Hafsah Faizal’s long-anticipated book, “A Tempest of Tea,” has been released, and it did not disappoint. Chock-full of mystery, suspense and romance, “A Tempest of Tea” has it all.
The story follows Arthie Casimir in the fictional country of Ettenia where she runs a tea shop that doubles as a safe house for vampires. When her shop is threatened by the corrupt ruler of Ettenia, she forges a gang of unlikely companions to infiltrate the rich vampire society compound in order to save her home. The story brings together an ancient vampire, a guard, a rich forger, Arthie and her brother Jin.
“A Tempest of Tea” is incredibly fast-paced with few boring moments. Due to Arthie’s secretive past, she plans the betrayal of one of her allies early on, keeping readers intrigued with the plot. Readers who enjoyed Faizal’s previous duology, “Sands of Arawiya,” will appreciate the nods and hints to the previous books, though reading the old books is not required to fully enjoy Arthie’s story.
Orphaned by the colonial powers of Ettenia, Arthie flees her homeland at a young age and begins a new life in Ettenia. Vowing to get revenge, she creates chaos among the city of White Roaring, particularly through her plan to save her home. Arthie is incredibly taciturn as a character, even keeping one of her own secrets from the readers until the final few chapters, which makes her tremendously interesting.
Her crew is composed of a group of unlikely misfits from different social classes. As a result, the meetings and plans are ridden with tension, as no one is sure who to trust. However, romance and friendship quickly bloom between these well-written characters.
Faizal’s writing style is notable, with smooth transitions and excellent diction. While Arthie’s plans are complex, they are not hard to follow, making the book an easy read. Faizal’s world-building offers criticism of real-world colonization and the exploitation of other countries.
Overall, “A Tempest of Tea” was an excellent book, full of friendship and stunning real-world commentary.
