Thirsting for more
Spoiler-free review of A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
A book by Hafsah Faizal about tea and vampires? Sign me up.
A Tempest of Tea is best-selling author Hafsah Faizal’s third book, and first in this series, coming in hot after her successful Sands of Arawiya duology. Tempest brews together the unlikely elements of vampires, heists, love triangles, and, of course, lots of tea.
“The streets of White Roaring grew fangs at night.”
Set in the same universe as the Sands of Arawiya, Tempest takes place in a Victorian-esque Ettenia, an island country defined by both its mysterious monarch “The Ram” and its rampant classism. Anyone different or foreign is categorically rejected by mainstream society—most notably the foreign-born protagonist Arthie and, well, vampires. Alone and othered in a world all too willing to ignore her, Arthie creates a home, a family, and a rebellion in Spindrift (a tearoom by day and an illegal blood house by night) catering to everyone, human and vampire alike.
Yet when Spindrift is threatened by the Ram, Arthie and her brother, Jin, ally with an unusual group to save her home by performing the heist of the century. The mark? The Athereum, an impenetrable vampire stronghold. As the heist unfolds, secrets are revealed, love (or is it just lust?) is found, and Arthie might just change Ettenia forever. No spoilers here, folks, but the ending was not anything I expected!
The strength of A Tempest of Tea is Faizal’s lush descriptions and even more luscious characters. White Roaring in Ettenia feels a bit like the London borough of Camden—rough around the edges, but full of life and color. Arthie and the Spindrift crew vibe in this setting, reminiscent of the fighting gangs of Victorian England but with a modern flair. Even Arthie’s description, down to her pageboy hat and suit, seems to elevate a Victorian sensibility to something new, sexy, and more than a little bit dangerous.
Although the buildup to the heist takes a bit too long in my opinion (taking up more than half the book) the final act is exciting and fast-paced. I powered through the last 100 pages in one sitting, eager to find out what happens to Arthie and her friends (and maybe just a little bit to see if she hooks up with Matteo Andoni, a sexy AF vampire). Unfortunately, Tempest does end on a cliffhanger, and I say unfortunately because the next book isn’t due until September 2025. Until then, I suppose I’ll have to quench my thirst for more of the Spindrift crew with tea and Arthie/Matteo fanfic.
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Would read again: 8/10
Personal recommendation: Read this book if you like heist stories, vampires, and found families.
Favorite line(s): “Every good love story starts with a bullet to the heart.”
A Tempest of Tea is currently available from Something Novel. Purchase your copy here.
