Book Review of 'The Queen’s Cook' by Tessa Afshar

Hello Bookworms!

I am so excited that you're here today and I'm even more excited to be sharing my thoughts on a novel by one of the best Historical Fiction authors out there: Tesssa Afshar.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts on her latest Biblical Fiction and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours.

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afshar hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Queen’s Cook 

Series: Queen Esther's Court #1 

Author: Tessa Afshar 

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers 

Release Date: November 19, 2024 

Genre: Historical Fiction, Biblical 

In the heart of ancient Persia, the empire's Jewish citizens face an ominous edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of an impoverished Persian lord, is devastated by the news but feels helpless to come to the aid of her Jewish friends. Desperate to support her family, Roxannah approaches the royal physician, Adin--the man whose kind eyes haunt her--and seeks his help to find employment in Queen Esther's kitchens. 

In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah tries to survive the spiteful ploys of the other cooks as she ascends through the ranks. Her loyalty earns her the trust and friendship of Queen Esther, who is navigating dangerous politics with wisdom and grace. When Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king's most powerful wife and Esther's archenemy, they find themselves tasked with the impossible job of discovering the culprit. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Esther's reign hangs in the balance.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Baker Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

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My Review

The Queen’s Cook was such an engaging and intriguing read!  Like most stories by Tessa Afshar, this novel is an immersive experience with descriptive imagery and characters that you feel are part of your world.  It truly brings the Biblical story of Queen Esther to life in such a beautiful way while also telling a story of love, forgiveness, and cooking.

Tessa’s powerful writing had me locked in from the beginning, feeling actual rage at Roxannah’s father and his treatment of her and her mother.  The juxtaposition between him and Dr. Adin, the man with a heart of gold, is vivid and shows the author’s incredible talent to evoke such emotion in me.  This was just the beginning of the joy I felt reading all the details of this story, especially the descriptions of the food.  It’s clear that there was a lot of research done to bring this world alive and it was done masterfully.

I feel so grateful that I was able to read this novel as it was truly a pleasure.  The Bible verses at the start of each chapter kept the focus where it needed to be and the chapters that were devoted to Esther’s point-of-view were by far my favorites.  This is the first novel that kicks off a new series and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for Queen Esther’s Court.

My Rating: ★★★★★

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About the Author

Tessa Afshar's award-winning biblical fiction has been on Publishers Weekly, CBA, and ECPA bestseller lists and has been translated into twelve languages. Born in the Middle East, Tessa spent her teen years in England and later moved to the United States. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life. Tessa is a devoted wife, a mediocre gardener, and an enthusiastic cook of biblical recipes.

Connect with Tessa by visiting tessaafshar.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of The Queen's Cook and a $15 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight December 4, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on December 11, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. 

All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.