Book Review: A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal (Spoiler Free)
Keeping my Attention: 8.5/10
Comments: Something I felt drawn to and kept my attention. Hafsah Faizal is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers.
So. Let me drop the tea on this little marvel.
First- a little run down- a synopsis if you will. A Tempest of Tea (by Hafsah Faizal- who btw is really cool and has an adorable marriage) is the first book of a duology about one Arthie Casimir; founder of a teahouse by day, vampire blood den hostess by night. The story follows Arthie trying to save her teahouse by taking on high vampire society in a heist of a lifetime. Her and her ragtag crew, brought together by various happenstance will need to work together to achieve their individual means- but what happens when those means don’t align?
Let’s start with the writing itself. Sometimes it’s okay to take a step back and admire a writer’s crafting of words and by golly does this book have you hanging on each word and (ironically) thirsting for more. I found myself immersed into this world from the first sentence. The drag keeping me from ever wanting to surface from outside the mysticism and intrigue the author builds so successfully. You want something calm and smooth? This is not it. From the very first page, your jaw will hit the floor as you’re hit with adrenaline and hit again in awe of what transpires. I’m still not sure my jaw ever came back up.
Now let’s take a bite out of the plot. Pacing is gorgeous. It slows when it need to and rushes with your heart rate when you get to the climax. Think irresistible character development entwining with a heist with a splash of tea and vampires. The book oozes in a main plot at its foundation that entwines so well with all the characters and their subplots. Honestly, I can’t think of a single character that was wasted. Each of them had a storyline that I was satisfied with more or less. I hate endings, especially if I enjoy something so ending this was a frustrating experience for sure. They have a cat too so I don’t know what else I can ask for.
The characters I could go on and on about and never stop so I’ll keep myself accountable and not run my mouth too much and spoil the fun. Arthie however. I adore Arthie. She’s your stereotypical badass protagonist for sure. But she’s so much more than that. She’s an icon in the way she accepts herself, her past and the fact that she’s the way she is. Equal parts powerful and vulnerable I wish I could just sit down and interview her about the way she sees the world. Not only that, the author is poignant with the way Arthie expresses her past. Something a person who is BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of colour) well especially sympathise with. When I revisit this book- because oh boy I will- I may just write about Arthie (hopefully by then you’ll have read the book so you can swoon with me about her).
What can I say? Hafsah Faizal is an artist and I am infatuated by every word she has put in this book. It’s the first book of hers that I’ve read and I feel as though it’s almost incumbent on me to go back and hunt for the books she’s already graced us with.
