A Tempest of Tea (Blood and Tea, #1)

by Hafsah Faizal

From Hafsah Faizal, New York Times–bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame, comes the first book in a hotly-anticipated new fantasy duology about an orphan girl and her crew who get tangled in a heist with vampires, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows.

On the streets of White Roaring, Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind and collector of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by dark, catering to the vampires feared by society. But when her establishment is threatened, Arthie is forced to strike an unlikely deal with an alluring adversary to save it—and she can’t do the job alone.

Calling on some of the city’s most skilled outcasts, Arthie hatches a plan to infiltrate the dark and glittering vampire society known as the Athereum. But not everyone in her ragtag crew is on her side, and as the truth behind the heist unfolds, Arthie finds herself in the midst of a conspiracy that will threaten the world as she knows it. Dark, action-packed, and swoonworthy, this is Hafsah Faizal better than ever.

• ISBN13: 9780374389413
• Publish Date: 20 February 2024
• Publish Status: Forthcoming
• Imprint: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 480
• Language: English
• URL: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374389413/atempestoftea

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Arthie Casimir made something out of nothing. She is an outsider in a town that hates anyone different. Yet she's built a palace for her and her found family – a tea house that caters to vampires and more. It's the perfect place for outcasts, when you think about it.

Unfortunately, things in the city aren't going well, and that's painted a target on the tea house. Arthie will have to make some hard choices to keep the tea house going. But will it be worth the price she'll have to pay?

My Review:

I know, I know. I'm behind on the times again. But I finally got around to reading A Tempest of Tea, and I am thrilled. (Side note: has anybody else noticed a ton of tea-themed books coming out this year?). Then again, I expected nothing less of Hafsah Faizal.

There's a lot to enjoy about this book. The tea themes, vampires, politics, dark backstories, you name it! There's even a cute kitten, a naive thief, and romantic subplots. It really has a bit of everything (and the overall vibes kind of reminded me of Six of Crows).

Admittedly, I wasn't a huge fan of the romantic subplot. Okay, one was fine, in the “there's no doubt these two will get together” sense. The other felt forced and flat. I feel bad saying that, but I think there's a better ship to find for our leading lady.

Anyway, I'd say that A Tempest of Tea is absolutely worth reading. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the next book in this series, especially after reading that cliffhanger ending!

Highlights:
Paranormal Fantasy
YA Romance
Vampires
Tea & Conspiracy

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