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Sin du Jour #2
Lustlocked
At a Goblin Royal Wedding party a magical food additive turns the humans in the room into horny 6 foot lizards, and all they want to do is have sex.
With anything. For as long as they can.
And as being screwed to death isn't something that interests Sin du Jour staff, something must be done, but the building's magical defences have kicked in, sealing off access to the outside world.
Praise for Sin du Jour:
"Funny and demented . . . I'll read anything this guy writes."
--Chuck Wendig, author of Blackbirds and Zer0es, on Envy of Angels
"No one makes me think, 'Dammit, I should have thought of that!' like Matt Wallace. The Sin du Jour series is something I read with equal amounts of envy and delight."
-Mur Lafferty, Campbell Award winning author of The Shambling Guide to New York City
With anything. For as long as they can.
And as being screwed to death isn't something that interests Sin du Jour staff, something must be done, but the building's magical defences have kicked in, sealing off access to the outside world.
Praise for Sin du Jour:
"Funny and demented . . . I'll read anything this guy writes."
--Chuck Wendig, author of Blackbirds and Zer0es, on Envy of Angels
"No one makes me think, 'Dammit, I should have thought of that!' like Matt Wallace. The Sin du Jour series is something I read with equal amounts of envy and delight."
-Mur Lafferty, Campbell Award winning author of The Shambling Guide to New York City
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First published January 26, 2016
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January 30, 2022
It's been awhile since I read any entries in the "Deadly Sins" series, so I had forgotten just how short a novella can feel. With that in mind, Wallace in heavy on the plotting and a little shy on world-building and character-building in this one, so if you really want to understand, I'd start with the first Sin book, Envy of Angels. Although he introduces characters from the first book, details on most are a little bit light, except for our nominal 'normal' lead of Cindy, introduced the first book and still dealing with the mental fallout of the job. At any rate, I thought it went quicker than the first, Envy of Angels, with less bizarro action.
Um, scratch that.
What was awkward to me was the introduction of a seriously famous person as a side character without saying the celebrity's name, but including all the other details to give fans knowledge. I'm not sure why, to be honest. Then when the musician's children became part of the story, it was even weirder, because it diverted from real life. I feel like if you are going to borrow from real people/events, then it should be an 'all in' situation--either you embrace it with inclusions of famous references (and risk dating the book) or you are vague enough that it won't matter.
All that said, it was more fun than I expected. Wallace's 'Sin' series has one novella per sin, set in a obscure catering firm that does jobs for paranormal creatures. (My review for the first here). Given that, I was hesitant to start 'lust,' fearing a slicked-up orgy as centerpiece, but I should have trusted Wallace to put his own bizarre yet entertaining spin. Although a little weird in the plot development, it gave time for progress in Cindy's character, as well as a few side characters we hadn't met yet.
"Her first instinct is to say something glib, but something about the way he smiled stops her. It’s as if he were remembering a million troublesome moments all at once.
Besides, as the origins to the disaster came out of good intentions (whoops! You know what they say about that and the road to Hell), it's nice to have a positive message.
“Wow. Okay. Well, it’s not like that doesn’t happen all the time, Pac. At least none of them died.” “You’re a bright-side kind of chick, and I dig that about you,” Pacific says amiably.
The e-book edition also contained the short story 'Small Wars,' which details how the ingredients for the main course were procured. It makes much more sense now, and should have just been included with the novella.
Um, scratch that.
What was awkward to me was the introduction of a seriously famous person as a side character without saying the celebrity's name, but including all the other details to give fans knowledge. I'm not sure why, to be honest. Then when the musician's children became part of the story, it was even weirder, because it diverted from real life. I feel like if you are going to borrow from real people/events, then it should be an 'all in' situation--either you embrace it with inclusions of famous references (and risk dating the book) or you are vague enough that it won't matter.
All that said, it was more fun than I expected. Wallace's 'Sin' series has one novella per sin, set in a obscure catering firm that does jobs for paranormal creatures. (My review for the first here). Given that, I was hesitant to start 'lust,' fearing a slicked-up orgy as centerpiece, but I should have trusted Wallace to put his own bizarre yet entertaining spin. Although a little weird in the plot development, it gave time for progress in Cindy's character, as well as a few side characters we hadn't met yet.
"Her first instinct is to say something glib, but something about the way he smiled stops her. It’s as if he were remembering a million troublesome moments all at once.
Besides, as the origins to the disaster came out of good intentions (whoops! You know what they say about that and the road to Hell), it's nice to have a positive message.
“Wow. Okay. Well, it’s not like that doesn’t happen all the time, Pac. At least none of them died.” “You’re a bright-side kind of chick, and I dig that about you,” Pacific says amiably.
The e-book edition also contained the short story 'Small Wars,' which details how the ingredients for the main course were procured. It makes much more sense now, and should have just been included with the novella.
May 30, 2016
Very lighthearted fun. I mean, what else can you expect from a humorous fantasy featuring the feast of a goblin wedding from an error-laden crew of fantasy chefs that just happen to set off a horribly unfortunate scene of a magical sexy-time?
The real treat is in the details, and there's plenty to love. Can you imagine that the goblins are actually the beautiful people? That the Goblin King is the very one we just recently lost, for real, and sadly? Not Prince. The other one. ; ; It put a slight damper on my enjoyment, understandably enough, but it was charming and appropriate.
Even the scary bits with blood and screaming was light-hearted. Or maybe that's just me. :)
The bonus story to the text pulled off what would otherwise be a hard-pressed adventure into the realms of magic and mahem, of discovering warriors and defeating armies... but in all actual fact, it was just the attempt to fill out the regimen of chefs and servers. It filled quite a bit of backstory for me, since I had not read the first book in the series.
I got this copy as a promotion, but even so it was quite fun and quite worth reading. I do rather wish I had read the first, but alas, no chance just now. On the bright side, I did just get the Netgalley arc for book 3, so onward and upward and let's see what kind of dish will make the princess cry or destroy the kingdom. :) These *are* rather delightful and fraught with peril. :)
The real treat is in the details, and there's plenty to love. Can you imagine that the goblins are actually the beautiful people? That the Goblin King is the very one we just recently lost, for real, and sadly? Not Prince. The other one. ; ; It put a slight damper on my enjoyment, understandably enough, but it was charming and appropriate.
Even the scary bits with blood and screaming was light-hearted. Or maybe that's just me. :)
The bonus story to the text pulled off what would otherwise be a hard-pressed adventure into the realms of magic and mahem, of discovering warriors and defeating armies... but in all actual fact, it was just the attempt to fill out the regimen of chefs and servers. It filled quite a bit of backstory for me, since I had not read the first book in the series.
I got this copy as a promotion, but even so it was quite fun and quite worth reading. I do rather wish I had read the first, but alas, no chance just now. On the bright side, I did just get the Netgalley arc for book 3, so onward and upward and let's see what kind of dish will make the princess cry or destroy the kingdom. :) These *are* rather delightful and fraught with peril. :)
March 21, 2016
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2016/03/20/n...
After the rip-roaring fun of Envy of Angels, I just couldn’t wait to be back in Bronko’s kitchen with all the gang. This time, things are really heating up as Matt Wallace serves up another course of humor-laden fare in Lustlocked, the second novella in the Sin du Jour series.
Having proved themselves on their first job, Lena and Darren are subsequently offered full-time employment by executive chef Byron “Bronko” Luck. Now all they have to do is survive the probationary period, which isn’t as easy as it sounds, given the unusual nature of the catering company at which they work. Sure enough, no sooner have the junior chefs signed their names to the contract than Sin du Jour receives their next big gig—a goblin royal wedding.
Unlike the mischievous, ugly and stooped creatures of folklore, Matt Wallace’s goblins are actually beautiful and talented beings, which explains why so many of them have found success in Hollywood and the music industry. It’s a star-studded night as all the goblin guests show up to the celebrations, excited to see their prince tie the knot with a human woman. As usual though, nothing at Sin du Jour ever goes as planned, and before long, giant lusty lizards are running amok through the wedding party, trying to have sex with everyone and everything. Let this one be a cautionary tale for us all: magic and love don’t always mix.
Like the previous book, Lustlocked is another rollicking romp into the culinary world, urban fantasy style. Once again, our characters are thrown into the zaniest and most absurd situations you can think of, playing up the action and the laughs. Compared to the Envy of Angels though, the plot feels much simpler and less adroit, giving this sequel novella a throw-away vibe which leads me to believe that it won’t stay with me as long. That said, I still had a great time with the story, which is no less entertaining for being shorter and less complex.
In fact, pacing is helped by the narrower focus, and we also don’t jump around as much following multiple groups of characters in different places. While Envy of Angels featured several side plots starring the Sin du Jour’s stocking and receiving department, the adventures of Ritter, Cindy, Hara and Moon are more integrated in Lustlocked. Fans of this unforgettable foursome need not fret though, for Matt Wallace makes it up to us by including a bonus story called Small Wars at the end of this novella. This was a free short published at the Tor.com website, revealing the origins of the team by explaining how they were all recruited and brought together by Ritter.
If a couple hours with a bite-sized, light-hearted urban fantasy novella sounds like a good time to you, then you need to check out the Sin du Jour series. Already I am excited for the next book Pride’s Spell, which promises to be even more wild and bizarre. At this point, anything can happen…and you can bet I’m looking forward to the insanity.
After the rip-roaring fun of Envy of Angels, I just couldn’t wait to be back in Bronko’s kitchen with all the gang. This time, things are really heating up as Matt Wallace serves up another course of humor-laden fare in Lustlocked, the second novella in the Sin du Jour series.
Having proved themselves on their first job, Lena and Darren are subsequently offered full-time employment by executive chef Byron “Bronko” Luck. Now all they have to do is survive the probationary period, which isn’t as easy as it sounds, given the unusual nature of the catering company at which they work. Sure enough, no sooner have the junior chefs signed their names to the contract than Sin du Jour receives their next big gig—a goblin royal wedding.
Unlike the mischievous, ugly and stooped creatures of folklore, Matt Wallace’s goblins are actually beautiful and talented beings, which explains why so many of them have found success in Hollywood and the music industry. It’s a star-studded night as all the goblin guests show up to the celebrations, excited to see their prince tie the knot with a human woman. As usual though, nothing at Sin du Jour ever goes as planned, and before long, giant lusty lizards are running amok through the wedding party, trying to have sex with everyone and everything. Let this one be a cautionary tale for us all: magic and love don’t always mix.
Like the previous book, Lustlocked is another rollicking romp into the culinary world, urban fantasy style. Once again, our characters are thrown into the zaniest and most absurd situations you can think of, playing up the action and the laughs. Compared to the Envy of Angels though, the plot feels much simpler and less adroit, giving this sequel novella a throw-away vibe which leads me to believe that it won’t stay with me as long. That said, I still had a great time with the story, which is no less entertaining for being shorter and less complex.
In fact, pacing is helped by the narrower focus, and we also don’t jump around as much following multiple groups of characters in different places. While Envy of Angels featured several side plots starring the Sin du Jour’s stocking and receiving department, the adventures of Ritter, Cindy, Hara and Moon are more integrated in Lustlocked. Fans of this unforgettable foursome need not fret though, for Matt Wallace makes it up to us by including a bonus story called Small Wars at the end of this novella. This was a free short published at the Tor.com website, revealing the origins of the team by explaining how they were all recruited and brought together by Ritter.
If a couple hours with a bite-sized, light-hearted urban fantasy novella sounds like a good time to you, then you need to check out the Sin du Jour series. Already I am excited for the next book Pride’s Spell, which promises to be even more wild and bizarre. At this point, anything can happen…and you can bet I’m looking forward to the insanity.
January 24, 2016
The nitty-gritty: Another hilarious entry into the Sin du Jour world, with some of the funniest dialogue I’ve ever read.
“Are you guys almost done down there?” he asks the impossibly small piece of composite concealed in his right ear. “I’m fuckin’ bored.”
“Us ‘guys’ are rigging the final charge now,” Cindy’s irritated voice answers him over the earpiece.
“Sorry,” he says. “Folks. People. Whatever. Nonoffensive gender neutral pronoun. When did you graduate from Feminist Police Academy, Cindy?”
“Words matter.”
If you’re in the mood for a quick and entertaining story, and especially if you appreciate absurd humor, then grab a copy of Lustlocked as soon as you can (Better yet, start with Envy of Angels so you don’t miss any of the hilarity!) As I’ve mentioned before, humor doesn’t always work for me. It’s got to be just right. But somehow, Matt Wallace gets me, and I’m sure thousands of other readers. This time around, the chefs of Sin du Jour, a very special company that caters to the supernatural realm, is preparing to serve the wedding of the century: the wedding of the goblin prince, who just happens to be marrying a human girl named Bianca. As you can imagine, things do not go as planned, and before long the wedding reception has devolved into nightmarish shenanigans.
Newbies Darren and Lena, whose first assignment with Sin du Jour took place in Envy of Angels, are now full members of the team and ready for their next job. As they prepare thousands of hors d’oeuvres for the wedding guests—making sure to separate the human food from the goblin food—something goes wrong, and before you know it, all the human guests have turned into giant, sex-crazed lizards. With the wedding reception in shambles, it’s going to take every member of the team to set things right before things get, well, even more out of hand.
One of my favorite things about this story is the conceit that goblins are all famous Hollywood actors and musicians, and I’m pretty sure I know who the goblin king is, from this description:
His hair, which has gone through so many famous and kaleidoscopic changes on decades of album covers, is now a simple, chemically flawless blond that falls loosely just past his ears.
The cast of characters is more or less the same from Envy of Angels, and Wallace gives us lots of funny banter that keeps this fast-paced story rolling along. These chefs have seen a lot, so even the unusual sight of giant lizards wreaking havoc doesn’t surprise them that much:
“What’s going on?” she asks.
“This giant lizard thing in a tux is trying to bone that dude from Grey’s Anatomy,” Pacific says, totally unfazed. “You know, the one with the hair.”
Wallace does a great job integrating the Hollywood elite into his story, while poking fun of them at the same time. The story takes “silly” to a new level, but I still enjoyed every crazy moment.
A short bonus story called Small Wars, which was recently published on the Tor.com website (and you can read it for free, if you'd like a taste of Matt Wallace's writing!), appears after Lustlocked, and tells the adventures of Sin du Jour’s stocking and receiving department (Ritter, Moon, Cindy and Hara) as they attempt to find a critical ingredient for the wedding, a rare mineral called Welsh gold. I loved that Wallace takes this opportunity to use flashbacks to show how each member of the team was originally recruited by Ritter, and it reminded me of the Firefly episode Out of Gas, which does the same thing. Wallace has created a world that is rich with story possibilities, and I look forward with glee and anticipation to the next one.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy. Above quotes were taken from an uncorrected proof, and may differ in the final version of the book.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
January 27, 2016
Lustlocked is the second installment in Matt Wallace's Sin du Jour Affair series, which revolves around a New York catering company that caters to the supernatural elements of society.
In the previous book, Envy of Angels, the chefs and crew hosted a diplomatic dinner sponsored by a secret government agency in an effort to stave off war between two demonic groups. Lustlocked picks up on the heels of that event, as the company prepares to host a grand goblin wedding under the supervision of the Goblin King.
Yes, that Goblin King. In a fitting and sadly timely homage, Wallace gives us yet one more avenue to prove the immortality of David Bowie's lasting legacy. Although at the time of Wallace's writing, Bowie was alive and well, and expected to remain so for quite some time. It's a sad fluke that Lustlocked just so happens to have released on heels of Mr. Bowie's death from cancer. This is, however, a wonderfully befitting bit of fan service toward not only Bowie's iconic character from the film Labyrinth, but of the iconic performer himself. It's a pleasure getting to "see" the King once more.
As with Envy of Angels and the short story, Small Wars, which acts an inbetweenquel, Lustlocked doses out the humor, providing a keen edge to the affairs and preventing the seriousness of the story from delving deeply in the morose and macabre. While preparing for the grandiose wedding of the goblin prince and his human bride-to-be, some shady bit of spell-casting goes wildly awry and leaves the human guests transformed into horny lizard creatures that threaten to hump to death the entire guest list.
Again, these books are crafted to be sheer entertainment, and Wallace maneuvers a peculiar tightrope with aplomb. This story could have drifted precariously into dark meanness, or perhaps a bit of weirdo erotica, but Wallace averts those traps and sticks to the fun and fantastical side of things, first and foremost. There's a certain Buffy The Vampire Slayer but for Netflix vibe here that I find really appealing. He also gives his characters brief moments to shine and continues to flesh out his cast in interesting ways, right up to its sucker-punch finale.
I am now feeling the long, heavy weight of the intervening months between now and June, when the third installment releases. I think it'd be a sin to miss what comes next.
In the previous book, Envy of Angels, the chefs and crew hosted a diplomatic dinner sponsored by a secret government agency in an effort to stave off war between two demonic groups. Lustlocked picks up on the heels of that event, as the company prepares to host a grand goblin wedding under the supervision of the Goblin King.
Yes, that Goblin King. In a fitting and sadly timely homage, Wallace gives us yet one more avenue to prove the immortality of David Bowie's lasting legacy. Although at the time of Wallace's writing, Bowie was alive and well, and expected to remain so for quite some time. It's a sad fluke that Lustlocked just so happens to have released on heels of Mr. Bowie's death from cancer. This is, however, a wonderfully befitting bit of fan service toward not only Bowie's iconic character from the film Labyrinth, but of the iconic performer himself. It's a pleasure getting to "see" the King once more.
As with Envy of Angels and the short story, Small Wars, which acts an inbetweenquel, Lustlocked doses out the humor, providing a keen edge to the affairs and preventing the seriousness of the story from delving deeply in the morose and macabre. While preparing for the grandiose wedding of the goblin prince and his human bride-to-be, some shady bit of spell-casting goes wildly awry and leaves the human guests transformed into horny lizard creatures that threaten to hump to death the entire guest list.
Again, these books are crafted to be sheer entertainment, and Wallace maneuvers a peculiar tightrope with aplomb. This story could have drifted precariously into dark meanness, or perhaps a bit of weirdo erotica, but Wallace averts those traps and sticks to the fun and fantastical side of things, first and foremost. There's a certain Buffy The Vampire Slayer but for Netflix vibe here that I find really appealing. He also gives his characters brief moments to shine and continues to flesh out his cast in interesting ways, right up to its sucker-punch finale.
I am now feeling the long, heavy weight of the intervening months between now and June, when the third installment releases. I think it'd be a sin to miss what comes next.
March 2, 2021
Ok, this story was just weird and I couldn't get into it at all. It's just very random, spur of the moment sort of thing and very campy. I think it's trying to be funny but I didn't find it humorous at all. It's not what I had expected at all, but then I hadn't read the first book in this series. I had just found this second one and had thought the lizard on the cover was cute. None of the plot makes much sense really and I think that's what bugged me the most. Many of the characters do the most stupid things, especially the one named Lena.
There is a short story at the rear of the book, Small Wars, and I couldn't get into that either..I just didn't find it interesting.
After reading 214 pages I still don't feel that I know the characters at all. Not enough of characterization. Too much zany nonsense.
I'm afraid the only thing I do like is the Cyclura on the cover. Wrong book for me.
There is a short story at the rear of the book, Small Wars, and I couldn't get into that either..I just didn't find it interesting.
After reading 214 pages I still don't feel that I know the characters at all. Not enough of characterization. Too much zany nonsense.
I'm afraid the only thing I do like is the Cyclura on the cover. Wrong book for me.
December 12, 2018
Much like the first in this series this one is completely bonkers. Honestly I just have no idea where the series is going, but it's not a problem as the fun is in the adventure to get there and I have been really liking that.
In this book we see Lena and Darren as they decide whether to sign on full time to Sin du Jour and we also follow a Goblin Wedding involving a human bride and just how the biggest catering event ever can go horribly wrong if magic gets mixed in. It's silly and funny and altogether very amusing. 3*s
In this book we see Lena and Darren as they decide whether to sign on full time to Sin du Jour and we also follow a Goblin Wedding involving a human bride and just how the biggest catering event ever can go horribly wrong if magic gets mixed in. It's silly and funny and altogether very amusing. 3*s
February 1, 2016
The staff of Sin du Jour return for the wedding of a Goblin prince & his soon to be princess, however, as with most weddings, something goes wrong. What? Your wedding didn’t have lusty lizards?
Recommended.
Recommended.
August 10, 2022
I read the first book in this series of novellas way back in 2018, and though I needed a little bit of a refresher, I picked it up fine and had a fun time with the sequel. This is the kind of writing/style that might not have swayed me either way, but the premise and characters are unique enough to make you sit up and take notice. The series is about a catering business for the supernatural community, and the team of people who procure the special ingredients and another team who cooks them. This time, they're catering a wedding, and of course, things so wrong and wacky stuff ensues. Actually, it's pretty serious, but written in an overall humorous way that at least didn't feel offensive. I know I can be annoyingly mercurial in my thoughts about this, but this is one of those books that does omniscient POV and... I don't hate it! Don't ask me why it fits here; it just does. A lot of the characters are fun, and some of the interpersonal relationships get some development. The bonus short story, which I'd already read before, was also interesting, if rather bleaker than I wanted.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Corey Gagne; it was a good time. It's really up in the air whether or not I'll ever move along in the series, but I'm sure if I do, I'll probably enjoy it.
Content warnings:
Listened to the audiobook as read by Corey Gagne; it was a good time. It's really up in the air whether or not I'll ever move along in the series, but I'm sure if I do, I'll probably enjoy it.
Content warnings:
June 18, 2016
3 Stars
Lustlocked the second novella of the Sin du Jour series was a pretty big let down to me after the amazing and fresh first book, Envy of Angels. This one was simply too short. It definitely was lacking in Salt, a cardinal sin. The world that Matt Wallace has created could be so much more. I can only hope that he puts together a full length novel of magical cuisine and pastries.
Even though this book was not up to the standards set in book one, there is still a lot to like. Like others have said it is a combination of a Food Network show that would be made by National Geographic or even The Animal Planet, set inside a universe created by Tim Button. This is a food story first, a comedy second, and a horror show third. Together they are served up to perfection through witty dialogue and the writing of Wallace.
This is a fun read. There are many laugh out loud moments that will bust your gut. The story starts out fast without much back story or explanation and things get cooking from there. The action is funny. The situations are funny. The whole thing just comes across as being Damn cool. Lustlocked unfortunately was just one noted. It needed more sage. I loved the first book and look forward to more from Wallace but this one was just OK.
Lustlocked the second novella of the Sin du Jour series was a pretty big let down to me after the amazing and fresh first book, Envy of Angels. This one was simply too short. It definitely was lacking in Salt, a cardinal sin. The world that Matt Wallace has created could be so much more. I can only hope that he puts together a full length novel of magical cuisine and pastries.
Even though this book was not up to the standards set in book one, there is still a lot to like. Like others have said it is a combination of a Food Network show that would be made by National Geographic or even The Animal Planet, set inside a universe created by Tim Button. This is a food story first, a comedy second, and a horror show third. Together they are served up to perfection through witty dialogue and the writing of Wallace.
This is a fun read. There are many laugh out loud moments that will bust your gut. The story starts out fast without much back story or explanation and things get cooking from there. The action is funny. The situations are funny. The whole thing just comes across as being Damn cool. Lustlocked unfortunately was just one noted. It needed more sage. I loved the first book and look forward to more from Wallace but this one was just OK.
February 3, 2017
Really enjoyed this, more than the first one. It hit the spot this week and I knew what to expect with the voice and humor. All these characters are effed up and whacky, but not caricatures or stereotypes, and all are *very* distinct people.
I do think Wallace's style verges on telling instead of showing. Usually that is difficult for me to enjoy, but like I said, I think I knew what to expect with this one.
Based on the ending of Lustlocked, I'm hooked for Sin du Jour #3, because I *need* to know what this means for the crew!
I do think Wallace's style verges on telling instead of showing. Usually that is difficult for me to enjoy, but like I said, I think I knew what to expect with this one.
Based on the ending of Lustlocked, I'm hooked for Sin du Jour #3, because I *need* to know what this means for the crew!
November 26, 2015
This story was provided to me by the publisher at no cost.
An amusing, light and fluffy story.
It's the second story to be set in the restaurant Sin du Jour, and I've not read the first; that didn't seem to be too much of a hindrance. I think I missed a little bit of the tension between characters (and initially I thought the two main characters were lovers, not housemates), but the cast is reintroduced well enough that I had no trouble following the various interactions.
The basic premise is that there's going to be a goblin wedding - well, the crown prince of goblin-dom is marrying a human - and this version of goblins is that they are the bright and beautiful... in fact most of them are Hollywood celebrities. You already know who the Goblin King is (yes, really, Wallace went There); I'm not entirely sure who the queen is meant to be: she's described as the most famous supermodel, and my mind went to Elle Macpherson, but maybe that's just because I'm Australian? Perhaps it could be Naomi Campbell? (ETA: Thoraiya tells me a certain Goblin King is married to supermodel Iman. Oops.) Anyway, such beautiful creatures naturally require an extravagant wedding aaaaaand then things go bad. Some of the story is around preparing for the wedding (goblins eat jewels, of course) and some of it is dealing with, um, rampaging lusty reptiles. So half almost cosy culinary fantasy, half magic/mayhem fantasy.
Don't read this for deep philosophical reflections. Do read this for a bit of banter, a bit of snark about celebrity, and people getting themselves out of sticky situations in amusing ways.
An amusing, light and fluffy story.
It's the second story to be set in the restaurant Sin du Jour, and I've not read the first; that didn't seem to be too much of a hindrance. I think I missed a little bit of the tension between characters (and initially I thought the two main characters were lovers, not housemates), but the cast is reintroduced well enough that I had no trouble following the various interactions.
The basic premise is that there's going to be a goblin wedding - well, the crown prince of goblin-dom is marrying a human - and this version of goblins is that they are the bright and beautiful... in fact most of them are Hollywood celebrities. You already know who the Goblin King is (yes, really, Wallace went There); I'm not entirely sure who the queen is meant to be: she's described as the most famous supermodel, and my mind went to Elle Macpherson, but maybe that's just because I'm Australian? Perhaps it could be Naomi Campbell? (ETA: Thoraiya tells me a certain Goblin King is married to supermodel Iman. Oops.) Anyway, such beautiful creatures naturally require an extravagant wedding aaaaaand then things go bad. Some of the story is around preparing for the wedding (goblins eat jewels, of course) and some of it is dealing with, um, rampaging lusty reptiles. So half almost cosy culinary fantasy, half magic/mayhem fantasy.
Don't read this for deep philosophical reflections. Do read this for a bit of banter, a bit of snark about celebrity, and people getting themselves out of sticky situations in amusing ways.
December 1, 2016
Lustlocked is a spin on a "sex pollen" story. These are narratives where characters, because of magical or crazy science reasons, end up compelled to have sex with one another. I find these sorts of stories incredibly gross because hello massive sexual violation. And yet they are usually played for laughs as they are in this volume. I like the Sin du Jour series. The characters are fun and the set-up offers up endless possibilities for an urban fantasy, but this was lazy. It was also frustrating to see from an author who seems to have a clue about social justice issues. But seriously, all the humans get forcibly turned into "lust lizards" who screw everything they see. Really not into that type of story, no matter what else is in there.
February 1, 2020
And standing tall on the cake's summit, stripped to the tank top she wears beneath her smock and that smock now tied around her waist like flour-stained armor, is Nikki. She has bound her elaborately rolled hair in a classic car-emblazoned bandana. In each hand she holds a piping bag bulging with Boosha's "temporary" lust-monster cure. There are half a dozen cooking syringes sheathed through her belt like daggers. The diamond archway topping the cake frames her, and its light dances over the weeping angel tattoo covering most of her right arm and shoulder, making it look like angelic war paint.
She is no less than a confection-armed Valkyrie.
Some things feel like they were made just for you.
Buffy feels like it was made just for me.
Bread feels like it was created solely for my enjoyment.
Adidas Gazelle OGs are my very own glass slipper.
The Sin du Jour series gives me the exact same feeling.
As though Matt Wallace, through some bizarre twist of fate, heard I was born and wrote me my very own fairytale.
A series of fairytales.
A compendium of funny, weird and violent stories just for me.
To keep and treasure and endure constant hunger pangs, because their ingredients may be suspect but I might be able to could totally repress that knowledge to get some of Sin du Jour's stomach-growl inducing food down my bread-loving gullet.
"Well then, Nikki," the king interjects. "Do tell us about cake."
"Oh. Of course. First, for the . . . groom's side of the aisle, what I've done is created a ruby jam center. The frosting is silky pearl, both white and black, which we've blended. And it's sprinkled with blue diamond chips."
Lena can't believe the description.
Ruby jam?
Frosting made from pearls?
"How the hell—" she begins, catching herself quickly.
No one seems to notice.
Everyone except Bianca takes up a fork. Soon an inhuman crunching of jaws fills the room.
"That is utterly magnificent," the king says without hesitation.
The queen and prince are quick to agree.
Nikki's smile spreads with genuine delight.
"Thank you. And for the bride's side, we have blood orange cake with a frosting of vanilla bean ganache. The sprinkles are crushed hard candy made from sea salt, taro, and blue agave."
"Jesus, they look identical," Lena can't help whispering.
Fortunately only Darren and Dorsky hear her.
Darren nudges her.
Dorsky smirks without looking past him at Lena.
Nikki picks up a fork and offers it to Bianca, who has been standing to one side trying not to look uncomfortable.
The young woman steps forward, seeming to appreciate the gesture. She takes the fork and bisects a good-sized bite from the blood orange cake, bringing it to her lips and sniffing it demurely.
"It smells amazing," she says.
Nikki nods enthusiastically. "I know, right?"
Bianca takes her first bite of her wedding cake.
Her first words, to Nikki's mind, are perfect: "Babe," she says, forking another bite for the prince, "you've got to try this. It's amazing."
Sure, the goblin fetish for eating jewels doesn't exactly appeal (unless it was like eating Polo Holes. Remember those? My school banned them because they looked like drugs ... I wish) but blood orange cake with vanilla bean, crunchtacular frosting?
Get.
In.
My.
Belly.
Fuck it.
Now I'm hungry for baked goods.
Reading the first book was no better.
Matt Wallace is obviously the embodiment of the sin of gluttony and he's trying to tempt me into making mug cake.
Mug cake is dangerous.
I refuse to make mug cake.
If I know how, I'll never stop.
I can't be too mad at him, though.
He did write a novella about a royal goblin wedding with lusty, lizardy high-jinx and weird as fuck everything.
I can deal with the hunger pangs when I get storytelling fit for my equally weird as fuck soul.
...
It helps that there's chocolate next to me.
Y'know, for literary-based emergencies.
Like when your author treats you to a story you never knew you needed, ups the sexual tension between your tentative ship, and then proceeds to RIP YOUR GUTS OUT WITH THE MOTHER OF ALL CLIFFHANGERS.
...
Chocolate.
I need chocolate...
April 5, 2016
This series is so much fun! It's so twisted and strange. Dialogue is superbly done, and hits over and over again with some great lines that made me laugh. Looking forward to the 3rd in the series to be released in June.
February 6, 2022
Two stars, and one bonus star for the Goblin King. Yes, that one. I miss him. ❤
September 30, 2016
What is this about?: Lustlocked is the second book in Matt Wallace’s Sin Du Jour series, about a catering company that works for the supernatural. In this instalment Lena and Darren are back at Sin Du Jour and working for a Goblin King and his son’s wedding. In case you missed book 1, Lena and Darren are the very normal, human newbies to this whole world and readers’ POV into things.
What else is this about?: There’s some progress on Lena and Darren’s characters and an ending that kind of turns everything upside down, but it’s mostly about learning about everyone at Sin Du Jour running around trying to save the day.
I don’t think there’s any real way to do the utter hilarity and deadpan humour in some cases of Lustlocked justice. It’s the second in Matt Wallace’s Sin Du Jour series, featuring the catering company to the supernatural and it’s crew of staffers — including zombies as servers.
Despite the title, Lustlocked is as much about love as it is lust as the events of the story take place during a Goblin prince’s wedding to his human bride. Naturally, goblins are utterly gorgeous creatures, most of whom work at the CW network and their shows, but they are making Bianca, the bride, and her family feel like outsiders, which is when Boosha steps in and makes everyone into fornicating monsters.
It really was an innocent mistake.
Overhearing the bride’s lament about her husband-to-be’s family, Boosha took it upon herself to add something extra special to the menu to incite lots and lots of love, and it backfired and incited lust and turned every human into monsters.
Lena and Darren are still our POV into this world and yes, still employed by Sin Du Jour, despite Lena’s misgivings — and yes, her misgivings are continually expounded upon. But, hopefully the staff will wear her down! On the other end of the of the spectrum is Darren, non-critical and accepting of everything Sin Du Jour throws at him. There really is no middle ground between them and how they feel about the company, but it makes for a fun ride.
So, when everyone gets turned into monsters, a force field — or force of bricks come up around every building this occurs, accompanied by a Droopy Dog cartoon security system — for real and And somehow Wallace makes this all work! His imagination is a thing of wonder, I swear! Read this series and be prepared to laugh your butt off!
What else is this about?: There’s some progress on Lena and Darren’s characters and an ending that kind of turns everything upside down, but it’s mostly about learning about everyone at Sin Du Jour running around trying to save the day.
I don’t think there’s any real way to do the utter hilarity and deadpan humour in some cases of Lustlocked justice. It’s the second in Matt Wallace’s Sin Du Jour series, featuring the catering company to the supernatural and it’s crew of staffers — including zombies as servers.
Despite the title, Lustlocked is as much about love as it is lust as the events of the story take place during a Goblin prince’s wedding to his human bride. Naturally, goblins are utterly gorgeous creatures, most of whom work at the CW network and their shows, but they are making Bianca, the bride, and her family feel like outsiders, which is when Boosha steps in and makes everyone into fornicating monsters.
It really was an innocent mistake.
Overhearing the bride’s lament about her husband-to-be’s family, Boosha took it upon herself to add something extra special to the menu to incite lots and lots of love, and it backfired and incited lust and turned every human into monsters.
Lena and Darren are still our POV into this world and yes, still employed by Sin Du Jour, despite Lena’s misgivings — and yes, her misgivings are continually expounded upon. But, hopefully the staff will wear her down! On the other end of the of the spectrum is Darren, non-critical and accepting of everything Sin Du Jour throws at him. There really is no middle ground between them and how they feel about the company, but it makes for a fun ride.
So, when everyone gets turned into monsters, a force field — or force of bricks come up around every building this occurs, accompanied by a Droopy Dog cartoon security system — for real and And somehow Wallace makes this all work! His imagination is a thing of wonder, I swear! Read this series and be prepared to laugh your butt off!
January 14, 2016
I always feel a bit awkward when my opinion of a book differs dramatically from the "norm", partly because I wonder if there's something I missed, but I did not enjoy this book much at all. It is the second in the series, and it is quite short, and I did pause halfway through to read something else, then returned to it, which may all have contributed to my lack of enjoyment.
As the second in the series, having not read the first, I did not feel any connection to the characters that had clearly been established in the earlier books. There were a lot of names and I struggled to keep them all straight - something not enhanced by the abrupt break in the middle where I put it down for 3-4 days to read something else. And the shortness of the duration did not leave much scope for the characters to be properly developed.
There is also the fact of the simplistic nature of the story. Certainly, it is intended to be farcical, and a tad madcap, and there was a certain surreal element, but there wasn't really much to the story: People get hired to cater a Very Important Royal Wedding, an accident happens and half the guests get turned into ravening sex-lizards, either copulating with each other or trying to force themselves upon the non-afflicted guests. When did rape become a joke? At no point did I feel particularly concerned for the main characters wellbeing - I had enough trouble trying to keep straight who-was-who - and the ending felt a little flat to me.
And then there is the case of the Goblin King. Whilst I'm not opposed to the implication that RL celebrities might be fantastical beings (in fact I rather like them), the lack of subtlety turned it from something amusing into something that felt almost wrong, especially in line with recent events (in fact, I was just discussing this book with some fellow writers when I heard that news).
Honestly, maybe my sense of humour isn't quite twisted and silly enough to appreciate this book.
Title provided by the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
As the second in the series, having not read the first, I did not feel any connection to the characters that had clearly been established in the earlier books. There were a lot of names and I struggled to keep them all straight - something not enhanced by the abrupt break in the middle where I put it down for 3-4 days to read something else. And the shortness of the duration did not leave much scope for the characters to be properly developed.
There is also the fact of the simplistic nature of the story. Certainly, it is intended to be farcical, and a tad madcap, and there was a certain surreal element, but there wasn't really much to the story: People get hired to cater a Very Important Royal Wedding, an accident happens and half the guests get turned into ravening sex-lizards, either copulating with each other or trying to force themselves upon the non-afflicted guests. When did rape become a joke? At no point did I feel particularly concerned for the main characters wellbeing - I had enough trouble trying to keep straight who-was-who - and the ending felt a little flat to me.
And then there is the case of the Goblin King. Whilst I'm not opposed to the implication that RL celebrities might be fantastical beings (in fact I rather like them), the lack of subtlety turned it from something amusing into something that felt almost wrong, especially in line with recent events (in fact, I was just discussing this book with some fellow writers when I heard that news).
Honestly, maybe my sense of humour isn't quite twisted and silly enough to appreciate this book.
Title provided by the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 19, 2016
I discovered this series when I received an ARC for the 3rd book. I decided to start from the beginning.
See my review on Pride's Spell for my general thoughts and impressions about the series from the 3 book binge read.
Most important one being that in many ways this series feels like a mashup of Spider Robinson's Callahan's Saloon series and Robert Asprin's M.Y.T.H. series in style and comic timing. The first is considered science fiction. The latter is fantasy. Sin Du Jour falls between. Directly on the line between urban fantasy and speculative fiction.
If you like silly madcap adventures, this is for you even if urban fantasy isn't your thing.
Books are a fast enjoyable read.
In this one, the newcomers on the line find out that goblins have gotten a bad rap. They're not at all what lore makes them out to be.
Oh really? Then what are they really like?
The answer is hilarious and clever.
See my review on Pride's Spell for my general thoughts and impressions about the series from the 3 book binge read.
Most important one being that in many ways this series feels like a mashup of Spider Robinson's Callahan's Saloon series and Robert Asprin's M.Y.T.H. series in style and comic timing. The first is considered science fiction. The latter is fantasy. Sin Du Jour falls between. Directly on the line between urban fantasy and speculative fiction.
If you like silly madcap adventures, this is for you even if urban fantasy isn't your thing.
Books are a fast enjoyable read.
In this one, the newcomers on the line find out that goblins have gotten a bad rap. They're not at all what lore makes them out to be.
Oh really? Then what are they really like?
The answer is hilarious and clever.
February 23, 2016
YET another home run by Mr Wallace, if you have not read Envy of Angels, fucking do it. It is a ton of fun and this keeps the fun and chaos at a demented and wild pace. Yes, I still don't like novellas, and yes, damnit.......I dropped what I was reading to read this and burnt through it like it was a crack rock and I had the itch for the pipe, so there!
No seriously, there is not nearly enough dark just wrong kind of fun in fantasy or scifi and this story and series has it in spades.
I am kind of down sick, so apologies for being short, but I made my point I think. Go give this man your monies!
No seriously, there is not nearly enough dark just wrong kind of fun in fantasy or scifi and this story and series has it in spades.
I am kind of down sick, so apologies for being short, but I made my point I think. Go give this man your monies!
December 14, 2015
After Alex reviewed the sequel to "Envy of Angels", I HAD to know what happened next in the kitchens of Sin du Jour! And my whining on Twitter paid off!
"Lustlocked" opens with an immensely enjoyable fishing expedition before switching to the continued adventures of Lena & Darren, roomies and new SdJ chefs. This episode, there's a goblin wedding to cater. Put that magic spell on me, slap that baby, make him free!
Liked this almost as much as the first one. For fans of the Super Mario Bros movie and Justina Robson's "Legolas Does The Dishes."
"Lustlocked" opens with an immensely enjoyable fishing expedition before switching to the continued adventures of Lena & Darren, roomies and new SdJ chefs. This episode, there's a goblin wedding to cater. Put that magic spell on me, slap that baby, make him free!
Liked this almost as much as the first one. For fans of the Super Mario Bros movie and Justina Robson's "Legolas Does The Dishes."
November 16, 2015
Deliciously absurd in the best possible ways! No one makes me laugh with as much intensity as Matt Wallace does. Lustlocked is a worthy successor to Envy of Angels and I'm eagerly looking forward to the next Sin du Jour installment.
February 8, 2016
The second Sin du Jour affair is even more outlandish and delightful than the first. Wallace rounds out the cast, makes character moments amidst the zany antics, and ends the novella with one hell of a digestif.
Is it time for the next one yet?
Is it time for the next one yet?
May 24, 2016
Another good one, funny but not silly, very good characterization to balance out the action and fantasy.
June 25, 2025
Read as part of the 2025 Tor.com Short Fiction challenge
Although this is not a free option form Tor.com one of the short stories Small Wars is available and these novellas are in their list. The first three books in the series are collected in one book Sin du Jour: The First Course
This series just gets better for me with each book I read. Matt Wallace has a wicked sense of humor and knows how to write an action scene. And not named but HIGHLY implied, inferred (not sure what is the correct grammar and unwilling to look it up) that David Bowie and Iman are the REAL Goblin King and Queen just about made my Labyrinth loving heart melt. Mr. Wallace knows how to make a Gen-X lady lose her mind!
Although this is not a free option form Tor.com one of the short stories Small Wars is available and these novellas are in their list. The first three books in the series are collected in one book Sin du Jour: The First Course
This series just gets better for me with each book I read. Matt Wallace has a wicked sense of humor and knows how to write an action scene. And not named but HIGHLY implied, inferred (not sure what is the correct grammar and unwilling to look it up) that David Bowie and Iman are the REAL Goblin King and Queen just about made my Labyrinth loving heart melt. Mr. Wallace knows how to make a Gen-X lady lose her mind!
June 16, 2018
Bronko and his chefs and caterers take on the wedding of a lifetime: the Goblin Prince has found his princess.
Things are going well with crushed ruby jam, jewel appetizers (goblins eat precious metals and jems) until a misunderstanding results in a lust causing herb being put in the bride's side of the family's food (the bride is a human). Ingesting the herb results in the victim turning into a raging green lizard monster who just wants a little sweet lovin' - nah, they really just want to bonk their brains out. What's the chef to do? These novellas are fun, but this one in particular was a little too high on the raunch scale for me. I'll still try the third one, too.
Things are going well with crushed ruby jam, jewel appetizers (goblins eat precious metals and jems) until a misunderstanding results in a lust causing herb being put in the bride's side of the family's food (the bride is a human). Ingesting the herb results in the victim turning into a raging green lizard monster who just wants a little sweet lovin' - nah, they really just want to bonk their brains out. What's the chef to do? These novellas are fun, but this one in particular was a little too high on the raunch scale for me. I'll still try the third one, too.
June 19, 2019
I was surprised by how short the main novella was, but I really enjoyed the additional short story at the end. As expected the continued adventures to Sin du Jour are bat-shit crazy and getting to know the various characters who work there is a real treat.
May 30, 2018
Still fun, short, and fluffy for when I want to enjoy some food-related brain candy.
April 23, 2023
I enjoyed this, but the resolution to the main conflict was a bit easy for my liking. I enjoyed the story tacked on at the end with the little beings that expanded on the characters a bit.
April 14, 2024
Excellent sequel. This book maintains the wacky and quirky nature of the book and the world while also doing some decent character work. Also it definitely sets up some longer term plotlines that have intrigued me enough to make me continue the series.
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