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Fustuk
Inspired by Armenian and Persian mythology, this delectable YA graphic novel debut follows the youngest of three dysfunctional siblings who strike a magical deal to save their mother's life—perfect for fans of The Magic Fish!
Seventeen-year-old Katah Fustukian has always felt like the odd one out in his family of chefs. Unlike his older siblings, he is useless in the kitchen, and too young to have known their late father—a legendary Hye chef who’d made a name for himself in the Pars Empire.
But with his mom’s illness worsening, Katah hopes that his vision-like dreams are a sign of magic stirring within him—especially after they lead him to Az, a powerful div with some mysterious connection to his family. In an attempt to save their mom’s life, he and his siblings strike a Az’s help in exchange for a dish that rivals their father’s.
But after the siblings clash over what to cook, Katah will have to make sense of his magic and family history—and wager far more than a single meal to meet Az’s demands...
Creator Robert Mgrdich Apelian weaves together multiple timelines in an inventive, fantastical story of Armenian family and food, speaking to diasporic culture and how those within it relate to their different worlds.
Seventeen-year-old Katah Fustukian has always felt like the odd one out in his family of chefs. Unlike his older siblings, he is useless in the kitchen, and too young to have known their late father—a legendary Hye chef who’d made a name for himself in the Pars Empire.
But with his mom’s illness worsening, Katah hopes that his vision-like dreams are a sign of magic stirring within him—especially after they lead him to Az, a powerful div with some mysterious connection to his family. In an attempt to save their mom’s life, he and his siblings strike a Az’s help in exchange for a dish that rivals their father’s.
But after the siblings clash over what to cook, Katah will have to make sense of his magic and family history—and wager far more than a single meal to meet Az’s demands...
Creator Robert Mgrdich Apelian weaves together multiple timelines in an inventive, fantastical story of Armenian family and food, speaking to diasporic culture and how those within it relate to their different worlds.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 25, 2026
I haven't experienced Armenian/Middle Eastern mythology like this before! The artwork is incredible, and the influence from manga was very apparent in such an appealing way. Every facial expression was just *muah* gorgeous! And the food looks incredible, like I could almost smell it right off the page -- if the onions wouldn't kill me first, I'd love to try it.
There's a copy of this sitting in my library order, and I'm so happy that I could read it beforehand and pat myself on the back for choosing something so great. Those little Delicious in Dungeon fans have something very different to devour next!
There's a copy of this sitting in my library order, and I'm so happy that I could read it beforehand and pat myself on the back for choosing something so great. Those little Delicious in Dungeon fans have something very different to devour next!
December 3, 2025
Thank you, Penguin Young Readers Group | Penguin Workshop and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book honestly! I am apart of the Penguin Teen Ca Influencer program but all my opinions are my own!
Visually stunning and a refreshing story of how family isn't perfect but the love is.
TW: Family loss, death, fear & blood.
Katah keeps having dreams about his long deceased Father's life, all while he is trying to save his mother's life from her long standing illness. When a chance to save her comes in the form of a powerful div, who offers to help help his mother if they can make a dish as good as their fathers. So he and his siblings struggle to create a dish exactly like their father, while time runs out for their mother.
But the ties to the div are more than Katah realizes and the motivates might not all be so innocent, as his dreams grow stronger.
This was a surprisingly sweet and sad tale.
I think I'm use to magically books having everything work out in the end and this book did but also showed that sometimes you have to get ready to say goodbye and be sad & that's ok. It also shows that working hard is apart of passion and if you don't have passion for what you do, it can feel a little empty. Their father always commented to not use shortcuts because he himself had done so and wanted better & a more fulfilled passion for cooking than he did.
A lot of good teachable & accepting moments in this story that i loved.
Also there is a scene towards the end where their father's life meet his mothers & it mirrors their beginning to their end, and I think that was so amazingly done; story wise & artwork wise. That was outstanding to me.
Visually stunning and a refreshing story of how family isn't perfect but the love is.
TW: Family loss, death, fear & blood.
Katah keeps having dreams about his long deceased Father's life, all while he is trying to save his mother's life from her long standing illness. When a chance to save her comes in the form of a powerful div, who offers to help help his mother if they can make a dish as good as their fathers. So he and his siblings struggle to create a dish exactly like their father, while time runs out for their mother.
But the ties to the div are more than Katah realizes and the motivates might not all be so innocent, as his dreams grow stronger.
This was a surprisingly sweet and sad tale.
I think I'm use to magically books having everything work out in the end and this book did but also showed that sometimes you have to get ready to say goodbye and be sad & that's ok. It also shows that working hard is apart of passion and if you don't have passion for what you do, it can feel a little empty. Their father always commented to not use shortcuts because he himself had done so and wanted better & a more fulfilled passion for cooking than he did.
A lot of good teachable & accepting moments in this story that i loved.
Also there is a scene towards the end where their father's life meet his mothers & it mirrors their beginning to their end, and I think that was so amazingly done; story wise & artwork wise. That was outstanding to me.
February 2, 2026
Fustuk opened my eyes to how graphic novels can be used as a beautiful and rich medium for story telling. Prior to this, I had mostly thought of graphic novels as glorified picture books. But after seeing the way the author infused meaning into the colors, borders, and panel structures, I was amazed by how much depth there was to the medium and how much it could elevate a story.
I was also really impressed by the character development in Fustuk. I was shocked by how deeply I felt I knew each character after just a few panels, how much emotion their expressions evoked, and how nuanced and real their interactions felt.
And that’s not to mention just how beautiful the book was from start to finish. There were times I didn’t even want to turn the page because I was so drawn in by a panel spread, feeling compelled to soak in every intricate detail and reflect on the symbolism throughout the book.
It’s also worth noting that I picked up this book full of strong Armenian cultural themes, as someone who doesn’t belong to that culture. I worried that might make it harder to approach, but it was quite the opposite–it piqued my curiosity and gave me a window to start exploring traditions I might never have encountered otherwise. You can absolutely enjoy this book without any prior knowledge of food or culture (there’s even a glossary in the back you can reference!)–but if you’re like me, you may end up loving the world the author has created so much that you’ll want to read it again after trying one or two of the recipes for yourself :)
I was also really impressed by the character development in Fustuk. I was shocked by how deeply I felt I knew each character after just a few panels, how much emotion their expressions evoked, and how nuanced and real their interactions felt.
And that’s not to mention just how beautiful the book was from start to finish. There were times I didn’t even want to turn the page because I was so drawn in by a panel spread, feeling compelled to soak in every intricate detail and reflect on the symbolism throughout the book.
It’s also worth noting that I picked up this book full of strong Armenian cultural themes, as someone who doesn’t belong to that culture. I worried that might make it harder to approach, but it was quite the opposite–it piqued my curiosity and gave me a window to start exploring traditions I might never have encountered otherwise. You can absolutely enjoy this book without any prior knowledge of food or culture (there’s even a glossary in the back you can reference!)–but if you’re like me, you may end up loving the world the author has created so much that you’ll want to read it again after trying one or two of the recipes for yourself :)
January 22, 2026
If I had to boil this review down to one thing it would be "Don't read this on an empty stomach!"
But actually though, I really loved it. I'm not going to recap the plot because the official summary does a great job of doing that. Just here a few things that stood out to me.
The food. My god the food looks incredible. I want to try every single dish shown.
The character designs. Each sibling has their own unique look and vibe. Katah is my favorite with his youngest child energy. His growth and arc made me tear up by the end. And don't forget Az. The star of the show with his wacky transformations. Az would make some great merch!
The plot. I love a good mystery and I wasn't expecting one in this. Without getting into spoilers, there is a slow unwinding of information that is very important, and I thought that was very well done. I turned every page excited to see what would come. Overall, the jumping around, the mystery, all of it blends together culminating in a seriously climactic ending.
I highly recommend picking this up. And don't forget! Don't read this on an empty stomach!
But actually though, I really loved it. I'm not going to recap the plot because the official summary does a great job of doing that. Just here a few things that stood out to me.
The food. My god the food looks incredible. I want to try every single dish shown.
The character designs. Each sibling has their own unique look and vibe. Katah is my favorite with his youngest child energy. His growth and arc made me tear up by the end. And don't forget Az. The star of the show with his wacky transformations. Az would make some great merch!
The plot. I love a good mystery and I wasn't expecting one in this. Without getting into spoilers, there is a slow unwinding of information that is very important, and I thought that was very well done. I turned every page excited to see what would come. Overall, the jumping around, the mystery, all of it blends together culminating in a seriously climactic ending.
I highly recommend picking this up. And don't forget! Don't read this on an empty stomach!
January 23, 2026
Fustuk takes you on a fascinating journey into the lives of a complex and loving family caught up in a world of divs and jadoo ( genies and magic ) that is captivating! This author leaves you hungering for more installments from this world! Please give us more!! Each character could have a book of their own! He’s managed to introduce us to a host of wonderful characters that are so fascinating on their own that he’s at least left me begging for more of their backstories! Bravo! An outstanding debut!
February 2, 2026
A realistic fantasy heavily based in Armenian American culture. Over all a fun story with a lot of heart to it. Very much rooted in a family who is trying to hold onto their heritage which is a challenge after being displaced. Food is a big part of the story too.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews