Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book.

This was so cozy! It felt like I was hanging out with old friends. It's a nice adventure with some new characters, and familiar faces. I enjoyed learning more about Fern, and Zyll and her many pockets coat just being adorable and removing her shackles to just put them back on, like she just wanted friendship and an adventure too! Astryx's sentient sword reminded me of something out of Monty Python, it was wild and hilarious.
Found family is one of my favorite tropes, and this book is a perfect example of it. I was laughing out loud with this one. Travis Baldree is a cozy fantasy genius, his descriptive settings and the way the story flows just swept me away. I didn’t want it to end. I loved listening to it, and I will definitely be getting a hardcopy for my shelf when it's out.

Notes about Narration:
Absolutely nailed it! I loved it. It was engaging, and how Travis does all those voices is beyond me! I'm obsessed. Every character felt alive, and I was hooked. I appreciate a good audio book, and this one was fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio copy to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so glad I was able to access this book! I've now binged the series and I absolutely adore everything about it. Although the characters are familiar you do not need to read the other books to appreciate the story shared here. While this is very much Fern's story we do get to see Viv again.

I love the narration as much as the story. Definitely going on the list of books I will read again and again.

Another remarkable triumph in cozy fantasy from Travis Baldree. I think I saw an interview with the author where he warned that this installment would be "less cozy"" than its predecessors, but I would disagree. Even though there's more adventure and a few more stabbings, the heart and kindness is still lthere. As are the extremely likeable characters. I gobbled this up from start to finish, and I'm sure our library patrons will do the same. Thank you for the advanced listen!

Thank you to the Publisher and Net Galley for the Advanced Audiobook Copy.

I truly loved this book. It made me feel so warm and giddy. It was everything that I loved about The Last Unicorn, it was everything that kept me on my toes when it comes to playing DND, and it was everything I needed to hear right now about feeling lost on what to do with your life.

I loved every character, every monster, every fight, every act of betrayal, and every act of friendship.

And I LOVED the audiobook narration, you can tell Travis Baldree loves his characters and he presents them beautifully.

The actual book and story was a 5/5 ⭐️

I felt a little unsure and unsatisfied by the epilogue. If I’m being honest, I wished I hadn’t listened to it. I don’t know, maybe I missed something or maybe I’m just jaded but I didn’t actually believe in their love story, and I was really happy for it to end on the potential for a journey and friendship adventures we didn’t get to see. I actually liked that Fern didn’t go with Astrix, so it’s not the choice not to go with Astrix that made this epilogue leave a weird taste in my mouth, it was something else. I think I just didn’t see how getting a boyfriend suddenly left Fern satisfied with life? The writing this ABSOLUTELY made sense to me, but I just felt like she settled. And that felt antithetical to the whole book? Idk maybe I’m just being negative.

It was an INCREDIBLE book otherwise. It had me wrapped around its finger from page one. It was one of my favourite reads of 2025.

📖☕️🗡️
Brigands and Breadknives is another delightful, heartwarming entry in Travis Baldree’s cozy fantasy world, following the success of Legends and Lattes and Bookshops and Bonedust. In this cozy and adventurous continuation of the series, we reconnect with Fern, who has moved her bookstore to the town of Thune to be near her dear friend Viv’s coffee shop; however, she’s already feeling the itch of dissatisfaction. Almost immediately, she sets off on an adventure, leaving behind the quiet life she thought she wanted in search of something more.

This story gently explores what happens when the dream you’ve built doesn’t feel quite right. Is a cozy, peaceful life enough? Or are some people simply meant to chase more? Fern’s journey of self-discovery is equal parts whimsical, reflective, and emotionally resonant.

Travis Baldree once again brings his story to life with his warm, perfectly paced narration. His performance is as immersive as ever, and the production quality is top-notch. It’s honestly unfair how good he is at both writing and narrating.

Fans of the series will find this a deeply satisfying continuation, and while you could read it as a standalone, the emotional weight of Fern’s choices lands best if you’ve read the previous books. Either way, Brigands and Breadknives is a cozy fantasy treat full of heart, humor, and the quiet courage to chase something new. A must listen.

My very first NetGalley/McMillan Audiobook review! I listened at 1.25 speed on my commute.

Travis Baldree's narration was quite a treat, as is his writing, so I would absolutely recommend listening as you read along.

The story sucks you in immediately & Baldree's world is an easy one to get lost in.

What I loved the most:
ZIL!!! Top to bottom. The 'tude, the questionable decisions, the affinity for spoons, the way she speaks- I found her to be so endearing! She made for excellent comic relief between Fern and Astrid's frequently-serious chats. I enjoyed nearly all of the characters Fern meets along her adventures, as well as the horses & talking swords. The adventure was cozy overall and the result of the bounty hunt took me by surprise (though looking back... that makes sense LOL). I had a smile plastered on my face through the whole scene. I want a whole book on Zil's life.

What I loved the least:
I do have to admit - I disagreed with almost all of Fern's decisions throughout this book, and that made it very hard to like her for.. most of it. BUT I was pleasantly surprised by where her choices landed her in the epilogue. Good for her.

4 stars!

While it’s hard to compete with the first book in this world (Legends & Lattes remains my favorite), I found this one sucked me right in too, along for the ride alongside Fern on her unplanned adventures. I had been looking forward to some more time with Viv and company at the coffee shop, and we got some of that at the start - but I still want more. Fern’s sense of unrest and midlife crisis vibes made her feel very real and relatable. You couldn’t help but root for her and enjoy seeing her find her feet (and more of herself) along their journey. Overall it was fun plunging back into this world, meeting new quirky characters, exploring new places, and seeing the chaos play out. The ending wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. Worth checking out if you’ve enjoyed the other books set in this world and are looking for a new adventure.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook. And shoutout to the author their narration skills - very enjoyable to listen to and really helped bring the story and the different characters to life.

I read the earlier book by this author and was looking forward to this title as well. I think for me, the physical book would have been better than the audiobook, as I didn't connect with this title as much as the other I had read

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good story that ended in a place I didn’t see coming but also feels authentic to the main character. It’s less cozy fantasy than the previous two books, but still relatively low stakes fantasy that was fun and easy to read.

One of the best strengths of this series is that Baldree does narration as well as he writes. Of course I read everything by him and I listen to all of his audiobooks, because he's just so talented. And this book has the same heart that made Legends and Lattes so great.
It felt a little more high stakes -- I didn't even realize I was holding my breath during one particular action scene -- but again it's the characters that make this fantasy series so warm, cozy, and human.
I especially loved how the story starts at Legends and Lattes and then circles back around. I was so satisfied and happy when I was done, and I already plan to read it again soon. Thanks so very much to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this wonderful audiobook in exchange for an honest review

This sequel was everything I wanted it to be. The story was an adventure mostly for Fern and Viv is only in the very beginning and very end of the story.

The meat of the book is so comforting and atmospheric, it absolutely transported me to the world of Legends and Lattes. I adore the world-building in this series; it feels like a real place where I would love to go.

We meet a couple of interesting new characters in this tale and Fern gets to explore her inner self a bit along the way. The action is very high in this story but not at the expense of the cozy feel; however, it’s definitely enough to keep the pacing fast and the plot moving.

Thanks to Tor, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley, I was able to get copies of the ebook and audiobook versions and I enjoyed reading this in full immersion. Travis Baldree is a skilled audiobook narrator, with perfect diction and a wide range of distinct character voices. This will absolutely be a comfort re-read for me in the future, I can tell already. I will be purchasing this for myself and for my library’s collection, and will be recommending it to many patrons.

There aren’t same-sex relationships highlighted in this volume, but there’s more cussing in this one, as that is a peculiarity of Fern’s character, so keep that in mind when suggesting this to very conservative patrons and friends.

I would recommend this title to fans of cozy fantasy and folks who like tales of adventure and self-exploration.

Brigands & Breadknives is the 3rd book in the Legends & Lattes series by Travis Baldree. It features characters from both of the previous books, and follows Fern, who has reclocated to Thune to open her bookshop. One night, she finds herself in the middle of a full blown existential crisis and has too much to drink. She sits down in the back of a wagon, and promptly passes out, only to wake up the following day as an accidental stowaway. Here we meet her travel companions, the elf maiden Asterix (who is a warrior of legendary proportions) and the goblin Zil (who Asterix is bringing in to collect a bounty). After a huge adventure, Fern figures out the direction she wants to take her life, even if it doesn't include selling books.

I loved this book. Travis Baldree is a fantastic narrator, and he brought so much life to his characters. It felt like a warm hug for people who need some direction, and a little push to take a chance on something they normally wouldn't have tried. All of the characters were so fun, and I loved all of the new additions. I was, however, a little confused at the resolution. We meet an antagonist who really has it out for Zil, as in she literally says "She fucked my life." We never really find out what Zil has done to her, though. That's the only part of the story I struggled with. Everything else was great.

Netgalley and Macmillan audio provided me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions mentioned above are my own.

I loved returning to this world and getting to know a past character better. It has the same cozy vibes and found quirky family as the rest of the series.

I just finished Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldtree, and it wasn’t quite the cozy escape I was hoping for. The story didn’t pull me in, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged and connect with the plot.

That said, I did resonate with the underlying themes: the quiet ache of a midlife crisis, the feeling of being stuck in a career you no longer fit, and the yearning to turn your life upside down to find your bliss. Fern’s metaphorical journey through those emotions felt meaningful and gave the story a weight I appreciated.

I would like to add that Travis Baldtree is an amazing narrator. He does such a phenomenal job bringing his characters to life, nuanced performance and the technical skill of flipping through accents with enviable ease.

3.5 cheerful suns 🌞🌞🌞

Thank you so, so much to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author for proving an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It was so wonderful to get to see Fern again. To get touch of her backstory and get to see her new story and develoment was so fun.

This story was less cozy than the first 2 books. but was still a warm hug of a story. Its such a wonderful quest of adventure and self discovery. Fern's struggles to find her path were so relateable.

Zil was absolute perfection, this chaotic goblin who always leaves you questioning made the story so funny. Pair her against the stoic Astryx who doesn't know what a similar path to Fern just so good! Seeing Astryx begin to open herself up was such a rewarding part of the story arc.

As always Travis Baldree as the audiobook reader is always a treat and I feel gives an even better feel in how intimately he knows the story.

A huge thank you to Macmillan audio for this audiobook ARC!

4.25
First of all, if you read this, you absolutely have to read the audiobook version as Travis Baldree narrates it himself and does an excellent job with voicing the various characters. His narration adds a lot of whimsy and humor to an already delightful tale. I was a bit worried at first that this was going to be the same old fixing up an old building to run a business but it isn't! Fern ends up on an unexpected adventure with a legendary elf warrior (with a talking sword) and a mysterious goblin. It was so fun to see more of this world and I loved the way Travis described the various places they visited. Fern has an existential crisis about actually wanting to be a bookseller or not and there is more action than his other novels.

I missed out on the earlier entries in the Legends and Lattes series, which may have impacted my enjoyment of Brigands & Breadknives, the latest in Travis Baldree’s cozy fantasy world. Full disclosure: I had to look up what cozy fantasy even was.

Here’s what ChatGPT had to say:

———————————————
Cozy Fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction focused on low-stakes adventures, character-driven plots, and heartwarming themes.

Instead of epic wars or dark prophecies, these books center on:
• Found family
• Personal growth
• Small-town charm
• Gentle magic
• Everyday struggles (like running a business)

Think: Fantasy slice-of-life with heart—Ted Lasso meets The Lord of the Rings.

———————————————

That sounded promising! The book definitely delivered on the slice-of-life fantasy, but it didn’t feel especially cozy to me. The foul language felt out of place in a story that was supposed to be comforting.

Ultimately, I think I might have enjoyed it more if I’d known what to expect—or if I’d read the first book. This is very much a quirky, character-driven series, and I suspect some of the charm comes from following the relationships as they develop. I found my mind wandering and struggled to stay engaged or even care much about what was happening.

Travis Baldree does a fine job voicing the different characters. The performance was perfectly OK: not distracting, not amazing.

Text: ⭐️⭐️
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️½

Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy (ARC) from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. These opinions are my own.

I received an ALC of Brigands & Breadknives from NetGalley and Tor/Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own.

Legends and Lattes continues to be one of my most favorite cozy fantasy series and I was happy to follow Fern’s story in book 3 after learning about her in Bookshops & Bonedust. Brigands & Breadknives definitely feels like it has more action than the previous two books but is still stuffed to the brim with found family and all the coziness you've come to enjoy and expect from the story and our main characters. I think we can all relate to the recurring themes within the series of self exploration and betterment, wanting something more than you have and finding your own happiness. Viv and Tandri are already living their happily ever after and now it is time for Fern to find hers with the support of her friends. Fern’s foul-mouth and sarcasm are front and center from page 1 and it sets the tone throughout the entire story as she stumbles from one shenanigan to the next. Baldree’s narration of the story also brings a familiar cohesiveness which just pulls you back in like you never left. I personally loved how he wrapped the series up and look forward to additional projects he may have.

Travis Baldree really knows the perfect recipe for a story filled with found family, finding your calling, and listening to your heart. This series is absolutely brimming with heartfelt moments, gentle adventure, and loveable characters that speak to my soul. I initially had a hard time getting into this story, but only because I was used to Viv's voice rather than Fern's. Once I was started, though, I couldn't put it down. Fern is such a wonderful character, especially for those questioning their own place in the world and their own need for belonging while not setting themselves aside for the needs and wants of others. This was a really special and delightful book and I'm so glad that I got a chance to read it.

I loved both Legends & Lattes & Bookshops & Bonedust so much, so I was absolutely thrilled to get an audio ARC of Brigands & Breadknives. We follow foul-mouthed rattkin Fern of Bookshops & Bonedust. as her & pet griffit Potroast move to Thune to open a bookshop next door to Viv’s coffee shop, but of course things don’t go quite to plan! I was initially a little disappointed to find that Viv doesn’t feature as heavily in this instalment, but we get some wonderful new characters that make up for it, particularly legendary elf warrior Asterix One-Ear, & my absolute favourite, goblin Zyll (previously seen in the short story Goblins & Greatcoats). I loved every minute of this, & will never, ever get bored of this series. Perfect cosy fantasy vibes with just the right amount of peril to keep you on your toes!