Review by Booklist Review
Winning the Celestial Banquet would have many benefits for talented young noodle chef Cai; in addition to relieving her of the burden of needing multiple jobs just to survive, it could also solidify the independence and continued sovereignty of her peninsular home, always under threat of annexation by the larger Continent. Convincing her local minor god, Kama, to sponsor a three-person team is the first step; then she and her two teammates must travel far to the competition in Xianling. Meanwhile, those teammates--Bo, a poor local childhood friend; and Seon, a wealthy new acquaintance--are competing for her affection. To win a peach of immortality and all the accompanying boons, Cai must work with little experience to survive various trials, as well as untrustworthy and shifting alliances. Intricate world building creates a well-defined framework, and a complex competition with creative challenges keeps the plot moving steadily despite the expansive cast. Southeast Asian and Chinese influences abound, and though the food scenes are not as numerous as they could be, they are mouth-watering, nonetheless.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Every 10 years, the three major gods of the Continent host the Celestial Banquet, a competition in which five teams, each sponsored by a minor god, risk everything for a priceless reward. Determined to honor her deceased father's memory, 16-year-old noodle chef Cai convinces the local god, Kama, to assemble a team for the first time in a century. Joined by wealthy playboy Seon and wandering warrior Tala, Cai competes against the best chefs on the Continent in a tournament designed to test her like never before, as the gods are capricious and cruel and the losers of the contest rarely leave in one piece, if at all. As each round claims new victims, Cai must reexamine the role of cooking in her life and contend with competing affections for Seon and her childhood friend Bo. In this dazzling East Asian--influenced fantasy, Lim (Night for Day, for adults) weaves together deadly magic, deliciously described dishes, and intensely personal stakes to deliver a tale that satisfies all the senses. The inclusion of a love triangle sometimes detracts from the heightened atmosphere of the banquet; nevertheless, the story's ingredients blend seamlessly. Ages 12--up. Agent: Jenny Bent, Bent Agency. (June)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A cooking competition for the gods spells danger--and offers great possibilities. Sixteen-year-old Cai has always had a passion for cooking, instilled in her by her late father, a skilled chef. Though she runs only a humble noodle stall, her dream is to win the Celestial Banquet, a cooking competition in honor of and judged by the gods. Not only does the winning chef gain recognition--important for someone from a backwater like Cai's Peninsula--but they also receive a peach of immortality, worth unimaginable riches. In order to enter, Cai will have to convince her cantankerous local minor god, Kama, to sponsor a team. And if she hopes to win, she'll have to excel at the culinary tasks posed by the gods, contend with the Empress's machinations, and juggle her attraction to two different boys, Bo and Seon, both of whom are attending the competition with her. The love triangle storyline is balanced by the presence of intriguing side characters and plentiful descriptions of mouthwatering food. The cooking competition, while cutthroat and full of deadly perils, offers an original take on the usual divine tests of skills found in fantasy novels, offering readers a fresh set of tasks to savor. The worldbuilding, which is influenced by both East and Southeast Asia, is a delightful medley of cuisines and cultures. Delicious and dangerous, with a side helping of romance. (map, Celestial Banquet teams)(Fantasy. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
