What To Do After Your Book Launch: A 30-Day Plan That Protects Momentum
November 24, 2025
I’m excited to share my book review for The Book of Perilous Dishes by Doina Rusti. Many thanks to @The_WriteReads, @NeemTreePress, and the author for allowing me to participate in the blog tour.
Title: The Book of Perilous Dishes
Author: Doina Rusti
Publisher: NeemTree Press
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romanian Literature
Length: 272 pages
Published: February 2017
Order the Book Here: www.amazon.com
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com
1798: A magical, dark adventure. Fourteen-year-old Pâtca, initiated in the occult arts, comes to Bucharest, to her uncle, Cuviosu Zăval, to retrieve the Book of Perilous Dishes. The recipes in this magical book can bring about damaging sincerity, forgetfulness, the gift of prediction, or hysterical laughter. She finds her uncle murdered and the book missing. All that Zăval has left her is a strange map she must decipher. Travelling from Romania to France and on to Germany to do so, Pâtca’s family’s true past and powers are revealed, as is her connection to the famous and sublime chef, Silica.
The Book of Perilous Dishes by Doina Rusti, published by NeemTree Press, offered a unique blend of magic, history, and mystery that hooked me from the start.
Set in 18th-century Bucharest, the story revolves around 17-year-old Pâtca, a lively and clever girl in the thick of a dangerous quest. Armed with a mysterious cookbook she inherits, Pâtca embarks on a journey filled with magical recipes that are as perilous as powerful. The author weaves Romanian folklore and history elements, creating a richly detailed world that feels enchanting and authentic.
Rusti’s writing style is engaging and accessible, making it easy to get lost in the winding streets of old Bucharest alongside Pâtca. Rusti develops the characters well and they are charming, each adding depth and humor to the unfolding adventure. It’s a story about family, power, and the lengths we go to protect the ones we love, all wrapped up in a delightful package of culinary magic.
But it’s not just the plot that makes The Book of Perilous Dishes a must-read; it’s also the way Rusti challenges us to think about the power of knowledge and the dangers that come with it. The magical recipes in the book serve as a metaphor for this, offering both wondrous possibilities and deadly risks.
In conclusion, The Book of Perilous Dishes is a magical, engaging, and thought-provoking read. It’s perfect for those who love historical fiction with a fantasy twist. If you’re looking for a book that combines lore, adventure, and a dash of mystery, try this one.
My rating:
DOINA RUŞTI, important contemporary Romanian novelist, is unanimously appreciated for epic force, for originality and erudition of her novels. She received all major Romanian awards, including the Romanian Academy Prize, and was translated into many languages (even in Chinese).
She wrote ten novels, including: Fantoma din moară (The Phantom in the Mill, 2008), Lizoanca (2009), Zogru (2006).
The novels Manuscrisul fanariot (The Phanariot Manuscript, 2015), Mâța Vinerii (The Book of Perilous Dishes, 2017) and “Homeric” (2019) can be a Phanariotic Trilogy (18th century). The most recent novel: Paturi oculte (Occult beds), 2020.
Good international reviews in: La Stampa, Stato Quotidiano, Il Venerdì di Repubblica. Il Libero, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Magyar Nemzet, La Opinion, Turia. Il Mercurio etc.
Doina Rusti lives in Bucharest, and is a professor and screenwriter.
Check out the other stops on this blog tour for The Book of Perilous Dishes!
Let’s get social! Join me on my socials and share this post with others!
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
