Received a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.

I’ve started this book at least 4 times. I even read it cover to cover 2 times. Many people I’ve recommended this book to have loved it. I generally like fantasy storytelling. But maybe I just need more action or a faster pace? I found my attention drifting off. Definitely willing to read more of this author’s work.

Cozy up with an all vibes, no plot kinda read. It’s relaxing and charming, but missing something.

I like slow books, but this was a little too slow. I see why people love it, but I may need a bit more oomph in my fantasy reads.

Heartwarming cozy fantasy

What can I say about Legends & Lattes that hasn’t already been said? Baldree’s breakout, bestselling debut novel hits the sweet spot for me: low-stakes cozy fantasy, found family, believable (and likeable) main character, interesting secondary characters, and solid worldbuilding with a D&D feel. It’s a well-crafted novel with good pacing and just the right amount of description…enough to bring the scenes vividly to life without overwhelming the action or Viv’s emotional journey.

Speaking of Viv, I almost didn’t read the book because my concept of orcs is decidedly influenced by Tolkien, who in turn was influenced by George MacDonald’s goblins (with which I’m also familiar.) In other words, I was put off by the mere idea of an orc as a main character. (More fool me; I should know better than to judge based on stereotypes, even in fiction!) But between the internet buzz, the delightful cover art, and the seemingly unlikely premise—an orc mercenary retiring to open a… coffee shop?!—I decided to give it a try, and I’m so glad I did. I fell hard for Viv and her newfound friends, for her respect for others regardless of species, and for the warmth and welcoming atmosphere of the Legends & Lattes café.

And omg, the food p*rn! I can’t read the book without craving cinnamon rolls, chocolate croissants, biscotti, and (since I can’t drink coffee) a decaf chai latte to go with them.

I love Legends & Lattes so much, it has joined the ranks of my rereadable “comfort books,” and I have already read it twice. I can’t wait to read the prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust!

Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree
Publication date: February 22, 2022

Date read: April 22, 2023



Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv the orc barbarian cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen. However, her dreams of a fresh start pulling shots instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners and a different kind of resolve.

I was hesitant to read this because I thought that it might be a little bit silly, despite my love of fantasy and Dungeons and Dragons. But after seeing more and more positive reviews, I decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did! Not only was this book not silly, but it was incredibly well-written and not just in an epic fantasy format, but just as a character-driven novel.

I loved how the story seamlessly blended the fantasy world medieval times setting with modern technology like espresso machines, without acknowledging that anything was amiss. It was a really fun choice that the author made.

The characters in this story were really interesting and developed. Viv was a great main character - perfectly out of place in her situation but so easy to root for. All of the minor characters were fun and fit so well into the story. There wasn't anyone who I disliked reading about. Overall, both a fun epic fantasy adventure and a sweet love story. Recommended to any fantasy readers out there.

There is also a short story at the end of the novel that was excellent.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Content warning: gore, racism (fantasy races)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

I wrote about this on the Storygraph and Goodreads with links sent to one of more social media sites (Bluesky, X, Threads, Instagram, Mastodon, Facebook, Ravelry)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6014351399

Such a cute cozy fantasy novel!

No one in Thune has any idea what coffee is, so Viv brings it from a faraway land, and introduces it into the Thune community. While there are always hiccups that comes with starting business, Viv runs into more than she had anticipated and makes the greatest friends out of the those she didn't expect to stick around.

There's humor, fantasy, and a bit of mystery in this novel, and it's all powered by bean juice and cinnamon rolls.

TL;DR: Legends & Lattes and its standalone prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust, live up to their promise of being novels of “high fantasy and low stakes.” These books are the literary equivalent of a warm hug: simple (but never trite) stories of individuals triumphing over the mundane and heroic that inspire the reader towards kindness at every turn.



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I read Legends & Lattes in about two sittings a couple of weeks before it came out in November 2022—and then, well… life happened. We got a puppy; my first MFA thesis of the academic year was due two weeks after that; and then I was overwhelmed with work, gearing up for my second thesis of the academic year, and trying to handle the landshark that had taken up residence in our once-peaceful one-bedroom apartment.



I thought of Legends & Lattes and the review I’d been meant to write for it every week since—not just out of the haunting of guilt that I’d still not gotten to it, but also out of how applicable it was. I found myself recommending it to anyone who mentioned that they’d been having a tough time—and, in the “post-COVID” years where it doesn’t ever truly feel like the pandemic is over and during which many other troubles have surfaced… well, that was pretty often.



It’s with incredible pleasure that I learned I had the chance to review the second book set in this world—which came out just today, November 7, 2023.



Because this review will cover two books, it’s divided into two sections: one for those who have not yet entered the world of Legends and Lattes, and one for those who want to know a bit more about Bookshops and Bonedust in particular. However, these are both standalone books, and you can start with whichever one tickles your fancy more.



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Part 1: Legends and Lattes



lal.jpegLegends & Lattes by Travis Baldree begins at the end. An orc by the name of Viv has just beaten what amounts to the Big Bad End Guy (BBEG) of her own adventure. And so… she decides to settle down and open a café in a city named Thune, where no one has heard of coffee (yet). She has a nest egg of gold that she’s saved up in her years of adventuring and a strong work ethic to make her dream a reality. It’s a far cry from her previous life, and a very different path than many of “her kind” take, as so many folks point out to her—but she’s determined to leave that past behind. What follows is the story of how the coffee shop comes into being.



This is not a nail-biter of a book: the reader never truly worries that she will end up homeless and destitute—the stakes are never quite that high. Rather, the challenge is whether she will give up on her dream and whether she is willing to continue trusting herself and the path that she has chosen and, more importantly, whether she is willing to ask for help—or, more critically, accept when others offer the help she so willingly and unquestioningly gives to strangers.



Screenshot 2023-11-07 at 11.35.11 PM.pngIt is a book that asks whether a person can truly change, and whether they can find happiness in that change; it also understands that being entirely self-reliant can be the same thing as being selfish, and that trust and faith in others can be more terrifying than fighting monsters. Perhaps most importantly: this is a book that made me want to be kinder and more open to those around me. I live in New York City, where often, the biggest kindness you can give others is space and privacy to live their lives—and yet, while reading this book, I found myself longing to connect more closely to the neighbourhood I’d lived in for the past seven (now eight!) years. Thanks to our now year-old puppy, Virgil (pictured right), and his exuberant friendliness and insatiable curiosity about the world, we’ve been able to make our neighborhood more of a home than ever. I’d like to think Viv would adore his goofy, chaotic self.



While I absolutely loved this book (as did many others—it was nominated for multiple awards and Baldree won the Astounding Award for Best New Writer in 2023), there are certain readers who will likely not enjoy it. In particular: if you are looking for higher stakes and extensive moments of tension—this book is not for you. Most challenges are vanquished almost as soon as they appear, which can give the feeling of a lot of stuff happening without much consequence (this is magically explained later in the novel, but that will not be satisfying for some, I presume!). The evolution of Viv’s café is also a big formulaic—from one type of coffee to two, from no pastries to one pastry to more, from tiny kitchen to large kitchen. If you’re looking for a book that goes into a realistic scenario of growing a food services business—this also probably isn’t for you (but I do highly recommend Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential to scratch that particular itch!).



However, this is the perfect book for you if you: are looking for comfort and coziness, want a queer, low-drama romance, and/or delight in descriptions of food. I recommend it most for those who feel deeply lonely: it’s the type of book that makes you want to reach out to those around you, and that may inspire you to ask for—and allow yourself to receive—the help that you need.



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Part 2: Bookshops and Bonedust



bab.jpegBookshops & Bonedust is Baldree’s sophomore novel. This one starts at the beginning: we see Viv, the retired adventurer and main character of Legends & Lattes, on her very first campaign with the mercenary group Rackam's Ravens. It’s almost her last, too: she’s injured by the henchman of the necromancer Varine and just barely survives. But survive she does—only for Rackam and company to leave her in the seaside town of Murk to recuperate. Stuck in a place that takes all of about ten minutes to see (according to the innkeeper) and still healing from a thigh wound that requires dreadful amounts of bedrest, Viv’s worried that she might go crazy from boredom before Rackam comes to fetch her on their way back from hunting Varine—if they come back for her at all.



But while in Murk, Viv builds a community through her small acts of kindness. She befriends Fern, a rattakin who inherited her father’s slowly dying bookshop, her gryphet Potroas (for whom I would die)t, and a taciturn orc carpenter named Pitts. She also finds something more than friendship with Maylee, the local baker and a former adventurer herself. Readers of Legends & Lattes may also remember the name of Gallina, who appears in Bookshops & Bonedust as a young and somewhat annoying gnome desperate to be taken seriously enough to join a mercenary group.



This book is also a great option for those who found Legends & Lattes a little bit too low-stakes but are on the lookout for cozy fantasy. It’s still definitely not a book that will set your heart racing at every turn of the page, but it does manage to keep a low level of concern throughout for what Varine the necromancer is up to, and has a greater antagonist arc than L&L managed. I appreciated how everything came together, both in the more mundane aspects of the plot as well as in the larger “BBEG” sense of the story. (With that being said, if you’re looking for a realistic Bookstore Simulator™, this isn’t the book for you—no mentions of consignment or returnability to be found here!)



Ultimately, this book is about much more than adventure and magic. At its core, it’s about what it means to connect with others and to trust them; it also thrums with Baldree’s love for stories. Fern teaches Viv to love reading; she does so not with force or snobbery, but by trying to understand who Viv is and what will make her, not Fern, and not anyone else, happiest. Bookshops and Bonedust also considers the price of friendship and what it means to stay in a place temporarily, including what we owe those who care for us when we’re just passing through their lives. It’s a deeply touching book, and, in the end, encourages the reader to take chances and connect with the world around them, just like Legends & Lattes did.



Also like Legends & Lattes, this is a book for those who want something cozy and comforting; who love books about books; who are looking for quiet queer romance; and—of course—who want to learn more about Viv, the wonderful orc of the first installment of this series.

I LOVED this book! I had heard it had immaculate cozy D&D vibes and that is exactly what it is. Viv is such a great main character and the idea of a fantasy coffee shop is just perfect. There was a lot of plot progression and character development, and while the stakes were lower than saving-the-world-adventuring stakes, they were no less important. I would read a dozen-book series set in this world, where former heroes can continue their stories by living as their authentic, true selves.

This book was everything as advertised on the cover: A cosy fantasy novel with D&D style characters.

Viv wants to open a coffee shop. She's been a brawler for long enough and is utterly sick of doing what's expected of her just because she's strong. On her travels, she once saw a market selling coffee and so, when she settles in the sleepy town of Thune, her plans are to start her own.

It doesn't begin as smoothly as she thinks it will, but the hurdles both in Thune and coming from her past are the only things that a reader will have to deal with when coming into this novel. For the most part, it is soothing descriptions that to me felt more like a meditation book with a plot than anything else.

I absolutely love that the cosy subsect of various genres is picking up speed. And this is probably the first one I've seen make it big, which is extra lovely.

Viv and her sidekick / partner in crime Gallina are delightful in their interactions together. Something I liked about this succubus character is that she too is sick of the way people see her and is looking just as much for a change and a fresh start as is Viv!

The fact that there was some sapphic love between these two was not something I was expecting, but I was very much there for it once it became clear that was where Gallina's intensions lay.

Every character mentioned in this book, bar one obvious one, is an utter gem and I'd very happily read anything else written by this author.

I gave this a five stars rating, I loved this so much! I loved the story, the characters, the cozy vibes of it. This is absolutely on my list of my favorite books of the year.

I’d heard a ton about this one before ever picking it up to read myself. But I’m glad it was the first book I read in my birthday month this year (and grateful that my friend Kristin picked it out) because it was really all the things I’d been promised — cozy, comforting and filled with a wonderful sense of finding your people and your place.

It was a treat to read all about Viv settling down in Thune to try and make her dreams of owning and running a coffee shop happen, and from the beginning, I was flying through the pages where she got her start, formed her connections, built her place and what followed after. The cast is endearing, the vibes are calm and cozy and I felt like I’d just experienced a very chill, warm hug of a read that flew by in no time.

Legends and Lattes is a warm hug that had me smiling the entire time I read it. I couldn't decide which character I adored the most, and I was invested in all of them. It takes a magical world and creates real, beautiful individuals wrapped up like a warm cinnamon bun of found family. It is masterfully crafted and after one book this author is sn instant buy for me.

Absolutely fantastic. This book is pure joy! I’m so grateful for this introduction to cozy fantasy!!!

I can't say enough good things about this book! Travis Baldree creates a cozy world and loveable characters and leaves you wanting more. It could have been a very quick read, but I made sure to savor it, not wanting it to end. This book explores themes of fresh starts, community & belonging, friendship, all with a hint of sapphic romance. I've recommended this book to just about everyone I know.

Omg. So cute. I loved the idea of warm bean juice.
Opening a shop was perfect for that local community.
Overall I was In love with the book. I found myself of smiling throughout the whole thing

5/5

Things I liked:
- great characters
- reading it felt like a warm hug
- found family
- Sapphic romance

Things that could have been slightly better:
- The romance felt slightly underdeveloped, but it was still really cute

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book! This one is definitely one of my top reads of 2022.

what's not to love about this cozy fantasy? I'm glad I got the opportunity to read this and it is definitely a favorite. I can't wait for the next book form the this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to the free advanced digital copy of this book.

Such a whimsical and perfectly written comfort fantasy! I love this as an in between for high fantasy and dramatic series. It was easy to read, and yet bled with lore and story on every page! Highly recommend for fans of Dungeons & Dragons and The Witcher !!

It was a very cozy and relaxing story. I’d definitely recommend it to fans of fantasy that aren’t really looking for the kind of action that a lot of fantasy comes with.