"Brigands & Breadknives" is a perfectly paced and highly engaging addition to the "Legends & Lattes" series. This third volume continues the cozy and life affirming story telling that this series is becoming known for, with a new protagonist and several previously unseen characters. The result is absolutely charming and proof that there is still much life in this series even though the original protagonist and many of the supporting characters seem to have already found their happy endings.

Additional attention should be paid to the audio book, which features Travis Baldree himself. Mr. Baldree has essentially become to fantasy what Becky Chambers is to science fiction. In this volume he proves to be a strong narrator and story teller . His fantasy-hope-punk presentation is solid and thoughtful with kindness emanating from every sentence. Yet, Baldree manages a narrative style that is reassuring and hopeful without ever becoming trite.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, MacMillan Audio, for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.75 stars, rounded up.
Brigands & Breadknives picks up a period of time after Legends & Lattes and follows Fern, the ratkin bookshop owner introduced in the prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust. While we briefly spend time with the characters of Legends & Lattes, Viv et al really only bookend the story. Those who loved Fern’s acerbic character in the prequel will throughly enjoy this well-written, adventurous romp. Baldree continues with effortless world-building and stays true the D&D themes and elements he vividly brought to live in L&L. If you are expecting the snuggle up cozy feel of L&L, it’s still there, but the stakes are much higher in Brigands & Breadknives, with more violence, danger, deception and death. For those considering formats, the audiobook, read by the author himself, is a fantastic, immersive experience. Baldree brings his characters to life with distinct, vivid voices and personalities that jump off the page and into your ears.

For me, personally, I did find it harder to get into this book than I did with the others that focused on Viv. I wasn’t as drawn in by Fern and questioned if she was the right character to focus a story on. Her backstory and what happened to her between Bookshops & Bonedust and Brigands & Breadknives is alluded to, but development is lacking around why she has evolved into such a sharp-edged character wrapped in disappointment.

I want to thank NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Travis Baldree for the ARC of Brigands & Breadknives in exchange for my honest review.

I just adore Fern and was so excited to get a book about her!

I think this one might be the most adventurous/action packed of the series- but not to worry its every bit as charming, funny and cozy as its predecessors. A lot happened in this one. Starting with a big move and a mid-life crises leading to a late night drunken decision that sets Fern off on a life changing adventure. I don't know how Baldree does it but he just keeps writing new characters that I somehow love even more than the previous ones- the new additions in this book are just so much fun and I love them all. This is why Baldree remains my favorite cozy author (and audio narrator) The world of Legends and Lattes is expanding with each new volume and I just love it here.

Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree is the second book to Legends and Lattes. If you read the first, then you know it falls under the cozy fantasy genre. With that same feel, Travis Baldree was able to bring a new story to life with adventure pouring the pages.

This story focuses on Fern the rattkin who comes to Thune to resettle in a new town hoping that fixes her feeling of missing fulfillment. However, facing the impending doom of still not being fulfilled, she moves to confess these feelings to Liv in a drunken state. In the process, she unknowingly becomes a stowaway on a cart leading to unexpected adventure.

The characters compliment each other's personalities and shaped the story well. Overall 4 stars and can't wait to see what else he releases.

I did have the privilege to listen to the audiobook and I will compliment that the voices are well done. However that being said, majority of the story is from a woman's perspective and it was a male narrator. Luckily the story was 3rd person so it didn't make or break, but it was a bit weird to listen to.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillian Audio for the chance to review this story.

The third installment of the Legend & Lattes universe is just as cozy and entertaining as its predecessors. I loved the focus on Fern in this story. I found her dissatisfaction with her life and the meandering paths she takes to be really relatable.

I especially loved the friendship at the center of the story between Astryx and Fern. My only note is I wish their dynamic was explored a little more, but this is a personal preference. Overall, I thought this book was a great read, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Thank you to Macmillan audio and NetGalley for this preview!

Thank you Netgalley and Tor for an ALC of this audiobook.

I have loved Legends & Lattes series since it came out. Anything from this series I am immediately requesting.

We follow Fern, who is moving to Thune to reconnect with her good friend Viv, and to open up her Bookshop next door. Well, its not as easy as she expects.

While being involved with a goblin, Fern is also learning to rediscover herself in the process.

All the stars, love these characters and stories. I escape the troubles of our world and enjoy this world Baldtree has created with love.

I have not been this engaged with an audiobook narrator since Project Hail Mary and Dungeon Crawler Carl. Travis Baldree is so talented. Legends and Lattes has always been one of my favorite comfort reads, and I recommend it all the time. It is cozy, charming, enchanting and a great palette cleanser from more traditional fantasy books. This book keeps that same spirit, but the stakes are just a little higher and the cozy factor is dialed down a notch. Let’s just say I wasnt craving as many cinnamon rolls this time around.

What you get instead is a high fantasy inspired novel but with much lower stakes, plenty of humor, and a cast of side characters so good I would gladly read an entire book about each of them. If you have read Legends and Lattes, it adds a little extra something, but it is absolutely not required. This story holds up really well on its own.

Firstly; thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to review this audiobook! I absolutely ADORED the first two books, and it was an absolute honor to help review its conclusion.

I really enjoyed this one! The tone of this, while still that overall cozy-fantasy vibe, was vastly different than the first two- which is great, since it's Fern's POV rather than Viv's. I absolutely loved Zil, and the ending was so in character for her. 😂 Astrix was amazing, I absolutely loved the character development she underwent, and adored the friendships between all three characters. This was such a fun read, and absolutely will be purchasing once it's available!

I would first like to thank NetGalley and @Macmillan.Audio for an advanced copy of the audiobook of Travis Baldree’s new cozy fantasy novel.

This story was all around just so much fun to read about. I liked the other books just fine, but I tend to be more of a high fantasy fan than a cozy fantasy fan. I was excited to try this one because, just based off the title, it seemed like it would be a bit more adventure with some cozy still there and this was proven absolutely correct by the story. I really loved the whole cast of characters and also, I just found this book all around more fun for me than the other books.

The narrator in this book was also fantastic. One of my problems with male narrators reading female narrated stories is that often times it can be very distracting. I am expecting the narrator to be a female and so hearing a male voice can be jarring. I also often times will have issues with authors narrating their own stories because some authors can write fantastic stories but can’t TELL those stories very well. However, Travis Baldree did a fantastic job at narrating his own book. He did so well, that I often didn’t even notice that the story was even being narrated. I just began to see it in my mind and became utterly absorbed. The spicy level was a level 1.

Overall, I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 star rating. Absolutely fantastic story and narrating from Travis Baldree with this one.

This book was an excellent continuation of the Legends & Lattes story and really brought more of the world into it. I loved the comfy cosy vibes this fantasy bring and it was fun to follow Fern on her way to get back to herself. It’s a really cute read, and I love this series so much. I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next!

Travis Baldree really brings all the characters to life with his audiobook performance. I think we really get a unique perspective when the author reads his own work, as we get to head the story exactly how he pictures it.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Travis Baldree and NetGalley for the advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Brigands & Breadknives brings us back to the world of Legends & Lattes, following the rattkin Fern as she sets up a bookstore next door to Viv's shop. Despite setting up the store and having success in her initial view days, Fern experiences an existential crisis about where this is how she wants to spend the rest of her life. Drunkenly running away from her problems, she finds herself dragged into a world of danger, and an unlikely but lovable crew of adventurers.

The first thing that impressed me about this book was that the author also narrated the audiobook and it was incredibly well done. He does a plethora of voices for the different characters and really draws you into the world. I felt like I sped through the book as it was the perfect mix of adventure, comedy, and some more heartfelt moments. This felt a lot less like the cozy fantasy setting of the other books in the series, which I think I did enjoy more. But it still didn't have that overly serious fantasy tone.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a lighter read in a fantasy world, although I really wouldn't classify it as cozy fantasy.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced reading copy of Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree.

The audiobook is narrated by the author, Travis Baldree, which I love!

The first cozy fantasy novel Legends and Latte’s takes place in Viv’s new coffee shop. This one is a Sequel to Legends and Latte’s where Fern is a bookseller next door to the Legends and Latte’s coffee shop. Fern is finding herself stuck and decides a renovation will help her see the joy in the mundane. But Fern ends up in a most unusual predicament after a night out.

These books were made for fantasy and non fantasy readers alike. I highly recommend these to everyone!

“If Dungeons & Dragons had a baby with Animal Crossing you would get the absolute delight that is (Bookshops and Bonedust)” - Riley Marie

I preferred this series when the characters were fussing over menu decisions, not having actual adventures. Grateful to legends & lattes for introducing me to cozy fantasy but it's going to be the last of the series for me.

Fern has weathered the stillness and storms of a bookseller’s life for decades, but now, in the face of boredom, she embarks on a journey to the city of Thune to be closer to her old pal, Viv.

A coffeeshop next to a bookshop, what could be a better pairing? Surely, a charming renovation montage will alleviate her boredom.

If only things were so simple, even in a cozy fantasy, you absolutely cannot have a seamless life transition; things are bound to come up.

It turns out that fixing your life isn’t a one-time prospect, and it’s not as easy as a change of scenery.

As a result, an unexpected adventure begins.

Fern, Fern, Fern… After reading Bookshops & Bonedust, I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about Fern as a character. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy her character; it was more that her foul mouth took away a bit of the coziness for me, and I know that is an odd feeling to have. Again, I am no stranger to foul language, but, for some reason, it just felt so out of place, and I have a strong feeling this is going to be an uncommon opinion, but I have to say it. Many readers, including myself, might wonder why I wanted to read Brigands & Breadknives so badly when I knew the adventure focused on Fern, whom I didn’t really have a connection with in Bookshops & Bonedust. I’m here to say, I have enjoyed the storylines a lot, and I wanted to give Fern a chance for me to connect with her on a different level. Just because she has a foul mouth, and in this story that didn’t appeal to me, doesn’t mean she isn’t a good character. My thoughts were correct. Did the language take away from the coziness for me? Yes, it did. That didn’t change, and I didn’t think it would; however, I did get a better understanding of Fern. I connected with her more in this story. It was great for her to have an adventure of her own.

I still have many of the same feelings I had when reading Bookshops & Bonedust when it comes to the characters. I don’t seem to have as strong a connection with them as I did while I was reading Legends & Lattes. However, I still enjoyed the characters, especially the Goblin, Zyl, who is a prisoner being escorted by the one-eared elf warrior, Astryx, which gets me to my next point. I did enjoy their adventure. It seemed to be a little higher stakes than the other two books. My favourite part was seeing how the relationship grew between Fern and her new friend, Astryx. There was some depth there that kept me entertained.

Also, Macmillan Audio's production is immaculate. I never have any issues with their audiobooks; in fact, it’s typically a must-listen for me if the book happens to have an audiobook done by Macmillan Audio. They always have great narrators; in this case, Travis Baldree was the narrator, and I think he did a great job.

Travis Baldree is back with another fun installment of the series that started with Legends & Lattes! I've appreciated how each book takes a look at different characters. This is just subjective, I know...but I think my enjoyment of this story was tampered a bit by how Fern the ratkin just wasn't a character that I felt I "needed" to see more of. Your mileage may vary! One big strength here--Travis Baldree reading his own story! The audiobook is a joy to listen to.

Travis Baldree is such a fantastic author. Until Legends and Lattes I never knew I needed cozy fantasy in my life. This book was a wonderful third peak into his magical land and delightful writing. Fern was a delightful character and I wanted to hug the book and visit this world yet again at the end.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this addition to the world of Legends and Lattes so much that I finished it in one day. Fern being a bookseller for decades thinks that a change of scenery can help fix the feeling of ennui she has been feeling lately, but soon comes to realize that it doesn’t. After waking up in the back of a legendary warriors wagon miles away from home, she goes on an unexpected adventure. Is this what she needs to break the feeling? This series has easily become one of my favorites with its balance of cozy fantasy and adventure.

I've read all of Travis Baldree's books and this one may be my favorite. Fern is my favorite character and I enjoyed that we are meeting her again when she is older. You don't see a lot of middle aged characters in fantasy so as a reader at that age it was nice to see it. Travis Baldree is an excellent narrator, I'd listen to him read a grocery list. I highly recommend this series!

This installment in the Legends and Lattes series focuses on Fern, a ratkin bookseller who is beginning to feel restless and maybe dissatisfied with her life.

When Fern decides it's time for a new beginning, she decides to relocate her shop so she can live near her friend Viv. But moving doesn't seem to have solved her problems. One night when trying to drink away her discontent, Fern passes out in a stranger's wagon. When she wakes up, she discovers she has inadvertently gotten herself mixed up with the legendary oathmaiden elf Asterix and her current captured bounty -- a chaos goblin named Zil.

Fern is conflicted. Yes, she needs to send Viv a letter explaining her sudden absence and she should find a way to return to her store. But another part of her wants to disappear down the road to help the elf deliver the goblin to the authorities. Fern has another worry: Having left home with little more than her bottle of booze, she is also penniless.

What follows is a lot of action and adventure as well as talking swords, ratkin monks, killer monsters, developing friendships, and even a little humor as Fern tags along with Asterix and Zil.

I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and to watch Fern grow into the next phase of her life. Despite the hardships and a few life-and-death battles, this series is more cozy than dark. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.

Author Travis Baldree narrates the audiobook himself. But wait! Before you yank those earbuds out, know this: Baldree is also a gifted voice actor. Here he successfully marries two of his talents--writing and narration--to create an excellent and engaging audiobook. Consistent voices, perfect pacing, spot-on humor . . . this audiobook is a delight.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the review copy.