I loved this book! I devoured it in only a few sittings and wish there was more to read. The story line was paced very well and the characters were easy to love!

✨ Review ✨ Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree; Narrated by author.

The prequel to Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust brings us back into the world of our beloved Viv. After an injury in her first battle as part of the gang, she's left to convalesce in a small town where she befriends a delightful cast of characters (shout out to Potroast and Satchel who were the stars of this story).

Yet again, Baldree brings this "cozy fantasy" genre to life where you live and breathe the coziness of building a business, making repairs, sprucing things up, finding new recipes, etc. etc., all while protecting the ones you love. The "adventure" plot I think could have had a bit more oomph to it, but overall this book was a total delight -- perfect for a slow winter day!

Baldree's narration was excellent - he brought the characters to life, and I binged this in two sittings!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: cozy fantasy
Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
Pub Date: out now!

Read this if you like:
⭕️ books and baked goods
⭕️ found family
⭕️ fantasy with a bit of fighting and adventure but lots of coziness
⭕️ the Legends & Lattes world

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, Tor and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

I loved this prequel to Legends & Lattes! I liked that the danger was a little higher stakes, but the getting to meet a younger, more reckless Viv and a place that helped shape her was magnificent. The characters were lovely and the epilogue left me smiling ear-to-ear. It was interesting to read a love story that you knew couldn't end with the two people together. It was done very well and an example of not every relationship needing to be "happily ever after" to be good and meaningful. I can't wait to see what Travis Baldree does next!

This was not the prequel I imagined it would be. However, I was not disappointed in this at all. I love the way the author makes the characters so lovable and their emotions fly off the page in vivid colors and creativity. I did enjoy learning more about the world and Viv. The story is well told and makes you feel like you’re inside the book with the characters. But, I did enjoy Legends a bit more.

Travis Baldree returns to the world of Legends & Lattes (paper) with the tale of how the orc Viv got her magic sword. It is a tale of Bookshops & Bonedust (paper from TOR). VVivv was wounded working for Rackam's Ravens who had been fighting a necromancer. Viv bides her time helping a local bookseller, and befriends a baker. Then a magical book falls into her hands and she and her friends have to find a way to stop the necromancer who wants her book back. Lots of fun and filled with nice people trying to make their lives better

I was skeptical about the hype surrounding this author and this cozy fantasy series. I didn’t read Legends and Lattes because I’m just not interested in coffee shop stories, but I do love to read about anything involving books. I don’t normally read high fantasy, but because of the hype and the subject matter (and the cute pug-bird on the cover) I gave Bookshops and Bonedust a chance.

I am so glad I did because it lived up to the hype! There were many wonderful characters, each with a special personality that made my heart warm. I loved and related to Fern’s passion finding the right book for the right reader. Seeing Viv fall in love with books made me so happy. And I felt for the frustration Viv felt about not being at the right place in her life for something or someone. Satchel and his development was the most interesting.

The cozy vibes involving the bookshop were perfect, especially the parts at the end.

I didn’t really care much about the great evil sorceress plot, I was just here for the cozy vibes.

I loved the addition of a bookshop to this already super cozy world. The ending left me smiling and excited to see where the next installment can take us.

I loved this book. Getting better insight into who Viv was and how that led to her in Legends & Lattes was great. I fell in love with all of these characters and hope that we get to revisit. I also loved how much this book focused on friendships and relationships and the roles they can play, even if temporary.

I was a huge fan of Travis Baldree's first novel, Legends and Lattes and had even picked it for one of our recent Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion Group where we enjoyed discussing it while sampling cinnamon buns and other treats almost as tasty as Thimble's. I was curious to see where Baldree would choose to go with his next novel, Bookshops and Bonedust. I wasn't expecting him to decide to write a prequel, but I think this worked well and helped give further insight into the character of Viv who goes from enjoying and thriving in the adventurous life of a mercenary to retiring to coffee shop owner. I thought it might be awkward to have a romance with a character that had her HEA (Happily Ever After) already, but I found it to be bittersweet and moving in its own way. In both novels friendship is as if not more important than romantic feelings so in some ways the fact that we know that they will not have a lasting partnership adds to the strength of what they are able to forge for the time. I really enjoyed the new characters that were included in the book. Unlike the previous typically soft spoken shy ratkin, Thimble, in Bookshops and Bonedust, Fern a local ratkin bookshop owner has a mouth that would make a longshoreman blush despite her heart of gold. Her adorable pet, gryphet, Potroast, who is a whimsical spin on the gryphen, part owl and part dog, brought some adorable humor to the novel. Baldree excels at taking classic fantasy tropes and giving them fun tweaks. I will definitely look for more from Baldree in the future whether it is exploring more from his current characters or bringing new ones to life.

BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST by Travis Baldree is the newly released prequel to Legends and Lattes and appears on a number of recommended booklists, including Goodreads' Choice Awards for the Fantasy genre. I read this as a stand-alone adventure and thoroughly enjoyed it. Viv is an orc who is injured and ends up convalescing in a small town where she befriends a handyman, a baker, a bookshop owner, and many more. It is a gentle, cozy read, but there is plenty of swordmanship and danger lurks nearby. BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST received a starred review from Booklist ("anyone who likes the idea of an orc warrior becoming a devotee of the power of reading and its ability to broaden your horizons—should check out Viv's adventures") and is the top pick for LibraryReads in November. Have fun reading!!

I read Travis Baldree’s Legend & Lattes last month and really enjoyed its cozy fantasy vibes and of course the main character, an odd named Viv who runs a coffee shop.

Bookshops & Bonedust is actually a prequel to L&L and it’s another delightful read that gives us some backstory on Viv as she helps to renovate a bookshop while recuperating from an injury and takes time to boost her own love of reading. It also features a wonderful cast of characters and a fairly low stakes but very entertaining plot.

Travis Baldree's first book in the series, Legends and Lattes, introduces a whole new group of readers to the wonderful experience of reading cozy fantasy. Bookshops & Bonedust has a bit of mystery, a bit of romance and plenty of coziness. Baldree has created a world that is like slipping into a warm fuzzy pair of slippers. The story is enjoyable and easy to follow along, but what makes this series stand out is the characters. The author did an amazing job of creating characters that are relatable and enjoyable, even for those who generally would not find interest in the fantasy genre.

As mentioned, this is a cozy fantasy read. Expect slower pacing for most of the book. This truly pushes the reader to experience the story and immerse themselves into the environment. It's primarily a feel good wholesome book with just enough fantasy to make it a truly unique reading experience.

Our favorite orc is back in this prequel. I loved getting to know Viv in Legends & Lattes and loved reading her 'origin' story in this book. Viv is sent to a sleepy beachside town to recover after an injury and she learns to love the town and also, books.
If you want a quiet book with a great setting, side characters and just warm, cozy feelings than look no further.

If you haven’t read Legends & Lattes or Bookshops & Bonedust yet, I highly suggest you change that. I was late to the game, but if I had known book 1 was a love letter to coffee and pastries, I would have jumped in sooner! Book 2 is a prequel and love letter to book lovers and indie bookstores 🫶📚. (Oh, and there’s mythical creatures with a dash of adventure 🖤.)
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Viv is an orc who is forced to take a break from the mercenary life after an injury. While recuperating in the small sleepy town of Murk, she comes across a bookshop owned by a sweary rattkin bookseller named Fern. The two become fast friends as Fern recommends books to Viv, and Viv helps her spruce up the bookshop to attract new customers. Throw in a dwarf love interest, cute mythical pets, some dark forces tied to a necromancer, and all the cozy small town vibes 🧡. Will Viv return to her life as a mercenary once her leg heals and adventure calls?
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Look, I didn’t think “cozy high fantasy” was a thing. But @travis_baldree made it a thing and I am 100% here for it.
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I loved the reader references here. That feeling of utter blankness you get when someone asks what you liked about a book on the spot 😂. The joy of convincing someone to read from a genre they don’t usually dip into. (And then seeing them love it.) Book signings, blind date with a book, fangirling over an author, book club. All. The. Bookish. Things 🫶.
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I read and listened to this book. Baldree’s narration of his own book is phenomenal. I love when authors can narrate their own work because they are always able to add a little something special to it.
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Thank you to @torbooks @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the digital ARCs!
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“Never trust a writer who doesn't have too many books to read. Or a reader, for that matter.”
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Bookshops & Bonedust - Travis Baldree
4.5/5⭐️

Of course I expected nothing less than to be smitten after Legends and Lattes proved to be the perfect cozy read. And this definitely held up the vibes while completing the backstory.

Cozy fantasy has certainly earned its place as one of my favorite genres and this book continues that trend. This prequel to Legends and Lattes gives a deeper look into Viv's life as she recovers with the help of books and a cast of quirky characters.

As others have said, if you liked Legends & Lattes, you'll enjoy this but I don't think it was better by any means. That's ok though because sometimes all you want is a nice, cozy time and this certainly delivers that. Though there were a few more fast-paced scenes towards the end this time.

Viv is an orc mercenary who is dedicated to swinging a sword and laughing at danger. When she is terribly injured, her crew leaves her to recuperate in a seaside town. Feeling abandoned, Viv limps around the town and discovers a small bookshop. There, the owner introduces Viv to the joys of reading. When Viv hears that the bookshop is in dire financial straits, she’s determined to save the business (sword or no sword) and sets about gathering a community of friends and readers to do so. Loved 'Legends and Lattes' and adored this peek into Viv's past. Coziness, books and friends abound. I want to wrap myself in this world and never leave!

I was initially so apprehensive that I would not be able to enjoy this follow up as much as I loved Legends and Lattes. We go back in time to experience a younger Viv early in her mercenary career, sidelined due to an injury. With a new cast of characters, we get to witness the inate ability Viv has to draw people together. I slowly fell in love with this story. And by the end I was happy crying.

Travis is quickly becoming an auto buy author for me! I adored reading about one of Viv’s adventures prior to L&L and loved all the characters in this as well. The pacing felt a little bit slower but from a cozy fantasy, I didn’t mind it at all!
Also, the epilogue? Perfection.