"Cook like your life depends on it, kid. Because it does."
Charles had an enviable future lined up for him. Training from the age of five by some of the finest chefs in the world. Schooling at a top culinary academy in the capital. An honorable position as heir to House Boulier, a line of merchant-lords who have charmed the rich and powerful with their cooking for centuries. And in a single night, it all burned to ash.
When the outbreak of war destroys his hometown, Charles is charged with escorting his family's sacred treasure—a recipe book passed down for untold generations—out of harm's way. But his simple mission grows complicated when he's captured by one of the most feared battalions in the world: the Spears of Mercy. Life as a prisoner in their war camp is brutal and uncertain. Charles has few allies and even fewer strengths to rely on. Only his skills in the culinary arts, honed over a lifetime in the kitchen, are deemed useful enough to keep him alive another day. But he's not out of hope just yet. With a dash of wit, a pinch of luck, and some very creative cooking, he might just find a way to recover his family's legacy and take back his freedom.
This project is a food-themed fantasy that centers on cooking and chefs. The setting spans a wide world featuring ingredients/recipes both real and inspired by traditional fantasy. I'll eventually be publishing it as a full-length novel (or series of novels depending on length). These are the first draft chapters. I'll likely be re-writing more than once, then editing before publishing, so impressions and feedback are quite welcome. If you like the story so far and you're interested in being an early reviewer for the final product, feel free to message me.
I'm looking for an artist to make some concept art and a cover (the cover shown here is a temporary placeholder). A stand-alone novel for now, but it may turn into a series down the road.
View | Series | Vol | Chap | Extra | Group/Host |
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The Emperor's Chef | 15 | 15. Urchin | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 14 | 14. The Red Serpent | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 13 | 13. Under the Fallen Snow | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 12 | 12. Amélie's Gift | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 11 | 11. The Pact | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 10 | 10. Letters to No One | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 9 | 9. Oak & Owl (Part I) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 8 | 8. The Ghost of Lutz (Part I) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 7 | 7. A Taste Like Bass or Haddock (Part II) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 7 | 7. A Taste Like Bass or Haddock (Part I) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 6-1 | 6. The Beast & the Woven Sea (Part One) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 6 | 6. The Beast & the Woven Sea (Part I) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 5-1 | 5. A Machine of Death (Part One) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 5 | 5. A Machine of Death (Part I) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 4-1 | 4. A Son of Dreya (Part One) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 4-1 | 4. A Son of Dreya (Part One) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 4 | 4. A Son of Dreya (Part I) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 3 | 3. Magnus, Luet, & Jon | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 3 | 3. Magnus, Luet, & Jon | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 2 | 2. Silver & Gold | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 2 | 2. Silver & Gold | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 1 | 1. The Winds of Change | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 1 | 1. The Winds of Change | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 2 | A Son of Dreya (Part Two) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 2 | A Machine of Death (Part Two) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | 2 | The Beast & the Woven Sea (Part Two) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Emperor's Chef | A Son of Dreya (Part II) | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Emperor's Chef | The Beast & the Woven Sea (Part II) | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Emperor's Chef | Oak & Owl (Part II) | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Emperor's Chef | The Ghost of Lutz (Part II) | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Emperor's Chef | A Machine of Death (Part II) | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Emperor's Chef | Oak & Owl (Part III) | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Emperor's Chef | A Taste Like Bass or Haddock (Part II) | RoyalRoadL |