"Sugar and Vice" By Melissa Yi: Review/Giveaway

Review by Tracy Condie

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it.

This is book number 2 of the Hope’s Seven Deadly Sins Book series. It is based on the sin of gluttony so, of course, this is food‑centric. This is also a smidge supernatural, but mostly a thriller that leans more toward the dark side, so reader discretion is advised.

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Image Source Windtree Press

The first combined dragon boat race and food festival in Montréal, Canada starts with a model Mukbang competition. A mukbang is an online audiovisual broadcast wherein the host eats food. This is definitely a unique setting for a story from the food to the dragon boat racing. I learned some unusual things, and was reminded that for every bit of light, there is a bit of dark. This story also touches on some serious topics such as eating disorders, inappropriate coaching, and breast cancer survivors.

Hope Sze is an emergency room doctor who knows a thing or two about good food and good friends, but she does seem to have a bit of a challenge when it comes to knowing about her heart. Ah, but this story isn’t about the heart; it is about the stomach and a very unusual contest with unusual people. There are snobby models, a contest ringer, Amazon dragon boat contestants, and a corporate CEO.

As for the supernatural aspects, Hope’s friend and fellow doctor, Tori, who is able to speak with ghosts, has been told that someone is going to die at the festival. That cryptic message leaves Hope wondering at every turn if she is the person who is going to die or if it will be someone else.

The story is told in a multiple point of view style with cryptic text messages at the start of the chapters. At first, the different points of view are a little confusing, but as the story progresses, everything starts to come together. This was definitely a thriller of a mystery as Hope reminds us every few pages that “someone is going to die.”

To enter to win an ebook or print copy (winner's choice) of Sugar and Vice, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "sugar vice,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen February 22, 2025. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. (BE SURE TO STATE IF YOU WANT PRINT OR EBOOK) You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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You can click here to purchase this book.

Tracy Condie is a paralegal by day and cozy armchair sleuth by night. When she is not working or reading, she enjoys preparing the recipes found in culinary cozies or researching recipes of meal items described therein and sharing reviews of both books and food on Instagram and on KRL. She lives in Corona, California with her husband and dog Zoolie, and looks forward to visiting with their grown sons when their time permits.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.