Devouring the Pages
aka Exploring the Diverse Cuisines of Fantasy & Romantasy Worlds
Weren’t we all a little disappointed our first time having turkish delights after reading / watching The Chronicles of Narnia? I mean they’re good, but certainly not worth abandoning your family over. On the contrary, the first time I had Butterbeer at Universal Orlando was very much a spiritual experience (yes, this was pre all the trans hate from JKR). And of course, who hasn’t wanted to get a heaping mug of ale in a dark tavern after a long day of traveling by horseback a la Fellowship of the Ring?
The food in fantasy novels — both in the raw ingredients and cuisine of the world — is *the* unsung hero in fantasy worldbuilding. Read on for a dive into some of my favorite cuisines in fantasy series —
Devouring the Pages of Fantasy / Romantasy Worlds & The Series That Got Me to Try Pickled Herring
As a kid, I was practically glued to books, devouring every page.
Then when college hit, I was buried with endless reading for classes and gave up reading for pleasure. But after graduating in 2020, amidst everything that came with graduating in 2020, I stumbled upon something magical: a YA romantasy series that reignited my love for reading – Leigh Bardugo's Shadow & Bone.
The intricate magic, the dark atmosphere, the non-stop action – it all pulled me in. But what truly stuck with me, even years later, was something unexpectedly delicious: the way authors used food to build incredible fantasy worlds.
As a writer myself (and a huge nerd) this has become a bit of a fascination of mine.
Let's explore some of my favorite examples of culinary world-building in fantasy:
Leigh Bardugo's Shadow & Bone
In Shadow & Bone, Bardugo transports readers to a dark, cold setting steeped in Russian influence. The food descriptions – pickled herring, dark bread and butter, sweet apple cakes – aren't just details; they're vital to establishing the rich tapestry of Ravka. They also serve to illustrate the divide between the lavish feasts of the privileged and the simple sustenance of the non-magic populace. It's a masterclass in how cuisine can inform readers of the various lifestyles and differences between social classes and cultures within a fantasy novel.
Raven Kennedy's The Plated Prisoner Series
Raven Kennedy's The Plated Prisoner series, a dark retelling of the Midas myth, again captivated me with its food descriptions. The overly sweet, syrupy, and decadent meals associated with a particularly gluttonous ruler in Orea serve as a powerful metaphor for his corruption and the rot within his kingdom. It's a brilliant example of how food can symbolize character and themes in a fantasy narrative.
Kerri Maniscalco's Kingdom of the Wicked
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco offers a delightful Sicilian theme, with the protagonist finding solace and strength in her family's restaurant. Her cooking isn't just a hobby; it's a vital coping mechanism, a way to work through her internal struggles. The descriptions of decadent Sicilian meals are incredibly evocative, grounding the character and providing her with an authentic interest that enriches her beyond typical romantasy tropes. It's a great example of how food can deepen character development and I remember eating a lot of garlicy pasta while working my way through this series.
Brandon Sanderson's The Way of Kings
Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive is renowned for its intricate fantasy world-building. While not always front and center, cuisine plays a role, especially in post-battle feasts. The world of Roshar, particularly Alethkar, features strict gender roles that even extend to dining: men and women eat separately and consume different, often spicier, foods. The diverse colors of alcoholic drinks also denote their strength, adding another layer to the cultural customs woven into the foodways of this epic series. If you ask anyone who is into fantasy, this series serves as a masterclass in world building, and while food isn’t a huge deal in these books, it is still so eloquently thought out and used.
Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince
“In Faerie, there are no fish sticks, no ketchup, no television.” — One of the most memorable lines in this YA fantasy series. The book begins with an unexpected visitor who whisks the main character away from the mortal world and into the world of Elfhame (I’m glossing over it here), but food in this series is often mentioned in a way that leaves the heart aching. The food in Elfhame is often dangerous for mortals to eat, leaving the main character, Jude Duarte, always suspicious and scared. Mentions of fish sticks, pizza, Poptarts, are all reminders of her time in the mortal realm when things were easier and well, happier. It is a YA series so the food choices do reflect that, but in a way it’s a reminder of how much the main character has missed out on her childhood, adding to the sadness of her backstory… well at least it was for me.
A Reign of Blood by Samantha Gonda
As the author of A Reign of Blood, a dark fantasy novel and the first in the Songs of Beasts trilogy, I've been incredibly excited by reader feedback. Every comment, every message – I read it all! Which means I have been reading all of the comments about all of the bread and butter, and I’m happy to inform you that yes, I probably was hungry when writing a lot of this book since I do have a full time job and used to write during my lunch breaks and while eating dinner. (I have since pivoted to writing in the mornings.)
I have also always found it charming in fantasy novels that characters are typically traveling on quests and pack food that can travel well — hard bread, hard cheeses, apples, nuts. In fact, my partner will often tease me because whenever I read a book with these descriptions (often) I will have a lunch of bread, apple, and cheese. And I really do hate apples, but I constantly convince myself to give them another try. The result has yet to change, I really do hate apples.
Anyways… as a passionate home cook, crafting the food elements of my series was a personal highlight. While the first book leans into the *cough* bread and butter, readers can look forward to a rich exploration of new cuisines and delightful dishes as the characters journey further across the Arkts in the upcoming sequel.