Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife

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Product Details

Publisher: Bindery Books x Cozy Quill
Release Date: October 14, 2025
Formats: Paperback, Ebook
ISBN: PB: ‎978-1-964721-65-1; EB: ‎978-1-964721-64-4
Trim: 5.5 x 8.25
Page Count: 296

 

A Novel

Deston J. Munden

An undead orc knight leaves battle behind for a new kind of afterlife—one with good food, good friends, and maybe even fatherhood.

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 the Author

Deston Munden is the author of several books, including Tavern, also set in Dargath. Born and raised near the Outer Banks, he can be found writing, cooking, playing World of Warcraft, and cosplaying in the way-too-hot North Carolina weather.

Reviews

“A grizzled baker finds himself on the biggest quest yet…adopting a kiddo! Munden’s stunning debut is filled with incredible heart, delectable treats, and hilarious mishaps. It’s a recipe for comfort with a dash of adventure!” —Rebecca Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea

“Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife is like a perfect winter stew. Cozy and heartwarming, it’s filled with memorable characters that feel like a warm hug. Munden has brewed one of the most creative and intriguing fantasy worlds I’ve ever read, worth experiencing alongside a hot mug of your favorite drink. Tales like this are needed.” —Stephen Warren (@quincystavern)

“An evolution of the cozy genre that somehow manages to feel both nostalgic and brand new at the same time. Within this wonderful world of undeath is a story brimming with good food, great characters, and a reminder to live your life (or afterlife) to its very fullest. I loved every single word of it!” —Jaysen Headley (@ezeekat)

“Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife is as satisfying as a hearty orken meal and twice as comforting. With a heap of found family and a pinch of spooky, Rottgor’s quest to build a loving afterlife felt just as restorative for me as it was for him. Recipes is perfect for fans of cozy, healing journeys and, of course, classic fantasy food.” —R.K. Ashwick, author of A Rival Most Vial and the Lutesong series

“Lush with delicious prose, Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife is a warm tale that makes you yearn for a world that does not exist.” —Kay Synclaire, author of House of Frank

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