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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It is was recommended as a cozy fantasy and it truly delivered at that. The magic system is so interesting and I found most the characters verry loveble. Fin truly is a funny guy in many ways and I am going to go on to the next book right away!
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNFed at 60%
I'm reminding myself that a pretty cover isn't enough to keep reading a book that I'm clearly not enjoying.
I had such high hopes for this particular novel and I'm honestly devastated by the experience I've had. This book came out in 2022, during the emergence of cosy fantasy genres thanks to the cottagecore girlies on tiktok, and so this book happened to skyrocket into popularity for being one of those rare, cosy reads that was also a romantic comedy, and I think it had the disappointing glamour of seeming too good to be true.
By all appearances, this book seemed like the perfect formula for a good read. A newcomer in the royal castle arrives and is announced to be the royal cook. They have an air of mystery about them and they follow peculiar habits that shrouds them further into mystery and reproach. He's a bit unlikable, but has an undeniable talent in creating food that is simply divine. Throughout the series we are introduced to a variety of characters in the royal court who directs our royal cook into all sorts of mishaps and meetings and perhaps learns about love and trust along the way. It certainly felt like at times like an old fantasy novel by the likes of Lloyd Alexander or Patricia Wrede with lighthearted characters and a slight mystery to solve.
So why didn't this book work? It seems like it would be such a delight to read!
1. I believe this book's major mistake comes from it not being edited enough. This book that boasts well over 400 pages really could be condensed down to 300 pages (or less) and you would lose no substance to the actual plot. With repetitive phrases and sometimes even repetitive scenes I often found myself thinking "Surely, I'm halfway through this book" and would see that I had only read an additional 10 pages from before. I felt like Winnie the Pooh wandering through a fog-infested Hundred Acre Wood, walking in circles and making little to no progress.
2. The humour is a bit immature in its execution. Using crass language as a naming device to make you giggle seems like such a low feat. Like, really, am I truly supposed to find the name Dick Fuks to be funny? It comes off as so insincere and desperate and more so when you try to explain it off with some deep family lore?
3. The romance felt like the author wanted an enemies to lovers, but instead made it more like an instalove. A complete backfire on that plan if you ask me.
4. WHERE WAS MY DECADENT DESCRIPTIONS OF FOOD? I ask. For a book about a royal cook, I found myself disappointed that I read so little about the food the royal cook was making. I want to be salivating through this book and instead my mouth felt like a drought. I'm parched.
5. The author really tried to add critical thinking to this piece with contrived scenes about current issues in our modern world. I fully support making fantasy worlds not racist, misogynist or homophobic, but the way that those issues were handled felt a bit clumsy and sloppy by the author...dare I say performative like the author really wants you to go, "Wow, this book is so progressive, neat!"
One scene in particular I keep thinking about basically goes something like this (paraphrased for your entertainment):
"Fin, I seriously thought you were gay this whole time."
"I'm not gay!" Fin replies, "But that doesn't mean I don't hate gay people. And neither should you because I'm pretty sure I saw you kissing that boy." wink
A weak attempt at activism at best. It's laughable at how often each little adventure circles back to the same sentiment of "See? Isn't Fin so great for being a decent human being when nobody else is? Be more like Fin."
I tried to convince myself that I could step away from this book and come back to it later. But every time I think about it, I realised that there was nothing pulling me back to it other than what I hoped this book could be....and also that stupidly pretty cover. I already know that the romance is inevitably going to happen. The mysteries of the royal cook were revealed almost immediately, and the author would not be able to call themselves a cosy author if they killed off the pregnant queen or her baby....which means there's absolutely no question that said baby will be born hale and hearty.
Cosy reading sometimes misses the point that just because there aren't high stakes doesn't mean there needs to be no stakes.
Anyways. Good luck out there, I commend and celebrate the ones who found something to love in this book. It truly just wasn't meant for me.
I'm reminding myself that a pretty cover isn't enough to keep reading a book that I'm clearly not enjoying.
I had such high hopes for this particular novel and I'm honestly devastated by the experience I've had. This book came out in 2022, during the emergence of cosy fantasy genres thanks to the cottagecore girlies on tiktok, and so this book happened to skyrocket into popularity for being one of those rare, cosy reads that was also a romantic comedy, and I think it had the disappointing glamour of seeming too good to be true.
By all appearances, this book seemed like the perfect formula for a good read. A newcomer in the royal castle arrives and is announced to be the royal cook. They have an air of mystery about them and they follow peculiar habits that shrouds them further into mystery and reproach. He's a bit unlikable, but has an undeniable talent in creating food that is simply divine. Throughout the series we are introduced to a variety of characters in the royal court who directs our royal cook into all sorts of mishaps and meetings and perhaps learns about love and trust along the way. It certainly felt like at times like an old fantasy novel by the likes of Lloyd Alexander or Patricia Wrede with lighthearted characters and a slight mystery to solve.
So why didn't this book work? It seems like it would be such a delight to read!
1. I believe this book's major mistake comes from it not being edited enough. This book that boasts well over 400 pages really could be condensed down to 300 pages (or less) and you would lose no substance to the actual plot. With repetitive phrases and sometimes even repetitive scenes I often found myself thinking "Surely, I'm halfway through this book" and would see that I had only read an additional 10 pages from before. I felt like Winnie the Pooh wandering through a fog-infested Hundred Acre Wood, walking in circles and making little to no progress.
2. The humour is a bit immature in its execution. Using crass language as a naming device to make you giggle seems like such a low feat. Like, really, am I truly supposed to find the name Dick Fuks to be funny? It comes off as so insincere and desperate and more so when you try to explain it off with some deep family lore?
3. The romance felt like the author wanted an enemies to lovers, but instead made it more like an instalove. A complete backfire on that plan if you ask me.
4. WHERE WAS MY DECADENT DESCRIPTIONS OF FOOD? I ask. For a book about a royal cook, I found myself disappointed that I read so little about the food the royal cook was making. I want to be salivating through this book and instead my mouth felt like a drought. I'm parched.
5. The author really tried to add critical thinking to this piece with contrived scenes about current issues in our modern world. I fully support making fantasy worlds not racist, misogynist or homophobic, but the way that those issues were handled felt a bit clumsy and sloppy by the author...dare I say performative like the author really wants you to go, "Wow, this book is so progressive, neat!"
One scene in particular I keep thinking about basically goes something like this (paraphrased for your entertainment):
"Fin, I seriously thought you were gay this whole time."
"I'm not gay!" Fin replies, "But that doesn't mean I don't hate gay people. And neither should you because I'm pretty sure I saw you kissing that boy." wink
A weak attempt at activism at best. It's laughable at how often each little adventure circles back to the same sentiment of "See? Isn't Fin so great for being a decent human being when nobody else is? Be more like Fin."
I tried to convince myself that I could step away from this book and come back to it later. But every time I think about it, I realised that there was nothing pulling me back to it other than what I hoped this book could be....and also that stupidly pretty cover. I already know that the romance is inevitably going to happen. The mysteries of the royal cook were revealed almost immediately, and the author would not be able to call themselves a cosy author if they killed off the pregnant queen or her baby....which means there's absolutely no question that said baby will be born hale and hearty.
Cosy reading sometimes misses the point that just because there aren't high stakes doesn't mean there needs to be no stakes.
Anyways. Good luck out there, I commend and celebrate the ones who found something to love in this book. It truly just wasn't meant for me.
This was, above all, a slow-burn romance book with an element of magic. It had a similar feel to the first season of the Merlin tv show (2008) without the Arthurian legend setting. Just a regular castle in a pseudo-medieval fantasy setting with a touch of domestic whimsy. It was entertaining enough, and the characters were well-written, but I wasn't particularly captivated.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
Oh my if this wasn't the cutest little story? Can't wait to read the next one!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
That was so funny! I laughed my head off. I'll be back to review it!!!