I am so so conflicted by this book. The atmosphere and vibe was stunning- I loved the vintage feel and gritty underbelly. The characters were varied and developed. It was different and intriguing. But something felt odd, the ending frustrated me, I was confused at points and had to re read. It didn’t feel as polished as it could’ve been! Interested to see how this series goes, but I wish that this was a bit tidier.

Arthie Casimir arrived in the city of White Roaring, alone, in a boat full of blood - an orphaned child immigrant. Many years on, she’s built a life for herself (and the others who’ve come to rely on her) and runs a tea shop for the higher classes. However, come nightfall, that same tea shop transforms to serve an altogether different kind of clientele- ones who prefer the taste of blood.

However, when the tea shop comes under threat, Arthie finds herself pulled into an even darker underworld than the one she usually inhabits, one full of danger, conspiracy, and secrets.

It took me a while to sink my teeth into this book (pun intended) - I think the main issue is that a lot of the first three quarters is taken up by romance, which I wouldn’t dislike if it wasn’t for the fact that I felt like I still barely knew the characters. However, by the end of the book, I was more invested in the characters, and all aspects of their stories - I just felt like the romance aspects were introduced way too quickly, before I’d even had time to settle in with the story and the setting. However, that is a me issue, and I’m sure many others will be hooked in far quicker than me!

I think the approach to colonisation was very well done - showing how western countries take and take, leaving devastation in their wake, and how that affects the countries they’ve pillaged, and the people who live there, within it’s YA fantasy confines.

This book is quiet reminiscent of Six of Crows - you have the found family dynamic, a business that the characters run, and a heist plot - however, here we also have vampires, which is what sets it aside. I found it sometimes made for an overall darker, more sensual, tone, which I appreciated.

When the action did kick in, it was fast paced and fun, and there are quite a lot of fantastical twists and turns to keep you on your toes.

Enough groundwork has been set up that intrigues me, and oh Lord, that ending got me. It was a slow burn, but I’ve ended the book quite invested! I’m looking forward to the sequel, and seeing where this story goes.

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review!

Wow okay, this was delicious. I was hooked from the first chapter.

The characters, the plot, the twists and turns oh my god. The found family, the drama and the vampires. What more could a reader want, oh romance too!!! This is a new favourite of mine and I can't wait for the series to continue and see what happens next!

The tempest of tea was a great book 1 to the start of this series by Hafsah Faizal.

The multi POV from the perspectives of Jin, Arthie and Flick allowed this book to flow throughout by prioritising the best character to narrate the POV at various points in the book to allow for insightful and impactful storytelling.

The characters development throughout the book was brilliant and has set up the series amazingly leaving behind burning questions to be answered in the books to come.

With some hints at romance throughout the book it left me desperately needing more to know about the characters and their future adventures.

Arthie (FMC) and her friend Jin are in need of a saving grace to protect their tea shop and Spindrift from the ‘Ram’ who have overthrown the land with their power and deceit. Their only hope is to steal a ledger containing blackmailing secrets from an impenetrable vampire run society but all does not go exactly to plan.
There is betrayal, deceit, corruption and lots of plot twists leaving you needing to know more!

Jin and Arthie’s friendship is delightful and the bond they have from deep rooted past trauma and loss has allowed for them to put great trust in each other and provides a great depth to the story. Their dedication to each other and Spindrift really shows in the writing allowing for the passion and devotion to be reflected in the words.

“Fear stops life, not death”

Flick is delightful. She is so pure and unaware of her actions. Her character development throughout the story was so lovely and seeing her come into her own and become a more independent and sure women away from her mothers control was powerful.

Arthie the FMC is depicted as a strong powerful ‘half vampire’ who is able to command and lead when needed. But her vulnerability in hard times allowed for a better connection to her character as a reader.

The world building was slightly confusing and I don’t feel like I connected to the characters as much as I’d hoped to begin with. I wish to have heard more about Arthie and her back story or even about her being feared in the town more due to her ability to collect secrets to use as weapons.

The heist was good but felt slightly rushed to me with a lot of things happening with some small suspense being built up and then it all working out for the characters very quickly. It is a very fast paced book at times and then seemed slightly slower at other times. Definitely great for people who don’t like to be bombarded with lots of world building and high intense detail that can sometimes get lost over the course of the series!

This was a great first book and I cannot wait to see what happens next with Arthie and Jin and the rest of the group!
I have so many questions this plot twist and cliff hanger has me desperately in need of answers… I cannot wait for book 2 🤍🤍

“Why save the world when you can have tea “

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book with interesting twists and turns. The characters were well-rounded, the world-building was well done, and the plot was intriguing and fun.

I loved the relationships between all of the characters, with a certain forger and paramour at the top of my list. This book is going to be a huge hit when it's released.

A Tempest of Tea was a beguiling, beautifully written and brutal read. This was the oncoming storm and readers better brace themselves for what Faizal has in store.

Just the concept alone of a tearoom converting into an illegal bloodhouse is fantastic – let alone before you add in a heist, incredible characters, twists aplenty and an exploration of the deeply destructive power of colonisation and its repercussions.

The characterisation here is off the charts. Arthie Casimir is one of my favourite characters of all time – stealing my heart while she rules from her seat of power and plans an extraordinary heist. She is ruthless and cunning, which are qualities that Faizal celebrates but also makes clear that these are tools needed in her arsenal to survive in a world that has forced her to change in this way. Her narrative voice is stylish and often infused with a ting of dark humour, though you always get that sense of anger and resentment running just beneath the surface. Every character in this book is layered, complex and three-dimensional, Faizal dedicates time to allow each of them to develop and unveil some secrets they are holding close to their chest. In mere lines of text, you are completely rooting for them though.

The sheer quality of the writing in this book is extraordinary. Certain quotes keep ruminating in my brain and sizzle with their brilliance. All at once, Faizal’s writing is exquisite, immersive, subtle and stunning. You feel utterly caught up in this vividly described and emotionally rich world of corruption, colonial power and cutthroat heists. There is a predominant focus on the corrosive influence of colonial power and how it obliterates people, cultures and ways of living – wanting to subsume them into following the ideals of one nation by force. The devastation of this is keenly felt in a myriad of ways and I loved how Faizal explored the repercussions of colonisation. In particular, the resulting anger and generational trauma from living under this oppression is keenly apparent. It is everywhere and controls everything. Colonial power contains cataclysmic violence and feeds into every aspect of suffering in the narrative. I also enjoyed the way Faizal explored issues of the class system and how that influences everything. In short, I adored every second of reading this.

Faizal’s world-building is also excellent. It feels expansive and lived in, with a detailed tapestry of history and mythology behind it. The inclusion of vampires is superb and executed in such spectacular and surprising ways. There is so much here that blew me away completely. In addition to this, the city of White Roaring feels like its own character. The atmosphere is so thick – you can practically inhale the smoke. It is just intoxicating in every sense.

Also, I want to highlight the pacing, atmosphere and tension. Every page is filled to the brim with suspense, building and building this unrelenting time bomb that you are just waiting to go off. It is a fast paced and exhilarating read, but still allows pauses for those moments of character development without sacrificing the mounting tension you can feel vibrating throughout. Without giving too much away, Faizal has crafted an ending that is beyond explosive. It is jaw-dropping and makes you demand more immediately. You can look back through and see the breadcrumb trail that has lead to this.

A Tempest of Tea is a smoking gun of a book – powerful, incendiary and finishes with one hell of a bang.

This review is for A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal which released in the UK on 22nd February! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Books for giving me an eArc copy for this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is not the first book I have read by Hafsah, as I had read her Sands of Arawiya series before, but this book really cemented her as one of my favourite authors.

It features a found family troupe which is one my of my favourites and very much reminded me of Six of Crows but with vampires… literally what more could I ask for?? It also has hints of Arthurian legends, as well feeling a lot like a Peaky Blinders with the gang dramas.

This story was incredibly written, and as per usual I could not put this down and read again in nearly one sitting. The world building was beautiful, and you are constantly kept on your toes, wondering what’s going to happen to the characters next and what plot twists are coming… the ending… it’s all I’m gunna say. This cliffhanger will bother me until the next ones comes out, I need it immediately.

It features a wide range of characters that are so well rounded out that you feel like you know them personally. The romance is a little more of a subplot, but oh the tension!! It also has some hints towards Hafsah’s other series, so it’s not a must to read them first but you will begin to see some links.

I would 100% recommend this to any fantasy readers out there, I can’t wait for this to be published and the wait for the next book begins now!

I have been waiting to write a review on this book as I just want to absorb and take in what I read. I have read other books from this author before, but this one showcases their growth as a writer. I got completely lost in the world they created. This is exactly what I have been looking for in a YA book. Many YA books these days don't feel challenging and can be too predictable. However, this book was full of suspense and left me wanting more.

I have not read We Hunt the Flame but it has been on my list for a long long time, however when I saw the author was bringing out a new book I was very excited and requested it immediately. The book is a young adult spin on Peaky Blinders set in White Roaring, a London-esque city. I was hooked in from the very beginning, and enjoyed the way the author weaved in vampire folklore. The action and suspense that the author crafted was wonderful, and the character's personalities really shone. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and will be reading the author's first two books.

The speed with which I became obsessed with this book needs to be studied. Seriously. Within one single, solitary chapter…I was hooked and I couldn’t put it down. Whenever I DID manage to pry myself away from this book? I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

The vibes? Immaculate. We’ve got some good solid found family vibes mixed with King Arthur and Six of Crows, BUT with vampires, heists, betrayal, quests for vengeance AND a love triangle. So basically all the good stuff! I also want to stress that while this put me in mind of Six of Crows, that was more down to the found family and banter vibes, as well as Arthie kind of giving Kaz a bit, rather than anything else!

The atmosphere for this was stunning as was the world building and the intricate vampire lore! I’m truly obsessed and the more I read the more the world rose up around me and I felt like I was right there with the characters! The vampire lore was just so intriguing because there’s half-vampires and they have their own kind of little fiefdom which low-key put me in mind of Seraph of the End, if I’m being honest!

The writing is just so on point, I loved the prose and the snark and banter had me giggling to myself SO many times! The prose and the descriptions just really worked to not only make this easy to binge read in massive chunks, but to build up the settings and vibe perfectly! I also think there’s some brilliant commentary on colonialism in here too, given that Arthie had a front row seat to it.

Then we have the characters. When I tell you I’m OBSESSED with them! They were such an interesting bunch and had some on point banter between them all. The cast were also incredibly diverse as well! I think pastry-loving Jin is my favourite? Maybe? Tied with Arthie who has become my favourite little badass! She truly knows how to handle herself and her relationship with Jin had me in my feels so many times! I DID side-eye Flick a little in the beginning BUT she goes on an interesting journey in this! Then we have Matteo and Leith. The undead, charming artsy boy and the mysterious guard.

The romance isn’t the main focus of this, given everything going on, BUT it’s there. There’s flirty banter and some swoony moments to go with the sweeter ones! Though I’ll be honest, I’m still not entirely sure who I ship Arthie with. Especially after THAT ending.

Speaking of…the cliffhanger. Hafsah…Hafsah why? I spent the last few chapters internally screaming the entire time because just when you thought it couldn’t get worse…SURPRISE, it did! Now I have so many questions which are going to be on my mind until the next book!

I don’t think I’ve had this much fun or been this obsessed with a book in such a long time, I genuinely enjoyed every single page and was on the edge of my seat so many times waiting to see what was going to happen next! There were some brilliant twists and I just adored the world and characters! If anyone needs me, I’ll be eagerly awaiting the sequel and mulling over the possibilities presented for it!

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. I had such high hopes for it seeing other positive reviews. I almost DNF’ed it multiple times, but mumma don’t raise no quitter.

- Firstly, I felt like this book was trying too hard to be Six of Crows. Anthie was just Kaz but if a girl with pink hair. Her character felt very flat to me. Which was surprising as she had such a rich backstory (one that I didn’t see coming).
Also at one point when the “gang” are all together just before the heist, Anthie mutters the phrase “it’s teatime scoundrels”. AKA “no mourners, no funerals” but with the suggestion a slice of cake might be involved?

- Secondly, there were so many modern phrases that ruined the immersion. This is supposed to be a different world, why was a cat described as *floofy*? Why did characters mention bourbon biscuits? We’re they supposed to be bourbon flavoured, or the classic british biscuit?
There was one particular occasion where a character used the Latin phrase “et al”. Apparently the Roman Empire extends into fantasy worlds.

- The dialogue was all over the place and didn’t flow at all. A character would say something and then you'd read a few lines of their internal thoughts, and then jump back to them speaking. I had to keep re-reading to understand who said what and what was actually happening.

- The heist itself was over in 5 seconds after all that planning. So the end result was an very dissatisfying experience that left me feeling a little cheated. Where was the payoff?

-Lastly, the romance (not that you could really call it romance) was horribly forced. Anthie had the personality of a callous brick and yet she had two men aggressively flirting with her despite them knowing her for all of two pages? It was so cringey.

In conclusion to this horribly long review. This book felt like work to me. The pacing and dialogue was off, characters and plot felt borrowed from other books, and the romance was pointless.

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫 When I saw this series was called Blood and Tea I knew I had to read it! This fantasy duology is full of action, scheming, planning and conspiracy. I loved the misfit characters, especially Jin. If you like vampires, heists and a side of romance then I think you will enjoy this book. The world-building and political framework is rich, I loved that this is more than just a heist book, it’s about the effects of colonialism. Overall an enjoyable read that’s full of vibes, which are definitely the highlight of the book, think peaky blinders and six of crows.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

A Tempest of Tea is definitely one for fans of Six of Crows, with elements of Oliver Twist. I loved the narration and seeing the story from numerous perspectives. The romance elements were great, definitely kept me invested.

The only reason really for a lower rating is that the stakes didn't quite feel high enough. The heist was such a minor part of the book, the rest of it being heavily character oriented. I wish there had been more intensity to the heist, more depth to the 'betrayals', if you will.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hafsah Faizal for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Oh wow! This book was incredible from start to finish; I'm completely just- impressed and in awe and in love with how quickly and how thoroughly Hafsah managed to draw me into this story and make me care for its protagonists.

I saw 3 POVs and gave it a bit of a side eye but this ended up being one of my favourite things about the book! I think it would have been very easy to make the POVs centre around a different set of characters, and although I would've eaten that up (Laith and Matteo my loves), I'm SO glad she went with this because not only was it crucial for the mystery and the plot twists but it also gave us a dual POV of Arthie and Jin's bond- which might just be the best thing about this book (and I say this as someone who sniffs out the romance in every single book I read). Their dynamic genuinely brought me to tears in some moments. The dedication they have towards each other, the love, the understanding, the empathy makes my heart hurt in the best way. Of all the relationships, all the dynamics, this one really felt like it had aged with the characters, their dialogue felt like the product of years of relying on each other etc. it was beautiful. The parallels we got where each one of them thought about how well suited a specific tea was to the other, or the way her POV said something about how he knew he didn't have to worry about her and then his POV would confirm that- it really convinced me that these are siblings who have lived a life together, and really knew each other. Their love was so tender, and genuine- a lot of the time, found family can feel like a group of friends (which isn't bad, but if you're trying to make it a found family it should feel like something more essential, more permanent than friendship) but this did everything right and I love these two with all my heart. She could've taken out everything else and just given me Jin and Arthie shenanigans and I would've still given this 5 stars! The way her smell would calm him, or her laugh, or the way she would literally die for him- I have no words. None.

The plot- loved it. I ate it up. At no point did I understand what the hell was going on (I need to reread because I'm always very character-focused the first time I read a book, and then the second time have more of a Birds Eye view), at no point did I know who to trust, at no point did I trust my own judgement of the situation but I had the time of my life nonetheless. It was the right amount of planning for the heist, actual heist, and chaos following the heist to keep me GRIPPED!

The romances (plural, because she really is giving the girls what that want) were PHENOMENAL!!!! The yearning???? The pining from Jin???? The banter when they're in a group and everyone is side eyeing everyone????? When Laith tells him to stop looking (which- lets get back to this because aint no way this didn't come from deeeeep in that man's soul LMAO I'm not giving up on him),, the way Arthie was eating up the attention but giving them NOTHING???? I am obsessed with that woman and she can do no wrong, she deserves all the praise oof- Jin and Flick are honestly the loves of my life, they're adorable and sweet and so freaking perfect for each other!!!!! The parallels about fire and the way that did a full circle at the end- speaking of, because I wouldn't be me if I didn't bring this back to my fave siblings- thE FIRE SCENE?!!!!!!! No because no one has ever sobbed the way I did reading that scene. Back to the romances- don't even get me started on Laith because after he called her habibti the first time- I'm pretty sure I blacked out and came back to only to read "Destroy me" and then I blacked right back out. That scene- needs to be framed. But also, no one can convince me he didn't mean every single thing he said- I refuse to believe that was all for the hilya- aint no bloody way (pun absolutely intended). I love Matteo, and I also love chaos, so I'm very much here for how this is shaping up to develop- gonna be in shambles either way confirmed because I KNOWWWWWW, based on how well she does pining and yearning, that heartbreak is going to actually wreck me. ANYWAYS- The way there's multiple references to his art and the way he uses colour.......and then that sentence about her being the colour in his otherwise monochrome life.....OOP who am I to deny soulmates :DDDD

I loved how diverse this cast of characters was. This might just be me reading the wrong books but sometimes it feels like the diversity is something an author had ticked off a checklist. But this????? Delicious. I went into this book only expecting vampires, tea, and peaky blinders (which, it did in fact deliver on, I freaking LOVED how well the vibes were integrated in)- and although the story is about a bunch of sexy vampiric criminals pulling off a heist, it's more about the why behind their actions. There is something so visceral, palpable about Arthie's anger towards the country she's in, and rightly so- I'm first in line to punch the Ram in the face lol. But I really loved how eloquently, and how thoroughly Hafsah explored the different layers of her pain, her identity, her love, her goals. You see it in moments where she tells the group to dress their best so other don't have anything else to look down on them for, or when she has these intense moments of battling between giving up (which no one could blame her for) and finishing off what she started. The vampirism being used as a vehicle for this discussion was really really brilliant- it didn't sacrifice the fantastical elements for the commentary, nor did it brush over those discussions of why a white vampire had more wiggle room than a brown human. Long story short: I love that she said teehee sexy vampires....and then BAM brown girl putting colonialists in their place while looking dapper and also while stealing hearts :)))))))

This book is everything I didn't know I needed. What I didn't need before I read this but I am in desperate need of right now is 1) to be sedated, and 2) help. The ending was unnecessarily stressful (I loved every bloody second of it). My heart was being thrown around like a half deflated, soggy football on a snowy day, and it was being used to smack me in the face over and over and over again. I cannot blame Arthie for what she did because the Lord knows he deserved it HOWEVER- I did NOT expect him to also?????Like hello????// hELOO??? I will beat him up myself. I had a mini spiral when I couldn't figure out who it was in the last chapter but quick discussions and a lil flicking back made it abundantly clear and honestly- like I said, I'm so here for this chaos- that man has LAYERSSSSSSS. The way her bonds with both of them are so????? OMNOMNOM but in different ways,, this is going to be so so so interesting TTEEEEHEEEEEEEE. But also the way each character she has a relationship with gives us insight into the limits of each of her emotions- the way you don't see her great capacity for love and tenderness until Jin is hurt or needs reassurance, or the way you don't realise how observant she is until you see how much and how deeply she understands Flick and her need to be called Flick instead of Felicity. Or the way you might miss how desperately she needs someone to look after HER until we meet Penn, or she has that moment with Matteo. Or when you think she absolutely has herself on a tight leash but then Laith strolls in and well- no one can blame her :)) MY POINT: the way each character is deeply complex and contradictory and interesting but we are never told this- we're shown. And that, ladies and gentlemen, will always have me slapping a 5 stars onto a book.

The only singular criticism I have is that the bit where the ledger etc. is explained felt the tiniest bit convenient, and I didn't really know if I could trust Penn (Or Matteo for that matter) so then when the end happening I was just like.....oh my. I feel like the gravity of that scene didn't hit me as hard as it could have (and probably will, when I do a reread of this, which I absolutely will be doing). This could also be a me problem- I know I missed a lot of stuff- I always do when I'm reading faster than my silly little brain can process, so there's a chance I'm the problem here. I don't think it damaged the pacing or the tension at all because everything went to hell right after anyways so :))))

I loved this book with all my heart and soul.

A mysterious teahouse at the intersection of upper-class and working class society. A powerful girl who refuses to let anyone go by unseen, along with their secrets. A talented boy and his umbrella rescued from a fire. And the perfect heist to top it all off. Oh, and did I mention- Vampires!

My word, this was a brilliant introduction for me into Hafsah Faizal’s work.

I loved this book! It came at such a great time for me when I was feeling bogged down by heavier literature. The pacing is brilliant, written in smaller chapters that make you feel like you’re able to read more because you can stop almost whenever you like (not that you ever want to), with several plot points being masterfully spun before you.

Arthie and Jin are a cracking main character duo. Each with such different, distinct character voices which unusually compliment each other so well. I adore their siblinghood, their deep understanding of one another and their ability to turn fear into fuel for one another. And then there’s Matteo who bought so much humour to the novel, though you know so much more lies beneath that exterior. Flick and her wonderful creations, too! The cast of Tempest of Tea has such a homely, family-like feel to it.

I won’t go on any longer, as I fear spoiling it all- just know, if you want a fun, hearty fantasy novel that is beautifully written and you love a good vampire trope, this one is for you.

I wish I had chosen this as my first ARC of the year because wow I was blown away. A Tempest of Tea was completely intoxicating and I didn’t want to put it down. I read over 40% of the book in my first sitting, which is very impressive considering how long it has been taking me to get through books lately.

I wouldn’t call myself a huge fan of vampire books, but this one is very good. The vampire’s are fairly classy and there’s no cringe involved. I love that there are different types of vampires and it feels like their lore and this entire world is so rich.

I’m a little bit in love with this cast of characters. They all have such distinct personalities and really bring something to the story. My absolute favourite was Jin, he was not only the engineering brain behind Spindrift, which was super cool, but he also had an interesting past and what looks to be an interesting future. I love how he was super cool and suave around every woman but Flick, he was a bit of a bumbling idiot with her at times - so cute!

Arthie was of course a really cool character too. I love her character design and if there’s one word to describe her it would have to be badass. Especially when she’s wielding Calibore (no spoilers on that though, but trust me it’s sooo cool!).

I absolutely love a heist book and this one does have Six of Crows vibes. I wouldn’t say it was as intricate, but it did have its blood pumping moments. I enjoyed the planning and build up to the heist more than the actual event itself, but still, very fun.

The reasons why A Tempest of Tea is a five star read are not ones I can talk about without spoiling huge plot points - hence why this review is pretty short. Right until the end, this book was sitting at maybe a 4 or 4.5 stars, but the revelations in the final few chapters pushed it all the way to a five. Honestly, it’s incredible, I can’t recommend it enough.

I love a heist book and this definitely delivered!
While overall I didn't love this book as much as I wanted to the heist planning and undertaking, getting the crew together and preparing was really good fun to read
I'm not a fan of plot being moved along just by secrets being revealed, which this book sometimes felt like.
There was so much potential in the characters and relationships, perhaps the next book is where they'll really shine.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book

Tempest of Tea stirred up a storm of emotions in me! (sorry, I had to.)

The world-building is intricate and immersive, and had me hooked from the start.

White Roaring is a city of contrasts, where opulent mansions meet grimy back alleys and vampires mix with humans.
The characters are complex and engaging. Arthie is a fierce and resourceful protagonist, and her crew is a motley bunch of misfits with their own secrets and motivations.

Admittedly, I was drawn in by the cover and wondered what I was thinking when I reread the blurb a week or two later. But once I started reading, I knew I would enthusiastically recommend this book.

This was a lot slower than I usually like, but once it got going it was very immersive and I thoroughly enjoyed this world full of danger lurking around every corner. Tempest of Tea had a very unique premise and in normal circumstances vampires aren't my cup of tea, no pun intended, but Faizal kept me reading in the hopes that the team were successful in their heist.

Arthie came off as cold for the first part of the book, but then she quickly grew on me. And then the addition of Jin who was completely the opposite and I liked how he seemed the voice of reason in such a tense situation, Flick was awesome. The main crew were a complete mash up of people who shouldn't be together but clearly work well as a team. Everybody was awesome.

Overall, it made me laugh and had me rooting for them. I recommend if you loved books like Six of Crows.

Throw king arthur, peaky blinders and the six of crows in a pot, add a sprinkle of vampires then stir them together and you'll be served up a tempest of tea in the books teahouse.

Arthie runs a teahouse by day and a bloodhouse by night. When her business is threatened she plans a heist to try and get it back.

This was one of my most anticipated releases for this year, it's told in 3 characters pov and I liked them all equally however what let the book down for me was how the dialogue was written. I love reading dialogue between characters but in this it just didnt flow. someone would say something and then you'd read a a few lines of what someone was thinking and then another line of dialogue and I had to keep looking back up the page to see what was initially said.
There's a big plot twist near the end that I didn't see coming at all so I'm looking forward to seeing how everything picks back up in book 2

3.5 stars

Thank you to #netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review