This book was almost there for me, but not quite. I absolutely love a heist, but somewhere around 40% it just lost me and fell a bit flat. I had a good time, just not for me, I suppose.

At 31% this just isn’t working for me. There is nothing wrong, I just find myself not caring for the content.

I was so excited for this one. I mean Peaky Blinders with vampires? Say no more. Unfortunately though some aspects fell flat for me. I didn't feel connected to the characters at all which made it hard to be fully invested in the storyline. This book is based around a heist but the heist was just not very interesting to me and things just conveniently worked out far too easily for our characters at every turn. Overall there was just a lot of telling and not nearly enough showing. I didn't hate this by any means, but honestly my expectations were sky high for this one and I was let down. The overall vibes were good but I don't see myself continuing on with this duology.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit of a slow start but once you get into it, it surprises you. I really like the writing style, it was funny, witty and really fit the tone of the story well. I enjoyed the main characters, Arthie and her crew reminded me a lot of the Crows from SOC, which is high praise. If you like a heist story, with a band of misfits some of who are reluctant allies, romance with lots of tension, and a really good story, then this is for you

I love a good heist story so I really enjoy the plot of the book. Plus I thought the whole concept of Spindrift was a really fun take on a teahouse. Mix in some vampires and we are good.

The narration of the audiobook was also very good. It easily sucked me into the world and what I was reading.

I received this audiobook ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this book was really fun. It's got vampires, a heist, and a diverse group of people trying to pull it off. My issue with this book is that there wasn't enough!! I needed more of the actions. They plan to do things and then you hear that it's done without seeing it.

I will be reading the next book, but I hope the author gives us more.

A heist - with Vampires! The gritty worlds of White Roaring feels lived in with each detail worth noting. I absolutely LOVE how smart this book is, and how many threads are left for the readers to pick up. The intricate dynamics between each character is a delight to read and gives us emotional stakes worth rooting for. The cliffhanger ending - chef's kiss. I can't wait to read book 2.

Tempest of Tea had an intriguing concept but suffered from poor execution and frustrating overexplaining. The heist plot lacked believability, with overly convenient solutions and teenage characters portrayed as implausibly respected master criminals. While the romantic subplots and tropes held potential, heavy-handed narration overshadowed them, leaving little room for organic character development or emotional connection. Including Arthurian legend and ties to the Sands of Arawiya series felt unnecessary and convoluted. Predictable twists, uneven pacing, and unanswered questions added to the frustration. While not terrible, it was underwhelming and left me apathetic. Three stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher of the ARC.

A solid book but not one I loved, despite my best efforts. I loved the Arthurian reimagining bits, and I find the three pov characters distinct and interesting, but the heist itself was lackluster.

Faizal’s lush prose and sharp dialogue create a vivid atmosphere, making the tea houses as intoxicating as the plot twists. The diverse cast of characters is deeply layered, and their relationships add emotional depth to the fast-paced narrative. While the intricate world-building might feel a bit overwhelming at first, it’s worth diving into for fans of clever, character-driven stories with a touch of shadowy elegance. Perfect for readers who love Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows but crave a setting as soothing as it is dangerous.

I wish I enjoyed this one a little more. I found the story and characters were a bit harder to follow along with on audio.

I enjoyed this book! It had a bit of a slower pace than I expected, but I loved the calming voice it used to tackle some serious issues. It seems like the perfect read for a relaxing vacation rather than during my busy drives in the city!

Hafsa is a YA fantasy genius! I love how she connects her culture to her writing and ties in bits of magic along the way. This was so entertaining and kept me engaged the entire time.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing the audiobook.

I really don’t know if I was reading the same book as everyone else who’s been raving about it. Based on the premise, I was expecting a fast-paced, action-packed story, but what I got was just… a lot of talking and planning. I tried to push through, but it honestly felt like I was stuck in a never-ending meeting. By the time I reached the point where I gave up, I had no idea what was even happening. Did they ever pull off the heist? I’m still not sure.

This was a DNF for me, and I was honestly relieved to let it go. The characters didn’t stand out enough for me to keep track of who was who, and with so many voices, I found it hard to connect with any of them. If it had been from one character’s perspective, maybe I would’ve felt differently, but as it is, I just couldn’t get invested.

I wanted to love this, but unfortunately it fell short of my expectations. Part of it, I think, is a me problem; I didn't vibe with the writing style from the start. It almost describes too much, where it feels like we are being spoonfed and told the information, and I think it holds back character development and relatability. The plot was an intriguing concept, but in practice it wasn't exciting. Parts were predictable or too convenient, and others felt out of place. There were parts I enjoyed; the world was interesting and the characters were fun. Overall, it was a somewhat disappointing read, but maybe my expectations were too high.

The audio was confusing for me to follow on this one. I do however, think that’s a me problem though. While I didn’t finish the audio, I’ll be reading this one physically! I do want to add that I found the small amount of audio that I listened to enjoyable and the fact that I didn’t finish had no bearing on the narration or story.

A Tempest of Tea was incredibly atmospheric, and for someone who struggles to picture images in my mind, I was easily immersed in this world.

Arthie is a great example of my favorite type of FMC—smart, confident, and capable of leading a team, even a team of criminals.

I also appreciated that while the pacing was slow initially as the world and characters were introduced, it then took off for the remainder of the book.

Thank you for the ARC. I look forward to reading the sequel!

A valiant Six of Crows-esque effort and I really love the author's social media presence, but this one fell flat for me. Love the themes, but I felt like something was missing.

This was a a great read from start to finish!

Many plot twists, betrayal, found family, grumpy / sunshine! Some of my favorite things to read in a book. Hafsah is such a great writer - it felt more like I was watching a movie than reading a book. I will definitely be continuing this series!

I really enjoyed how fast paced this felt and it gave me 'six of crows' vibes in the best way.

Thank you to Hafsah Faizal (author), Maya Saroya (narrator), Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, and Netgalley for this free advanced reader edition of "A Tempest of Tea" for an honest review. This was a delightful romp of a YA story about tea houses and criminal masterminds, of slow reveals and aching poignant character histories. While the book was an enthalling idea, I felt it would have better served a more mature audience or a more experienced writer. (Not a different writer, just maybe a few publications later in their tenure.)