Lettura #inglese "Seven Recipes for Revolution" di Ryan Rose
Paprick is a common butcher, carving slabs of meat from gargantuan monsters so elite chefs can prepare magic-granting meals for the rich. But Paprick's true passion is cooking, and if he can learn the secret art, his dreams of liberating his people and sharing the monsters' magic with the world could come true. He steals the precious ingredients needed to practise recipes at home, but if he's caught, he'll be executed.
As his desperation grows, he ventures into the black market and uncovers a spice imported from unknown lands. Combining it with the last of his stolen meat, he cooks a dish the world has never tasted before, with side-effects he couldn't have foreseen.
The dish's magic grows Paprick to kaiju-size, and legends of his powers spread among the people. Immediately, the rulers arrest him, but Paprick convinces them to make him a chef's apprentice—if they ever want to learn his Recipe. However, his exposure to the world of high cuisine reveals the rot at its centre, and with his new power, rebellion is only a few recipes away…
Title: Seven Recipes for Revolution
di Ryan Rose
Pages 480
Editor Titan Books
Release Date: 22 luglio 2025
* I thank you so much NetGally for this ARC copy provided
Questo è uno dei fantasy più eccentrici e curiosi che abbia mai letto, dato che unisce i temi della cucina (sì, oramai non siamo tutti fan dei programmi con le celebrità tra i fornelli?), la magia, il darkacademia e persino la critica sociale e la lotta di classe.
Ma andiamo con ordine: Paprick parte come macellaio, specializzato però nel lavorare pezzi di carne di mostri ed enormi bestie che saranno poi serviti alla tavola dei ricchi. Ma non basta, le bistecche big size sono ricercate anche perchè attribuiscono poteri magici. Sì, la magia trae energia dal cibo!
E quando il nostro diviene sempre più bravo e crea ricette innovative (quelle del titolo) viene ammesso a una scuola-accademia elitaria.
Ma lui non desidera il potere per sè: il suo obiettivo vero è riscattare la propria gente, portare la rivoluzione in una società chiusa e classista e liberare la magia per il bene comune.
Tutto ciò noi lo apprendiamo, però, da un Paprick divenuto già famoso come il Macellaio, incarcerato e in attesa della sua condanna, che racconta la sua vita a uno studioso.
La narrazione procede tra passato e presente, tra momenti epici e anche trash e divertenti, e il lettore non è sicuro di come andrà a finire.
Il finale lascia aperte le basi per il seguito. Di norma, non sono una fan dei cliffhanger, ma qui avrei voluto un po' più di tensione.
Sono quasi 500 pagine di montagne russe, avrei voluto continuare il saliscendi.
Mi piacerebbe continuare la serie.
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But let's take it one step at a time: Paprick starts out as a butcher, specialising in cutting up pieces of meat from monsters and enormous beasts that will then be served at the tables of the rich. But that's not all: these large steaks are also sought after because they are believed to have magical powers. Yes, magic draws energy from food!
And when our protagonist becomes increasingly skilled and creates innovative recipes (those of the title), he is admitted to an elite academy.
But he does not desire power for himself: his real goal is to redeem his people, bring revolution to a closed and classist society, and liberate magic for the common good.
We learn all this, however, from Paprick, who has already become famous as the Butcher, imprisoned and awaiting his sentence, who recounts his life to a scholar.
The narrative proceeds between past and present, between epic and even trashy and entertaining moments, and the reader is unsure how it will end.
The ending leaves the door open for a sequel. I'm not usually a fan of cliffhangers, but here I would have liked a little more tension.
It's almost 500 pages of rollercoaster ride, and I would have liked to continue the ups and downs.
I would like to continue the series.
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