After mauve-haired, brown-skinned Arthie Casimir—an orphaned youth from a colonized island who lives on the streets—gains notoriety for drawing the legendary pistol Calibore from a stone, she opens Spindrift, a popular tearoom by day and a "bloodhouse" covertly frequented by vampires and their thralls at night. Arthie and her staff, along with her chosen brother Jin, who reads as East Asian, gather the secrets of their moneyed patrons, using their influence to improve their own lives in White Roaring, the impoverished capital city of the gluttonous Ettenia empire. Arthie soon learns that the monarchy's armed guard is plotting to take ownership of Spindrift and shut it down for good, until a ranking guard presents Arthie with a deal: retrieve a stolen ledger capable of destroying the guard to save Spindrift, and possibly bring down the monarchy as well. In this captivating duology opener, Faizal (We Hunt the Flame) crafts a steadfast love letter to the security of found family, the strength and struggles of immigrants thriving in the face of violent colonialism and white supremacy, and the wondrous experience of a good cup of tea. Faizal draws on well-known adventure tropes then delightfully subverts them via sumptuous writing, making for a sublime heist novel and revenge tale. Ages 14–up. (Feb.)

Gr 10 Up—Arthie runs Ettenia's notorious Spindrift; tea house for humans by day, blood house for vampires by night. Arthie's masterful secret collecting and infamy as the owner of the pistol Calibore shields her establishment. But when Spindrift is threatened by Ettenia's tyrannical ruler, the Ram, Arthie strikes a deal with a mysterious young man, putting together a small crew to pull off a heist at the vampire's elite stomping grounds, the Anthereum. Set in a paranormally enhanced country inspired by historical England, Faizal dives into the impact of colonization, driven by the powerful and greedy rulers. Savvy readers will immediately recognize key components that tie this story to the author's "Sands of Arawiya" duology, expanding the world to a country where Peaky Blinders meets Arthurian legend. Shuffling between three points of view (Arthie, Jin, and Flick), the story balances mysterious intrigue and budding romances quite well. The quips and wit between characters infuse the plot with humor as the crew learns that to beat the Ram, they must stop playing by society's rules. Add in the spine-gripping revelations at the end, and readers will be scrambling for more. Additionally, tea drinkers will emphatically appreciate the ode to tea championed by the diverse cast throughout. VERDICT Sweet danger abides in this heist novel perfect for fans of Faizal's first duology and Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows.—Emily Walker