Revenge, a deadly heists, betrayal, romance, and blood. Arthie Casimir is the owner of a tea shop... that also sells blood and she deals in secrets. She is a criminal mastermind who has created her own little kingdom in the streets of White Roaring, where vampires roam and politics are at every doorstep. Arthie is an orphan who has made herself into something more and she'll do anything to maintain her self-made kingdom. When her establishment is threatened she is forced to strike an unlikely deal with an alluring adversary to save it, and that means getting a crew together. Along for the ride is Jin, Arthie's brother ( a boy who she saved when his parents, scientists, were taken and his home was burnt down), Felicity (the adopted daughter to a wealthy lady with a talent for forging who has fallen out of grace with her mother), Matteo ( a charming and handsome half vampire who has an interest in Arthie), and Laith ( a general of the Ram, the military guards who hunt the streets, who is from Arawiya (yes this series is connected and set in the world of the Sands of Arawiya series) and wants to hunt down an artifact to kill the king of Arawiya cuz he blames him for the death of his sister). Laith comes to Arthie with a deal : they'll both steal a ledger that will destroy the Ram, the same Ram group who is threatening Arthie's business and the one Laith works for. Arthie is suspicious of Laith yet attracted to him.... and she knows she can't trust him. Arthie and her crew must find a way to make it out alive... but with the Ram hunting them down and betrayals and secrets within the group itself... who knows who will make it out alive. This is the first book in the duology and it was so good. I love Arthie so much and can't wait to see where the second one goes, especially with the way this one ended!! This is the perfect read for fans of Six of Crows or The Gilded Wolves, it's got romance, an fun crew of characters, heists, and my favorite: vampires.

<spoiler> Arthie is actually half vampire half human, she was turned when she was sick by the doctor in her land... right as the colonizers killed and took it over. She was then taken in by Penn, an ancient vampire ruler of sorts who took her in as his own daughter. She ran away four years ago and met jin and made her own little kingdom but with this job she runs back into Penn ( he is her father figure she actually does love him) . Jin assumed his parents died in the fire but he discovers that they were taken by the Ram as the Ram were using experiments to turn vampires into war machines as they fabricated the entire events of the massacre of the Wolf of White Roaring ( in which a starved vampire went on a rampage and killed people). Felicity wanted to get back into the good graces of her mother by working with Arthie and then exposing Arthie and co to her mom so her mom would forgive her but the more time she spends with them the more she is realizing they might be her found family and that her mother really never loved her (she never betrays them but leaves her mother instead). Jin and Flick have been crushing on each other for years and finally kiss at the end of this one. Laith is from Arawiya and is hunting down the artifact his. sister was sent to retrieve by the king of Arawiya to protect the kingdom. His sister died on the boat ( he was ill at the time of the voyage). He and Arthie do kiss but he betrays Arthie as he realizes that Arthie's beloved weapon is the artifact and steals it from her while killing Penn. Arthie hunts him down and reveals that he actually killed his sister, he was sick during the voyage and got her sick and then she died. They both shoot each other and then the Wolf of White Roaring comes and takes Arthie ( I'm guessing it is Matteo as he tells her they are both alike and that they are both half vampire half human). Throughout the book Arthie is attracted to both Laith and Matteo. Arthie's little kingdom is burnt down and she has the option to rebuild it or to move on. (she hunts down laith and the book ends with her and laith both shooting each other and bleeding, and the Wolf of White Roaring coming to her). </spoiler>

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus & Giroux for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3/5

I was sold based on the premise of this book. The world is incredibly interesting. The vampire lore is familiar but brings enough new elements to the table to keep it fresh and intriguing. The characters are diverse and Arthie and Jin especially are both the kind of efficient, no-nonsense protagonists I tend to love. And I love a good high stakes fantasy heist. I love the clear commentary on colonization and imperialism as well. Those things weren't enough to overcome some of the structural issues I kept running into with this book.

One of the primary issues A Tempest of Tea had for me is the pacing. The stakes escalate very quickly and things progress very fast in this book. That isn't an issue by itself but it's combined with a plot that is trying to develop meaningful bonds between characters and is not subtle about what kind of relationships the author is planning for these characters to have. However, for me, these characters do not spend enough time developing together for me to really feel connected and emotionally invested in them. This is especially true once the twists and dramatic scenes in the last third of the book start dropping. I also felt like the vampires weren't really well incorporated into the narrative, which is a shame given how much the plot hinges on them.

This book also has the New Adult problem we are seeing a lot in publishing right now. This book does not feel like it's fully YA or Adult and I do think it would have been stronger if it had pivoted and committed more to one audience.

I am interested to see if some of these problems are less impactful once the second book in the duology comes out and we have a complete narrative. But for now, I am hesitant to whole heartedly recommend this book to readers.

Everyone polish your tea cups and get ready for an absolute smash of a book. Not only is this a stunning fantasy but the wit of the tea jokes? show stopping and very worthy of the title.

Arthie runs a prestigious tearoom, but behind closed doors it doubles as a front for her illegal bloodhouse for vampires. White Roaring's very own criminal mastermind is put in a predicament when someone threatens her and her establishment, and is forced to bring together an unlikely group of people to strike first before they can.

If you love a good heist book, this is for you.
If you love vampires, this book is for you,
If you love refreshing and powerful fmcs, this is for you.
If you love books with multiple incredible romance sideplots, this is for you.
And obviously, if you love TEA, this is for you.

There is something for everyone in this book. My personal favorite was the dynamic between Arthie and all the other characters. You have her brother Jin, those she despises, those she secretly loves, and those she will double cross. She is so interesting and I love seeing who she keeps her mask up with and who she lets it fall around. Jin is also another star, he is definitely someone that people will swoon over. Hafsah does an amazing job of keeping every character distinct in not only their characteristics but their view of the world. You can tell who each character is and how they've grown up in each of their POVs with no confusion. And with a cast of so many characters, that is no simple task. Like with Flick, who grew up in a bit more of a rich environment than Arthie and Jin who were on the streets, her POV is heavily influenced by her background. She has her own battles that we can't understand from Arthie's POV and that is what is so insane about Hafsah's writing. The characters came to life and I found myself rooting for all of them.
Yet she doesn't just excel at character work, there are fight scenes that are so well choreographed they are picturesque. There is one scene that had me on the edge of my seat and elated over the smallest details. I can picture White Roaring so distinctly and feel the pressure of their time constraints and efforts. You truly feel as if you are in this book.

Hafsah absolutely rose to the occasion with this sister series to We Hunt the Flame, where it is absolutely unique and of its own but does have some call backs to her first duology. I simply cannot wait to see what happens in the next installment, and will be returning to reread and revisit these characters very soon. I would highly recommend, but no one is surprised when its Hafsah Faizal. She never disappoints!

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.

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.