corissam's review
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
kaiouelios's review
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
monkeysbecausewhynot's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
noveladdiction's review
4.0
Real rating: 3.5
I didn't like this as much as the previous books, mostly because it felt a little disjointed compared to the other two. But I still love all of these characters - they're almost like my own little messed up family. Eager for more!
ETA: This counts as "A book involving a mythical creature" for my 2017 Reading Challenge. Plenty of weird creatures in this one!
I didn't like this as much as the previous books, mostly because it felt a little disjointed compared to the other two. But I still love all of these characters - they're almost like my own little messed up family. Eager for more!
ETA: This counts as "A book involving a mythical creature" for my 2017 Reading Challenge. Plenty of weird creatures in this one!
kateofmind's review
5.0
This series could so be taking place in a later day version of Justin Robinson's City of Devils series that I'm half inclined to start harassing them for crossover stories XD
reader44ever's review
5.0
I have so much love for this series. :-)
For my review, can I just say. . . Page 214: "It's the God Puppy." :-)
No? Okay, I'll share more. . .
In this outing, Sin du Jour was hired to cater a movie premiere event in Hollywood. Only Bronko (!!!), Lena, Darren, Nikki, Jett, Pacific, and Mr. Mirabel went though. The rest of the line stayed in New York and catered. :-)
Naturally, things went out of control for both groups. :-)
In New York, (!!!) *hehehe*
And in Hollywood, the movie's producers had a special "treat" for our team in the after-after-party. :-)
Special appearances in this book included not just the Easter Bunny, but (!!!) :-)
Most of the aforementioned beings were after Stocking and Receiving and the line in New York. The latter being put in an appearance in L.A., after :-)
I wonder if? I guess I'll have to read more books to find out. ;-)
In the end, Lena
No, it was Ritter. And. . . :-)
Oh! If you read my spoiler about the end to book #2, in this one,? I hope to find out in a future book. :-)
I am really just loving this series. :-)
For my review, can I just say. . . Page 214: "It's the God Puppy." :-)
No? Okay, I'll share more. . .
In this outing, Sin du Jour was hired to cater a movie premiere event in Hollywood. Only Bronko (!!!), Lena, Darren, Nikki, Jett, Pacific, and Mr. Mirabel went though. The rest of the line stayed in New York and catered
Spoiler
TaurusCon (an event for centaurs and minotaurs! [!!!]).Naturally, things went out of control for both groups. :-)
In New York,
Spoiler
Rollo had a centaur shit on him!And in Hollywood, the movie's producers had a special "treat" for our team in the after-after-party.
Spoiler
But their plans were foiled first by Jett (!!!), and then by Ramiel and "the God Puppy."Special appearances in this book included not just the Easter Bunny, but
Spoiler
also a skeletal flaming pumpkin-man, Cupid, Santa Claus and his elves, and the Devil.Most of the aforementioned beings were after Stocking and Receiving and the line in New York. The latter being put in an appearance in L.A., after
Spoiler
the Oexial demons' plan to burn Bronko, et.al., was foiled by Jett. I don't remember when Ramiel appeared (I think it was after Jett successfully stopped the flames), but I'm pretty sure it was before the Devil arrived. And after the Devil arrived, there was a pitter-patter of little feet and the God Puppy made his appearance.I wonder if
Spoiler
the Oexial demons will try again to get revenge for the death of their elder, Astaroth, or if this reappearance of the God Puppy put paid to those efforts?In the end, Lena
Spoiler
was in her hotel room in Hollywood. Darren visited and the two of them reconciled. Then Darren left. But another knock sounded on Lena's door. Darren again?No, it was Ritter. And. . .
Lena nods.
She nods several seconds longer than she normally would.
When she finally stops she says, "Oh, fuck it."
She reaches up and tangles her fingers in his hair with one hand, pulling his face down to hers and kissing his mouth full on.
Genuine surprise slows Ritter's reaction.
He gets over it quickly.
A few moments later Lena sheds the robe she so demurely cinched when she opened the door.
In the morning they'll order breakfast up for just the two of them. [fin]
Oh! If you read my spoiler about the end to book #2, in this one,
Spoiler
Bronko started out in Hell. But a paperwork error was soon discovered and he was sent back to New York. Interestingly, Allensworth knew that Bronko would return to life. I'm beginning to think that Allensworth is not human. Is he a demon of some sort?I am really just loving this series. :-)
squishy_mage42's review
4.0
A fun urban fantasy romp taking place across two plot arcs.
One has Lena and Darren, the newest chefs of Sin Du Jour accompanying their boss to LA for a movie premier. The other plot involves the "Requisitions" team being chased by demons on their week off.
Of course everything goes horribly wrong on both fronts and the chefs have to deal with the aftermath. This series is one of the most fun reads I've had in a while.
One has Lena and Darren, the newest chefs of Sin Du Jour accompanying their boss to LA for a movie premier. The other plot involves the "Requisitions" team being chased by demons on their week off.
Of course everything goes horribly wrong on both fronts and the chefs have to deal with the aftermath. This series is one of the most fun reads I've had in a while.
tregina's review
2.0
While I'm still enjoying the Sin du Jour crew, this felt underdeveloped, scattered and unfinished. I understand the author is approaching this series as a serial, but each novella still needs to stand on its own. Appreciated the Kameron Hurley shoutout, though, even though the joke didn't quite land.
gerhard's review
2.0
Mildly amusing continuation of the Sin du Jour saga ties in directly with Envy of Angels, or trots out the same tired tropes for a stale repeat, depending how generous you want to be. This series about a goumet kitchen catering for supernatural clientele desperately needs new ingredients in order to become fresh again.
carol26388's review
4.0
Wallace is doing an interesting thing with his urban fantasy series wrapped around the adventures of a catering firm the works with the supernatural. As he states on his website:
"Each book has a standalone plot, in this case centered around a single event the company is catering, but it carries over a lot of the stories and character arcs from the last book. It’s like an old-fashioned serial. There are cliffhangers, there are monsters of the week, and there’s a fast-paced world you check in with every few months to get the next part of the Big Story." (source page)
The books are a blend of culinary escapades, physical action and general silliness, wrapped around a curious emotional core and sprinkled with pop culture references.
In this installment, Bronko, the famed former tv chef is experiencing hellish torments. Meanwhile, his crew is obligated to catering engagements on opposite sides of the country--the half-and-half con in New York (although as Jett reminds us, that's ablest and is disrespectful to centaurs and minotaurs) and a movie premiere in Los Angeles. Newer employees, best friends and roommates Lena and Darren are in a tiff over her sleeping with the sous chef. It's complicated to work together when you aren't speaking to each other. Since the cooking and serving staff will be on the job, Bronko gives the Stocking & Receiving Department the week off. As we all know, the minute you are told to take a week vacation, things are going to go to hell. Or Hell will come to you.
While it is fun, the narrative is a bit choppy. Initial scenes alternate between Bronko's torment, the dastardly deal-making of Hollywood producers, Lena's perspective and events with members of the Stocking team. I'm not sure the sections with the movie producers was strictly needed, although it added to tension-building. It did give Wallace a chance to farcically describe the Hollywood system. It ran the risk of the ridiculous, but it was mostly entertaining: "Apparently less than ten percent of all writers and directors are women." "We can't get it any lower than that," Producer Two complains. "A few are bound to slip through now and then. It's not a foolproof system."
I enjoyed the dryly sarcastic tone, offering such insights as "Behind him, Cindy performs a physiological miracle by rolling her eyes without her eyes ever moving in their sockets" and "In fact, in Hell it will become known as the single most horrific death ever to occur on Earth. That's like winning the Oscar for best picture down there." Unlike some pulpy urban fantasy books (looking at you, Geekomancy), I thought Wallace was able to keep congruence between events and tone, not losing sight that death and dismemberment are horrible. That said, there's also a bizarro element to the series, particularly when Hell sends 'false idols' after the team.
I've read the first in the series but missed the second, Lustlocked (now rectified), and my word of advice for would-be readers is that this is truly a serial in the old-fashioned sense. Unlike my recent reading experience of the frequently repetitive Mercy Thompson series, Wallace doesn't waste space on back story; often there will be no more than a sentence or two of explanation. I don't doubt that starting at this book will provide confusing on both the character and world-building fronts, much like picking up on the third or fourth episode of a sci-fi tv series.
While I don't think the Sin du Jour series is meant to be taken entirely seriously, there's a core emotional weight to them that is intriguing, particularly in this one based on pride. I've discovered is that Wallace has achieved his goal--these are perfect pieces for when I want to sit down and devour something fun.
My review for Envy of Angels here
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an advance reader copy
"Each book has a standalone plot, in this case centered around a single event the company is catering, but it carries over a lot of the stories and character arcs from the last book. It’s like an old-fashioned serial. There are cliffhangers, there are monsters of the week, and there’s a fast-paced world you check in with every few months to get the next part of the Big Story." (source page)
The books are a blend of culinary escapades, physical action and general silliness, wrapped around a curious emotional core and sprinkled with pop culture references.
In this installment, Bronko, the famed former tv chef is experiencing hellish torments. Meanwhile, his crew is obligated to catering engagements on opposite sides of the country--the half-and-half con in New York (although as Jett reminds us, that's ablest and is disrespectful to centaurs and minotaurs) and a movie premiere in Los Angeles. Newer employees, best friends and roommates Lena and Darren are in a tiff over her sleeping with the sous chef. It's complicated to work together when you aren't speaking to each other. Since the cooking and serving staff will be on the job, Bronko gives the Stocking & Receiving Department the week off. As we all know, the minute you are told to take a week vacation, things are going to go to hell. Or Hell will come to you.
While it is fun, the narrative is a bit choppy. Initial scenes alternate between Bronko's torment, the dastardly deal-making of Hollywood producers, Lena's perspective and events with members of the Stocking team. I'm not sure the sections with the movie producers was strictly needed, although it added to tension-building. It did give Wallace a chance to farcically describe the Hollywood system. It ran the risk of the ridiculous, but it was mostly entertaining: "Apparently less than ten percent of all writers and directors are women." "We can't get it any lower than that," Producer Two complains. "A few are bound to slip through now and then. It's not a foolproof system."
I enjoyed the dryly sarcastic tone, offering such insights as "Behind him, Cindy performs a physiological miracle by rolling her eyes without her eyes ever moving in their sockets" and "In fact, in Hell it will become known as the single most horrific death ever to occur on Earth. That's like winning the Oscar for best picture down there." Unlike some pulpy urban fantasy books (looking at you, Geekomancy), I thought Wallace was able to keep congruence between events and tone, not losing sight that death and dismemberment are horrible. That said, there's also a bizarro element to the series, particularly when Hell sends 'false idols' after the team.
I've read the first in the series but missed the second, Lustlocked (now rectified), and my word of advice for would-be readers is that this is truly a serial in the old-fashioned sense. Unlike my recent reading experience of the frequently repetitive Mercy Thompson series, Wallace doesn't waste space on back story; often there will be no more than a sentence or two of explanation. I don't doubt that starting at this book will provide confusing on both the character and world-building fronts, much like picking up on the third or fourth episode of a sci-fi tv series.
While I don't think the Sin du Jour series is meant to be taken entirely seriously, there's a core emotional weight to them that is intriguing, particularly in this one based on pride. I've discovered is that Wallace has achieved his goal--these are perfect pieces for when I want to sit down and devour something fun.
My review for Envy of Angels here
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an advance reader copy