Recent Reads: A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal 

Series: Blood and Tea #1
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Publication Date:  February 20, 2024 

 

Format: Audiobook
Source:  Borrowed audio from the library, own hardback

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Why save the world when you can have tea?

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 sinister, 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.

From the New York Times—bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame comes the first book in a hotly anticipated fantasy duology teeming with romance and revenge, led by an orphan girl willing to do whatever it takes to save her self-made kingdom. Dark, action-packed, and swoonworthy, this is Hafsah Faizal better than ever.

Review: 

Since I have been slower to read physical and ebook editions of books I have been trying to use Libby for Audiobooks so that I can listen while working or in-transit to work and home. It helped a lot in August. 

I loved this book. I am glad that I already also own the hardback.

Arthie has been hardened on the streets by a conquering country that invaded her island when she was a child. She now lives in that country as a tea-shop owner, but the tea-shop is more than it seems.

This is a heist book, mystery, and a vampire fantasy all rolled into one little package and tied with a bow... a beautiful world-build of a bow. I loved this world so much. While the overall plot sets the stage well, Arthie experience with the location makes you feel a certain way about it all as well and I like that in a character. ...tell me where you are and make me feel ways about it... the author does this really well. 

Told in multiple POV - Arthie, Jin, and Flick, the story progresses smoothly and while, like always, one personality steals the show, they were all interesting and I never wanted to skip past anyone. I was most captivated by Arthie becuase of the mystery of her background and lack of opening up to the reader. The others kind of put all their skeletons out there for the readers. We knew Flick was in trouble, we knew what Jin experienced and was afraid of - those experiences caused a lot of turmoil for them and during the heist planning also played roles. With Arthie - you don't get much until the end of the book and boy does it wollop you over the head! 

I had my suspicions but it all coming to light pulled it all together... that end though... be prepared to feel that chaos deep in your heart and NEED the next book that doesn't seem to be coming until 2025. 

Jin is going to rage... I think...