A review by cortanasreadingnook
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 “Why save the world when you can have tea?” 

My thanks to Macmillan Children’s Books for sending me an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my thoughts about the book in any way. 

Hafsah Faizal is back in this new, riveting installment, the first of another incredible duology perfect for fans of Six of Crows and Thieves Gambit! I’ve never felt this way about another book in months, but A Tempest of Tea certainly pulled me out of my miserable slump. Set in the same world as We Hunt The Flame, we now travel to Ettenia and meet a new and equally diverse cast while still seeing remnants of our beloved Arawiyan characters. Not only is this brewed with tea, but it also has vampires, magic, tension, and thrilling politics with a plot that mainly ventures into the effects of imperial colonialism, illegal settlements, and exploitation. The story itself astonishingly mirrors the genocide Palestinians have been experiencing for over 75+ years, so this book was impressively a statement as much as it’s a YA fantasy novel with lots of unpredictable twists that will keep you hooked. Therefore, no one can tell me that reading isn’t political because it most certainly is. 

It was a very entertaining read for me, and I’m already looking forward to the sequel! There was no dull moments throughout the book. The humor-filled banter within the found family and character dynamics were truly delightful to read. It was without a doubt, worth the wait and hype. Hafsah is a really remarkable storyteller. It’s high time readers actually support authors who know what they stand for. 
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