Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife

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.

© 2025 Simon Maverick (Audiobook): 9781668146637

Release date

Audiobook: October 28, 2025