Daphne Press serves up food-based epic fantasy from Ryan Rose

Daphne Press has scooped Seven Recipes for Revolution, a food-based epic fantasy, from debut novelist Ryan Rose. 

Commissioning editor Davi Lancett acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Harry Illingworth at DHH Literary Agency. The novel will be published in hardback and e-book in July 2025. 

Seven Recipes for Revolution follows an aspiring chef who accidentally creates a new magic recipe and uses it to gain his dream apprenticeship, only to find himself in the middle of a rebellion.

Lancett said: “From the start, Seven Recipes felt fresh and exciting. Stories like ‘The Bear’ and ‘The Menu’ have shone a spotlight on the drama of haute cuisine, and the questions it raises about class and obsession. This book takes those themes and adds huge-scale action, a really enjoyable magic system, and a wonderful sense of discovery to combine into something you won’t want to miss.”

Rose commented: “I am simmering with excitement to work with Daphne Press on my debut novel, Seven Recipes for Revolution. From its inception, Seven has been a book that hoped to challenge what fantasy means. There are no horses, no knights, no moors, no castles. This is a story of chefs and kaiju, deserts and rebellious queers who eat the rich. Davi and the team at Daphne Press didn’t just understand that, they knew how to improve it – and of course they did. Daphne’s vision from Illumicrate to Press has challenged the publishing status quo. It should be no surprise this team is already changing what fantasy means, too. I hope you’ll join us for this delectable treat.”

From The Bookseller article | Katie Fraser