As cozy fantasies go this is another great one from Baldree! The mix of cozy vibes, vivid characters, and creative storytelling with substance is what sets this world and these stories apart. If you read <i>Legends and Lattes</i> there's plenty of cameos from the characters, we know and love.
🐀📚
Fern, the fabulous foul-mouthed bookseller, is back with an epic adventure. Fern feels stuck in a rut, so she decides to open a shop next door to Legends and Lattes but finds she's still antsy. After a night of drinking, she ends up falling asleep in a random wagon belonging to a famed warrior. Hijinks ensue. This has a bit of everything from memorable battle scenes with talking blades to a silverware swiping chaos goblin that steals every scene she's in.

Travis Baldree also narrates and WOW! His work on this was stunning! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

This is a well-rounded story of being brave enough to make a change if something in your life isn't working. It's peppered with humor, growth, friendship, and action.

If laughter is the best medicine this novel administered a healthy dose. 🤣💊

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing an Advanced Listening Copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Reading Brigands & Breadknives is like seeing and old friend after many years and realizing just how much you missed them. I adore the Legends and Lattes series and this addition to the story is perfect. Between sentient weapons, world devouring gods, and good old foul language its a wonderfully heartfelt tale. And as always Travis Baldree is amazing as the narrator.

(Advance Listening Copy (ALC) courtesy of NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.)

Rating: 5555555555555⭐sssss

I’ve been following this series from the beginning and was pumped to get an ALC of the third entry. It did NOT disappoint! (Not that I expected anything less.)

I guess “it’s SO GOOD!” doesn’t a good review make … so I’ll try to construct some actual feedback here.

First off, top-notch humor, great pacing. The author is good at what he does.

The characters are just so juicy. Rich, complex, well-fleshed out. It’s easy to get invested in the story when you have characters like this.

In this book, we get to return to Fern—previously a side character. I already enjoyed her in that role, so getting her as the main character was a treat. She’s delightfully foul-mouthed.

This one stands apart from the previous entries, which were all about staying in one place. But for Fern, staying put is all she’s ever done, so now she’s on the move. She’s going through a kind of ‘midlife crisis,’ unsure what she wants life to be. What the book ends up being, in the best possible way, is a collection of things that sound like they would make terrible, uninteresting stories but instead, weave into a masterful tale. That speaks volumes about the author’s control and creativity over the narrative.

The best part? The growth feels real. It’s valid, earned, and believable. So often, growth in stories feels fake or forced—but not here. Fern’s transformation is authentic and right for her.

Was it the story I expected or originally wanted? No. I thought I wanted more Viv; what she was up to, where her life was headed. But Viv already had two books. This is Fern’s story. And her journey has a different shape, a different rhythm. Not only is it different than what I expected, it’s different than what Fern expected. And it’s so satisfying in that.

🎧 AUDIO-SPECIFIC:
It’s narrated by the author, so what are you gonna do? (I’m kidding. He did a great job.) Solid performance. He knows his story well, differentiates the character voices, and carries the tone throughout. Just all-around good.

TL;DR - A masterfully crafted, humorous story of growth. And did I mention 5⭐ 5⭐ 5⭐?

"Brigands and Breadknives" is the latest installment of the Legends & Lattes series. Fern moves to Thune to open her bookshop next to Viv's coffee shop. While her opening goes well and Fern is grateful to be reunited with her friend, something still just doesn't feel right. One night, after a few drinks, Fern gathers all her courage to tell Viv, but she stops to rest in a wagon on the way and falls asleep. When she awakes, she finds herself in the company of a legendary elf and a goblin captive she is delivering for bounty.

This was a very sweet story about finding your place in the world. I love how this world continues to expand and be populated by interesting characters, outside the primary protagonist. Zyll is especially delightful and I hope that she will pop up in future installments!

The audiobook is narrated by the author, who does a fantastic job of bringing the story to life. Baldree is a talented voice actor and all of the characters have distinct voices. It's worth noting that this is read much more quickly than typical audiobooks. I usually listen somewhere between 1.75-2x speed and for this, I stayed at 1.25x.

Overall, this was incredibly fun and I strongly recommend!

The newest entry into the Legends & Lattes series is a fun take on the roadtrip story. Fern, in midst of an identity crisis accidentally stows away on a famous elf's quest.

More of the cozy vibes from the other parts of this series! Feels like listening in to someone's DND game and similarly to the previous books there is lots of description and the author does a fabulous voice acting job for the characters.

Ultimately, the issues I have are mostly due to me not connecting with the writing style and concept in ways I know other people do. If you like the other books in the series, I think you'd like this book.

3/5 stars

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review

I'm a bit sad to review this because I loved the first book and prequel to this series but this one had some pacing issues that made it hard for me to get engaged. The start/set-up felt rushed, I didn't have time to really connect with the character, then from there is was a very very slow story. The first 2 books were not exactly action packed but I was still tuned in and I found my mind really drifting

I was so excited to dive into Brigands & Breadknives, and it did not disappoint. Travis Baldree continues to deliver everything I love about this cozy, character-driven world. This third installment is just as strong as the first, with a story that steadily grows in depth and heart.

What I appreciate most is how immersive the experience is—you feel like you’re right there beside the main character, sharing in every moment. It’s the kind of book that wraps around you like a warm blanket and makes you want to linger in its world long after the final page.

I’ll definitely be rereading this one (probably more than once!) and plan to pick up a physical copy to add to my shelf. I can't wait to see where Baldree takes us next in this beautifully crafted universe.

Highly recommended for fans of heartwarming fantasy, found family, and a touch of adventure with soul. There are definitely parts that left me excited to see what comes next.

I would have loved to read a whole book about a bookstore next to a coffeeshop in the world of Legends and Lattes. But what this book does is even better!

Fern - beloved from Bookshops and Bonedust - is having a crisis of self, and is going on an unexpected journey.
This is not the cozy fantasy you are used to reading from Travis Baldree, but it's travel companions and campfires, losing and finding yourself, ah, and sentient cutlery.

Let me convince you with some emojis:
Midlife Crisis – 🐀 🌀

Going on an unexpected journey – 🎒🗺️✨

Road trip – 🐎 🛣️🎶

Camping – 🏕️🔥🌲

Goblins and elves – 👺🧝‍♂️🧙‍♀️

Found Family – 🫂💖🏠

Sentient cutlery – 🍴🧠😲

Lots of swearing – 🤬💢🗯️

Finding your way home – 🧭🏡🛤️


As before, the author narrates his own book - and you can't get a more authentic experience. I love this, so I'm very glad I again was given an advance listening copy.

4/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @Macmillan.Audio for the eARC!

#BrigandsAndBreadknives #LegendsAndLattes #BookshopsAnd Bonedust #Netgalley #Bookstagram

What a great adventure! What could go wrong when you get drunk and fall asleep in the back of a wagon? Everything! Another book set in the world of Legends and Lattes, a tale of Fern's adventures and self discovery. This was more than I was expecting, every book has been better than the last. Which is saying something since his first book was stellar! I love that Travis Baldree narrates his own books, he does an amazing job. This is cozy fantasy at its finest.

As soon as I saw this book was coming out I added it to my TBR, and was thrilled to get an ARC. This one is a roadtrip story, though since it had been 25 years since we last really saw Fern the story takes some time to give us a good idea of her state of mind before the roadtrip gets going. Given the ending, I'm hoping we get a separate book for Zyll and another for Astryx; which probably seems really impatient of me since Fern's book isn't even for sale yet, but I already miss them all!

Travis can write AND has the absolute range to be a perfect narrator.
This book was a hit for me, I loved L&L and B&B and this one was no different!
A must read!

Imagine, if you will, starting your weekend relaxing with the start of a long first book of an epic fantasy series. You get several chapters in, enjoying the story, but you are a responsible adult and have errands to get to, so you put down your book and grab the car keys. When you get in the car, you start an audiobook just to keep you company for an hour of errands, but you are enjoying the book so much that you extend your errands. The story grows on you and you are just having so much fun that you've even chosen to attend to things that you've been procrastinating for weeks just to hear more of this book. At one point, you encounter a curmudgeon who wants to know why you are laughing and you debate giving a snarky response, then decide to recommend the book instead. So for all of you curmudgeons and even the sugar-sweet rays of sunshine, you really should read, or better yet, listen to Brigands & Breadknives. (If you haven't read the first two books in the Legends & Lattes series, consider those first.) This book was fun and funny with just the right blend of snarky humor, and cozy fantasy adventure. I only intended to listen to a few chapters when I started but couldn't stop until I finished the whole book. For readers who enjoyed Fern from Bookshops & Bonedust, this is the book you've been waiting for because this is her story, her adventure.
As far as audiobooks go, this one was excellent, the author does an amazing job at narration, you'd think that he does it professionally (he does, not just his own books but other authors' too and video games, too)
I received the ALC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Macmillan Audio) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree

Release date November 11

Cozy fantasy
Audiobook read by the author

Fern the foul-mouthed rattkin bookseller from Bookshops & Bonedust decides to close up shop and move to Thune where she will open up a new bookshop next to Legends & Latte’s Viv’s coffee shop. Miserable and drunk Fern passes out in a cart and that is where our story really gets going.

There’s an elf warrior, a chaos goblin, a sentient sword, and a sentient breadknife as new companions for Fern.

This was so good the author did a phenomenal job reading his book. I loved that we got a glimpse of some fan favorite characters from the series as well as new characters that stole the show.

This book is fun, cozy, and hilarious.

If you’ve read the other 2 books in the series you must read this one.

Highly recommend

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for my advanced listening copy of this perfect book.

In “Brigands and Breadknives,” Travis Baldree invites us back into the world of "Legends and Lattes." The story continues with Fern, a character from the original novel and its prequel.

While the first two books were cozy and comforting reads, this novel takes a more adventurous turn. Fern embarks on a road trip and a chaotic journey of self-discovery alongside some unlikely friends.

As both the author and narrator, Travis Baldree excels at bringing this tale to life. His latest novel incorporates themes of coziness, self-discovery, and chosen family.

I do think it is helpful if readers or listeners have read his first two books in the series before they read this one; however, Baldree provides context for those who didn’t or need a refresher. I highly recommend this novel and plan to purchase a copy when it becomes available.

I cannot wait to see what this author and narrator does next. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25⭐️
I was thrilled for the audiobook ALC to come out so early as the book isn’t due until November 11, 2025. It’s a rare occurrence for this to occur but then I saw that the author was who narrated it so it made sense.

I’ll be fully forthright that I was a bit worried when I saw that author Travis Baldree narrated their own book as in general with the exception of memoirs it usually doesn’t work out so good. Thankfully, this was the exception as he did a fabulous job!

Travis obviously has a talent in voice acting and has such inside on what his characters are to sound like and it effortlessly comes across in his narration. What I was surprised about was how fast he spoke. Generally I have issues with some narrators speaking so painfully slow where it’s very unnatural but this was the exact opposite. The only problem was I wasn’t inclined to speed it up which meant I had to listen for the full 8.5 hours 😂

However, it was delightful to consume. It still has the same kitschy feel that Legends and Lattes has but without feeling repetitive. As a person who plays D&D, I love feeling like I am entrenched in a static and active campaign getting to meet all these fun characters.

There is also an awful lot of thinking to be had in the subtext. It’s a much slower story than the others in the series but it’s literally a journey that the reader gets to hitch a ride on. The low stakes fantasy environment allows the reader to more easily digest the FMCs inner journey. I mean who doesn’t love sentient cutlery?

While this is a series and reading the first two books will certainly give you a bunch of context, this book can easily be read as a standalone adventure.

It’s available for preorder and I am definitely looking forward to having this on my shelf. However, I highly recommend the audiobook as it creates such a better experience.

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from MacMillan Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillian audio for an early audiobook copy of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I absolutely love this series and it just keeps getting better. This is a Fern centric story but alot of previous favs make an appearance too.

If you didn’t love Legends and Lattes because it was perhaps a little too low stakes I recommend continuing with the series because the stories get much more intricate. Recommend reading in publication order.

I read all the book in audio and Travis does an incredible job making it an immersive experience. There’s unique, adorable voices for every single character. Definitely recommend the audio I had such a good time with this. If he keeps writing them, I’ll keep listening to them.

Travis Baldree is back as author and narrator in his next realease Brigands & Breadknives the second installment in the Legends & Lattes series. We have gotten Viv’s story and her prequel to it and now it is time for Fern to shine. You can expect more action, a sentent breadknive, laughter and just a good time. There is not a time.
In this we got to meet new characters on Fern’s journey, we got to see some old ones. I loved that we gotten taken on an adventure and their was more action. While not the coziness we really got from the beginning of the series with Legends & Lattes I feel that it still fit the series well and balanced it. I have been bing into critical roll type things as of late and I feel like the prequel and now this has more of that brought into this series with the bit more of the action we get.
Now I will admit I never listened to the other audio’s and now I am kicking myself for that. I didn’t realize that Travis had narrated those as well. He is such a fantastic narrator. The range in his voice and the variety of voices he can do makes me wonder if that is what he hears and sees when he is writing the books. It is so entertaining that I can see it brought out to life in my head. I highly recommend the audio as they really bring the exerience of the book to the very next level. It really was so much fun having the author bring the characters to life.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the completmentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Brigands & Breadknives by @travis_baldree

Another hit from a favorite cozy fantasy author! I really enjoyed Fern’s journey to find herself and her happiness. It was also super fun catching up with some of my favorite characters from his precious books. Having Travis as the narrator was super cool because I feel like he’s doing the voices and inflections exactly as he wrote them out and imagined them and that’s so fun! There is lots of action, heart, and character growth that I enjoyed so much.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the audio arc!
Pub date: 11/11/25

3.5 stars

It’s always a good combination when Travis Baldree is both author and narrator! I enjoyed meeting new characters and being able to catch up with some of the gang from the previous books. It’s a cozy vibe from start to finish. I look forward to the next one!
*Thanks to MacMillan Audio & NetGalley for the advance audiobook

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the preview. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

Ok I think this one was my favorite yet! There’s more action, and I laughed so much! It might sound bizarre, but the sentient bread knife was possibly my favorite character.

As usual, there’s a ton of heart and character discovery and growth here. And of course found family! This might be the most eclectic collection yet with the bookseller ratkin, elf bounty hunter, the bounty goblin with a love of cutlery, and 2 sentient swords/knives. I loved the journey, the adventure, the camaraderie, the heart-to-hearts, and the laughs. And I still loved seeing our friends from previous books.

Highly recommend for a fun read and listen!