Intergalactic Feast is the second book in the sci-fi duology Flavour Hackers, written by Lavanya Lakshminarayan, published by Solaris Books. An equally smart instalment to its predecessor that deals with the aftermath of MegaChef, putting the focus on the consequences of the commodification of creation and how the own characters have to deal with their own success.

Saras and Serenity won Interestellar MegaChef three months ago with Feast, their invention that allowed people to taste dishes and feel memories attached to them through a complex simulation; but that victory was just the beginning. What started as a small idea is being turned into a big industry product; Saras is busy with the promotion side, while trying to keep her past out of public scrutiny, and, at the same time, Serenity is dealing with the development battles at XP Inc. A superb story that acts as a dissection of the commercialization and how it affects the creators.

It is in the character of Saraswati that we find the most acute symptoms of how creators are turned into public figures; she's forced to become a spectacle, to assist many acts and to be always under the scrutiny of others. A person who is being consumed by the world, who can only find peace outside of that spotlight; trying to maintain distance with Ko while both would love to have something more than just friendship.
Serenity becomes the spectator of how XP Inc turns Feast into something different, with her participation; she is painfully aware how the intent behind the creation is eliminated in favour of profit chasing. She's still involved in the creation, but at the same time, she feels how each step Feast is closer to commercialization is a step Feast is further from Saras and her.

The writing is as immersive as in the first part of the duology, putting that special care on capturing the sensory experience that is attached to food, trying to show those things that make it special; but there's a layer that puts the effort on showing us how those same feelings can also be used by capital in many ways against us, either trying to get money or even inspire different things. A contrast that shines in this novel.
Pacing is the only aspect I found to be lacking a bit, as it feels irregular at moments; probably a consequence of this novel's nature.

Taking all into account, Intergalactic Feast is a worthy sequel to Interestellar MegaChef, making the Flavour Hackers duology a series that I heartily recommend if you want well-crafted sci-fi with a big foodie touch.