A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal (YA/adult crossover, fantasy)
'The streets of White Roaring grew fangs at night. When the moon dragged a claw and the shop fronts cut dim and those who craved blood walked bold...'
Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind and a collector of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by night, catering to the vampires feared by society. But when the tearoom and its secrets come under threat, Arthie must lead a gang of outcasts in a high-stakes heist to the sinister vampire underworld.
But even as unexpected romances blossom, Arthie realises that not everyone in her ragtag crew is on her side, and she soon finds herself in the midst of a conspiracy that will threaten the world as she knows it...
Dark, action packed and swoonworthy, A Tempest of Tea is teeming with romance and revenge, led by an orphan girl willing to do whatever it takes to save her self-made kingdom.
(Quote and synopsis taken from book)
'A Tempest of Tea' is one of my stand-out reads from this year so far. Packed full of vampires, villainy and vengeance, I was captivated from the first mention of Spindrift right through to the jaw-dropping conclusion.
Fantasy isn't a genre I read much of, so I enjoyed 'A Tempest of Tea' even more as one of the first fantasy novels that I have connected with. The worldbuilding is beautiful; the pages thrum with romance, tea and blood, the streets of White Roaring brought effortlessly to life without heavy descriptions. Any backstories are woven in so cleverly, accelerating the tension and pace of the intricate yet gripping plot.
I loved all of the characters as soon as I met them. Each protagonist is nuanced, full of fire and unfailingly fun to spend time with. They leap off the page, hard to describe in a single word yet instantly recognisable in their unique wit and charm. Their banter is incredibly well written; there are so many phrases in this book that I wish I was brave enough to use in my own life!
Although living in a fantasy world, the extended metaphors for colonialism, empire, systemic oppression, and human displacement make the characters feel so real and relatable. Each protagonist has their own backstory, often one of trauma and isolation, which motivates their every decision and unwavering need to survive. Arthie's self-made kingdom is born of her sadness, anger and lack of a place in the world. 'A Tempest of Tea' advocates understanding and honesty instead of hate, segregation, violence and weaponised fear. It is a really powerful reflection of our society today, and the global issues which are so much bigger than us yet affect all of us.
I'm a huge fan of all of the characters, however I was completely captivated by Arthie's pain, intelligence, courage and fierce one-liners. I felt sad that Arthie has to be so brave when all she wants is a safe space to be herself, but her life on the streets leads her to her found family, who are all just as lost and just as talented.
Jin and Flick's charm and flirtation was always fun to read; the romance never felt too cringey, perhaps due to the amount of mortal peril around every corner!
I wish that I could live inside Spindrift, the tearoom and bloodhouse run by Arthie and her crew. Spindrift seems to bring out the best and worst in people, and is so much more than just a place. The scents, flavours and sounds of the tearoom are so vividly described that I could almost smell, taste and hear them; if you love tea, then this is your dream book! The mechanics of how Spindrift transforms from a tearoom to a vampire haven are magical and mind-bending; it is probably my favourite place ever in a book.
I really enjoyed the focus on vampires; as a huge fan of Gothic fiction and dark academia, this was perfect for me. Hafsah Faizal's vampires feel familiar to the reader, yet have their own distinctive characteristics which are different to those of traditional vampires. The vampiric society acts as a metaphor for people targeted by systemic oppression, and how world leaders create fear of a whole group of people based on the extreme actions of a very few. This felt like a really clever way to connect the world of White Roaring with the world of the reader, in a non-heavy handed or lecture-type way. The vampire trafficking element was even more hard hitting due to the truth that it is rooted in; the elitist attitude of the Athereum highlights the divides within already marginalised groups.
The plan created throughout the book was so pacy and tense to read! It is complex and risky, yet easy to follow due to Faizal's skill as a writer. It brings together so many tiny details and secondary plotlines of the book, as well as unearthing some major twists and revelations that I did not see coming!
'A Tempest of Tea' is the first instalment in a duology- I cannot wait for the second one, as the ending of 'A Tempest of Tea' is a complete cliffhanger! The final scenes are action-packed, yet really emotional and quietly devastating. I can't stop worrying about all of the characters, and I'm still not over some of the twists, which change everything! I can't wait to find out if my theories for Book Two are correct, and I'm so excited to go back to the world of White Roaring for another amazing adventure!
Magical, moving and meaningful, 'A Tempest of Tea' captures your heart and doesn't let go. Full of vampires, elaborate plans to take down those in power and swoonworthy romance, 'A Tempest of Tea' is perfect for the tea drinker in your life, fantasy fans and those unafraid to stand up for the changes they believe in.
Join the high-stakes heist into a dark vampire underworld today...
Comments