this is a solid YA story with good characters, interesting premises and a decent plot. I would have liked to get a little more knowledge about the gods and Hesta in particular due to her part in this story but I liked the animal twist the story took that stepped everything a little sideways from where I expected the story to go

Beth Cato introduces us to a world of magic and injustice in this first of the "Chefs of the Five Gods" series.

There are people in this world who have a magical connection to foods that exhibits as a deep, empathic understanding of not just ingredients, but also of poisons. They are Chefs, but instead of just cooking, they were made into soldiers, and one of the main characters, Adamantine "Ada" Garland, fought for years for Verdania. Exhausted, she went into hiding, becoming a rogue Chef. knowing that if she were caught, her tongue would be removed. Ada's mother, though not a Chef, is eager for Ada to use her skills for her mother's business ventures, and has been looking for Ada for a while.

When assassins turn up one night, Ada and her Grand-mere go on the run. Her grandmother is also a Chef and former soldier, but is gradually losing her mind.

Solenn is a princess of Albion, a country neighbouring Verdania, and she is contracted to marry the Verdanian prince. She's there with an honour guard, one of whom is her good friend. When Solenn's dormant Chef skill comes to life, she knows she must keep this secret, but she also accidentally discovers and foils poisoning attempts on her fiancé's life. When tragedy occurs, Solenn must go on the run, as she was set up as her fiancé's murderer, which is a ploy to implicate Albion, and reignite war.

Both women are on the run, and eventually find each other, as well as truths about their families.

The story takes a little while to get going, but it's necessary to lay the ground for the ensuing political intrigue and action. The characters are well drawn, and the injustices many, with magical users, as well as magical creatures, being seen a nothing more than tools and objects for use by the wealthy.

I liked that the threats and solutions felt plausible, and that the main characters were not incredibly powerful in wealth, magic and influence, but rather ordinary. The story ends with a shocking scene, but that left me wanting to know what happens next.

Thank you to Netgalley and to 47North for this ARC in exchange for my review.

A delightful fantasy novel mixing magic, politics, and food. The world-building is creative and the culinary magic is deliciously fun. Light, adventurous, and totally original.

This was not the book for me. I expected more fantasy and world building, but it all just felt rushed and the ending was very abrupt.

Others might have better luck with this one.

This is actually 3.5⭐️.

Overall I enjoyed not only the plot and execution of the plot, but also the writing style.

I would recommend this to my friends who enjoy a little magic in their books.

I found this one just a little too complex to get into. The magic system of food was interesting but it read like a book where I was constantly trying to re check and understand what was happening and who was who.

I started reading this and unfortunately it just didn't grab my interest! I liked the writing style and general concept though!

Just FUN! This book is simply put a fun read!!! It is so enjoyable that even looking back on it and typing this review I can't help but smile. This author has created a series that will be easy to re-read just because it is enjoyable and easy to fall into this world that has everything that you need in a fun fantasy read.

What a rich and fascinating world Beth Cato has created in A Thousand Recipes for Revenge! In her analog of Western Europe, Chefs have an empathic connection with food and wine, especially those elements called “epicurea,” harvested from magical beings (like unicorn “tonic”). In Verdania, such talented individuals are strictly controlled by the royal court. Ada Garland is one such, in hiding after deserting the army many years ago, when the toll of injustice and bloodshed became unbearable. Solenn, a foreign princess forced into betrothal to the Verdanian crown prince, has no idea what to expect when her epicurean gift suddenly arises. Political intrigue, fast-paced action, great characters who develop through their tribulations, weird and often selfish gods, and amazing plot twists make for an absorbing and highly satisfying read.

I had a slow start in the initial few pages in which I struggled to connect with Ada. Once Solenn appeared on the scene, dignified and determined but overwhelmed by her new destiny, I was utterly carried away. I loved Solenn’s quiet competence, her love of her homeland that she might never see again, and especially her passion for horses. The scene in which she protects a horse that’s being abused made me love her forever. After that, Ada’s situation, on the run from mysterious assassins, trying to find a safe haven for her dementia-ridden grandmother, and still grieving the separation from the love of her life, took on fresh color and urgency. I decided the problem was me, not the story, as I could not think of a better approach.

Cato’s depth and storytelling skill shine through as the elements of world-building, character, and story mesh together with dramatic flair.

The cover/plot of A Thousand Recipes for Revenge by Beth Cato sounds amazing. But it dragged and I could not connect with the characters.

I really love food so of course this book excited me. Revenge is also something that excites me so this is a winning combination.

En el primer episodio del podcast que comparto con el gran Borja Bilbao, él habló de Interstellar Megachef y la obra de Lavanya Lakshminarayan nos dio pie a comentar la tendencia actual a que la cocina tenga una importancia fundamental en la trama de algunos libros de género. Pues Beth Cato viene a elevar las apuestas en este sentido, ya que la idea sobre la que gira su obra A Thousand Recipes for Revenge es que la magia de este mundo se basa en la cocina y en el uso de ingredientes mágicos de controvertido origen.


Los magos de este mundo alternativo son chefs y sus habilidades son muy reconocidas por los gobernantes, de hecho en algunos de los reinos están obligados a servir en el ejército bajo pena de cortarles la lengua (la fuente de su poder).

Con esta interesante premisa, el libro se divide en dos puntos de vista femeninos, relacionados ambos como se verá más adelante. Lo que en principio parece una fantasía cozy y de intrigas palaciegas, se convierta más tarde en un relato más oscuro y reivindicativo, de una forma bastante sorprendente.

El primer tercio del libro quizá adolezca de un ritmo un poco lento, mientras se despliegan los personajes y sus relaciones interpersonales, pero resulta también interesante. Una de las protagonistas lleva años ocultando sus capacidades, pero tener que cuidar de su abuela con síntomas claros de demencia senil la obliga a huir de la posición más o menos acomodada que había encontrado. La otra protagonista es moneda de cambio en un casamiento político, pero sin comerlo ni beberlo (¡badum tchas!) verá como todo lo que había dado por sentado en su vida acaba siendo una farsa.

A Thousand Recipes for Revenge tiene también un alegato claro en favor del veganismo, pero creo que el mensaje es poco sutil, por no decir que insiste en él como martillo pilón en Forjado a Fuego. En cuanto al sistema mágico y el panteón de dioses, vamos descubriendo las posibilidades culinarias a golpe de infodump bien por los extractos que encabezan cada capítulo, bien por las propias capacidades de las protagonistas y su experiencia. Así, seremos testigos de cómo unas tortitas dotan de invisibilidad, o un veneno camuflado de manera magnífica en un manjar que luego te disolverá las entrañas.

Es de especial relevancia también el contrabando de estas sustancias mágicas, un lucrativo negocio que influirá también en la trama. Quizá me ha gustado menos el tremendo cliffhanger con el que acaba, sobre todo porque no sé cuándo tendremos disponible el siguiente libro.

A Thousand Recipes for Revenge es una novela que sorprende por su premisa y después por sus giros de guion. Es bastante recomendable, aunque tiene algunos problemas de ritmo y un final abrupto.

A really well thought out unique magic system based around food and gods sets the stage for this new series starter from Beth Cato. Told from two major viewpoints, A Thousand Recipes starts small and explodes into am intriguing fantasy.

Ada is a Chef, able to create amazing dishes seasoned with epicuria(a special magical ingredient), on the run from her past and avoiding being dragged back into royal service. And now it appears an old enemy from her past has returned to hunt down her and some of her fellow allies for some long planned revenge.

Solenn is a princess, on her way to an arranged marriage, not the best fate, but one she is willing to do for her family and her people, when her tongue awakens and she learns she too is a Chef and she can sense when food is poisoned. Not something that should be in her bloodline, and not a particularly expected skill for a princess.

Despite all these interesting plotlines, and some really surprising twists, I wasn't always as engaged as I would have liked. The story dragged a bit here and there. Overall a fun read, definitely something new and I look forward to seeing where it all goes in the next one!

A Thousand Recipes for Revenge by Beth Cato is a perfect fit for readers who crave epic fantasy adventures with a dash of culinary magic, a strong female protagonist, and a richly detailed world of gods, magic, and intrigue, where the lines between loyalty, power, and family are expertly woven together.

I am still new to NetGallery and didn't realize I could leave reviews here too! I left my review on Amazon, Goodreads and social media! Updating it now!

Thank you for an advanced copy and letting me get immersed in your world!

Didn’t have time to read it but it looks interesting and promising so I’m sure I’ll get to it eventually my to be read pile is just getting to big and I’m a mood reader so these arcs are getting hit. So maybe at a later date I’ll finally read it

This was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I have never heard of Beth Cato before but I am now looking forward to her future publications. I love anything magic and culinary so this was a wonderfully pleasant read!

An unusual book from start to finish but one to read and be swept away into a different world. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this ARC

Didnt finish this book. I really wanted to like it. I loved the cover and the synopsis sounded promising... but I didnt like the characters and the pace.

There is so much that goes on and keeps you hooked the entirety of the book. I can honestly say I did not expect this story to take turns the way it did and I am pleasantly surprised.
The ending was a shock to me. It was pretty dense/complicated at the beginning as the world building is happening because it is kinda given to you in a big bundle rather than slowly, but once you get past that, the story was really well done and beautifully fleshed out.