On the streets of White Roaring, Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind and collector of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by night, catering to the vampires feared by society. But when her establishment is threatened, Arthie is forced to strike an unlikely deal with an alluring adversary to save it—she can’t do the job alone.

Calling on some of the city’s most skilled outcasts, Arthie hatches a plan to infiltrate the sinister, glittering vampire society known as the Athereum. But not everyone in her ragtag crew is on her side, and as the truth behind the heist unfolds, Arthie finds herself in the midst of a conspiracy that will threaten the world as she knows it. Dark, action-packed, and swoonworthy, this is Hafsah Faizal better than ever.

This was my first read from this author, and sadly, it left me disappointed. The premise sounded promising, but the execution never lived up to it. I expected something richer and more engaging than what we ultimately received.

I listened to the audiobook and genuinely enjoyed the narrator. Her British accent suited the setting, and she gave each character a distinct voice, which helped with the multiple POVs. Her performance made the story more immersive, but even she could not rescue the slow pacing. I do not recall any strong language, and there is no spice.

The first half of the story dragged for me. I came close to giving up because nothing seemed to move forward, and I was getting bored. There is a lot of setup, endless planning, and many meetings about planning, and none of it felt compelling. I just didn’t care. I liked getting to know the characters, but I needed something to happen. Other reviewers have compared this to Six of Crows with vampires. I have not read that book yet, but the heist element here felt weak and underdeveloped. I also wanted far more focus on the vampires, since that was one of the main reasons I chose this book. It rarely felt like a vampire story.

It took me a long time to push through, but things finally picked up near the end. The heist sequence, while brief, was enjoyable, and the final twists offered some excitement. I also appreciated the found family vibes among the characters and the historical setting, which created a nice atmosphere.

The book ends on a cliffhanger, but I do not feel invested enough to continue. I think this author simply is not for me. Still, if the premise appeals to you, there is a chance you might connect with it more than I did.