It took me a while to track that the author reads this audiobook. At first, I was like, "I'm not sure about this narrator's voice. Eight hours is quite a commitment..." But within just a few chapters, I was all, "Dang, the pacing and characterization are perfect. Absolutely spot-on. I wonder what other books this narrator has read..."

Then, boy, did I feel sheepish. Perhaps I should pay closer attention?

All this to say, Bookshops & Bonedust is all kinds of fun to listen to. It's cozy and charming and a perfect escape from the real world. Plus, Fern, the bookshop owner who draws Viv out, is basically the readers' advisory of my dreams.

Ahem...I listened to Bookshops & Bonedust before Legends & Lattes, so now please excuse me while I cue it up.

Cozy, mysterious and heartfelt

The prequel to the much loved Legends and Lattes brings back Viv, a lovable half orc with a soft spot for helping those in need. An overall charming book that reaffirms all creatures need community and connection to thrive.

After an injury forces her to slow down, Viv finds herself in a small town where she uses her strength and size to help a local bookshop owner. Her new found friends and lover keep the town safe from a necromancer determined to bring the town to ruin. After developing a love for books and small, local enterprises, Viv heads off for her next adventure.

Better than Legends and Lattes. Yes better. I was a puddle at the end. As always, Travis Baldree absolutely crushes it with weaving in cozy with adventure and coming up with the most inventive characters. I had the pleasure of listening to this on audio, obviously narrated by the author. He does such a fantastic job reading his own work. I hope Viv comes around again but if not, I’d be very excited to see what his next writing venture brings.

I was extremely lucky and grateful to have received the advanced audiobook copy of Baldree’s newest book! Once again, he does a brilliant job in narrating his own story. I absolutely loved this one! Dare I say more than the first? Fern was a delightful new character and she had me cracking up throughout. I also really enjoyed the addition of a summer fling for Viv! The sleepy water front setting, the constant talk of books and bakery treats, and the character we grew to love in L&L made this the coziest read. And of course there was some action thrown in! If you have a love for fantasy or Baldrees’s previous work… this is an absolute must read! Curl up and enjoy ☺️

Rating:★★★★★

With Bookshops & Bonedust, Travis Baldree once again demonstrates his talent for imaginative storytelling in the richly crafted world of Legends & Lattes. This prequel centers on Viv, a headstrong young orc whose dreams of mercenary glory are derailed by injury. Forced to recuperate in the quiet town of Murk, Viv finds herself drawn into the dusty aisles and eccentric characters of a struggling bookshop.

Through Viv's engaging perspective, Baldree explores themes of purpose, community, and personal growth with insight and humor. The settings come alive, from the cozy bookshop to the sun-soaked beaches of Murk. Supporting characters like Fenny the foul-mouthed shop owner and Gray the mysterious traveler are vividly drawn. The touch of romance and hint of greater adventures lend an exciting spark.

Though the pace starts leisurely, the stakes ramp up with skeleton-filled action, necromantic intrigue, and high fantasy fun. Baldree's nimble storytelling ensures it all flows naturally from Viv's choices and relationships. There's thoughtful commentary on prejudice amidst the humor and thrills.

Bookshops & Bonedust is a delightful glimpse into this multilayered fantasy world. Baldree deftly balances character development, action, and heart. Viv is a compelling guide through a tale where second chances and serendipity turn the pages. I'm left wanting much more time in the Legends & Lattes universe. A brilliant five stars!

This book is just as good as the first one while bringing so much more to the world!
It has less of a cozy vibe with a bit more action and mystery but while keeping the wholesomeness.
The world feels more fleshed out as this book takes place in a new setting with new characters and shows a new magic!
The bookshop setting really felt like a love letter to reading in a way, and about the magic of books and also helping people find the books they need.
My only minor criticism is with the audiobook some of the swearing was a little jarring and took me out of the story a bit, the tone of which some were said just didn't seem to fit the current tone happening in a scene, but again this is very very minor and not enough to make me love this book any less!

This story is so super cute. It was a fun prequel to Legends & Lattes. I really enjoyed the narration as well, I would be excited if the author narrated any future sequels in the universe.

I loved Legends and Lates and this was just as sweet! The audiobook is great, Travis is an amazing narrator and I love that he is both the author and the narrator. The story was a fun sweet cozy fantasy, I think I liked it a little less than Legends but this book is super good and I love all the book and bookshop scenes, so fun for a reader.

The prequel to Legends and Lattes that we didn't know we needed! This is basically Viv's origin story and it takes place in a little town called Murk. Viv was wounded badly in the fight against an evil necromancer, so she must recuperate before her mercenary friends come back for her. She makes friends with a foul-mouthed bookshop proprietor, has a summer fling with the baker, and basically saves the town and all its adorable inhabitants. I clearly need this series to go on forever. Who knew orcs could be so darn awesome?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

This was adorable and just what I needed after reading so many intense books last month. Was this as good as Legends and Lattes? No, but I still had a good time. The setting was great and the friends Viv makes in this prequel are so cute.

I think because this was a prequel, I just didn't allow myself to become too invested in the new friends that we're introduced to. I will say that the epilogue was so good and s great set up for a next book? Maybe?

All in all, great fun and great for the holiday season for all the cozy vibes!

Thank you Netgalley for the ALC

Viv, a mercenary with Rackam’s Ravens, has been injured in battle and forced to recover in Murk. In this quiet little town, she soon finds herself restless and venturing out itching to get back with her crew. On one such outing she stumbles across an interesting bookstore with a quirky owner. Viv soon finds herself becoming attached to this quaint town, especially once a threat emerges that could harm her newly found friends.

This was an enjoyable audiobook for the most part. I did struggle with some of the inflection on certain characters’ voices. It was often mumbled at times. I listened at 1.25x speed but normally that is not a problem. Otherwise I liked the narration and each character was easily distinguished.

As far as the novel goes, this second book in the series was once again a very light, quick read. Much like the first was coffee shop and barista centric, this was definitely book seller and author centric. The villain and supporting characters had a bit more depth this time around and were original. Perfect for someone looking for a fluffy read after finishing an epic fantasy. 3 stars.

Review based on a Advanced Audiobook provided by Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. Thank you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC!

I liked Legends and Lattes, but I loved Bookshops and Bonedust! Fern is possibly my favorite character of any book ever, I loved her so much! Seeing Viv progress as a character and becoming the person you see later was so satisfying, and the ending of this book had my tearing up and salivating for more.

The audio for this book was also amazing, listening to the author voice it how it was intended was everything.

A wonderful addition to the world of Legends & Lattes. Travis Baldree did a fantastic job of showing us the moment in Viv’s life when she first learned that a slower pace wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Not only that but he was a phenomenal narrator for this story. I once again fell in love with all the characters that fill out this world, not just the main characters. Overall, another home run from Baldree, an author who has now cemented himself as an auto-buy author for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for early access to this title in exchange for an honest review.

A great adventure.


I hadn’t been able to read the first book yet, but was able to follow along.

"Bookshops and Bonedust" delivers all of the cozy charm of its predecessor, and fans of "Legends and Lattes" will find themselves similarly swept up in the comforting world that Baldree has created.

As a prequel, "Bookshops and Bonedust" looks at Viv's earlier adventures as a battle-ready orc. The story begins with a serious injury she incurs while on the hunt for a dangerous necromancer. In need of an extended recuperation, Viv is stationed in small-town Murk, far from the action. There, she finds herself drawn to spending time in the local bookshop, making friends with the owner, a charmingly foul-mouthed rattkin. She also begins to spark a new relationship with another visitor who arrives in town, a gnome.

While I found this to have the same wholesome, heartwarming charm, I also found myself lulled by the coziness so much that I almost didn't notice the plot progressing without me. One of Baldree's strengths, and no doubt part of the appeal of these books, is his ability to take very everyday occurrences and set them in a fantasy world. We can recognize daily life that's similar to our own and yet appreciate the added sparkle it gets when wrapped up in a magical setting. While I think that's a large part of what gives this a cozy feel, that "ordinaryness" also left me feeling the book was a bit flat. 3.5 stars rounded up, out of recognition that I'm simply not the intended audience for his books.

[2.5/5 stars] I’m glad for more time with this author’s works, even if I enjoyed Legends & Lattes a bit more.

My biggest draw to Bookshops & Bonedust was the opportunity to settle in with the delightfully mundane aspects of running a business that was so prominent in the first book. And the business was a bookshop!! What could be more ideal?

As it turns out, more bookshop stuff, less necromancy.

We didn’t get that same level of commitment to focus on the business as we did with L&L. It tried to bring in too many other elements and sort of forgot what made this type of story special in the first place. I can read about necromancers and magic swords anywhere. What I can’t get is book organizing, quirky customer service, and sales reports (I need it). I wanted to see them get their hands dirty turning the store around, of which it provided only glimpses.

I did like the chronology of the tale – set in the pre-L&L days where it provided insight as to how a battling orc would even consider becoming a coffee shop owner. Overall it was a great enrichment to the saga as a whole, even if it didn’t land quite the same way. The parts I liked, I REALLY liked. I just wish there had been more of them.

Recommendations: Pick this up as a fun snack between other books, but don’t expect it to move you like the first one.

Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller

The story continues or more like starts with how Viv was injured and forced to stay behind to heal from her battle wounds. With nothing to do she was encouraged to start reading the books provided by the local bookshop.

THIS BOOK WAS SO FLIPPIN’ CUTE

I didn’t think this prequel was going to outshine Legends & Lattes but in my opinion it totally does.

Still following the same cozy fantasy vibes as L&L, we get a little bit of an inside look at what life was like for Viv before she decided to settle into a quieter life. As someone who obviously loves books and reading, following the journey of revamping a bookstore and the family Viv finds along the way was just fantastic.

I absolutely adored Fern and Pot Roast so much. Like without a doubt my fav characters in this book!

The epilogue made me CRY. (happy tears ofc) and we get the tiniest bit of what life is like after L&L which was such a treat. I absolutely loved this book.

I had the pleasure of listening to this book in audio format and to my pleasant surprise it was narrated by Travis Baldree himself and he did a phenomenal job. I was so impressed. I highly suggest getting the audiobook for this title

Such a great prequel to Legends and Lattes. Although I did miss a lot of the characters from Legends, this book really had the same feel and I liked reading the story along with everyone.

I love a good prequel moment and after the world was taken by storm by Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust is now on the scene. And it's even more charming than before. For fans, this has the same charm and whimsy that readers will be expecting. I was so excited for this as well as being able to listen to the audio which is read by the author. And Baldree is a phenomenal narrator. Immediately Bookshops & Bonedust begins with the power of fiction to transport us. I know we can all relate to that!