I think a disclaimer is needed - that I knew this was Legends & Lattes #2 but was unaware of the prequel (#0 or #0.5) when I requested this ARC. Having now finished this book, and seen a bit about the prequels - I do think that those should maybe be read first before reading this. I *loved* Legends and Lattes. I’m not ashamed crier while reading, but I cried with L&L and remember it being a book I really enjoyed from start to finish. I was so excited to get back into that world, and this just didn’t hit for me. I am wondering if the prequels would have made me feel differently.

Fern felt like an entirely new character (which it seems to me she probably was bc of the prequel) and I didn’t understand her enough to just jump right into her story? It took me a while to get my bearings. I enjoyed a lot of the cozy elements, but didn’t super enjoy the quest/adventure part this time. This is all definitely a me problem, and I do wonder how much of my feelings will change once I get Fern’s backstory.

There were a few areas where I felt the pacing slowed *too* much and I was starting to zone out of the audio. But Travis does, as usual, an amazing job of storytelling. So while it wasn’t for me, I can appreciate it as a good piece of work and I feel like people will really enjoy this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Title: Brigands & Breadknives
Author: Travis Baldree
Shelf Placement: Middle Shelf

First, a huge thanks to Tor, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley for the Advanced Listener Copy in exchange for my honest review.

We're back in the wonderful world created by the super-talented Travis Baldree. This time around, we follow Fern, the foul-mouthed Ratkin we first met in Bookshops & Bonedust, on an adventure that is anything but cozy.

She winds up traveling with a whole new crew: Astrix, an elf maiden; Zyll, a quick-witted goblin; and Breadly, who quickly became one of my favorites. With the great banter between these characters, it feels like a D&D adventure with your friends.

The plot kicks off when Fern, after a night of drinking, accidentally falls asleep in Astrix’s wagon. One wrong turn later, she’s helping Astrix haul Zyll in for a bounty, and what follows is a quest filled with higher stakes, more action, and bigger fight scenes than both previous books combined.

That being said, if you’re expecting Legends & Lattes levels of warmth and coziness, this might throw you off. It’s not that kind of story. This feels more like a classic fantasy adventure with danger around every corner. And while we do get small cameos from Viv and Tandry (and maybe a few others), this is Fern’s book. It's more of a spinoff than a direct sequel.

Fern as the main character is fun, but she also frustrated me at times. I enjoyed watching her navigate a path that didn’t always go the way I expected.

The audiobook is an absolute highlight. Listening to Baldree narrate his work feels like the ultimate extended storytime, and it adds so much personality to the characters.

In the end, I enjoyed Brigands & Breadknives about as much as the previous books. If I’d gone in knowing this was more of a spinoff than a sequel, I probably would’ve enjoyed it even more. It’s a solid, entertaining read.

Vibe:
A witty, action-packed fantasy romp with found family vibes and plenty of brawls.

Who I’d Recommend It To:
Readers who enjoyed Fern in Bookshops & Bonedust, fantasy fans looking for something more adventurous than cozy, and audiobook listeners who love author narration.

This is everything I’ve come to expect from Travis. Brigands & Breadknives has the whimsy and characters who are bursting with personality. His voice acting is impeccable and unique for every character. It was an enjoyable read and would read more from this world.

I usually love this cast of characters but this one fell a little short for me. I loved following Fern's adventure - I think I just wanted some more interaction at the bookshop before the adventure began.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I love a good cozy fantasy and this series always hits when it comes to that. Going in I didn't read the description as I loved the first two books and knew I would like this one too so when I found out it was a story with Fern I was a bit surprised but I really enjoyed it. A big part of this book is about the journey of self discovery and finding out who you are and what you want to do especially when you are stuck in a rut in life or doing what you think is expected. I really liked that and it really stuck a cord with me as I have felt like that in the past many times. Sometimes it takes a jump out of your comfort zone to find something new and how that journey can lead to amazing growth. I also really enjoyed that the audiobook narrator was the author, Travis Baldree. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy of the book.

No one’s more bummed about this rating than me. Honestly, I think this book would have worked better as its own series, completely separate from the Legends & Lattes world. It felt less like a natural follow-up and more like a strategic way to keep fans hooked on Baldree’s writing—which, let’s be real, most of us would read no matter what. But the tone and structure here were so different.

It just didn’t feel cozy. Sure, there were little flickers of warmth, but the high-stakes action, the faster pacing, and Fern’s constant regret and sadness put it in a totally different emotional space. My favorite parts? The beginning in Thune… and the end, also in Thune. Everything in between dragged for me.

That said—Zyll. I’m obsessed. I almost wish this exact book existed as the start of a brand-new series centered on Zyll, Astryx, and maybe another face from Viv’s long-past adventures… or even a brand-new crew entirely.

I think a lot of readers will still love this, and I am planning to listen to the audiobook because Baldree’s narration is always a treat. But for me? It took over two months to finish, and I walked away mostly disappointed.

I would listen to Travis Baldree read a dictionary but thankfully I have this amazing story he wrote instead. Every story he's given us, although connected, can be read on it's own and this is no different. I really like the theme of finding ones place and having courage to do something different than you've always done. Adventure can be out there if you only take a drunken stumble into a random cart and fall asleep :)

The author does a great job narrating this audiobook and changing his voices for the various characters. Some of the personalities were very funny and unique. Other than that, I cannot tell you what this book is about. Fern accidentally falls asleep in a wagon, waking up far from town with no way to return, joining forces with an elf warrior and questionable goblin. This starts an (regrettably forgettable) adventure that just did not stick in my mind. I liked the ending and how Fern changed throughout the story, the connection she made with Astryx and the short epilogue.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the audiobook copy to review.

I’m a massive fan of this series as a whole. I loved getting to know and spend time with Viv in the first two books and really fell in love with all of the side characters in both. When I saw this book was going to follow fern from bookshops and Bonedust I was so excited. In this installment we follow Fern who after selling her old bookshop and opening one up next to Viv’s coffee shop finds herself feeling listless. After accidentally stowing away in the cart of a legendary elf warriors cart while she’s trying to collect the massive reward for turning in a chaotic goblin.

This book was so much fun and had a lot of things I just really loved in adventure stories. Unlike the first two books this one is more in the vein of a classic adventure fantasy, it’s still cozy and wonderful but there’s more of an adventure and journey along the way. Another great installment and I look forward to the next book!

I did not finish listening to this audio book, so rating can’t be accurate. Hard for me to picture what was happening at this delivery speed.

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 ~ 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐊𝐍𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 ~ by Travis Baldree ~ Thanks to Netgalley,Tor Books and Travis Baldree for and ARC of this book that will release Nov 11, 2025. I am immensely grateful to have received this advanced copy.
I am a fan of this author and this series; but, it is more than that. It is the tone and the atmosphere of the books. It’s about characters that grow on you and warm your heart. It is an imaginary and creative description of settings, and about sweeping atmospheres that take over each chapter. It is the way the world building grows within your mind as you meander through the pages. It is about the way situations within the novel quietly become metaphors for life lessons without ever having them spelled out. It is an illustration of camaraderie and human kindness that warms your heart all the way through the story. It is about precious creatures living their most authentic lives and accepting one another for who they are. It is about adventure and seeking to find the path that fits and makes the heart happy. It offers the opportunity to be introspective through the experiences and growth of each character. This installment focuses on Viv’s friend Fern, the Ratkin, bookseller that she knew from Murk, before Viv landed in Thule and opened LEGENDS & LATTES. It is full of all the same quests as the previous two novels and will leave readers with the same overall impression of serenity after reading.
While this could stand alone, it will not mean the same without the background of the first two books. So, if you ever wanted to give cozy fantasy a try head back to book 1, then 2 and work your way here.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫(4.5) Heartwarming, stars … I will be here ready to stay in this world as long as the author would like to create stories here.
𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐥! 📚❤️

Travis baldree did it again creating a fun, cozy adventure! Ferns story is definitely different and has more action scenes but we still get that soft learning to love oneself side and found family! I adored the new characters and hope we get more in this world because its such a fun time

This is the 2nd book in this cozy fantasy series. I enjoyed the other books in this series, yet this one couldn't quick click for me. I could never really get hooked on the story or connect with the characters.

In the end, it feels as if this was more of "me" thing as I could've been in a wrong mood for this book or the wrong book at the wrong time- if you're a mood reader you know that problem. It's not the fault of the novel—it’s more of a “me” thing, but this book fell a lot flatter than the previous two book I read in this series.

This book was narrated by the author himself.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

A middle-aged bookseller that doesn't know what they are doing in life and swears too much? I felt called out to the point of blushing.

For anyone that looks up one day and wonders what they are doing or feels lost.

"She traded silver for dreams and ink"

The narrator is excellent and I feel like these books are meant to be enjoyed in the audio format.

Narration: 5
Story: 3.75

Thank you to MacMillan Audio, Tor & NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I need to preface this with the narration was incredible, not only can Travis Baldree write but his narration for this was exciting and engaging. He did an amazing job with the cast of characters. However, if you are looking for the same warmth and coziness of Legends & Lattes you will not find it here. I did enjoy it for what it was (cozy adventure) but really missed the slice of life that we get in L&L. I think I will come back to this and give it another go having reread B&B and L&L and see if my feelings change.

This reads like a Dungeons and Dragons adventure, and I'm not mad about it. I loved Fern from Bookshops & Bonedust and was excited to see a book featuring her. This was a fun tale of Fern trying to figure out what she wants out of life while finding herself on a journey with a legend. Viv and Tandry make brief appearances, and it was nice to glimpse how they've gotten on.

If you're expecting more of Legends and Lattes, you'll be disappointed in this installment. It's a bit more higher stakes, more danger, and not quite as cozy. I still enjoyed the book for the most part, though it lost me around the middle for a little bit. The ending made me sad. I wish Fern made a different choice.

Oh, also, for those who enjoyed the Sapphic arcs of the previous two publications, this one is not Sapphic (aside from Viv and Tandry, who aren't main characters in this one).

I highly recommend the audiobook for this one. Listening to the author read is like an extended storytime.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

I felt like I was along for the journey with Fern and her companions! I was fully immersed in the world and Fern's life from the first paragraphs. Anyone else who's ever thought about running away from their day-in, day-out life to try something new and not been brave enough will admire Fern as I did, because she WAS brave enough! Throughout the book, we saw her mull over her choices between going back to what she knew and stepping up to something scary, and it feels like we're growing along with her. I really appreciated the relationships portrayed in the book, from old friends to new friends to (of course) enemies, it felt like a fresh, realistic approach to how people interact with each other in fantasy books. The voices in the audiobook and the under 10 minute chapters made it really accessible to jump in or to pick up again where I left off, without any confusion.

Over all I did enjoy this book. Although it’s not quite as I expected.

I enjoyed the story, this time around the book mainly follows fern, the Ratkin who we meet in Boneshops and Bonedust. We get introduced to a whole new cast of characters. We have the elf maiden Astrix, and her elder blade Nigel, the goblin zyll, and breadly. I enjoyed the dynamic of all the characters, and I really liked there interactions between each other. There were some really funny moments. Particularly with zyll and breadly.

Very simple Jist of the plot, fern gets drunk and falls asleep in Astrix wagon. Soon after waking up she choices to stay and help Astrix in taking zyll and get the bounty for bringing her in.

This book has a lot more action than the other 2 books combined. Which I personally really enjoyed. We get a few great fights scenes and big moments.

Some cons.

This book is not very cozy. And is more of just a normal fantasy book. Which isn’t a problem and I enjoyed it. But if you’re going in thinking it’s gonna be more like Legends and Lattes I think it will surprise you. The stakes are much higher and a lot more big fight scenes.

This book is also marketed as a sequel and it’s really not. We don’t follow any of the characters from the other two books other than fern. It’s definitely more of a spin off and less so a direct sequel. And I was a little disappointed not getting to see our beloved characters from the first book.

And lastly fern. As our main character I found her a bit frustrating at times. Her communication is terrible and I found myself screaming in my head like just talk to them! That and it seemed like she was always subverting expectations, but not always in a better way. Some of her decisions didn’t make sense.

By the end of the book I still had a good time. And I think I enjoyed it about the same as the other books. I think if I had known this was more of a spinoff I could have set my expectations appropriately, and might have enjoyed it more. Still a solid read and would recommend.

This is the third installment in the Legends and Lattes world that I have read and I continue to be amazed by the depth of the characters and the way the current and past stories are woven together. Even if you have not read the other books in this series Brigands & Breadknives stands on its own, you will not miss anything by jumping into the world in this book. While this is set in a world based on the Dungeon and Dragons RPG universe Travis Baldree's writing is such that you can imagine the world even if you have never played D&D.

Travis you’ve done it again.

I don’t know what it is about this world and these characters, but every single book in this series is a winner for me.

Am I biased? Probably. Do I care? Absolutely not. Inject these books directly into my veins.

Fern and her foul mouth appeal to me in a way I’m not comfortable exploring. Her conflict in this book is so real, even in a fantasy setting. If my midlife crisis causes me to accidentally join up with a legendary warrior and become her friend and confidant, I’d be okay with that.

Once again the found family gets me right in the feels. Zyll is my favorite and please don’t ask me to explain why, I don’t know either.

Baldree narrates these audiobooks and OBVIOUSLY he does an amazing job with the voices and bringing each character to life.

I hope Viv and Astryx team up in the next one. I’d love to see them as warrior-rivals-to-besties.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this book so that I could leave an honest review.