Review: The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Tilo goes by many names, and currently, in the body of an old lady, she helps make people’s everyday lives a little better, a little happier. She, an ordained Mistress of Spices, has the ability to harness the subtle magic of the spices and help people by matching them with the right spice that they need at that time in their lives. Magic in the everyday; but also in a whole different magical world where Tilo came from, before she traveled through time and space, to come set up a little shop in Oakland – this book combines them both beautifully.

Raven was a point of confusion in this book, I wasn’t sure he added much value except as a foil in certain ways, but maybe I’m just not seeing what the author wanted me to see? I understand he’s also magical in his own way, and his presence lets her blossom into something more than she dared hope, but somehow I wanted more. Apart from that, secondary characters don’t particularly stand out, but serve their purpose within the story.

My feelings about the ending are indeterminable, and I can’t truly say I would have preferred a different ending, because I’m not sure what that would be. Just the way I felt about Raven, I wanted something more. What, I cannot say. Just more.

Overall, I did like the book, in large part due to it being magical realism. I did like Tilo, and her many names and attributes, and fiery personality. Read this for her.