I do like a good historical fiction and I also love a book about food! That is what drew me to request this book. It was a good read but not a fantastic one. I think maybe it is missing something in the translation and it just didn't hit the mark for me.

An okay read but not a book that drew me in and made me excited.

Thank you NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I tried so hard to get into this book and I couldn’t connect. Unfortunately I do have that problem with a lot of translated works which is a huge bummer because I WANT to read these stories.

I did DNF this book about 15%

4 stars - smart, entertaining and enriching

The Book of Perilous Dishes by Doina Ruști, an important contemporary Romanian novelist, is on its surface an adventure novel but there is so much more to it.

The story starts with fourteen-year-old Pâtca traveling to Bucharest after her aunt gets burned as a witch (we are in the year 1789 here). What might be the start to a row of bleak events instead turns quickly into a big adventure with a murder mystery at its heart. Pâtca herself has been taught in different occult arts by her family and is not helpless at all despite her young age. She is courageous and feisty and sets out to visit her beloved uncle Zăval in Bucharest to find the eponymous Book of Perilous Dishes. Unfortunately, instead she finds him dead in his house and the book is nowhere to be found. But, she does not despair and soon gets embroiled in some rather wild adventures with powerful people, unlikely allies, even more unlikely antagonists and a murder to be solved.

The whole plot is a rather wild concoction of episodes in which Pâtca has to deal with a variety of people, one of them a very famous cook who at the same time lives as a slave, and solve problems in a pretty ingenious way. She has a great, very strong narrative voice and it was great fun to follow her along around Bucharest. The story is alternately being told by young Pâtca and 30 years later by a much older and wiser Pâtca who often has a rather different perspective on events in hindsight, which is a great way to introduce some needed information and move the plot forward.

Since this is set around the end of the 18th century we also learn a lot about Romanian history (like that part of the country basically belonged to the Ottoman empire which gave the rule over Bucharest to a Greek as a political favour) but also the culture, like the social status of Roma (who are basically all slaves), occult theories, folklore and common superstitions. 

This novel could probably be classified as magical realism since magic does exist in this world and the recipes in the Book of Perilous Dishes do have all sorts of powerful magical effects on people.

In the end all will be well of course, but the way there is full of twists and turns. I also really appreciated reading a translation of a Romanian author for a change to experience a different way of telling stories and looking at the world, which was a really enriching experience.

Much recommended, especially if you like to broaden your horizons while being well entertained!

I also had the distinct feeling that the translator James Christian Brown had a really good time translating this novel - it just reads like a bunch of fun! :)

I have received an advance review copy from Neem Tree Press via NetGalley and voluntarily provide my honest opinion. Thank you very much!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I have to be transparent and say that I did DNF this book at 23%.

I was so excited to read this book as the premise completely hooked me! The original was written in Romanian and translated to English. I'm uncertain if it was the way the book was written or the translation that completely lost me. It felt disconnected and disjointed. I was so lost and confused by the characters and the plot that I had to put it down. There was no direction and I had to keep scrolling back to figure out who was who. Not a lot made sense. It's completely unfortunate because the plot sounded just like my kind of book.

I'm wondering if I maybe just wasn't in the proper place mentally to read it, but it was just difficult overall.

I'm definitely open to giving it another shot, and I hope others find it more enjoyable and accessible! I dislike not finishing a book because I know how much effort authors put into their work. It might have just been a personal issue for me.

I always love a good historical fiction book coz they in some way take me back in a time which I couldn’t be a part of as well as they help me travel from the comforts of my home.

The book of Perilous dishes is a book that helps its readers travel to a bygone era through the story of Pâtca who is a fourteen year old girl and is forced out of her house where she comes to Bucharest to find her uncle and retrieve a recipe book filled with magical recipes. But when she arrive in Bucharest, she not only finds her uncle murdered but that the book also is missing. And from there forward starts a mystery of family connections and past serects.

The plot of this book was so intriguing that I had to sign up for this blog tour. But as I began to read it, I was left disappointed. I can’t put a finger on why I didn’t like this book. The characters were loveable. The setting of the book was great too. But I was still struggling to get pass the first few chapters to be honest. The names and the words in this book were difficult for me to understand and I often had to slow down my reading pace. Though, lovable characters I still found myself disconnected. I wouldn’t really be able to offer an in depth opinion coz I just would get through it.

Saying this I don’t think this book worked for me but that’s just my personal opinion and I am sure there will be others who loved this book. I personally wouldn’t recommend this book.

Thanks to netgalley, Neem press and the author for this review copy

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

I was gripped by Patca story from the outset with the author blending history, adventure and magic into one fantastic novel. The translator James Christian Brown has I think done full justice to this story - it flows beautifully and the language although ornate is captivating.
Patca is 14 and has been living with her grandmother Maxima in a small village in the north. Maxima has schooled Pacta in the use of Sator which can when accessible influence others.
When Maxima is accused of witchcraft and hauled away to be hanged, Pacta flees to the safety of Bucharest with her Uncle Zaval. Unfortunately all does not go to plan and when she arrives in Bucharest she finds her uncle and his servants murdered. There follows a complex storyline where Pacta finds a guardian in Lady Caterina who is in conflict with the current ruler of Bucharest over her cook. The cook is a marvel and has somehow been given Pacta's uncles cookbook - The book of perilous dishes and each dish that is cooked has a profound effect on those who eat the dish. Pacta strives to reclaim not only the cookbook but also find her family homes which are strangely elusive.
The book transports you back to a different age and culture and provides a main character who is naïve, wise, flawed and angry. I would recommend this book but before you start do read the Translators notes and the glossary as this helps with setting the scene and clarity of the story.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this ARC. All views are my own.

I'm always on the lookout for more books in translation, and the combination of this gorgeous cover and the summary of fabulism in cooking in Romania hooked me.

Patca is on the run from her home, intent on seeking refuge with her uncle. Unfortunately, when she gets to Bucharest, she finds her uncle murdered, her family book of powerful, magical recipes missing, and a city in chaos,

Patca was such a plucky protagonist. She's only 14 years old, but she immediately takes charge of her own life, investigating her uncle's murder and her stolen heritage. And the magic! I loved the magic of the recipes. How the different natural ingredients combine to make potions of contagious laughter or powerful poisons. It was fascinating!

The style really took some getting used to, I definitely had to go back and reread some sections in the beginning. I'm not sure if that was part of the translation, or if it was entirely the style of the author. By the mid point of the book, though, I was breezing through as tensions kept ramping up.

Thanks to both Neem Tree Press and NetGalley for this arc.

Thank you Netgalley & Neem Tree Press Publishing for an eARC ♥️

The world-building is incredibly rich and immersive, with a unique blend of magic, history, and culture that drew me in from the start. I loved how Doina Rusti wove together elements of Romanian folklore and occult practices to create a world that's both familiar and strange.

Pâtca is a fantastic protagonist - fierce, determined, and relatable. I loved watching her grow and develop as she navigates the treacherous world of occult politics. Her struggles to come to terms with her family's past and her own powers are deeply relatable, and I found myself rooting for her from the very beginning.

The plot is full of twists and turns, with surprises around every corner. I was on the edge of my seat as Pâtca deciphered the mysterious map and uncovered the secrets of her family's past. The pacing is expertly handled, with a slow burn of tension and suspense that builds to a thrilling climax.

What I loved most about this book is its originality and uniqueness. It's unlike anything I've ever read before, with a distinctive voice and style that sets it apart from other fantasy novels. The writing is descriptive and immersive, with vivid details that transported me to 18th century Europe. I loved the inclusion of historical figures and events, which added an extra layer of depth and authenticity to the story.😊

Initial setting of the story is Bucharest, at the end of the 18th century. This intrigued me just as much as the magic in this book, which borrows from Romanian folklore.

I liked the story, didn't love it though. There were a lot of characters that had little to know influence on the overall story and bogged down the story with tangents.

This book does not work for me. Sometimes, as intriguing as a story sounds, I just can’t get past the first couple of pages. I don’t think that there is anything wrong with this book’s translation or anything, but I could tell pretty quickly that for some reason, it just wasn’t going to jive with me.

Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was originally published in Romanian and then translated.

I’m not sure if it was the translation or the prose itself but I just really couldn’t understand this book. Everything felt disconnected and nothing was making sense to me.

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I hope others love it.

I went in with zero expectations, the synopsis alone being what drew my attention to this book. It ended up being a pleasant read, a bit slow paced but full of magical little details that kept me invested! I did enjoy the peek at Romania in this book, as I am unfamiliar with that country and its background. The detailed recipes throughout the book and the resulting mayhem hehehe. Overall, a delightful read and one I'm happy to recommend to others!

My thanks to Netgalley for theDRC of this book, my opinions are my own.
I'm afraid this one just wasn't for me. I'm not sure if it was the translation or the style itself, but I found the prose just too disjointed to follow with any enjoyment. However, there were some paragraphs that were absolutely beautiful, and captured the essence of that flavour, or mood etc like poetry, and for these jewels, I persevered. This is a book that I think deserves re-reading, possibly after I have done a bit more homework on my Romanian history.

Pâtca is on the run in Doina Ruști’s The Book of Perilous Dishes (carefully translated by James Christian Brown). She flees from her small village when her grandmother is accused of witchcraft. Unlike so many others accused like this, Pâtca and her family really are witches. Sadly, their knowledge is no match for a pissed-off mob and Pâtca must seek refuge in Bucharest, only to learn that this is just the first in a series of unfortunate events.

The plan was for Pâtca to live with her uncle, a talented and influential magician. As soon as she arrives at her uncle’s house, Pâtca discovers that the poor man and his servants have been murdered. It turns out that turn-of-the-nineteenth-century Bucharest is absolute bedlam. Not only has Pâtca’s uncle been killed but Pâtca is almost sold into slavery by a group of corrupt Turkish gendarms. This book skirts the boundaries of the picaresque. The only thing keeping The Book of Perilous Dishes from slipping completely into that kind of malarky is Pâtca’s agency. Although she needs to be rescued more than once, Pâtca’s little hexes help her in her quest to right the wrongs done to her family. That said, so much happens to Pâtca that it’s hard to keep the plot and mishaps straight sometimes.

There’s no way I can summarize the plot of this book. Not only is there her uncle’s murder to solve, Pâtca also has to figure out how to retrieve her uncle’s book of magical recipes. A rogue cook has the book and is cooking his way through it, wreaking havoc in the Ottoman-appointed prince’s court with dishes that inflame emotions like paranoia and generosity or cause fatal bouts of laughter. Pâtca also has to do polite battle with churchmen who want to snaffle her inheritance away, locate a mysterious house on a street that may not exist, and help her patroness in her mission to become the new governor of Romania.

I appreciated the sense of place and time Ruști created. There are occasional untranslated words in Turkish and Romanian (I know what an anteri is now) that add texture to my overall impression of a city of near-anarchy and corruption and exotic flavors and magic and infatuation. There is so much going on in Bucharest and this corner of the Ottoman Empire that it was a little startling to hear a French diplomat refer to Napolean’s dreams of conquering Europe. Readers looking for unusual historical fiction may like this one.

I don’t have many thoughts about this book. It’s different from anything else I’ve read, and I did enjoy the Romanian myth/cultural aspects. It took me a bit to get through this book and the translation tripped me up here and there, but overall it was an enjoyable time. Thank you NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for the arc!

This book checked a lot of boxes for me: eye-catching cover & title, unique historical fiction, mysterious murders, and magical elements. However, I found the story confusing and a little hard to follow. Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC.

“But what matters is not what you see but what is in your mind.”

I believe all books harbor magic in their pages—some perhaps more than others. In Doina Ruști’s The Book of Perilous Dishes, I can guarantee you there is enough magic to sate the bellies of a dozen ravenous Phanariots.

Here, the whimsical meets the gastronomic as readers are transported into the colorful yet dangerous world of late-eighteenth-century Bucharest.

Our story begins at the crack of dawn with fourteen-year-old Pâtca, who is herself descended from an ancient magical order. She becomes ensnared in a carefully plotted scheme that will leave a trail of dead bodies, including that of her uncle.

When her family’s recipe book falls into the hands of the princely cook Silica, it sets her on a breathtaking adventure across Romania, France, and Germany.

Good food has always been nothing short of magic to me.

You can imagine how pleased I was to pick up a book about, well…magical food. No less than twenty-one recipes are laid down throughout the story—from potent elixirs that make you vomit out the truth to sweet cakes that can provoke bouts of uncontrollable laughter.

As someone who grew up sniffing my grandmother’s spice collection like a hound in a hunt, I could relate to Pâtca’s attachment to Maxima and the urgency with which she regarded her mission. The same urgency is reflected in the lines that swerved too fast; I was often left trudging behind the smoke of names and long-buried Latin phrases.

The story can sometimes feel too overcrowded, introducing you to words and titles that challenge the curve of sound on your tongue.

The novel was originally written in Romanian and brought into the English by James Christian Brown. With translated works, you never know what you have lost in the transfer of language.

However, they say it is the mark of a good storyteller to take you out of your reality.

And many times throughout the story, it felt as if I had landed smack dab in the congested alleys of Doina Ruști’s Lipscani square. Overall, The Book of Perilous Dishes is well-written and engaging. The narrative voice flows naturally with a seasoned writer’s confidence and skill.

Ruști’s The Book of Perilous Dishes is a delightful blend of history and fantasy that will enthrall readers of all ages. I thoroughly enjoyed my first foray into Romanian lore and am grateful to Neem Tree Press and NetGalley for the early copy.

This was definitely a struggle for me. Perhaps it is for others but I realized about 20% that this book wasn’t for me. I’m grateful to have received an arc of this, though!

I wanted to like this book, but I felt like there was too much crammed into it, and the translation faltered. I considered DNFing, but powered through and I shouldn’t have wasted my time.