THE RIVER QUEEN COOK BOOK

Sixteen-year-old Maggie Voss has never owned much—not even her own future. Bound by an exploitative labor contract and passed into the hands of a ruthless broker, she survives by watching, learning, and waiting for the one chance to take her life back. When that chance finally comes, Maggie disappears and Clara Mercer is born. With a new name, a few hard-earned dollars, and an unusual instinct for flavor, Clara starts at the bottom: washing dishes, learning kitchens, counting every cent, and eventually pushing a small food cart onto the streets of Cedar Crossing. Every recipe brings new customers—and new rivals. From failed dishes and empty pockets to price wars and a growing reputation, Clara learns that freedom is only the beginning. To keep it, she’ll have to build something no one can take from her.