A review by iffer
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

3.0

I wish I had liked this more.  The writing is lush and descriptive, conjuring the "dapper" (author's word) setting that is simultaneously gritty and playful.  The different POV characters also balance out the tone of the book and provide different viewpoints and interesting backstories that shape them.  The portrayal of the lasting impacts of colonialism through generations felt right.  So why didn't I enjoy this?  I think that it comes down to pacing.  While I was reading I felt mostly like I was watching a classic film unfold, and the setting and tone's moodiness were communicated well, but there was little forward momentum and urgency to the plot despite this being largely a heist novel with vampires!