Cooking Up Magick
The Dell Chronicles Book One
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Pub Date Oct 13 2026 | Archive Date Feb 15 2027
Holly Bernabe | Geek House Press
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Description
She only wanted to travel the world—now she has to save it.
Paisley Dell is a halfling chef with a simple dream: learn to cook foreign cuisines and bring warmth to the world one meal at a time. But her peaceful culinary quest derails the moment she stumbles upon a talking cat, meets a dragon in disguise, and unleashes magick no one has wielded in five centuries. Now an ancient sorcerer wants her dead.
Paisley and her new friends—a pair of loyal dwarves, a wandering high elf, and an honorable half orc who believes their fates are intertwined—race against the shadow of a rising war.
As the sorcerer’s assassin draws closer, Paisley must navigate sieges, secrets, and her bewildering new powers… all while trying to protect the people she loves.
She never asked to be a hero. She just wanted to cook—but Cooking Up Magick is exactly what destiny’s recipe calls for.
Legends and Lattes meets The Lord of the Rings. Cozy fantasy warmth meets epic fantasy stakes in a story where kindness, love, and community aren't weaknesses to overcome, but the very strengths that win wars.
- Found Family
- Strong Female Protagonist
- Characters You Want to Hang Out With
- Culinary Fantasy
- Secretive Cat Companion
- Slow Burn Romance
- Sorcerer Villain
- Dragons, Wyverns, & Murdercats
A Note From the Publisher
Includes map, pronunciation guide, glossary, and cast of characters.
Advance Praise
“Bernabe builds the novel around an immensely likable heroine whose warmth, curiosity, and instinct to care for others give the sprawling adventure its heart… Rich worldbuilding, distinctive cultures, dangerous creatures, and escalating political tensions broaden the initially cozy premise into epic territory. Though the large cast and abundant lore make for a dense journey, Bernabe keeps friendship, courage, and compassion firmly at its center. Lovers of cozy fantasy, culinary adventures, and character-driven epic fantasy will find much to savor.”
— Bookview review, given the “Bookview Review Five Stars” badge
“H.L. Bernabe's COOKING UP MAGICK: The Dell Chronicles (Book One) combines a distinctive found-family voice and genuine emotional stakes with an ensemble cast that never loses its footing.”
— IndieReader book review, given the “Indie Reader Approved” badge
“Bernabe’s world is a pleasure both to discover and to spend time in. The cast vows to stand against evil, and Bernabe does not shy away from battles, magical confrontations, the consequences of violence, or a cliffhanger ending. Still, this series starter is hearteningly attentive to the daily lives that the heroes must protect: kitchens, recipes, travel, and daily labor.”
— booklife, by Publishers Weekly
Marketing Plan
Marketing Plan:
• Email Newsletter: An engaged subscriber base of 1,300+ readers, with an open rate of 30%+ and a 10% click-to-open rate--above industry benchmarks--ensuring high-impact, direct promotion for launch announcements, exclusive content, and pre-order pushes.
• Street Team: Recruitment opens September 2026, building a dedicated group of early readers and advocates to generate word-of-mouth buzz, early reviews, and social proof ahead of release.
• ARC Outreach & Review Generation: Distributing advance copies to generate early reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, and other major platforms to establish social proof at launch.
• Author Collaborations: Cross-promotion with fellow authors through newsletter swaps and joint giveaways to reach adjacent readerships.
• Book Influencer & Blogger Partnerships: Coordinating with book bloggers and Bookstagram/BookTok influencers for coverage in the weeks surrounding release.
• Social Media Campaign: Ongoing content across Instagram, Facebook, Threads, etc. to build visibility and connect with readers.
• Paid Advertising: Targeted ad campaigns (e.g., Amazon Ads) to expand reach beyond the current audience.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798987119020 |
| PRICE | 5.99 |
| PAGES | 426 |
Links
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Average rating from 7 members
Featured Reviews
Sarah M, Bookseller
Cooking Up Magick was the perfect mix of cozy and epic fantasy. I was a bit skeptical that those two would combine well in one novel, but this book proves it can be done. Paisley is such a perfect main character. I loved watching her grow into her own and learn what drove her. Whipclaw was so well done and I enjoyed her wit and demeanor. The entire band of characters in this book will have you laughing out loud and enjoying a good time as well as get your heart racing in the tense moments. Some tears will be shed along the way. I loved that the worldbuilding was as you went and did not feel at all like an infodump. This realm works so well.
If you loved Legends and Lattes, the Hobbit, or similar books you will love this one! It blends the cozy fantasy of such a kind hearted halfling who wants to cook new recipies in her inn with the adventure of the Hobbit in such a way you will be wanting more. I can not wait to see where the Dell Chronicles take us!
Thank you Holly Bernabe and Geek House Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are solely mine.
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