Review: The Queen's Cook

December 05, 2024

Review: The Queen's Cook

The Queen’s Cook JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afshar hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

DISCLOSURE: Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and JustRead Tours for giving me a complimentary copy of this book.. A positive review was not required and the review you will find below is just my honest opinion :)

About the Book

Title: The Queen’s Cook

Series: Queen Esther's Court #1

Author: Tessa Afshar

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Release Date: November 19, 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction, Biblical

In the heart of ancient Persia, the empire's Jewish citizens face an ominous edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of an impoverished Persian lord, is devastated by the news but feels helpless to come to the aid of her Jewish friends. Desperate to support her family, Roxannah approaches the royal physician, Adin--the man whose kind eyes haunt her--and seeks his help to find employment in Queen Esther's kitchens.

In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah tries to survive the spiteful ploys of the other cooks as she ascends through the ranks. Her loyalty earns her the trust and friendship of Queen Esther, who is navigating dangerous politics with wisdom and grace. When Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king's most powerful wife and Esther's archenemy, they find themselves tasked with the impossible job of discovering the culprit. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Esther's reign hangs in the balance.

Review

Disclaimer: Thank you to the author, publisher and JustRead tours for giving me a complimentary copy of this book. The review written below is my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved this book! It was such an immersive historical read and really made the book of Esther come to life in my opinion!

I Loved 🩷:

I loved Adin and Roxannah. Both characters were multilayered and I loved how Roxannah's character grew over the course of the novel. I also loved how there are ties in this book to the Hidden Prince (another book by Tessa Afshar). What are they you might ask? You'll have to read the book to find out 😉

Additionally the plot was so addictive and the pacing was so well done. I loved the intertwining of Adin and Roxannah's POVs as well as Esther's POV of the whole story in later years through her "secret scrolls".

I loved Tessa Afshar's narrating style and honestly this was such a good read!

I would recommend this to:

People who love biblical fiction in rich immersive historical settings and people who enjoyed the Hidden Prince!

Content Warnings: domestic violence, abuse, violence and grief

About the Author

Tessa Afshar

Tessa Afshar's award-winning biblical fiction has been on Publishers Weekly, CBA, and ECPA bestseller lists and has been translated into twelve languages. Born in the Middle East, Tessa spent her teen years in England and later moved to the United States. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life. Tessa is a devoted wife, a mediocre gardener, and an enthusiastic cook of biblical recipes.

Connect with Tessa by visiting tessaafshar.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

Check out this giveaway!!!!

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of The Queen's Cook and a $15 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight December 4, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on December 11, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!