Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC.

4 ⭐️ Everything about this book appealed to me. the cover, the blurb, the character names, EVERYTHING. And I wasn't disappointed.

If you crave a cosy fantasy, i can recommend this. The wordl building, setting, and magic system woven into this story is so well done that they come to life so easily when reading. The overall story Is heartfelt with just a little comedy. This book felt like it warmed my soul.

Legends and Lattes meets The House in the Cerulean Sea meets D&D lore in this cozy fantasy novel. Rottgor, an undead orc with a heroic background, is finally retiring. As he reconnects with his previous life he finds joy in the community around him, and in cooking! In the Necropolis, however, there are those who believe the undead have no place in their city and will do anything to keep them out.

This book continued to get stronger and stronger all the way to the end. In the beginning, I felt that the story dragged and was having a hard time keeping my interest, but as soon as more characters began to be introduced I was much more invested. My favorite aspect of this novel was the found family. I enjoyed every second we spent learning about their personalities and enjoying the time they spent together. I do wish that more time had been spent developing these relationships. A few times, especially at the beginning of the novel or when the characters were first meeting, I felt that relationships made huge leaps in a very short period. For example, characters would be standoffish or unsure of the other, and in the next sentence, they were teasing each other, with no apparent change in the situation between those two lines.

I do feel that this novel could use a pretty heavy round of editing. As mentioned before, the pacing was sometimes off, with too much time being spent in some places and not enough time spent on important moments (Lady Cleo revealing Rottgor's new rune, Rottgor deciding he really could open a restaurant while shopping at the market). These moments felt as though they were intended to land with much more impact, but ultimately fell flat with only a paragraph being spent on them. There were also sentences in first person POV scattered throughout the novel (the novel being written primarily in third person POV), which pulled me out of the book. These could have been fixed simply by adding "Rottgor thought to himself" before or after the sentence.

I had a lovely time reading Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife. The depth of the world was interesting, the characters loveable, and the food descriptions mouth-watering. I think this book could be fantastic with a strong edit to tighten things up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books/Cozy Quill for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Such a strange and charming read! It’s part ghost story, part foodie fantasy, part exploration of grief and second chances. I didn’t expect to laugh as much as I did. This one’s hard to pin down but really satisfying once you settle into its quirky rhythm.

I loved, loved, loved this cozy fantasy, which I would describe as about found family, second chances, and love languages. I thought it has a great cast, a surprising plot, and all the cozy vibes of sci-fi and fantasy stories I have loved in the last few years. And it resonated with me at a very deep level. As a 30-something woman who is still trying to figure out what she wants to do when she grows up, whether she wants her hobbies to become a profession (and how to do it), or to remain hobbies, and whose love language is cooking for the people she cares about, I really and truly felt seen by this story. I couldn’t put it down. I actually ended up taking an afternoon off so I could read (most of) it in a single setting.

A GREAT CAST. I loved how every character, irrespective of how much time on page they had, was so well rounded and complex. The physical descriptions were quite detailed, which helps imaginative readers like me, but what I really liked were the off-hand words and phrases that gave and idea of how – for example - someone’s eyes glowed when they smiled, how lopsided a grin was, or how intelligent a character was. I can’t wait for the book to be out and to see the art and fan art that these descriptions will generate.

I also found very, very clever Razgaif’s life cicle and how it always had to do with food. Childhood dream: cooking. Under the thumb of the necromancer: famine. Retirement: cook. I found this clever, poetic, and I thought it gave the concepts of second chances and making amends so much more depth. I would 100% read a sequel, or a short story, on Lili’s second chance.

A SURPRISING PLOT. Despite having several of the classic cozy fantasy tropes, such as found family and enemy offspring turning out to be good, this plot really surprised me. I did not expect it to turn into a story on accepting diversity and being curious about the people that scares you. I think it was masterfully done. Oh, and I loved that this was a story about love without being a romantic fantasy. Friendship and family were more than enough to give me all the feelings.

To me, this was easily a FIVE STARS READ, up with all the other cozies that I loved in the last few years: House of Frank, Legends and Lattes, The Galaxy and the Ground Within, and Light from Uncommon Stars.

I loved this book! A truly inspiring story of learning to live again and allowing oneself to be happy after an unlife of horror and suffering.

Cute idea, buuut not very well executed. Rottgor is a recently retired undead royal guard. He decides he wants to spend retirement running a restaurant, he was his orc clans’ war chef in life and he loved it. He meets many characters throughout his journey but there isn’t enough character development to make them all that interesting. Like Calfe, for example - why did he decide to help Rot? He’s mysterious, sure, but that’s all he is, he just kind of remains mysterious the whole time. There certainly wasn’t enough relationship building between the characters to warrant their behavior toward each other. And there was a lot of misplaced unnecessary detail, I didn’t understand the need to add the bit about milk tea, for instance. There just wasn’t enough detail where it mattered. And the pacing of the story was all over the place. But like I said at the beginning, a cute and unique idea that just didn’t quite bring it home for me.

Thanks Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

I loved this book soooo much!!! It’s my first by this author and definitely won’t be last!! Thank you so much NetGalley and publisher for early arc of this book!

This book was the textual equivalent to a warm, cozy hug or a mug of hot cocoa nestled between your palms on a wet, windy day. This has given me enough serotonin to face another day.

Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife is a cozy fantasy RPG-style tale that follows Raz, a former Death Knight orc, as he trades in war and death for something far more mysterious: retirement. What begins as a strange new chapter slowly blossoms into a heartwarming journey of self-discovery, friendship, and healing.

What truly won me over was Raz himself—a soft-hearted orc with a brutal past who’s trying to make peace with his own story. His quiet strength and tenderness are beautifully juxtaposed with the fierce, no-nonsense little girl he partners with, forming a dynamic that’s both charming and emotionally grounding. I also loved the clever contrast between Raz and Rot—his past and present selves—creating depth without losing the book’s cozy, laid-back vibe.

The only downside? It took a little while for me to really settle into the world and characters. But once it clicked, I was all in.

Perfect for fans of found family, low-stakes fantasy, and stories about second chances.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the arc!

"Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife" is a sweet story of friendship, love, community, and acceptance that is, unfortunately, held back by its writing style.

Rottgor is a hero: an undead orc, he was once a mindless servant of an evil ruler. However, he and a band of five warriors slew the Worm King and brought peace to the realm. Since then, however, Rottgor has done little more than serve as a guard for the peaceable new rulers for the past thousand years. When his friend and the heiress of the throne force him to retire and enjoy his afterlife, Rottgor must forge a new path: abandoning the pestilence magic of his youth, he chooses to open a relearn the cooking skills he had in his short life and open a restaurant. What follows is a heartwarming tale as Rottgor finds friends, support, and perhaps even family as he works to open his restaurant.

I love a good cozy fantasy, and, in broad strokes, this book delivered. Rottgor’s struggles to accept his new identity, trading the mantle of famed undead warrior for the simple joy of cooking, is compelling. I liked the band of friends that built up around the restaurant; it’s nice to see a group come together for a common goal. I also enjoyed that there were complex secondary characters; each had their own goals and motivations, and it contributed to the feeling of peering into a living world. I also liked the social critique of the book: the city in which they live is filled with living, undead, and summoned creatures alike. The book confronts bigotry, particularly that of the living against the undead and summoned, in a way that was decidedly interesting and that I’d love to see explored further.

Unfortunately, I struggled with the writing style of this book. At times, it works: there are lush descriptions of food that are enough to make your mouth water, and the beginning of the book does an especially good job of capturing Rottgor’s mental state as he is forced to live after decades of being no more than simply undead. However, the writing style as a whole is choppy, and I often found myself struggling to follow what was happening. There are sentences that are meant to be Rottgor’s thoughts which aren’t distinguished in any way from the standard third-person text around it, which made them feel out of place and distracting. I don’t mind if the dialogue is perfectly realistic, especially in short cozy fantasy stories where the goal is often to create a warm atmosphere rather than write the most realistic of dialogue. However, in this book, the way characters spoke had very little verisimilitude and often took me out of the story. Scenes sometimes lacked transitions between them, leaving the reader struggling to follow what was happening. On top of that, the book had a number of plot choices that made it difficult for me to be invested in the story, such as the answers for major problems being delivered in a dream. When the plot already lacks a flow between ideas, being given answers in a way that is never explained or questioned made me feel as though my efforts to follow the story were going to waste.

This was a 3 out of 5 star read for me. I really like the ideas of the book, though I struggled with the execution. It is also entirely possible that my issues with the story will be fixed by the time of publication—there is plenty of time between the writing of this review and the release of the book for an editor to bring this book together and make it something really special.

Thank you to Bindery Books and Cozy Quill for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Bindery is absolutely killing it with all their books and this is no exception! I love the premise of the story and the execution didn't fail. I was so invested right from the start and it kept my interest, making it hard to put the book down.

A wonderfully cozy read!

When I think cozy, it does not necessarily have to mean an easy or simple read. Rather, I think of it as action not being the primary focus. This title is more a reflection on the characters you meet and watching them grow and heal - cathartic, and for me, cozy.

I personally love different interpretations of the afterlife and books using food as a vehicle for storytelling (ex: the Kamogawa Food Detectives) so this was a perfect fit.

I love to visualize when I read - and Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife made it ridiculously easy:
Lush descriptions? ✅
World-building that practically breathes on its own? ✅✅

Deston J. Munden paints such vivid, immersive scenes that I could close my eyes and still walk through the setting. Fair warning to those who may need it: the level of detail might feel a bit much if you’re trying to read it all in one go, but honestly? It's worth the time.

The opening chapters focus heavily on the world-building, and it pays off. You can feel how much the author cares—not just about the story, but about every character in it. I wouldn’t be surprised if Munden has a whole folder somewhere with character bios, family trees, and what they eat for breakfast.

Speaking of bios, we need character illustrations—would work wonders. And honestly, someone needs to make a tie-in cookbook too.

This book was an absolute delight. It showed up at just the right time (because a professor made me cry LMAO—we're not gonna talk about that 😭), and it gave me exactly what I needed. It's cozy, magical, heartfelt, and occasionally overwhelming (in a good way?). Around the 60% mark, I did find myself stumbling a bit due to a sudden info dump + character backstory overload, but I hung in there.

Small note on formatting: in the eARC, there were a few confusing paragraph breaks where the POV switched from third-person to first-person (from the MC’s perspective) without any visual cues—no italics, font change, or spacing. Hopefully that’s something that'll be smoothed out before publication.

TLDR: If you’re into cozy fantasy, rich world-building, lovable characters, and stories that feel like a warm hug (with a hint of existential crisis), this will be perfect for you.

#ARC

Meg Hod’s Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife is an emotionally rich exploration of what comes after death. The story centers around our “recently” deceased protagonist who finds themselves in a curious version of the afterlife, one that’s not quite heaven or hell, but a surreal place filled with lingering souls, unfinished stories, and a surprisingly comforting kitchen. As they come to terms with their passing and the life they left behind, they’re drawn into an unexpected journey—one that involves food, healing, and the difficult process of self-reflection.

Rather than being a dramatic or eerie take on the afterlife, the book leans into a more whimsical, humanistic tone. The main character isn’t a ghost with a vengeance or a spirit seeking salvation—they’re simply someone trying to understand who they were, what they left unresolved, and whether it’s ever too late to make peace. Someone you can easily relate to.

There’s a softness to the prose, a warmth that wraps around you, even when the themes are heavy. The world-building is unique; Hod paints the afterlife as a strange, liminal space—part dream, part memory—where the past mingles with possibilities for change.

What makes this book stand out is the way food is used as a metaphor throughout. The recipes scattered through the book serve as emotional bridges, unlocking memories, evoking forgotten feelings, and in some cases, mending old wounds. Each one feels tied to a lesson, a moment, or a person the protagonist must confront or remember.

The characters are distinct and memorable, especially some of the other “inhabitants” of the afterlife, who bring their eccentric charm and sorrows to the story. The pacing is thoughtful, and while it doesn’t rush through action, it moves steadily, allowing space for introspection and emotional development.

What Could Be Better:
While the main character’s arc is so intriguing, I would have loved a deeper exploration of some side characters—especially those who had fascinating backstories or hinted at conflicts that never fully unfolded.

Favorite Quote or Moment:
“One does not stop mattering just because they’ve stopped breathing.”
This quote stayed with me. It encapsulates the central idea of the book—that our value, our impact, and our stories, don’t simply disappear with death. There’s something incredibly comforting in that notion.

Final Thoughts:
Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife is a beautifully written, imaginative, and heartfelt novel that offers more than just a quirky take on the afterlife. It’s a story about regret, memory, and healing. It’s about how we are shaped by our relationships, our choices, and even the meals we share. This book isn’t loud or flashy—it’s gentle, thoughtful, and quietly powerful.

I’d recommend it to fans of cozy fantasy, or introspective fiction—especially those who enjoy stories where food, memory, and magic come together in unexpected ways. It’s the kind of book you savor slowly, like a good meal—and by the end, it leaves you full in the best possible way.

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to read this amazing novel and be able to recommend it 🖤

I decided to DNF this book. I was unable to get into it. I felt that there wasn’t a lot of description for the world or characters which was hard for me. I didn’t feel like I had a vibe for the book. I also struggled to tell what the characters emotions were. I think the idea was good I just struggled to get into the plot. I DNFed a little over a fourth of the way through.

Recipes for a Unexpected Afterlife.
A 4.5 star read with no doubt

OMG the vibe. Those cozy fantasy vibes, This book captures them perfectly. The characters, the world building, the imagery, everything is just so good. The writing makes everything come to life. Everything comes to life and seems surreal.
The characters are also the best. Their development, their character arcs are soo good. This is such a vibe filled cozy read. Moreover the themes explored in this book are soo heart-warming. Raz's journey of fatherhood, him finding a found family (rather all characters finding themselves), it's all so lively and beautiful. Not only the emotional aspect but the plot is quite interesting in itself making it a "difficult-to-put-down" for sure!

I can see this becoming a social media sensation soon. It is THAT good.
Cheers to the author for such exquisite writing. Looking forward to picking up more titles from him!!!
Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for the ARC!!!

This was a really well written book. It was such a cozy read that focused on character growth and healing from a hard past. The first portion of this book was really slow for me, with not a lot happening and the time taken to describe everything this was hard to get into. It felt like there was no plot and it was just this guy wandering around aimlessly. However towards the 45% mark the book was so captivating and cozy! I absolutely loved the found family aspect of this book and could not put the book down. The plot also thickens in the last quarter of the book and had me captivated by the descriptive storytelling. Although it had a slow start the book overall was amazing and I would recommend it to any fantasy reader that is looking for something cozy and fun.

Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife was an enjoyable read that has a lot of heart.

This novel has the tropes often seen in cozy fantasies, building a business, lovable side characters, lots of warm beverages and a book or two. What takes this cozy novel to the next level is the complexity of the characters, the action in the plot and the flashbacks to fill in backstory sprinkled through the book. This novel has enough tension and conflict to keep the reader interesting without upping the stakes past what is considered “cozy”. I know the cozy term is a bit subjective but this novel fits into most definitions.

Razgaif and Astra are easy to fall in love with and root for. I enjoyed reading their story and getting to take a break in their world.

A very enjoyable and fun world that is easy to get lost in. A love a good cozy story with good food, an imaginative world, and great characters. This book checked all those boxes! I had a wonderful time reading this.

This was a fun read, I must say. So many different parts of it that was engaging: orcs having family lives, being both a warlord and a cook and fun banter between characters. It just worked really well.