A Pinch of Phoenix

Written by Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski

Part of the Mystic Cooking Chronicles series

A young chef must mediate between warring elves and scientists to save her city.

4.5/5 Goodreads · 82 ratings

384 pages

$17.99Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Thirteen-year-old chef Lailu Loganberry faces a culinary crisis as elves and scientists edge toward war. Trapped by a magical barrier with her friend Greg, Lailu must navigate treacherous alliances and deliver crucial messages to prevent disaster. Can she cook up a truce before tensions boil over, or will her new role as mediator lead to chaos? With trust in short supply and danger lurking, Lailu's skills are tested like never before. Will she find the right ingredients for peace, or is this one recipe destined for disaster?

From the publisher

With elves waging war on scientists, it’s up to thirteen-year-old master chef Lailu Loganberry to save both her restaurant and her city in this final book in The Mystic Cooking Chronicles, which Kirkus Reviews calls “perfect for Top Chef fans with a penchant for the fantastical.” Lailu is in hot water. After the events of the Week of Masks, Wren keeps sending insect-like automatons to attack Lailu. However, they’re more irritating than dangerous, and Lailu is more worried about the elves, who have been quiet so far. Too quiet. When Lailu heads out of the city on a hunt with Greg, the elves finally strike. They put up a magical shield separating the Velvet Forest from the rest of the city. Now no human can enter…and unfortunately for Lailu and Greg, no human can leave, either. Ryon shows up to save them both, claiming they were caught unintentionally, but Lailu isn’t sure she believes him. Tensions between the elves and the scientists are reaching a boiling point, and the question is which side will snap first. And in the middle of it all is Lailu. Trusted by both sides, she’s selected to deliver messages and help negotiate a truce between the parties before war becomes inevitable. Easy as pie, right? Not so much. Lailu’s new role as mediator may be one recipe that’s headed for disaster!

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