Thanks Touchstone and netgalley for this ARC.

Danger, passion, love- everything I love in a book plus set in ancient Rome!

An extraordinary and totally engaging book, we follow a young slave with an immense cooking talent teaming up with the historically renown gourmand, Apicius in Ancient Rome. Rivalries are fierce, and family resentments engender betrayal and murder. The plight of being subservient to cruel and unthinking masters is not ladled on too thick - for the man telling us his story, it is the way of the world. We meet the great families of Rome, and the tragic Apicaa, Apicius' daughter, falls in with the wrong important man and all is lost. Suicide is an option and we witness some of the characters we love resorting to it. Extremely well done, moving and unputdownable.

I’m really on an Ancient Rome kick. After reading Confessions of Young Nero by Margaret George, I went looking for something juicy to follow up. I was not disappointed by Crystal King’s debut historical fiction.

The story follows the slave Thrasius, bought by the disgustingly rich Roman aristocrat Apicius to run his kitchen. Apicius is an already famous gourmand, and he wants to climb to the top of Roman culinary society by becoming an advisor to the Roman Emperor. Willing to go to any expense and any excess to achieve his goal, the book follows Thrasius and Apicius across a sweep of decades.

King has done a masterful job in her debut work. As with any book about Ancient Rome, the drama is high and the casual violence and cruelty is breathtaking. The world occupied by Thrasius and Apicus is vividly wrought, with a great deal of attention paid to historical accuracy. While Thrasius and his fellow slaves are fictional (identities of Roman slaves are understandably shrouded in the historical record), Apicius and his family (and other high-born Romans in this book) were all real people. Apicius himself is credited with the creation of a series of cookbooks, some of which still survive today.

King carefully crafts her major characters, giving them a multifaceted existence which lends complexity and humanity to the story. King also does a wonderful job weaving a number of disparate historical threads together into a coherent story. The span of decades allows the reader to watch as the characters grow and develop.

Any fan of historical fiction will enjoy this book. King has a wonderful (and rare) talent for blending the historical and fictional aspects of the book together, providing needed background without sacrificing pace. This is a fine drama, and should appeal to a wide variety of tastes.

An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

FEAST OF SORROW swept me up and into another time in the best possible way. Not much of an historian nor a foodie (though I do love to eat), this isn't a book that would normally catch my interest, but I LOVED this story. Crystal King's writing is spectacular and her characters beautifully developed.

While being propelled through the story, I learned so much and felt like I had strolled through ancient Rome and Italy alongside Thrasius and Apicius and the others. Full of humanity and an incredible glimpse into another era, I highly recommend FEAST OF SORROW.

Feast of Sorrow

A novel of ancient Rome by Chrystal King

Marcus Gavius Apicius was a Roman of the Patrician class who lived from early in the reign of Augustus Caesar to well into the reign of Tiberius. According to historians of the era, he hosted huge banquets and was incredibly wealthy. However, it is a 4th Century collection of recipes attributed to him, De Re Coquinaria, that sets him apart from others of his time and class. It is the oldest cookbook in existence.

It is of a few historical anecdotes, the cookbook and the great events and personalities of the times in which Apicius lived that the author has woven “Feast of Sorrow.”

As the story opens, in the summer of 26 B.C., Thrasius relates how he awaited his fate in the slave market at Baiae. He prays that he go to someone who will not misuse him. It is only because he is a trained, and highly talented, “coquus,” or cook, that he finds himself for sale. The beast of a man who owned him previously finally realized that his skills in the kitchen meant that he is worth a lot of money. Into that hot, dusty slave pen steps Apicius. There, coaxed by the slave master’s honeyed words, and driven by an overweening desire for fame, he buys Thrasius for an enormous amount of money. He hopes that Thrasius is key to his ambition of becoming the culinary advisor to Caesar.

Plunged into the leadership of his new master’s kitchen Thrasius is tasked with making the lavish banquets that Apicius is enamored of even more famous and desirable. It is a task at which he succeeds brilliantly.

A move to Rome means greater exposure and Thrasius’s skills mean greater fame for Apicius, but greater danger too. The world of Imperial Rome has denizens that know nothing of kindness, mercy, or morality. So begins their journey together.

"Feast of Sorrow" is a brilliantly written story. It is told with clarity, awash with scintillating characters and filled with scenes that will bring joy to your heart, then smash it to bits. The sacrifices that Apicius will make in pursuit of his goal are soul crushing. Never before have I read a book with so apt a title. There are scenes here that will haunt you for days.

Many accomplished writers have heaped praise on this book and the author, to which I can only say, "Amen." I strongly recommend this novel.

I have read several historical novels about this period, as well a bit of the actual history of the Roman Empire, so I avidly grabbed the opportunity to be one of the first to read “Feast of Sorrow.” Many thanks to Simon & Schuster along with NetGalley for lending me an eGalley of this novel in exchange for this review.

There have been few books that have caught my attention, and beckoned me to keep reading, but Feast of Sorrow: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Crystal King did so. Her book is a captivating tale that centers around Apicus, a wealthy Roman, and his cook Thrasius. Apicus purchases Thrasius as a slave as he was looking for the best coquus (cook) available.

Throughout her book the author references cooking or recipe notes attributed to Apricus allowing the reader to take a peek into the ancient world of Roman cookery. Of course this is fiction, but the fiction is based on fact, as there were cookbooks written by Apicus although they have disappeared into history. As the author writes in her "Author's Note" at the end of the book a cookbook was compiled in the third or fourth century based on Apicus' recipes.

King based her book on actual fact, interweaving characters as needed to complete her story, and backs up her research with aforementioned "Author'a Note" found at the end of her book.

If you love cooking, love ancient history, and love historic fiction you will love this book as much as I did.

Highly recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from Edelweiss

This book was absolutely, hands-down an incredibly stunning piece of literature. I love books that are set in Ancient Rome, but rarely do I find one that does the time period justice. Crystal King utterly nails it. The characters were stunningly developed; those that were historical figures were fleshed out in such a brilliant way. Her facts were well-researched, lending the book a beautiful credibility. The fact that the book follows the same characters for literally a lifetime...I believe the book covers about a 30 year span...had me so invested in the lives of these people that I almost had to mourn when a character was lost. I just couldn't put it down, and haven't been able to get it out of my mind, ever since. A genius work of art from a genius author.

This book is INCREDIBLE. Seriously. Set in Ancient Rome, it blends the scandals of real-life historical figures with the drama of the fictional Thrasius, a slave and companion to famed gourmand Apicius. It's clearly well-researched and richly detailed, making the story engrossing and impossible to put down.

The young cook Thrasius is purchased for an exorbitant sum of money in 1 BC by the wealthy Roman epicure Marcus Gavius Apicius. It proves to be a match made in heaven. Although he’s only nineteen, Thrasius has already made a name for himself as the inventor of mouthwatering delicacies, and Apicius harbours designs to become gastronomic adviser to Caesar himself. Together, master and slave embark on a quest to create the most dazzling and most delicious banquets that Rome has ever seen. It’s a collaboration that will enter history, making Apicius’ meals a byword for luxury, producing the world’s earliest surviving cookbook, and probably its first cookery school.


Based on scattered references in Pliny’s letters and other Roman writings, King has put together a tale of two men bound together in a common goal: to tickle Rome’s tastebuds. She begins each chapter with recipes adapted from Apicius’ On Cookery, and throughout the novel we’re treated to mouthwatering descriptions of Roman cuisine. It’s definitely not the book to read if you’re feeling hungry, although admittedly culinary tastes have changed in some respects over time. Many people nowadays would relish goose, duck, honey-cakes or suckling pig; I suspect fewer would feel brave enough to sample sow’s vulva, stuffed dormice or the notorious garum fish sauce.

At the heart of the novel lies the unequal relationship between Thrasius and Apicius. In one sense, of course, it’s unequal because Apicius is the master and Thrasius the slave: but there’s a more subtle balance in which Thrasius holds a great deal of power. He’s the one with the gift for cookery, with the imagination to conjure up these delicacies that charm Rome’s jaded palettes. Apicius needs him, desperately. As the heir to an immense fortune, with a passion for entertaining, Apicius is determined to be known as society’s leading host, and that means he needs the best servers, the best entertainers and, above all, the best chef. Thrasius is a precious commodity, and there are rivals out there who would pay good money to get their hands on him. Apicius’ rival, Publius Octavius, will stop at nothing to discredit Apicius and advance his own cause with the Imperial Family, while the Empress Livia is ready to sabotage Apicius’ rise for her own reasons.

Apicius has been warned, via an augury, that his success will rise hand in hand with bad luck. However, his desire to be remembered – to burn the brightest trail across the sky and to leave Rome speaking of him forever – pushes him on to ever more extravagant extremes. From Baiae to Rome, his triclinium must become the talk of the town, and no expense must be spared. But ultimately his success, and that of his family, depends on more than the tantalising delights of Thrasius’ kitchen. We are in the final days of Augustus’ reign, with an heir yet to be decided. Everything is to play for in the lethal bear-pit of Roman politics. And Apicius must find some rising star with whom to associate himself, so that he can come closer to his goal of serving Caesar. It just so happens that one such man is his wife Aelia’s cousin, Sejanus – someone who will come to overshadow Apicius and his family in ways that he can’t even begin to imagine.

This is an appealing book, told in first person by Thrasius and conveying very well the family atmosphere of a Roman household, which included blood relations, slaves and other freed servants. It never quite delves into the level of psychological or political detail which would make it absolutely irresistible to me, but nevertheless it’s a moving story of a man driven by ambition to pursue perfection. But at what cost is that perfection achieved? Now, I knew nothing about Apicius beforehand, beyond the fact his name is attached to the cookery book, and King does a great job of threading together the fragments of information that remain to us (as she explains in her author’s note). Plus, this is a thoroughly enjoyable introductory to Roman cookery, and King gives some suggestions of cookbooks to take the story further. As someone who’s always wanted to have a go at classical or medieval cookery, I might be tempted one day…

An epicure’s delight, this is recommended to anyone looking for an engaging read for the summer, packed with good food, romance and rivalry. A tasty glimpse of Roman decadence at its finest.

For the review, to be published on 12 April 2017, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/04/12/feast-of-sorrow-crystal-king

I really enjoyed the author’s assured writing and the fascinating details of daily Roman life and customs that are woven into the plot – dining customs, religious rituals, rules of hospitality and so on. The focus of the book is the life of Apicius so naturally there are gorgeous descriptions of actual Roman recipes, even if some of the ingredients themselves are not so gorgeous sounding to modern diners. Each section of the book opens with an authentic recipe from the time.

Through the invented character of Thrasius, the cook, the author enables the reader to get up close and personal with the real-life Apicius. He is vain and single-minded to the point of selfishness and, as Thrasius remarks, ‘apt to assume the world revolved around him’. However, one cannot help admiring Apicius' passion for food and for seeking out new ingredients and taste experiences. Unfortunately, along the way, he creates some powerful enemies although those closest to him show absolute loyalty to the end. Apicius’ story is one of ambition bringing success but with tragic consequences for himself and those around him.

As well as Apicius, well-known figures from Roman history feature - Livia, Sejanus, Ovid and Tiberius Caesar – feature prominently in the plot. Political rivalries and the jockeying for position, power and influence are played out through the medium of food at elaborate banquets featuring the choicest and most expensive ingredients. It’s a game of gastronomic one-upmanship but one with dangerous consequences.

I really enjoyed Feast of Sorrow which should appeal to fans of historical fiction, cookery or Roman history.

I received an advance reader copy courtesy of NetGalley and publishers, Touchstone, in return for an honest review.

Feast Of Sorrow, by Crystal King, combines two things I am fascinated by: ancient Rome, and food. So it should be no surprise that I found this a very enjoyable novel. Filled with vivid descriptions of a noble household in ancient Rome, this book had lots of excitement too.

What I Liked:

Ancient Rome:

The author goes into the intricate details of what a noble Roman house must have been like. From the food, to the clothes, and even to the furniture, Crystal King seems to have done some thorough research of the time period. But she also must be an accomplished writer because I know that there must have been gaps in her research. She writes everything so well, that I can't tell what is factual, and what is from her imagination!

Characters:

Ancient Rome had several classes of people. This book focuses almost completely on the noble class and the slave class and how they interact with each other.

I found the female characters in this book to be so memorable. I loved the description of Apicius's mother, Popilla, "She looked as if she regularly bathed in unhappiness." This perfectly encapsulated her personality as a thorn in everyone's side.

The matron of the house, Aelia, is a spoiled housewife. But we see her depth as she subtly guides her husband through the tricky politics of the time, all the while submitting to her husband's whims.


Passia is a slave who takes care of Apicata, the noble child of the house. She has no control over her body, as the master of the house can "give" her to anyone for the night. When Thrasius expresses an interest in her, Passia is automatically sent to service the chef. I loved how the relationship between Thrasius and Passia became one of equals.

What I Was Mixed About:

Characters:

The narrator of the story is Thrasius, a slave who is also a masterful chef. He begins his story at the age of nineteen when he is sold into the household of Marcus Gavius Apicius. Apicius ambitiously wants to become the food advisor to Caesar, and he sees Thrasius as the key to his success.



Thrasius is a passive character for most of the novel. Most of the action takes place around him. But I did enjoy his own obsession with ingredients and cooking techniques. He was also kind to other slaves and rather humble about his talents in the kitchen. But, as the book progresses and his friendship with Apicius grows, he makes excuses for his master's cruel behavior. It seemed a little like Stockholm Syndrome to me!

What I didn't Like:

I found it hard to connect with some of the noble characters such as Apicius and his daughter Apicata. Apicius is so obsessed with food that he wastes a fortune seeking only the best ingredients for his table.

Apicata must do her duty and marry someone she doesn't love. She then goes on to say that slaves have it better because they are "free" to love whoever they want. Um, what about all the beatings, forced sex, and the possibility of being sold and sent away at a moments notice? And the fact that any children one had would become slaves as well.

I wondered if the author was trying to say that the noble class was as "trapped" as the slaves were. Sorry, I don't buy that.

Even with this strange correlation, this book was a wonderful historical novel. I loved descriptions of the elaborate feasts, and the attention to detail made this time period come alive for me as a reader.

I received an ARC from NetGalley which I saw on Twitter for an honest review. It was an era I enjoy a lot so I requested it.I give it more than 4 stars maybe 4.25- 4.5 which is great for a first novel.

The story devolves around Marcus Gavius Apicius, a Gourmand, who a real person that we know a fair amount about. Thrassius, his kitchen slave, the main character was fictional, as are his contemporaries. Passia,his love who he eventually marries and Sotas, his long time friend were fictional also. Will there be any sequel? That would be very fine - if so I am sure that the fictional characters will acquire more depth.

Apicius and Apicata ( who possibly was not his daughter but this version makes it so) were real characters we heard about in other Roman Annals like Seneca. Tacitus said that Sejanus, also real "Disposed of his virtue at a price to Apicius, a rich man"

The author is fond of cooking ( which I'm not, sorry) and mentions that Sally Grainger's "Cooking With Apicius" a 2006, is a favorite of hers. Food lovers will like this book! I am a lover of Anceint Rome an I like it quite well and look forward to the author's next outing

Loved this! I love learning something while reading a historical fiction book and I really felt like that happened here. the setting and characters were vibrant and really felt like they jumped off the page. Not to mention the food, my mouth was watering at points! A wonderful story set upon a rich background that really spoke to the reader

Thanks Touchstone and netgalley for this ARC.

This is a awesome book! Can't say enough to do it justice. If you love reading then you'll love it.

This was a really great book, but it definitely would have benefited from more, more, more! I guess I just want all books about ancient Rome to be more epic (à la Colleen McCullough), and this one especially so because it spanned such a long time period. I loved getting a view at the life of a slave (albeit a pretty well-respected, skilled slave), a freeman, and a patrician, rather than the lives of emperors and soldiers that we usually see. The details of running a household and kitchen compared to the details of running a military campaign were just fascinating as well - the foods sounded so exotic but pedestrian, and I would love to take a time traveling trip to Apicius's dining table. And that was another thing - the mix of obvious historical research (Apicius was a real person) with well-reasoned filling in of the blanks (his slave Thrasius is probably 100% conjecture) was very solid and made for excellent reading. I really don't know how to describe this delightful, immersive book. I was simply transported. An easy 4 stars if it had 200 pages more! :)

Feast of Sorrow is a fantastic work of historical fiction. Wealthy Apicius wants to be the gastronomic advisor to Caesar. He buys Thrasius, a slave, who is an inspired cook. And the story takes off from there! Crystal King has not only fleshed out a little known story of the man who created the first cook book, she immerses you in the world of ancient Rome, with all it's glories and dangers. Politics, greed, love, violence, tragedy - it's all there. Excellent, excellent, excellent book! Many thanks to the Netgalley, the author, and Touchstone for allowing me to read an ARC of this gem. 4.5 stars!