Angela Mendoza 
The Alchemical Chef [EPUB ebook] 
A Tournament of Souls

In the kingdom of Avaris, culinary alchemy is a religion, flavors woven with magic capable of healing or destruction. When a poisoned dish shatters the soul of the benevolent King Theron, a desperate kingdom announces the Alchemical Chef’s Tournament – a legendary competition to concoct a cure.
From the Whispering Hearth orphanage emerges Calrix, a young chef wielding the forbidden art of spice-bound soul weaving.  Her dishes aren’t just food; they’re vessels of memory, each bite a glimpse into forgotten lives. Driven by a hunger for freedom, she enters the tournament, her unique magic both a gift and a curse.
Within the Celestial Kitchen, a reality-bending arena, Calrix faces not only escalating culinary challenges but also a cast of formidable rivals.  Zephyr Hallowell, a master of illusionary cuisine, and Elara Nightsong, whose dishes hold the stark beauty of the mountains, are just a taste of the competition. Sabotage, whispers of forbidden magic, and the enigmatic Lord Valerius, who watches her with unnerving intensity, add layers of intrigue to the already high-stakes game.  An unlikely alliance with the eccentric Rhys Morningstar offers guidance, but can it be enough?
As Calrix progresses, clues to the king’s poisoning surface, pointing to a shocking truth: the culprit lurks among the esteemed judges.  The final round demands the ultimate sacrifice – a fragment of the chef’s own soul woven into the recipe. Faced with a harrowing choice, Calrix must decide between her newfound freedom and the fate of Avaris, forever altering the landscape of culinary alchemy and revealing the true, devastating cost of magic.