If you loved legend and lattes you will love this cozy fantasy! I couldn’t put it down it was so good! It’s one of the most unique cozy fantasies I’ve ever read! I loved the tie in with the food and the world building was easy to follow which I loved! I was blowed away by the writing ✍️ descriptions of food, made you feel like you were eating and along with a character! I loved the character development! I will definitely be writing this book again and can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy this fall! Thank you net galley! And
Destin munden for giving me early access to this cozy fantasy masterpiece! This book proves that just because it’s a cozy fantasy doesn’t mean it’s not deep or surface level! This book has so much heart and depth ❤️

Can’t wait to share with my followers this book! I will copy and paste this review everywhere when it is published!

Once I started reading Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife, I simply couldn’t put it down. The prologue immediately grabbed my attention, and from that moment on, I was fully invested in Rottgor’s journey. I genuinely cared about the characters and found myself rooting for their happiness.

The worldbuilding was well done, particularly the political tension between the undead and the living, which added depth to the story. As a fan of Legends & Lattes, I absolutely loved the cozy food and restaurant elements. They blended seamlessly into the narrative without overshadowing the stakes of the plot.

The character development was another highlight for me. However, I do wish there had been more detailed descriptions of the various creatures, as I sometimes found it difficult to visualize them. That said, this book was truly tailored to my tastes, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was an easy 5 star read for me.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the author, Deston J. Munden, for the opportunity to read this wonderful story!

✨ Recipes for an unexpected afterlife by Deston J Munden✨

Firstly a big thank you to Netgalley and the author Deston J Munden for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Recipes for an unexpected afterlife is one of the most wholesome stories I've read in a long time. Its current release date is October 14 2025.

The story follows Rottgor; an undead orc knight who is forced into retirement and therefore a second chance at living. Whilst initially uncertain with what he wishes to do, he can't help but be drawn to the possibility of sharing his gift of cooking with the community.

A tale of found family and letting go of the past, Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife is a cozy story that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

I give this one 5/5⭐s

Re-readability: 90%, it's just so dang wholesome!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This story was so cozy and lovely! For fans of Travis Baldree.

Rottgor is an undead orc knight who leaves battle behind for a new kind of afterlife—one with good food, good friends, and maybe even fatherhood. He decides to follow his true passion, food! He opens a restaurant where the city’s undead and living residents can share food and community. It’s warm, it’s cozy, it’s delicious. This book was one I will turn to when I need a good comfort read.

I'm not often one drawn to cozy fantasy, as I tend to like my stakes high, but this has absolutely changed my perception of the genre. This was SUCH a creative and stand out book in the genre, and I fell head over heels in love with everything. It read like one of those books where you can see all the love and care that the author put into every small piece of the story. The descriptions of the world and the food were so excellent that I felt like I was watching a movie. I love the way the author created political conflict between the living and dead that felt effortless in its connection to the story without adding too much to take away from that cozy, wholesome vibe.

I'm so blown away by this book, I know I need to read it again to truly appreciate anything I might have missed. I'll be on the look out for future work from Munden!!

⭐️ 4.5

Thank you, NetGalley and Deston J. Munden, for the ARC! 🫶🏻

I won’t lie—I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book at first. But once things picked up, I was absolutely hooked and couldn’t put it down. I loved the way the cooking and food were described, as well as the world-building and diverse species. That said, I sometimes struggled to fully picture what they looked like.

Nonetheless, this was such a fun and heartwarming read, and the political themes fit seamlessly into the story. I also really enjoyed the character development from multiple characters! They really grew on me.

I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy and fun fantasy read!

This is everything I want in a book: intriguing plot lines with interesting world, well-described and fleshed out characters with big heart. I loved everything about this book!!

The writing is so well done too. You really get to feel what the characters feel. You grow to care for them. It's beautiful. Except for Vom. Vom is very killable. Didn't like him!! But my girl Astra had such a good line: 'that was scary and we cry at scary things' LIKE AHHH MY GIRL ASTRA!!!

This book was an absolute gem! The story was unique, thought-provoking, and full of heart. I loved how it blended deep themes with a sense of adventure, making every page a delight. The characters were compelling, and the journey felt both meaningful and unforgettable. Highly recommend!

This is exactly the kind of cozy undead that I have always wanted for a story. From a fantasy point-of-view, they always get a bad rap for what they are but this story will make you think otherwise. A story that will make you smile because it will flip those stereotypes on its head.

This is a sweet story of an orc creating a mundane life for himself after years of being a warrior. It has everything you want out of a cozy fantasy: found family, lovely characters and good food! I thought a lot was thrown at the reader at the beginning, but as time went by it was easier to understand the world around our characters. I highly recommend this story for anyone interested in cozy fantasy!

This story follows Rottgor, an undead soldier going through the motions of his forced afterlife. When a friendly heir forces him into an early retirement he begins to change in ways he never expected.
Through his journey, the hero formerly named Rottgor teaches us to appreciate the small things in life and hold what matters to us close. I never expected such a graphic book about death and the undead to make me feel so alive and appreciative of the beauty and imperfections of living.
The found family elements of this story are just incredibly heartwarming and irresistible.

I have a few critiques of this work that keep it from 5 stars:
The story is a bit high fantasy for my personal tastes. If you like high fantasy or D&D you're likely to love this story.
There are shifts from 3rd to 1st person that I believe are supposed to be our hero's inner thoughts, but the formatting of the eARC does not convey this and it really jolts me out of the story. Hoping that will be corrected in the final version but wanted to mention just in case it's not already on the radar.
Overall, this was a fantastic reading experience and I highly recommend this work.

This was such an amazing book! I loved the storyline and the way the plot flowed! The characters were so loveable and I really did fall in love with this cozy fantasy!

This was such a refreshing cozy fantasy! It had all the best elements of similar stories - found families, a comfortable home, and a new life for the main character - but the unique magic system and the tragic backstory of not only some of the main characters but also the city itself was incredibly well done. The way the characters' lives intertwined and overlapped was wonderful and captivating, and I will be thinking about Raizgaif, Astra, Ribby and all the other characters for a long time!

This was such a lovely read!! I felt like all I was missing was my hot chocolate to drink while reading this book. It was so warm and cozy! This reminds me of some of my favorite animes where someone with a crazy past wants to do something casual and mundane because it sounds like a nice relaxing time. This was such a unique read in that we follow an undead orc open a resturant that serves both living and the dead. I really wish this would become a series because i'd love to see different perspectives/continuation. Alas, I think this will be the only book. I am going to have to get my hands on this book when it releases because the way I want to annotate this is ridiculous. Seriously, put this on your TBR and bump it high. It will release during the perfect time of year for this book.

This is exactly what I'm looking for in a cozy fantasy! The found family was so sweet; the main character's self discovery and new life journey/discovery; the unique and interesting world building. I had a hard time putting this down!

I think the worldbuilding, the politics and magic and how it affects the main character are what sets this out from other novels in the genre. It is easy to understand for those new to the fantasy genre but still complex enough to not feel boring or unnecessary to the story.

The characters are what make this novel shine. Astra in particular was my favorite.

I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoyed Legends and Lattes or other cozy fantasy.

I need more and more of this ✨💖🍄🧌
If you’re a Cozy Fantasy fan this is a MUST. I literally just finished the eARC and I’m already craving for this to eventually have tons of SE’s just like legends & lattes 😂
It’s cozy, wholesome, interesting, deliciousss??? Make sure to keep snacks close for this one!

Identity
Purpose
Starting Over
Adoption
Found Family
I don’t know where to start! This has many lovely fantasy elements while still hitting you emotionally. He retired and has no clue where to start or what to do. He doesn’t want to waste the rest of his life but he all he knows is being a guard. From the start he has good friends who encourage him. A little girl also comes along and sparks something in him that he never thought he’d get the chance to be.
This hit me in the feels so much! It was both funny and tear jerking. I would highly recommend this one for cozy fantasy lovers, and the food descriptions were mouth watering! The diverse cast of characters was so amazing to read. Both Rottgor and Astra have to work with separating from their past. I can’t forget to mention the plot twists! They were not expected at all! I also love the element of discrimination with the undead in society because it added this other layer. A fantastical but realistic society. The sense of community here and seeing the characters develop throughout the story, even side characters! Astra and Rottgor help each other build and heal parts of each other that needed it. I fell in love with this book and I don’t want to spoil!

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 🖤

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!!!

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.

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.

Sometimes you need a good cozy fantasy to cheer you up and this was the perfect read for that. Everyone loves a happy story of friends, family, and food,

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books/Cozy Quill

This is a story of hope and second chances. It is cosy and wonderful and sweet in all the ways we need right now. It speaks to retired soldiers and the guilt they have in a way that reflects truth but gives hope. Beautiful and endearing writing that really finds a way into your heart. Highly recommend. 5 Stars!

Cosy fantasy is something else. It’s just the comfort of a cosy blanket and a hot chocolate in book form. It’s low stakes, but great story. This book is exactly that. I don’t know what made me want to read the book more: the title, the cover (It reminds me of Howl’s moving castle), or the plot. In any instance, I’m so glad I got a change to read this.

Rottgor has spent centuries as an undead knight, but now he has had retirement forced upon him. What’s an Orc to do? This book was unexpectedly thought provoking in parts, but also I just really enjoyed some of the different magic systems - especially to do with how he was “retired”. The storyline was fun, and I adore the ending. It was everything I was hoping it would be while I was reading it.

Wholesome vibes and sometimes you just need to be in a cozy spot and read this NOWWW. I highly recommend this oneee

This book is so good!
An orc, once forced to serve as an undead knight and commit terrible atrocities, somehow managed to overthrow his evil overlords alongside five companions. Afterward, he spent centuries helping build and protect a city. Now, he's being given a second chance at life— and he must remember who he was and decide who he wants to be, all while battling the lingering voices of evil in his mind.
Surrounding him is a beautiful found family and a supportive community. There’s also a kid with a secret who needs protecting—and trust me, they are awesome. Along the way, we encounter people full of fear and prejudice, adding depth and tension to the story.
While the stakes are high, there’s a comforting sense that things will ultimately be okay. Despite tackling some tough themes, this book is tender, cozy, and full of heart.
It releases in October, and I highly recommend picking it up!

First of all, thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books/Cozy Quill for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This was such a pleasant book to read. Coming right out of a heavy, dystopian book I really needed something wholesome and hopeful, and this was exactly what I wanted it would be.

So, what’s it about you ask? Well, it’s about an undead orc who is forced to retire from centuries as a guard, and has to figure out what to do with this Unexpected Afterlife ;) Sooo as the rest of the title might give away, there is a lot of food involved in this new life he builds for himself, and honestly it made me want to just go to a market, buy fresh produce and just stand in the kitchen all day.

It’s the perfect cozy fantasy, but it does have some darker elements and a pretty high stakes conflict, which makes it more engaging than I’ve experienced a lot of similar books to be. Still it has that slow pace and warmth to it that makes it feel like a big hug. The found family vibes actually had me in tears several times.

Since this book isn’t releasing until october this year I’ve overlooked the editing misses in my rating, I expect that will be fixed in the published version, but what I can’t overlook is the huge plot hole at the end. There’s this conflict going on and the MC goes “well come back tomorrow and we can talk about it” and then we just never talk about it???? like a year goes by but we never get to know what happened to that??? There were also some weird gaps/time skips where we were in one place and then suddenly somewhere else in the next scentece, but I think that’s also a thing that will be fixed with some editing, so I didn’t really mind too much.

Also the first ten or so percent of the book where very heavy on world building, almost a little info-dumpey, and it was a bit tough to follow (although I’d slept like 4 hours when I read those so it might just be a me problem, honestly)

Either way, the vibes where immacualte and I would definitely recommend checking this out when it comes out!

This book was so wholesome I could cry, it was perfect.

Rottgor's journey was so beautiful and the characters were so well written. So recommended

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books/Cozy Quill for the chance to review.

Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife was an unexpectedly enjoyable read for ​me. The world-building and character descriptions were so detailed and immersive that I found my imagination capable of creating vivid scenes. I had not yet wholly experienced the sensation of a "cozy read" until I read this story. 

The synopsis was the main reason for my desire to read this ARC. It was endearing and heartfelt. While I was reading this, that same sense of feeling stayed with me. Every character provided depth and importance to the story, which provided an overarching family feel. I couldn't help but feel an attachment to the restaurant employees. So much so that I wished I could become one.

What made this story unique for me was the magic system. Not only does the bloodline have an impact on the character Rune's ability, but their personalities entwine with it and make it unique. It was a beautiful way to express that your ancestry does not determine who you will become.

The plot included PTSD, adoption, found family, loyalty, love, self-reclamation, and political outrage. Some of these topics may be perceived as heavy points of content, but I found that the author included them in a delicate, non-confronting manner. Every aspect came together beautifully to portray the overall self-reclamation plot point.

I enjoyed every minute spent reading this story! I will definitely grab a copy on release as I also fell in love with the cover art!

This story starts off with a brief look at the main character, Razgaif’s childhood, and how his father taught him to cook. He had hopes then to become the siefu, his orc clan’s battle chef. Then the story continues where he is now in Necropolis, as Rottgor, the Lord Commander of the Ruinous Guard. Rottgor has been undead for centuries, serving his afterlife as a thrall for the Worm King, where he left destruction and chaos in wake as the Famine Blade. After having to unwillingly serve the Worm King for years, he and the Six Shadows overthrew the King, founded the city of Necropolis, and vowed its protection. Rottgor has not been living his afterlife, he is simply going through the motions. The heir apparent, Lady Cleo, has other plans for the rest of Rottgor's afterlife and forces him to retire. Thankfully, an opportunity arises where he can fulfill his dreams, leading to adventures that he never would have expected.
It is a lovely story that reminds me of Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes. It is a comforting read that will warm the cockles of your heart. It will make you laugh and cry, and hang on every feel until the end. It is worth the read.

#ThxNetGalley #DestonJMunden #RecipesforanUnexpectedAfterlife

This is a cozy fantasy about an undead orc reclaiming his afterlife.

The characters are interesting and each experience their own little journey throughout the book. The world building, specifically the conflict between the living and the dead, was thought out. There are living people that have no issues with the dead walking around and then there are living who greatly detest it.

The issues I have with this book is the awkward pacing and the characterization of some characters. Calfe is immediately ride or die with Razgaif, which is a mood but also confusing. Also the restaurant that Razgaif opens just does well in the background without any exploration into how it's doing.

This book is much compared with <i>[book:Legends & Lattes|61242426]</i>, and for once that's accurate. Not only were they discovered by the same "tastemaker" (which is apparently a thing now), they both feature a retired Orcish warrior taking on a cozy project in food-and-beverage retail. My own feeling is that if you liked one, you'll probably like the other, though this isn't just a clone of <i>Legends</i>; the plot is different in detail, and so is the main character's backstory, which plays into the frontstory a lot more in this book than in the other.

The MC is not just an orc, but an undead orc, killed and then raised by a typical evil necromancer a couple of hundred years before and forced to commit atrocities as a mind-controlled thrall. He and five others broke free from the necromancer's control (exactly how is carefully not stated), destroyed him, and founded a city in which the living, the undead and those summoned from other realms could live together peacefully and prosperously. He then served the city for a long time as a member of an elite guard, but now a new ruler is taking over, and she decides it's time for him to retire from the guard, undergo a necromantic process that restores him to something much closer to life, and do what he wants instead of serving the will of others. But what does he want?

Back during the relatively brief time he was alive, he was an Orcish war chef (which I kept reading as "war chief," but it's chef), a special traditional role that's like an army cook, but respected. So he decides to open a restaurant and start cooking again. After so long, he doesn't know if he can do it, but he rapidly acquires a group of friends who encourage him: a professor who's also some sort of gang boss (but in a good way?), his restaurant employees, and a ten-year-old girl he happens to meet. This young girl turns out to have a connection to his past that requires some working through.

Although this is definitely cozy, it's not just slice-of-life without conflict. There's a rabble-rouser in the city who hates the undead (and the summoned, but mainly the undead) and believes that the living should have everything, and he and his faction cause escalating problems. And the orc and one of his oldest friends, another of the six founders of the city, come into conflict over the little girl's heritage and what it means.

From a plot point of view, all of this works excellently, and the MC has a considerable character arc which is believable and moving, involving a change of name - which is why I'm not using his name in my review. There are some indications that the author needs more experience (and more editorial input), though. To me, the employees weren't distinct enough, and I had to keep thinking hard to remember which was which, even though they were each a different kind of undead or summoned entity (it says at one point, I think, that he'd also hired living employees, but if this was true I missed which one that was, unless the vampire doesn't count as truly undead). At one point, there are two different and contradictory explanations for the origin of the orphanage (noblemen's buildings claimed by the state or a donation by the former owner) within a single paragraph. A person has grey hair on one page and brown hair on the next. I've already mentioned the careful skirting of the plot hole about how mind-controlled thralls broke out of their conditioning and overthrew the necromancer. I was sometimes taken by surprise, too, by how much or how little time had passed between two indicators of when things were happening, given the events in between.

Relevant to that last point, the author has the common fault of often not using the past perfect tense when talking about events that happened prior to the current narrative moment, which I always find disorienting and distracting. What I mean is that in a sentence that should run "she needed to trust the system she and her family had created" or "the room had never looked better" or "he had never truly let it all sink in," the "had" gets left out, resulting in a moment of temporal whiplash while I parse it.

The author also reaches beyond his vocabulary at times, and unfortunately "mediocrity" is one of the words that's apparently beyond his vocabulary (he writes "mediocracy" instead). In fact, it has a lot of small glitches, like missing words, vocabulary errors and fumbled idioms. They're not in every sentence or even on every page - there are usually two or three per chapter - and (standard disclaimer) I read a pre-release copy via Netgalley, and there may be more copy editing to come.

While all of these minor issues reduced my enjoyment (they may or may not affect yours), overall I did think this was a strong debut. It's positive and hopeful - relentlessly so at times, insisting that nobody is born evil, that we're shaped by our environment and, secondarily, our choices. The city of necromancy is, we're told over and over, one of the safest in the kingdom, though it's having an atypical time in this particular story. A dupe of the populist manipulator comes round relatively easily to a verbal appeal and admits he was fooled, which I found slightly unrealistic, but I suppose if "it's too hopeful" is one of my complaints, the author has at least understood the cozy genre. There is an unexamined tension, though, between the cozy values and the violence of a sword-and-sorcery setting, and I was never completely clear on what the fate of the antagonist actually was - which may have been another intentional skirting of an issue, or just the author not clearly conveying what was in his mind.

It lands in the Silver tier of my annual recommendation list, which is usually for solid work with no significant issues, but in this case reflects what would be a Gold-tier book (emotionally moving, strongly written) demoted by a tier for vocabulary errors, missing past perfect and not completely making sense all the time. Still a recommendation, and since most people don't notice these things and some of them may even be corrected before publication, I suspect that it has a strong future ahead of it, and possibly some awards.

This is a truly lovely & special book 🥹
I absolutely ate this up, and adored every moment of it!!

As a fan of T. Kingfisher’s “Paladins Grace” and Travis Baldtree’s “Legends and Lattes”, this story was definitely a hit for me!! Our main character is an undead orc knight who gave years of both his living and undead life to serving and fighting. When the decision to retire is made for him, he finally is able to find his way back to who he was, and figure out who he is without a weapon in his hand.

This was such a beautiful story about starting over, finding yourself again, found family, and enjoying life. I love the magic, the world building, and all the magical characters. Astra and Razgaif are such sweet beans 🫘 they deserve the world!

Overall this story is a refreshing and magical take on the whole “cozy life retirement after fighting for others” books that I’ve devoured in the past. I hope that others will appreciate the beauty of this story, I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👩🏾‍🍳💕

This book is perfect for people who enjoy cozy animes like Delicious in Dungeon or cozy books like Legends & Lattes! There were so many high fantasy elements present here (also great for D&D fans), in addition to a story about friendship.

Thank you to Bindery Books/Cozy Quill for this ARC!

This was such a fun, cozy read! Undead orcs, gargoyles, elfdwarves, necromancers all set in a rich high fantasy world. A heart warming story of self reflection, going back to your roots, and discovering your passion. Of finding a family of your own and building a community in the face adversity. If you liked Legends and Lattes, this is definitely a good one to add to your TBR!

I’ll be doing a full review over on my blog soon!

For Fans of Legends and Lattes and with the vibe of a LitRPG, this cozy fantasy is all about found family, learning to live life, and dealing with both trauma and uncertainty. this book was so sweet and cute, and filled with a cast of unique characters. there were several scenes that made me laugh, and a few that made me feel a little too seen. learning how to move on when you've been stuck in a routine for so long can be insanely hard, and i loved the representation of anxiety and panic attacks in here. it all felt a little rushed, but overall i had a fantastic time and ended up finishing it the same day i started. if you like cozy fantasy, brutal warriors learning to live a normal life, and a happy ever after for everyone involved, then this is an absolute must read.

Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston J. Munden
Rottgor is an undead orc who retires as a soldier to go after his passion when he was alive: cooking. Through his journey of rediscovering who he was in the past and what he is now, he will learn the power of friendship, family, and good food.
The book's cover inspired me to read this fantasy tale. I imagined the whole book as a mix of the cover and some of my favorite cartoons, like Adventure Time and Hilda, making it a thousand times cozier for me.
The character arc that Rottgor/Razgaif went through was fulfilling. I hope this eventually becomes a series and Tyltli finds her peace.


I got to read this advanced copy thanks to Netgalley.

I am a sucker for a cosy fantasy and this book does not disappoint! Deston J Munden includes all of the key things for me that make a great cosy fantasy - dragons, orcs, elves etc. A fab read that includes characters you instantly care about and a plot that keeps moving but still keeps it cosy :)

Let's talk about Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston J. Munden.

What do you get when you mix the afterlife, good food, a touching story, and a chance to re-live your life? Why you get this cozy fantasy from Deston J. Munden. This wonderful tale takes you into the world of Necropolis, with it's wonderful characters ranging from the living to the unliving to the not so undead...we have orcs, elves, dwarves, and even dragons!

And we also have wonderful, glorious food that always brings people together.

In following the end of his service, we meet Rottgor - an Dark Knight who has been serving for centuries and has finally retired. Now the question is - what should he do? When bits and pieces of his former life come back to him, he realizes that food has always held a huge spot in his heart and in his livelihood. Taking upon by a set of characters who would become his found family, Rottgor endeavors into bringing his love of food alive all the while balancing an unexpected newcomer into his world - Astra. The little girl, with her canny words, and go lucky attitude gives Rottgor the will to move forward with an outstanding idea - to open a restaurant for the living and the unliving! But things are afoot, and people want to bring harm to those who are different (not alive) and also there is something, something...just a bit different about Astra.

If you like a good cozy read, a world of fantasy, wonderful characters, and good food - you'll enjoy this little treat.

✨ Found family
✨ World building
✨ Magical creatures
✨ Magic wielding

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books/Cozy Quill for the chance to review.

This was such a cozy read! There’s enough depth to the characters, plot, and world that it doesn’t feel like an “fluffy” mindless story. Every character was interesting and unique. It took me a while to get through the first 10% because of all the dense lore and world building, but once I got past that, I couldn’t stop reading. The character’s past was a little difficult to figure out with the different titles, names, and alive/deadness but if you keep reading it eventually makes sense. My one piece of advice if you read this is to power through the beginning because the story gets really good once “retirement” begins. I think the plot was very balanced between action and character development. I highly recommend if you want a fantasy book that’s character driven and full of cozy cooking vibes.

4/5! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

<b>Cozy fantasy</b> is my go-to when I need a break from the world, and this was <i>exactly</i> what I hoped it would be.

We get to follow the undead orc, Rottgor, who spent most of his undead time in servitude as a knight. After being forced into retirement, he paves way to find his own happiness and decides to open a restaurant. If you love <i>yummy food, found family, incredible world-building and overall cozy vibes</i>, you need to pick this up.

I was genuinely surprised at how much I loved the writing. It was vivid, descriptive, and kept me intrigued. The characters were so wholesome, and over all this was just a really unexpectedly, fun adventure. Rottgor is a gem, and his story is one to be enjoyed next to the fireplace with a warm cup of tea.

<b><i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!</b></i>

When I first heard about the cozy fantasy genre, THIS is what my heart was wanting. I've loved so many other cozy fantasies, but to me, this is the king of the genre by a mile. An absolute triumph of a story filled with such heart in ways that our world needs now more than ever!

An absolutely perfect book in every single way.