This is like an anime in book form- utterly devourable, tasteful, and fun.

Paprick is a common butcher, carving slabs of meat from gargantuan monsters so chefs can prepare magic-granting meals for the rich. When he discovers a new recipe that makes him grow tall, he is invited to train in the culinary school of the Rares - the elite. Paprick dreams of liberating his people and sharing the monsters’ magic with the world.

This was like a high strung, tense cooking show meets over the top fantasy like One Piece or Attack on Titan.

This also uses a narrative framing device I love - told from Paprick when he is an adult known as the infamous Butcher. He is set to be executed but is first telling his story to the archivist. But is he embellishing, misleading? Is he really telling the truth? I always love an unreliable narrator.

<b>“We’re all tools, stage. The only meaningful choice in life is to determine what tool we become. I chose to be a chef’s tool, a knife. If I teach you anything, let it be this: be a knife. The rest are worthless.”
I nodded. I could be a knife. A sharp one.
</b>
This had some fascinating things to say on propaganda. The Rares keep the Commons down through rhetoric and lies for the benefit of the royals and their preferred religion. However, Paprick is turned into an idol built on tall (get it?) tales to further the rebellion.

The ending felt slightly rushed and I was not keen on the change in pacing and abrupt end. This is obviously the first in an explosive new series, yet I felt there needed to be a stronger end to book one.

Arc gifted by Black Crow.