4 stars
This was such a sweet book! Basil dreams of being a fabulous magiculinary chef. But first, she must become top student at Porta Bella Magiculinary Academy and earn the scholarship that goes with the title. When she meets Arabella Oregano, the daughter of a famous chef, things start to heat up. Basil must face burnout, work up the courage to tell Arabella how she feels, and deal with a competitive rival.
The artwork in the book is perfect. Beautiful color palette. Adorable character designs. I especially loved the cooking sequences. It’s like watching a magic cooking competition.
There were a few areas that weren’t really fleshed out and the ending felt quite rushed. I’m still not quite sure what Xynthia’s actual plan was and the resolution happened very quickly. But overall, it was a great story to get lost in. Contains themes of tuition reform, classism, parental expectations, hiding your true self, and mental health.
A perfect combination of sapphic romance and cooking.