Monster Menu: A Slice-of-Life LitRPG

By: Terrell Garrett

Narrated by: Mela Lee

Length: 18 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

An LA taco truck chef is transported to a fantasy realm where bad reviews are the least of her worries in this cozy culinary LitRPG adventure.

For Renee “Nay” Favreau, food is life. She’s the owner of a Los Angeles taco truck who dreams of becoming a respected chef and expanding her fleet, and whose greatest enemy is an unhappy food critic. Always hunting for her next great dish, the search eventually leads her to a near-fatal encounter with an interdimensional spider.

Awaking in a strange world where words appear before her eyes, a talking tentacle befriends her, and people are trying to kill her, Nay learns she has the ability to become an Epicurist: one of the special chefs who prepare the magical meals that power the enigmatic Marrow Eaters.

Soon, Nay is working in a remote village, where she wins the hearts—and stomachs—of the locals. But when evil threatens to destroy the place, she’ll have to employ all her wit and newfound skills to survive and save her new friends . . .

The hit LitRPG adventure—with more than 500,000 views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!

©2023 Terrell Garrett (P)2023 Podium Audio

Waiting for the next one!

A unique story line. Interesting characters and great performance. Very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

it's worth it

it is good book. If you like stories that are whimsical but serious, this would be a good choice.

just all around enjoying it

okay, I went into this with the mindset "I guess I'll listen to this to fill the time". here I am with 6 hours left going "oh no, I'm going to finish it today and I already want more!" I am enjoying it and am hopeful the author keeps up the good work.

a fun menu of a night

I loved this book it took the classic taken to a new world and get magic powers and made it unique. a fun story for anyone who is a foodie and wants a good easy book. I'm hoping for a second course soon.

Great Idea. Needed a bit of work.

The idea behind this book was awesome! I've never read about using any form of chef qualities in a fantasy book so this was unique. I do have a few negatives though:
-Way overuse of the word "said". It was constantly used even if there were only two characters in the scene. It was also used to replace the word "asked". So you would get someone asking a question but it being tied to said.
-It got so annoying with the mentions of the MC's inability to taste because of COVID. I understand saying it every once in a while, especially to brand new characters. But I counted it being mentioned once every chapter for the first 6 chapters. And it kept being shoved in our faces.
-There were some unnecessary sentences. Like the author didn't want a compound sentence to be used. It would have helped with the flow of the story.
-The ending was absolutely rushed. You have so much going on through this 18 hour book and it was all kind of wrapped up in the last hour. I felt there was too much time spent on the extras and not enough. Plus the "main conflict" didn't even feel like a conflict.

However! I did love the idea of an epicurist and how the HUD was explained. It wasn't over the top and even made some of the abilities make sense. Overall, loved the book. I really did. I just had those gripes about it. It wasn't bad enough that I had to stop listening. It kept me on edge.

My two favorite things

This was an unexpected hit. The magic system is unique and well written. The cooking and action were fun and well paced. I can't wait for the next one.

The books is okay

So, I have a few hours left and I'm soooo annoyed and pissed at the main MC. Spoiler:

So a guy approached her in the middle of no where... literally, like he knows her, but only after her mentor left her, act weird and mysterious, and then left. She does her thing, mentor comes back, she doesn't mention the guy or the rose he gives her. Then she hears a story and the organization named " the black rose" comes up and she doesn't go OH wow y'all, I just meet a guy who gave me a black rose. Do you know him? what does that mean. No, no she doesn't. if nothing else, shes a woman, my creepy/ self preservation vibe went straight off, more than once. And not one timw dueing this part of the story, not even when this part was over, did she say, hey, i know your hiding out here or whatever, but look out for this guy .

Then, she tells her closest homie what happened, and he says, sounds dangerous, you should tell the others and she doesnt. AND later on, she is WARNED to burn the rose. she runs home, takes it out her room.. decides she cant burn it, and hides in somewhere else. Please tell me WHY? and then, she doesn't mention this incident to anyone close to her as well. WHY? you cant tell me, you sont think something is wrong with that.

IDK if I can finish it. How many times can the universe express, theres some nad juju there. This could be a warning for whats to come? UGH. Side note: If it werent for this line of the story, I still think she is missing a few screws but I wouldn't mind cause we are all missing a few lol.

a MUST read/listen!

A monster menu was absolutely INCREDIBLE! Obsessed- the story, characters everything… listened to this on my runs and it was the most wonderful, exciting and intriguing journey! Terrell Garrett is a fabulous writer

Mc is an idiot. Mc has no command sense. Mc doesn’t think in any situation

Mc has no command sense. Mc doesn’t think in any situation seems like the Mc is just going with the flow

Fun concept!

Enjoyed the characters-story is a fun romp-can’t wait for the next one! Maybe have to try a few recipes