A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. KIingfisher Book Review

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 A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking 

By T. Kingfisher 


Published Year: 2020

Page Count: 282 pages 

Medium Used: Kindle PW 

Genre : Fantasy, Bread Men, Magic, Action, Young Adult, 2025-read. 

Rating : 4.25/5 




This is my first book by the author. I have many other books from her in my tbr and having read this, I feel she is worth checking out! This book felt more targeted for children and adolescent audience but I also enjoyed it. I felt a bit of disconnect with the story because the narrator is so objective and detached in her style of writing. I didn't feel that invested in the plot as I would have had if there was more emotional depth created through the narrative. The Duchess,one of the key characters, in the story, seemed more interested in bestowing laurels, badges of honor on heroes of war than controlling the wild elements of her council or running her government efficiently. Lol. But still, this felt like a good enough story if not the most creative or genre busting! 


Diving into the plot, Mona is a wizard baker. Which means, she uses magic to make her baking art better. She makes excellent bread, cakes, sconces, rolls using magic and giving telepathic hints to the dough to not over heat, burn, become more fluffy etc. She works in her Aunt Tabitha's bakery. One day early in the morning when she opens the bakery to start her day's chores, she finds a dead girl's body, lying at a weird angle and pooling with blood on the bakery floor. She alerts her aunt, uncle and authorities of the murder. So instead of being assured of her innocence, she gets accused of the murder by the Royal Inquisitor, Oberon. She later learns that Oberon, along with another wizard, is involved in a plot to dethrone the duchess and take over the city. As she is pulled deeper into the political situation, Mona must find ways to make magical, lively objects from her baking which would save her city, duchess and all the people from enemies bent on war. 


I liked the characters of Spindle and Molly and the sacrifice of Molly towards the end had my stomach in knots. The evil gingerbread men, the whole set of Bobs, the giant golems created by Mona to create discord and disruption in the enemy ranks felt quite innovative. I was just giving up on the city's winning chances when there is a surprise rescue(r)! Do check this out! With so much romance and romantasy out there, filled with smut and what not, this is a clean book that even adults could read and enjoy!! 

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