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Sin du Jour #4
Idle Ingredients
Catering for a charismatic motivational speaker, the staff of the Sin du Jour catering agency find themselves incapacitated by a force from within their ranks. A smile and a promise is all it took.
And for some reason, only the men are affected. It’s going to take cunning, guile and a significant amount of violence to resolve.
Another day of cupcakes and evil with your favorite demonic caterers.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
And for some reason, only the men are affected. It’s going to take cunning, guile and a significant amount of violence to resolve.
Another day of cupcakes and evil with your favorite demonic caterers.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2017
19 people are currently reading
821 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
February 16, 2022
The One where it Becomes Clear these are Not a Series of One-offs But In Fact an Entire Meal In Seven Courses.
A new employee gets assigned to the company, and not everyone accepts that as easily as Ryland the alcoholic alchemist:
“'I’m Sin du Jour’s new executive liaison and consultant.'
'I blindly accept all of that,' Ryland assures her.
Luciana crooks her neck, regarding him oddly. 'You know, you don’t so much articulate your thoughts as narrate them.'
Ryland nods. 'That is a fair assessment.'"
We're on premises at Sin these days, and anyone who hasn't spent any time with restaurant people may not get little references like this:
“'How are we explaining the blown lock?' Nikki asks.
'We’re chefs,' Lena says. 'We party. Shit gets blown up. It happens.'"
Wallace has a gift for tapping into our cultural fears. In book one, it was fast-food clowns. I noticed reading this one that bears seem to come up more than their share as well.
"It’s a load that will bring down a bear, or a wizard, or a wizard who has shape-shifted into a bear."
I have to note how much I appreciate Wallaces' writing, especially when he throws in a snap or two like this:
“So I don’t have any choice? I have to work for you. I’m a fucking slave.”
“No, a slave’s a slave, and I imagine anyone who actually was that wouldn’t take kindly to your exaggerations.”
Still, I never really warmed to the obvious plot, Girrrl-Power aside. But rest assured, it didn't stop me from forgoing clearing my palate and heading on to the next course.
Three and a half stars, rounded down.
A new employee gets assigned to the company, and not everyone accepts that as easily as Ryland the alcoholic alchemist:
“'I’m Sin du Jour’s new executive liaison and consultant.'
'I blindly accept all of that,' Ryland assures her.
Luciana crooks her neck, regarding him oddly. 'You know, you don’t so much articulate your thoughts as narrate them.'
Ryland nods. 'That is a fair assessment.'"
We're on premises at Sin these days, and anyone who hasn't spent any time with restaurant people may not get little references like this:
“'How are we explaining the blown lock?' Nikki asks.
'We’re chefs,' Lena says. 'We party. Shit gets blown up. It happens.'"
Wallace has a gift for tapping into our cultural fears. In book one, it was fast-food clowns. I noticed reading this one that bears seem to come up more than their share as well.
"It’s a load that will bring down a bear, or a wizard, or a wizard who has shape-shifted into a bear."
I have to note how much I appreciate Wallaces' writing, especially when he throws in a snap or two like this:
“So I don’t have any choice? I have to work for you. I’m a fucking slave.”
“No, a slave’s a slave, and I imagine anyone who actually was that wouldn’t take kindly to your exaggerations.”
Still, I never really warmed to the obvious plot, Girrrl-Power aside. But rest assured, it didn't stop me from forgoing clearing my palate and heading on to the next course.
Three and a half stars, rounded down.
March 2, 2017
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/03/02/...
Put on your chefs hats and smocks, because it’s time for another crazy adventure starring the ragtag crew of New York’s most exclusive kitchen and catering company. And if the first three books of the Sin du Jour series can be considered the early courses of a meal, then with this fourth installment we have come to the entrée—the meat of this story arc, so to speak.
The last we saw these characters, Lena had just dropped the big news on everyone that she was leaving Sin du Jour. As we would soon discover at the start of Idle Ingredients, however, her so-called bombshell of a decision ultimately led nowhere, for it didn’t take long for Bronko to track her down, pluck her up from her new place of work, and unceremoniously drop her right back into his kitchen line. That’s because it’s all hands on deck again for their next big assignment, catering a series of campaign events for the underground supernatural community’s upcoming elections. Bronko has even brought on a new liaison named Luciana Monrovio to help him streamline Sin du Jour’s operational processes and salvage their reputation after their last few disastrous gigs.
But instead of improving things around the place, Luciana ends up driving a wedge between Bronko and his staff. Jett, the event planner, is one of the first to be pushed out. Then Ryland loses his home as his trailer is towed away. Boosha ends up comatose in the hospital after a mysterious accident. Lena becomes infuriated after she is banned from the kitchen, reassigned to work with Nikki on deserts and pastries. Darren and his new boyfriend James are inexplicably sent off on vacation in the middle of this busy time. The Stocking and Receiving department, a mainstay of the company, gets ordered off the premises and put on call. Worse, the women seem to be the only ones noticing these odd changes, since the men seem to be unnaturally smitten with Luciana, like they’ve all suddenly come under a spell. Something is seriously wrong at Sin du Jour, and it’s up to the ladies to figure it out and put a stop to whatever’s happening.
While it’s true that Pride’s Spell was an improvement over Lustlocked, this installment might finally be the one to bring the complexity and substance I feel has been sorely needed since Envy of Angels. Granted, the introduction was a bit weak due to the considerable time spent getting the team back together again (cycling through all the characters in order to catch up with every single one of them took up the entire first quarter of the book) but still, it’s probably safe to say Idle Ingredients is my favorite addition to Sin du Jour so far.
For one thing, I like how this series has settled into a rhythm—and no, that does not mean things have slowed down or become stuck in a rut. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. We seem to have found what works, and now Matt Wallace is building upon those foundations with this fourth installment. Apart from the intro, the story in Idle Ingredients was fast-paced and consistent, focusing on some of the most interesting characters like Lena, Bronko, and Nikki. The plot was tightly woven and we didn’t waste much time with distractions, instead diving straight into the main conflict. Even though there wasn’t as much cooking when compared to the previous three books, I thought Sin du Jour’s catering job in this one—providing food for a party of elementals during a Sceadu candidate’s campaign speeches—was their coolest assignment yet.
I hope we’ll keep seeing these “big picture” plots, because as much as I’m enjoying reading about Sin du Jour’s action-packed and insanity-fueled adventures, I think I like following the characters’ relationships even more. As their personalities continue to grow and develop, the books also seem to be getting better, and Idle Ingredients is evidence of this upwards trend. Besides, with a teaser like that in the epilogue, how can I not feel excited for the future of this series? Thank goodness the next book Greedy Pigs is already on the horizon, because I can hardly wait.
Put on your chefs hats and smocks, because it’s time for another crazy adventure starring the ragtag crew of New York’s most exclusive kitchen and catering company. And if the first three books of the Sin du Jour series can be considered the early courses of a meal, then with this fourth installment we have come to the entrée—the meat of this story arc, so to speak.
The last we saw these characters, Lena had just dropped the big news on everyone that she was leaving Sin du Jour. As we would soon discover at the start of Idle Ingredients, however, her so-called bombshell of a decision ultimately led nowhere, for it didn’t take long for Bronko to track her down, pluck her up from her new place of work, and unceremoniously drop her right back into his kitchen line. That’s because it’s all hands on deck again for their next big assignment, catering a series of campaign events for the underground supernatural community’s upcoming elections. Bronko has even brought on a new liaison named Luciana Monrovio to help him streamline Sin du Jour’s operational processes and salvage their reputation after their last few disastrous gigs.
But instead of improving things around the place, Luciana ends up driving a wedge between Bronko and his staff. Jett, the event planner, is one of the first to be pushed out. Then Ryland loses his home as his trailer is towed away. Boosha ends up comatose in the hospital after a mysterious accident. Lena becomes infuriated after she is banned from the kitchen, reassigned to work with Nikki on deserts and pastries. Darren and his new boyfriend James are inexplicably sent off on vacation in the middle of this busy time. The Stocking and Receiving department, a mainstay of the company, gets ordered off the premises and put on call. Worse, the women seem to be the only ones noticing these odd changes, since the men seem to be unnaturally smitten with Luciana, like they’ve all suddenly come under a spell. Something is seriously wrong at Sin du Jour, and it’s up to the ladies to figure it out and put a stop to whatever’s happening.
While it’s true that Pride’s Spell was an improvement over Lustlocked, this installment might finally be the one to bring the complexity and substance I feel has been sorely needed since Envy of Angels. Granted, the introduction was a bit weak due to the considerable time spent getting the team back together again (cycling through all the characters in order to catch up with every single one of them took up the entire first quarter of the book) but still, it’s probably safe to say Idle Ingredients is my favorite addition to Sin du Jour so far.
For one thing, I like how this series has settled into a rhythm—and no, that does not mean things have slowed down or become stuck in a rut. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. We seem to have found what works, and now Matt Wallace is building upon those foundations with this fourth installment. Apart from the intro, the story in Idle Ingredients was fast-paced and consistent, focusing on some of the most interesting characters like Lena, Bronko, and Nikki. The plot was tightly woven and we didn’t waste much time with distractions, instead diving straight into the main conflict. Even though there wasn’t as much cooking when compared to the previous three books, I thought Sin du Jour’s catering job in this one—providing food for a party of elementals during a Sceadu candidate’s campaign speeches—was their coolest assignment yet.
I hope we’ll keep seeing these “big picture” plots, because as much as I’m enjoying reading about Sin du Jour’s action-packed and insanity-fueled adventures, I think I like following the characters’ relationships even more. As their personalities continue to grow and develop, the books also seem to be getting better, and Idle Ingredients is evidence of this upwards trend. Besides, with a teaser like that in the epilogue, how can I not feel excited for the future of this series? Thank goodness the next book Greedy Pigs is already on the horizon, because I can hardly wait.
November 7, 2016
It's really hard to put into words why I like this series so much. I was afraid that as the series progressed, I might lost interest, but that simply isn't the case and once again, Wallace had added to his already quirky and often dangerous Sin du Jour world.
In this installment, the team is back at Sin du Jour trying to recover from the escapades in the last book. All is going fairly well, or as well as it can go when your catering service's primary customers are demons, trolls, witches, banshees and all other sorts of supernatural creatures. In fact, I STILL haven't recovered from the attack of the Giant Easter Bunny and the Evil Santa Claus so I don't know how they could have. Anyway, there is an underworld election going on and the gang has been hired to do the catering. In addition, a new liaison has been hired and she is having quite the detrimental effect on the crew, especially the men. The women decide to band together to figure out what the hell is going on, and if and how Hell might actually be involved.
Once again, the characters in this installment are great. The regulars have grown and dare I say, some have even matured. A few aren't seen quite as much in this book, but I have a feeling Wallace is saving them for something big in the future. "Idle Ingredients" also does a great job of sharing some more information about Boosha, en elderly advisor (for lack of a better word) and I really started to like the old hag (my words not his).
Since there are 7 deadly sins, I believe we are due at least 3 more of these wonderful tales and I'm already starting to miss them. If you aren't reading this series, what are you waiting for? It's quickly become one of my favorites!
In this installment, the team is back at Sin du Jour trying to recover from the escapades in the last book. All is going fairly well, or as well as it can go when your catering service's primary customers are demons, trolls, witches, banshees and all other sorts of supernatural creatures. In fact, I STILL haven't recovered from the attack of the Giant Easter Bunny and the Evil Santa Claus so I don't know how they could have. Anyway, there is an underworld election going on and the gang has been hired to do the catering. In addition, a new liaison has been hired and she is having quite the detrimental effect on the crew, especially the men. The women decide to band together to figure out what the hell is going on, and if and how Hell might actually be involved.
Once again, the characters in this installment are great. The regulars have grown and dare I say, some have even matured. A few aren't seen quite as much in this book, but I have a feeling Wallace is saving them for something big in the future. "Idle Ingredients" also does a great job of sharing some more information about Boosha, en elderly advisor (for lack of a better word) and I really started to like the old hag (my words not his).
Since there are 7 deadly sins, I believe we are due at least 3 more of these wonderful tales and I'm already starting to miss them. If you aren't reading this series, what are you waiting for? It's quickly become one of my favorites!
January 30, 2019
The chefs of Sin du Jour cater a meal for political schmoozing, demon-style.
I am happy to say that this series continues to get better. While the first three books seemed like flashy little action/cooking vignettes, this one shows some plot backbone. The author is building to something and I'm willing to continue to read to see where it ends up. I do get tired of the female chef who gets pissy every time the fact that she sleeps with some of the men she works with comes up. None of the male chefs do this. In Lena's world, she lives and breathes her job. Who else are you going to meet outside of the kitchen? But own it - don't feel the need to justify it.
I am happy to say that this series continues to get better. While the first three books seemed like flashy little action/cooking vignettes, this one shows some plot backbone. The author is building to something and I'm willing to continue to read to see where it ends up. I do get tired of the female chef who gets pissy every time the fact that she sleeps with some of the men she works with comes up. None of the male chefs do this. In Lena's world, she lives and breathes her job. Who else are you going to meet outside of the kitchen? But own it - don't feel the need to justify it.
February 9, 2017
Awesome
Every time I get one of these I tell myself I am not going to read it in one sitting and every time I do anyway. I love this series and am both looking forward to and dreading the last three. Hopefully there will be more than just the seven. Am I the only one who thinks this would make a great TV series?
Every time I get one of these I tell myself I am not going to read it in one sitting and every time I do anyway. I love this series and am both looking forward to and dreading the last three. Hopefully there will be more than just the seven. Am I the only one who thinks this would make a great TV series?
March 7, 2018
Have I mentioned how much I am loving this series? This fourth book was just as excellent a read as have been the previous three books. :-)
In this one, Sin du Jour is faced with catering events for an upcoming election. . .an election for the supernatural sort. ;-) And they're being sabotaged by "a force within their ranks," a force that only affects the men. () ;-)
At the one catering event that was held, we got to meet gnomes, undines, sylphs, and salamanders (elementals!). :-)
The antagonist, also known as the "force within their ranks" that was having a negative impact on the menfolk, was I must admit, I didn't see that coming, though it makes a "hit me over the head" amount of sense. ;-)
And when the election candidate - the "charismatic motivational speaker" according to the description - turned :-)
I loved that the womenfolk - and Moon! - saved the day in this book. Seeing Lena, Nikki, Cindy, and Jett - with Moon - working together was really just fabulous. :-) Why was Moon included in their number, you ask? Well, in previous books he :-)
And this led to the second of two LOL scenes in this book, on page 133 of Chapter "Mellon" (Part II: X's and O's): Lena, Nikki, Cindy, and Moon are lol!!! :-)
(I should add here that I was disappointed in Darren in this book. I think I said in my review of book one that I didn't really like him, and that opinion has only become stronger the more I see of him. Darren ) :-(
But back to happy stuff. . .
The first quote that surprised a laugh out of me happened on page 68, in Chapter "The Mad Pastry Chef" (Part I: New Regime), and involved Cindy making mention of "Betty Crockerstein." lol! ;-)
So I really just loved this book. Though I wondered (and am wondering), if Bronko But I guess maybe he had to stay away from her? So he didn't realize that ???
In the end, after all is said and done -- -- we have an Epilogue ("Missing from Your To-Do List"), in which Ritter
While I am disappointed over this cliffhanger ending, it feels like an anticipatory disappointment, if there is such a thing (and if there's not, that's still how I feel!). I sure hope my library gets book five in soon. :-)
Also, in addition to the cliffhanger ending, the . So the next books in this series should be very exciting! :-)
And I cannot wait to read them! :-)
In this one, Sin du Jour is faced with catering events for an upcoming election. . .an election for the supernatural sort. ;-) And they're being sabotaged by "a force within their ranks," a force that only affects the men. () ;-)
At the one catering event that was held, we got to meet gnomes, undines, sylphs, and salamanders (elementals!). :-)
The antagonist, also known as the "force within their ranks" that was having a negative impact on the menfolk, was I must admit, I didn't see that coming, though it makes a "hit me over the head" amount of sense. ;-)
And when the election candidate - the "charismatic motivational speaker" according to the description - turned :-)
I loved that the womenfolk - and Moon! - saved the day in this book. Seeing Lena, Nikki, Cindy, and Jett - with Moon - working together was really just fabulous. :-) Why was Moon included in their number, you ask? Well, in previous books he :-)
And this led to the second of two LOL scenes in this book, on page 133 of Chapter "Mellon" (Part II: X's and O's): Lena, Nikki, Cindy, and Moon are lol!!! :-)
(I should add here that I was disappointed in Darren in this book. I think I said in my review of book one that I didn't really like him, and that opinion has only become stronger the more I see of him. Darren ) :-(
But back to happy stuff. . .
The first quote that surprised a laugh out of me happened on page 68, in Chapter "The Mad Pastry Chef" (Part I: New Regime), and involved Cindy making mention of "Betty Crockerstein." lol! ;-)
So I really just loved this book. Though I wondered (and am wondering), if Bronko But I guess maybe he had to stay away from her? So he didn't realize that ???
In the end, after all is said and done -- -- we have an Epilogue ("Missing from Your To-Do List"), in which Ritter
While I am disappointed over this cliffhanger ending, it feels like an anticipatory disappointment, if there is such a thing (and if there's not, that's still how I feel!). I sure hope my library gets book five in soon. :-)
Also, in addition to the cliffhanger ending, the . So the next books in this series should be very exciting! :-)
And I cannot wait to read them! :-)
February 26, 2017
Awesome fun as always even as it remains clever (too much at times), sly and engaging. The nature of a novella implies that certain things are resolved much quicker than in a typical book but the best part about the series has been the slow burn nature of certain threads that seem to be coming together.
By now, the personal quirks and relationship between the crew should have been known and yet Wallace throws in more color and different pairings. The central conflict wasnt as subtle as before but again might also be due to the nature of the beast in terms of page count.
By now, the personal quirks and relationship between the crew should have been known and yet Wallace throws in more color and different pairings. The central conflict wasnt as subtle as before but again might also be due to the nature of the beast in terms of page count.
September 10, 2017
Idle Ingredients is a fun addition to the Sin du Jour series that I have a love-hate relationship with. I really do not like the sex magic that keeps getting brought up, largely because consent is usually an issue. Fortunately, despite this being a book about a succubus, there was surprisingly little of that. Just some pretty awesome magic and the women of the book taking lead! This book also made book 5 make more sense, funny that :D (Silly library not ordering novella 4 and confusing me).
April 25, 2017
Another thoroughly enjoyable adventure in the Sin du Jour series. Matt Wallace treats readers to new tasty layers of each characters' stories when some of the team members fall prey to an unexpected foe, and then rally together, kick demon butt, and show once again why they are the most bad-ass caterers in this or any other world.
April 22, 2018
This series is weird. I love it
April 16, 2021
A bit light on action and a bit too heavy on relationship drama. Some character 'growth' felt unnatural and ham-fisted. But props for a gay relationship going somewhere.
March 7, 2017
The Sin de Jour series should be on TV, PERIOD. Massively fun series, great characters, tons of action and wild situations, it is tailor frigging made for a netflix series.
Perfect stories, in a semi perfect package(I do have one..small..gripe)
So, if you haven't read these, why are you still reading my review? hit your method of book purchase and spend that cash, I mean...what are you gonna use it for? Food? rent? come on already.
Oh yeah..my minor gripe, too short, stories are very episodic, while that's not a problem per say, I read stupidly fast...So when I buy a book, it's done before dinner.
then I get to wait..................................and wait..........
Perfect stories, in a semi perfect package(I do have one..small..gripe)
So, if you haven't read these, why are you still reading my review? hit your method of book purchase and spend that cash, I mean...what are you gonna use it for? Food? rent? come on already.
Oh yeah..my minor gripe, too short, stories are very episodic, while that's not a problem per say, I read stupidly fast...So when I buy a book, it's done before dinner.
then I get to wait..................................and wait..........
February 27, 2017
Matt Wallace’s Sin du Jour novellas have been consistently excellent from the first page of the series, putting them at the top of my list of most anticipated releases at all times, and Idle Ingredients is another great installment. This one is perhaps lighter on plot than the previous three, but it more than makes up with it with some compelling character work, especially for Lena who continues to emerge as the dominant character of the ensemble cast. Idle Ingredients also has an excellent villain, another standout action scene, and a heaping helping of the wry humor and snappy dialogue that gives the series such a distinctive voice and style. There’s a real feeling here that Wallace is hitting his stride with the series, getting comfortable with the characters and setting so that he no longer wants to cram as much as possible into each book, and the somewhat slower-seeming pace and simpler plot make the reading experience more relaxing (though no less fun) than the first three books. Sin du Jour just keeps getting better and better.
February 15, 2017
Definitely fun, I love these series; the characters, the scenario, the cooking, everything…
But, this has been my least favorite of the four, it has a very simple plot and lacks the special sparkle Mr. Wallace has shown us in his astonishing writing. (My opinion).
That does not mean I’m not looking forward for the next delivery “Greedy Pigs” or that I’m going to stop reading the Sin du Jour series.
But, this has been my least favorite of the four, it has a very simple plot and lacks the special sparkle Mr. Wallace has shown us in his astonishing writing. (My opinion).
That does not mean I’m not looking forward for the next delivery “Greedy Pigs” or that I’m going to stop reading the Sin du Jour series.
February 23, 2022
actual rating: 3.5
Although still a pretty good book, this is definitely a low point in the series for me so far. Super unfortunate since the ladies take center stage in it, which made me really WANT to love it. I think at its most basic level Idle Ingredients just suffers from 'middle book syndrome' because it doesn't really feel like a complete plot in and of itself, just a bridge to elevate the stakes for the later half of the series. And while I do understand the title and I guess it works okay enough, this felt more like another book for lust a lot of the time instead of one for idleness. . I did enjoy it more the second time around although not really enough to bump it up to 4 stars.
Although still a pretty good book, this is definitely a low point in the series for me so far. Super unfortunate since the ladies take center stage in it, which made me really WANT to love it. I think at its most basic level Idle Ingredients just suffers from 'middle book syndrome' because it doesn't really feel like a complete plot in and of itself, just a bridge to elevate the stakes for the later half of the series. And while I do understand the title and I guess it works okay enough, this felt more like another book for lust a lot of the time instead of one for idleness. . I did enjoy it more the second time around although not really enough to bump it up to 4 stars.
August 2, 2021
"Luciana is mine," Jett insists.
They all turn to see her standing beneath the gated arch, watching them. Jett is wearing running pants and a tank top with an iPod strapped to her thin, steel-hard bicep. Her dark hair is bound in a severe ponytail and every inch of her exposed skin is flushed and glistening. She looks as if she's been out running for hours.
"Did you hear the rest?" Lena asks her.
Jett nods. "The rest of you just focus on getting our coworkers back. I'll take care of our new executive liaison."
Cindy grins at something she recognizes well in Jett's tone of voice. "How?"
"One of the most important rules of crisis communication in a corporate environment is to listen," Jett says. "That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to listen. To that bitch begging me for mercy."
For some reason, Matt Wallace decided not to show up to the party for this one.
Which sucks for two reasons:
1. The three books prior have all been either a 4 star or 5 star read.
2. This one was for the ladies and the ladies were let down.
...
I don't know what happened between book three and four but it feels slightly like Wallace just couldn't be bothered to think of an interesting plot for the fourth deadly sin.
Although, Idle is in the title so maybe it was purposeful?
Maybe I was meant to feel mildly underwhelmed?
Who knows, but either way, it didn't work.
I kept expecting something interesting to happen. Anything to happen. But it didn't.
Not a damn thing of note, even with all the kickass ladies of the series doing their best to get shit done.
We had the full clowder, and yet...
...
How does this happen?
How does Lena, terrifying I'll kick your ass then make you a gourmet sandwich Lena spend two hundred odd pages not blowing my mind with her awesomeness?
Why am I only getting three minimal chapters of Jett near silently gearing up, with meticulous organisational skills, to kick some supernatural ass?
Nikki! My beloved pastry chef's high moment is bedazzled brownies - I mean, fuck yeah but really? Really?! - and a little "hands on" male coercion.
And Cindy. Don't even get me started on how little action Cindy sees in this. Even with pining revelations and a good walloping of the embodiment of said pining, there's barely any of my cocksure, modern day warrior on page.
...
I repeat: WHAT THE FUCK?
And it's not as if the men were hogging the limelight.
They're honestly all totally useless in this; not a helpful one among them, so I can't even blame them for the slight on my Sin du Jour ladies.
The slight on me for going into this story thinking: fuck yeah, things are about to get violent.
Or maybe it was Wallace attempting to show that women can get shit done without making a Bedlam-eque mess of it all like their male counterparts.
...
I mean... yeah, but nah.
Give me bloodshed, give me fury, give me a Tiramisu reward at the end for a successful day of kicking the underworld's offspring's ass.
(art by halorvic)
Not whatever this was.
Don't me wrong, though, it was still fun to hang out with the Sin du Jour gang, catering to evil, getting themselves in all sorts of fucked up situations, usually involving someone covered in frosting and being chewed on by Satan's puppy, but this lacked Wallace's usual supernatural panache.
I wasn't even hungry while reading it, and I'm always hungry when I read this series - it's an occult catering company, what do you expect?
And one more thing, you can absolutely tell this was written by a guy because my ship sailed in book three and the couple interacted once in the whole of this book.
ONCE.
And it was deeply unsatisfying.
...
I'm here to eat, Wallace, don't try and starve me.
Let's hope Greedy Pigs reinvigorates my appetite.
May 10, 2017
These novellas are easy reading fun - with the first in the series being the best. The two books that followed were a mixed bag for me - touching on the first book's creativity but never quite reaching that level. I went into book #4 wondering if the downward trend would continue, or would things pick back up. Unfortunately, not a heck of a lot happens in this book, unless you count the total wuss of the earlier installments, Darren, growing a beard and pair of balls. The strength of the previous books have been the supernatural events and how the diverse Sin du Jour catering staff prepares for them, with the pay off being the mind-blowing creatures and how their actions compromise the SDJ team. Along the way, we learn more about the various characters and as we do, the world expands to provide more context to the role this catering company has in this secret world that lies in the dark places of our own. Within this book, we get a lot of Lena and very little of anyone else. The preparation, the creatures and the actual event we get are actually tame compared to what else we've seen in earlier installments. The threat is as straightforward as it appears, with no twists along the way and the resolution as basic as it comes. I'm still on board because even a step back in this series keeps it a step ahead in terms of creativity with just about everything else out there. I only hope that this series still has some tasty dishes to offer or if I'll leave the table unsatisfied.
May 24, 2019
Idle Ingredients is the fourth novella in the Sin du Jour series written by Matt Wallace and centered on the ongoing adventures of the magic-wielding culinary catering company Sin du Jour, starring Lena Tarr and Darren Vargas.
It has been over a month since Lena Tarr left the apartment that she shared with her friend Darren Vargas and took a job at a diner called the Ugly Quesadilla. When Sin du Jour’s head honcho, Bronko Luck, tracks her down and tells her that she and all of the Sin du Jour gang are still in danger, she reluctantly returns.
Meanwhile, the Sceadu, a shadow government for the supernatural community, is choosing a new president, and Sin du Jour has been hired to cater an event for one presidential hopeful. When prickly new coordinator Luciana Monrovio steps in and Jett Hollinshead is pushed out, Lena starts noticing the crew acting very strangely around Luciana. It is time to get back in the game, even if it kills her.
Idle Ingredients is written rather well. This story is darker and a bit more serious than previous installments. Wallace's imagination is still as wonderfully twisted as ever, and the cliff-hanger ending has me on the edge wanting to immediately read the next installment.
All in all, Idle Ingredients is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
It has been over a month since Lena Tarr left the apartment that she shared with her friend Darren Vargas and took a job at a diner called the Ugly Quesadilla. When Sin du Jour’s head honcho, Bronko Luck, tracks her down and tells her that she and all of the Sin du Jour gang are still in danger, she reluctantly returns.
Meanwhile, the Sceadu, a shadow government for the supernatural community, is choosing a new president, and Sin du Jour has been hired to cater an event for one presidential hopeful. When prickly new coordinator Luciana Monrovio steps in and Jett Hollinshead is pushed out, Lena starts noticing the crew acting very strangely around Luciana. It is time to get back in the game, even if it kills her.
Idle Ingredients is written rather well. This story is darker and a bit more serious than previous installments. Wallace's imagination is still as wonderfully twisted as ever, and the cliff-hanger ending has me on the edge wanting to immediately read the next installment.
All in all, Idle Ingredients is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
December 31, 2018
Actual rating 3.5.
If you've made it this far in the Sin du Jour series, you know what to expect. "Idle Ingredients" does what the series does best. Quick-paced action, bizarre scenarios, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and deus-ex-machina-style solutions that work because, hey, it's fantasy! Of course there are convenient rules and fixes that exist without prior reader knowledge or backstory. You even see some character development in this one, as Lena, Darren, and Bronco all quietly acknowledge the stakes they're dealing with in the long term (a result of the fallout from the previous book), and the ways they need to change in order to deal with them. A fun, quick read for when you want to be taken on a ride without thinking too hard.
If you've made it this far in the Sin du Jour series, you know what to expect. "Idle Ingredients" does what the series does best. Quick-paced action, bizarre scenarios, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and deus-ex-machina-style solutions that work because, hey, it's fantasy! Of course there are convenient rules and fixes that exist without prior reader knowledge or backstory. You even see some character development in this one, as Lena, Darren, and Bronco all quietly acknowledge the stakes they're dealing with in the long term (a result of the fallout from the previous book), and the ways they need to change in order to deal with them. A fun, quick read for when you want to be taken on a ride without thinking too hard.
June 29, 2018
My Review: I find that I am oddly drawn to this series even though it is very quirky, has an odd sense of humor and is outside my normal reading preferences. I am glad I have continued to read this series though as this was my favorite of the books so far. I loved that Lena attempted to make a stand and the rest of the line let her take that time. I also really enjoyed the integration of a lot more mythical and magical creatures in this one, we only get a little glimpse of some of them but still it was great to see more new interpretations. The ladies are still my favorites in this series and this book really made them stand out! Definitely going to continue reading.
October 16, 2024
For some reason this installment of the series just wasn't hitting like others before it did. I still had a good time and it was a quick read, but I feel like the whole macroplot with why Luciana was even at Sin du Jour to begin with is hinting at a bigger picture that I just can't see clearly. I also am not a fan of how Wallace will drop hints about certain characters (in this case, Little Dove and White Horse) at the beginning and then they're not mentioned for the rest of the book. I'm also very invested in what ends up happening with Boosha and if she comes out of her coma and if it isn't addressed in the next book I will be very upset.
November 30, 2024
Okay, I missed that this was the fourth in a series. Not that you need to have read them as it isn't difficult in most cases to figure out what went before. But it is spoiler if you go back and read them (not sure yet). So its a restaurant for humans and supernaturals. This time they are the restaurant to host a candidate vying for a position of power. Darker and more cynical than I usually read. But good use of lore associated with elementals and other supernaturals.
Warning, the book ends with a cliff hanger.
Warning, the book ends with a cliff hanger.
September 7, 2017
I won Idle Ingredients by Matt Wallace from Goodreads.
Idle Ingredients is a quick read that is super-packed with fun, monsters, adventure, heroes, action, and a wonderfully unique storyline. A catering company that services non-humans is under attack, but is the enemy one of them? It is up to the women on the team to figure it all out.
Readers will devour Matt Wallace's books featuring Chef Luck and his unparalleled crew at Sin du Jour catering.
Idle Ingredients is a quick read that is super-packed with fun, monsters, adventure, heroes, action, and a wonderfully unique storyline. A catering company that services non-humans is under attack, but is the enemy one of them? It is up to the women on the team to figure it all out.
Readers will devour Matt Wallace's books featuring Chef Luck and his unparalleled crew at Sin du Jour catering.
February 20, 2019
There's a new employee at Sin du Jour and she means trouble!
Idle Ingredients doesn't dissapoint, if you enjoyed the other books. But there's a note of sadness, the crew doesn't remain unaffected by their adventures. By the end of the novella, you're a little bit scared and anxious what will happen in the next book.
Sin du Jour always means fun, excellent fight scenes ( Cindy and Ritter!) and loveable characters. It brightens my day, whenever I pick it up!
Idle Ingredients doesn't dissapoint, if you enjoyed the other books. But there's a note of sadness, the crew doesn't remain unaffected by their adventures. By the end of the novella, you're a little bit scared and anxious what will happen in the next book.
Sin du Jour always means fun, excellent fight scenes ( Cindy and Ritter!) and loveable characters. It brightens my day, whenever I pick it up!
May 17, 2021
The Sin du Jour crew have a problem. They need to host a series of banquets for a candidate for the Seceadu presidency. And Allensworth has sent in a liaison that seems intent on disrupting everything. And the males of the crew just seem to fall in line. So it is up to Lena, Nikki, Cindy, Moon and Jett to save the day which they manage to do in their own way. And the ending sets up the next book in the series.
April 29, 2018
The best one yet!
Wallace did a great job in easy us into the story and into the characters life after the events of the last story. I enjoyed seeing the characters grow and their relationship change. The plot was straight forward but the pasting was great, and it set up something grand in for later books.
Gave it a 4.75 out of 5 Cupids.
Wallace did a great job in easy us into the story and into the characters life after the events of the last story. I enjoyed seeing the characters grow and their relationship change. The plot was straight forward but the pasting was great, and it set up something grand in for later books.
Gave it a 4.75 out of 5 Cupids.
July 3, 2019
The further along in the series I get, the more I'm enjoying the books, which have shifted from (sometimes awkward and badly written) humor to humor + plot arc. Not especially sure what's so "slothful" about this one, but the overarching plot is interesting, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
August 19, 2017
Felt a tad more rushed than the others. Some of the sentences' wording made me have to reread a couple times before understanding properly. All in all, still quite a good addition to this novella series. Still a fan & very much looking to the rest!
September 2, 2017
I love paranormal books, however IDLE INGREDIENTS read kind of like a script. Which I'm not a big fan of at all. The characters are interesting and there is action, I just couldn't get past the script feel. The over descriptiveness. I won this book on a goodreads giveaway.
January 24, 2019
There is a scene early on that is completely vivid in the mental imagery it invokes. Involving several homeless and air elementals. I wish I had brain bleach for it because I keep flashbacking to it. Good job!
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