A man walks into a bar. Well, not walks, but saunters. And not a bar but a mysterious tearoom. And technically not a man, but a vampire. Such a premise forms the high-concept hook of A Tempest of Tea, the opener in the new ‘Blood and Tea’ duology from YA scribe extraordinaire Hafsah Faizal, whose ‘We Hunt the Flame’ duology established her as a to-watch author for YA fantasy fans the world over.
This time around it’s not magic and assassins, but instead the underground teahouse that caters to children of the night that grounds Faizal’s latest. Following a trio of plucky young folk as they come together to plan an audacious heist against the villainous, shadowy Ram, the tyrant who rules their crime-riddled port town.
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There’s an obvious comparison for every modern YA fantasy reader and yes, the similarities in tone and very initial premise to Leigh Bardugo‘s ‘Six of Crows’ duology, a modern classic. This initial premise – a group of talented young adults come together to complete a heist and run into complications – is a staple of the genre and Faizal’s story, while comparable to its progenitors, is distinct and fully-realised. If Six of Crows is slicker and glossier, A Tempest of Tea is pleasingly gritty, Peaky Blinders by way of Interview with the Vampire.
Faizal crafts a solid, enjoyable balance between plot and character, giving time for a layered narrative to form and stakes – pun intended – to take form for our trio of protagonists. Arthie, a street urchin turned entrepreneurial owner of the teahouse is guarded and enigmatic, hiding more than her own secrets; her right-hand man Jin, stoic, cool, and collected, hides a well of deep-seated trauma underneath his implacable surface; and Flick, the well-heeled daughter of a wealthy family who wants to get out from her mother’s shadow and create a life of her own. Each of them has their own reasons for getting involved in the heist and each has their own cross to bear. Faizal bolsters with this some excellent set pieces and a tense third-act all but centred around the heist itself and the fallout that inevitably occurs, creating a story that is eminently readable and a joy to explore and spend time.
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Combining a skilful blend of high-octane heist action, absorbing character dynamics, and a wholly fun high-concept, A Tempest of Tea is a smart fantasy offering from a fan favourite in the YA genre, that promises a rollicking good time for any fantasy reader willing to step inside those pages. Given the gripping cliff-hangers that await at the end of A Tempest of Tea, many readers (this reviewer included) will be desperate for the next instalment to sink their teeth – or should that be fangs? – into.
A Tempest of Tea is out now from MacMillan.
