Book Review: The Queen Cook (Queen Esther’s Court #1) by Tessa Afshar

About the Book:

In the heart of ancient Persia, the empire’s Jewish citizens face an ominous edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of a once-privileged but now impoverished Persian lord, is devastated by the news. Her father sees this edict as a stroke of good fortune, an opportunity to settle his mounting debts by killing the Jewish physician, Adin, and seizing his belongings, but instead he meets his own untimely end, leaving Roxannah destitute and adrift. Desperate and determined to support her mother while settling the debt, Roxannah approaches Adin–the man whose kind eyes still haunt her–to help her find employment in Queen Esther’s kitchens.

In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah strives to overcome prejudice and adversity as she ascends through the ranks in the royal kitchen. Her culinary talent earns her the trust and mentorship of Queen Esther herself, a woman of grace and wisdom, who is navigating treacherous palace politics and whispers of her inability to produce an heir after six years of marriage. Amid this unfolding connection, Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king’s most powerful wife and Esther’s archenemy. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Amestris and Esther’s reign hang in the balance.

| Goodreads |

My Review:

The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afshar
Rating: 5/5
Pages: 400
Published: November 1, 2024
Series: Queen Esther’s Court

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I was excited to read this one after enjoying her previous book last year. The Peasant King was a delightful read, so going into this one, my hopes were pretty high. Tessa Afshar not only met them, but exceeded them in nearly every way! I don’t tend to enjoy biblical fiction where major people in the Bible become main characters, there’s too much chance of changing things and leading people to believe things that aren’t true and aren’t biblical as if they are. This can be done accidently as well as intentionally, and I’d rather just avoid the whole thing in those cases. Afshar does have Esther play a rather prominent role in this one, but admits in the back on the book some of her sources and reasonings, and where she deviates from scripture in ways that are entirely possible, but no proof is given either way. I appreciate this extra effort on her part, and that she did her upmost to remain true to the biblical accounts we do have. She also used historical sources, and spoke on those briefly there as well.

I also adored meeting Adin and Roxannah in this one, and getting to see their adventures and friendships made along the way. They have quite the story and plenty of twists and surprises to keep me reading long into the night! Who know so much can happen in a simple walk between the kitchen and the living areas of a palace? Intrigue and challenges face Roxannah at every turn, and I loved seeing the character growth and spiritual growth that takes place as their story unfolds.

Other books in the series:
_{(Below is a list of the other books I’ve read & reviewed for this series)}

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