Heists, vampires, and an underground tea house that serves more than just tea? Sign me up! Hafsah Faizal’s A Tempest of Tea is an electrifying start to a duology that blends high-stakes action, a crew of misfits, and a heroine you can’t help but root for. If you love fantasy worlds infused with rich lore, morally grey characters, and a touch of swoon-worthy romance, this book is for you!
This tour is sponsored by TBR and Beyond Tours. Find my 15 reactions while reading "A Tempest of Tea" below, and where to get the book and how to win a copy of this book with beautifully sprayed edges!
Title: A Tempest of Tea
Author: Hafsah Faizal
Release Date: February 25, 2025
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Genre: YA Fantasy, Vampires
Book Buy Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
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.
Content Warning: death, violence, death of parents, racism, colorism, kidnapping, colonization, grief, human trafficking, drugging, abuse
My 15 Reactions While Reading "A Tempest of Tea" by Hafsah Faizal
Arthie Casimir is a force to be reckoned with—a cunning mastermind who runs a prestigious tea house that secretly serves as an illegal bloodhouse for vampires. But when her empire is threatened, she’s forced to make a dangerous deal that throws her into the heart of the sinister vampire society, the Athereum. With a crew of outcasts by her side, she plans to pull off an impossible heist. But trust is a fragile thing, and betrayal lurks in the shadows. As secrets unravel, Arthie soon realizes that this job is bigger than just saving her tearoom—it might change the world as she knows it.
Here are the 15 reactions I had while reading this book:
1. "Okay, but this tea house is EVERYTHING."
Right from the start, I was obsessed with Arthie’s tea house/bloodhouse. The concept of an elegant tearoom doubling as an underground business for vampires? Genius. The atmosphere was so richly described that I wanted to step into White Roaring and experience it myself.
2. "Arthie Casimir is my new favorite morally grey queen." 👑
Arthie is fierce, intelligent, and unapologetically ambitious. She’s not just surviving—she’s thriving in a cutthroat world. I loved how she commands respect while keeping a tight grip on her secrets.
3. "Oh, we’re getting a heist? Say less."
A well-planned, high-stakes heist always gets my attention, and I was thrilled when Arthie started assembling her crew. I could tell from the start that this wouldn’t be a straightforward job—something big was bound to go wrong.
4. "Wait, who can we actually trust?!"
Every character had their own motivations, and I kept second-guessing their loyalties. The tension was real. Not everyone in Arthie’s crew was fully on board, and that uncertainty made for some chef’s kiss drama.
5. "Why is the city of White Roaring so beautifully dark?" 🌙
Hafsah Faizal has a way of making settings feel like characters themselves. White Roaring is gritty yet glamorous, and I could practically hear the echo of footsteps in its shadowy alleyways.
6. "The vampire society is both mesmerizing and terrifying." 🧛♂️
The Athereum is not just a group of bloodthirsty creatures—it’s a full-on, power-hungry, high-society elite. The way Faizal crafted their world felt fresh, intricate, and full of intrigue.
7. "Oh no… we’re catching FEELINGS, aren’t we?" 💕
Arthie’s relationships—both romantic and platonic—felt real. I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say there were moments that made my heart race in the best way possible.
8. "Betrayal is in the air, and I’m NOT OKAY."
You know a book is good when you start yelling at the pages. That one moment (you’ll know it when you get there) had me clutching my chest.
9. "The action scenes? Absolutely cinematic." 🎬
Hafsah Faizal knows how to write a fight scene. Every movement felt fluid, intense, and high-stakes—I could see the chaos unfolding in my head.
10. "Arthie is so much more than a criminal mastermind."
She’s tough, yes, but she’s also vulnerable in ways that made her incredibly compelling. Seeing her softer side peek through, especially in unexpected moments, was a highlight for me.
11. "This book has some top-tier banter." 😆
The dialogue? Sharp, witty, and often hilarious. The crew’s dynamic reminded me of the found family trope at its finest.
12. "Can we take a second to appreciate the representation?" 🌍
Seeing South Asian and POC representation in a lush fantasy world like this? Yes, yes, yes! It was seamlessly woven into the story, adding layers of richness and authenticity.
13. "That plot twist just wrecked me."
I thought I was prepared. I thought I saw it coming. I was wrong. Hafsah Faizal is a master of shocking turns.
14. "I can’t believe we have to wait for the sequel." 😭
The ending left me desperate for book two. There are so many unanswered questions and unresolved tensions—I need to know what happens next!
15. "This is one of my favorite fantasy reads of the year." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
From the worldbuilding to the heist, from the romance to the betrayals—everything about this book hit just right. It’s one of those stories that lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page.
About the author:
Hafsah Faizal is the #1 New York Times and international bestselling, award-winning author of WE HUNT THE FLAME, WE FREE THE STARS and A TEMPEST OF TEA, and the founder of IceyDesigns, where she creates websites for authors and beauteous goodies for everyone else. A Forbes 30 under 30 honoree, when she’s not writing, she can be found designing, playing Assassin’s Creed, or traversing the world. Born in Florida and raised in California, she now resides in North Carolina with her husband and a library of books waiting to be devoured.
Giveaway:
One (1) paperback of "A Tempest of Tea" with sprayed edges. USA only, ends March 31, 2025, at Midnight EST.