I liked this book a lot! Ada and Solenn are both compelling characters in tough situations, trying to make the best of things. There's a unique magic system tied in with a really interesting set of mythology, which is deeply woven into the cultures in the book. And several big unexpected plot twists! I'm glad there's more of this series. ( )

DNF at 34%

I've been bringing the story along to appointments but never choosing to read it at home when I have other things I can do. Bad sign.

Each chapter is a bit of work with new characters, new info, a new environment then it alternates to another character with the same bits of TMI. When we finally realize how the characters are related, I get a bit excited knowing there will be a reunion eventually. But to get there I am stuck with all the TMI and with pickled fairies, animal abuse (to make magic), human suffering (to make magic), fighting countries... it's not what I'm interested in reading about these days. It's just that I'm not interested in any "wars", "adventures", "action", etc... so if you are interested in these things please don't let it dissuade you. I'm just getting old af and looking for other things to read about.

I do adore the author and I was pumped to get a free copy during a time when I had Amazon Prime but I'm going to let it go. ETA: it has some Tamora Pierce vibes which is a good thing.

Such intricate detail, such originality! I love the way Ms. Cato combines her finer appreciation and understanding of food with consummate storytelling to bring a tale both original and enjoyable. The complexity rivals that of a gourmet meal and makes it ever so difficult to set the book aside for other obligatory matters, like work and sleep. Of course, there is something to be said for being forced to enjoy this tale in carefully measured portions, allowing one to savor the nuances that might be missed in a binge. While magic and food are not a new pairing, A Thousand Recipes for Revenge manages to set its distinctive mark on the trope that stands out against the other examples I have encountered.

Highly recommended! ( )

Thoughts: Previous to reading this book I had read Cato's Clockwork Dagger duology (loved it) and the first two books in her Blood of Earthe series (loved the first book, thought the second book was just okay). I liked this, but did think the beginning was slow. However, the story really picked up in the second half. I usually really enjoy the steampunk elements Cato adds to her story but that wasn't a theme of this book.

This story alternates POV between Ada and Solenn. Ada was a Chef (has magical perception of food called an epicurean gift) in service to the Five Gods, but left that service and went rogue after many years in service to the army. Solenn is a foreign princess that is being married to a prince of Verdania in order to unite the two nations; however things change for her when she finds out she has the magic of a Chef.

This book starts out pretty slow. Ada is fleeing from assassins with her Grand-mere but she doesn't know exactly why they are after her now (after many year of hiding) and starts out by trying to figure out why rogue Chefs are suddenly being targeted. This is a lot of her running from place to place trying to put facts together. Solenn's start is also a bit slow; she is trying to adjust to the new foreign court and befriend both her future husband (who is 14 years old and pretty much a boy still) and his friends. Things get complicated for Solenn when she finds out she has the epicurean gifts of a Chef. It takes a while for these pieces to come together and really get interesting.

I struggled to stay engaged and interested in the first half of the book. I did enjoy the unique magic system and the world-building here but I didn't actually start to enjoy the story until halfway through the book. There are some big reveals halfway through the book and as we learn more about where epicurean (a magical substance) comes from, things start to get really intriguing. The characters were mediocre to me, I didn't really engage with them or care about them that much. This may have been because of the constant POV switching, which broke up the story quite a bit.

This book is hugely politically driven. A lot of page space is given to discussing alliances with other nations and past and potential future wars. I am not huge into reading fantasy that focuses on politics. Again, there are some other interesting elements that come into play later in the book but it was a bit too little to late for me to love this.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I ended up liking this but didn't love it. I am glad I finished it because there are some very intriguing fantasy/magic elements that come into play later in the book. However, the first half of the book was slow for me and I didn't like the political focus. I am on the fence about whether I will continue this series right now. I am leaning towards not continuing it because the first half of this book felt like a chore to get through, but I did enjoy some of the twists revealed in the second half. This also did not include the heavy steampunk themes that I really love Cato for, so that was a bit disappointing. ( )

I've enjoyed this author's books before, so I was eager to read this one. Set in an alternate version of Europe, that's still recognizable for all the players, this story follows a young princess as she's betrothed to a younger prince and discovers that her family isn't exactly as it seems.

This book read like a lush, streaming period drama, full of characters you'll want to love (and some you'll be happy to loathe), and comeuppance aplenty. Filtered throughout the story are snippets from a book from the world talking about cooking, and talk of the food will have your mouth watering. If you enjoy cheese--and who doesn't?--the many varieties which find themselves in this story will have you wishing for your own platter.

The book ends with a good resolution--no cliffhangers here--but certainly ready to pick up next installment when it releases. I can't wait to return to this world. ( )