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What We Eat #1
Seven Recipes for Revolution
The Bear meets Attack on Titan in this exhilarating, food-based epic fantasy filled with high stakes and monster steaks, perfect for fans of Pierce Brown and Jay Kristoff.
Seventeen-year-old Paprick is a common butcher, carving slabs of meat from gargantuan monsters so elite chefs can prepare magic-granting meals for the rich. But Paprick’s true passion is cooking, and if he can learn the secret art, his dreams of liberating his people and sharing the monsters’ magic with the world could come true. He steals the precious ingredients needed to practise recipes at home, but if he’s caught, he’ll be executed.
As his desperation grows, he ventures into the black market and uncovers a spice imported from unknown lands. Combining it with the last of his stolen meat, he cooks a dish the world has never tasted before, with side-effects he couldn’t have foreseen.
The dish’s magic grows Paprick to kaiju-size, and legends of his powers spread among the people. Immediately, the rulers arrest him, but Paprick convinces them to make him a chef’s apprentice―if they ever want to learn his Recipe. However, his exposure to the world of high cuisine reveals the rot at its centre, and with his new power, rebellion is only a few recipes away…
Seventeen-year-old Paprick is a common butcher, carving slabs of meat from gargantuan monsters so elite chefs can prepare magic-granting meals for the rich. But Paprick’s true passion is cooking, and if he can learn the secret art, his dreams of liberating his people and sharing the monsters’ magic with the world could come true. He steals the precious ingredients needed to practise recipes at home, but if he’s caught, he’ll be executed.
As his desperation grows, he ventures into the black market and uncovers a spice imported from unknown lands. Combining it with the last of his stolen meat, he cooks a dish the world has never tasted before, with side-effects he couldn’t have foreseen.
The dish’s magic grows Paprick to kaiju-size, and legends of his powers spread among the people. Immediately, the rulers arrest him, but Paprick convinces them to make him a chef’s apprentice―if they ever want to learn his Recipe. However, his exposure to the world of high cuisine reveals the rot at its centre, and with his new power, rebellion is only a few recipes away…
444 pages, Hardcover
First published July 22, 2025
56 people are currently reading
2490 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
November 26, 2024
As is probably obvious from my blurb on the cover, I loved this one. A breath of fresh air for the fantasy genre - I honestly can't think of a comparable work. From the very opening scene in which we are introduced to Paprick working as a slave cutting steaks off the flanks of an enormous kaiju, I knew this book was something special. Readers looking for something unique within the genre space would do well to add this to their 2025 TBRs.
December 16, 2024
This is like an anime in book form- utterly devourable, tasteful, and fun.
Paprick is a common butcher, carving slabs of meat from gargantuan monsters so chefs can prepare magic-granting meals for the rich. When he discovers a new recipe that makes him grow tall, he is invited to train in the culinary school of the Rares - the elite. Paprick dreams of liberating his people and sharing the monsters’ magic with the world.
This was like a high strung, tense cooking show meets over the top fantasy like One Piece or Attack on Titan.
This also uses a narrative framing device I love - told from Paprick when he is an adult known as the infamous Butcher. He is set to be executed but is first telling his story to the archivist. But is he embellishing, misleading? Is he really telling the truth? I always love an unreliable narrator.
“We’re all tools, stage. The only meaningful choice in life is to determine what tool we become. I chose to be a chef’s tool, a knife. If I teach you anything, let it be this: be a knife. The rest are worthless.”
I nodded. I could be a knife. A sharp one.
This had some fascinating things to say on propaganda. The Rares keep the Commons down through rhetoric and lies for the benefit of the royals and their preferred religion. However, Paprick is turned into an idol built on tall (get it?) tales to further the rebellion.
The ending felt slightly rushed and I was not keen on the change in pacing and abrupt end. This is obviously the first in an explosive new series, yet I felt there needed to be a stronger end to book one.
Arc gifted by Black Crow.
Bookstagram
Paprick is a common butcher, carving slabs of meat from gargantuan monsters so chefs can prepare magic-granting meals for the rich. When he discovers a new recipe that makes him grow tall, he is invited to train in the culinary school of the Rares - the elite. Paprick dreams of liberating his people and sharing the monsters’ magic with the world.
This was like a high strung, tense cooking show meets over the top fantasy like One Piece or Attack on Titan.
This also uses a narrative framing device I love - told from Paprick when he is an adult known as the infamous Butcher. He is set to be executed but is first telling his story to the archivist. But is he embellishing, misleading? Is he really telling the truth? I always love an unreliable narrator.
“We’re all tools, stage. The only meaningful choice in life is to determine what tool we become. I chose to be a chef’s tool, a knife. If I teach you anything, let it be this: be a knife. The rest are worthless.”
I nodded. I could be a knife. A sharp one.
This had some fascinating things to say on propaganda. The Rares keep the Commons down through rhetoric and lies for the benefit of the royals and their preferred religion. However, Paprick is turned into an idol built on tall (get it?) tales to further the rebellion.
The ending felt slightly rushed and I was not keen on the change in pacing and abrupt end. This is obviously the first in an explosive new series, yet I felt there needed to be a stronger end to book one.
Arc gifted by Black Crow.
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September 15, 2025
Wow! I am in awe of this book.Touted as Attack on Titan meets the Bear, this book takes the sentiment of eating the rich to a whole different level. I haven’t seen the Bear, so I can’t speak to its similarities. I can say that the way this book was written, in the food, the reverence for recipes, flavor and intent reminded me so much of Anthony Bourdain. It felt like an honor to his memory to read this. Bourdain was a proponent of the best food comes from the most humble of origins. It doesn’t have to be fancy to be elegant and delicious. Hell, he had a whole show based on that tenet. Never was that put more into a page (well, outside of his own book) than it was here. The revolution in the title is not just in name. It doesn’t take much to draw parallels to current events happening all over the world. The way the food, the magic system, and the narrative of the common people came together was nothing short of genius. Be warned, foodies and chef/cooking enthusiasts will love this, but the book does use a lot of cooking terms that those not addicted to old reruns of Food Network shows (Iron Chef, mainly) may not be familiar with. It doesn’t take away from the story, and all is explained, so don’t let that take you away from reading it. This was such an incredible read, I really am just sitting here, stunned. I ate it up (pun very much intended), and I can’t wait for the next book. Bravo Ryan Rose, that was a hell of a meal!
January 14, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Seven Recipes for Revolution is one of those all-too-rare fantasy novels with a very unique magic system - food! I can absolutely see why The Bear has been mentioned in the blurb, with high-pressure cooking a recurring theme throughout this book, though the 'steaks' are much higher! Specifically, steaks from huge creatures, with meals made from these unlocking magical abilities.
Ryan Rose weaves a wonderful tale of revolution, revenge and recipes, told mainly via the main character telling his story from a prison cell. The story bounces between past events and the present day and it works so well in building tension, with some nice foreshadowing along the way. There are some excellent twists and the story maintains momentum from start to finish. There is an underlying theme of class wars and an academic setting too and some very engaging characters. All in all, a fantastic mix and I'm very excited to see where this series goes as I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Daphne Press for an ARC.
Seven Recipes for Revolution is one of those all-too-rare fantasy novels with a very unique magic system - food! I can absolutely see why The Bear has been mentioned in the blurb, with high-pressure cooking a recurring theme throughout this book, though the 'steaks' are much higher! Specifically, steaks from huge creatures, with meals made from these unlocking magical abilities.
Ryan Rose weaves a wonderful tale of revolution, revenge and recipes, told mainly via the main character telling his story from a prison cell. The story bounces between past events and the present day and it works so well in building tension, with some nice foreshadowing along the way. There are some excellent twists and the story maintains momentum from start to finish. There is an underlying theme of class wars and an academic setting too and some very engaging characters. All in all, a fantastic mix and I'm very excited to see where this series goes as I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Daphne Press for an ARC.
August 16, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for access to this eARC! All opinions are my own.
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Yes. I really did love this. This is the kind of fantasy and fantasy world that really works for me. The magic system working through cooking and food was gorgeous, and the language that is used about the food really transports you to that world. I wouldn't be surprised if the author loves cooking too.
Our main character is flawed and could be annoying at points, but he's also a seventeen year old boy so there's some slack to be given there. He grew on me by the end and I enjoyed his perspective. The cast of supporting characters also really worked for me, though the main romance was just fine.
The main draw here is definitely the magic, but the plot is very solid as well. A sort of rags to riches back to rags tale, left off with a cliffhanger for book two. Very excited for that!
_______________
Yes. I really did love this. This is the kind of fantasy and fantasy world that really works for me. The magic system working through cooking and food was gorgeous, and the language that is used about the food really transports you to that world. I wouldn't be surprised if the author loves cooking too.
Our main character is flawed and could be annoying at points, but he's also a seventeen year old boy so there's some slack to be given there. He grew on me by the end and I enjoyed his perspective. The cast of supporting characters also really worked for me, though the main romance was just fine.
The main draw here is definitely the magic, but the plot is very solid as well. A sort of rags to riches back to rags tale, left off with a cliffhanger for book two. Very excited for that!
September 15, 2025
I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via Black Crow PR and the publishers Daphne Press.
Seven Recipes for Revolution is a fast-paced, unique, and fresh entre into the fantasy genre.
I loved that the magical system in this book was food related. I did almost DNF in the first few chapters due to the butchering scenes, but I told myself to read one more chapter, and I'm so glad I stuck with it. Do check trigger warnings.
The divide between Common and Rare gave me Hunger Games vibes, and I really enjoyed the story being told from the Butcher to the archivist. This book has so many great subtle twists, and I found the word play using food was a nice touch and made me laugh afew times. I look forward to seeing where the story goes in book two, and I feel there's many more surprises to be unleashed within it.
Seven Recipes for Revolution is a fast-paced, unique, and fresh entre into the fantasy genre.
I loved that the magical system in this book was food related. I did almost DNF in the first few chapters due to the butchering scenes, but I told myself to read one more chapter, and I'm so glad I stuck with it. Do check trigger warnings.
The divide between Common and Rare gave me Hunger Games vibes, and I really enjoyed the story being told from the Butcher to the archivist. This book has so many great subtle twists, and I found the word play using food was a nice touch and made me laugh afew times. I look forward to seeing where the story goes in book two, and I feel there's many more surprises to be unleashed within it.
August 3, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
Seven Recipes for Revolution is the first novel in the epic fantasy series What We Eat, written by Ryan Rose, published by Daphne Press. When I saw the premise of this book months ago, it was an insta-add to the to be read list; it delivered: not only we have a high stakes story about rebellion and fighting the system from the inside, but a cast of characters that leave their imprint on the reader, cinematic battles (I wouldn't be surprised to see something similar in Shingeki No Kyojin) and cooking as the base for a really refreshing magic system that also captures some ideas that we will discuss later.
Our adventure is narrated by the own Paprick the Butcher, years later, from a cell in the presence of a scribe; the story from the moment he was only Paprick, a butcher, working in a factory that harvests emphon meat, the base of the Rares' recipes. The Common are forbidden from consuming it; but in a desperate situation, Paprick not only consumes it, but also, to avert a disaster, manages to create a new magic recipe. What in any other case would have been a death sentence, for Paprick means that the doors are open to reach his goal: to train as a Chef, even if he's of Common origin.
From being on the edge of starvation, to become a symbol of the Common and their revolution against the Rare; but he will also have to navigate a dangerous and painful world among the Rare, while trying to keep others safe from the conspiracies and threats that come in this complex world (apart from the own danger that comes attached to a revolution).
Having a relatively young character such as Paprick is always a challenge; but I think Rose made a great job adding the context from the older Paprick to the story. By himself, Paprick could be defined as somebody marked by suffering, grief and compassion; we will see him in danger many times while trying to help others. It is true that he might be prone to anger, but in a world such as the one in Seven Recipes for Revolution, we could probably point that as a consequence of how the Common are constantly living oppressed and under the fear of starvation.
The rest of the secondary cast, especially regarding Paprick's mates at the academy and those that were Common are quite likeable, especially as we get to know them (even if a certain twist concealed a harsh truth). While they might be eclipsed by Paprick's light, they all have memorable moments, points that you fondly remember after ending.
The worldbuilding of Seven Recipes for Revolution seems simple at first glance: a society divided into two classes, one oppressing the other and restricting their access to magic; but Rose manages to infuse it with a great richness of detail, putting the food in the center of the book. Not only we have the contrast between the Rare way of cooking, much more sophisticated, and the Common, more utilitarian but also flavourful, but Rose captures perfectly themes such as how having a meal can bring people together, create a sense of community through the shared recipes, and how cooking might almost be alchemic, transforming ingredients into a totally different thing.
It is true that this is a merciless world, and that also is reflected in how starvation is used as a control tool against the common, with violence being the other weapon for the regiment. A revolution can't be painless, and sometimes the leaders need to peruse if the price is not too steep.
The pacing starts strong enough to keep you engaged through those moments that can be slower, especially as we see Paprick entering a new world for him, but just enjoy this crazy travel, because there are scenes that will keep you at the end of the seat.
Seven Recipes for Revolution is all I could have asked from this title when I first saw it and more; not only we have a promising epic proposal that hints of going bigger with the successive books, but also a compelling story that will make you feel many things (hunger among them). Ryan Rose has nailed his debut, and I can only wait for the second book in the What We Eat series.
Seven Recipes for Revolution is the first novel in the epic fantasy series What We Eat, written by Ryan Rose, published by Daphne Press. When I saw the premise of this book months ago, it was an insta-add to the to be read list; it delivered: not only we have a high stakes story about rebellion and fighting the system from the inside, but a cast of characters that leave their imprint on the reader, cinematic battles (I wouldn't be surprised to see something similar in Shingeki No Kyojin) and cooking as the base for a really refreshing magic system that also captures some ideas that we will discuss later.
Our adventure is narrated by the own Paprick the Butcher, years later, from a cell in the presence of a scribe; the story from the moment he was only Paprick, a butcher, working in a factory that harvests emphon meat, the base of the Rares' recipes. The Common are forbidden from consuming it; but in a desperate situation, Paprick not only consumes it, but also, to avert a disaster, manages to create a new magic recipe. What in any other case would have been a death sentence, for Paprick means that the doors are open to reach his goal: to train as a Chef, even if he's of Common origin.
From being on the edge of starvation, to become a symbol of the Common and their revolution against the Rare; but he will also have to navigate a dangerous and painful world among the Rare, while trying to keep others safe from the conspiracies and threats that come in this complex world (apart from the own danger that comes attached to a revolution).
Having a relatively young character such as Paprick is always a challenge; but I think Rose made a great job adding the context from the older Paprick to the story. By himself, Paprick could be defined as somebody marked by suffering, grief and compassion; we will see him in danger many times while trying to help others. It is true that he might be prone to anger, but in a world such as the one in Seven Recipes for Revolution, we could probably point that as a consequence of how the Common are constantly living oppressed and under the fear of starvation.
The rest of the secondary cast, especially regarding Paprick's mates at the academy and those that were Common are quite likeable, especially as we get to know them (even if a certain twist concealed a harsh truth). While they might be eclipsed by Paprick's light, they all have memorable moments, points that you fondly remember after ending.
The worldbuilding of Seven Recipes for Revolution seems simple at first glance: a society divided into two classes, one oppressing the other and restricting their access to magic; but Rose manages to infuse it with a great richness of detail, putting the food in the center of the book. Not only we have the contrast between the Rare way of cooking, much more sophisticated, and the Common, more utilitarian but also flavourful, but Rose captures perfectly themes such as how having a meal can bring people together, create a sense of community through the shared recipes, and how cooking might almost be alchemic, transforming ingredients into a totally different thing.
It is true that this is a merciless world, and that also is reflected in how starvation is used as a control tool against the common, with violence being the other weapon for the regiment. A revolution can't be painless, and sometimes the leaders need to peruse if the price is not too steep.
The pacing starts strong enough to keep you engaged through those moments that can be slower, especially as we see Paprick entering a new world for him, but just enjoy this crazy travel, because there are scenes that will keep you at the end of the seat.
Seven Recipes for Revolution is all I could have asked from this title when I first saw it and more; not only we have a promising epic proposal that hints of going bigger with the successive books, but also a compelling story that will make you feel many things (hunger among them). Ryan Rose has nailed his debut, and I can only wait for the second book in the What We Eat series.
June 9, 2025
this was a mix of all sorts of different media i love. if you’re a fan of any of these i’d recommend giving this a try:
attack on titan, delicious in dungeon, monster hunter, hunger games.
as much as i loved the multiple similarities it still fell a bit flat for me. i didn’t feel any sort of connection to the characters. i struggled with the pacing, it had a slow start but became cluttered at the end. the change of timelines between past and future -(recounting the past) which felt kind of unnecessary and maybe would’ve flowed better without it?
the whole food and endurance side was super cool though, i loved the addition of the detailed meals and their buffs, it was a nice touch. i wish we could’ve seen more of these in action. overall was a fun read but didn’t grip me as much.
thank you to netgalley for providing me with an e arc :)
attack on titan, delicious in dungeon, monster hunter, hunger games.
as much as i loved the multiple similarities it still fell a bit flat for me. i didn’t feel any sort of connection to the characters. i struggled with the pacing, it had a slow start but became cluttered at the end. the change of timelines between past and future -(recounting the past) which felt kind of unnecessary and maybe would’ve flowed better without it?
the whole food and endurance side was super cool though, i loved the addition of the detailed meals and their buffs, it was a nice touch. i wish we could’ve seen more of these in action. overall was a fun read but didn’t grip me as much.
thank you to netgalley for providing me with an e arc :)
July 28, 2025
Ok, I was sent this one for a review, and I absolutely fell in love with it. This is the first book by this author, and yet it's so incredibly original and awesome that I just fell into this world and didn't want it to end. It's told in a sort of chronicler/conversation narrative style, with a scribe taking down the story of Paprick, a young boy who turns into a force to be reckoned with, known as the Butcher. We start the story with the Butcher who has been caught and is telling his tale, and we go back in time to follow his tale and decide what we truly believe about his misdeeds...
This world is a fascinating one, magic and power is very divided up, with only the rich (Rare) having access to 'Greater recipes' which, when eaten, will grant powers. The poor (Common) of this world are those who are forced to live in slums and work every day to earn their freedom. They are allocated the worst jobs, like being a butcher and carving up the magical beasts of the world whose flesh regenerates and offers magical powers itself. They sweat and continue to work hard every day of their lives, and they have strong community, but very few prospects to improve their lives.
Paprick has always wished he could taste a Greater, and he's always aspired to be a Chef too as he loves to cook just like his Mums. He doesn't really see a way to make that dream happen, until his superior suggests he take some of the meat he carves for himself, and he does... After this opportunity seems within reach, and he takes a risk to see what he can do...
The story from here is filled with intrigue, mystery, politics, magical culinary schools and more. It's a recipe for everything I like in a book, and yet it feels fresh and exciting and different to things I have read about and seen before. I was so desperate to continue the series, and sad that we will have a bit of a wait before the next one, but I will definitely be auto-buying the sequel as soon as it's out. I fell in love with the world and the characters, and I just want more. 5*s
This world is a fascinating one, magic and power is very divided up, with only the rich (Rare) having access to 'Greater recipes' which, when eaten, will grant powers. The poor (Common) of this world are those who are forced to live in slums and work every day to earn their freedom. They are allocated the worst jobs, like being a butcher and carving up the magical beasts of the world whose flesh regenerates and offers magical powers itself. They sweat and continue to work hard every day of their lives, and they have strong community, but very few prospects to improve their lives.
Paprick has always wished he could taste a Greater, and he's always aspired to be a Chef too as he loves to cook just like his Mums. He doesn't really see a way to make that dream happen, until his superior suggests he take some of the meat he carves for himself, and he does... After this opportunity seems within reach, and he takes a risk to see what he can do...
The story from here is filled with intrigue, mystery, politics, magical culinary schools and more. It's a recipe for everything I like in a book, and yet it feels fresh and exciting and different to things I have read about and seen before. I was so desperate to continue the series, and sad that we will have a bit of a wait before the next one, but I will definitely be auto-buying the sequel as soon as it's out. I fell in love with the world and the characters, and I just want more. 5*s
January 1, 2025
Received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for honest opinion, thanks!
The blurb of Seven Recipes for Revolution states that it is "perfect for fans of Pierce Brown and Jay Kristoff"; not sure how it is for everyone else, but as someone who did not enjoy a single book of theirs, it was a rather red flag. Fortunately, the blurb consists of much more than a simple comparison.
Ryan Rose managed to do something neither of those mentioned authors could – create a greater story around a rather young protagonist. Paprick is a teenager in a cruel world, one that got his love for food from his mothers, and yet is stopped from pursuing that passion due to strict rules. But even a common can shake the world, just like a common may attend a prestigious Culinary Academy, while being accused of the greatest crime possible.
Story of young Paprick is intertwined with story of Paprick the Butcher, a figure so powerful and terrifying, people crave his interrogation to reveal his secrets. And that works. It is incredibly captivating to discover this story from two different perspectives. Rose writes with incredible lightness, even as he is describing the most devastating scene. It is also delightfully queer, which I appreciate greatly.
Seven Recipes for Revolution serves as an obvious beginning to a bigger narrative, and it works perfectly – everything starts somewhere, every step is important. I may not be the earnest fan of books set in universities, as I find them rather boring, especially when I know there is something bigger waiting around the corner. But truth to be told, that's on me, even Poppy War couldn't make me interested in that. Here, it is the sole reason my reading took so long. But in the same time I must admit, Rose does a lot of things to never really focus only on one subplot at the time. There is a constant action, even if you discover it only after few chapters – each ingredient is necessary to cook the delicious dish this book happens to be.
Recommended with pleasure and full stomach, as you do grow hungry during the reading.
The blurb of Seven Recipes for Revolution states that it is "perfect for fans of Pierce Brown and Jay Kristoff"; not sure how it is for everyone else, but as someone who did not enjoy a single book of theirs, it was a rather red flag. Fortunately, the blurb consists of much more than a simple comparison.
Ryan Rose managed to do something neither of those mentioned authors could – create a greater story around a rather young protagonist. Paprick is a teenager in a cruel world, one that got his love for food from his mothers, and yet is stopped from pursuing that passion due to strict rules. But even a common can shake the world, just like a common may attend a prestigious Culinary Academy, while being accused of the greatest crime possible.
Story of young Paprick is intertwined with story of Paprick the Butcher, a figure so powerful and terrifying, people crave his interrogation to reveal his secrets. And that works. It is incredibly captivating to discover this story from two different perspectives. Rose writes with incredible lightness, even as he is describing the most devastating scene. It is also delightfully queer, which I appreciate greatly.
Seven Recipes for Revolution serves as an obvious beginning to a bigger narrative, and it works perfectly – everything starts somewhere, every step is important. I may not be the earnest fan of books set in universities, as I find them rather boring, especially when I know there is something bigger waiting around the corner. But truth to be told, that's on me, even Poppy War couldn't make me interested in that. Here, it is the sole reason my reading took so long. But in the same time I must admit, Rose does a lot of things to never really focus only on one subplot at the time. There is a constant action, even if you discover it only after few chapters – each ingredient is necessary to cook the delicious dish this book happens to be.
Recommended with pleasure and full stomach, as you do grow hungry during the reading.
Want to read
October 23, 2024Petrik strikes again 😅
December 5, 2024
Magic-centric culinary delights and giant kaiju? Reservation for 1, please!
Rose’s Seven Recipes for Revolution is a dash Hell's Kitchen, a pinch Pierce Brown, and a hint Hajime Isayama which culminates in one of the most palate-pleasing debuts I've ever read.
If the cover alone doesn't scream "BUY" - which it should - then take my word as a self-titled SFF connoisseur and foodie that this one is special.
I fully expect SRfR to be one of the hottest debuts of 2025 when it hits next Summer.
Rose’s Seven Recipes for Revolution is a dash Hell's Kitchen, a pinch Pierce Brown, and a hint Hajime Isayama which culminates in one of the most palate-pleasing debuts I've ever read.
If the cover alone doesn't scream "BUY" - which it should - then take my word as a self-titled SFF connoisseur and foodie that this one is special.
I fully expect SRfR to be one of the hottest debuts of 2025 when it hits next Summer.
February 1, 2025
I'm torn about this book. Like, REALLY torn. I gave it 2.5 stars because I didn't DNF it, but there were multiple instances where I was going to. It seemed to have a really slow start and I feel like it didn't actually interest me until it all started to kick off, which I thought was a substantial way in. I didn't feel any connection to the characters, the ending seemed kinda smoothed over and I feel like not enough attention was actually paid to the events that occurred. Also, there is a strange timeline - the story is being told as though it is being recounted, but there wasn't a clear distinguishment between the future (current) events and those which had happened years prior. I was struggling to get a grip of where we were in the timeline and the fact that from one line to the next there wasn't a clear indication of which time period we were in made it harder to read. I preferred the ending, but still wasn't 'impressed', which was a real disappointment because I loved the concept. Overall it gave Hunger Games vibes but with food and recipes rather than resources, and I would struggle to recommend it to others.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC.
July 12, 2025
The blurb name-drops Pierce Brown and Jay Kristoff, which made me hesitate, since I haven’t really clicked with either of them (yet; I’m hopeful for Empire of the Vampire). But Seven Recipes for Revolution went beyond the buzzwords and thankfully offered more. It’s a solid, often surprising story that blends monster butchery, culinary magic, and class war in a way that feels fresh—even if some parts work better than others.
Paprick, a seventeen-year-old butcher scraping by on the lower rungs of society, suddenly finds himself invited into the elite world of the Rares when he discovers a powerful new recipe. From there, he’s swept into a world of monstrous magic, privileged politics, and brewing revolution. The entire story is framed as his confession to an archivist while awaiting execution, which gives the narrative a constant hum of fatalism and tension.
The worldbuilding is where this book really shines. The culinary magic system (eating monster meat to gain power) might not be brand new if you’re an RPG nerd, but the culinary school + monster-butchery combo, layered with class commentary and academic scheming? Chef’s kiss. The themes are strong, especially around elitism, propaganda, and revolution, and the plot carries momentum throughout with a few sharp twists.
Paprick himself is easy to root for. His arc is full of heart, sacrifice, and grit. That said, the supporting cast didn’t leave as strong an impression. Some major moments hit hard in concept, but lacked the emotional shrapnel I was hoping for. Still, the plot doesn’t lose steam, and some of the twists are genuinely excellent.
The pacing started strong enough. It gave the world time to unfold, raised interesting questions, and didn’t feel rushed early on. But near the end of the middle section, it slows down a little too much and starts to feel repetitive, like it's circling the same ideas instead of moving forward. Then the final act hits and it goes from simmer to full boil almost instantly. It feels like we skipped a few steps getting there. It’s explosive and dramatic, sure, but it would’ve hit harder with a smoother transition and a little more time to build toward that climax.
The audiobook, provided to me by Bolinda Audio and NetGalley, was a strong experience overall. Narrated by Shaun Mendum (Scratch from Baldur’s Gate 3! My best boy!), the performance was great. His delivery suits the tone. Wry when it needs to be, heartfelt when it counts. The pace is a bit slow at default, but 1.5x to 1.75x was perfect. I flew through it in two days, and that should tell you everything.
This isn’t a flawless debut, but it’s ambitious, thoughtful, and full of bold ideas. I’ll absolutely check out the sequel and probably grab the physical copy too, since I heard there’s some monster art worth drooling over.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Paprick, a seventeen-year-old butcher scraping by on the lower rungs of society, suddenly finds himself invited into the elite world of the Rares when he discovers a powerful new recipe. From there, he’s swept into a world of monstrous magic, privileged politics, and brewing revolution. The entire story is framed as his confession to an archivist while awaiting execution, which gives the narrative a constant hum of fatalism and tension.
The worldbuilding is where this book really shines. The culinary magic system (eating monster meat to gain power) might not be brand new if you’re an RPG nerd, but the culinary school + monster-butchery combo, layered with class commentary and academic scheming? Chef’s kiss. The themes are strong, especially around elitism, propaganda, and revolution, and the plot carries momentum throughout with a few sharp twists.
Paprick himself is easy to root for. His arc is full of heart, sacrifice, and grit. That said, the supporting cast didn’t leave as strong an impression. Some major moments hit hard in concept, but lacked the emotional shrapnel I was hoping for. Still, the plot doesn’t lose steam, and some of the twists are genuinely excellent.
The pacing started strong enough. It gave the world time to unfold, raised interesting questions, and didn’t feel rushed early on. But near the end of the middle section, it slows down a little too much and starts to feel repetitive, like it's circling the same ideas instead of moving forward. Then the final act hits and it goes from simmer to full boil almost instantly. It feels like we skipped a few steps getting there. It’s explosive and dramatic, sure, but it would’ve hit harder with a smoother transition and a little more time to build toward that climax.
The audiobook, provided to me by Bolinda Audio and NetGalley, was a strong experience overall. Narrated by Shaun Mendum (Scratch from Baldur’s Gate 3! My best boy!), the performance was great. His delivery suits the tone. Wry when it needs to be, heartfelt when it counts. The pace is a bit slow at default, but 1.5x to 1.75x was perfect. I flew through it in two days, and that should tell you everything.
This isn’t a flawless debut, but it’s ambitious, thoughtful, and full of bold ideas. I’ll absolutely check out the sequel and probably grab the physical copy too, since I heard there’s some monster art worth drooling over.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2025
Eating kaijū… and the rich
Seven Recipes for Revolution is somehow Ryan Rose’s début and the first in a trilogy (with books 2 and 3 coming out in Summer 2026 and Summer 2027). Quite how this can be the case, I don’t entirely understand, because it’s an excellent YA fantasy, with a compelling, credible setting and an inventive magic system. Essentially, the city is run by an élite who make recipes that grant superpowers, from kaijū meat, in order to maintain their highly socially-stratified society.
To quote the first line, “Before he was Paprick the Butcher, he was Paprick, a butcher”. Our protagonist has a love for the culinary arts, but spends his day working as indentured labour in a factory that harvests meat from Emphons, the local mega-megafauna. He and his underclass friends and family are perpetually on the edge of starvation and live in near-poverty. But one day, after stealing some kaijū meat, a crime punishable by death for the non-élite, he manages to help avert disaster after accidentally creating a new magic recipe — the first in many years — giving him an opportunity he had never dared to dream possible: to train as a Chef.
Thus starts an adventure — and a revolution — which we see narrated from Paprick’s prison cell many years later.
I really enjoyed this book; it was wittily funny and paced well, with twists and discoveries throughout and you have to love a well-written unreliable narrator, even more so one who questions the means and motives of revolution. The seven recipes all sound delicious and give a real sense of how Ranch feels, to combine with the amazing worldbuilding (including linguistic worldbuilding). The class politics felt real and lived, especially in how people relate to food. As another reviewer put it, “this is a world where inequality is violent, where power corrupts, and where even a miracle can be weaponised”. And, as ever, I was really pleased to read something set in a queernorm (and enbynorm) culture and with both disabled and racialised characters present without being there as heavy-handed expository tools.
It is worth bearing in mind that there is some unpleasant content involved — revolutions are never without cost and it’s rare for people to want to overthrow tyranny without the state having committed violence against them, after all. Content notes that I tagged include animal cruelty, body horror, class violence, death of animals, death of family, mob violence, murder, plague, slavery, state violence, torture and war. But none of these is included unnecessarily or without justification. I am unusually sensitive to animal cruelty and found the first few chapters a little hard in that regard, but it pays off well and I’m glad I persevered.
Overall, this is an outstanding début that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys some revolutionary fiction or who likes seeing food centred in their reads (and who won’t struggle with the trigger warnings, of course). I really hope Rose’s previous unpublished novels get some love and attention and I am super excited for the second and third in the trilogy and I look forward to devouring them faster than some stolen Emphon steaks.
Also: Kerby Rosanes’s cover art for the US edition is awesome and really gives a sense of the scale of the kaijū — indeed it’s only when I saw the large version in Ryan Rose’s press kit on my laptop that I even noticed Paprick is stood on top (and looking very cool!)
I received a free copy of Seven Recipes for Revolution from NetGalley, on the expectation of an honest review, but not necessarily an endorsement. This review can also be found on my blog and NetGalley, as well as Amazon and Waterstones.
Seven Recipes for Revolution is somehow Ryan Rose’s début and the first in a trilogy (with books 2 and 3 coming out in Summer 2026 and Summer 2027). Quite how this can be the case, I don’t entirely understand, because it’s an excellent YA fantasy, with a compelling, credible setting and an inventive magic system. Essentially, the city is run by an élite who make recipes that grant superpowers, from kaijū meat, in order to maintain their highly socially-stratified society.
To quote the first line, “Before he was Paprick the Butcher, he was Paprick, a butcher”. Our protagonist has a love for the culinary arts, but spends his day working as indentured labour in a factory that harvests meat from Emphons, the local mega-megafauna. He and his underclass friends and family are perpetually on the edge of starvation and live in near-poverty. But one day, after stealing some kaijū meat, a crime punishable by death for the non-élite, he manages to help avert disaster after accidentally creating a new magic recipe — the first in many years — giving him an opportunity he had never dared to dream possible: to train as a Chef.
Thus starts an adventure — and a revolution — which we see narrated from Paprick’s prison cell many years later.
I really enjoyed this book; it was wittily funny and paced well, with twists and discoveries throughout and you have to love a well-written unreliable narrator, even more so one who questions the means and motives of revolution. The seven recipes all sound delicious and give a real sense of how Ranch feels, to combine with the amazing worldbuilding (including linguistic worldbuilding). The class politics felt real and lived, especially in how people relate to food. As another reviewer put it, “this is a world where inequality is violent, where power corrupts, and where even a miracle can be weaponised”. And, as ever, I was really pleased to read something set in a queernorm (and enbynorm) culture and with both disabled and racialised characters present without being there as heavy-handed expository tools.
It is worth bearing in mind that there is some unpleasant content involved — revolutions are never without cost and it’s rare for people to want to overthrow tyranny without the state having committed violence against them, after all. Content notes that I tagged include animal cruelty, body horror, class violence, death of animals, death of family, mob violence, murder, plague, slavery, state violence, torture and war. But none of these is included unnecessarily or without justification. I am unusually sensitive to animal cruelty and found the first few chapters a little hard in that regard, but it pays off well and I’m glad I persevered.
Overall, this is an outstanding début that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys some revolutionary fiction or who likes seeing food centred in their reads (and who won’t struggle with the trigger warnings, of course). I really hope Rose’s previous unpublished novels get some love and attention and I am super excited for the second and third in the trilogy and I look forward to devouring them faster than some stolen Emphon steaks.
Also: Kerby Rosanes’s cover art for the US edition is awesome and really gives a sense of the scale of the kaijū — indeed it’s only when I saw the large version in Ryan Rose’s press kit on my laptop that I even noticed Paprick is stood on top (and looking very cool!)
I received a free copy of Seven Recipes for Revolution from NetGalley, on the expectation of an honest review, but not necessarily an endorsement. This review can also be found on my blog and NetGalley, as well as Amazon and Waterstones.
May 1, 2025
There are 2 reasons to read this book: one, you're enamoured with the premise of magical cooking, and two, you like narrative gimnicks a la "omniscient 3rd person sliding into 1st person when mc tells his life story, but is he an unreliable narrator?" I'm generally not a fan of gimnicks, just give me a good story in a plain narration and stock worldbuilding and I'd be cool. Give me a creative worldbuilding and narration, but a boring story, and I'll dnf anyway.
Since the whole story starts with mc captured and interrogated in prison so he can tell his life story Name of the Wind style, it made me not even curious where is this story going, because we know where will the mc end.
As I said, the worldbuilding here is the best part. The whole culture, language, customs, everything revolving around food (for example "starving" is a swear word a la f-king, or exchanging snacks as a greeting gesture). There's also casual diversity, mc has 2 moms and several characters were darker-skinned.
But the plot? I was so bored. Even when a big action sequence happened I felt it was all for "rule of cool" rather than because it mattered. I had no emotional investment in the protagonist Paprick or his goal (also everyone being named after foodstuffs got old really quick).
I swear I need to think twice before I request another fantasy debut written by a man. So far it's been flop after flop. All of them have "things happen but it's all just going through the motions, plot for the sake of plot". Make me care, goddamnit. Last male-authored debut that made me interested was probably Bloodwoven or Talio's Codex and it's telling that the first is self-published and the second is through a small press kickstarter. But at least the protagonist didn't feel shallow and 1-dimensional. Give the protagonist some real moral or emotional struggles that aren't hand-waved in a minute, please.
Dnf at chapter 10 (18%).
Thank you Netgalley & Daphne Press for the ARC.
P.S. The ARC was also horrendously formatted. No page breaks between chapters, supposed 480 pages squeezed into 270, ugh.
Since the whole story starts with mc captured and interrogated in prison so he can tell his life story Name of the Wind style, it made me not even curious where is this story going, because we know where will the mc end.
As I said, the worldbuilding here is the best part. The whole culture, language, customs, everything revolving around food (for example "starving" is a swear word a la f-king, or exchanging snacks as a greeting gesture). There's also casual diversity, mc has 2 moms and several characters were darker-skinned.
But the plot? I was so bored. Even when a big action sequence happened I felt it was all for "rule of cool" rather than because it mattered. I had no emotional investment in the protagonist Paprick or his goal (also everyone being named after foodstuffs got old really quick).
I swear I need to think twice before I request another fantasy debut written by a man. So far it's been flop after flop. All of them have "things happen but it's all just going through the motions, plot for the sake of plot". Make me care, goddamnit. Last male-authored debut that made me interested was probably Bloodwoven or Talio's Codex and it's telling that the first is self-published and the second is through a small press kickstarter. But at least the protagonist didn't feel shallow and 1-dimensional. Give the protagonist some real moral or emotional struggles that aren't hand-waved in a minute, please.
Dnf at chapter 10 (18%).
Thank you Netgalley & Daphne Press for the ARC.
P.S. The ARC was also horrendously formatted. No page breaks between chapters, supposed 480 pages squeezed into 270, ugh.
July 3, 2025
This was an interesting book, the world building was pretty impressive for less than 300 pages and it’s a unique premise! I liked the stylistic writing and the choice of an unreliable narrator, I loved the discussions on systemic oppression and how being allowed to engage in a society that does not cater to you but requires you to conform is not equality, and I did like the inclusivity - although some of it verged on performative imo (especially considering the Butcher purposely used incorrect pronouns for someone because he was describing a time period before they stopped using she/her, that was a choice).
What I didn’t like was the cheesy levels of dedication to the food theme. A food based magic system and the importance of food to culture, family, grief, love- all amazing stuff!! I was very excited to be immersed. But I couldn’t get immersed because everyone had a cringy herb or spice name, the food spells are called things like “Chili Control” and “Omniscient Omelet” instead of cool, snappy names that might actually express the power of them.
The action was fun and gruesome in equal parts, the imagery of the Emphon was vivid and I’d love to see art of each one. I didn’t feel very connected to the characters, there were some very unemotional deaths where the protagonist tells but doesn’t show us how devastated he is. It was funny in parts and it felt fresh, I genuinely think some people will love it, I just wanted more.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the ARC!
What I didn’t like was the cheesy levels of dedication to the food theme. A food based magic system and the importance of food to culture, family, grief, love- all amazing stuff!! I was very excited to be immersed. But I couldn’t get immersed because everyone had a cringy herb or spice name, the food spells are called things like “Chili Control” and “Omniscient Omelet” instead of cool, snappy names that might actually express the power of them.
The action was fun and gruesome in equal parts, the imagery of the Emphon was vivid and I’d love to see art of each one. I didn’t feel very connected to the characters, there were some very unemotional deaths where the protagonist tells but doesn’t show us how devastated he is. It was funny in parts and it felt fresh, I genuinely think some people will love it, I just wanted more.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the ARC!
July 24, 2025
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Seven Recipes for Revolution is a breath of fresh air. It's a unique mixture of cooking and a fantasy world of inequality where we have to eat the rich. The layers of oppression and exploitation make it a ripe breeding ground for dissent. This catch 22 of coalescing the powers at the top without any chance for trickling down and instead propping up their gilded desires with the bodies of the common. Told with a frame narrative, a classic choice, we already know The Butcher's been captured, that justice is coming, but we are given one last chance to know the story. To hear the story of each decision which has lead us to here, all the excuses, the memories, and the making of a legend.
Seven Recipes for Revolution is a breath of fresh air. It's a unique mixture of cooking and a fantasy world of inequality where we have to eat the rich. The layers of oppression and exploitation make it a ripe breeding ground for dissent. This catch 22 of coalescing the powers at the top without any chance for trickling down and instead propping up their gilded desires with the bodies of the common. Told with a frame narrative, a classic choice, we already know The Butcher's been captured, that justice is coming, but we are given one last chance to know the story. To hear the story of each decision which has lead us to here, all the excuses, the memories, and the making of a legend.
September 24, 2025
Paprick is part of a crew that butchers Bull Emphons, monstrous bovines that stand 60 feet tall and weigh 40 tons, while they're still alive. He wants to be a chef, but the Culinary Academy only accepts Rares, not Commons. He's developing a Greater Recipe, which grants a strong magical ability and allows a Common to be accepted as a Rare. The problem is that the key ingredient for any Greater Recipe is forbidden to the Common. Time is against Paprick, 17, as only has until he's 18 to pay off his debt, or else his indenture becomes assured. That covers the first Course of seven, or about 20% of the book. The rest is the Culinary Academy, but it's more so about being involved with the rebellion against the King.
Due to a series of unfortunate events, this book doesn't have a coherent presentation. After I finished the first Course, I was confused about the setting. The author wrote in an interview, "I drafted half (about 70k) and went back to the beginning to rewrite the whole setting from a post-apocalyptic future setting to a second-world fantasy setting." In that same interview he writes "It has YA crossover appeal". Elsewhere the author notes that he was unable to sell any of his adult science fiction novels, which may explain the rewrite to YA-ish fantasy. Its bones remain science fiction though it's flesh is now fantasy. I don't know if it would've been better if he had taken a similar approach to Ken Liu's silkpunk series, The Dandelion Dynasty, which has an extended cooking scene that I enjoyed much more.
This book is meant to be queernormative. Each character serves some purpose of identity, rather than their identity serving a purpose, aside from marketing. How very normative. There's an overreliance on twists and too often the narrator, this is a frame story, will inform the reader of what is to happen. Whether the narrator is reliable is a different matter.
To use a food metaphor, which the author greatly indulges in, the book has been butchered by everything done to it. The question becomes whether it's worth changing what you've done so much that it may become unrecognizable to what it was meant to be. Would the author have been better off self-publishing? I don't know. I do know that I'm being presumptuous though.
Even so, it had several servings that were a delight. If all of this was as well prepared as its best course, it'd be worthy of a Michelin star. I wish there had been more cooking, as anything to do with food, from its preparation, to the classroom activities, and the meals themselves were delicious experiences. The author mentioned he was inspired by Attack on Titan, Food Wars, Delicious in Dungeon, and Monster Hunter, among others. Although their influence is evident, Rose ought to have cooked it more with anything culinary rather than grimdark, because as Gordon Ramsay would say, "It's raw."
Rating: 2.5/5
Due to a series of unfortunate events, this book doesn't have a coherent presentation. After I finished the first Course, I was confused about the setting. The author wrote in an interview, "I drafted half (about 70k) and went back to the beginning to rewrite the whole setting from a post-apocalyptic future setting to a second-world fantasy setting." In that same interview he writes "It has YA crossover appeal". Elsewhere the author notes that he was unable to sell any of his adult science fiction novels, which may explain the rewrite to YA-ish fantasy. Its bones remain science fiction though it's flesh is now fantasy. I don't know if it would've been better if he had taken a similar approach to Ken Liu's silkpunk series, The Dandelion Dynasty, which has an extended cooking scene that I enjoyed much more.
This book is meant to be queernormative. Each character serves some purpose of identity, rather than their identity serving a purpose, aside from marketing. How very normative. There's an overreliance on twists and too often the narrator, this is a frame story, will inform the reader of what is to happen. Whether the narrator is reliable is a different matter.
To use a food metaphor, which the author greatly indulges in, the book has been butchered by everything done to it. The question becomes whether it's worth changing what you've done so much that it may become unrecognizable to what it was meant to be. Would the author have been better off self-publishing? I don't know. I do know that I'm being presumptuous though.
Even so, it had several servings that were a delight. If all of this was as well prepared as its best course, it'd be worthy of a Michelin star. I wish there had been more cooking, as anything to do with food, from its preparation, to the classroom activities, and the meals themselves were delicious experiences. The author mentioned he was inspired by Attack on Titan, Food Wars, Delicious in Dungeon, and Monster Hunter, among others. Although their influence is evident, Rose ought to have cooked it more with anything culinary rather than grimdark, because as Gordon Ramsay would say, "It's raw."
Rating: 2.5/5
July 21, 2025
Imagine if The Will of The Many and Hell’s Kitchen had a love child - this book is it.
January 1, 2025
I’m not sure I have coherent thoughts after that ending, and I’m definitely not sure I’ll survive the wait until the sequel is out.
The comps (The Bear, AOT, Red Rising, EOTV) are absolutely perfect. It delivered precisely what I expected as far as vibes, but kept me on my toes the entire time, guessing until the very last page.
2025 debut to watch out for!!
The comps (The Bear, AOT, Red Rising, EOTV) are absolutely perfect. It delivered precisely what I expected as far as vibes, but kept me on my toes the entire time, guessing until the very last page.
2025 debut to watch out for!!
July 19, 2025
I recently read Seven Recipes for Revolution by Ryan Rose, and it’s one of the most original fantasy debuts I’ve come across in a while. It blends food, magic, (think Delicious in Dungeon in novel format) and rebellion in a world where monster meat fuels both class division and actual power. Paprick, a young butcher dreaming of more, stumbles into legend after a recipe mishap. It’s absurd in the best way.
Told from prison, Paprick’s story unfolds through flashbacks, showing his evolution from naive dreamer to reluctant revolutionary. The change of timelines between past and future - (recounting the past) didn’t really work for me. The character of Paprick is flawed, often frustrating, but fully human, and that at least made his journey feel compelling. The world around him is vivid and brutal, and the story doesn’t shy away from exposing the rot behind elite power structures.
I enjoyed the family dynamics, and though the romance felt a bit awkward at first, it found its footing. The setting is casually and diverse, which felt refreshing even if not always deeply explored.
At times, the pacing dipped especially early on with the time jumps but once it gains momentum, it really takes off in the last third of the story.
If you’re into fantasy that’s weird, bold, and full of heart with food as both magic and rebellion Seven Recipes for Revolution is absolutely worth a bite. It’s not perfect, but I’m hungry for more.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Daphne Press for an ARC.
Told from prison, Paprick’s story unfolds through flashbacks, showing his evolution from naive dreamer to reluctant revolutionary. The change of timelines between past and future - (recounting the past) didn’t really work for me. The character of Paprick is flawed, often frustrating, but fully human, and that at least made his journey feel compelling. The world around him is vivid and brutal, and the story doesn’t shy away from exposing the rot behind elite power structures.
I enjoyed the family dynamics, and though the romance felt a bit awkward at first, it found its footing. The setting is casually and diverse, which felt refreshing even if not always deeply explored.
At times, the pacing dipped especially early on with the time jumps but once it gains momentum, it really takes off in the last third of the story.
If you’re into fantasy that’s weird, bold, and full of heart with food as both magic and rebellion Seven Recipes for Revolution is absolutely worth a bite. It’s not perfect, but I’m hungry for more.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Daphne Press for an ARC.
November 5, 2025
4.4
*Review to come*
*Review to come*
June 13, 2025
“Nothing I can do will stop violence. Not without violence”
“Seven Recipes for Revolution” is a debut fantasy from American author @realryanprose and is described as “The Bear meets Attack on Titan”, got your attention already? It certainly did mine!
I really enjoy fantasies that approach magic/power systems with a unique and interesting spin and Rose really does that here with a magic system based on cooking. Essentially chefs can invent “greater” recipes that provide some kind of magical benefits via the meat obtained from emphon’s, massive beasts with regenerating flesh that are captured and kept alive whilst being butchered for their magical properties.
Paprick intuitively stumbles into creating his very own “greater” recipe that allows him to grow kaiju sized and in the process writes his own legend by defending the commons from a rampaging beast. Creating “greaters” is for the “rares” and not for the likes of Paprick. Every revolution needs a spark and Paprick may have inadvertently lit it.
We follow Paprick on his journey to adapt to high society life from his humble beginnings as a common butcher and the prejudices he faces along the way. Paprick recounts the story from his jail cell during conversations with “the archivist” in what is essentially his trial. This creates the possibility (and even acknowledged in the text) of an unreliable narrator. I think this is a good inclusion as it adds to the uncertainty. Paprick is “the butcher king”, he is a legend, his whole story is about the mythos around him, the legend that grew from whispers amongst commons, the hope that this myth provided and the spark that it lit. An unreliable narrator adds to this mythos as you have no idea how true the story is and whether some parts may have been made up or embellished to add to it.
The focus on food and cooking isn’t lost amongst the fantasy though. There are extensive periods spent detailing cooking, more technical processes (but not too complicated to be off putting), the emotional aspect of cooking and what it can represent, and small additions to the text like the commoners having “greeting snacks” and the use of cooking terms in every day conversation like “go starve”, “famines” and “a whole scalding greater”. Cooking isn’t just a small side part of the story, it is the beating heart of it.
I really enjoyed the chapters spent at the academy, I am really into dark academia at the moment and love anything school/academy based. There isn’t too much time spent there but there is enough to satiate my hunger for it.
There are also some serious underlying messages with regards to the meat industry, class divides in society, and the reminder that the power lies with the few at the expense of the many. On the face of it “Seven Recipes for Revolution” comes across as a fun, unique fantasy experience, but there are layers to it beyond that and it does leave you thinking a little deeper.
A massive thank you to Daphne Press and Net Galley for enabling me to have access to this digital arc. It was one of my most anticipated releases and it lived up to and exceeded all my hype!
“Seven Recipes for Revolution” is a debut fantasy from American author @realryanprose and is described as “The Bear meets Attack on Titan”, got your attention already? It certainly did mine!
I really enjoy fantasies that approach magic/power systems with a unique and interesting spin and Rose really does that here with a magic system based on cooking. Essentially chefs can invent “greater” recipes that provide some kind of magical benefits via the meat obtained from emphon’s, massive beasts with regenerating flesh that are captured and kept alive whilst being butchered for their magical properties.
Paprick intuitively stumbles into creating his very own “greater” recipe that allows him to grow kaiju sized and in the process writes his own legend by defending the commons from a rampaging beast. Creating “greaters” is for the “rares” and not for the likes of Paprick. Every revolution needs a spark and Paprick may have inadvertently lit it.
We follow Paprick on his journey to adapt to high society life from his humble beginnings as a common butcher and the prejudices he faces along the way. Paprick recounts the story from his jail cell during conversations with “the archivist” in what is essentially his trial. This creates the possibility (and even acknowledged in the text) of an unreliable narrator. I think this is a good inclusion as it adds to the uncertainty. Paprick is “the butcher king”, he is a legend, his whole story is about the mythos around him, the legend that grew from whispers amongst commons, the hope that this myth provided and the spark that it lit. An unreliable narrator adds to this mythos as you have no idea how true the story is and whether some parts may have been made up or embellished to add to it.
The focus on food and cooking isn’t lost amongst the fantasy though. There are extensive periods spent detailing cooking, more technical processes (but not too complicated to be off putting), the emotional aspect of cooking and what it can represent, and small additions to the text like the commoners having “greeting snacks” and the use of cooking terms in every day conversation like “go starve”, “famines” and “a whole scalding greater”. Cooking isn’t just a small side part of the story, it is the beating heart of it.
I really enjoyed the chapters spent at the academy, I am really into dark academia at the moment and love anything school/academy based. There isn’t too much time spent there but there is enough to satiate my hunger for it.
There are also some serious underlying messages with regards to the meat industry, class divides in society, and the reminder that the power lies with the few at the expense of the many. On the face of it “Seven Recipes for Revolution” comes across as a fun, unique fantasy experience, but there are layers to it beyond that and it does leave you thinking a little deeper.
A massive thank you to Daphne Press and Net Galley for enabling me to have access to this digital arc. It was one of my most anticipated releases and it lived up to and exceeded all my hype!
March 12, 2025
Thank you for this eARC.
The mostly-true story of how an ordinary common becomes the legendary Butcher, king-killer and Chef extraordinaire.
Paprick as a main character in both timelines was great—his journey from a young, quite naive man to a leader (and killer) was believable and at times gut-wrenching.
The magic system was unique and super interesting—it also kept me on my toes, developing and expanding as the novel went on, and as the characters themselves also learnt more about emphon. The dystopian setting was relatively simple in its setup (Rare vs commons) but well-executed, and the class politics were explored in depth (again, through Paprick’s eyes as he navigates the different sectors of society)
The interludes with the Butcher and the archivist were my favourite moments—a framing device reminding us that the narrative we’re hearing is a spin, and not necessarily the whole trust, whilst still teasing what is to come. In fact, I almost looked forward to these parts more than the main narrative, which at points felt like it could have moved faster—though the final chapters really sped up, and it was well worth pushing through!
All in all I really enjoyed this book—would definitely read the sequel and recommend to those who like their fantasy with a side of revolution!
July 8, 2025
I was genuinely intrigued by this title and it didn’t disappoint. I haven’t seen The Bear, so I can’t comment on that, but I definitely felt the Attack on Titan vibes; it’s also giving me Delicious in Dungeon vibes.
I really enjoyed the unreliable narrative told through an interview of sorts; a rite of innocence recorded by an archivist while Paprick “The Butcher” - our MMC - sits in his cell. I’m a big Dark Academia fan and while this book isn’t one, my academic desires were sated - my interest was piqued.
I can understand how some people have found the food names gimmicky but to be honest, I was into it. It was my jam, if you will!
However, I wouldn’t recommend reading this while eating - that definitely felt like a mistake! Saying that I am a vegetarian!
I completely devoured this book, ate it up, gorged if you will. So many food puns - I’ll show myself out!
Truthfully, I have now preordered this book through Waterstones and I’m eagerly awaiting book two!
Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the opportunity to read this title.
I really enjoyed the unreliable narrative told through an interview of sorts; a rite of innocence recorded by an archivist while Paprick “The Butcher” - our MMC - sits in his cell. I’m a big Dark Academia fan and while this book isn’t one, my academic desires were sated - my interest was piqued.
I can understand how some people have found the food names gimmicky but to be honest, I was into it. It was my jam, if you will!
However, I wouldn’t recommend reading this while eating - that definitely felt like a mistake! Saying that I am a vegetarian!
I completely devoured this book, ate it up, gorged if you will. So many food puns - I’ll show myself out!
Truthfully, I have now preordered this book through Waterstones and I’m eagerly awaiting book two!
Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the opportunity to read this title.
August 13, 2025
maybe a little closer to 3.5, but i’ll round up because my version has pretty sprayed edges
i like a lot of things about this! i think paprick is generally a pretty good protagonist and the cooking-turned-magic is generally really well done! the worldbuilding has its ups and downs, and im going to be especially critical of the language here because that’s what i care about in dystopian fantasy and that’s what i wrote my BA thesis on:
* i think using swear words centered around starving (since that’s what people in this world would be afraid of) is fun, but underutilized (nk jemisin does this REALLY well in the broken earth trilogy).
* i think it feels a little silly for people to introduce themselves with their name and pronouns (surely i would just find out their pronouns through the story?)
* american english is used for the lower class while british english is used for the upper class feels awkward and unnecessary (and the elevator/lift remark made me cringe a little)
* i like the naming conventions a lot, and i think the language makes it clear how important food is to this world (commons vs rares, gorging, etc), but its points about colonialism and food culture could use some more shaping and less telling, the dystopian aspects feel a little half-baked in their execution, but i see the vision, and i thought the ending was fun!
i like a lot of things about this! i think paprick is generally a pretty good protagonist and the cooking-turned-magic is generally really well done! the worldbuilding has its ups and downs, and im going to be especially critical of the language here because that’s what i care about in dystopian fantasy and that’s what i wrote my BA thesis on:
* i think using swear words centered around starving (since that’s what people in this world would be afraid of) is fun, but underutilized (nk jemisin does this REALLY well in the broken earth trilogy).
* i think it feels a little silly for people to introduce themselves with their name and pronouns (surely i would just find out their pronouns through the story?)
* american english is used for the lower class while british english is used for the upper class feels awkward and unnecessary (and the elevator/lift remark made me cringe a little)
* i like the naming conventions a lot, and i think the language makes it clear how important food is to this world (commons vs rares, gorging, etc), but its points about colonialism and food culture could use some more shaping and less telling, the dystopian aspects feel a little half-baked in their execution, but i see the vision, and i thought the ending was fun!
August 14, 2025
Review shared from my bookstagram @chapters.and.catnaps.
🌮🍰 BOOK REVIEW 🍰🌮
Seven Recipes for Revolution by Ryan Rose - ⭐⭐💫
Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🔟 Word Plot Summary (spoiler-free):
Working-class teenage butcher dreams of cooking up revolutionary recipe.
🍕 The Well-Seasoned:
- The unique food-based world is enticing, and I can't fault the author's commitment to the theme.
- The cover art is incredible and captures the revolutionary vibes of the book perfectly. The e-ARC doesn't have a cover page, but I've included the Waterstones and Broken Binding editions in my post.
- I really enjoyed some of the side characters (shout-out Cutler), personally finding them to have more impressive and interesting personalities than our MC. This might be because I'm not a teenager and don't really relate to the MC.
- The book is written in an engaging way that keeps you reading chapter after chapter (even with its flaws, which I'll come onto now).
🥩 The Undercooked:
- I found that the food-based naming and language conventions got starving tiresome quickly. There's only so much of it I can take before it starts to feel like a parody of itself.
- The main characters felt a bit underdeveloped to me, and I didn't find myself particularly invested in their journey.
- The book had the potential to delve into some interesting themes of class divide and animal rights, but it fails to get under the skin of these issues.
Ultimately, I think I'm not the target audience for this book. If you enjoy YA fantasy with cheeky characters and a distinct world, then Seven Recipes for Revolution could be for you. Its unique premise and promising world-building might be enough to satiate some, but for me it didn't feel like there was enough to chew on.
🌮🍰 BOOK REVIEW 🍰🌮
Seven Recipes for Revolution by Ryan Rose - ⭐⭐💫
Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🔟 Word Plot Summary (spoiler-free):
Working-class teenage butcher dreams of cooking up revolutionary recipe.
🍕 The Well-Seasoned:
- The unique food-based world is enticing, and I can't fault the author's commitment to the theme.
- The cover art is incredible and captures the revolutionary vibes of the book perfectly. The e-ARC doesn't have a cover page, but I've included the Waterstones and Broken Binding editions in my post.
- I really enjoyed some of the side characters (shout-out Cutler), personally finding them to have more impressive and interesting personalities than our MC. This might be because I'm not a teenager and don't really relate to the MC.
- The book is written in an engaging way that keeps you reading chapter after chapter (even with its flaws, which I'll come onto now).
🥩 The Undercooked:
- I found that the food-based naming and language conventions got starving tiresome quickly. There's only so much of it I can take before it starts to feel like a parody of itself.
- The main characters felt a bit underdeveloped to me, and I didn't find myself particularly invested in their journey.
- The book had the potential to delve into some interesting themes of class divide and animal rights, but it fails to get under the skin of these issues.
Ultimately, I think I'm not the target audience for this book. If you enjoy YA fantasy with cheeky characters and a distinct world, then Seven Recipes for Revolution could be for you. Its unique premise and promising world-building might be enough to satiate some, but for me it didn't feel like there was enough to chew on.
August 6, 2025
Really good book, there's just a few too many cooking idioms and references sledgehammered into the writing over the first two thirds of the book that did cause a few eye rolls.
It could have been an amazing book if it balanced these out a little more and didn't go so hard into the cooking gimmick.
I will likely still read the next book in the series to see how it goes as the last third definitely was much more enjoyable as the frequency of cooking idioms lessened.
It could have been an amazing book if it balanced these out a little more and didn't go so hard into the cooking gimmick.
I will likely still read the next book in the series to see how it goes as the last third definitely was much more enjoyable as the frequency of cooking idioms lessened.
August 21, 2025
DNF review 🫣
Seven Recipes for Revolution
Aghh I so badly wanted to like this and was really excited for it 😬
The plot revolves around Paprick (already not a fan of the name) an indebted butcher forced to carve up gargantuan beasts to scrape a meagre living. Paprick's true passion lies in cooking and he begins smuggling illegal ingredients home to prepare rare and delicious meals. Soon enough, he finds himself embroiled in revolution with each step landing him closer and closer to the butcher's block.
Unfortunately, I really struggled to click with the writing style which rather felt like I was watching a Marvel movie rather than reading a book. There were somehow a lot of words used to describe very little and though the plot took a while to get going, I didn't feel this benefited my understanding of the characters at all.
My main gripe was that it felt too gimmicky. It needed to take itself *slightly* more seriously and do more show, less tell. Don't get me wrong, I love a fun, silly read - The Devils is one of my faves this year - but this book handled it clumsily.
We are repeatedly told how quick-thinking the main character is but there was very little evidence of his quick-wittedness and instead he came across as nothing short of arrogant (a trait I really despise).
The chapters which cut away from the main action and showed us the Butcher regaling his story to the Archivist were my favourite parts and reminded me strongly of similar scenes in The Name of the Wind.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me this copy, unfortunately this book wasn't for me BUT it may very well click with someone else! I find negative reviews often really helpful when deciding if a book is for me especially as reading is so subjective.
Seven Recipes for Revolution
Aghh I so badly wanted to like this and was really excited for it 😬
The plot revolves around Paprick (already not a fan of the name) an indebted butcher forced to carve up gargantuan beasts to scrape a meagre living. Paprick's true passion lies in cooking and he begins smuggling illegal ingredients home to prepare rare and delicious meals. Soon enough, he finds himself embroiled in revolution with each step landing him closer and closer to the butcher's block.
Unfortunately, I really struggled to click with the writing style which rather felt like I was watching a Marvel movie rather than reading a book. There were somehow a lot of words used to describe very little and though the plot took a while to get going, I didn't feel this benefited my understanding of the characters at all.
My main gripe was that it felt too gimmicky. It needed to take itself *slightly* more seriously and do more show, less tell. Don't get me wrong, I love a fun, silly read - The Devils is one of my faves this year - but this book handled it clumsily.
We are repeatedly told how quick-thinking the main character is but there was very little evidence of his quick-wittedness and instead he came across as nothing short of arrogant (a trait I really despise).
The chapters which cut away from the main action and showed us the Butcher regaling his story to the Archivist were my favourite parts and reminded me strongly of similar scenes in The Name of the Wind.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me this copy, unfortunately this book wasn't for me BUT it may very well click with someone else! I find negative reviews often really helpful when deciding if a book is for me especially as reading is so subjective.
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