Title: All We Hunger ForAuthor: Anna Mercier
Pages: 393
Publication Date: June 23, 2026
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company (BYR)
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
Synopsis:
A young woman sneaks her way into a magical baking contest but gets pulled into an elusive aristocrat's lavish world and his nefarious plan as rebellion brews in their city—for fans of A Magic Steeped in Poison.
In Anespérer, where magic comes alive through artistic skill, Elara Rousseau knows she'll never be selected for the Objet d’Art. The high-stakes baking competition will elect a new Souverain to join the ruling council, and someone from the slums would never be considered. But when a brooding figure from her past sneaks her into the Objet, Elara has the chance to compete for a better future... as long as no one uncovers her traitorous secret.
Nikolas Dupont will do whatever it takes to impress his powerful father, a Souverain who hasn't officially recognized his son—like handpick a contestant to win and become his father's political pawn. But Elara is more than he bargained for, and she ignites his own subdued passions.
Against all odds, Elara excels and becomes a hero to the city's poor, all while Nik’s faith in his father crumbles and the sparks between them burn brighter. As the competition heats up, Elara and Nik must fight to win the competition and secure a future of safety for them both, or use the power of Elara’s art to spark a revolution.
This blog uses affiliate links for some book recommendations, and if you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission. Thanks for supporting this little bookish corner of the internet!
All We Hunger For is a unique romantasy with a magical baking competition, political power struggles, and two people trying to find their place in a world shaped by class, control, and expectations. I really enjoyed it, especially the food magic elements, the characters, and the author’s engrossing writing style.
Elara is a great protagonist. She’s determined and resourceful, but she’s also careful in a way that makes sense given everything she risks by being in the competition. She comes from a place where she has to think several steps ahead just to survive, and that very much shapes her. Nikolas, on the other hand, is someone who lives by his need for approval, especially from his father. At the beginning of the story, it seems like he’s a version of himself that’s been built to meet someone else’s expectations rather than his own. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to earn recognition, even when it clearly costs him parts of who he is. Watching him slowly start to develop more of a backbone and question what he’s been told is fantastic, as is his growing connection with Elara.
Elara and Nik are both lost in different ways, and I really liked how their relationship develops from that shared feeling like they don’t really belong. I loved their midnight baking rendezvous and the bond that formed between them in those private moments. Theirs a slow-building romance filled with tension and secrecy, and it has a bit of a forbidden feel to it. I also really liked the dual POV, because getting both Elara’s and Nik’s perspectives added depth to both their characters and their love story. You understand what they’re thinking, what they’re hiding, and why they keep getting pulled back toward each other even when they try not to be.
The baking competition was one of my favorite parts of the book. The way food and magic are woven together is really creative, and the competition is brutal. I can definitely see all of the Hunger Games inspiration. This is not a competition I’d ever want to enter. lol With inequality, control, and rebellion shaping the world in and beyond the competition, there’s a sharp contrast between something so creative and expressive like baking and the harsher realities of their society.
Overall, this was an engaging ya romantasy with strong character arcs, an interesting magic system, and a sweet forbidden romance.
“Art isn’t always something you can hang in a gallery or a shop window. It’s the ability to look inward, to wrestle with the darkest parts of yourself, then express those feelings in the hopes others resonate with them.”
A parent’s mistakes should never be a child’s burden.”
This is what true art is all about. It’s creation and exploration. It’s taking the tools you are given, like a few recipes, and breaking them down to create something new. This is my gift to you—space to make something all your own. A recipe is more than just perfectly measured ingredients and accurate cook times. It’s a way of connecting people. Of sharing truths with the world. What will your truths be?
- forbidden romance
- hidden identities
- found family
Anna Mercier is a young adult fantasy author. She’s the co-host of the Turning to Story podcast with fellow author Lyssa Mia Smith. All We Hunger For is her debut novel.
Great review – this sounds like a good one!