot is messy. I found myself bored, and wondering why all the backstory was necessary. I liked the characters in the beginning, but it quickly faded into annoyance when all they did was talk about the past instead of doing things in the present.

The ending was surprising and twisty and fun, and if you’re the type to stick it out with a difficult book for a good ending, this might be the book for you. I do think Six of Crows is a fair comparison, so maybe fans of that won’t mind all the backstory. But if you’re looking for something fast-paced, this isn’t the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! All views reflected are my own.

“Every good love story starts with a bullet to the heart.”

———————

Not sure this is a spoiler, but this is half a book. It just ends. Not a cliffhanger so much as a non-ending. I hate that. Usually I knock off one star for a cliffhanger. Well, this loses two stars. The concept may have been original and fun. But I did not invest my time to read half a story. I hate this technique. I'm 100% not reading the rest of the series as interested as I was in the characters. I've drawn my line in 2024. So many folks press for trigger warnings. I want cliffhanger/ no resolution warnings. Let me know when I need to wait til the whole series is out.

If you don't mind being frustrated and then waiting a year for resolution then check this one out if you like Six of Crows or The Gilded Wolves. It's a banter-y heist with some sexual tension and vampires. But if you want my honest opinion, wait til the sequel is out.

Thanks to Farrar, Straus & Giroux for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

Ok I think my actual rating is 3.75 so this book definitely has potential but it just took a bit too long to show itself. Truly nothing really happened until 90% but once it got started it ATE I was gobsmacked every paragraph and truly had no idea what was gonna happen and yeah I need the second book NOW thx <3 also damn the sexual current throughout this book had me QUAKING for a YA book lol

A TEMPEST OF TEA is the first novel by Hafsah Faizal that I have read, and I will definitely be reading more. It reminds me of Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows series mixed with Peaky Blinders but with vampires and a masked despot. Trust me when I say both comparisons are a compliment.

Arthie Casimir is the type of character I adore. She is fiercely loyal to her chosen family. Moreover, she is confident, brazen, and a wee bit scary. Most importantly, she actively undermines Ettenia's colonialism and endeavors to rectify as many wrongs as she can control. Arthie is a great reminder that even small actions can have big consequences.

I am so happy that vampires are back in fashion. While I love the Fae, dragons, shapeshifters, and other beasties, my heart belongs to the fanged ones. The vampires created by Ms. Faizal are drop-dead gorgeous and lethal, but they are not the most frightening creatures that Arthie has to deal with. That honor belongs to the masked Ram, proving once again that the enemy you know is nowhere near as fearful or dangerous as the enemy you don't.

A TEMPEST OF TEA is part heist, part colonialism warning, and part dystopian thriller. With a story that keeps you guessing and larger-than-life characters, A TEMPEST OF TEA keeps your interest and makes for a fast, engaging read. Given its surprising ending, I eagerly anticipate the sequel and am sure I won't be alone.

I adore Hafsah Faizal, and am so glad this lived up to my expectations!

After adoring the Sands of Arawiya duology, I was so incredibly excited to return to this world, especially to explore a whole new part of it! Faizal really showed her range with this book, it reads completely different than her first duology and still completely gripped me. It’s got big Peaky Blinders + vampires vibes, which are two things I generally adore and translated so well to this new part of Faizal’s fantasy world.

Arthie, our main character, is so lovable but also so gritty and mysterious. It’s very clear from the jump that she is not someone to be messed with, even if we don’t know just what her story is right away. The found family here is fun, and all of their shifting loyalties outside of the main group keep the story interesting and unexpected. The last 30% especially had me reeling, there was so much I did not see coming that will have such bit impacts on the story going forward, and then one doozy of a cliffhanger!

My only qualm with the story itself had to do with certain storylines not feeling fleshed out as I wanted them to be. A good example of this was Arthie’s relationship with Penn. come the ending, I didn’t feel as impacted by the events as I wanted to because I never felt like their relationship was explored. I felt this way about Jin & is family, as well as Flick and her mother, which left certain reveals lacking a certain punch I wanted.

Ultimately if you like heists, vampires, gaslamp vibes, found family, diverse fantasy, betrayal, Six of Crows, and gritty female MCs, I think you will adore this story.

I need the next installment ASAP! How could she leave us like this?!?!

In all seriousness, the book was at times a little slow, but overall it was very good and entertaining. It is heavy on the colonialism theme, which I appreciated seeing from a perspective other than my own. You feel for the characters and what they are going through to survive and make a name for themselves in this country that is not theirs and looks down upon them because they don't fit the "norm". Throw in some vampires and a crazed ruler and you got a very interesting book.

There is lots of action, some romance, found family, learning to love yourself, being true to yourself, and tea! The ending almost near killed me, which the twists and turns, and all that happened. I can't wait to read the next one.

From the atmospheric, gas-lit streets to the mysterious and deeply layered characters to the meticulously crafted plot, A Tempest of Tea was a book brimming with haunting secrets and buried truths and kept me on my toes until the last page.

Smart and cunning, Arthie has established herself as a sharp-witted business owner of a prestigious tearoom that welcomes the vampires of society as well as humans. When her business is suddenly under threat, she pulls together a team of outcasts and misfits to save it. But what happens when her well-planned heist becomes more entangled than she ever thought?

Right away, Faizal sold me with her beautifully written characters, immaculate sense of found family, and their adorable, witty dynamics. When you add a dark fantasy setting, vampires, tea, simmering romances (yes, there are multiple!) and a heist—I’m instantly smitten. As the story played out, the plot development was incredible. Twists and turns I never anticipated had me flipping pages, wanting to know what would happen next.

Overall, it was another amazing start to a new series by Faizal, and I can’t WAIT for the next book!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

If you've been craving a book with the same heisty, found family vibes as Six of Crows, THIS is the exact book you've been waiting for. The cast of characters is absolutely incredible and the plot does not disappoint. Some parts have a lot going on, which made some of the busier scenes hard to follow, but in the end it clicks together nicely. Even though I figured out a couple of twists ahead of time, I was still pleased by their reveals and a couple more eluded me entirely. The book captivated me quickly and held my attention flawlessly. I absolutely need another book in this series NOW because that ending was something else.

4.5 Stars rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC of this book!

Do you like heists? Vampires? Tea? Then you are going to want to read this new book, which is the first in the Blood and Tea duology. Arthie runs a tearoom by day that transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by night. When Spindrift is threatened, her brother (found family) Jin and her set out to gather a group for a heist that could save everything she has built. Even though this is a fictional world, it is strongly rooted in colonialism and the brutality people faced at the hands of the English. Throughout we learn about Arthie and Jin's past and a few secrets are revealed along the way. Mix in some romance and betrayal and you get the perfect blend for a book that will keep you hooked. Definitely looking forward to book 2.

I LOVED this book. I loved that it's a slight retelling of the King Arthur story. I love that its heroine, Arthie, is badass, morally grey, and a snappy dresser. I love her found family relationship with Jin, who is a badass character in his own right. I love that the book is a love letter to tea. I love that the teahouse is also a front for a vampire hangout where vamps can drink blood socially. I love the heist! I love that a kitten was a key part of the heist. More books need heists and kittens. I love Arthie's anger at the colonist society that destroyed her home. Her rage fills her every action.

I also LOVED Faizal's writing. Her style is just as snappy and fierce as Arthie. I look forward to reading her other books and getting them all for my library!

Many, many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan for the ARC.

When Hafsah revealed A TEMPEST OF TEA, I was so incredibly excited! I went in not knowing much, actually, which did make the vampires a pleasant surprise 😂. I love the book name, the discussion of colonialism/empire/and leaders who do not care about you. I loved how Hafsah muses on how to distinguish rage that propels you and inspires you to *do* versus rage that beats you down. Through Arthie, Jin, Flick, and Laith's stories, A TEMPEST OF TEA discusses what it means to channel rage and oppression into reclaiming what was lost — although, most of the time, the things/people that were lost can never be fully recovered.

I was drawn most to Flick and Jin's voices and their chapters (definitely enjoyed the multiple perspectives!). The latter, probably because she undergoes the most obvious growth. Also, as I mentioned before, I found myself quite immersed in the world of Ettenia. I loved the world building where vampires are part of society and also ostracized because of who they are. I'm very curious about how the Ettenian government/the "Ram" works, i.e. what's the history here? How did Ettenia come to have "masked leaders?" I absolutely would devour a history text on this!! 👀

However, there were some moments in A TEMPEST OF TEA that confused me and made the reading journey a little rockier — mostly in the second half of the book. I was actually a bit confused during the heist part; speaking in general terms, I wish there was more obvious pushback, if that makes sense 😅 I was expecting for my heart to pound a bit faster during those scenes. Furthermore, I noticed I was feeling more distant from the story and the characters — maybe it was my headspace or because I was confused about where the story was heading versus enjoying the ride. Maybe it was because heist stories just might not work for me as well on paper (which is so so sad) 🥲.

Anyway, loved the concept, loved the characters, loved Hafsah's prose, and I'm definitely interested in the next book and how the story continues to unfold!

Thank you to the publisher and the author for providing me a copy of "A Tempest of Tea" through Netgalley!

Hafsah Faizal has made a name for herself in the Young Adult world industry, with her fantastic duology, "Sands of Arawiya. I was excited to give this one a try.
A fantastic heist with a team of the city's most skilled outcasts, paired with vampires, gangs, and tea, and the mood to be one of that I would compare with the likes of a mix between "Peaky Blinders" and "Six of Crows".
While it took about 150 pages in for the pacing to pick up, once it did, the adventures could not be slowed down, and was action- packed, filled with many surprises along the way.
This title and story was a step out of my usual type of YA books to read, but I can say by the end, I honestly enjoyed the experience.

Faizal’s latest page-turner is the perfect blend of vampires, heists, and tea with a hint of romance!

“A Tempest of Tea” follows Arthie Casimir, a criminal mastermind who runs a tearoom by day and a bloodhouse that caters to the local vampires by night. When her establishment is threatened, she’s forced strike a deal with an unlikely adversary in order to save it.

Admittedly, the slow pacing at the start threw me off, but once Faizal set the scene, the action and suspense surrounding Arthie and her crew of misfits infiltrating the vampire underworld captivated me. Faizal’s writing is immersive and she cleverly conceals all that Arthie has up her sleeves until the very last second, which allows for many jaw-dropping moments.

I was most drawn to reading from Arthie’s pov. As the mastermind of the operation, it was fascinating to see her scheme and navigate through the tangled web of heists spanning across the books. I also appreciate how her character represents the anger and pain that stems from colonialism. Before dominating the streets of White Roaring, Arthie lived in a country much like Sri Lanka that was invaded by Ettenia (a fantastical version of 1920s England). Many of the choices that she makes are intentional in exposing the dangers and repercussions of conquest.

It was also exciting to read from the povs of two members of Arthie’s crew! Their perspectives offer insight into each person’s role in the heist and their motivations for being involved.

I LOVED We Hunt the Flame. And for me this book feels like Leigh Bardugo's transition from Shadow and Bone to Six of Crows. This beautifully written novel follows Arthie Casimir, who is a criminal mastermind with a Tearoom that is known widely across White Roaring. Except this isn't your normal teahouse, serving a different breed after hours: vampires. Arthie ends up gathering a group of less-than-ideal companions to help her when her business is threatened. Leading to an action-packed story with three different POVs's, a beautifully written masterpiece you will not want to put down.

Well, this was a fun one. I definitely see why this books is getting a lot of comparisons to Six of Crows.

The writing in this was superb. I think she does really great character work. I enjoyed the dynamics between all of members of the crew. I am not usually one for heist stories, but overall I enjoyed myself.

There were definitely things that I didn't see coming, and not to toot my own horn or anything, but that's kind of hard to do.

The only thing that I maybe wasn't a huge fan of was the ending, I'm not into abrupt cliffhangers like that. I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this early. I will definitely be recommending this to customers, especially those who are into found family, vampires, heists, Peaky Blinders type enterprises, and Six of Crows.

This has a lot of elements that I thought I would enjoy more than I did. I love when tea is involved in fantasy and I've been reading a lot of vampire books, but the vampires didn't vampire as much as I wanted them to. The story has a good pace, especially near the end as the heist to infiltrate vampire society picks up, but I didn't feel drawn into the world or the characters.

INCREDIBLE. AMAZING. If you mixed Six of Crows with Chloe Gong's These Violent Delights duology, this is what you'd get...but there's also VAMPIRES. OBSESSED.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "A Tempest of Tea": by Hafsah Faizal in exchange for an honest review.

Criminal "mastermind" Arthie Casimir does whatever it takes to survive in the gritty world she grew up in. She has flamboyantly colored hair, a magic gun of questionable (but Arthurian-ish?) origins, and a ride-or-die friend/business partner named Jin. She and Jin run Spindrift, a tea house by day and illicit blood parlor by night. She also collects secrets from the mighty and low alike, using these secrets to pressure and manipulate people all over the city. Unfortunately, she's made a lot of enemies along the way, including the city guard.

Pressure from the city guard has increased enough to threaten her tea house and Arthie finds herself desperate to save Spindrift. A mysterious Guard approaches her to help with a seemingly-impossible heist, the score of which will give her a great deal of negotiating power. So she and Jin recruit a team and get to work.

Well. This book. It's A LOT. So much world-building. The story takes real historical details -particularly the atrocities of British colonialism and the East India Company- and twists them into a fantasy world populated with vampires. There's magic but there's also some light industrialism, like the lightest dab of steampunk.

The story is a little inconsistent at times, both in terms of plot and pacing. The first 25% drags a little because there is so much to learn. It picks up once the heist planning and execution are underway, and the last 25% flies by in a blur. There a number of details that don't really make sense: small "What, what- WHY?" moments that seem either incomplete or sloppy.

But there is plenty in this book for people to enjoy too. The dual romance plots worked well. The heist was fun. It's adventurous and sexy and the plot will pull readers right in.

"Every good love story starts with a bullet to the heart."

First, I want to say that choosing a quote for my review was HARD. This entire book is quotable. Hafsah's writing is magical but a bit like the character of Arthie herself--edged like a blade.

This book was so, so good. The pacing is tight and quick, the characters are so well fleshed out and have great arcs, the setting is vivid, the world is interesting...I could go on and on and on.

The best part about this book is definitely the characters. Arthie is a lot like Kaz Brekker, except shorter. Jin and Flick are also amazing characters and each of these three POV characters really came alive on the page. The side characters were also a delight--Matteo and Laith (and his kitten!) especially.

The plot is also incredibly good. The book is on the shorter side, and it felt like not a single word was wasted. Things build up slowly, then happen very quickly. I was definitely on the edge of my seat the entire book, right up until the VERY last page. There was one plot twist I guessed--which really felt satisfying, let me tell you--and then a couple more plot twists that REALLY threw me for a loop.

I loved this author's previous duology, but this book is on another level entirely. I HIGHLY recommend this book, especially if you love Six of Crows or vampires!