>>Coffee houses, butchers and bookmakers slumbered waiting for the dawn, the city was kept alive by sin – and by a tea room that nestled on a corner between misery and wealth.
(Quote from ‘A tempest of Tea’, p. 14)
I had just read the first few pages and immediately fell in love with Hafsah Faizal’s poetic, descriptive writing style, which opened the door to an empire of secrets, tea and blood, of intrigue and conspiracies. I really liked the start of the duology despite some length at the beginning.
Right at the beginning we meet Arthie Casimir, who was stranded in Ettenia as an orphan and fought her way up. In her teahouse in White Roaring called ‘Spindrift’ she serves tea during the day and collects secrets from the upper class. At night, however, Arthie serves the outcasts and outlaws of the city – vampires. When the moon lights up the sky, the Spindrift turns into a blood house. Always at Arthie’s side is Jin – her loyal companion and self-chosen brother. When the teahouse is threatened and Arthie is in danger of losing everything she has built up, a stranger offers her a possible way out. Arthie is supposed to steal a book. But it is in the Athereum, the dangerous underworld of Ettenia. To have even the slightest chance, Arthie puts together a crew. But not everyone has the same goal.
As I said, it takes a while for the whole thing to get rolling and for the plot to really grab me. But the special writing style and the different characters make up for it. In addition to tea and blood, we are served a motley crew. Everyone has different skills that are useful to the cause. Not everyone is on Arthie’s side. I just loved the whole dynamic between them.
The big bang comes relatively late, but it’s all the more intense. What can I say: I need volume 2.
Conclusion:
A found family, a heist, a trade in secrets, tea and blood. Brilliant idea and great implementation.
