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Morcster Chef #1
Cleaver's Edge: A LitRPG Fantasy Cooking Adventure
Adventurers seek dungeons for riches. Heroes storm great fortresses. Gods clash far above.
Arek cooks lasagna and tops it with a dash of finely chopped basil.
An orc who has seen more than his fair amount of fighting, Arek wants nothing more than to spend the rest of his days cooking and away from the chaos of combat.
However, when Ming and her group of adventurers hire him as their full-time chef, his plans of avoiding violence crumble. He longs to leave his blood-soaked mistakes in his past, but old friends and foes have different ideas.
Cleaver's Edge is the first book in a Fantasy / LitRPG lite series with a cooking element that's perfect for the Holiday Season. It contains status windows and other RPG elements, but it is not set within a videogame. It will appeal to anyone that enjoys reading a slice-of-life fantasy about a group of adventurers as well as fans of Food Wars!.
This novel also contains real recipes, and we highly recommend you give them a taste if you’re hungry!
Arek cooks lasagna and tops it with a dash of finely chopped basil.
An orc who has seen more than his fair amount of fighting, Arek wants nothing more than to spend the rest of his days cooking and away from the chaos of combat.
However, when Ming and her group of adventurers hire him as their full-time chef, his plans of avoiding violence crumble. He longs to leave his blood-soaked mistakes in his past, but old friends and foes have different ideas.
Cleaver's Edge is the first book in a Fantasy / LitRPG lite series with a cooking element that's perfect for the Holiday Season. It contains status windows and other RPG elements, but it is not set within a videogame. It will appeal to anyone that enjoys reading a slice-of-life fantasy about a group of adventurers as well as fans of Food Wars!.
This novel also contains real recipes, and we highly recommend you give them a taste if you’re hungry!
436 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2021
209 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
About the author
Actus
59 books197 followersActus has been writing fantasy stories since the age of twelve, and he's been telling them since he could talk. He's currently working on three main series - Morcster Chef, Steamforged Sorcery, and My Best Friend is an Eldritch Horror. You can find his works on RoyalRoad & Patreon as well as on Amazon.
In addition to his passion for writing, Actus is capable of clearing a two story building with a single jump. That isn't true, but writing about himself in third person gives Actus delusions of grandeur.
In addition to his passion for writing, Actus is capable of clearing a two story building with a single jump. That isn't true, but writing about himself in third person gives Actus delusions of grandeur.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
May 21, 2023
This is a one-trick pony and the trick wore thin after the first couple chapters. Arek can talk! Even though he's a monster! Also, he can cook because whatever. I suppose some of this is that I'm not into cooking so the recipes at the end of some chapters don't thrill me at all. Frankly, I've never found that convincing in fiction. I mean, everyone describes the dishes as just the best thing ever and all the mouthgasms are completely over the top. I mean, I've had orange rolls before. They're not that great. And frankly, there's not a lot of room to make them mouthgasmy.
Anyway, the cooking schtick isn't what pulled me out finally. I got tired of the sloppy writing. Like, they get to the end of a dungeon and Arek is all "it has been so long since he had seen gold coins" and I'm all, "you mean like an hour? You literally just won 50 gold that was delivered to you on the way to the dungeon". This is most apparent in the fight scenes where things bounce around in erratic fashion and people act in awkward sequence rather than anything like an actual fight.
So it's a somewhat interesting concept that might have worked better if the author had more than schtick to rely on. One star is all I can justify.
Anyway, the cooking schtick isn't what pulled me out finally. I got tired of the sloppy writing. Like, they get to the end of a dungeon and Arek is all "it has been so long since he had seen gold coins" and I'm all, "you mean like an hour? You literally just won 50 gold that was delivered to you on the way to the dungeon". This is most apparent in the fight scenes where things bounce around in erratic fashion and people act in awkward sequence rather than anything like an actual fight.
So it's a somewhat interesting concept that might have worked better if the author had more than schtick to rely on. One star is all I can justify.
December 17, 2021
Fun book on cooking and an older, powerful MC
Fun book about cooking and adventuring with even recipes within. The LitRPG elements are extremely light, but it's an interesting story nevertheless. A good addition to the genre
Fun book about cooking and adventuring with even recipes within. The LitRPG elements are extremely light, but it's an interesting story nevertheless. A good addition to the genre
December 12, 2021
DNF
I really wanted to like this book and just kept forcing myself on before I realized my preconceived notions were not going to be fulfilled. This was titled a LitRPG cooking adventure. It is most definitely not. No leveling, character growth is minuscule (one grinding session for a couple days on a road trip), no screens or pop ups, no stats, all the things you expect from LitRPG were lacking. Screen pop ups are only used when the MC uses an item to identify people. Happened maybe a total of 5 or 6 times before I quit reading.
Next I was expecting a cooking adventure with fun and creative ways cooking could be accomplished in a fantasy world and a LitRPG system. Wrong, oh so wrong. He cooks stuff, that people like, that’s it. No magic involved for the most part, no cool ingredients, no buffs as a result, no magical implements, and no skills or leveling. It does list recipes (like from a cookbook) each time he goes on a cooking spree. So maybe the author wanted to keep it real so people could try it too? That’s fine and all, but that’s not the kind of thing that was advertised when I bought the book.
This was bland in all aspects. The party members all have mediocre/ boring talents and abilities, the dungeons didn’t convey danger/creativity/awe, and the cooking was boring.
At least In the dungeon have the orc find cool and mysterious ingredients and follow up on them. Maybe even have him harvest and grow them in his spatial garden plot. Then use those ingredients to cook! I have read other books that did this so much better. Like legend of randidly ghosthound. While cooking wasn’t the focus it was used a bunch to level many of his skills in interesting ways. In another book the MC was a gnome engineer that made a magical mixer for his half orc girlfriend to use in her kitchen/restaurant. So many directions and ways this could have been cooler.
I really wanted to like this book and just kept forcing myself on before I realized my preconceived notions were not going to be fulfilled. This was titled a LitRPG cooking adventure. It is most definitely not. No leveling, character growth is minuscule (one grinding session for a couple days on a road trip), no screens or pop ups, no stats, all the things you expect from LitRPG were lacking. Screen pop ups are only used when the MC uses an item to identify people. Happened maybe a total of 5 or 6 times before I quit reading.
Next I was expecting a cooking adventure with fun and creative ways cooking could be accomplished in a fantasy world and a LitRPG system. Wrong, oh so wrong. He cooks stuff, that people like, that’s it. No magic involved for the most part, no cool ingredients, no buffs as a result, no magical implements, and no skills or leveling. It does list recipes (like from a cookbook) each time he goes on a cooking spree. So maybe the author wanted to keep it real so people could try it too? That’s fine and all, but that’s not the kind of thing that was advertised when I bought the book.
This was bland in all aspects. The party members all have mediocre/ boring talents and abilities, the dungeons didn’t convey danger/creativity/awe, and the cooking was boring.
At least In the dungeon have the orc find cool and mysterious ingredients and follow up on them. Maybe even have him harvest and grow them in his spatial garden plot. Then use those ingredients to cook! I have read other books that did this so much better. Like legend of randidly ghosthound. While cooking wasn’t the focus it was used a bunch to level many of his skills in interesting ways. In another book the MC was a gnome engineer that made a magical mixer for his half orc girlfriend to use in her kitchen/restaurant. So many directions and ways this could have been cooler.
January 9, 2023
I seriously love Cleaver's Edge a novel, laced with RPG elements. Arek (our protagonist) just wants to cook, possibly even opening up his own restaurant! Cooking is a joy for him, and a pretty great way to hide from his bloody past! His disability? Nobody will hire an Orc! As money's gotten tight, he's hired on with a G-rank adventurer team to be their personal chef while they're dungeon crawling... no fighting required, just cooking, and that's the way Arek wants it. And of course nothing goes according to plan, starting with the very first time Arek and the Happy Sunflower adventuring group go into their 1st dungeon together!
Ohhhh and the food is sublime. (In fact there's several recipes in the story that we cook fairly regularly, using the same cooking techniques.) Btw, the recipes are included too!
And as for Peter Berkrot? he serves up a Top Notch, tasty, narrative delight! So get the book, and Bon Appétit!
Ohhhh and the food is sublime. (In fact there's several recipes in the story that we cook fairly regularly, using the same cooking techniques.) Btw, the recipes are included too!
And as for Peter Berkrot? he serves up a Top Notch, tasty, narrative delight! So get the book, and Bon Appétit!
December 18, 2023
A good LitRPG with an interesting premise.
Arek is an Cook aiming to become the best Chef there is.... He is also an Orc. The last part is incidental. In a world full of Dungeons and Adventures to explore them Arek comes across a group such adventures. And though they are somewhat reluctant, he is allowed to join them so they can level and so he can gather rare ingredients for his recipes.
Overall the book is light on stats and solid on the humour, but unfortunately it din't quite work for me. I'll explain... Overall I liked this novel. The concept of a Orc cook outwitting people in the kitchen, giving actual recipes you can make at home (in imperial measurements though) and full of humour were all fine. The thing that didn't click for me were the juxtaposition of the humour with the more serious moments. Arek has a dark backstory you learn gradually though the story. Thing is... this is a dark story that didn't mix well with the zany and more whimsical moments in the rest of the novel.
So not a bad book by any means, but with a little less darkness I would have enjoyed it a bit more. But seeing as my opinion seems to be in the minority I'd advice in reading a sample and making up your own opinion.
Arek is an Cook aiming to become the best Chef there is.... He is also an Orc. The last part is incidental. In a world full of Dungeons and Adventures to explore them Arek comes across a group such adventures. And though they are somewhat reluctant, he is allowed to join them so they can level and so he can gather rare ingredients for his recipes.
Overall the book is light on stats and solid on the humour, but unfortunately it din't quite work for me. I'll explain... Overall I liked this novel. The concept of a Orc cook outwitting people in the kitchen, giving actual recipes you can make at home (in imperial measurements though) and full of humour were all fine. The thing that didn't click for me were the juxtaposition of the humour with the more serious moments. Arek has a dark backstory you learn gradually though the story. Thing is... this is a dark story that didn't mix well with the zany and more whimsical moments in the rest of the novel.
So not a bad book by any means, but with a little less darkness I would have enjoyed it a bit more. But seeing as my opinion seems to be in the minority I'd advice in reading a sample and making up your own opinion.
December 24, 2021
KU Review
“This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
As the title says this is a review for Kindle Unlimited and as such is a reflection of my enjoyment of the book and in no way reflects cost to value analysis. I hate trying to define my enjoyment and describe facets of it that would appeal to someone else. It is simply not my style. But for the sake of those fishing for clues:
Character development: good
Game elements: minimal
Harem elements: none
Tone: seriously fun take on the genre. Recipes are a fun touch.
I will happily discuss the book with you on Goodreads if you are so inclined. As always, I am open to debates and arguments, but also vain enough to seek acknowledgement, so feel free to roast me or applaud my efforts. Either is acceptable, because if you are paying attention to me then you are at least considering the book. And THAT my friends is exactly why you see my comments here.
Cheers
“This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
As the title says this is a review for Kindle Unlimited and as such is a reflection of my enjoyment of the book and in no way reflects cost to value analysis. I hate trying to define my enjoyment and describe facets of it that would appeal to someone else. It is simply not my style. But for the sake of those fishing for clues:
Character development: good
Game elements: minimal
Harem elements: none
Tone: seriously fun take on the genre. Recipes are a fun touch.
I will happily discuss the book with you on Goodreads if you are so inclined. As always, I am open to debates and arguments, but also vain enough to seek acknowledgement, so feel free to roast me or applaud my efforts. Either is acceptable, because if you are paying attention to me then you are at least considering the book. And THAT my friends is exactly why you see my comments here.
Cheers
May 12, 2022
A nice little book with heart
This book is aiming for light and fun. This is not really LitRPG. It's definitely anime inspired (actually from a manga Delicious in Dungeon https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...) This book checks most all the boxes of a light novel, and yet for me it never really clicks.
It means well, and it tries hard but it's just missing some ingredient that would bring it all together.
Still I give it an extra star for effort, not being grim-dark, and some of the jokes seem new to me -even if they weren't that funny.
There is nothing wrong with this book, and it might get better later. I'll read the next one, But I'd be exaggerating if I said it was much above average.
*EDIT* Sadly, I need to add Forgettable to my review.
Read book 2 a few months later and I couldn't remember much of anything from book 1 here. Apart form a few hazy details, every aspect of this book is a near complete blank in 4 months time.
This book is aiming for light and fun. This is not really LitRPG. It's definitely anime inspired (actually from a manga Delicious in Dungeon https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...) This book checks most all the boxes of a light novel, and yet for me it never really clicks.
It means well, and it tries hard but it's just missing some ingredient that would bring it all together.
Still I give it an extra star for effort, not being grim-dark, and some of the jokes seem new to me -even if they weren't that funny.
There is nothing wrong with this book, and it might get better later. I'll read the next one, But I'd be exaggerating if I said it was much above average.
*EDIT* Sadly, I need to add Forgettable to my review.
Read book 2 a few months later and I couldn't remember much of anything from book 1 here. Apart form a few hazy details, every aspect of this book is a near complete blank in 4 months time.
January 23, 2022
I am a huge fan of cooking manga, like food wars, and this novel really hit the spot. It claims to be a litrpg, but those elements are very light. There is some action, but lost of it takes place in the kitchen! The cast is hilarious, and the audiobook is well done. Seriously, this book will inspire you to get cooking!
December 17, 2021
This is my first book by this author, and it's a pretty cool one at that.
Arek is an orc who can speak common. He has a semi-mysterious past, loves to cook, and it travelling the countryside to explore the world.
That changes when Ming, a magic user who loves to eat smells his cooking. He's making a cornstarch covered beef recipe with some heat to it, and Ming gobbles it down, immediately inviting him to join their adventuring party.
Arek has very few demands, so after some back and forth he accepts.
I'll stop the recap there. This book caught my attention for a few reasons. First, the recipes are printed inside. I'm not sure if that is a gimmick or people will really use those recipes, but it does solidly in the mind what's going into the dishes that everyone is eating.
Second are the dungeons. Although this has been touted as a dungeon diving book, it's a lot more than that. They only go through two dungeons, and while each is interesting in their own way, what happens outside the dungeons is just as fun.
Third is the feud with the Starpiercer guild, who are pretty incompetent on their own. Still, they provide a jolt of action outside the dungeons.
Somehow, this all adds up to a great book. A lot of that is due to the characters and how they're written. Ming is the person who is always going to get lost in a crowd because she's so excited about every new thing she sees, especially if it is food. Marissa is more serious but wants to learn to cook and be a better fighter, and the guy (I forget his name) is overly serious and cautious to a fault.
I really enjoyed this. There is a dip in the 70-85% mark, but that's it.
Recommended 5/5*
Arek is an orc who can speak common. He has a semi-mysterious past, loves to cook, and it travelling the countryside to explore the world.
That changes when Ming, a magic user who loves to eat smells his cooking. He's making a cornstarch covered beef recipe with some heat to it, and Ming gobbles it down, immediately inviting him to join their adventuring party.
Arek has very few demands, so after some back and forth he accepts.
I'll stop the recap there. This book caught my attention for a few reasons. First, the recipes are printed inside. I'm not sure if that is a gimmick or people will really use those recipes, but it does solidly in the mind what's going into the dishes that everyone is eating.
Second are the dungeons. Although this has been touted as a dungeon diving book, it's a lot more than that. They only go through two dungeons, and while each is interesting in their own way, what happens outside the dungeons is just as fun.
Third is the feud with the Starpiercer guild, who are pretty incompetent on their own. Still, they provide a jolt of action outside the dungeons.
Somehow, this all adds up to a great book. A lot of that is due to the characters and how they're written. Ming is the person who is always going to get lost in a crowd because she's so excited about every new thing she sees, especially if it is food. Marissa is more serious but wants to learn to cook and be a better fighter, and the guy (I forget his name) is overly serious and cautious to a fault.
I really enjoyed this. There is a dip in the 70-85% mark, but that's it.
Recommended 5/5*
September 15, 2022
I respect a book that takes such a serious approach to the main character being a chef that it includes all of the recipes. Best read with snacks.
February 13, 2023
This was a fun quick read. Lots of plot holes but still kept me entertained.
September 29, 2023
3.75
This was a fun read. I liked the narrator's voice but he is way too exited at times, which took some of my enjoyment.
This was a fun read. I liked the narrator's voice but he is way too exited at times, which took some of my enjoyment.
June 26, 2023
Perfectly suitable as a palate-cleanser. A bit of a mix of elements, and the higgledy-piggledy storyline was explained by the author's note at the end indicating this was from Royal Road, i.e. serialised in the writing.
It made me extremely hungry.
It made me extremely hungry.
November 14, 2025
A 13hr audio book. Parts of this I really enjoyed, other parts of this I very much hated... I dont know where to rate this other than worth reading once if your a fantasy and LitRPG reader. Overall, I enjoyed it.
July 1, 2023
Cleaver's edge is a creative and really interesting addition to this genre. This book focuses on an orc named Arek, someone who was once known as War Cheif and who did unspeakable and violent things. However, rather than focus on an action-based story that might come with a character like that, we instead focus on his love for cooking and his pursuit to become a master chef in a world where Orcs are seen only as monsters.
I have read so many books in this genre that action no longer impresses me and I am looking for more out of my fantasy books. Fantasy offers more opportunity for creative storytelling than any other genre of fiction, and it's a shame that we don't get more books that explore other avenues of it like this one does. This book is just further proof that you don't need wall to wall action to create an interesting narrative in a fantasy story... even one in the LitRPG sub-genre.
That being said, this book is not all without action. In order to find acceptance for who he is, Alric must join an adventure group and of course, they go on adventures where Alric is forced to confront his violent past and some of the things that he has tried to leave behind. While this didn't interest me nearly as much as the cooking storyline, I can't deny that this was still an engaging story. This is because the author did this in the right way, by using action to develop the characters rather than for the sake of action itself.
Speaking of characters, that was another strength of this book. They're all well written, fully fleshed out characters with believable motivations and unique personalities. My personal favourite was Ming because of her single-mindedness for food, which was played off as a joke for most of the book, but was also given enough serious attention that you buy it as a believable character trait in this world.
Overall, to shamelessly bring this back to cooking, this book was like a really well-crafted meal. It took quality ingredients, made sure there was an excellent balance so that no one ingredient overpowered the other, and then presented it in a way that would make your mouth water at the sight of it, and never stop wanting to eat it once you started... Was that metaphor a bit too much, and on the nose? Probably. But in all honesty, this was an enjoyable read. It shone when it was focusing on something that was unique to a lot of the books I have read in this genre, and when it fell on more familiar tropes, it did that well enough that I didn't mind them being there.
So it's 5-stars for this book, and I look forward to what comes next for this series.
I have read so many books in this genre that action no longer impresses me and I am looking for more out of my fantasy books. Fantasy offers more opportunity for creative storytelling than any other genre of fiction, and it's a shame that we don't get more books that explore other avenues of it like this one does. This book is just further proof that you don't need wall to wall action to create an interesting narrative in a fantasy story... even one in the LitRPG sub-genre.
That being said, this book is not all without action. In order to find acceptance for who he is, Alric must join an adventure group and of course, they go on adventures where Alric is forced to confront his violent past and some of the things that he has tried to leave behind. While this didn't interest me nearly as much as the cooking storyline, I can't deny that this was still an engaging story. This is because the author did this in the right way, by using action to develop the characters rather than for the sake of action itself.
Speaking of characters, that was another strength of this book. They're all well written, fully fleshed out characters with believable motivations and unique personalities. My personal favourite was Ming because of her single-mindedness for food, which was played off as a joke for most of the book, but was also given enough serious attention that you buy it as a believable character trait in this world.
Overall, to shamelessly bring this back to cooking, this book was like a really well-crafted meal. It took quality ingredients, made sure there was an excellent balance so that no one ingredient overpowered the other, and then presented it in a way that would make your mouth water at the sight of it, and never stop wanting to eat it once you started... Was that metaphor a bit too much, and on the nose? Probably. But in all honesty, this was an enjoyable read. It shone when it was focusing on something that was unique to a lot of the books I have read in this genre, and when it fell on more familiar tropes, it did that well enough that I didn't mind them being there.
So it's 5-stars for this book, and I look forward to what comes next for this series.
June 12, 2023
Note: At least one item in this review may be considered a spoiler so read at your own risk.
A fun book with an equally fun gimmick: the author shares the MC's recipes at the end of the chapter. The only thing I didn’t like is the author makes clear the challenge facing the MC but then doesn’t resolve that challenge choosing instead to use it as a cliff hanger for the next book. That is the sort of thing that would typically annoy me to the point of giving a 1 star review but, here, the author largely keeps the story focused on the other part of the story where the MC rejoins society.
The story: The oddball petite magic user of a three person adventuring team finds the MC in the wild. The MU, Ming, does this by following her nose as the MC, Arek, is a chef. Ming powers her magic, in part, by what she eats so Ming eats a lot in spite of her small size. As a result food always grabs Ming’s attention, even to the point where she doesn’t mind that the chef is an orc.
Orcs in this world are exclusively brutish monsters, except for Arek. Arek was captured years ago by a high level adventuring group who experimented on him leading to Arek learning to talk and cook. Arek even became a member of the adventuring group and worked with them for many years. Eventually Arek became aware of his party being used in a manner resulting in the deaths of innocents. Disillusioned, Arek left and lived on his own for 10 years before encountering Ming.
Ming, fixated on food as always, hires Arek as a cook. Arek maintains his status as cook, not telling his teammates about his past as an adventurer, for most of the book. Arek, however, aids his team in training for their next ranking up tests which tips them off to his past. Arek encounters one of his old teammates while in a city for the ranking tests. This ends up with Arek testifying against the guild that misused his team years ago. As a result Arek’s secrets are revealed and so he is able to come clean with his new adventuring group.
Now ranked up, Arek & co. head to a new dungeon. However they discover a part of the dungeon previously unknown. This leads to the party being influenced by mind magic to teleport out of the dungeon after having conquered it. The party reports the mystery to the adventurers’ guild (the larger mystery being held over for the next book) and celebrates their good fortune. The end.
A fun book with an equally fun gimmick: the author shares the MC's recipes at the end of the chapter. The only thing I didn’t like is the author makes clear the challenge facing the MC but then doesn’t resolve that challenge choosing instead to use it as a cliff hanger for the next book. That is the sort of thing that would typically annoy me to the point of giving a 1 star review but, here, the author largely keeps the story focused on the other part of the story where the MC rejoins society.
The story: The oddball petite magic user of a three person adventuring team finds the MC in the wild. The MU, Ming, does this by following her nose as the MC, Arek, is a chef. Ming powers her magic, in part, by what she eats so Ming eats a lot in spite of her small size. As a result food always grabs Ming’s attention, even to the point where she doesn’t mind that the chef is an orc.
Orcs in this world are exclusively brutish monsters, except for Arek. Arek was captured years ago by a high level adventuring group who experimented on him leading to Arek learning to talk and cook. Arek even became a member of the adventuring group and worked with them for many years. Eventually Arek became aware of his party being used in a manner resulting in the deaths of innocents. Disillusioned, Arek left and lived on his own for 10 years before encountering Ming.
Ming, fixated on food as always, hires Arek as a cook. Arek maintains his status as cook, not telling his teammates about his past as an adventurer, for most of the book. Arek, however, aids his team in training for their next ranking up tests which tips them off to his past. Arek encounters one of his old teammates while in a city for the ranking tests. This ends up with Arek testifying against the guild that misused his team years ago. As a result Arek’s secrets are revealed and so he is able to come clean with his new adventuring group.
Now ranked up, Arek & co. head to a new dungeon. However they discover a part of the dungeon previously unknown. This leads to the party being influenced by mind magic to teleport out of the dungeon after having conquered it. The party reports the mystery to the adventurers’ guild (the larger mystery being held over for the next book) and celebrates their good fortune. The end.
May 7, 2022
I'm torn on this one. It certainly delivers on the cooking aspect. It feels a lot like Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, Vol. 1 when it comes to the cooking aspect of the story, and the recipes at the end of the chapters are a nice touch. That said, Actus is extremely hampered by the nature of the medium. Food has Taste, Smell, and Visual components and a pure text story can only simulate them. At least Food Wars can have tantalizing visuals.
I was hoping for more focus on fantasy recipes I guess with almost potion like results, which this does not do. The cooking aspect and standard fantasy aspect are mostly separate things, with one just interrupting the other for a time.
So Actus is really telling two separate stories at the same time which really slows down the narrative of both.
I was hoping for more focus on fantasy recipes I guess with almost potion like results, which this does not do. The cooking aspect and standard fantasy aspect are mostly separate things, with one just interrupting the other for a time.
So Actus is really telling two separate stories at the same time which really slows down the narrative of both.
January 31, 2023
Okay so I am a huge fan of the authors other series My Best Friend is an Eldritch Horror. I had seen this series while browsing before but the title put me off for some reason. After finding out it was written by Actus I jumped on it immediately and wow was that a great decision. Actus is now in my top 5 favorite authors list. I loved this book it has everything you could want. Just let me warn you eat before listening to it or you will get hungry I sure did. This series just like Actus other is a very unique take on things. It has Action, Mystery, great character depth, a decent magic system, humour and best of all Amazing cooking recipes.
December 8, 2021
Honestly excited to try some of the recipes
It is 2am and I just finished this delightful little adventure. I need to sleep, but my mouth wants me to be up making cold noodle salads, fried mushrooms and apple crumble. So often you read about a feast in a fantasy story, but you do not often get the chance to make it yourself.
Looking forward to making some of these recipes and to the next book in the series.
It is 2am and I just finished this delightful little adventure. I need to sleep, but my mouth wants me to be up making cold noodle salads, fried mushrooms and apple crumble. So often you read about a feast in a fantasy story, but you do not often get the chance to make it yourself.
Looking forward to making some of these recipes and to the next book in the series.
January 9, 2022
So for a first in a series, this is a good start.
It has fun, interesting characters. It is written well, with a concise narrative. The timing is good throughout. No big complaints or grievances with any section. The only issue is that is seems a bit light on overall story. There are a few things hinted at, a few things stated, but overall I fail to see a direction for the series. This could easily be corrected with book two, which is why I still give it five stars.
It has fun, interesting characters. It is written well, with a concise narrative. The timing is good throughout. No big complaints or grievances with any section. The only issue is that is seems a bit light on overall story. There are a few things hinted at, a few things stated, but overall I fail to see a direction for the series. This could easily be corrected with book two, which is why I still give it five stars.
December 19, 2021
DNF - bland and tasteless...when you call something a cooking adventure, maybe have some actual cooking in it instead of "hey I made stuff and people like it."
August 25, 2023
The premise of this book immediately grabbed at me. An orc named Arek is very passionate about food and cooking, and ends up being hired as the chef of a team of adventurers, though he more becomes a part of the team than remain just a chef. Together, the four of them travel, take on dungeons and the dangers and monsters within them, explore cities and towns, and there's a lot of cooking involved as well.
This book felt like a bit of a mish-mash of genres, as we get fantasy, adventure, comedy and slice-of-life, but overall, I feel it balanced those quite nicely. The main group set themselves a goal and we're with them every step of the way. The writing is good overall, just a bit repetitive in some ways (like how characters are described, such as Malissa being referred to as "the tall woman" a lot of times), but I liked it and the story and dialogue all flowed well. The world building is good, I like how easy it is to picture in my mind the towns and buildings, both inside and out, and the open areas the group travels and camps out at. And of course, there's the cooking. The author comes across like a genuine foodie, and any scene involving cooking feels engaging but also comforting in a way, I got invested with a smile on my face just like the characters themselves did. It's honestly weird how the recipes, ingredients and utensils in this fantasy world are the exact same as in our real world, but I decided to just go with it, it didn't really detract from the story, and in fact just made it more fun. And having the actual recipes at the end of chapters where food was made was the cherry on top, a very fun idea.
Then there's the characters. Our main character, Arek, is a very likable main character. He can be rather smug about his skills as a cook (though he does have the skills to back up his talk) but he mostly reserves that for people behaving like jerks. Overall, Arek has a pleasant personality and a contagious enthusiasm for food, and it's very enjoyable to see how happy he is to cook for people and how happy it makes him when people enjoy his food. He's also very snarky, leading to some of the funniest lines in the book. Regarding his companions, Malissa was a joy; I like how she's such a badass fighter with her array of daggers but also still very feminine, I loved her style of wearing elegant robes and scarves even while fighting, and she and Arek have wonderful bonding moments in the second half of the book. Belmont is the cautious type, to the point of paranoia, and he's the resident grouch and the one most against Arek joining the group. This man never lets his guard down for a second, but that being said, those rare moments when he does let his guard down and is honest and relaxes and displays happiness do feel special, especially as he comes to accept Arek as a true companion and member of the group. Even secondary characters get to shine, such as badass but short-tempered Magus, and other people who work in cooking for others, such as Raud, Tilly and Uri, were delightful.
Honestly, if there's a downside to this book, it's Ming. She's the one who first meets Arek and tries his food and thus hires him to become the group's chef, and while Belmont focuses on defensive magic, Ming focuses on offensive magic. Unfortunately, unlike the rest of the group, Ming doesn't really develop as a character beyond finding a focus on one specific type of magic rather than a bunch of different types. Her entire character revolves around how she's always hungry and just wants food, more food and nothing but food. Granted, it's explained later in the book why she has such a focus on food and it's an explanation that makes sense, but that doesn't take away from how she doesn't have much of an arc, if at all. Beyond that, her general behavior makes her feel more like a Looney Tune than a character in a fantasy adventure book, and I found myself annoyed by her cartoonish antics many a time. Hopefully her behavior is toned down in the next books and she can actually develop some. Beyond that, any gripes I may have with the book are quite minor, like how some descriptions can be a bit repetitive, as I mentioned earlier, or how heights seem to be rather random (some descriptions make Ming seem like she's about as tall as a five year old), but overall, nothing really egregious, just pretty harmless stuff.
Overall, I really liked this book. It was a pretty unique take on a fantasy adventure book, the focus on food was a highlight, and most of the characters are likable and engaging, plus it's always good to have an orc character who's not a big tough brute with a bad attitude. I'm definitely getting the next book.
This book felt like a bit of a mish-mash of genres, as we get fantasy, adventure, comedy and slice-of-life, but overall, I feel it balanced those quite nicely. The main group set themselves a goal and we're with them every step of the way. The writing is good overall, just a bit repetitive in some ways (like how characters are described, such as Malissa being referred to as "the tall woman" a lot of times), but I liked it and the story and dialogue all flowed well. The world building is good, I like how easy it is to picture in my mind the towns and buildings, both inside and out, and the open areas the group travels and camps out at. And of course, there's the cooking. The author comes across like a genuine foodie, and any scene involving cooking feels engaging but also comforting in a way, I got invested with a smile on my face just like the characters themselves did. It's honestly weird how the recipes, ingredients and utensils in this fantasy world are the exact same as in our real world, but I decided to just go with it, it didn't really detract from the story, and in fact just made it more fun. And having the actual recipes at the end of chapters where food was made was the cherry on top, a very fun idea.
Then there's the characters. Our main character, Arek, is a very likable main character. He can be rather smug about his skills as a cook (though he does have the skills to back up his talk) but he mostly reserves that for people behaving like jerks. Overall, Arek has a pleasant personality and a contagious enthusiasm for food, and it's very enjoyable to see how happy he is to cook for people and how happy it makes him when people enjoy his food. He's also very snarky, leading to some of the funniest lines in the book. Regarding his companions, Malissa was a joy; I like how she's such a badass fighter with her array of daggers but also still very feminine, I loved her style of wearing elegant robes and scarves even while fighting, and she and Arek have wonderful bonding moments in the second half of the book. Belmont is the cautious type, to the point of paranoia, and he's the resident grouch and the one most against Arek joining the group. This man never lets his guard down for a second, but that being said, those rare moments when he does let his guard down and is honest and relaxes and displays happiness do feel special, especially as he comes to accept Arek as a true companion and member of the group. Even secondary characters get to shine, such as badass but short-tempered Magus, and other people who work in cooking for others, such as Raud, Tilly and Uri, were delightful.
Honestly, if there's a downside to this book, it's Ming. She's the one who first meets Arek and tries his food and thus hires him to become the group's chef, and while Belmont focuses on defensive magic, Ming focuses on offensive magic. Unfortunately, unlike the rest of the group, Ming doesn't really develop as a character beyond finding a focus on one specific type of magic rather than a bunch of different types. Her entire character revolves around how she's always hungry and just wants food, more food and nothing but food. Granted, it's explained later in the book why she has such a focus on food and it's an explanation that makes sense, but that doesn't take away from how she doesn't have much of an arc, if at all. Beyond that, her general behavior makes her feel more like a Looney Tune than a character in a fantasy adventure book, and I found myself annoyed by her cartoonish antics many a time. Hopefully her behavior is toned down in the next books and she can actually develop some. Beyond that, any gripes I may have with the book are quite minor, like how some descriptions can be a bit repetitive, as I mentioned earlier, or how heights seem to be rather random (some descriptions make Ming seem like she's about as tall as a five year old), but overall, nothing really egregious, just pretty harmless stuff.
Overall, I really liked this book. It was a pretty unique take on a fantasy adventure book, the focus on food was a highlight, and most of the characters are likable and engaging, plus it's always good to have an orc character who's not a big tough brute with a bad attitude. I'm definitely getting the next book.
March 12, 2022
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-cleave...
Such a delightful read that always brings a smile and puts me in a happy (and slightly hungry) mood. I’ve read this cover to cover twice now and have browsed sections multiple times more and it still delivers!
The novel follows Arek an orc with a hidden past who loves cooking. He comes across a quirky band of adventurers (The Happy Sunflowers) and joins their team as chef. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement as it gets Arek access to recipes and ingredients and the team gets some sumptuous food. Obviously things don’t go as planned, and the book is all about their adventures both in against dungeons against monster’s and in kitchens against arrogant chefs.
Not just about cooking, there is also adventuring as they explore dungeons and hunt monsters, while solving a mystery. The plot moves at steady pace as we get to see the team dynamics settle and get to know more of the characters and their history. The way the team with the help of Arek develops not just in power, but also as individuals is just perfectly done. The characters are fleshed out really well, each with their own histories, aspirations and the interactions between them is simply a joy to read. If I was ever go adventuring, the Happy Sunflowers would be my go to team! Just like a perfect meal, the individual ingredients of action, humour, character and world building are in perfect proportions making this a wholesome read.
The books is delight to read with it’s fun and optimistic vibe, that runs all through guaranteed to life reader’s spirits. The prose is very down to earth flowing with with and humour and you’ll never realize when you start smiling. And that smile will last all the way till the end dropping only when you realize book 2 isn’t out yet.
As noted above, the books has detailed real recipes of some of the stuff Arek cooks. Now, being banned from Kitchen after causing multiple near disasters, I can’t attest to their efficacy, but even reading them got me craving for them!
Great story, fun prose and a cast that is eminently likeable, this book is a must for fans who are looking for a fun and uplifting read! Give this a read…and get cooking/eating!
Such a delightful read that always brings a smile and puts me in a happy (and slightly hungry) mood. I’ve read this cover to cover twice now and have browsed sections multiple times more and it still delivers!
The novel follows Arek an orc with a hidden past who loves cooking. He comes across a quirky band of adventurers (The Happy Sunflowers) and joins their team as chef. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement as it gets Arek access to recipes and ingredients and the team gets some sumptuous food. Obviously things don’t go as planned, and the book is all about their adventures both in against dungeons against monster’s and in kitchens against arrogant chefs.
Not just about cooking, there is also adventuring as they explore dungeons and hunt monsters, while solving a mystery. The plot moves at steady pace as we get to see the team dynamics settle and get to know more of the characters and their history. The way the team with the help of Arek develops not just in power, but also as individuals is just perfectly done. The characters are fleshed out really well, each with their own histories, aspirations and the interactions between them is simply a joy to read. If I was ever go adventuring, the Happy Sunflowers would be my go to team! Just like a perfect meal, the individual ingredients of action, humour, character and world building are in perfect proportions making this a wholesome read.
The books is delight to read with it’s fun and optimistic vibe, that runs all through guaranteed to life reader’s spirits. The prose is very down to earth flowing with with and humour and you’ll never realize when you start smiling. And that smile will last all the way till the end dropping only when you realize book 2 isn’t out yet.
As noted above, the books has detailed real recipes of some of the stuff Arek cooks. Now, being banned from Kitchen after causing multiple near disasters, I can’t attest to their efficacy, but even reading them got me craving for them!
Great story, fun prose and a cast that is eminently likeable, this book is a must for fans who are looking for a fun and uplifting read! Give this a read…and get cooking/eating!
March 25, 2022
What I liked:
⮞ The cooking aspect! The food descriptions were great, and I thought it was a cool idea to include real recipes.
⮞ Since I am new to reading litRPGs, I think that this book being light on those elements was good for me.
⮞ This book was light and enjoyable. An orc chef, traveling around with a small group of people who accept him, while encountering people who doubt him and his abilities and then proving them wrong. I think my favorite part of the book was the time spent in Greenridge and when Arek was in the kitchen with Raud. Those were the moments I enjoyed the most - The smaller moments when Arek was interacting with others, discovering new items or things about the world, and when he was cooking.
What I didn't like:
⮞ I tend to notice when words or phrases are repeated throughout books (maybe because I tend to do this a lot so it sticks out to me?), and it started to bother me that every time Malissa isn't referred to by name, she is usually referred to as "the tall woman" (sometimes also the 'lithe' woman). I believe Actus does this with the other characters as well, but for some reason I noticed it the most with Malissa. Every time I noticed this, it took me out of the story for a moment.
⮞ I wish we got a bit of a deeper backstory for the characters in Arek's party. I think it would have possibly made Arek's history being withheld more interesting, as he would be the only one we didn't know much about. As such, we only got a few snippets here and there, but nothing substantial.
Final Thoughts:
Overall I had a great time reading this! I've already pre-ordered the sequel and am excited to see more of Arek and his party, especially with how this book ended.
⮞ The cooking aspect! The food descriptions were great, and I thought it was a cool idea to include real recipes.
⮞ Since I am new to reading litRPGs, I think that this book being light on those elements was good for me.
⮞ This book was light and enjoyable. An orc chef, traveling around with a small group of people who accept him, while encountering people who doubt him and his abilities and then proving them wrong. I think my favorite part of the book was the time spent in Greenridge and when Arek was in the kitchen with Raud. Those were the moments I enjoyed the most - The smaller moments when Arek was interacting with others, discovering new items or things about the world, and when he was cooking.
What I didn't like:
⮞ I tend to notice when words or phrases are repeated throughout books (maybe because I tend to do this a lot so it sticks out to me?), and it started to bother me that every time Malissa isn't referred to by name, she is usually referred to as "the tall woman" (sometimes also the 'lithe' woman). I believe Actus does this with the other characters as well, but for some reason I noticed it the most with Malissa. Every time I noticed this, it took me out of the story for a moment.
⮞ I wish we got a bit of a deeper backstory for the characters in Arek's party. I think it would have possibly made Arek's history being withheld more interesting, as he would be the only one we didn't know much about. As such, we only got a few snippets here and there, but nothing substantial.
Final Thoughts:
Overall I had a great time reading this! I've already pre-ordered the sequel and am excited to see more of Arek and his party, especially with how this book ended.
January 8, 2023
Arek is an orc with a past he'd rather forget and leave behind. He is now bent on becoming the best chef ever and providing people with pleasure through his cooking. He is also the first talking orc as well as being able to wield some magic. Whilst peacefully cooking he is accosted by a young girl who seems ravenous and he shares his meal with her, this turns into her offering to hire him as her chef and we soon find out that Ming is always ravenous and food is what she seeks most in life. She introduces him to her other two adventurer friends, Malissa and Belmont who after a bit of trepidation because he is an orc take him on as part of their team, the happy sunflowers. Wherever they go Arek gets a following of hero worshippers who are out to sample more of his delicious food and he is in seventh heaven cooking away. However they soon venture into a dungeon and he is forced to intervene to save his friends lives. Arek hates seeing red and losing his composure but he will not let his friends lives be at risk. They are invited to take the test to upgrade and travel to the guild, they train hard and pass the test but they all face some harsh truths whilst doing so. Arek is forced to face his past and he has to decide whether he will speak out about the atrocities he had been asked to commit in the name of the Starpiercer guild or let these monsters get sway with so much ruin. Arek is a man of honour and he decides it is time to face the consequences for his actions and to bring the evil doers to justice. Is this the end of his dream and of his friendship with the happy sunflowers? I love the recipes provided in the book and Arek's sense of caustic humor and I look forward to reading book 2 of this funny and light LitRPG series.
October 31, 2024
First and foremost, I want to state that I am not an author. I have no idea what it takes to write a book. I am a consumer with an OPINION, and only an opinion, based on my life experiences. Furthermore, this is mostly written for... myself!
Morcster Chef (Book 1)
Morcster Chef follows Arek, an orc seeking a quieter life as a chef after his adventuring days. The story blends cooking and fantasy adventure when Arek joins a misfit crew led by Ming. I found the book entertaining and enjoyed the cooking aspects, especially the real-life recipes at the end of chapters. However, this feature could become repetitive. It would be interesting to see more cooking in dungeons or at campfires with a magical twist. The cast of main characters have distinct personalities, making the story more engaging. The pacing is good, and the mix of cooking and adventure offers a fresh take on fantasy tropes. While enjoyable as a slice-of-life story, I think increasing the use of stats could enhance its appeal as a LitRPG. Overall, Morcster Chef is a fun, lighthearted read that successfully combines cooking with fantasy elements. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys detailed cooking in their stories.
Rating: 4/5 stars Rating Scale:
5 stars - Exceptional, life-changing
4 stars - Highly enjoyable, likely to reread, would recommend
3 stars - Decent read, might not remember long-term
2 stars - Not for me, struggled to finish
1 star - Poorly written or factually incorrect
Morcster Chef (Book 1)
Morcster Chef follows Arek, an orc seeking a quieter life as a chef after his adventuring days. The story blends cooking and fantasy adventure when Arek joins a misfit crew led by Ming. I found the book entertaining and enjoyed the cooking aspects, especially the real-life recipes at the end of chapters. However, this feature could become repetitive. It would be interesting to see more cooking in dungeons or at campfires with a magical twist. The cast of main characters have distinct personalities, making the story more engaging. The pacing is good, and the mix of cooking and adventure offers a fresh take on fantasy tropes. While enjoyable as a slice-of-life story, I think increasing the use of stats could enhance its appeal as a LitRPG. Overall, Morcster Chef is a fun, lighthearted read that successfully combines cooking with fantasy elements. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys detailed cooking in their stories.
Rating: 4/5 stars Rating Scale:
5 stars - Exceptional, life-changing
4 stars - Highly enjoyable, likely to reread, would recommend
3 stars - Decent read, might not remember long-term
2 stars - Not for me, struggled to finish
1 star - Poorly written or factually incorrect
September 20, 2022
What do you get if your mix together a fantasy and a cookbook, with a pinch of LitRPG? You get Cleaver's Edge, of course! I am not joking, this book has actual, legit recipes in them which I will most definitely try out for myself, cause even reading about them already made my mouth water.
This book reminds me of Food Wars, but with less sudden orgasmic half-nakedness (thank God) and with a lot better character writing. Although Ming is like a weird Luffy (One Piece) clone and I wish her personality consisted of more than a barely 2 dimensional shounen character's, but the others were quite alright for supporting cast. Still, Arek is the real star of the show with his deadpan humor and love for cooking.
Unfortunately as interesting as the beginning was, the end kind of mellowed out. I was hoping for a more exciting ending and felt a bit disappointed when I realized that we won't be getting much of that. It reads like a first book in a series, setting up the story for a payoff later, which could be potentially great on the long run, but makes this book end on a low note with more questions left hanging in the air than answers we actually got.
Nonetheless, it was good to read something different for a change and I have to say, those recipes and cooking segments really got me going. I'm definitely making something delicious tonight! If you enjoy cooking and a fun, lighthearted fantasy story, this definitely is for you.
This book reminds me of Food Wars, but with less sudden orgasmic half-nakedness (thank God) and with a lot better character writing. Although Ming is like a weird Luffy (One Piece) clone and I wish her personality consisted of more than a barely 2 dimensional shounen character's, but the others were quite alright for supporting cast. Still, Arek is the real star of the show with his deadpan humor and love for cooking.
Unfortunately as interesting as the beginning was, the end kind of mellowed out. I was hoping for a more exciting ending and felt a bit disappointed when I realized that we won't be getting much of that. It reads like a first book in a series, setting up the story for a payoff later, which could be potentially great on the long run, but makes this book end on a low note with more questions left hanging in the air than answers we actually got.
Nonetheless, it was good to read something different for a change and I have to say, those recipes and cooking segments really got me going. I'm definitely making something delicious tonight! If you enjoy cooking and a fun, lighthearted fantasy story, this definitely is for you.
May 21, 2022
3 1/2 stars. This is a little bit different than most LitRPG stories. There are the common features of leveling up and dungeon crawling. But there are also slice of life moments centered around food. Enjoying ingredients, making dishes, eating, eating together, discovering new ingredients and learning new recipes (it even includes real life recipes). It isn't all about death defying moments but enjoying life.
There are plenty of adventures and death defying moments, too.
There is a lot of character growth in this. All the team members grow together and individually, face their own prejudices and challenge their limits.
There was one thing I didn't quite buy. At one point, Arek becomes the group's coach. They follow his physical exercise plan and his training plans in their own individual specialties, i.e. magic, healer, fighter. They do this without knowing his real history and expertise and some of them don't really trust him. Why would you do this if you don't think the person has any clue what they are talking about? A minor point, because it isn't a big part of the story. But it was a little unbelievable.
But overall, I really enjoyed this. I might even try a recipe or two. I liked the characters and the hints of some bigger things to come. I await the next one in the series.
There are plenty of adventures and death defying moments, too.
There is a lot of character growth in this. All the team members grow together and individually, face their own prejudices and challenge their limits.
There was one thing I didn't quite buy. At one point, Arek becomes the group's coach. They follow his physical exercise plan and his training plans in their own individual specialties, i.e. magic, healer, fighter. They do this without knowing his real history and expertise and some of them don't really trust him. Why would you do this if you don't think the person has any clue what they are talking about? A minor point, because it isn't a big part of the story. But it was a little unbelievable.
But overall, I really enjoyed this. I might even try a recipe or two. I liked the characters and the hints of some bigger things to come. I await the next one in the series.
May 20, 2022
Make that rating a 2.5. This site really needs .5 scores.
Hmm, after a months long binge of trilogies, horror, world saving, swordswinging, bloody action, I thought winding down with a low stakes fantasy novel would be fun. Turned out that took some getting used to.
The story here is good, it's fun, and for it's lightheartedness there are a few thoughts on not to judge people on their appearance, and how the past always catches up on you. But the writing is not my thing. It's a lot of telling, not much showing. Also the writer doesn't have much descriptors for his characters. There is only so much 'the tall woman' or 'the small mage' or 'the armored man' that I can take. It feels a tad amateurish, like fanfiction, although it's obvious that this book doesn't aim for any Pulitzer price (awards for originality and horrible pun it has in the bag though).
Anyways, the story is nice, and after a bit of a slow start it picks up and gets quite engaging, and I admit that the final reveal got a rise out of me. This is the first LitRPG I read, so not much knowledge in how well it does on that scale, but it was a funny read and a nice change of pace from all the dark lords and apocalyptic schemes. Don't know if I'll revisit but I might pick up the next part someday.
Hmm, after a months long binge of trilogies, horror, world saving, swordswinging, bloody action, I thought winding down with a low stakes fantasy novel would be fun. Turned out that took some getting used to.
The story here is good, it's fun, and for it's lightheartedness there are a few thoughts on not to judge people on their appearance, and how the past always catches up on you. But the writing is not my thing. It's a lot of telling, not much showing. Also the writer doesn't have much descriptors for his characters. There is only so much 'the tall woman' or 'the small mage' or 'the armored man' that I can take. It feels a tad amateurish, like fanfiction, although it's obvious that this book doesn't aim for any Pulitzer price (awards for originality and horrible pun it has in the bag though).
Anyways, the story is nice, and after a bit of a slow start it picks up and gets quite engaging, and I admit that the final reveal got a rise out of me. This is the first LitRPG I read, so not much knowledge in how well it does on that scale, but it was a funny read and a nice change of pace from all the dark lords and apocalyptic schemes. Don't know if I'll revisit but I might pick up the next part someday.
May 2, 2025
Arek is a damn fine chef with hopes to open a restaurant down the road. He is also an Orc. Unlike the rest of his kind Arek is intelligent, can speak the common language and is not a ruthless killing machine.
He is found cooking by one Ming who tastes his food and asks for him to be her chef in her adventuring party. After a few negotiations he agrees and joins the Happy Sunflower party.
Belmont, Ming and Marissa make up the party. Belmont is a paranoid, untrusting defensive/healer magic user in full armor. Marissa is a seemingly wise Barbarian of sorts wrapped in silks. Ming is very childlike despite being 19 but a powerful magic user with an insatiable hunger.
But there is more to Arek than his cooking, he is very private. The more you read you learn that Arek is a great fighter and becomes a teacher of sorts to his team. He has a dark past he wants to keep hidden and to make up for.
This is a pretty cozy LitRPG book. There are dungeons full of monsters and evil guilds infested in towns. In between all that is Arek cooking, shopping and taking care of his team. All that can make the book kind of drag but otherwise a relatively easy and laid back read.
There are real recipes in the book and I hope to make one or two that sounded great.
He is found cooking by one Ming who tastes his food and asks for him to be her chef in her adventuring party. After a few negotiations he agrees and joins the Happy Sunflower party.
Belmont, Ming and Marissa make up the party. Belmont is a paranoid, untrusting defensive/healer magic user in full armor. Marissa is a seemingly wise Barbarian of sorts wrapped in silks. Ming is very childlike despite being 19 but a powerful magic user with an insatiable hunger.
But there is more to Arek than his cooking, he is very private. The more you read you learn that Arek is a great fighter and becomes a teacher of sorts to his team. He has a dark past he wants to keep hidden and to make up for.
This is a pretty cozy LitRPG book. There are dungeons full of monsters and evil guilds infested in towns. In between all that is Arek cooking, shopping and taking care of his team. All that can make the book kind of drag but otherwise a relatively easy and laid back read.
There are real recipes in the book and I hope to make one or two that sounded great.
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