The Book of Perilous Dishes | Blog Tour & Review

Title: The Book of Perilous Dishes

Author: Doina Rusti

Genre: Historical Fanfast

Publisher: Neem Tree Press

Pages: 260

Release Date: 3 March 2022

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Hello fellow booklovers and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Book of Perilous Dishes by Doina Rusti, a richly detailed historical fantasy that’s full of whimsy, dark magic and based on historical events. It’s a feast for the imagination that will no doubt stay with readers long after it’s finished.

I also wanted to say a massive thank you to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me on this tour and Neem Tree Press for the arc.

Synopsis

Bucharest, 1798.

A slave-cook lives in Bucharest, sought after by everyone. His sublime cooking satisfies even the sophisticated tastes of the Prince, who lays claim to him, whisking him away to the Palace.

However, no one knows that the cook has in his possession a witch’s recipe book, the Book of Perilous Dishes. His food can bring about damaging sincerity, forgetfulness, the gift of prediction, or hysterical laughter. And the rightful owner of this book is fourteen-year-old Pâtca, an adolescent initiated in the occult arts.

Pâtca comes to Bucharest, to her uncle, Cuviosu Zaval, to recover this book, but she finds him dead, murdered, and the Book of Perilous Dishes has disappeared without a trace. All that Zaval has left her is a strange map...

The Book of Perilous Dishes follows the story of Pâtca, who uses her powers to avenge the death of her uncle and retrieve a magical recipe book left in his keeping which has been stolen by Silica the cook. Travelling from Romania to France and on to Germany to do so, Pâtca’s family’s true past and powers are revealed, as is her connection to Silica the cook…

Review

I really enjoyed reading this page turning historical, I’ve not read very many translated books (most were well known 19th C classics) so I was very excited to read such a wonderfully whimsical (though at times dark) historical fantasy, from one of Romania’s celebrated authors.

I loved the world building,blending the backdrop of Bucharest and its tumultuous history with elements of magic and folklore to create an atmospheric and adventure filled story that spans decades and several countries before its charmingly satisfying conclusion.

The recipes were also a favourite of mine, which were expertly woven into the story. On more than one occasion I found myself immersed in their vividly detailed descriptions, anecdotes and folktales connected to each dish —seeing the effects of each dish (and the chaos that ultimately ensues) was also enjoyable, I genuinely didn’t want to stop reading from the eponymous cook book.

Pâtca is our protagonist throughout the book (which is told primarily in the first person) and follows her on two timelines, in 1798-when she first sets foot in Bucharest from Brasov and thirty years later in 1829, recalling her memories of the events that unfolded. I really liked her straightforward narration of events but there were a few moments (and events) that I did grow a little overwhelmed, with info reveals and the numerous cast of characters. I do admit, however, that it worked perfectly to capture the chaotic atmosphere of the city and Pâtca’s own overwhelmed thoughts and feelings in the first days after her arrival.

The expansive cast of memorable and eccentric background & supporting characters was honestly really intriguing and I was impressed by the skill in creating characters just eccentric enough to remember but mysterious enough that they’re occasional reappearance and interconnected story arcs were a pleasant surprise.

Overall, a magically engaging page-turner that historical fiction lovers are bound to delight in.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

About The Author

Doina Rusti is among the most important contemporary Romanian writers and is widely appreciated for the epic force, originality, and erudition of her novels. Award winning and translated into many languages, she has written ten novels, including The Phantom in the Mill (2008), The Phanariot Manuscript (2015), and The Book of Perilous Dishes (2017). Doina lives in Bucharest and is a university professor and screenwriter.

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