Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife

by Deston J. Munden, Matthew Wolf (Narrator)

A heartwarming, magical new novel about an undead orc knight who trades the battlefield for a fresh start in the Necropolis, where opening a restaurant leads to daring adventures, newfound family, and a second chance at life, perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and cozy fantasy tales.

Rottgor is worn out. Literally. Barely held together by dark magic, he has protected the Necropolis for centuries. When he’s forced into retirement, he’s faced with a new challenge: to forge a future guided not by obligation, but by passion.

Following his heart (and stomach), he decides to open a restaurant where the city’s undead and living residents can share food and community. He’s helped in his quest by an unlikely assortment of neighbors, including elves, skeletons, vampires—and a young orphan girl named Astra, whose ancestry, if discovered, could put her and the entire Necropolis in danger. To protect Astra and the life he’s building, Rottgor must face his past and form new alliances built on friendship, loyalty, and love. As comforting as warm pumpkin bread, this gentle fantasy traces how even a dark history can rise into a bright future.

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy, Cozy Fantasy, Fiction, Adult, Science Fiction Fantasy, Food

Audible Audio

First published October 14, 2025

About the author

Deston “D.J.” Munden is a fantasy and science fiction author, living near the Outerbanks of North Carolina. Somewhere in the vague realm of his late twenties and early thirties, he lives with his brother in a small house in the woods where he taught himself how to imagine and write down worlds with orcs, swords, and magic (and sometimes mutants and spaceships). When he’s not writing, he’s playing video games with his best buds, rolling horribly on multisided dice, eating double his weight in food, trying out new recipes, collecting samurai memorabilia and watching as much anime and reading as much manga as humanly possible (sometimes doing more than one of these things at once).

His current work includes the Dargath Chronicles novels and Dusk Mountain Blues, his scifi webseries. He’s a huge fan of the fantasy and science fiction genre, including both the modern and classic works. Nothing he loves more than finding new authors all over the genre and then recommending them to all of his friends (that are willing to listen at this point). This will be his official debut in the fantasy world he has grown up in (at least in his head) his entire life.

Reviews

[Aisvarya (Semi-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Life is more than just fixing your past mistakes."

Publication date - October 14, 2025

When I say this book literally changed my life for the better, I ain't kidding!! It's exactly what I needed - the warm hug & the comforting hand over my shoulder that said "it's okay if you feel stuck at the moment, it's even okay to feel dead inside & to just go over the motions everyday but never let that stop you from believing that you deserve something better or that your life can change." This isn't a quote from the book but it's exactly how I felt when I read this cuz this book literally was the COMFORTING SHOULDER that I needed and it filled me with HOPE!!!!🥺😭

(I'll try to not spoil anything & get to the review right now👇🏻)

What can you expect
🍵Cozy fantasy but you're gonna need some tissues since you'd be ugly crying at multiple points (trust me, I DID!!!!)
🍵Second chance at life
🍵Highlighting the need to live life for yourself over others
🍵Journey of self discovery
🍵Paternal bonds
🍵Found family (one of the best!!!!)
🍵Finding new friends & healing the wounds of the old ones

We follow Rottgor/Razgaif, the undead orc who is offered a second chance at life after serving the Kingdom as the undead knight for centuries, and now he has no idea what to do with his retirement much less believe that he deserves this life. After ruminating for a long time, he decides to follow his heart & reignite his passion for cooking that he had when he was alive centuries ago & we follow him doing just that while also making a lot of new friends, overcoming his self loathing phase, finding his new family, etc.

When I say cozy fantasy, you might expect something so linear & simple but this one's not that!! Even though this book feels like the hot chocolate that warms you during the cold & harsh winter mornings, it's not just warm but is also dark, rich & has a lot of depth in flavor. It's got a wonderful cast of characters who go through troubles of their own (some inner & some caused by external factors aka people🥲), and also has a world that's unique & has a system and hierarchy of it's own. So if you're definitely getting more than just a cozy fantasy in this beautiful story.

Worldbuilding

The world is simple yet layered & reminds me so much of a lot of isekai manga & anime cuz we have all sorts of creatures living alongside humans & magicians. We have vampires, dwarves, orcs, warlocks, undead people,...all living in harmony or so you might think cuz just like our world, we have some idiots who are always against a certain group of people here too, who keep causing trouble to everyone else who are living in peace🤦🏻‍♀️. This discrimination against the living & the undead disrupts the daily life of a lot of people, and you'd witness some of our characters fall prey to this hostility.

Writing & pacing

Not gonna lie but it took me a while to get into because the first few chapters come across as info dumpy as we're introduced to the world, and how the system works, the hierarchy & everything back to back which was a lot to take in. But once you cross that & get into Razgaif's journey, it becomes so much interesting and I wasn't able to put it down from there, in fact I had to take breaks in between deliberately cuz I wanted to spend more time with these characters!!!

Also the writing comes off as both descriptive & introspective - like when the author describes the setting, the food, the characters, etc., you feel as if you're walking beside Razgaif & exploring this city for the first time with eager eyes, and you do all that while also going through an internal examination of your own as he does the same. And I absolutely loved that & would love to read more from the author in the future cuz I'm someone terrible at imagining things in my mind but this book brought everything in life before my eyes & I had the best time reading it.

Characters

Razgaif/Rottgor deserves the whole world & I wanted to get into the book and tell him exactly that cuz he doesn't start out believing it. He's been brought back from death by the Worm King who wanted to use all these strong warriors(orcs, fae,...) to fight against his enemies (the guy couldn't let anyone rest in peace & had to torture them again!!). So Razgaif finds it difficult to move from having the will to only serve & fight to doing what his heart wants.

Also he's been feeling dead for years that this second chance at life seems unreal to him, and you cannot stop yourself from crying when you see him do things for the first time & actually feel it inside than just doing it for the sake of it🥺 His grey life suddenly becomes colorful when he follows his passion & starts the restaurant of his dreams. Along this new journey, he heals a part of himself that has been damaged for years, one that hasn't experienced joy for centuries & also comes to the realisation that he can be happy without worrying about his past or his future, and that everyone deserves their own family even though it's not by blood.

Astra's the little girl who truly made Razgaif feel life was worth living & gave him a purpose. She lives in the orphanage & crosses paths with Razgaif when he wanders through the city without any idea as to what he wants to do after his retirement. She's indeed his first customer in a sense & her smile and contentment at having good food is what ignites him to give life to his passion of cooking that died centuries ago when he was first killed.

To be honest, she seems more like an adult than a kid considering the amount of wisdom she has!! Even after going through a rough few years & having grown up in an orphanage, she's extremely optimistic & never loses hope. She's literally the sunshine, not just in Razgaif's life but to everyone who has ever crossed paths with her. She's the sweetest kiddo & I adore her sm & want nothing but to see her keep being the happiest & kindest child.

There's an interesting cast of characters who work in Razgaif's restaurant & also help him with setting the place - Calfe (half dwarf half elf), Clyth (demonkin), Bao Su (far fox), Waldruk (half vampire half orc), Flynn (undead dwarf & an excellent cook but don't tell Razgaif I told that cuz he doesn't consider him as a competition), Rib Digger (patchwork - a golem who seems to be a mix of different creatures), etc,. The way these people go from being complete strangers to being ready to off anyone who might raise a hand against the other was so moving to read about. They truly embody the line "Family not by blood but by heart."

I could keep going on & on about this book cuz I absolutely loved this & would even write a thesis on it but it isn't released yet, so I'm keeping it short & will be returning to elaborate further after the release & to also add more quotes.

Overall, if you're looking for THE COZY FANTASY OF THE YEAR, look no further & pre-order this book cuz it comes out in the fall which is absolutely perfect & you wouldn't regret it cuz it's got a lovely found family who would die for one another & an amazing plotline you wouldn't be able to put down. And I can already see myself rereading this again with a warm cup of hot chocolate during fall.

Extremely grateful to the author, Bindery Books & NetGalley for the ARC!!! Thank you very much for letting me read one of my all time favourite cozy fantasy reads.

Immediate thoughts after finishing:
now that I've gone and finished this, there's gonna be a gaping hope in my chest till I find the next read that I could savor & obsess over!! this was such a wonderful journey & I'm gonna miss the characters a lot😭😭

[Alyson Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC.

4 ⭐️ Everything about this book appealed to me. the cover, the blurb, the character names, EVERYTHING. And I wasn't disappointed.

If you crave a cosy fantasy, i can recommend this. The world building, setting, and magic system woven into this story is so well done that they come to life so easily when reading. The overall story is heartfelt with just a little comedy. This book felt like it warmed my soul.

[vaishnavi ☆ﾟ⁠.⁠* · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC
eARC recieved from NetGalley

I love to visualize when I read - and Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife made it ridiculously easy:
Lush descriptions? ✅
World-building that practically breathes on its own? ✅✅

Deston J. Munden paints such vivid, immersive scenes that I could close my eyes and still walk through the setting. Fair warning to those who may need it: the level of detail might feel a bit much if you’re trying to read it all in one go, but honestly? It's worth the time.

The opening chapters focus heavily on the world-building, and it pays off. You can feel how much the author cares—not just about the story, but about every character in it. I wouldn’t be surprised if Munden has a whole folder somewhere with character bios, family trees, and what they eat for breakfast.

Speaking of bios, we need character illustrations—would work wonders. And honestly, someone needs to make a tie-in cookbook too.

This book was an absolute delight. It showed up at just the right time (because a professor made me cry LMAO—we're not gonna talk about that 😭), and it gave me exactly what I needed. It's cozy, magical, heartfelt, and occasionally overwhelming (in a good way?). Around the 60% mark, I did find myself stumbling a bit due to a sudden info dump + character backstory overload, but I hung in there.

TLDR: If you’re into cozy fantasy, rich world-building, lovable characters, and stories that feel like a warm hug (with a hint of existential crisis), this will be perfect for you.

mid-reading notes:
- the plot is exhaustive, and I am exhausted.
- the names of the moons are prettyyy 🥹 Mari, Yari, and Awi
- need character art for this novel so bad
- a cookbook being paired with this would be amazing

pre-read જ⁀➴
╰┈➤ a cozy read after so long - let's gooo 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

I really thought I was going to love this, or I obviously would have never requested this from the NetGalley catalog. Even stopped and went back several times, just to make sure it wasn't just that I was in the mood for it. Really can't say even what was wrong. There was plot and character development, but it just wasn't for me.

It seems like there were tons of people who really loved this book, though. Just because I didn't like the book doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it, which is why I gave it a 3 star rating. Not everyone likes the same books, and that's perfectly fine. :)

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Bindery Books at Cozy Quill and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💖

"Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife” has all the cosy fantasy vibes I love: found family, magical food, and a heartfelt main character trying to find their place.

The story is charming and has some sweet, touching moments, but I struggled with the pacing, especially near the end. Some plot points felt rushed, and a few relationships lacked emotional depth. The worldbuilding showed promise but sometimes asked me to suspend disbelief a bit too much, and the writing didn’t always click for me.

It’s a comforting, low-stakes read perfect for when you want something soft and whimsical. It's not a favourite, but still enjoyable

[S.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt, cozy tale that could thaw even the coldest undead hearts. This book hooked me from the start with the premise of a powerful death knight and his second-second chance to live the life he'd always dreamed. There were beautiful descriptions of food, complex characters, and enough undead action to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Keep an eye out for this one, releasing in October.

[Vrinda's Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐- Delightfully cozy, warm & hearty! 🍜🥰🥘😍

A big thank you to Cozy Quills, Bindery books - this was the first arc novel I was approved for on NetGalley! I waited to read this as they had mentioned they would be releasing the epub format later.

🌟 This was a beautiful story, with a rich and unique world. The diversity of magic and magical beings was creative and powerful. I loved the cultural infusion and values reflected in the words and setting. It had an eclectic cast of character's, and the blend of their personalities made for an entertaining dynamic. The friendships were heartwarming, and certainly a highlight in the story. I enjoyed the sense of humor in the writing, and it had many sweet and endearing moments.

🌟 The central focus of food was comforting and magical. I loved how it represented nourishment for the body and soul (magic). Food in many cultures is at the core of connecting people, and it was great to see Razgaif's restaurant bringing a community of people together with the love and passion he poured into his cooking. His core magic of abundance and rejuvenation through food was beautiful, and I loved how it manifested itself in different ways.

🌟 While the book was cozy in its theme, it was mixed with a good dash of action and suspense in the second half. The conflicts arising from the tensions between the Undead & the Living, made the story more engaging throughout. The Six Shadow warriors and their past of defeating the evil King, rebuilding the city, and now protecting the current peace was interesting. We see another conflict play out testing the friendship between Razgaif (warrior Orc) & Tityli (Fae queen), the only two remaining Shadow warriors, as their purposes are challenged. The blossoming relationship between Razgaif and the little girl Astra, was at the core of the story and explored many interesting threads.

🌟 The core theme encompassed the journey of re-discovering your purpose, starting fresh, and reinventing yourself. It's a challenging and daunting endeavor, but following your passion and inspiration is deeply fulfilling. Sometimes we can get stuck, and we need the push to start living our life. The story metaphorically represented the fears and doubts that exist in our minds, which prevent us from actualizing our potential. The strength to break free and overcome our fears in pursuit of our true purpose in life, was embodied in the magic and in the friendships that support you along the way.

🌟 The only note I would have is that it was a bit cheesy or rushed in a few parts. The arc of a few events and character's, with their reflections and emotions were somewhat drawn out, and could have been better delivered. Some of the character's development either didn't feel as natural or a bit overdone/overstated in the second half of the book.

Overall, the story felt unique and original. If you love cozy fantasy - you should definitely check it out!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complementary e-arc of this story. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Steph (starrysteph)]

A charmingly cozy tale of fatherhood, belonging, redemption, and recognizing that you are worthy of gentleness & joy & following your passion.

The living and the undead exist - a bit tensely - side by side in the necropolis. After centuries of protecting the leaders of his city, undead orc knight Rottgor is (lovingly) forced into retirement. He stumbles back into his pre-death passion of cooking, opening up a community restaurant.

But when he meets a young orphan girl named Astra and discovers a dark connection to his past, Rottgor must figure out how to keep her safe while honoring both his history and his future.

I listened to the audiobook during a road trip where I desperately needed to be cheered up, and it hit the spot. (The narrator was also WONDERFUL.)

The plot is relatively low-stakes, but there’s still darkness and groundedness in the more painful parts of life. Rottgor has a brutal inner voice and struggles with guilt over his past and opening up to tenderness and love. There’s also some tension between the living and the undead, with one major antagonist leaning into hatred and weaponizing a fear of those who are othered, especially among those living in poverty. But the arcs overall are quite sweet and I never doubted things would be okay in the end. There’s plenty of hope.

I thought there was an interesting collection of characters and an interesting world, though we only got a small peek into it. The descriptions of food were delightful, too! Some of the dialogue was a bit awkward and inconsistent, and I’m always side-eyeing benevolent rulers (especially when one of our main characters is an underfed orphan - and the crown KNOWS this). Lady Cleo was a major player, and she needed to be nudged about quite a few things!

It’s a slow, detailed-filled story, which will probably divide readers. If you don’t mind lingering in the small moments, I think you’ll enjoy this.

Overall it’s so sweet, and I adored the messaging around finding your passion and purpose - and that it’s never too late to do so. Also reading about healthy, loving, caring, involved fathers is always great. The family dynamics overall were quite moving.

CW: racism, slavery, xenophobia, grief, war, hate crime, death, body horror

Follow me on social media for book recommendations!

(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

[justine ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife
⤷ ⭑⭑⭑.𝟱

⌗ ❝ You may not have chosen to be undead, but you’ve already had centuries stolen from you. Why not spend the last bits finding the happiness you craved? ❞

꒰ After centuries of servitude, Rottgor Onyx-Ax of the Famine Blade has been released from his duties as the Lord Commander of the Death Knights. He was given a rare opportunity for a Seclusion, which is essentially retirement for the undead, and got a second chance to experience the life he missed. However, he faces a dilemma because he has only known battle and bloodshed, and he feels a familiar sensation he has forgotten while having his first dinner after being ‘released’—A feeling that his old self, Razgaif the Younger, had for his passion for cooking. ꒱

Release Date: October 14, 2025 ⟢

This is the first book I’ve read by Deston J. Munden, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Despite the dark atmosphere, it has been described as a cozy fantasy similar to elements found in 'Legends & Lattes', which I absolutely agree with due to its themes of comfort, food, found family, and creating a new business/restaurant aspect. However, I also noticed that there is greater tension related to political issues, prejudice between the living and the dead, and the exploration of grief and self-discovery.

❝ Is this all I am? Will I only ever be known for death and plagues? History may remember a warrior, a hero. I see only a weapon. ❞

We witness Rottgor's journey as he learns to live again and discovers his place in the world from a new perspective. My favorite parts included the moments when he questions his identity and tries to find himself while learning to forgive himself for the actions and deaths he's committed under the regime of 'The Worm King'.

I have a soft spot for the found-family trope, so while I liked the characters overall, I wished some of them had more presence or impact in the story. We saw a lot of Astra, but it was hard to view her as anything other than a child who gives advice like an adult.

❝ Serve. Bend. Break. Your will is mine. ❞

The worldbuilding was okay, good, but also a bit wonky. I especially liked the political tension between the undead and the living, which added depth to the story. However, I found it difficult to keep track of all the characters because so many creatures were mentioned. There was also a unique and interesting prejudice among the living towards the undead that festered within the community, which was different since we've usually seen the undead as villains.

The disconnect I had was the quick development of some relationships. For example, Clythe, whom Rottgor met during dinner on the first night of his Seclusion, immediately offered his assistance in finding a location for Rottgor's new home and business. Also with his significant relationship develops with Astra, an orphan girl, leading to a father-daughter bond.

Also, the pacing was very slow, especially in the first half of the book. You may think it necessary to simmer and get to know more of the world, history, and people of the world, but it became a bit of an info dump because of how broad it was for a standalone. But in the end, I was pretty pleased at how it all came about, how the community came together, and with Rottgor reclaiming his orc heritage.

Overall, I was pretty satisfied with the turn of events and could say this is a fantasy with cozy elements. Kudos to Deston J. Munden for the lovely book, and a huge thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books, and for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Please remember that this opinion is my own. ⭑

❝ You have a lot of titles, my friend, much like I do.” She laughed. “But truthfully, can you even remember that far back? It’s been hundreds of years since you’ve been living. How long can a dream live without nourishment? How long has it been since you’ve thought about you⁠—you underneath all that bloody history? Who was Razgaif? ❞

.𖥔 ݁ ˖

[Mela · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cozy and heartwarming read!
In this book we follow Rottgor as he’s forced to retire from serving the court so he decides to open up a restaurant to spend the rest of his afterlife there. During his first few days adjusting to his new life he meets Astra an orphan who introduces him to the town. However not everything is easy especially as some people around town are not so welcoming, and the fatherly bond that’s between him and Astra might be in danger due to her heritage.

Personally this was the perfect book at the perfect time for me, not only has it been perfect with the chilly weather, but also for my slump. I loved seeing Rottgor slowly getting back to a slower paced life and returning to cooking which he loved doing growing up. I also loved Astra as a character, she had such a bright outlook on everything even when the situation was dire. I also loved the bond that the two had, since they really brought out the best in each other. Special shoutout to all the side characters from Thess, to Tytli to all the staff at the restaurant because they really contributed a lot to the story and created such a welcoming and chaotic family.
The town was giving me mediaeval vibes and I loved it! The plot was really good as well and I enjoyed the bit of action scenes by the end!
If you’re a fun of cozy stories I cannot not recommend this one to you!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jess Stadler]

Thank you Cozy Quill, Bindery Books, and NetGalley for the e-ARC 🤎

4.5/5 ⭐️ sweet, cozy, and heartwarming!! Omg, I enjoyed this SOOO much 🥧🥐🥞 giving this a 4.5 because it made me feel happy. And sometimes you just need a happy book!

It had me feeling warm and fuzzy. This was a really beautiful story! I was hooked from the start. The writing is lovely — the descriptions of the food had me drooling. Every meal sounded hearty and amazing. I love that the story was centered around food and its connecting point for the characters. I had a mental visual on the restaurant and the other environments described. It was easy to picture this world and why the restaurant was a place for people to escape, eat food, connect, and feel safe! Great world building! The characters were complex and everyone including side characters had a moment to shine and play an important role in the story. Some of the relationships between them could have been fleshed out more.

I also enjoyed that there were some tense action packed moment. Having that tension written in kept the story multidimensional. Life isn’t perfect… it’s not always going to be cozy and warm! These scenes didn’t disrupt the flow of the plot. They

This was a perfect autumn read — it’s exactly what I’ve been needing. It was Like a warm fuzzy blanket. It makes you laugh and tear up a bit. Wholesome!!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely delightful read! It was warm and cozy while also covering some heavy themes like overcoming trauma and grief. I really enjoyed the world and the characters. If you like Legends and Lattes or The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches I think you'd find a lot to enjoy in this book as well.

[Katlix · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rottgor is forced into a very late retirement and now has to figure out what to do with his (after)life. When I saw this show up on NetGalley I immediately applied for an ARC because this book is SO up my alley: cozy fantasy, found family, tasty food. Unfortunately the book just didn't deliver for me. It was such a struggle to finish this one and if this wasn't an ARC and I wasn't determined to give it my best I would've DNF'd for sure. Is it all bad? Of course not, there's actually some really interesting world building. But unfortunately it was not the cozy fantasy of my dreams.

The Good:
- As I said I really like the worldbuilding. It takes place in a city built by Rottgor and his undead buddies after defeating their necormancer overlord. Now, centuries later, the living and undead live side by side. The whole idea of the undead finding new purpose in life is really sweet.
- The magic system: I love how everyone has magic that is very unique to them and their personality. I also love how the magic has an aura of its own that you can even hear and smell.
- I loved reading the flashbacks of the MC's previous life. It's a very unique view on Orcish society and culture.

The Could be better:
- The writer used new terms for races or entirely new races (I'm not quite sure which), but didn't quite manage to describe them in a way that made it really hard for me to picture them or understand really what they were. (Though props for introducing half elf half dwarf combos. Why do combinations like these not appear more often in fantasy?)
- Some plot holes in the story that challenged my suspension of disbelief. Like the orphans are too poor for food or shoes, but they live in a literal mansion and the city government takes good care of its orphans? Also the dialogue as was just not believable at times. Astra sounds more like a 15 year old than a 9/10 year old.

The Bad:
- The most important part of a book to me are the characters. While I liked Rottgor and all the side characters well enough on their own, the interactions just didn't add up. How is Calfe basically willing to kill/die on behalf of Rottgor just after meeting him and having one lunch together? One meeting with Astra and Rottgor immediately has deep paternal feelings for her (not in a creepy way mind you, it never went there). The employees are all hired/introduced at the same time and there's an instant back and forth between everyone. It was overall way too sweet even for me. And I love cute and sweet stories.
- The pacing was way off. Too much of the story was spent on Rottgor second guessing himself and despairing. It took 20% for him to even settle on opening a restaurant. At about 40% the restaurant opened. There is no time really spent on actually trial and error because the restaurant is an instant hit. And let me tell you something: I devoured 4 long books on magical farming life. I can handle a slow pace. But I cannot stand if the slow pace is filled with navelgazing instead of doing something, really, anything at all. I'd rather read the MC trying out twenty soup recipes rather than doubting themselves over and over again. The book isn't even that long, but felt at least twice as long than it was.

Now I did get a very early ARC, so I don't know, maybe there's going to be another round of edits. I really hope it will, because I had such high hopes from this premise. Thanks NetGalley and Cozy Quill from Bindery Books for granting me this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[anna b]

DNF on page 132, mid-sentence even

ugh. cozy fantasy is real hit or miss for me, and this was a huge miss. think it could have gone through one (maybe two) vicious revisions and turned out as something so so charming, but in this form: not for me.

[Drey Blackbeak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bof, qué decir de este libro.

Es muy bonito, muy mono, cozy. No tengo palabras, es perfecto.

Los personajes son todos geniales (vamos a obviar al mamarracho de Vom), todos tienen profundidad. Los personajes secundarios no están solo ahí, participan en la historia.

La crisis de Rottgor me ha llegado al corazón y la manera en la que ha sanado ha sido preciosa🥹 Este libro tiene un found family que bofbofbof

No sabría decir cual ha sido mi personaje preferido. Quizá Tytli, quizá Thess, aunque Astra es monísima y Calfe es muy gracioso HAJJAJA Los quiero a todos. Leedlo por favor

[ᒚᘿSS ᒍᗩY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books/Cozy Quill for the chance to review.

Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife was an unexpectedly enjoyable read for ​me. The world-building and character descriptions were so detailed and immersive that I found my imagination capable of creating vivid scenes. I had not yet wholly experienced the sensation of a "cozy read" until I read this story. 

The synopsis was the main reason for my desire to read this ARC. It was endearing and heartfelt. While I was reading this, that same sense of feeling stayed with me. Every character provided depth and importance to the story, which provided an overarching family feel. I couldn't help but feel an attachment to the restaurant employees. So much so that I wished I could become one.

What made this story unique for me was the magic system. Not only does the bloodline have an impact on the character Rune's ability, but their personalities entwine with it and make it unique. It was a beautiful way to express that your ancestry does not determine who you will become.

The plot included PTSD, adoption, found family, loyalty, love, self-reclamation, and political outrage. Some of these topics may be perceived as heavy points of content, but I found that the author included them in a delicate, non-confronting manner. Every aspect came together beautifully to portray the overall self-reclamation plot point.

I enjoyed every minute spent reading this story! I will definitely grab a copy on release as I also fell in love with the cover art!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Thank you to Bindery Books/Cozy Quill for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife delivers all of the things I want in cozy fantasy. There's a great cast of characters that bring all of the lovable vibes, imaginative world building and magic, and a heart-warming storyline, with a bit of low stakes conflict to keep the story interesting. The found family aspect and various characters were definitely the highlight of this book, for me.

While I really loved the cozy story, I did feel like there were some plot holes and moments that needed more explanation. There were times that I felt the pacing of the story felt somewhat repetitive, and it moved too fast in other areas, which left me questioning some parts of the story. I also found some of the violence seemed to be a bit much for this type of cozy read.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Cozy Fantasy
* Found Family
* Second Chances
* Low Stakes with Some Violence
* Following Your Dreams
* Lovable Characters
* Comfort Food

𝐈𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲?
🥶 (No)

If you are a fan of cozy fantasy, that is similar to Travis Baldree's Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust, then I would recommend Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife.

[sara_explores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's talk about Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston J. Munden.

What do you get when you mix the afterlife, good food, a touching story, and a chance to re-live your life? Why you get this cozy fantasy from Deston J. Munden. This wonderful tale takes you into the world of Necropolis, with it's wonderful characters ranging from the living to the unliving to the not so undead...we have orcs, elves, dwarves, and even dragons!

And we also have wonderful, glorious food that always brings people together.

In following the end of his service, we meet Rottgor - an Dark Knight who has been serving for centuries and has finally retired. Now the question is - what should he do? When bits and pieces of his former life come back to him, he realizes that food has always held a huge spot in his heart and in his livelihood. Taking upon by a set of characters who would become his found family, Rottgor endeavors into bringing his love of food alive all the while balancing an unexpected newcomer into his world - Astra. The little girl, with her canny words, and go lucky attitude gives Rottgor the will to move forward with an outstanding idea - to open a restaurant for the living and the unliving! But things are afoot, and people want to bring harm to those who are different (not alive) and also there is something, something...just a bit different about Astra.

If you like a good cozy read, a world of fantasy, wonderful characters, and good food - you'll enjoy this little treat.

✨ Found family
✨ World building
✨ Magical creatures
✨ Magic wielding

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books/Cozy Quill for the chance to review.

[Keila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd give this one a 3.75 stars.

This is my first time reading a fantasy that's as cozy as this one. It started off a bit slow at first, but after the first 3 chapters, the vibes were all great! Loved the worldbuilding of Necropolis, the description of foods and sights, and just the character arc of Razgaif from aimlessly serving to becoming his own person (again). I might be biased towards this book because I just flew through this simply due to the fact it was fantasy, and the lore behind Razgaif and his time as a Death Knight.

I only wish there was more time spent on developing Razgaif's relationship with his employees; I think they just got along a little too fast and it would've been great if there was some minor conflict among the restaurant's staff and the owner.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Fanna]

cozy foodie fantasy

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife is a sweet story of friendship, love, community, and acceptance that is, unfortunately, held back by its writing style.

Rottgor is a hero: an undead orc, he was once a mindless servant of an evil ruler. However, he and a band of five warriors slew the Worm King and brought peace to the realm. Since then, however, Rottgor has done little more than serve as a guard for the peaceable new rulers for the past thousand years. When his friend and the heiress of the throne force him to retire and enjoy his afterlife, Rottgor must forge a new path: abandoning the pestilence magic of his youth, he chooses to open a relearn the cooking skills he had in his short life and open a restaurant. What follows is a heartwarming tale as Rottgor finds friends, support, and perhaps even family as he works to open his restaurant.

I love a good cozy fantasy, and, in broad strokes, this book delivered. Rottgor’s struggles to accept his new identity, trading the mantle of famed undead warrior for the simple joy of cooking, is compelling. I liked the band of friends that built up around the restaurant; it’s nice to see a group come together for a common goal. I also enjoyed that there were complex secondary characters; each had their own goals and motivations, and it contributed to the feeling of peering into a living world. I also liked the social critique of the book: the city in which they live is filled with living, undead, and summoned creatures alike. The book confronts bigotry, particularly that of the living against the undead and summoned, in a way that was decidedly interesting and that I’d love to see explored further.

Unfortunately, I struggled with the writing style of this book. At times, it works: there are lush descriptions of food that are enough to make your mouth water, and the beginning of the book does an especially good job of capturing Rottgor’s mental state as he is forced to live after decades of being no more than simply undead. However, the writing style as a whole is choppy, and I often found myself struggling to follow what was happening. There are sentences that are meant to be Rottgor’s thoughts which aren’t distinguished in any way from the standard third-person text around it, which made them feel out of place and distracting. I don’t mind if the dialogue is perfectly realistic, especially in short cozy fantasy stories where the goal is often to create a warm atmosphere rather than write the most realistic of dialogue. However, in this book, the way characters spoke had very little verisimilitude and often took me out of the story. Scenes sometimes lacked transitions between them, leaving the reader struggling to follow what was happening. On top of that, the book had a number of plot choices that made it difficult for me to be invested in the story, such as the answers for major problems being delivered in a dream. When the plot already lacks a flow between ideas, being given answers in a way that is never explained or questioned made me feel as though my efforts to follow the story were going to waste.

This was a 3 out of 5 star read for me. I really like the ideas of the book, though I struggled with the execution. It is also entirely possible that my issues with the story will be fixed by the time of publication—there is plenty of time between the writing of this review and the release of the book for an editor to bring this book together and make it something really special.

Thank you to Bindery Books and Cozy Quill for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Eden R · Rating 4 out of 5]

the world building was perfect for this type of cosy fantasy and I really enjoyed the characters would defos re read!

honestly transport me here when I die

Thank you net galley and Bindery books for the ARC!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is much compared with Legends & Lattes , and for once that's accurate. Not only were they discovered by the same "tastemaker" (which is apparently a thing now), they both feature a retired Orcish warrior taking on a cozy project in food-and-beverage retail. My own feeling is that if you liked one, you'll probably like the other, though this isn't just a clone of Legends; the plot is different in detail, and so is the main character's backstory, which plays into the frontstory a lot more in this book than in the other.

The MC is not just an orc, but an undead orc, killed and then raised by a typical evil necromancer a couple of hundred years before and forced to commit atrocities as a mind-controlled thrall. He and five others broke free from the necromancer's control (exactly how is carefully not stated), destroyed him, and founded a city in which the living, the undead and those summoned from other realms could live together peacefully and prosperously. He then served the city for a long time as a member of an elite guard, but now a new ruler is taking over, and she decides it's time for him to retire from the guard, undergo a necromantic process that restores him to something much closer to life, and do what he wants instead of serving the will of others. But what does he want?

Back during the relatively brief time he was alive, he was an Orcish war chef (which I kept reading as "war chief," but it's chef), a special traditional role that's like an army cook, but respected. So he decides to open a restaurant and start cooking again. After so long, he doesn't know if he can do it, but he rapidly acquires a group of friends who encourage him: a professor who's also some sort of gang boss (but in a good way?), his restaurant employees, and a ten-year-old girl he happens to meet. This young girl turns out to have a connection to his past that requires some working through.

Although this is definitely cozy, it's not just slice-of-life without conflict. There's a rabble-rouser in the city who hates the undead (and the summoned, but mainly the undead) and believes that the living should have everything, and he and his faction cause escalating problems. And the orc and one of his oldest friends, another of the six founders of the city, come into conflict over the little girl's heritage and what it means.

From a plot point of view, all of this works excellently, and the MC has a considerable character arc which is believable and moving, involving a change of name - which is why I'm not using his name in my review. There are some indications that the author needs more experience (and more editorial input), though. To me, the employees weren't distinct enough, and I had to keep thinking hard to remember which was which, even though they were each a different kind of undead or summoned entity (it says at one point, I think, that he'd also hired living employees, but if this was true I missed which one that was, unless the vampire doesn't count as truly undead). At one point, there are two different and contradictory explanations for the origin of the orphanage (noblemen's buildings claimed by the state or a donation by the former owner) within a single paragraph. A person has grey hair on one page and brown hair on the next. I've already mentioned the careful skirting of the plot hole about how mind-controlled thralls broke out of their conditioning and overthrew the necromancer. I was sometimes taken by surprise, too, by how much or how little time had passed between two indicators of when things were happening, given the events in between.

Relevant to that last point, the author has the common fault of often not using the past perfect tense when talking about events that happened prior to the current narrative moment, which I always find disorienting and distracting. What I mean is that in a sentence that should run "she needed to trust the system she and her family had created" or "the room had never looked better" or "he had never truly let it all sink in," the "had" gets left out, resulting in a moment of temporal whiplash while I parse it.

The author also reaches beyond his vocabulary at times, and unfortunately "mediocrity" is one of the words that's apparently beyond his vocabulary (he writes "mediocracy" instead). In fact, it has a lot of small glitches, like missing words, vocabulary errors and fumbled idioms. They're not in every sentence or even on every page - there are usually two or three per chapter - and (standard disclaimer) I read a pre-release copy via Netgalley, and there may be more copy editing to come.

While all of these minor issues reduced my enjoyment (they may or may not affect yours), overall I did think this was a strong debut. It's positive and hopeful - relentlessly so at times, insisting that nobody is born evil, that we're shaped by our environment and, secondarily, our choices. The city of necromancy is, we're told over and over, one of the safest in the kingdom, though it's having an atypical time in this particular story. A dupe of the populist manipulator comes round relatively easily to a verbal appeal and admits he was fooled, which I found slightly unrealistic, but I suppose if "it's too hopeful" is one of my complaints, the author has at least understood the cozy genre. There is an unexamined tension, though, between the cozy values and the violence of a sword-and-sorcery setting, and I was never completely clear on what the fate of the antagonist actually was - which may have been another intentional skirting of an issue, or just the author not clearly conveying what was in his mind.

It lands in the Silver tier of my annual recommendation list, which is usually for solid work with no significant issues, but in this case reflects what would be a Gold-tier book (emotionally moving, strongly written) demoted by a tier for vocabulary errors, missing past perfect, apparent continuity issues, and not completely making sense all the time. Still a recommendation, and since most people don't notice these things and some of them may even be corrected before publication, I suspect that it has a strong future ahead of it, and possibly some awards.

[Kate Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at about 40%
I’ve tried other cosy fantasies and I have a mixed success rate with them. I really want to enjoy the genre but so often find myself bored while reading them.
I enjoy the premise of this book but it was taking a really long time to get anywhere. I also felt like the child character Astra just talked like an adult. The interactions between the characters seemed to be either over enthusiastically nice and generous or to be evil. Of what I read there didn’t appear to be any gray area in characters motivations or personalities.
I’m very grateful for the publisher giving me a digital Arc of this book.

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston J. Munden is a third person-POV cozy fantasy. When orc knight Rottger is forced into retirement after centuries of duty, he's not quite sure what to do or how to transition to a more peaceful life. He finds his answer in his new town and opens a restaurant for the dead and the living can eat together. He also meets a young girl named Astra, who might be the family he's been looking for.

I really loved that this was ultimately a story about adoption from the father’s POV. We so often see these stories from the POV of the child or a mother and those are important, but it's also important to have examples of men choosing fatherhood and coming to care for young people enough to create a family with them. Astra and Rottger are an unlikely found family given their backgrounds, but they both provide comfort and stability for the other despite their flaws.

While I haven't played World of Warcraft, this did feel WoW-inspired to me from what I know of the games and the broader world but much cozier. It sits in a similar house as Legend and Lattes where there's a lot of fantasy races and it's ultimately about a retired orc opening up a restaurant who still has some things to take care of as they build their new life. The main difference I saw was that there is no romance arc for Rottger and there's greater emphasis on trauma and revenge carried on through bloodlines and how we end those cycles of violence when the people we love want us to continue them.

The cozier aspects shine through a lot in the descriptions of food and the gentle way the narration handles its themes. Rottger is just trying to figure out his new life and his new community, so the stakes are not really world-ending, but they are high for him and they get higher the more we learn about Astra.

I would recommend this to fans of cozy fantasy who also love World of Warcraft and readers of fantasy looking for more emphasis on family and less on romantic love

[Kels Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A journey through a charming tale- where do I even begin with this incredible book? Let's start by saying it’s a delightful mix of heartwarming moments, life lessons, real-world challenges, and a generous dash of family and love.
I’m truly enchanted by the world of this story. While orc fantasy isn't my typical genre, the cozy atmosphere paired with a food theme makes any realm captivating.
Rottgor, an orc, is such a genuinely good character. Rising from a troubled past, he decides to embrace life and enjoy what it offers, especially through the lens of found family. He fiercely protects his new passion and fights for what is right, highlighting the discrimination faced by the living against the undead and how hatred can spread like wildfire.
The story follows an undead orc Rottgor, who serves as Lord Commander in the Death Guard, safeguarding Necropolis. However, he is forced into retirement by Lady Cleo, who is destined to inherit the citadel. As he shifts from being undead to truly living, he must embark on a journey to rediscover his identity—the one he held before becoming a servant to the Worm King. Upon departing from the Voidborn Citadel, he meets a high elf-dwarf named Calfe Metcoat, who assists people with various needs. Calfe offers Rottgor an opportunity to purchase an empty restaurant and encourages him to follow his heart in pursuing his dream of becoming a chef. Along his journey, he meets an unexpected group of allies, including elves, skeletons, and vampires. As well as Astra, an orphan he is determined to safeguard above all, for her lineage, if revealed, could threaten the entire city. As he strives to create a space for everyone to share a meal, he connects with more individuals who are eager to help him achieve his dreams.
This book beautifully illustrates the healing of one’s inner child, showcasing that it's never too late to chase your dreams, as seen through Rottgor’s journey. I genuinely adored the cozy vibes and the rich, descriptive world filled with fruit, florals, and food. The characters came alive, each with unique stories and magic. Learning new Orcish words throughout the narrative added an enchanting touch.
The theme of found family woven throughout the story enhanced its delightful, fluffy atmosphere. Overall, it presents a captivating and tranquil vibe, infused with a hint of dark fantasy.

[Jess paperboundjess · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ THIS!!!

Every second I spent reading this I felt SO GOOD. You know how some books just make you happy? This is that book. Have you ever wished you could spend more time in one of your favorite fantasy settings (like the Shire, Hyrule, Narnia, etc.)? Have you ever watched LOTR and thought, what if those orcs were all forced into service by Sauron and wished they could have some kind of redemption story? Because you’ll get all that with this book.

Our MC is an undead orc knight who was previously killed and resurrected by an evil necromancer. Under his evil thrall our knight was forced fight for a cause he hated UNTIL he became an epic hero and overthrew the evil king with five other undead knights. Together they formed a new society and placed a new king on the throne. After spending generations serving a new, benevolent king and his descendants, our knight is forced into “retirement”. No longer a warrior or a body guard, he gets to live in the utopia he helped create.

I loved the discussion around PTSD and survivors guilt. The found family is epic. There are orcs, dwarves, elves, and little squirrels who act as waiters! The setting is so well developed and the descriptions in this book are GORGEOUS. I felt like I was actually there and I wish with all my heart that it was a real place I could visit.

I think sometimes people see “cozy fantasy” and think “boring” but they would be so wrong! This book has excellent plot and deeper themes. It’s the perfect book to bring a smile to your face, it’s not going to rip your heart out, it’s going to gently put it back together.

(Another reason to love this for the AoGG fans like myself: I really got Matthew Cuthbert and Anne vibes from two characters and it MELTED MY HEART!).

[Darya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Razgaif was once an orc knight, though more recently — for the past few centuries — he had been known as Rottgor, the undead warrior first in service to an evil necromancer and then one of those who stood up against that necromancer and helped create and protect the city where beings of all races can live together, regardless of whether they are living, undead, or summoned. Anyway, that's been an awful lot of centuries when the only thing he knew was serving — an evil or a benevolent cause, but still. When the new duchess decides it's time for Rottgor to enjoy his well-deserved retirement, he realizes it’s been a while since he remembered what had ever made him him—and now has to reinvent that. What follows is a story of self-discovery, friendship, and found family, though the well-earned rest is not without its troubles, because xenophobia is still very much a thing in the diverse city of Necropolis.

I really liked the detailed worldbuilding in this cozy fantasy — the races, the backstories traceable even behind briefly mentioned facts about secondary characters. It’s a world created with great attention and love, and I would enjoy reading more stories set in it. The story arc itself was also quite satisfying, even if without major unexpected twists — but hey, we love cozy fantasy for the predictability, not for the disrupted expectations, don’t we?

One thing that I found a bit confusing was how events unfurl in time, especially in terms of psychological processes. For example, the protagonist realizes he suddenly has this unexpected afterlife just for himself: oh no, what do I even do with myself, can I even remember what I ever wanted to be when I still could decide? Anguish. And then… decides by the next evening? But it’s not like this disrupts the suspension of disbelief. I just had to imagine that “by the next evening” in undead orcish time equals a bit more in human time. What do I know about the psychology of undead orcs?

Publication date: October 14, 2025.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this title through NetGalley. The opinion above is my own.

[Diana Glaser · Rating 4 out of 5]

RECIPES FOR AN UNEXPECTED AFTERLIFE was such a comforting read. Following the same coziness as Legends and Lattes, but with more world building, this is a read for those that just want a feel good read.

What I really liked about this novel was the incredible world building. While the author does really explain things, he does so in a way that is digestible and really crates an atmospheric picture of this world.

It also focuses heavily on those found family vibes. In this story you’ll find a story about empowerment, finding yourself, and gaining back your sense of self, and healing in the face of hardship and mistreatment. Each character just accepts one another. It’s honestly an incredibly touching story.

My only complaint is that the characters relationships needed to be more fleshed out. They felt fast and missed why these characters we’re important to each other. Spending more time fleshing out these relationships would have made this noon a knockout.

Overall, this was a cozy read with a lot going for it. I think you should read this if you love books that have a touching message and just want a positive story in a world that isn’t always positive.

Thank you to Bindry Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Ramona Martinez Brito · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I really enjoyed this one. It was creative and well-written, with a nice, well-rounded message and some great characters. I absolutely ADORED the dynamics between the Afterlife employees, ans having a landlord as the villain is sooo camp.
I did have some trouble with the writing sometimes. Some situations seemed very plot convenient, that were meant to be there just for that. Also, there were some wordings that could've been changed to give the story just a bit more of vividness.
Overall that didn't stop me from enjoying the book though, so my compliments go out to the author. This book will for sure be liked by many.

My favourite quote:

"The Afterlife Crisis. The sign in his hands made his dreams feel real. He laughed, losing his ridiculous battle to keep the tears at bay. He continued to hold the sign, the spirits of thousands of his lost clan cheering within his soul. Rottvor prayed for his own family and thanked his new one."

Thank you to the publisher and author for the E-Arc. The review is entirely my own.