all i have to say is this was a masterpiece and omg I saw the hardback in stores before the release date but i NEVER by before release date and was shocked to see Faizal reply and REPOST my story ahhh the book was magic and raw and diverse I loved it!!!

Hafsah Faizal really knows how to get the reader's attention. When I first heard about this book and that it contained vampires, gangs, tea, and other things I was totally in. I was ready to read this book even before I saw it on NetGalley. Which thank you by the way for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book. I am not going to lie there were some parts of this book where I felt like I was loosing interest, but the author just pulls me back in. I totally didn't expect the ending and the plot twists and betrayals were just wow. Plus the bonus chapter is chief's kiss! Love the cover too!

In "A Tempest of Tea" by Hafsah Faizal, readers are transported to a world where magic and intrigue collide in a tale as rich and satisfying as a cup of the finest tea. Set against the backdrop of an enchanting kingdom steeped in tradition and turmoil, Faizal weaves a spellbinding narrative that captivates from the very first page. The characters in "A Tempest of Tea" are a diverse and compelling cast, each with their own motivations and secrets. Faizal's writing is as lyrical as it is evocative, painting a vivid picture of a world that is both enchanting and immersive. From bustling marketplaces to majestic palaces, every scene bursts to life with exquisite detail and imagery, transporting readers to a realm that feels both familiar and fantastical.

I had a hard time maintaining attention with this one. I liked it alright, but I couldn’t stay focused on it. It didn’t grip me like I wanted it to at the beginning and then by the time I got to the middle/ending I was scrambling to figure out who was who and what was what.

I need to read this book with my eyes so I won't be providing a review at this time. I am still very interested in reading this book as well as the two that came out before it. Thank you!

This was my first Hafsah Faizal book and I was pleasantly impressed with the lovely writing style. The opening sentence was capturing and I liked the premise of the story with the idea of the heist. The concept of the tea room turning to a bloodhouse was unique , even the characters had some kind of appeal but unfortunately, even all of those factors couldn’t save this book for me.

The book started slow but I kept reading, intrigued by the heist that gave me Six of Crows vibes, but the slow past never picked up. Even after reading 75% of the book, it didn’t catch my attention and kept dragging on to the point where it took me forever to finish and I had to force myself to read (listen to) the last 15%!
I’m sorry to say that I will not be picking up the second book.

I absolutely adored this book. I loved the peaky blinders meets vampire vibes, I loved the found family... And the narrator did a wonderful job.

It's one I have already, and will continue to, recommend.

I absolutely loved the narration for this audiobook, and found the writing incredibly atmospheric. A deeply original story concept; compelling, morally grey characters, and fascinating settings. Would recommend for lovers of historical fiction and dark academia, even though it’s not exactly/strictly a dark academia story.

Wow this was…not good. The pacing was poor and the overall writing struggled. I was extremely disconnected from all of the characters except Flick and Jin. This was a shame because the Arthie/Matteo/Leith love triangle took up <i>so</i> much room and I felt nothing for any of them. I especially couldn’t understand their attraction to each other. As you’re reading, you can see the tension written on the page be each pairing, but something about it feels so insincere that it ultimately falls flat.

There were some predictable twists, other rather creative ones, and one that comes to mind that seems so laughably ridiculous that it feels like something someone would invent in a comedy sketch poking fun at YA vampire romance. I do think this has the makings of an interesting series, however, this first book was trying so hard to be <i>Six of Crows</i> without any of the writing prowess and careful plotting that it became nothing more than a pale imitation which fell apart upon further perusal.

<b>OVERALL RATING:</b> 2 stars.

<i>A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!</i>

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Macmillan Young Listeners for this arc!

5/5 stars!

This was FANTASTIC!! I absolutely loved this. Maya Saroya was a brilliant narrator for this. Her accents not only brought more depth and individuality to each character, but I didn't get confused who was who once. All the characters had such complex personalities and rich and painful backstories it wasn't difficult to get swept up in this book. The found family aspect was really lovely, and the twists were great! Vampires and heists, such a fun combo! BUT THAT ENDING!! Pain. I can't wait for the next one!

The setting is what really drew me to A Tempest of Tea - underground criminal activity, vampires, a tea house by day and blood house by night. This is accurate but the story is so fast paced and there were so many characters, that the setting takes a back seat almost immediately. However the fast paced plot and the characters are what kept me wanting to read. The story took so many turns I was always on my toes, but the author left time for slower moments to explore the characters backstory’s and their relationships with one another. The found family element is very heartwarming. I will say, Arthie was not my favorite (which I think will change in the installment), but the other characters really made up for that. All in all this is a really good YA fantasy, but I think it either needed to lean more into the setting or the marketing needed tweaked.

One fun bonus for the audiobook is the interview with the author at the end, which I really enjoyed. It scratched the itch of immediately wanting to discuss a book after finishing it.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

At first I wasn't going to review this because I found the narrator so challenging that I couldn't finish it. However, I've now read the book and feel informed enough to provide a review.

What I liked: The story. It's a great blend of coziness, character development, intrigue and adventure. I loved the world the author created, and would enjoy reading more about it.

What I didn't like: The narration. It was what made me stop the audiobook before I finished it. She has a perfectly lovely voice, but it is so monotone and soothing that I found myself nodding off frequently and it was really difficult to follow the story. I actually think this would be great as a graphic audio/full cast production because the characters are such an important part of what makes the book great. It's a shame when they all start to blend together because of the narration.

Overall, I would recommend the print or digital book, but not the audiobook. 3/5 stars as a balance of good story and bad format.

This was a fun read. I liked that it was a bit darker and grittier than Faizal's previous works. I can't say it was the most exciting or original story, but it was certainly enjoyable. I think most fantasy lovers would like it. I will definitely read Faizal's next book.

When I hit about 30% of the way into this book I called it cozy Six of Crows with a nod to King Arthur featuring vampires. And that's mostly true, though I think the "cozy" part does disappear. At that point we were still vibing in the tea shop, and not on the actual heist.

That being said, I don't have a single clue what happened in this book. I was mixing up characters, the plot was lost on me, but I had a great time! I don't think this is because the book is confusing, I think it's because my brain was doing other things while listening and honestly I was just here for the vibes, which did deliver. So probably 3.5 stars, but I'm going to round it up to 4 just because.

Anything compared to Peaky Blinders is an instant win for me. This book was a bit hard to follow at times, but the narration was nice.

“Imagine your chaos, darling. Stop playing their games, and you can do so much worse.”

If it has a hiest and a found family plot, I’m in. Add in vampires? I couldn’t ask for more. A Tempest of Tea was a fun ride. It was angsty, needy, and brimming with possibility. Banter for me is always key and the dynamic they group had was just perfect. I wish the book was longer so we could explore the dynamic more at length but I am incredbly excited for the sequel.

“She was forged of shrapnel words and gunmetal bones. An enigma wrapped in tailored armor and voilet-gray curls.”

Reading this made me slightly dissappointed in myself for not picking up We Hunt the Flame yet. They way Hafsah Faizal writes is poetic and sharp, which fits Arthie as well as her suits do. Everything, even the bloody parts, were vivid.

The plotline of this story was captivating and stood as great set up for what’s to come. There’s a lot of hype around this one and it definitely lived up to it for me. To anyone who read and loved The Gilded Wolves and SoC, you’ll feel right at home.

What was the last book that lived up to the hype for you?

Ahhhhh I loved this book so much!!!! It was my first Hafsah Faizal book and I quite enjoyed it. I loved the cast of characters and the plot was engaging as well! I can't wait for the sequel.

I did not card for this one as much as I thought I would as a vampire story. I felt the writing could have been better for character development and the story deeper. It was just ok for me

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

I thought this had a lot of promise, and for the most part it held up to that but I did find it hard to really focus on and didn't really relate to the characters. I think I may try this as a physical copy at some point, maybe when the next book comes out, and see how I like it then! The narrator wasn't the problem and in fact I liked their voice a lot.

There was a lot going on in this book.... a lot of really fun ideas.. so many so that I never really got to immerse myself in any of them as much as I would have liked.
Was there a heist? Sure... but it felt like an afterthought by the time we got to it. It was quick and over with and almost felt an extra thrown in.
The tea house was a wonderful setting... an then we were gone. No more time in the beautifully described teahouse, with it's wonderful potential.
Arthie was wonderfully terrifying, in control and amazing... and there was quite a cliffhanger/reveal at the end that definitely has me waiting to read the second book, just to see where it all goes. She's also sort of a special, potential hero because she pulled the mythical "gun from a stone" and she just has it. That's it. It's cool and all... but it's just sort of there? No one seems to care that she has it?
Jin, her bestie that she rescued after his family was killed in a fire, also shared POV chapters, and was delightful, loyal and smart and a little flirty.
Flick was fun to follow as well. A wealthy woman's adopted daughter, ignored and bored, she takes up forgery to help the staff get some necessary days of and it just progressed from there into a bit of a side business... that led her to Jin and some real trouble.
Everyone had ulterior motives while planning the heist, but none were terribly nefarious (well except for Arthie wanting to betray the Guard, but that's rather understandable, as he represents the government holding them all down. Until she seems back and forth on it as he's rather dreamy and carries a kitten he found around with him?)
There was so much I loved about this book individually... the Teahouse.. a mysterious guard who totes around a kitty, Flick, a gun in a stone myth, a Teahouse/blood room for vamps to feed safely, just.. Flick... but it just never felt like it all meshed well together. It was just too many lovely ideas that never got their fair share of page time.

I would have really loved a story about Arthie and Jin running the Teahouse, helping their friends, investigating the disappearance of vampires (yep! another plot line running around in there!)



Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.