lastblossom reviewed Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow
Magical baking pairs perfectly with a cozy mystery that keeps the reader guessing.
My relationship with cozy mysteries is extremely neutral, but I decided to grab this one because I will always read a book where baking is magic. And to my delight, the magical baking is a pretty big part of the story, so I have not been led astray by the marketing. It's also a competent cozy mystery with a relatable heroine, a very sweet relationship with her mother, and a cute boy next door who may or may not hold a flame for our heroine (hmmmm). I most enjoyed how much Felicity's magic reflects her own identity as a child of the diaspora. Fortune cookies have a complicated history with Japanese roots, that eventually shift to Chinese American, and that lines up perfectly with Felecity's own struggle to embrace her own history and identity. Add to that a magical rabbit, and a mystery with plenty of red herrings to keep …
My relationship with cozy mysteries is extremely neutral, but I decided to grab this one because I will always read a book where baking is magic. And to my delight, the magical baking is a pretty big part of the story, so I have not been led astray by the marketing. It's also a competent cozy mystery with a relatable heroine, a very sweet relationship with her mother, and a cute boy next door who may or may not hold a flame for our heroine (hmmmm). I most enjoyed how much Felicity's magic reflects her own identity as a child of the diaspora. Fortune cookies have a complicated history with Japanese roots, that eventually shift to Chinese American, and that lines up perfectly with Felecity's own struggle to embrace her own history and identity. Add to that a magical rabbit, and a mystery with plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing, and you have a fun start to a promising series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!