Review: A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. The narrator was wonderful and really brought the characters and story to life.

This is told from the perspectives of Arthie, Flick, and Jin who all play parts in this YA fantasy heist novel. There are also some very important side characters that play a part in their group as they navigate the underbelly of vampire politics and polite society. By day Arthie and Jin run a tea house, by night it turns into a haven for vampires. At any time a of day Arthie is always collecting secrets that she can use to her advantage at a later date. When their establishment is threatened and they are soon to be without a place to call home, Arthie and Jin devise a plan to steal valuable information that will upset the ruling powers. To do so, Arthie must put together a crew to make the heist go smoothly, but she doesn't trust everyone in the crew and must stay 2 steps ahead of everyone. I loved Arthie, and the King Arthur aspect of her character. I can't wait for more of her in book 2. All the characters bring something to the table that make you want to get to know them more.

This has everything you want from a good novel. It has action, twists and turns, betrayal, and a hint of romance. Some of the twists you see coming and they are pretty obvious, while others are a little more subtle and you don't quite see them coming. Each of the characters has their own motivations and growth arc which is very well done.

This ends on a pretty big cliffhanger, but the audiobook contains a lovely interview with the author and her husband. I'm not sure if it is included in the print version, but it was really enjoyable to hear about her writing process, why she chose to tell the book from 3 POVs, and her love of tea. Their interaction was really enjoyable and they play off of one another so nicely. It is full of spoilers so you will want to have read the book first before listening or reading the interview. I loved hearing her discuss about why she chose to do certain things with certain characters and while she doesn't give much away for book two, she gives hope that all will be answered in the next book.

This really is perfect for fans of Six of Crows. This also has the same sort of found family vibe, but the characters are vastly different. I loved it and I can't wait for book 2! This is my first book from the author though I can quickly see her becoming a favorite! It was so refreshing to pick up such a fun book with a unique take on the heist and political intrigue aspects.

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