Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife, Deston J. Munden
Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife, Deston J. Munden
List: $25.99 | Sale: $18.20
Club: $12.99

Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife

Author: Deston J. Munden

Narrator: Matthew Wolf

Unabridged: 9 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Simon Maverick

Published: 10/14/2025


Synopsis

A heartwarming, magical new novel about an undead orc knight who trades the battlefield for a fresh start in the Necropolis, where opening a restaurant leads to daring adventures, newfound family, and a second chance at life, perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and cozy fantasy tales.

Rottgor is worn out. Literally. Barely held together by dark magic, he has protected the Necropolis for centuries. When he’s forced into retirement, he’s faced with a new challenge: to forge a future guided not by obligation, but by passion.

Following his heart (and stomach), he decides to open a restaurant where the city’s undead and living residents can share food and community. He’s helped in his quest by an unlikely assortment of neighbors, including elves, skeletons, vampires—and a young orphan girl named Astra, whose ancestry, if discovered, could put her and the entire Necropolis in danger. To protect Astra and the life he’s building, Rottgor must face his past and form new alliances built on friendship, loyalty, and love. As comforting as warm pumpkin bread, this gentle fantasy traces how even a dark history can rise into a bright future.

About Deston J. Munden

Deston “DJ” Munden is a fantasy and science fiction author with a bachelor’s in game art and design. Deston loves video games, anime, comic books, and fantasy/sci-fi novels. He lives in the woods of North Carolina near the Outer Banks with his brother and biggest fan (along with his mom and dad). He’s now a published author and one hundred percent a crazy person.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Aisvarya on June 16, 2025

"Life is more than just fixing your past mistakes." Publication date - October 14, 2025 When I say this book literally changed my life for the better, I ain't kidding!! It's exactly what I needed - the warm hug & the comforting hand over my shoulder that said "it's okay if you feel stuck at the mo......more

Goodreads review by Alyson on April 16, 2025

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC. 4 ⭐️ Everything about this book appealed to me. the cover, the blurb, the character names, EVERYTHING. And I wasn't disappointed. If you crave a cosy fantasy, i can recommend this. The world building, setting, and magic system woven into this story is so well done tha......more

Goodreads review by vaishnavi ☆゚⁠.⁠* on September 29, 2025

ARC eARC recieved from NetGalley I love to visualize when I read - and Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife made it ridiculously easy: Lush descriptions? ✅ World-building that practically breathes on its own? ✅✅ Deston J. Munden paints such vivid, immersive scenes that I could close my eyes and still walk......more

Goodreads review by Jodie on May 25, 2025

A huge thank you to Bindery Books at Cozy Quill and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💖 "Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife” has all the cosy fantasy vibes I love: found family, magical food, and a heartfelt main character trying to find their place. The story......more

Goodreads review by Vrinda's Book Nook on September 30, 2025

4.5 ⭐- Delightfully cozy, warm & hearty! 🍜🥰🥘😍 A big thank you to Cozy Quills, Bindery books - this was the first arc novel I was approved for on NetGalley! I waited to read this as they had mentioned they would be releasing the epub format later. 🌟This was a beautiful story, with a rich and unique......more