Matthew Castillo 
Saffron Wars [EPUB ebook] 
A Culinary Saga of the Altara Isles

In the Altara Isles, a volcanic archipelago steeped in culinary magic, spices are more than mere seasonings—they’re conduits of elemental power.  Young chef Kessan Everly’s talent for flavor alchemy is about to be tested like never before. The annual Spice Festival, a vibrant celebration of culinary innovation, is overshadowed by whispers of Imoni Blackwood, a disgraced chef obsessed with forbidden magic.  When Kessan’s mentor is poisoned by Imoni’s corrupted creations, he’s thrust into a desperate race against time.
Imoni, driven by a twisted desire for immortality, has unearthed a recipe bound to an ancient entity trapped beneath the islands. This recipe isn’t a blessing, but a curse, capable of unleashing unimaginable chaos. Kessan must uncover its secrets and find a way to counteract its dark power before it consumes his world. His quest takes him from bustling spice markets to hidden groves of bioluminescent fungi, forging alliances with a grizzled fisherwoman and a young herbalist who hold the keys to disrupting Imoni’s control.
As Imoni’s influence spreads like a creeping blight, corrupting the very essence of the islands’ magic, Kessan discovers the true nature of the forbidden recipe.  It doesn’t grant immortality, but serves as a conduit to awaken the slumbering entity and unleash it upon the world.  Faced with a devastating choice—destroy the recipe and sacrifice countless lives already tainted by Imoni’s magic, or risk the complete annihilation of his world—Kessan must find a third path, one of balance and harmony.
The corrupted Festival of Flavors becomes a battleground of culinary magic. Imoni’s dishes manifest as grotesque monstrosities, while Kessan’s shimmer with the vibrant energy of life.  With the fate of the Altara Isles hanging in the balance, Kessan unveils his final creation, not a weapon, but a catalyst.  It doesn’t destroy the entity, but redirects its chaotic energy, cleansing the corruption and restoring the natural flow of magic. In a world where flavor is power, Kessan must master not only his culinary skills but also the delicate interplay between magic and the natural world to save his home from utter destruction. Will his courage and ingenuity be enough to restore harmony to the Altara Isles?