The Queen's Cook

Starred review from September 1, 2024

Afshar (The Peasant King) brings biblical characters alive in their own times, with scrumptious descriptions of food and the devious machinations of palace life. Roxannah has perfected the art of making herself small to avoid the attentions of her abusive father, who was once a proud Persian noble but now tries to drown the horrors of war with alcohol. Despite her trials, Roxannah wants to protect her neighbors when a decree from the king encourages an attack on all Jewish people across the empire. Her friend Adin, a palace physician, assures her that God has a plan. When Queen Esther bravely confronts the king on behalf of her people, Roxannah secures a position as a lowly cook in the queen's household. Afshar gets better with every book, and her characters grow in faith, gaining the courage to stand firm when everything around them bids them to fall. VERDICT Readers will not want this book to end, but works by Connilyn Cossette and Christine Dillon may tide them over until the next release.

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2024
Afshar opens her Queen Esther's Court series with a captivating story of intimate faith and remarkable courage. Roxannah's family name once held honor in their Persian community, but her father's abuse and debauchery have shattered their reputation and Roxannah's sensitive self-worth. During a chance encounter with Adin, a deeply faithful Jewish physician, she recognizes buried pain beneath his persistent kindness. When a royal edict endangers Adin, Roxannah faces a heartbreaking choice. Now serving Queen Esther as a cook's assistant, she must prove herself amid the cutthroat palace staff. When she and Adin uncover a dangerous plot, they must confront their pasts and risk everything to stand for love, justice, and faith. From disloyal spies and religious persecution to aromatic spices and braised meats, The Queen's Cook is a sensory accomplishment that blends gripping palace drama with immersive culinary artistry. It offers a fresh angle on the familiar biblical story of Esther and features delectable, albeit deferred, romance; themes of hurt and healing; and contemplative and inspiring spirituality.

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September 9, 2024
Afshar (The Peasant King) kicks off her Queen Esther’s Court series with a rich and resonant retelling of the Purim story. It’s the 12th year of Persian king Xerxes’s rule and 23-year-old Roxannah lives in constant fear of her erratic father, Lord Fravartish, a former nobleman who sold off the family’s land to fuel his drinking habit. When he’s injured in a fight, Fravartish sends Roxannah to fetch the Jewish court physician, Adin, who’s immediately taken with her, though his faith forbids him from associating with a gentile woman. Meanwhile, court adviser Haman has convinced King Xerxes to issue an edict ordering the annihilation of the kingdom’s Jews. While Queen Esther works to intercede on behalf of her people, sectarian tensions combust into bloody conflict and Roxannah and Adin find themselves on opposite sides of the fight. Then Roxannah starts working in Queen Esther’s court, and they reunite to unravel a secret plot. Afshar rotates between Roxannah, Adin, and Esther’s perspectives, powering a twisty plot full of intrigue and divided allegiances, set against an intricately rendered ancient Persia seething with power struggles and violence. Fans of biblical fiction will be captivated.