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What We Eat #2
Eight Tastes of Treachery
"Compelling, riotous, and utterly fresh!" —Sunyi Dean, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book Eaters
Monster Hunter and Empire of the Vampire collide in the adventurous sequel to Seven Recipes for Revolution, guaranteed to make you crave delicious fantasy dishes.
Three years after eating the rich, Paprick Bessa is an infamous warchef known as the Butcher. Numbed by grief and war with the ousted rulers, Paprick no longer enjoys cooking and can't create new recipes. So when Ranch finally reaches a tenuous ceasefire with the Rare, Paprick seizes the chance to reheat his passions, opening a restaurant with a menu all his own.
But conspiracy interrupts the opening night, his own emphon destroy the restaurant, and all signs point to the neighbouring Empire of the Badgeboar. Whoever orchestrated this threatens to destroy everything Paprick and Ranch's common fought for, and the Butcher leaves no threat breathing. To find the attacker and stop another all-out war, Paprick, his partner Cori, and his kitchen brigade journey west to curry favour with the Empire's questionable elite and investigate its mysterious religions.
Treacherous forces and dire prophecies lie in wait for Paprick's arrival, and all the while, the Rare re-arm in the east. Facing magics and flavours unlike any he's ever tasted, Paprick will have to choose what matters his people, his passions, or his partner. He can't save all three.
Monster Hunter and Empire of the Vampire collide in the adventurous sequel to Seven Recipes for Revolution, guaranteed to make you crave delicious fantasy dishes.
Three years after eating the rich, Paprick Bessa is an infamous warchef known as the Butcher. Numbed by grief and war with the ousted rulers, Paprick no longer enjoys cooking and can't create new recipes. So when Ranch finally reaches a tenuous ceasefire with the Rare, Paprick seizes the chance to reheat his passions, opening a restaurant with a menu all his own.
But conspiracy interrupts the opening night, his own emphon destroy the restaurant, and all signs point to the neighbouring Empire of the Badgeboar. Whoever orchestrated this threatens to destroy everything Paprick and Ranch's common fought for, and the Butcher leaves no threat breathing. To find the attacker and stop another all-out war, Paprick, his partner Cori, and his kitchen brigade journey west to curry favour with the Empire's questionable elite and investigate its mysterious religions.
Treacherous forces and dire prophecies lie in wait for Paprick's arrival, and all the while, the Rare re-arm in the east. Facing magics and flavours unlike any he's ever tasted, Paprick will have to choose what matters his people, his passions, or his partner. He can't save all three.
575 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2026
About the author
Ryan Rose
2 books64 followersAfter escaping his hometown in Central Florida, Ryan Rose made his way to Los Angeles. There, he attended the University of Southern California, studying to become a chemical engineer. He was sure he would one day be an asteroid miner.
A year later, he became an English major working in Concert and Live Entertainment production and writing a fantasy novel, eager to become a full-time author. These days, Ryan lives in Oakland with his partner and their dog, which may in fact be a demon. He still works in event production (occasionally) but now works to support Democracy Policy, which is more relevant to revolutions at least. Ryan continues to write about ridiculous things, like a world where people eat kaiju to gain superpowers. At least he achieved that author thing part-time.
His debut epic fantasy novel, Seven Recipes for Revolution, debuted in July 2025. It is the first in the What We Eat trilogy. He is represented by Harry Illingworth of DHH Literary Agency. You can find Ryan active on Instagram and less active on Bluesky and Twitter.
A year later, he became an English major working in Concert and Live Entertainment production and writing a fantasy novel, eager to become a full-time author. These days, Ryan lives in Oakland with his partner and their dog, which may in fact be a demon. He still works in event production (occasionally) but now works to support Democracy Policy, which is more relevant to revolutions at least. Ryan continues to write about ridiculous things, like a world where people eat kaiju to gain superpowers. At least he achieved that author thing part-time.
His debut epic fantasy novel, Seven Recipes for Revolution, debuted in July 2025. It is the first in the What We Eat trilogy. He is represented by Harry Illingworth of DHH Literary Agency. You can find Ryan active on Instagram and less active on Bluesky and Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 24, 2026
Seven Recipes for Revolution was such a surprise last year that I couldn't wait for the follow up.
Set a bit of time after the first book, Eight Tastes of Treachery serves up more spectacular meals, some superb set pieces and some quite shocking betrayals.
This book differs from the first in that it's told by Paprick as he details events to an archivist, so there's a fair bit of flitting back and forth between past events and the present day. This did feel a bit too frequent at times but on whole was a nice addition and was integral to the story.
The world-building and overall magic system continue to evolve to 'greater' levels, and there are some really memorable moments. The plot is very well paced and the overall story very good.
The only downside is that I just couldn't gel with Paprick this time around. I've no idea why as this was not a problem I had at all with book one.
Overall though, Ryan Rose has delivered a brilliant sequel chock full of originality and the ending sets up book three so well!
A huge thank you to NetGalley / Titan Books / Daphne Press for the ARC!
Set a bit of time after the first book, Eight Tastes of Treachery serves up more spectacular meals, some superb set pieces and some quite shocking betrayals.
This book differs from the first in that it's told by Paprick as he details events to an archivist, so there's a fair bit of flitting back and forth between past events and the present day. This did feel a bit too frequent at times but on whole was a nice addition and was integral to the story.
The world-building and overall magic system continue to evolve to 'greater' levels, and there are some really memorable moments. The plot is very well paced and the overall story very good.
The only downside is that I just couldn't gel with Paprick this time around. I've no idea why as this was not a problem I had at all with book one.
Overall though, Ryan Rose has delivered a brilliant sequel chock full of originality and the ending sets up book three so well!
A huge thank you to NetGalley / Titan Books / Daphne Press for the ARC!
July 25, 2026
Review originally on JamReads
Seven Recipes for Revolution was a stellar debut, an epic fantasy that tickled all the boxes for me, especially as it put food and its meaning at the center of the plot with a cast that I loved; but in reality, after reading Eight Tastes of Treachery, I can say that it was only an excellent appetizer, as the main course was reserved for this sequel, which continues expanding the world but most importantly, continues to bridge the gap between Paprick, the chef, and the Butcher, the sourcerer and narrator, all while developing many subplots that will captivate our heart through its characters.
From the start, we can appreciate how this is a more ambitious novel than Seven Recipes for Revolution, as Rose fully embraces the dual timeline narration (something that was quite limited due to the first book situation), simultaneously painting the conflict the Butcher is fighting and his own story: one that will take us to the Empire of the Badgeboard, trying to avoid another war now that a truce has been reached with the Rare; a journey that will reveal us more about their religious customs and their questionable elites, putting Paprick, his partner Cori, and his brigade at the center of a conspiration they might stop while trying to forge a new alliance for the Common. And of course, Paprick's story is also a story about cooking, bringing meaning to dishes together with power, and most importantly, a complicated one about the Source.
Bridging the gap between what Paprick was at that point and The Butcher means examining his growth as a character; this journey to the Empire of the Badgeboard will put him in really compromising situations, revealing also how he's prone to ire and act fastly, only caring about the consequences after, which is not exactly the best way if you represent a relatively new nation. It's in those moments when his partner, Cori, will play an important role, being the cold ice to the fire that Paprick represents; if there's something you can be sure about Paprick, is that he's madly in love with Cori, being Cori the most important person in the world for Paprick. He's still grieving for the death of his beloved ones, and we can see how he hasn't overcome it yet, becoming overprotective of Cori and the rest of those he cares for.
The rest of the characters are also remarkable, but a bit overshadowed by Paprick, partly as he is the narrator; said that, I would like to say that I absolutely loved how Rose introduced a character outing themselves as non-binary, how supportive the rest of the cast was, sending an important message in those days (and perpetuating how his world is queer-normative).
Second books in a trilogy tend to be a complicated beast to tame, but I felt this one has everything I could have asked for: not only expands the world building (without losing the focus on the dishes and meals of this new region) while focusing on the character-growth, but it also embraces an increased complexity that is layering the foundations we will need to conclude both timelines in the third book. The pacing is pretty much on point, keeping you engaged from the start to the end.
I loved every single hour I spent reading Eight Tastes of Treachery, an excellent sequel to continue what was started by Seven Recipes for Revolution; I can't recommend the What We Eat series enough. I'm not sure how Ryan Rose will close the trilogy, but he can be sure I will be there to read it as soon as it is released!
Seven Recipes for Revolution was a stellar debut, an epic fantasy that tickled all the boxes for me, especially as it put food and its meaning at the center of the plot with a cast that I loved; but in reality, after reading Eight Tastes of Treachery, I can say that it was only an excellent appetizer, as the main course was reserved for this sequel, which continues expanding the world but most importantly, continues to bridge the gap between Paprick, the chef, and the Butcher, the sourcerer and narrator, all while developing many subplots that will captivate our heart through its characters.
From the start, we can appreciate how this is a more ambitious novel than Seven Recipes for Revolution, as Rose fully embraces the dual timeline narration (something that was quite limited due to the first book situation), simultaneously painting the conflict the Butcher is fighting and his own story: one that will take us to the Empire of the Badgeboard, trying to avoid another war now that a truce has been reached with the Rare; a journey that will reveal us more about their religious customs and their questionable elites, putting Paprick, his partner Cori, and his brigade at the center of a conspiration they might stop while trying to forge a new alliance for the Common. And of course, Paprick's story is also a story about cooking, bringing meaning to dishes together with power, and most importantly, a complicated one about the Source.
Bridging the gap between what Paprick was at that point and The Butcher means examining his growth as a character; this journey to the Empire of the Badgeboard will put him in really compromising situations, revealing also how he's prone to ire and act fastly, only caring about the consequences after, which is not exactly the best way if you represent a relatively new nation. It's in those moments when his partner, Cori, will play an important role, being the cold ice to the fire that Paprick represents; if there's something you can be sure about Paprick, is that he's madly in love with Cori, being Cori the most important person in the world for Paprick. He's still grieving for the death of his beloved ones, and we can see how he hasn't overcome it yet, becoming overprotective of Cori and the rest of those he cares for.
The rest of the characters are also remarkable, but a bit overshadowed by Paprick, partly as he is the narrator; said that, I would like to say that I absolutely loved how Rose introduced a character outing themselves as non-binary, how supportive the rest of the cast was, sending an important message in those days (and perpetuating how his world is queer-normative).
Second books in a trilogy tend to be a complicated beast to tame, but I felt this one has everything I could have asked for: not only expands the world building (without losing the focus on the dishes and meals of this new region) while focusing on the character-growth, but it also embraces an increased complexity that is layering the foundations we will need to conclude both timelines in the third book. The pacing is pretty much on point, keeping you engaged from the start to the end.
I loved every single hour I spent reading Eight Tastes of Treachery, an excellent sequel to continue what was started by Seven Recipes for Revolution; I can't recommend the What We Eat series enough. I'm not sure how Ryan Rose will close the trilogy, but he can be sure I will be there to read it as soon as it is released!
August 29, 2026
CW: violence, blood, injury, body horror, murder, war, death, animal cruelty/death, classism, pregnancy/abortion, vomit
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The sequels are honestly hitting it out of the park this year this one being my latest favourite as it is an absolutely brilliant follow up to Seven Recipes for Revolution!
I’ve read a fair few books that have made me hungry but these have been making me want to cook more and I have been 😄
Eight Tastes just up the stakes (and the steaks heh) expanding the worldbuilding phenomenally in terms of geographical scope, the types of giant kaiju and culinary magic system as well as all its history and lore as we see Paprick and co set out to the Empire of the Badgeboar. This is both to clear their names when their restaurant's logo is being found at massacre sites as well as gain allies as prophecies and much greater threats lurk on the horizon.
This sequel introduces us to a lot more characters who each play their part in the twists and turns of the wider story, which touches on the repercussions - both societal and personal - following wartime and further explore the morality and cost that comes with power.
I absolutely loved Paprick's newly formed kitchen brigade and all the wholesome found family vibes they brought in and around all the chaos. Though familiar faces also return and have their time to shine despite the book being more Paprick focused overall.
Honestly, the use of an unreliable narrator and dual timelines is masterful here both hinting at what is to be expected and still shocking you with some of the reveals that come because THAT ENDING!? I'm still reeling from everything that went down I NEED THE NEXT BOOK YESTERDAY 😭
I truly cannot recommend these books enough and if you’re an audiobook person Shaun Mendum absolutely kills it with the narration for the series! They’re up there with my favourites ❤
--
The sequels are honestly hitting it out of the park this year this one being my latest favourite as it is an absolutely brilliant follow up to Seven Recipes for Revolution!
I’ve read a fair few books that have made me hungry but these have been making me want to cook more and I have been 😄
Eight Tastes just up the stakes (and the steaks heh) expanding the worldbuilding phenomenally in terms of geographical scope, the types of giant kaiju and culinary magic system as well as all its history and lore as we see Paprick and co set out to the Empire of the Badgeboar. This is both to clear their names when their restaurant's logo is being found at massacre sites as well as gain allies as prophecies and much greater threats lurk on the horizon.
This sequel introduces us to a lot more characters who each play their part in the twists and turns of the wider story, which touches on the repercussions - both societal and personal - following wartime and further explore the morality and cost that comes with power.
I absolutely loved Paprick's newly formed kitchen brigade and all the wholesome found family vibes they brought in and around all the chaos. Though familiar faces also return and have their time to shine despite the book being more Paprick focused overall.
Honestly, the use of an unreliable narrator and dual timelines is masterful here both hinting at what is to be expected and still shocking you with some of the reveals that come because THAT ENDING!? I'm still reeling from everything that went down I NEED THE NEXT BOOK YESTERDAY 😭
I truly cannot recommend these books enough and if you’re an audiobook person Shaun Mendum absolutely kills it with the narration for the series! They’re up there with my favourites ❤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Daphne Press and NetGalley for the opportunity.
After reading Seven Recipes for Revolution, I knew I would enjoy its successor. Rose has created such a unique flavour of fantasy, and Eight Tastes of Treachery only builds on that strength. It’s one of the rare second books in a series that avoids the usual “middle-book slump” that so many fantasy trilogies suffer from.
This novel leaves a satisfying taste and serves as the perfect main course following the appetiser that was Seven Recipes for Revolution. My only complaint about receiving this as an ARC is the inevitable wait for dessert!
Rose expands the worldbuilding, drama, storytelling, and character relationships in ways that feel fresh and engaging, rather than simply retreading the same ground as the first book. I’ll definitely be recommending this series to friends and family looking for something original and refreshingly different.
After reading Seven Recipes for Revolution, I knew I would enjoy its successor. Rose has created such a unique flavour of fantasy, and Eight Tastes of Treachery only builds on that strength. It’s one of the rare second books in a series that avoids the usual “middle-book slump” that so many fantasy trilogies suffer from.
This novel leaves a satisfying taste and serves as the perfect main course following the appetiser that was Seven Recipes for Revolution. My only complaint about receiving this as an ARC is the inevitable wait for dessert!
Rose expands the worldbuilding, drama, storytelling, and character relationships in ways that feel fresh and engaging, rather than simply retreading the same ground as the first book. I’ll definitely be recommending this series to friends and family looking for something original and refreshingly different.
June 4, 2026
ARC received from NetGalley:
From the moment I read the synopsis of the first book I knew this would become one of my favourite series. Absolutely love the world building, the magic system, the storytelling!!
Once again we’re dropped right back into the action with more intrigue, more greaters and more of Paprick being an absolute badass (even if he’s not always telling the truth). I love how this doesn’t fall into the typical second book curse of simply setting up the epic conclusion of a trilogy. It’s an impressive story in its own right.
From the moment I read the synopsis of the first book I knew this would become one of my favourite series. Absolutely love the world building, the magic system, the storytelling!!
Once again we’re dropped right back into the action with more intrigue, more greaters and more of Paprick being an absolute badass (even if he’s not always telling the truth). I love how this doesn’t fall into the typical second book curse of simply setting up the epic conclusion of a trilogy. It’s an impressive story in its own right.
August 25, 2026
Thank you to Daphne Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
After loving Seven Recipes of Revolution, I simply had to continue on with this series when I got the chance. And although book two didn't quite reach the first one, I certainly wasn't disappointed with how this epic tale took form.
We're back with Paprick and the rebels after the revolution has settled, but tensions are still high within the land and unrest is rumbling under the surface, threatening what Ranch's common has fought for.
The way this novel continues to expand the world is really well done. It slowly pushes the scope of the conflict further into new territories and extends the political landscape. And at the same time, it is evolving the capabilities of the magic system and creating more and more potential within that without making it feel unrealistic to the way it has been set up.
There’s only really one thing that is bringing down the rating a little for me: the characters. I love these characters. In my review of the first book, I wrote: "The characters really are the glue that expertly binds this story together." And sadly, I was just missing a little bit of that in this book. This book felt very Paprick-centric, and I wanted to see more of how the other characters had developed and more of the interpersonal relationships. And the occasional fun and levity that also brought to the heavy story.
However, I still also really enjoy the dual timeline format, which continues on from the first novel. Seeing where the story is leading without knowing the full extent of it is really interesting as a contrast to the general narrative. And some of the best character moments of this book take place in those parts between Paprick, the archivist, and Musta.
And ultimately, the ending was phenomenal at setting up ample anticipation for what is to happen in the following book. It definitely gave me much hope for a very exciting finale.
After loving Seven Recipes of Revolution, I simply had to continue on with this series when I got the chance. And although book two didn't quite reach the first one, I certainly wasn't disappointed with how this epic tale took form.
We're back with Paprick and the rebels after the revolution has settled, but tensions are still high within the land and unrest is rumbling under the surface, threatening what Ranch's common has fought for.
The way this novel continues to expand the world is really well done. It slowly pushes the scope of the conflict further into new territories and extends the political landscape. And at the same time, it is evolving the capabilities of the magic system and creating more and more potential within that without making it feel unrealistic to the way it has been set up.
There’s only really one thing that is bringing down the rating a little for me: the characters. I love these characters. In my review of the first book, I wrote: "The characters really are the glue that expertly binds this story together." And sadly, I was just missing a little bit of that in this book. This book felt very Paprick-centric, and I wanted to see more of how the other characters had developed and more of the interpersonal relationships. And the occasional fun and levity that also brought to the heavy story.
However, I still also really enjoy the dual timeline format, which continues on from the first novel. Seeing where the story is leading without knowing the full extent of it is really interesting as a contrast to the general narrative. And some of the best character moments of this book take place in those parts between Paprick, the archivist, and Musta.
And ultimately, the ending was phenomenal at setting up ample anticipation for what is to happen in the following book. It definitely gave me much hope for a very exciting finale.
September 2, 2026
While I preferred the first book, this was a wild ride. This book felt like Paprik going from one harebrained scheme to the next. Paprik would be excellent in a life threatening situation, but terrible in any other situation. 😅
One of the best parts of this book were the relationships. They felt real. They were messy and complicated. They didn't work out perfectly like so many other fictional relationships. Cori and Paprik felt, particularly, real to life.
Finally, that ending was crazy! I knew something was going to happen, but that was one hell of a cliffhanger.
One of the best parts of this book were the relationships. They felt real. They were messy and complicated. They didn't work out perfectly like so many other fictional relationships. Cori and Paprik felt, particularly, real to life.
Finally, that ending was crazy! I knew something was going to happen, but that was one hell of a cliffhanger.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Eight Tastes Of Treachery swiftly moves you right back into the world of the butcher and his crew, encasing you in mystery, conspiracy and action that will have you clenching your fists at times, and completely puzzled at others!”
“I read this book – but should you read it too?” Definitely”
Eight Tastes Of Treachery is the sequel I think we all needed! Driven by a stronger theme of character development, this epic culinary fantasy gives you more ‘insight’ into your favourite cookery crew, continuing right about where you left off in book 1. Following Paprick on his new journey west to discover new flavours, expect a novel of twist, turns, laughs, tears, and the entirely unexpected!
Plot: 9/10
A brilliant storyline, developing nicely from the first book’s ending. I wasn’t sure where the story was heading, or what the ending might’ve been – both ideas I had were wrong! Never boring, never dull, full of the unexpected. I love how far they travelled from the first book too, really touching on different cultures and cuisines too.
Characters: 9/10
The amount of character development here was totally unexpected. Without naming any character names, the growth and background of some of the ‘chef’s’ and other characters was truly remarkable, to the point that I ended up relating to many of them (even though I’ve never been through anything like what they had!).
Worldbuilding: 7/10
I think this is the only area that could’ve been touched on a little more. With so many new places visited throughout the book, there was a surprising lack of ‘detail’ around how these towns looked, felt, etc. I fully appreciate the focus on the characters and the action, but I think there were parts that were slightly ‘overwritten’, when there could have been more given to the description of, say, the view around them once they reach a new town.
Writing Style: 8/10
As with the first book, the story is being told by Paprick in present day, switching between his ‘past’ first-person view and the ‘present’ third-person view – which I personally enjoyed a lot. There were a few slightly confusing segments at the start which felt a little like ‘here’s this information that you definitely don’t know, but you should have known anyway…’ which read a little clunky, but once that was done with, everything went by in a breeze. The author’s writing style matches the first book and is one that I could read all day – and did so exactly!
Summary
It’s always tough for an author to write a sequel to a novel, especially when that original novel is so unique in every way. However, Ryan Rose has absolutely nailed it. Although there were a few confusing moments at the start, Eight Tastes Of Treachery swiftly moves you right back into the world of the butcher and his crew, encasing you in mystery, conspiracy and action that will have you clenching your fists at times, and completely puzzled at others. Thrilling read overall, a little emotional at parts, a little ‘yes! Come on!’ at others! Book 3 is immediately on the wishlist!
Overall rating: 8/10
“I read this book – but should you read it too?” Definitely”
Eight Tastes Of Treachery is the sequel I think we all needed! Driven by a stronger theme of character development, this epic culinary fantasy gives you more ‘insight’ into your favourite cookery crew, continuing right about where you left off in book 1. Following Paprick on his new journey west to discover new flavours, expect a novel of twist, turns, laughs, tears, and the entirely unexpected!
Plot: 9/10
A brilliant storyline, developing nicely from the first book’s ending. I wasn’t sure where the story was heading, or what the ending might’ve been – both ideas I had were wrong! Never boring, never dull, full of the unexpected. I love how far they travelled from the first book too, really touching on different cultures and cuisines too.
Characters: 9/10
The amount of character development here was totally unexpected. Without naming any character names, the growth and background of some of the ‘chef’s’ and other characters was truly remarkable, to the point that I ended up relating to many of them (even though I’ve never been through anything like what they had!).
Worldbuilding: 7/10
I think this is the only area that could’ve been touched on a little more. With so many new places visited throughout the book, there was a surprising lack of ‘detail’ around how these towns looked, felt, etc. I fully appreciate the focus on the characters and the action, but I think there were parts that were slightly ‘overwritten’, when there could have been more given to the description of, say, the view around them once they reach a new town.
Writing Style: 8/10
As with the first book, the story is being told by Paprick in present day, switching between his ‘past’ first-person view and the ‘present’ third-person view – which I personally enjoyed a lot. There were a few slightly confusing segments at the start which felt a little like ‘here’s this information that you definitely don’t know, but you should have known anyway…’ which read a little clunky, but once that was done with, everything went by in a breeze. The author’s writing style matches the first book and is one that I could read all day – and did so exactly!
Summary
It’s always tough for an author to write a sequel to a novel, especially when that original novel is so unique in every way. However, Ryan Rose has absolutely nailed it. Although there were a few confusing moments at the start, Eight Tastes Of Treachery swiftly moves you right back into the world of the butcher and his crew, encasing you in mystery, conspiracy and action that will have you clenching your fists at times, and completely puzzled at others. Thrilling read overall, a little emotional at parts, a little ‘yes! Come on!’ at others! Book 3 is immediately on the wishlist!
Overall rating: 8/10
August 6, 2026
4.5 Stars
Rambly review ahead!
This remains one of the most unique fantasy worlds I've ever had the pleasure to delve into. The magic system almost tips into cheesy territory at times, but it's so fucking fun that I wouldn't hate it if it leaned in even more - it's part of the charm! Beyond all the cultural stuff, we have war kitchens, cook-offs as duels, cooking equipment used as weaponry. There's a whole kingdom where wine (or maybe drinks in general?) is held in higher regard than anything else. I got a serotonin boost every time I got a new world-building titbit specifically related to food.
I did like the first book a tiny bit more. Partly due to personal preference - book one is gorier, and I love a school setting, especially one so unique - and partly due to pacing. I can't quite pinpoint what was off in the first half, but I'd find myself super engaged for a couple of chapters, then losing that energy, then getting super engaged again, and so on and so forth. To my surprise, I found myself super intrigued by the archivist's present day chapters this time round - I love that she's such an interesting character herself - so her chapters weren't the issue.
It's possible I was just struggling to get my bearings - I did not re-read book one, and while I think for the most part that was fine, I really wish there was a mini-recap or perhaps a character cast list at the front of the book with some relevant information to help me get back into the story quicker. (For example, I still can't quite remember what exactly Crooked Rish did that resulted in the very sad thing at the end of book one.) The lack of recap isn't a complaint @ this book specifically - I wish all publishers of fantasy and sci-fi sequels included them. Like, I love to re-read personally, but sometimes I don't have the time, and sometimes I simply want to jump right into the sequel and remember almost enough but not quite as much as I want (which was the case with this book!).
This book definitely felt like it leaned younger than the first, which was surprising given the characters are now older. For one thing, as aforementioned, it was less gory - we get some pretty great gory scenes much later on in the novel, but the gore could be found pretty much throughout in book one. Book one was much more grimdark, basically. It was a rougher, crueller story that also happened to have kooky, very fun world-building and a surprising amount of lovely wholesome moments, and the balance was perfect.
That's not to say the balance was off here - it was just different, less rough, in a way that made the story read younger to me, but not in a bad way? I love a good YA, after all. The story also felt very coming-of-age, what with Cori coming out, the - even Laven gets a moment to talk about his asexuality (big yay for ace rep, in my favourite character no less!). (Side note: I think there are more queer characters than straight characters in this series; in fact I'm not even sure if there are any confirmed straight characters? Such fun!). At this point book three could go grimdark again or shift more into hope-punk and neither would surprise me. My preference? Both. Both is good. Bring on the chaosidilla.
One thing I really appreciated in this book was the time jump. I'm glad we skipped the war and focused on the aftermath instead. I love that war kitchens exist, but those aren't the kitchens I want to spend time in. The cook-off was one of my favourite moments in the first half of the novel. Later, we get a pop-up restaurant moment - another of my favourite moments. Any time Paprick got to hang out with his chefs, I knew I was about to have a great time.
I think the time jump benefited the romance, too. Paprick and Cori being that little bit older made their romance feel so much more natural, even if we missed the developmental years - we didn't need to see them because the more mature nature of their relationship at this point speaks for itself. They're a partnership. They prove stability doesn't necessarily equal "boring" in fiction. I love how Cori is the smart one in the relationship and the way in which Paprick worships the ground they walk on in, like, a normal way (by that I mean he's besotted by them but doesn't idolise them to the point of dehumanising them, which is something I find icky both in real life and in fiction, when portrayed as a positive thing).
I want to talk about Laven as well. I was worried at first that he'd been relegated a bit as a character (every reader's worst fear for their fave!) but he ends up having a very important role in this story, and The way Paprick always lists him alongside his literal blood relatives as his closest family is very important to me.
Feng is also a new favourite. I love Feng.
Anyway I've rambled enough. If I had the third book with me right now, I'd gobble it up at once. I am seriously looking forward to this series' dessert.
Rambly review ahead!
This remains one of the most unique fantasy worlds I've ever had the pleasure to delve into. The magic system almost tips into cheesy territory at times, but it's so fucking fun that I wouldn't hate it if it leaned in even more - it's part of the charm! Beyond all the cultural stuff, we have war kitchens, cook-offs as duels, cooking equipment used as weaponry. There's a whole kingdom where wine (or maybe drinks in general?) is held in higher regard than anything else. I got a serotonin boost every time I got a new world-building titbit specifically related to food.
I did like the first book a tiny bit more. Partly due to personal preference - book one is gorier, and I love a school setting, especially one so unique - and partly due to pacing. I can't quite pinpoint what was off in the first half, but I'd find myself super engaged for a couple of chapters, then losing that energy, then getting super engaged again, and so on and so forth. To my surprise, I found myself super intrigued by the archivist's present day chapters this time round - I love that she's such an interesting character herself - so her chapters weren't the issue.
It's possible I was just struggling to get my bearings - I did not re-read book one, and while I think for the most part that was fine, I really wish there was a mini-recap or perhaps a character cast list at the front of the book with some relevant information to help me get back into the story quicker. (For example, I still can't quite remember what exactly Crooked Rish did that resulted in the very sad thing at the end of book one.) The lack of recap isn't a complaint @ this book specifically - I wish all publishers of fantasy and sci-fi sequels included them. Like, I love to re-read personally, but sometimes I don't have the time, and sometimes I simply want to jump right into the sequel and remember almost enough but not quite as much as I want (which was the case with this book!).
This book definitely felt like it leaned younger than the first, which was surprising given the characters are now older. For one thing, as aforementioned, it was less gory - we get some pretty great gory scenes much later on in the novel, but the gore could be found pretty much throughout in book one. Book one was much more grimdark, basically. It was a rougher, crueller story that also happened to have kooky, very fun world-building and a surprising amount of lovely wholesome moments, and the balance was perfect.
That's not to say the balance was off here - it was just different, less rough, in a way that made the story read younger to me, but not in a bad way? I love a good YA, after all. The story also felt very coming-of-age, what with Cori coming out, the - even Laven gets a moment to talk about his asexuality (big yay for ace rep, in my favourite character no less!). (Side note: I think there are more queer characters than straight characters in this series; in fact I'm not even sure if there are any confirmed straight characters? Such fun!). At this point book three could go grimdark again or shift more into hope-punk and neither would surprise me. My preference? Both. Both is good. Bring on the chaosidilla.
One thing I really appreciated in this book was the time jump. I'm glad we skipped the war and focused on the aftermath instead. I love that war kitchens exist, but those aren't the kitchens I want to spend time in. The cook-off was one of my favourite moments in the first half of the novel. Later, we get a pop-up restaurant moment - another of my favourite moments. Any time Paprick got to hang out with his chefs, I knew I was about to have a great time.
I think the time jump benefited the romance, too. Paprick and Cori being that little bit older made their romance feel so much more natural, even if we missed the developmental years - we didn't need to see them because the more mature nature of their relationship at this point speaks for itself. They're a partnership. They prove stability doesn't necessarily equal "boring" in fiction. I love how Cori is the smart one in the relationship and the way in which Paprick worships the ground they walk on in, like, a normal way (by that I mean he's besotted by them but doesn't idolise them to the point of dehumanising them, which is something I find icky both in real life and in fiction, when portrayed as a positive thing).
I want to talk about Laven as well. I was worried at first that he'd been relegated a bit as a character (every reader's worst fear for their fave!) but he ends up having a very important role in this story, and The way Paprick always lists him alongside his literal blood relatives as his closest family is very important to me.
Feng is also a new favourite. I love Feng.
Anyway I've rambled enough. If I had the third book with me right now, I'd gobble it up at once. I am seriously looking forward to this series' dessert.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an e-ARC of this book through NetGalley from Daphne Press, who continue to be genuinely wonderful. Thank you so much to both the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this early. All thoughts are my own.
One of the things I appreciated most about this sequel is that it refuses to simply repeat the structure or emotional arc of Seven Recipes for Revolution. Instead of trying to go bigger in the most obvious ways, it shifts its focus toward aftermath, grief, consequence, and the emotional cost of surviving revolution. The result feels messier, sadder, and in many ways more interesting.
Like the first book, this series still has things to say. Sometimes directly, sometimes quietly in the background beneath the monsters, the politics, the food, and the bloodshed. There’s still that same undercurrent of anger, class tension, cultural identity, and the question of what people become when survival hardens into ideology.
What continues to make this series stand out to me is how sensory and emotionally grounded it feels, despite how large and chaotic the world becomes. The food writing still works incredibly well as part of the emotional and political language of the series, rather than just aesthetic flavoring, and I really liked how this installment explored what happens when someone loses their connection to the thing that once gave them purpose.
I also genuinely enjoyed how unpredictable this sequel felt. After finishing book one, I thought I had at least some idea where the story might go next, and I was wrong almost immediately. Several twists completely caught me off guard, but in ways that still felt earned within the larger emotional and political trajectory of the story.
And honestly, this series still feels a little like anime in book form to me, but said with complete affection. Not necessarily because of plot structure specifically, but because of the scale of emotion, the monstrous imagery, the heightened intensity, the fight sequences, and the way my brain immediately visualizes everything in that language while reading.
This also became one of those deeply frustrating ARC experiences where you finish the book and immediately want the next installment available right now. Unfortunately, the universe remains cruel to ARC readers ( ;) )
I still struggle slightly with finding perfect comparisons for this series because the blend of culinary fantasy, revolution, body horror, monster fighting, politics, grief, and emotional intensity feels surprisingly distinct. I can understand why people mention things like Red Rising or Attack on Titan for the larger themes and escalating stakes, but I honestly think the series increasingly occupies its own strange and fascinating corner of fantasy.
Overall, I think this series will work especially well for readers who enjoy politically charged fantasy, emotionally messy protagonists, visceral worldbuilding, morally complicated revolutions, and stories that balance spectacle with genuine emotional weight. If you like fantasy that feels hungry in every possible sense of the word, this series is absolutely worth picking up.
One of the things I appreciated most about this sequel is that it refuses to simply repeat the structure or emotional arc of Seven Recipes for Revolution. Instead of trying to go bigger in the most obvious ways, it shifts its focus toward aftermath, grief, consequence, and the emotional cost of surviving revolution. The result feels messier, sadder, and in many ways more interesting.
Like the first book, this series still has things to say. Sometimes directly, sometimes quietly in the background beneath the monsters, the politics, the food, and the bloodshed. There’s still that same undercurrent of anger, class tension, cultural identity, and the question of what people become when survival hardens into ideology.
What continues to make this series stand out to me is how sensory and emotionally grounded it feels, despite how large and chaotic the world becomes. The food writing still works incredibly well as part of the emotional and political language of the series, rather than just aesthetic flavoring, and I really liked how this installment explored what happens when someone loses their connection to the thing that once gave them purpose.
I also genuinely enjoyed how unpredictable this sequel felt. After finishing book one, I thought I had at least some idea where the story might go next, and I was wrong almost immediately. Several twists completely caught me off guard, but in ways that still felt earned within the larger emotional and political trajectory of the story.
And honestly, this series still feels a little like anime in book form to me, but said with complete affection. Not necessarily because of plot structure specifically, but because of the scale of emotion, the monstrous imagery, the heightened intensity, the fight sequences, and the way my brain immediately visualizes everything in that language while reading.
This also became one of those deeply frustrating ARC experiences where you finish the book and immediately want the next installment available right now. Unfortunately, the universe remains cruel to ARC readers ( ;) )
I still struggle slightly with finding perfect comparisons for this series because the blend of culinary fantasy, revolution, body horror, monster fighting, politics, grief, and emotional intensity feels surprisingly distinct. I can understand why people mention things like Red Rising or Attack on Titan for the larger themes and escalating stakes, but I honestly think the series increasingly occupies its own strange and fascinating corner of fantasy.
Overall, I think this series will work especially well for readers who enjoy politically charged fantasy, emotionally messy protagonists, visceral worldbuilding, morally complicated revolutions, and stories that balance spectacle with genuine emotional weight. If you like fantasy that feels hungry in every possible sense of the word, this series is absolutely worth picking up.
September 18, 2026
Paprick is back and his legend is growing - with writing as sharp as the Chef's knives, plot as big and expensive as a Drakephon and world-building as detailed as a greater recipe, this was one hell of a sequel that tore my heart out and has refused to give it back.
Hold up, there are mild spoilers as I explore character development ahead, so if you want to read without seeing anything regarding that, please save this review until you're finished.
We join The Butcher in a framed story plot again. This time, we get more of the 'present day' story as it shifts and expands - a little more of the status quo on that side of things and a major shift in the dynamic of how its told. Without spoiling too much, the intro to this book is perhaps one of the most badass I've read and you can see the manga/anime Inspirations coming through; in Asian media, especially manga, the main characters always show off with tremendous feats of power that are not often seen in Western media. In those, power is often not at the Spirit-Bomb level but you cannot stop The Butcher and his skeleton... In this, it's all guns blazing. Wearing it's inspiration on its sleeves, we see the absolute coolest feats come to play in this book.
Paprick has moved swiftly from the teenager at the head of the Rebellion, thrust into power but with no idea how to wield it. Here, we have some great development: in three years, Paprick has seen enough war to last a lifetime and is tired, haggard and fed up of it; he has been a warchef on the front lines of the war between the Ranch and New Panchon. He has discovered new techniques for greater recipes, alongside Laven. They're friendship and grown, deepened and it's a joy to discover all over again. Not only that, but aunthenticity is added to the story as he experiences Cori's coming out. It's what I've said about these books, the character dynamics and the themes of what is normalised and explored is excellent.
Plot takes you to new places, in every way possible. The Badgeboar Empire, Mangtier and Ryespur and Ygminsul, home of the Drue. Where we first found oursvescin Ranch, the world expands dramatically outward with a plot of war, deceit, murder and loss. But also happiness, coming out, love and family. It's a book that celebrates every facet of humanity but also makes you suffer the harm that it does to those bonds. This book hurt me and because of that, it takes its place among other increidble titles like Golden Son, Snakewood and The Wise Man's Fear.
Thing I loved ever expanding magic system, recap it, add in Variation, Emphon effects and one more mystery that I will not share here. Safe to say, it is incredible.
Overall, if I could give this book 11/10 I would, this is a book that broke the rating system for me, with an ending that will be long on my mind. Go read it!
Hold up, there are mild spoilers as I explore character development ahead, so if you want to read without seeing anything regarding that, please save this review until you're finished.
We join The Butcher in a framed story plot again. This time, we get more of the 'present day' story as it shifts and expands - a little more of the status quo on that side of things and a major shift in the dynamic of how its told. Without spoiling too much, the intro to this book is perhaps one of the most badass I've read and you can see the manga/anime Inspirations coming through; in Asian media, especially manga, the main characters always show off with tremendous feats of power that are not often seen in Western media. In those, power is often not at the Spirit-Bomb level but you cannot stop The Butcher and his skeleton... In this, it's all guns blazing. Wearing it's inspiration on its sleeves, we see the absolute coolest feats come to play in this book.
Paprick has moved swiftly from the teenager at the head of the Rebellion, thrust into power but with no idea how to wield it. Here, we have some great development: in three years, Paprick has seen enough war to last a lifetime and is tired, haggard and fed up of it; he has been a warchef on the front lines of the war between the Ranch and New Panchon. He has discovered new techniques for greater recipes, alongside Laven. They're friendship and grown, deepened and it's a joy to discover all over again. Not only that, but aunthenticity is added to the story as he experiences Cori's coming out. It's what I've said about these books, the character dynamics and the themes of what is normalised and explored is excellent.
Plot takes you to new places, in every way possible. The Badgeboar Empire, Mangtier and Ryespur and Ygminsul, home of the Drue. Where we first found oursvescin Ranch, the world expands dramatically outward with a plot of war, deceit, murder and loss. But also happiness, coming out, love and family. It's a book that celebrates every facet of humanity but also makes you suffer the harm that it does to those bonds. This book hurt me and because of that, it takes its place among other increidble titles like Golden Son, Snakewood and The Wise Man's Fear.
Thing I loved ever expanding magic system, recap it, add in Variation, Emphon effects and one more mystery that I will not share here. Safe to say, it is incredible.
Overall, if I could give this book 11/10 I would, this is a book that broke the rating system for me, with an ending that will be long on my mind. Go read it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Considering that Seven Recipes for Revolution was one of the biggest surprises of 2025 for me, I had been incredibly excited about getting back into the epic world of Emphonia with food magic, giant kaiju, our favourite Butcher and his friends & crew. I’m happy to report that it did not disappoint!
There is a bit of a time jump at the beginning, which in my opinion worked really well. This way, we can witness the consequences of the war instead of living the bloodshed in detail, and we still get all the information that is necessary to understand what happened and how it formed the characters.
I enjoyed visiting other empires and cities, and exploring other cultures in this second instalment. This also made it harder to know who to trust, and while Cori navigated the scheming masterfully (as expected!), Paprick always managed to run into trouble.
Thankfully, he didn't have to solve these situations alone; the friends he made in the first book remained by his side, and he could also rely on his kitchen brigade. Found family at its best! It was also heartwarming to witness how open-minded and acceptive everyone was when it came to the question of one's identity.
I was once again a huge fan of the narrative style which utilises a dual timeline. I find it doesn't always work well, but the author made sure to supply the reader only with the crucial bits and leave plenty of surprises! That being said, in this book there were a few occasions when disturbing the "flashback" timeline with a few lines of dialogue in the "present" felt unnecessary, and it disrupted the flow of the story. But that is only a minor complaint!
All in all, a great sequel that sets up the final book in the trilogy in a satisfying way.
Thank you to Daphne Press and the author for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
There is a bit of a time jump at the beginning, which in my opinion worked really well. This way, we can witness the consequences of the war instead of living the bloodshed in detail, and we still get all the information that is necessary to understand what happened and how it formed the characters.
I enjoyed visiting other empires and cities, and exploring other cultures in this second instalment. This also made it harder to know who to trust, and while Cori navigated the scheming masterfully (as expected!), Paprick always managed to run into trouble.
Thankfully, he didn't have to solve these situations alone; the friends he made in the first book remained by his side, and he could also rely on his kitchen brigade. Found family at its best! It was also heartwarming to witness how open-minded and acceptive everyone was when it came to the question of one's identity.
I was once again a huge fan of the narrative style which utilises a dual timeline. I find it doesn't always work well, but the author made sure to supply the reader only with the crucial bits and leave plenty of surprises! That being said, in this book there were a few occasions when disturbing the "flashback" timeline with a few lines of dialogue in the "present" felt unnecessary, and it disrupted the flow of the story. But that is only a minor complaint!
All in all, a great sequel that sets up the final book in the trilogy in a satisfying way.
Thank you to Daphne Press and the author for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 31, 2026
Actual rating 4.5
I loved Seven Recipes for Revolution, so I spent all year anxiously waiting for Eight Tastes of Treachery. Would it live up to my expectations? Where on earth was this story going? And the real question… would I still be on Paprik's side by the end?
Yes, yes, and yes. It went in directions I absolutely was not expecting, and I don't care how unreliable a narrator Paprik is or how many red flags he throws up along the way, I still adore this character with my whole heart.
The biggest standout here is the plot. As I said, this went somewhere I truly wasn't expecting (I'm not a synopsis reader, I love going in blind). Ryan Rose cracks this world wide open, adding a whole new layer of depth to the story. The political intrigue this creates is so good I genuinely couldn't put the book down.
One of the standout moments, foreshadowed back in book one, was Cori coming out as non-binary. I loved this moment! It was handled with so much respect, treated as the significant milestone it was for her, and the acceptance she received from everyone around her was genuinely heartwarming in an otherwise grim tale.
Speaking of grim, this is still very much on the darker side of fantasy, and I'd urge sensitive readers to check the trigger warnings and go in with caution. That said, Eight Tastes of Treachery isn't quite as dark as its predecessor. It still has its moments, but overall this is a slightly lighter read than book one.
I cannot wait to see what's in store for the final book. The ending caught me completely off guard and opens up a whole new can of worms heading into the finale. Summer 2027 cannot come soon
Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Seven Recipes for Revolution, so I spent all year anxiously waiting for Eight Tastes of Treachery. Would it live up to my expectations? Where on earth was this story going? And the real question… would I still be on Paprik's side by the end?
Yes, yes, and yes. It went in directions I absolutely was not expecting, and I don't care how unreliable a narrator Paprik is or how many red flags he throws up along the way, I still adore this character with my whole heart.
The biggest standout here is the plot. As I said, this went somewhere I truly wasn't expecting (I'm not a synopsis reader, I love going in blind). Ryan Rose cracks this world wide open, adding a whole new layer of depth to the story. The political intrigue this creates is so good I genuinely couldn't put the book down.
One of the standout moments, foreshadowed back in book one, was Cori coming out as non-binary. I loved this moment! It was handled with so much respect, treated as the significant milestone it was for her, and the acceptance she received from everyone around her was genuinely heartwarming in an otherwise grim tale.
Speaking of grim, this is still very much on the darker side of fantasy, and I'd urge sensitive readers to check the trigger warnings and go in with caution. That said, Eight Tastes of Treachery isn't quite as dark as its predecessor. It still has its moments, but overall this is a slightly lighter read than book one.
I cannot wait to see what's in store for the final book. The ending caught me completely off guard and opens up a whole new can of worms heading into the finale. Summer 2027 cannot come soon
Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2026
Thank you netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
This is how you do a sequel!
I requested this ARC because I needed an excuse to finally read the first book, which had been sitting on my Kindle. And honestly? They were both such a great surprise!
First of all… I was hungry throughout this entire book and just wanted to try the naan bread and tortillas. 🫣😂 I love the inclusion of all the recipes in both books.
This is a dual POV, with Paprick telling his story in the present while also taking us into the past, which begins a few years after where his reminiscing in the first book left off. I love when books do this because it makes you constantly question what is going to happen and, more importantly, what the outcome will be in the present timeline.
The writing is easy to follow and immersive, making it so easy to get lost in the story. The magic system is unlike anything I’ve ever read, and it continued to impress me throughout this sequel.
But I think what stands out the most is the character growth and depth. The author tackles some really interesting and difficult subjects, and I particularly love how queernormative this world is.
This is one of those series where you get a bit of everything: politics, intrigue, amazing world-building (although, at times, I would have appreciated a little more description), a refreshing and unique magic system, action, gore, character development, treason and, of course, plot twists.
Overall, this was such a fantastic sequel and I’m so curious to see where book 3 takes us!
This is how you do a sequel!
I requested this ARC because I needed an excuse to finally read the first book, which had been sitting on my Kindle. And honestly? They were both such a great surprise!
First of all… I was hungry throughout this entire book and just wanted to try the naan bread and tortillas. 🫣😂 I love the inclusion of all the recipes in both books.
This is a dual POV, with Paprick telling his story in the present while also taking us into the past, which begins a few years after where his reminiscing in the first book left off. I love when books do this because it makes you constantly question what is going to happen and, more importantly, what the outcome will be in the present timeline.
The writing is easy to follow and immersive, making it so easy to get lost in the story. The magic system is unlike anything I’ve ever read, and it continued to impress me throughout this sequel.
But I think what stands out the most is the character growth and depth. The author tackles some really interesting and difficult subjects, and I particularly love how queernormative this world is.
This is one of those series where you get a bit of everything: politics, intrigue, amazing world-building (although, at times, I would have appreciated a little more description), a refreshing and unique magic system, action, gore, character development, treason and, of course, plot twists.
Overall, this was such a fantastic sequel and I’m so curious to see where book 3 takes us!
July 26, 2026
This series continues to sweep me up in its chaos and carnage and cleverness. The food-based magic system is original and interesting, the characters are flawed and fierce, and the twists and turns at the end of each book have me gasping, desperate for the next instalment.
This book picks up the story of Paprick the Butcher. He rose to fame by inciting a rebellion against the rich, but now must deal with the political fallout. With war being threatened on all sides, and a monstrous enemy looming on the horizon, Paprick and his misfit band of chefs must cook their way out of one danger after another.
I love how the world is expanded in this sequel, answering questions about the different kinds of emphon (edible monsters) as well as the different regions, religions, cultures and cuisines. I also love how the characters develop. Though Paprick himself seems to devolve into greater violence than ever, I adore the arcs of loyalty, self-realisation and strength in both Cori and Laven.
It’s a strong sequel, action-packed and relevant to the overall story Paprick is recounting. I can already tell book three will be ‘greater’ yet, and will make this a contender for one of my favourite series of the past few years.
A massive thank you to @realryanprose for my early copy. I devoured it.
This book picks up the story of Paprick the Butcher. He rose to fame by inciting a rebellion against the rich, but now must deal with the political fallout. With war being threatened on all sides, and a monstrous enemy looming on the horizon, Paprick and his misfit band of chefs must cook their way out of one danger after another.
I love how the world is expanded in this sequel, answering questions about the different kinds of emphon (edible monsters) as well as the different regions, religions, cultures and cuisines. I also love how the characters develop. Though Paprick himself seems to devolve into greater violence than ever, I adore the arcs of loyalty, self-realisation and strength in both Cori and Laven.
It’s a strong sequel, action-packed and relevant to the overall story Paprick is recounting. I can already tell book three will be ‘greater’ yet, and will make this a contender for one of my favourite series of the past few years.
A massive thank you to @realryanprose for my early copy. I devoured it.
August 26, 2026
If 'Seven Recipes for Revolution' was the appetizer, ‘Eight Tastes of Treachery’ is the main course! I went straight from book 1 into the sequel, and I’m impressed by how the author managed to step up his game after an already incredible debut.
The book picks up the day after the massive cliffhanger with which the first instalment ended, and goes from there with an incredible pace until it ends AGAIN in what I feel is a extremely unfair ending. Needless to say, I’m already waiting for the next book in the series.
As for ‘Eight Tastes of Treachery’, I loved how more of the world we got see this time. It is so much fun to see how Paprick meets new friends and enemies, learns to deal with his past trauma, and tries to find his way around an ancient prophesy, all through his unique perspective as chef. As somebody not overly fond of meat, I also appreciated how much less descriptions of meat specifically was in this book compared to the first one – however, that is not to say that there are no mouthwatering meals described in colourful detail every few pages!
This is an incredible sequel, and its own unique flavour of fantasy. Absolutely recommended for anybody who likes food, or darker fantasy in the style of Jay Kristoff.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
The book picks up the day after the massive cliffhanger with which the first instalment ended, and goes from there with an incredible pace until it ends AGAIN in what I feel is a extremely unfair ending. Needless to say, I’m already waiting for the next book in the series.
As for ‘Eight Tastes of Treachery’, I loved how more of the world we got see this time. It is so much fun to see how Paprick meets new friends and enemies, learns to deal with his past trauma, and tries to find his way around an ancient prophesy, all through his unique perspective as chef. As somebody not overly fond of meat, I also appreciated how much less descriptions of meat specifically was in this book compared to the first one – however, that is not to say that there are no mouthwatering meals described in colourful detail every few pages!
This is an incredible sequel, and its own unique flavour of fantasy. Absolutely recommended for anybody who likes food, or darker fantasy in the style of Jay Kristoff.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 27, 2026
What an absolutely brilliant sequel!! Honestly I wasn’t sure what to expect after the ending of the last book, so much happened but we start off right where we left in the first book.
We are thrust straight back into the action, again, as with the last book it is told through stories of the past by Patrick, and we switch between past and present. I really love this format as it makes the revelations much more impactful and I kept trying to figure things out as I went which gave it a mysterious aspect.
These are some complicated books (in my opinion) and it is such a richly in depth world with constant creatures, recipes, characters and politics that sometimes it did feel hard to keep up with the story. I would definitely recommend rereading the first book before this one as there is a lot to take in. This was my only downside in my experience reading, I found it hard to completely know what was happening at times and who was who.
With every book so far I’ve felt so on edge, there is constant excitement, anticipation, guesswork and shock. The characters are a huge part of why as we are rooting so hard for them, it is a political war/ revolutionary story with just a touch of romance, found family and friendship. Paprick and Laven’s friendship is probably my favourite part and it got even deeper in this sequel, also Cori and Feng were standouts for me. I think the fact that this author can write such a hard, brutal and gory book in a queer normative world just makes such an important point.
The magic aspect is so weird and interesting I’ve honestly never read anything like it, its so clever how so much is hinted at and how much we are waiting to find out because of the story telling format, I personally can’t wait for book 3 and no spoilers but the ending really stayed with me, this author is really great at creating cliffhangers. You know a book is good when you finish it and stare at the wall asking your self.. WHAT?!
A complex fantasy series with serious political plot lines, magic and vivid settings, this book is a must read.
We are thrust straight back into the action, again, as with the last book it is told through stories of the past by Patrick, and we switch between past and present. I really love this format as it makes the revelations much more impactful and I kept trying to figure things out as I went which gave it a mysterious aspect.
These are some complicated books (in my opinion) and it is such a richly in depth world with constant creatures, recipes, characters and politics that sometimes it did feel hard to keep up with the story. I would definitely recommend rereading the first book before this one as there is a lot to take in. This was my only downside in my experience reading, I found it hard to completely know what was happening at times and who was who.
With every book so far I’ve felt so on edge, there is constant excitement, anticipation, guesswork and shock. The characters are a huge part of why as we are rooting so hard for them, it is a political war/ revolutionary story with just a touch of romance, found family and friendship. Paprick and Laven’s friendship is probably my favourite part and it got even deeper in this sequel, also Cori and Feng were standouts for me. I think the fact that this author can write such a hard, brutal and gory book in a queer normative world just makes such an important point.
The magic aspect is so weird and interesting I’ve honestly never read anything like it, its so clever how so much is hinted at and how much we are waiting to find out because of the story telling format, I personally can’t wait for book 3 and no spoilers but the ending really stayed with me, this author is really great at creating cliffhangers. You know a book is good when you finish it and stare at the wall asking your self.. WHAT?!
A complex fantasy series with serious political plot lines, magic and vivid settings, this book is a must read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC received from NetGalley.
Firstly, the title sums this book up pretty well – you've got betrayal, treachery, and lots of quite delicious-sounding recipes.
Eight Tastes of Treachery is the sequel to Seven Recipes for Revolution, and the world Ryan Rose has created is both interesting and complex. The language, history, lands, and even the character names are all food-based or food-adjacent, which I found really refreshing as I haven't read anything quite like it before.
I did find it a little hard to understand at times, especially at the beginning, but I picked it up pretty quickly once I settled back into the world.
In a land where food is everything and magic comes from unique recipes, being a war chef is a pretty important position. The story follows the war chef Paprick as we delve into both the past and present, with occasional glimpses of the future. War is never far away, recipes are magical, and the fantastical creatures of this world can be prey, ingredients, or companions.
What stood out most to me was how unique the entire concept felt. Food-based magic, political intrigue, warfare, and monster hunting all come together to create something genuinely different
Firstly, the title sums this book up pretty well – you've got betrayal, treachery, and lots of quite delicious-sounding recipes.
Eight Tastes of Treachery is the sequel to Seven Recipes for Revolution, and the world Ryan Rose has created is both interesting and complex. The language, history, lands, and even the character names are all food-based or food-adjacent, which I found really refreshing as I haven't read anything quite like it before.
I did find it a little hard to understand at times, especially at the beginning, but I picked it up pretty quickly once I settled back into the world.
In a land where food is everything and magic comes from unique recipes, being a war chef is a pretty important position. The story follows the war chef Paprick as we delve into both the past and present, with occasional glimpses of the future. War is never far away, recipes are magical, and the fantastical creatures of this world can be prey, ingredients, or companions.
What stood out most to me was how unique the entire concept felt. Food-based magic, political intrigue, warfare, and monster hunting all come together to create something genuinely different
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC of this book for free by Netgalley in exchange for fair review.
The greatest (heh) strength of this series is in the story within the story, the never quite knowing if what you're being told is the truth and what isn't as it seems, which is also very neatly mirrored by Foresight Fried Gryphon actually - nice touch. I also really love how we experience Paprick both from his own perspective as he tells his story and from the Archivist's perspective as she listens and interjects. While even in his own telling he becomes less and less a hero, it is through the Archivist that we're really made to reckon with Paprick's darkness. I just love that. Finally, the world - seeing it expand to new, wonderful places with creative transport methods that were both fantastical and somehow logical to have developed the way they did was a delightful side to the main story, all the different cuisines and fusions were a perfect seasoning, and the history of the First Ones and the future of Paprick's world peppered throughout were delectable tastes of what is to come. This series continues to make me come back for seconds.
The greatest (heh) strength of this series is in the story within the story, the never quite knowing if what you're being told is the truth and what isn't as it seems, which is also very neatly mirrored by Foresight Fried Gryphon actually - nice touch. I also really love how we experience Paprick both from his own perspective as he tells his story and from the Archivist's perspective as she listens and interjects. While even in his own telling he becomes less and less a hero, it is through the Archivist that we're really made to reckon with Paprick's darkness. I just love that. Finally, the world - seeing it expand to new, wonderful places with creative transport methods that were both fantastical and somehow logical to have developed the way they did was a delightful side to the main story, all the different cuisines and fusions were a perfect seasoning, and the history of the First Ones and the future of Paprick's world peppered throughout were delectable tastes of what is to come. This series continues to make me come back for seconds.
July 14, 2026
Thank you to Daphne Press, Ryan Rose and NetGalley for this ARC.
Eight Tastes is a beautifully written sequel, an incredibly unique and stylised book and premise. I don’t think that this or its previous book is comparable in terms of its plot. Sometimes this could be concerning, to totally create a new and unique book like this could be a hit or miss, but this, like its predecessor, is a firm hit.
We have some beautiful plot work, the switch between times and tenses is artfully done and the character development is well structured and gives us the time to care for these characters and understand them.
There where points that the information came to us in a slightly clunky or dysfunctional manner, it felt in those moments that these where things I was perhaps meant to have already known or picked up on, but even when backtracking and re-reading sections I struggled to work out where that would have come from.
An easy and comfortable read, with a style of writing by the author that is a sure fire hit.
Eight Tastes is a beautifully written sequel, an incredibly unique and stylised book and premise. I don’t think that this or its previous book is comparable in terms of its plot. Sometimes this could be concerning, to totally create a new and unique book like this could be a hit or miss, but this, like its predecessor, is a firm hit.
We have some beautiful plot work, the switch between times and tenses is artfully done and the character development is well structured and gives us the time to care for these characters and understand them.
There where points that the information came to us in a slightly clunky or dysfunctional manner, it felt in those moments that these where things I was perhaps meant to have already known or picked up on, but even when backtracking and re-reading sections I struggled to work out where that would have come from.
An easy and comfortable read, with a style of writing by the author that is a sure fire hit.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Just as fun and entertaining as the first book!
We follow on from the first book, with it being years after and Paprick having lost his passion for cooking. However, after his attempt to open his new restaurant and regain his passion is thwarted, a war is brewing and Paprick and his friends must travel the lands to find out who is behind it and how to prevent it.
The food based magic system is unique and interesting, I loved the inclusion of the recipes! This book had a lot of things I liked in the first, including the storytelling style from the butcher to the archivist. I enjoyed the character development, especially with Cori and her personal life, and seeing their relationship with Paprick develop. The plot was fast paced and engaging and overall this lived up to my expectations.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
We follow on from the first book, with it being years after and Paprick having lost his passion for cooking. However, after his attempt to open his new restaurant and regain his passion is thwarted, a war is brewing and Paprick and his friends must travel the lands to find out who is behind it and how to prevent it.
The food based magic system is unique and interesting, I loved the inclusion of the recipes! This book had a lot of things I liked in the first, including the storytelling style from the butcher to the archivist. I enjoyed the character development, especially with Cori and her personal life, and seeing their relationship with Paprick develop. The plot was fast paced and engaging and overall this lived up to my expectations.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 Eights Tastes of Treachery - Ryan Rose
I was very lucky to have received an ARC from NetGalley for the second installment in the 'What We Eat' trilogy.
Once again a book has completely broken my heart. We join Paprick, Chef King, The Butcher three years after the ending of the first book. He is now an infamous Warchef still with his trusty partner and best friend by his side.
There's twists, turns and a very healthy (and painful) dose of treachery.
Simply stunning, an incredible second book. The action really gets going and you're introduced to way more lore.
Honestly, I absolutely didn't see the ending coming. Talk about a cliff hanger 🫠😫
Luckily you won't have to wait too long for the second installment as it's due out on 28/07/2026 and is available for pre-order! If you feel like diving head first into a new fantasy world with an anime vibe and all the feels - I would definitely recommend this trilogy.
#ryanrose #bookreview #eighttastesoftreachery #netgalley #arcbook
I was very lucky to have received an ARC from NetGalley for the second installment in the 'What We Eat' trilogy.
Once again a book has completely broken my heart. We join Paprick, Chef King, The Butcher three years after the ending of the first book. He is now an infamous Warchef still with his trusty partner and best friend by his side.
There's twists, turns and a very healthy (and painful) dose of treachery.
Simply stunning, an incredible second book. The action really gets going and you're introduced to way more lore.
Honestly, I absolutely didn't see the ending coming. Talk about a cliff hanger 🫠😫
Luckily you won't have to wait too long for the second installment as it's due out on 28/07/2026 and is available for pre-order! If you feel like diving head first into a new fantasy world with an anime vibe and all the feels - I would definitely recommend this trilogy.
#ryanrose #bookreview #eighttastesoftreachery #netgalley #arcbook
August 25, 2026
Thank you to the publisher, Daphne Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #EightTastesofTreachery #DaphnePress
Three years passed since the previous book, Paprick is tired of war, lost his passion for gastronomy, which he tries to renew with the idea of opening a new restaurant. Of course, things are rarely this easy and straightforward in this world, so on the opening night, he gets included in a conspiracy, a friend dies and Paprick has to involve himself in grander things, he would have liked to.
I was very excited about this book, because I really liked the first one. I'm still slightly partial to that one, but I liked this too. Some decisions of Paprick's still make me hold my head, but he did develop in some fields. This new story is very exciting, bringing some quite interesting twists; can't wait to read the sequel!
Three years passed since the previous book, Paprick is tired of war, lost his passion for gastronomy, which he tries to renew with the idea of opening a new restaurant. Of course, things are rarely this easy and straightforward in this world, so on the opening night, he gets included in a conspiracy, a friend dies and Paprick has to involve himself in grander things, he would have liked to.
I was very excited about this book, because I really liked the first one. I'm still slightly partial to that one, but I liked this too. Some decisions of Paprick's still make me hold my head, but he did develop in some fields. This new story is very exciting, bringing some quite interesting twists; can't wait to read the sequel!
September 20, 2026
Every description of food was excellent, such an appreciation for flavour and the impact food has on culture and human experience.
The stakes were higher - new characters, empires, motivations, creatures made the world so so much bigger than what was explored in the first book. Everything is expanded so well and I think the dual narrative is better implemented in this one.
The first books' story was overall more cut and dry with a class revolution and overthrowing the king, this one introduced many more factions that weave together the complicated tapestry that is war, with clashing ideologies and motivations that Paprick and his found family have to juggle. You could really feel the limitations of them just being people spread across the continent and I liked that.
Shout out Cori my enby baddie, their gender journey was heartwarming to read as an enby myself - and their and Paprick's relationship was so wonderful to watch deepen.
The stakes were higher - new characters, empires, motivations, creatures made the world so so much bigger than what was explored in the first book. Everything is expanded so well and I think the dual narrative is better implemented in this one.
The first books' story was overall more cut and dry with a class revolution and overthrowing the king, this one introduced many more factions that weave together the complicated tapestry that is war, with clashing ideologies and motivations that Paprick and his found family have to juggle. You could really feel the limitations of them just being people spread across the continent and I liked that.
Shout out Cori my enby baddie, their gender journey was heartwarming to read as an enby myself - and their and Paprick's relationship was so wonderful to watch deepen.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Eight Tastes of Treachery asks us whether we want the heroic life or a life of contentment. But what if that heroic life is thrust upon us? If that's our fate in life and that we have to be the hero and have to lose it all? Eight Tastes of Treachery is about Paprick's quest for future. It's easy to fight for revenge, for the ones we love, but what about if we have to put it all on the line for something more? If the allure of power beckons and it requires us to lose it all and we can't say no? With another frame narrative, Eight Tastes of Treachery is an action packed sequel about the consequences of our actions. There's the same heart, the same recklessness, the same humor. And it reminds us that the lives of heroes are rarely peaceful.
Eight Tastes of Treachery asks us whether we want the heroic life or a life of contentment. But what if that heroic life is thrust upon us? If that's our fate in life and that we have to be the hero and have to lose it all? Eight Tastes of Treachery is about Paprick's quest for future. It's easy to fight for revenge, for the ones we love, but what about if we have to put it all on the line for something more? If the allure of power beckons and it requires us to lose it all and we can't say no? With another frame narrative, Eight Tastes of Treachery is an action packed sequel about the consequences of our actions. There's the same heart, the same recklessness, the same humor. And it reminds us that the lives of heroes are rarely peaceful.
July 26, 2026
I loved the first books. I loved this one two- I was a bit confused at the beginning with the time jump and past/present switching but soon got back into it.
I feel like anyone reading this will have read the first one first otherwise this won't make much sense so this review is to encourage anyone who read the first book to continue. Rose continues to develop the first book's unique food based magic system and the character development and story did not go in the direction I expected (in the best way).
I feel like anyone reading this will have read the first one first otherwise this won't make much sense so this review is to encourage anyone who read the first book to continue. Rose continues to develop the first book's unique food based magic system and the character development and story did not go in the direction I expected (in the best way).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a good second book
I usually feel they dont move the plot forward because we know a third is coming but again this was full of interesting moments twists turns and intrigue that I enjoyed every minute of
One of the most interesting magic systems I've encountered and im a big fan of it there's a unique feeling to it and its explored in a clever way and never feels like its difficult to grasp
Cant wait for book 3 especially after that ending
I usually feel they dont move the plot forward because we know a third is coming but again this was full of interesting moments twists turns and intrigue that I enjoyed every minute of
One of the most interesting magic systems I've encountered and im a big fan of it there's a unique feeling to it and its explored in a clever way and never feels like its difficult to grasp
Cant wait for book 3 especially after that ending
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a follow-up to Seven Recipes for Revolution, which expands the worldbuilding, adds depth to the characters, and answers many questions. The first book was one of my favorite reads that year, so when I got this book, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read it as an arc. The book does have some grammatical and spelling errors. However, I'm confident that these issues will be corrected before the book is published. A brilliant book
June 27, 2026
Absolutely fantastic second serving of this truly unique story. There are so many fun ingredients, from the truly devious narration to the incredible magic system, there’s wonderful characters and intriguing political machinations. I especially enjoy the fusion of different styles, functional recipes are seeded throughout the dark and yet, heartwarming chaos with some hearty humour.
So excited for the third instalment.
So excited for the third instalment.
August 9, 2026
As gripping as the first book but with added world building that doesn’t slow anything down.
As quick as the first book with as compelling a cast of characters. Twists and turns ensure you can never really know what’s going to happen until it does.
Can’t wait for the next in the series!
I have purchased this book but I also received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As quick as the first book with as compelling a cast of characters. Twists and turns ensure you can never really know what’s going to happen until it does.
Can’t wait for the next in the series!
I have purchased this book but I also received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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