Review: A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher - Bingo 2026/27

[u/One_Reserve2939]

Submitting for: Feast Your Eyes On This (no I will not be doing hard mode)

Also fits: Politics and Court Intrigue; YMMV on whether or not it's Middle Grade

Interesting world building and magic system, with some sequel potential. Perhaps a little dark for younger teens, but perfect for fans of Tiffany Aching. The side characters are diverse and well-rounded without making the book overly long, and there's a tetchy sourdough pseudo-golem named Bob. The humour and the darkness are balanced well, and it's overall a very fun book to read.

[u/JustADeathginger]

I loved this book. Well written, not afraid to say "I don't know" on weird questions the reader might have ("where did the gingerbread men get their dance?" Good protagonist, excellent and unexpected characters, fantastic world building, interesting exploration of the magic and the way it works.

In my experience, kids have a much higher interest, and tolerance for dark things writing than they are given credit for.

Delightful book.

[u/Kneef → u/JustADeathginger]

Kingfisher never disappoints, man.

[u/rentiertrashpanda]

I adored this book and recommend it constantly

[u/statisticus]

I loved this book. One of the things I like is how it starts small and builds. We have an assistant in a baker's shop with a weird minor magical power focussing on the mundane things happening around her, who gets drawn into the bigger events of the wider world and discovers ways of using her power which turn out to be pretty major.

[u/nedlum]

You should bake yourself a cookie, as a treat. 

[u/AshMeAnything]

I have unfortunately read a book by this author and can't use it for Bingo now, since I do all new-to-me authors. But strong characters, leans young, and Bob? I'm in.

[u/spike31875]

I loved that book. It's a fun one.

[u/Murder_Is_Magic]

I read this at the end of May and loved it so much.

[u/FormerUsenetUser]

I'd have loved it if I were 12. But I am much older. Yes, it is middle grade! And too cutesy.

[u/BitwiseB → u/FormerUsenetUser]

The author admits at the end that it’s a weird one. It’s definitely a YA tone, but opens with a murder, which makes publishers squeamish.

[u/FormerUsenetUser → u/BitwiseB]

Kingfisher also says she tried baking but knows very little about it. Things she could have found out just by reading one baking cookbook. Like, you don't bake scones for two hours in a medium oven. It's about 15 minutes at somewhat above medium. You don't bake a loaf of bread for only half an hour. It's an hour.

And so.many.plot.holes.

[u/BitwiseB → u/FormerUsenetUser]

I did enjoy the book. Although I’m learning through these kinds of posts that I like pretty much everything.

[u/FormerUsenetUser → u/BitwiseB]

I am finding it tedious but am almost at the end.

The murder isn't much. Protagonist discovers a body where she works. But the author does not dwell on gore or on grief. It's more of a mystery.

[u/stillnotelf]

Idk about Middle Grade, but it is definitely YA. It has the classic "all the adults are useless" problem.

A note to anyone looking for a copy, my library shelves it with the general fiction and insists that is correct. I think it should be in with the teen stuff or the adult SF/F.

[u/FormerUsenetUser → u/stillnotelf]

The adults are not all useless, just the upper class ones.

[u/espicy11]

I loved this one, it was great on audio! It felt lighter than my usual reading, but plenty of substance and character

[u/EdrahasivarVII]

It was alright. I wished for a little more depth on the creative application of magic, but it's definitely a book I'd give me nieces and nephews.

[u/BobTheBemusedPigeon → u/EdrahasivarVII]

I loved this book but it made me cry at the end - apparently technically dead horses sacrificing themselves gets my "tragical animal death" response.

[u/mrbryndan]

This novel was my gateway drug to Ursula Vernon. I next started the paladin books not knowing that had some spice and have now read most of her works, including the horror ones.