Prequels are hard.

Most exist for no reason other than the need to build out a franchise or to expand upon IP with a built in money. Because of this, most prequels come across as creatively cynical; they don't exist genuinely but instead because they will print money.

Prequels are also hard because they require authors to work within the confines of what readers already know will happen. Nothing "suprising" can happen because the twists must work within the rules, worldbuilding, plots, and character arcs that have already been established in the previously published books. This means that, at worst, prequels are made inert by their ability to do anything interesting, and at worse they invalidate the meaningful gains made in the other books.

Bookshops and Bonedusts fell somwhere in the middle of these two extremes for me. Unforunately, this left the book a bit of a dissapointment for me. It was by no means a complete failure, but it failed to live up to the cozy perfection that Legends and Lattes offered up.

Bookshops and Bonedusts follows Viv (the main character from Legends and Lattes) as she is wounded in a battle. As she recovers, she settles into a village and meets a whole cast of quirky characters, including a ratkin that owns a cozy (yet failing) bookshop and a dwarf who runs a successful bakery. Viv works to help save the bookstore and find a bit of romance all while trying to defeat an evil necromancer who is chasing after her.

At its best, Bookshops and Bonedusts attempts to elicit all of the same emotions from the reader at Legends and Lattes. There is a colorful cast of characters living in the same village, slowly building a cozy business, and a slightly darker threat pervading the book to give it a bit of plot momentum and excitement. If what you are genuinely looking for is just those cozy vibes, Bookshops and Bonedust has got you covered. Except for a sequence at the end, it is a gently paced book that feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket.

But you know when someone gives you a hug and you can tell their heart is not in it? You know how you want that warming endorphin fit from having someone wrap their arms around you and it doesn't quite "hit"? That was my feeling while both immersed in and walking away from Bookshops and Bonedusts. Despite hitting all of the same beats as Legends and Lattes, there was just something missing from this book. There was a hollowness and emptiness; once you scraped away the cozy fantasy tropes, there wasn't much left over. I found myself reading through the book looking for that cozy endorphine it and not finding it. I think that the hollowness has emerged through the book's existence as a prequel - and a prequel that doesn't necessarily have a purpose for existing.

The main conceit of Bookshops and Bonedusts is that it gives readers backgrounds on how Viv came to the realization that there is more to life than being a member of a violence band of warriors. Viv comes to appreciate the quieter, gentler, and cozier parts of life. As the book begins, Viv is anxious to get back to her crew, despite the fact that she can barely stand on her marred leg. As the book progresses, she finds that we can fill our lives with genuine relationships, that human connection and making people content (rather than dead) can actually be exciting and meaningful.

I just don't think this was a story that needed to be told.

As readers we already KNEW all of this. Legends and Lattes had already laid that foundation, and I'm not sure that this was an origin story that needed to be told. I think that hollowness I was feeling was coming about from the very fact that this was a story without a purpose. This is an attempt to recapture lightning in a bottle, and doesn't quite reach the heights of Legends and Lattes. Travis Baldree is obviously a very talented writer, but I cannot help but wonder if his strengths as a storyteller would have been better served in a completely new world, or a story set in the world of Legends and Lattes that didn't necessarily center Viv. Viv's story arc in Legends and Lattes was so beautiful and perfectly constructed that giving us MORE just felt unneeded. This was especially true whenever Bookshops and Bonedusts started to give Viv character development that she allgedly first got in Legends and Lattes; if she had this journey in this earlier time period, then why, as the reader, do I care about her development later?

This all also leads to a bit of a tonal disjuncture in the book. In the last act Viv has to confront the evil necromancer that is chasing her (where the "bonedust" in the title comes from!). As I briefly mentioned earlier, this has the same purpose/function that the cartel had in Legends and Lattes; it gives the book a bit of higher stakes. It really worked in Legends and Lattes because it sprinkled just a bit of stakes onto all of the coffee shop building, adding some tension to a book (and genre) that exists mainly to avoid it. The necromancy storyline is much less successful here. The magic and history between Viv and the necromancer is not given enough space to fully flesh it out, and this conflict is MUCH darker than what we had in Legends and Lattes. Based on what we are told about this particular villain means the stakes should be even higher, the danger more real, and the conflict more nuanced and complex. Since this isn't a dark, epic fantasy, and the real focus is on Viv's relationship with her new friends and saving this bookshop, the necromancy stuff just falls flat. The action scenes toward the end feel tacked on and again don't really feel like they need to be there.

As I criticize the very purpose and existence of Bookshops and Bonedust, I want to emphasize that it is by no means a bad book. I read it over the winter holidays (I read Legends and Lattes the year before during the American Thanksgiving holiday), and it nicely encapuslated those warm holiday feelings. As I mentioned, Baldree knows his way around telling a story...especially in making an engaging narrative around a story in which very little actually happens. I'm normally a high stakes reader; I like when worlds are ending, gods are battling, etc., and so books like this are a great change of pace. If you liked Legends and Lattes and wished it was 300ish pages longer, than Bookshops and Bonedusts is exactly what you are looking for.

I've seen many, many five-star reviews for this book, and so I think I'm a bit of an outlier with my thoughts here. So hopefully reading this review alone doesn't automatically turn you off from the book! Bookshops and Bonedusts still have a lot to offer, including being one of the best love letters to booklovers and booksellers in fantasy. If you have a favorite indie bookstore, that place that is a transportative and magical home away from home, this book will bubble up those nostalgic wonderful feelings of walking among the shelves and finding your next favorite read.

Concluding Thoughts: Since the publication of Legends and Lattes the cozy fantasy has exploded in a lot of different directions, and authors are finding ways to achieve those warming vibes with stories that have something a bit more to say. I'm afraid that this particular prequel has gotten a bit lost in the dust. It is still a beautifully constructed novel, with some fun, quirky characters and a love letter to booklovers and booksellers everywhere. However, because Baldree and Tor went back to the same well again with this book, it just fails to live up to what Legends and Lattes had to offer, and ultimately doesn't justify its own existence (or the hours readers will sink into the book). I'm still a huge fan of Baldree and I cannot wait to see what he has in store for us in the future, perhaps this time a bit away from Viv.

A wonderful sequel to Legends and Lattes. I love the characters and the absolute coziness of the story, this one taking place in a bookshop and featuring many more fantastical characters. I will definitely recommend this to lots of my students.

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree is a prequel to Legends & Lattes. Viv's career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam's Ravens isn't going as planned. Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she's packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she'll never be able to return to it. What's a thwarted soldier of fortune to do? Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn't possibly imagine. Still, adventure isn't all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

Bookshops & Bonedust is a solid addition to Viv's world, and I was glad to see some of her life from before she discovered coffee. Those that have not yet discovered Legends & Lattes can start with either book. It feels like it has been awhile since I read the other book, so it took me a hot minute to realize that this was the prequel- at first I thought it was just set in the same world- but I caught on. I loved getting to know this set of characters and how a baker and bookshop owner affected Viv's mindset. Aside from that, it was an enjoyable and engaging read, even for those not looking for Viv's character development. I thought there was a nice balance of adventure, mystery, and good fun. I think fans of the genre and the author will greatly enjoy the read.

After reading and loving Legends & Lattes, I was so excited for Bookshops & Bonedust.

Admittedly, I am slightly confused as to why this prequel makes sense for Viv's story. In L&L, we know that Viv is a retired battle orc and her desire to slow down and retire leads her to opening a cozy coffee shop. That leads me to question why we wouldn't have been given Easter Eggs in L&L about her bookshop that we see in Bookshops & Bonedust. This story would have made a lot more sense if it acted as a sequel to L&L and was a sort of "expansion" on the coffeeshop.

Overall, though, this was a cozy read and I did really enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! What is there to not enjoy about this book? Legends and Lattes was one of my favorite reads last year, it was a cozy piece of joy that everyone rightfully embraced. When given the option to review this book, I jumped at the opportunity. Reading about young Viv's life was insightful and charming. This book is for all fantasy readers who want a break from violence and need a hug. I can't wait to read more of Travis' work!

If you enjoyed Legends & Lattes, this is more of the same cozy fantasy goodness. :)
Thank you very much to Tor and NetGalley for the ARC!

Bookshops & Bonedust is a prequel that takes place 20 years before Legends & Lattes. In this book, we meet a much younger Viv who has just started her career as an adventurer. Her career gets waylaid (and potentially derailed) by an injury, and she's left behind in a small seaside village to recover. As Viv regains her strength and starts to move around town, we get to know the town and its inhabitants along with her. I fell in love with the place.

Like Legends & Lattes, this cozy, low-stakes fantasy pulled me in right from the very beginning. I love the great circle of friends Viv gathered around her in this book. That "found family," and a bit of mystery and romance kept me engaged: I literally could not put this book down once I started. It's a fun, feel-good story that not only put a smile on my face, but also brought a tear or two to my eyes. It's another fantastic story by a fantastic author and narrator. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

Travis Baldree's narration is excellent as always. He gives each character a distinct and easily recognized voice and personality. His narration really brought this story and its characters to life.

Perfectly cozy yet again! The thing I love about this series is the “main threat” lingers in the background while we focus on the mundane life that truly enriches the story. It’s the little things during these moments that make this book wonderful. The characters are continually learning about themselves and others while building deep and meaningful connections in a way that just glides effortlessly through the storyline. There’s minimal drama but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t engaging or doesn’t keep your interest, if you love banter and character development then this is must read for cozy fantasy.

Some things I’d like to note that I found truly made me happy was the body doubling that Fern displays, which is something I can relate to heavily. ‘Thistleburr’ is the main hangout, an over stuffed shabby bookstore, that shows a readers true passion for reading and sharing the experience of talking about books we love or seeing someone enjoy recommendations. It was just so relatable as a reader with an active bookish community.

There’s a sweet and delicate sapphic situationship that was so honest and pure, ugh my heart! It showed minimal drama when faced with problems, handled with maturity that was a breath of fresh air. A true example of two passing ships that aren’t in the same place in their lives to be together.

It was also witty and made me laugh quite a bit, it’s the type of humor that fit the characters so well and was very relatable. Even going as far as to interpret current topics into a fantasy setting that made it more enjoyable.

Just as delightful as the first one! I loved seeing the start to Viv’s adventures. The characters were quirky and memorable. All in all, it was a good addition to the world, and I would definitely recommend it for fans of the first book,

I ADORED this follow-up to Legends and Lattes! While this is the second book following Viv's adventures, the setting and story take place before the events in L&L -- when Viv was still at the height of her mercenary career. While I was initially sad to get so little of the characters I had already grown to love, I was quickly enamored with all the new characters (and old friends) revealed in Bookshops and Bonedust. Much like how the previous book was an ode to the cozy, delicious warmth of a coffee shop, we shift to a new context that is equally well-loved: the bookstore!

Travis Baldree is a fantastic writer and narrator. Highly recommend this one for anyone who already enjoyed Baldree's first. I can't wait for more from him and could luxuriate in this world forever!!!

Thank you to Tor and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my review!

SEQUEL!! Can I just say how excited I am that this series exists? And that I hope it goes on forever! Seriously these books are so fun and full of the most enjoyable characters and adventures. I really can;t wait to read more from Travis Baldree.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

2.5 stars.
Honestly, pretty mediocre.
The first book he wrote was so stellar that he beat the odds by only writing something mid instead of terrible.

This book was everything. I was a little hesitant because I loved Legends & Lattes and usually other books in a series don't live up to the hype, and I knew this one was more adventure focused than fully cozy. Still, this worked and it was everything I wanted and so much more. Baldree is a master at creating interesting, well rounded characters and I loved learning about Viv's backstory!

Bookshops and Bonedust takes us back in time before the events of legends and lattes so we of course have a little reversal of character growth for MC Viv. But Viv is still Viv and B&B shows us the pivotal steps she takes to get to L&L.
I loved the side characters and the setting. It was a very slow read for me but a savor your soup slow.

I loved this book. This was the perfect prequel to Legends and Lattes. I love Viv and all the characters she encounters. This one is a bit more “adventurey” then Legends but still completely cozy. Give me more Travis Baldree!

Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree is a prequel to Legends and Lattes, set early in narrator Viv's career as a mercenary. When she's sidelined in a small town by a leg wound, boredom leads her to make new friends and try new experiences in a way that will influence her later in life, after she retires and opens a coffee shop. So, basically, it's very similar to Legends and Lattes, and if you liked that one, you will very likely enjoy this one as well. I actually liked it a bit better because of the deft commentary on genre books and reading and what those things do for us as people. It was soothing and hopeful. Recommended.

In short, I loved this book. It opens with an action sequence that is completely relatable to anyone who has experienced a tabletop RPG session. The rise, fall, and consequence of that brief action-packed moment sets the stage for the rest of the story. At first glance, I thought I was getting myself into a Robert-Asprin-esque humorous action-comedy-fantasy novel. Instead, the tale that unfolds contained wonderous blend of high-fantasy creatures and settings with scenes reminiscent of New England in the fading summer time.

In truth, as I was reading this title, I felt as though I was actually reading two separate tales told in tandem. And I mean that in a completely positive way. There is love, newfound friendships, personal growth, and self-discovery combined with Half-Orcs, Ratlings, Gnomes, and Necromancers. Smooth-paced story beats between characters and growing connections is occasionally supplanted with ever-accelerating action and adventure to culminate into a single consummate denouement.

I fell in love with the characters, the subplots, and the setting. I loved the author’s voice and writing style, simultaneously faithful to established fantasy lore and geek culture and completely accessible to anyone new to such storytelling devices. The use of high-fantasy to tell a fulfilling story of a very human experience is done rather masterfully in this book.

For my own personal taste, I found the action sequences spaced a tad too far apart to keep the pulse of the story at a cadence that felt right. Perhaps the intent was to have these scenes jar the reader into a heightened state of awareness after a lengthy period of peace, but I found the sequences to be so spaced apart that they almost became orphaned (and were certainly dwarfed) by the more mundane and common-place events that bookended the conflict. I would also say that (without any spoilers) I found the conclusion to the conflict with the “big bad” to be a bit lackluster, a touch simplistic.

However, with those criticisms firmly in tow, I still love Bookshops & Bonedust. Between the author’s warm and compelling voice and the ease of identifiability with otherwise inhuman actors throughout the tale, I found myself utterly intoxicated by the ebb and flow of this story. It is a masterful thing Travis Baldree has done to take unearthly (and in some cases monstrous) characters and portray a deeply meaningful and sympathetic human experience.

A delight! This one had more substance and conflict that the first book, which was a welcome change. We get a sense of the wider world outside of Viv's direct experience. This has the same cozy vibes as Legends and Lattes. Can't wait for more in the series.

I enjoyed this one more than L&L but I just think these stories aren’t for me. I find myself wanting *more* from these stories and maybe they’re just a little too cozy for me. Either way, this book is well loved for good reason and it definitely has an audience.

This prequel to Legends & Lattes is set 20 years before the events detailed in that book.
Viv is still younger full of fight but injured and this novel covers the time Viv spends in a seaside town recovering.
Yet again this is high fiction with a cozy feel to it - a tale of rest, recuperation with visits to the most delightful bookshop that Viv starts helping at. It is about the joy and community of reading and friendships that are not concerned with outer appearances or being of the „right kind".
• This was just lovely !
The way these books are written they can be read as standalones especially with this new one being a prequel there is no necessity to have read Legends & Lattes before diving into this one. Just a fun Easter egg kind of allusion to coffee that Viv hasn't discovered for herself yet.
I love these wonderfully quiet heartwarming and moodboosting books so much.
Isn't it just perfect that my favorite fantasy author Ben Aaronovitch's blurb on the cover of the UK edition calls this book „glorious" ?