The blurb for this book compares it to Farscape, and that is truly the most apt comparison I can think of. It is a quirky, odd and fast paced space opera, with a surprising amount of depth and emotion. It's a feel-good romp, but it also has some brutality. 

The components feel like they shouldn't quite work together - ex-military characters, a pirate with a sadistic revenge plot, a sentient ship, magic, were-lions, a restaurant business and a love of cooking - but somehow they do. I had such a good time with this and I'm eagerly anticipating book two.