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The Deadly Royal Recipe
Duckbill Books presents The Deadly Royal Recipe: Mix one lonely princess with a bunch of school friends and a little boy; add a top secret Recipe Masterbook, lots of exotic food, a villainous raja and his even more villainous son; garnish it with action, adventure, car-chases and elephant rides; cook it all to perfection with a fast paced plot … what you get is a wacky, racy adventure, which will have you burping in satisfaction!
- GenresFiction
256 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 24, 2017
Originally posted on my blog:
www.facebook.com/TheBookChief
I was introduced to Ranjit Lal (his books, I mean!) last year through his latest book 'Our Nana Was A Nutcase'. I LOVED it and immediately scouted for more of his books, which is how I chanced upon The Deadly Royal Recipe (henceforth referred to as TDRR)
TDRR is the story of the Babblers, a trio of smart, confident, friendly, chatterbox girls- mother hen Yogita, feisty Ragini and food-loving, fun Lana. One fine day, their class ar school gets a new student- the lovely, dimple-cheeked, red-haired Zafira, princess of Kamargarh. The Maharaja of Kamargarh obviously doesn't rule over anything or anyone anymore, but the Kamargarhs are still a fabulously rich family....with a huge marble palace set amid hundreds of acres of wild, uncultivated land, full of forests, meadows, streams etc. Their garage is filled with more than hundred vintage luxury cars. They even have a whole huge national park them that adjoins their palace!
But despite all this privilege and wealth, the Kamargarhs are warm, generous, down-to-earth. The pride of the family is not their riches, but their recipes- generations of Kamargarh family members are born with a keen foodie sense. They all are trained to cook since childhood (even the men) and for generations, they have been developing new and unbelievably delicious recipes, only the best of which get recorded in the family's Masterbook. This Masterbook is the most prized possession, more precious than all the race horses and cars and antiques that they own. It is so precious, that it is written in a code that only select Kamargarhs can read. And is protected against culinary enemies and covetous frenemies by secret ways and means! And there is no dearth of such enemies- for the Kamargarhs host a gala annual Feast for hundreds and thousands of invitees- but these invitees are 'regular' folks, not VIPs. It is a Kamargarhi tradition to share their fabulously inventive food with normal, hardworking folk, and many rich and important actors, politicians, socialites etc. have been turned down politely when they tried to wangle an invite. So there are many bruised egos who desire to bring harm to the house of Kamargarh!
Zafira has inherited not just her father's love for cooking and his finely tuned palate, but also his warmth, loyalty and bravery. So she fits right in at school with the Babblers despite never having attended school before. The girls, accompanied by Yogita's younger brother Barfi, hang about together, play together and even spend a lovely day at the Kamargarh estate- fishing, riding, playing, and eating scrumptious food. But the day is marred for Barfi, when he unwittingly overhears a nasty, dangerous goon threatening the Chhote Maharaja, Zafira's dashing younger uncle.
And the matter comes to a head on a camping trip that the kids go on with the Chhote Maharaja as their chaperone- they get kidnapped from their remote campsite! They are taken to a scary, unending underground shaft where, about 50 feet in, there is just a narrow ledge all around the shat to sit on. One false move can mean tumbling down the shaft, never to come back up and dying of starvation. The kids' clever escape from the death shaft, their recapture, and how they eventually outsmart their powerful captors by quick thinking and careful planning, forms the rest of the book. Will not give away any spoilers here, but it is a hair-raising adventure that sparkles with the kids' bravery and resourcefulness . Zafira, particularly, is brave and fierce and loyal and fiendishly clever...a true princess who stays calm in the face of real danger and tries to protect her friends before thinking of herself!
I liked the book's plot and loved its treatment- books laced with humour and fun and stuffed with delicious food are my particular favourites! A sharper edit would have made the book that much more succinct and punchy, but this is a minor quibble. Otherwise the book is perfect for a lazy read during the long, hot, sunlit days of summer vacation!
Recommended for kids between 10-12 years.
www.facebook.com/TheBookChief
I was introduced to Ranjit Lal (his books, I mean!) last year through his latest book 'Our Nana Was A Nutcase'. I LOVED it and immediately scouted for more of his books, which is how I chanced upon The Deadly Royal Recipe (henceforth referred to as TDRR)
TDRR is the story of the Babblers, a trio of smart, confident, friendly, chatterbox girls- mother hen Yogita, feisty Ragini and food-loving, fun Lana. One fine day, their class ar school gets a new student- the lovely, dimple-cheeked, red-haired Zafira, princess of Kamargarh. The Maharaja of Kamargarh obviously doesn't rule over anything or anyone anymore, but the Kamargarhs are still a fabulously rich family....with a huge marble palace set amid hundreds of acres of wild, uncultivated land, full of forests, meadows, streams etc. Their garage is filled with more than hundred vintage luxury cars. They even have a whole huge national park them that adjoins their palace!
But despite all this privilege and wealth, the Kamargarhs are warm, generous, down-to-earth. The pride of the family is not their riches, but their recipes- generations of Kamargarh family members are born with a keen foodie sense. They all are trained to cook since childhood (even the men) and for generations, they have been developing new and unbelievably delicious recipes, only the best of which get recorded in the family's Masterbook. This Masterbook is the most prized possession, more precious than all the race horses and cars and antiques that they own. It is so precious, that it is written in a code that only select Kamargarhs can read. And is protected against culinary enemies and covetous frenemies by secret ways and means! And there is no dearth of such enemies- for the Kamargarhs host a gala annual Feast for hundreds and thousands of invitees- but these invitees are 'regular' folks, not VIPs. It is a Kamargarhi tradition to share their fabulously inventive food with normal, hardworking folk, and many rich and important actors, politicians, socialites etc. have been turned down politely when they tried to wangle an invite. So there are many bruised egos who desire to bring harm to the house of Kamargarh!
Zafira has inherited not just her father's love for cooking and his finely tuned palate, but also his warmth, loyalty and bravery. So she fits right in at school with the Babblers despite never having attended school before. The girls, accompanied by Yogita's younger brother Barfi, hang about together, play together and even spend a lovely day at the Kamargarh estate- fishing, riding, playing, and eating scrumptious food. But the day is marred for Barfi, when he unwittingly overhears a nasty, dangerous goon threatening the Chhote Maharaja, Zafira's dashing younger uncle.
And the matter comes to a head on a camping trip that the kids go on with the Chhote Maharaja as their chaperone- they get kidnapped from their remote campsite! They are taken to a scary, unending underground shaft where, about 50 feet in, there is just a narrow ledge all around the shat to sit on. One false move can mean tumbling down the shaft, never to come back up and dying of starvation. The kids' clever escape from the death shaft, their recapture, and how they eventually outsmart their powerful captors by quick thinking and careful planning, forms the rest of the book. Will not give away any spoilers here, but it is a hair-raising adventure that sparkles with the kids' bravery and resourcefulness . Zafira, particularly, is brave and fierce and loyal and fiendishly clever...a true princess who stays calm in the face of real danger and tries to protect her friends before thinking of herself!
I liked the book's plot and loved its treatment- books laced with humour and fun and stuffed with delicious food are my particular favourites! A sharper edit would have made the book that much more succinct and punchy, but this is a minor quibble. Otherwise the book is perfect for a lazy read during the long, hot, sunlit days of summer vacation!
Recommended for kids between 10-12 years.
January 30, 2020
Last night I read “The Deadly Royal Recipe” by Ranjit Lal and I am impressed and disappointed at the same time. Mr Lal’s felicity with words is quite remarkable and his story is fast-paced, hilarious, and unputdownable. But while I thoroughly enjoyed the madcap adventures of the young protagonists—a bunch of schoolchildren of unspecified age, but presumably teenagers—I am disappointed that I cannot recommend it for the middle-grade age group.
The reason I read this book was because my teenage daughter, who had borrowed it from the middle-grade section of the school library, handed it to me, opened at a page which had a paragraph starting “F*****g drunken maniac”, and asked me if the book was okay for middle graders (specifically her younger brother), as recommended on the back cover. And no, the word doesn’t have asterisks in the book.
I hear that some people have called the book an Indian version of the Famous Five. Please do not do that; it gives the wrong picture. Enid Blyton didn’t use profanities in her books.
A children’s writer has a huge responsibility and so does a children’s publisher. It is disappointing that a writer of Mr Lal’s stature could allow the word to enter his children’s book—a book for middle grades, according to the age rating on the back cover (and various children’s book sites have listed the recommended age as 10+ while amazon.in recommends it for 9-12 years). It is disappointing that a writer of Mr Lal’s calibre could not find a single word to use in place of the one that middle-grade teachers are desperately trying to combat and against which parents are fighting a losing battle.
It is equally disappointing that the editors at Duckbill did not suggest an alternative. No children’s editor worth their salt would okay the use of “F*****g”, particularly without asterisks, in a “Middle Reader” book. This is a word that my 13-year-old thought out of place in a children’s book, that made her hesitate to offer the book to her younger sibling, yet a presumably seasoned children’s editor at a very well-known brand in children’s publishing found it acceptable! The irony of it!
When a parent buys a book for a child or when a school buys a book for its library, and that book is published by a reputed children’s publisher and certified as suitable reading for middle school, there is a certain trust, a surety if you will, that the book will not contain unsuitable adult language.
Yes, children do get influenced by what they read. The vocabulary of a child who loves reading is shaped to a large extent by what they read, and you never know what might stick in an impressionable young mind.
Just because of that one word, I have not approved the book for my 10.5-year-old, and it is an otherwise delightful book that he would love reading. What’s that you say, Duckbill? I should chill and let him read it? It occurs just once in the book you say, Mr Lal? After all, it reflects reality! Big deal—many middle graders say it already, right, so we should encourage its use; we should teach it to all the children who still haven’t learnt it, yay! All right, so let my son read this book, and when he begins to parrot “F*****g” (for he loves repeating exclamatory words and phrases that he sees in books) I’ll just tell him he shouldn’t use the word. And when he says, “Why, Mama, what does f******g mean?” and goes to look it up in the dictionary, I’ll direct him to you, Duckbill and Mr Lal.
What’s next?
“Motherf*****g”?
Please have your answer ready.
Originally posted on my blog: https://shivaniadib.wordpress.com/202...
The reason I read this book was because my teenage daughter, who had borrowed it from the middle-grade section of the school library, handed it to me, opened at a page which had a paragraph starting “F*****g drunken maniac”, and asked me if the book was okay for middle graders (specifically her younger brother), as recommended on the back cover. And no, the word doesn’t have asterisks in the book.
I hear that some people have called the book an Indian version of the Famous Five. Please do not do that; it gives the wrong picture. Enid Blyton didn’t use profanities in her books.
A children’s writer has a huge responsibility and so does a children’s publisher. It is disappointing that a writer of Mr Lal’s stature could allow the word to enter his children’s book—a book for middle grades, according to the age rating on the back cover (and various children’s book sites have listed the recommended age as 10+ while amazon.in recommends it for 9-12 years). It is disappointing that a writer of Mr Lal’s calibre could not find a single word to use in place of the one that middle-grade teachers are desperately trying to combat and against which parents are fighting a losing battle.
It is equally disappointing that the editors at Duckbill did not suggest an alternative. No children’s editor worth their salt would okay the use of “F*****g”, particularly without asterisks, in a “Middle Reader” book. This is a word that my 13-year-old thought out of place in a children’s book, that made her hesitate to offer the book to her younger sibling, yet a presumably seasoned children’s editor at a very well-known brand in children’s publishing found it acceptable! The irony of it!
When a parent buys a book for a child or when a school buys a book for its library, and that book is published by a reputed children’s publisher and certified as suitable reading for middle school, there is a certain trust, a surety if you will, that the book will not contain unsuitable adult language.
Yes, children do get influenced by what they read. The vocabulary of a child who loves reading is shaped to a large extent by what they read, and you never know what might stick in an impressionable young mind.
Just because of that one word, I have not approved the book for my 10.5-year-old, and it is an otherwise delightful book that he would love reading. What’s that you say, Duckbill? I should chill and let him read it? It occurs just once in the book you say, Mr Lal? After all, it reflects reality! Big deal—many middle graders say it already, right, so we should encourage its use; we should teach it to all the children who still haven’t learnt it, yay! All right, so let my son read this book, and when he begins to parrot “F*****g” (for he loves repeating exclamatory words and phrases that he sees in books) I’ll just tell him he shouldn’t use the word. And when he says, “Why, Mama, what does f******g mean?” and goes to look it up in the dictionary, I’ll direct him to you, Duckbill and Mr Lal.
What’s next?
“Motherf*****g”?
Please have your answer ready.
Originally posted on my blog: https://shivaniadib.wordpress.com/202...
October 27, 2017
Indian in its setting but felt very Western in tone and approach. Like a desi version of Enid Blyton that I maybe would have liked if I'd been younger. One thing that I hated though, all the 'good' characters were good-looking and the evil ones, ugly. Isn't it time we stopped those stereotypes?!
Read
July 8, 2020It is a good book. Especially, the recipe at the back of the book is great.
Ingredients:
1. One lonely princess
2. Three school friends
3. One little brother
4. One villainous raja
5. One even more villainous son
6. One top-secret recipe master book
Method:
Blend the lonely princess thoroughly with the friends, brother, raja, and son. Mix it in with the master book. Stir in lots of exotic food. Cook it all to perfection with a fast-paced plot. Garnish with action, adventure, car chases, and elephant rides.
My impression of the book is that the author did a very good job of developing characters. I like Zafira, the princess, the most.
Ingredients:
1. One lonely princess
2. Three school friends
3. One little brother
4. One villainous raja
5. One even more villainous son
6. One top-secret recipe master book
Method:
Blend the lonely princess thoroughly with the friends, brother, raja, and son. Mix it in with the master book. Stir in lots of exotic food. Cook it all to perfection with a fast-paced plot. Garnish with action, adventure, car chases, and elephant rides.
My impression of the book is that the author did a very good job of developing characters. I like Zafira, the princess, the most.
December 6, 2015
The book 'The Deadly Royal Recipe'by Ranjit Lal is an extraordinary mix of delicious topics.Be prepared to have your mouth watering while reading this book.After all, the book's called the deadly royal recipe.the tastes of numerous exotic foods have been described so marvellously. A lonely princess named Zafira,who doesn't start school from the beginning,makes friends with a group of 3 girls who are also known as 'The Babblers'and a little boy named Yogesh a.k.a Burfi.Zafira's father, who is the maharajah of Kamargarh, is very interested in cooking and sends his chefs all around the world to gather recipes.He modifies these recipes and uses them to cook delicious food for an annual feast. But one day when the 4 friends are on a trip they are kidnapped.Who's behind this?Do their parents find out?Do they escape?The reader will enjoy scrumptious twists and turns,humour and loads and loads of adventure.The suspense in this book is of the highest order.In each of chapter,there are many changes in the setting.One paragraph is left in suspense is continued in the one after next.Ranjit Lal has definitely used a secret recipe to write this finger-licking good book.I totally suggest this book to everybody because it'll have you jumping up to know what comes next.
April 27, 2015
The Deadly Royal Recipe by Ranjit Lal attracts a casual observer with its attractive cover – where a “recipe” is presented as a comic strip.
Zafira, a feisty, lonely princess, homeschooled all along, joins school with a lot of apprehension about being accepted. The Babblers gang consisting of Yogita, Ragini and the ever-hungry Lana take to her easily.
The children, along with Zafira, the Chhote Maharaj and their convoy head to the Karmargarh National park for camping over a weekend. At night, when they are asleep, they are kidnapped.
Who is the villainous raja who kidnaps the children? Why? How do they escape? What is the Recipe Masterbook? Why is it important?
Read this fast-paced adventure complete with car-chases, elephant rides, a lunatic raja and his semi-lunatic son, not to mention the hunger-inducing and drool-triggering descriptions of food to find out.
For a complete review, check PlusMinus'n'More
Zafira, a feisty, lonely princess, homeschooled all along, joins school with a lot of apprehension about being accepted. The Babblers gang consisting of Yogita, Ragini and the ever-hungry Lana take to her easily.
The children, along with Zafira, the Chhote Maharaj and their convoy head to the Karmargarh National park for camping over a weekend. At night, when they are asleep, they are kidnapped.
Who is the villainous raja who kidnaps the children? Why? How do they escape? What is the Recipe Masterbook? Why is it important?
Read this fast-paced adventure complete with car-chases, elephant rides, a lunatic raja and his semi-lunatic son, not to mention the hunger-inducing and drool-triggering descriptions of food to find out.
For a complete review, check PlusMinus'n'More
July 22, 2013
A fast paced book featuring vintage cars, heritage recipes, one evil maharaja and his evil son, a princess, her new friends, some yummy dishes, car chases and a plan that doesn't go wrong. A thoroughly enjoyable read!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews