A review by biblioamory
Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

I received this as an ARC from the publisher. All views expressed are my own. 

Recommend - For those who enjoyed the likes of Food Wars (Shokugeki no Soma), but with less fan service and more gods

Blurb is at the end of the review, for those who aren’t into that sort of thing.    

YA fantasy - FM romance, and plenty of it, no spice

I really enjoyed this one. It was a lot of fun, with a lot of diversity in environment and descriptions throughout. 

Seen through the eyes of Cai, our FMC, we are given a glimpse of what life is like in the Peninsula. Oft looked down upon, and underestimated by, the Continent, Cai sees participating in the Celestial Banquet as an opportunity to further her own ambitions, as well as to uplift the profile of her town. 

We follow her through to the Banquet, meeting the Major Gods, and her competitors. As Cai passes each stage of the Banquet, Lim takes the opportunity to showcase the mythical and fabled ingredients and delicacies of a fantasy China, as well as the venues and creatures through the stylings of the Major Gods. 

The focus on the romantic plot between Cai and the two MMCs was certainly a regular story point throughout. I would argue that it was potentially focused on rather more than the food itself was. Unlike its Food Wars comp, we only loosely read about how each dish is prepared or how it’s put together. 

Nevertheless, the story was a fun romp through a new world and its cuisine. 

Synopsis:

Every 10 or so years, a banquet is prepared for the Major Gods to partake of. The winning team gets the fabled Peaches of Immortality; the losers’ prize is subject to the whims of the gods. Cai is looking for a way to fulfil her dream of opening her own restaurant. 

When word of the next Celestial Banquet spreads, she sets out to join a team and compete for a chance to serve legendary meals to the gods.