Blood-thirsty vampires, atmospheric settings, a heist, action and a good dose of romance make up the fantasy YA Blood and Tea duology written by Hafsah Faizal, known for her Sands of Arawiya books.
The books are set in White Roaring, a world where humans, vampires and half-vampires coexist, but the two latter are not welcome and in fact are actively pursued. This is where Arthie Casimir's runs a very successful (and very illegal) business: a bloodhouse where vampires can feed freely. But her prestigious tearoom is at risk, and when an eviction notice is stuck onto her door, the only way she can save her home and her found family is to join an unlikely ally on a heist.
This duology had us swooning and holding our breath at the same time, and it delivers on all the action it promises from the very first page. The books also explore themes of colonialism, and has brilliant references to Arthurian legends (from Arthie's very name to her magical weapon), as well as lots of romance.
Perfect for fans of Six of Crows and Thieves' Gambit. If you loved this series and are looking for more like this, do take a look at our blog post all about the Best Romantasy Series for 13 and 14 year olds.
All the Blood and Tea books in order:
Book 1: A Tempest of Tea (2024)
Book 2: A Steeping of Blood (2025)
I couldn’t wait to receive this book and it didn’t disappoint. It is fast paced, always has something going on and has really well written and fun cha...