The first entry in The Dell Chronicles series, H.L. Bernabe's Cooking Up Magick aims for a cozy fantasy experience reminiscent of The Lord of the Rings. The narrative follows Paisley, a halfling who embarks on an adventure with two dwarves, unaware that an ancient evil overlord has returned and she is the world's only hope against him.
While the premise echoes The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, the novel lacks the detailed world-building to fully realize its alternate Middle-earth. Nevertheless, it succeeds in presenting a lovable protagonist surrounded by an intriguing cast. The story incorporates elements of cooking, magic, and romantasy, though the execution of these components doesn't consistently bring the narrative to life.
Character Dynamics and Core Motivations
Cooking Up Magick is at its strongest when focusing on the interactions between its core characters. Paisley, portrayed as a bubbly and courageous individual, possesses a magnetism that positively influences her companions. Her relationships with her new friends, including a Half-Orc love interest, effectively ground the story's theme of found family.
These character moments often revolve around cooking and magic. Paisley's initial motivation for leaving her home and her family's inn is a desire to discover new recipes. This culinary quest, however, gradually recedes into the background as the plot advances. While cooking moments appear, they rarely feel integral to the story beyond their initial function as a plot device.
The Role of Magic
Although Paisley's passion for cooking is stated rather than deeply shown, her magical abilities offer more substantial character development. Her powers manifest as she progresses through the story, reflecting her compassionate nature as a chef. She draws strength from her affection for her companions, using her magic to heal, protect, and deepen connections. As Paisley discovers her abilities, becoming one of the first new sorcerers in a long time, her magic takes precedence over cooking, a shift that allows for significant character building.
Antagonistic Forces
The narrative is largely propelled by Verzod, the sorcerer antagonist inciting war. Despite receiving chapters from his perspective, he remains a largely one-dimensional villain, embodying pure evil with his only discernible depth being a soft spot for his talking cat, Whipclaw. As the cat spends much of its time with Paisley, this facet of Verzod's character is not fully explored. While his presence serves as the story's inciting incident, leaving him as a more mysterious entity for later books might have been a stronger narrative choice, though there is potential for his motives to be further developed in subsequent installments.
Verdict
Cooking Up Magick presents a decent story that leans too heavily into epic fantasy tropes at the expense of its unique premise. The strength of its core characters offers an engaging element within an otherwise slow-paced narrative, leaving ample opportunity for the series to mature in future books.