Loved this book! Such a fun way to bring in a biblical story. The characters were great and I enjoyed the palace intrigue plot more than the romance. Sometimes the scriptures included feels like they're taken out of context. And I didn't always like how certain characters were always dainty.

this book was so cozy. did heavy things happen? yes. this book was comforting to me like downton abbey was! you to know each character and their inner thoughts as well as see how they all work together to accomplish something within this kingdom.

roxannah had every right to have grown up to be mean and secluded, but we wanted to provide for her family now that her father was gone. she had to struggle with the feeling of being relieved that he was no longer hurting her family, but she also lost a father.

adin is brought into roxannah’s life at the perfect time. he was the reason for her dad’s death, but only for protection of others. he teaches roxannah about God and his faith, as well as, protects her along the way of her new life in the castle.

reading about roxannah’s life before and after working with the queen was such a treat! you couldn’t help to root for her in both her personally and professional life. This was a biblical fiction that was heartwarming and well written. My only grip is i feel like some of it was a little long winded, but I would definitely recommend this to a friend!

i received this as a complimentary, advanced audio copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. thank you to both the Bethany House and NetGalley for this opportunity!

The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afshar is exquisite! Set in Persia, Roxannah has been brought low due to her father’s penchant for ruby red liquid courage, debts, and temper. Despite once holding a higher status, her kindness continues to flourish, and she cares for her mother and father by cooking for her neighbor and befriending merchants. She is gifted and talented in the kitchen and bring ingredients together to create masterpieces. After an accident introduces her to Adin, a royal physician, life events move things along very quickly. Queen Esther weaves her tale throughout the story, and it brings insight to how Roxannah and Adin found themselves in the midst of the chaos of Xerxes’s decree to kill all the Jews by a certain date. An immediate friendship is kindled despite Roxannah being Persian and Adin being Jewish. She finds herself in the royal palace in the Queen’s kitchen, cooking alongside Cook and all the other talented assistants. She does not expect to forge a friendship with the Queen and even in this, she serves her well. I loved the story woven throughout of Esther as well as Amestris. Despite being royal, these are fallible humans who have hearts and emotions that are portrayed beautifully. The mystery drawing all these characters together is well done. I loved how so much Biblical history is threaded throughout, from start to finish; my faith was challenged and bolstered.
The dual narration was well done and brought the story to life as I listened.
I received a complimentary audiobook from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

"Only God can open impossible doors."
The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar
I enjoyed listening to this fictionalized Biblical story of Queen Esther and those that serve in her court. Roxannah's and Adin's story was unique and refreshing and so intriguing. There is mystery, conspiracy and plotting, lots of food, romance, and ancient history.
This was a lovely story about rising above jealousies and prejudices and being your best self. I loved all of the themes and messages Tessa weaved into this one.
The only thing I found it lacking was an Author's Note at the end explaining what she fictionalized or a bibliography with a list of books to do more research. The only information about Queen Esther I know about is from the account in the Bible, so it would be nice to know whether she pulled info from other sources and what those sources were.
This was my first by Tessa, and I will definitely be reading more books by her.
Thoughts on Audio:
Rachel and Jonathan did an amazing job narrating this book. If you pick this book up, I definitely recommend getting the audiobook.

Book Info:
Series: Queen Esther's Court Book 1
Genre: Historical Romance; Biblical
Release Date: November 19, 2024
Publisher: Bethany Book House
Narrators: Rachel Botchan & Jonathan Todd Ross
POV: Multi-POV

Content Guide:
mistresses & concubines (mentioned throughout), feelings of attraction, passionate kissing (non-descriptive), Mild violence-fighting involving daggers, conspiracy, murder (accidental), Substance Use-Moderate-Father drinks and is drunk, Prejudices-Mild-Anti-Semitism, persecution due to jealousy, Religious Content: Christian and Jewish themes are very prevalent as it is the main theme, Other Warnings: Death, infertility, feelings of guilt
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy of the audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

I love Tessa Afshar! Therefore, I could not wait to listen to this and do book! I love the story. However, I thought the narrators did not match the story! I found their voices to be flat and monotonous. Therefore, good story but deserved better performers!

I discovered Tessa Afshar earlier this year and absolutely loved the first book I read so I was excited to read this newest release and The Queen's Cook did not disappoint! It had it all - history, romance, self-exploration, mystery, intrigue and faith. Roxannah is a woman who has lived a life in fear of her father's outbursts, when he dies, she goes to work in Queen Ester's kitchen. While she befriends the physician Adin early in the book, their paths are increasing thrown together. I enjoyed learning about life in the time of Queen Ester through Roxannah and Adin's experiences. There were 3 different perspectives portrayed through the narrative which added to the richness of the storyline.

Love love loved this! The male narrator was a bit off at times and the ending felt sudden but it was great!

This is a beautiful book that follows Roxannah and Adin. This is a Biblical fiction book and it was well written. While it was a beautiful story, I could not get "into" it. I think I would rather read this physically instead of audibly. I do highly recommend if you like Biblical fiction. I don't want to give this a bad rating because it is an incredible book, but just not for me. I will rate it 5 stars because I believe it is a 5 star book; despite not being something I would own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC of The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar

What a beautifully written story! Every aspect from the food to the romance was perfectly seasoned with Biblical truth and what might have been. This is my first Biblical romance and it won't be my last. I enjoyed "visiting" Queen Esther's court and the behind the scenes look at historical and Biblical events. Highly recommend.

The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar is the first book in the Queen Esther's court series, Biblical fiction about Esther's story from several perspectives. I love how Tessa Afshar brings Biblical stories to life, with evidently detailed research, that helps us to understand the context, background, etc. of Biblical stories. The Queen's Cook is a great read and I enjoyed it. I got the audiobook from Netgalley and it was well-narrated. All opinions expressed are mine

4 Stars ✨

Historical Fiction

“An open door does not always lead to an easy path.”

**Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this advanced audio copy of The Queens Cook by Tessa Afshar, in exchange for an honest review. **

This book made me hungry 😋. I love to cook, so I was excited to read this one. The Queens Cook takes place during the reign of Queen Esther. Afshar does what she always does, from the very start you are thrown into an ancient realm full of lush history and historical atmosphere. This author, is an automatic read author for me, because she does biblical fiction so well. You learn as you read and immediately want to go to your Bible when done to dive into whatever story she just put her spin on. She always amazes me with how she can take an ordinary story , one we’ve read a thousand times and make it come alive in a whole new way, without completely changing the original. It’s truly a gift. The characters in this story were likable and I really enjoyed the faith elements and sweet romance. Definitely one I would recommend!

Audio 🎧 5/5 ✨

The narrator’s did an excellent job bringing this story to life- told from two povs (male and female character) with an added narrative in between.

Let me preface this review that my mind has major struggle bus issues with books Pre 1980ish, so I pat myself on the back if I read an all too common WW2 or WW1 book. So asking me to reach back Pre-Jesus...whew thats askin' alot.
So I was hesitant to request this book, but I have always enjoyed the Bible Book of Esther so it pulled me enough to press that button. Sure enough, I enjoyed this fun historical fiction take on it.
I really enjoyed Tessa Afshar's writing and especially how she wove scripture into the beginning of each chapter. It was a great experience to read about how Roxhannah progressed from her position in the kitchen to being by Esther's side.
At times my interest did wane and I had trouble keeping up with all the ancient culture. The plot was good enough but I felt at times it dragged out too long. I honestly would have enjoyed this book a bit better if it was a tad bit shorter.
I did see this is part of a new series, and I will for sure check out book # 2.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to review The Queen's Cook. I was not influenced or paid in exchange for this honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. I wasn't sure I would at first because I didn't realize it was a religious story.

I loved the writing and the storytelling. I thought the Bible verses included were a nice touch.

I enjoyed the message without it being too in your face.

Roxannah and Aiden are the main players in the story. Roxannah is a noble woman who is trying to keep her family apart while trying to deal with her father's mounting debt and alcoholism.

Aiden is a Jewish doctor who helps Roxannah and her family in so many ways.

You get a little bit of historical fiction mixed in with the tale and I have to say, I'm definitely going to be looking up some of this stuff because I was intrigued enough to wasn't to know more about this time period.

The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar - 5 Stars

I have said it before and I will say it again, Tessa is the master of biblical fiction! I loved this story of Roxannah, the daughter of a once-privileged but now impoverished Persian lord, working in Queen Esther's kitchens. In this story, we see her determined to support her mother and repay her father's debts - she seeks out Adin to help her find work. Adin sees the need and secures her a position in the royal kitchens of Queen Esther.

Guided by Esther's grace and wisdom, she finds herself navigating prejudice and palace politics and deepening her bond with Adin along the way. As Roxanna goes up in the kitchen ranks, she and Adin uncover a plot targeting Amestris, the king's most powerful wife and Queen's archenemy. This sets things in motion from here in the plot.

This book has a rich historical setting of ancient Persia - very vibrant and immersive. Also, the culinary details in this were - chef's kiss! I loved all the food and cooking details.

The relationship between Adin and Roxannah was very well developed. I personally loved seeing them on their journey of working together and developing that slow burn romance along the way. Adin was also a great guy inspiring Roxannah's faith journey to trust God.

Roxannah and Esther's friendship was beautiful to see as well. I loved the glimpses into Esther's POV.

Overall, highly recommend as another great biblical fiction by Tessa! Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Queen’s Cook is the first book I have read written by Tessa Afshar and I look forward to reading more. Tessa Afshar did an awesome job bringing the story of Esther to life and what things might have been like during this time. The research that was put into this book if obvious and this book is truly a work of art. I cannot wait until the next one comes out in the series.

The character development is great. I loved diving into Esther and her story through Roxannah and Adin. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It brought this portion of the bible to life. I loved peeling back the layers of Roxannah and get to really understand her.

The storyline was great and tracked with the bible times. It can be hard to write stories based on the bible because it can seem limiting, but Tessa Afshar did a great job bringing it to life.

The romance element was done really well. It gave a great view of what it would be like to marry someone of a different lineage and religious beliefs during bible times. Though also touching on the heart of the issue, just as when Ruth and Rahab were drafted into King David’s lineage (and ultimately Jesus). The romance was light, and appropriate.

The biblical and historical element was great and beautifully executed. This being set in the Old Testament it was full of Judaism. But it is always fun to look at the roots of Christianity and understand our faith even more. Tessa Afshar did a great job digging into scripture and bringing it to life. She did an amazing job staying true to the bible and using her own creativity to bring us a story about Esther and her court.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

4 Stars!

The first time I read a book by this author was around a year ago, and I remember thoroughly enjoying it, thus, I was so excited for this one and already knew I was going to love it.
Her ability to blend fiction with history, particularly her meticulous attention to biblical detail, captivates me. I found myself completely immersed, finishing the audiobook in a single day. The story itself was extraordinary—rich in historical depth, filled with a compelling plot, and brimming with moving inspiration.

4.5 stars

The narrators did a great job and were very easy to listen to. They spoke at a similar tempo so I didn’t have to change the speed when it switched narrators.

I haven’t read a lot of Biblical fiction, but Esther is a lifelong favorite of mine and so I was very intrigued by this approach to her story. I loved how the book was told primarily through the eyes of two other people who served in her court. It allowed leeway in the narrative while also giving meaningful glimpses and interactions with her. Esther still tells part of the story herself in entries interspersed in the book and I thought they were all the more powerful for their scarcity and impact.

I thought the setting and atmosphere were so well crafted. Everything felt rich and authentic. I especially loved the food aspects. The Persian food described all throughout left me very hungry!

This is the start of a series where each book will take a different vantage point from someone in Esther’s court and I will definitely be reading the next book!

Trigger/content warnings: alcoholic and abusive parent. Steam level is kissing.

The Queen’s Cook
Queen Esther’s Court #1
Tessa Afshar
Author Tessa Afshar transports readers back to Ancient Persia where Esther is the queen. Roxannah is talented in culinary arts. She is the daughter of a man that was once privileged. Her father was once kind and loving but after returning from the war he turned to alcohol; his personality changed and now he is cruel. Roxannah has bruises from his anger. When the king issues an edict the Jewish citizens are placed in grave danger. The king has given permission to kill the Jewish people and keep the spoils. Roxannah’s father sees the opportunity to get out of debt and increase his fortune. He planned to kill the Jewish physician, Adin, and take all of his belongings. The tables turned on the old Laird and he was killed. Roxannah and her mother are left destitute. They have mounting debts and can barely keep food on the table. Roxannah is determined to take care of her mother; She turns to Adin begging for employment. She is drawn to the gentleman. He assists her in finding employment in Queen Esther’s kitchen.
Roxannah moves into the magnificent palace. Her fellow kitchen workers resent her, after all she is a woman. She is an excellent cook and soon the head cook trusts her with more and more responsibility. When the cook becomes ill, she is appointed his replacement. Queen Esther trusts the young woman and mentors her. Queen Esther is a woman of great beauty, intelligence, wisdom, grace and faith. After six years of marriage the Queen has not conceived a child. Her life is one of political intrigue, treacherous plots, constant gossip. Adin and Roxannah overhear a plot to kill Amestris, the king’s most powerful wife and the enemy of Esther.
This is historical fiction based on fact. Author Tessa Afshar successfully incorporates scripture in this tale. Readers watch as Adin and Roxannah’s relationship slowly develops. The two main characters assist Queen Esther and Amestris. The author’s attention to details concerning Haman’s plot against Esther, life in the palace for the queen and the employees. The men working in the kitchen were rude, mean and cruel. Roxannah was not Jewish however, she came to believe in God and gave Him her heart. Beautifully written, The Queen’s Cook draws readers in and mesmerizes them with life in Persia.
I received a free copy of this book for a unbiased review.

As this is historically fiction it does give one an idea of the what Esther story could have been like after the book in the Bible. A reader of this book would really get more out of it if they have read the book in Bible of Esther first. It gives you more background information that could be necessary to understand certain parts.

Do you want to step into Queen Esthers' palace in Susa? You can if you listen to her story and the story of her and her friends' lives!
Roxannah, a young impoverished noblewoman, has to take care of her alcoholic soldier father and her courageous mother in ancient Persia.
Adin, a court physician,comes to treat her father and he is intrigued by her intelligence and her passion for creating delicacies out of humble ingredients.
Roxannah's father is plagued by creditors, so after his death she obtains a low position as an assistant in the kitchens of Queen Esther.
You will be mesmerized as you get caught up in palace intrigue, Roxannas' tumultuous rise in position and how she and Adin assist Queen Esther!