"Brigands & Breadknives", the delightful sequel to "Legends and Lattes", follows Fern, a ratkin who has lost her purpose in life. When she drunkenly falls asleep in the wagon of a famed hero, Fern is whisked away on an adventure she could have never imagined.

Moving away from the cozy low stakes that the first installment is so famed for, this novel is a fast paced, adventurous novel full of fun characters, found family, and LOTS of action! Even though the vibes were quite different from book 1, I really enjoyed Fern's journey in "Brigands & Breadknives". My favorite thing about the novel is the character Zil. No spoilers, but she made me laugh quite a few times.

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced listener copy, and love how the author narrated the tale. While he wrote the characters as very well developed, he truly brought them to life with his performance. Again, I especially loved how he voiced Zil- it really just makes her even more ridiculous and lovable.

For anyone who loved Legends and Lattes, but needed a bit more action, this is for you!
5/5 stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced listener's copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was adorable and cozy. Travis has consistently knocked it out of the park with these quaint little fantasies and Fern’s story was no different. I loved the little adventure and Zil was my spirit animal!

This series is cute and cozy with a mix of adventure and a little chaos. I was excited for this book to see Viv and Fern together again, but I was a little bit disappointed. Fern leaves town almost as soon as she gets there and you don't hear from Viv until the very end again. The story in the middle wasn't bad, but I was hoping the story went another route and you saw more of interactions with them running their shops together. It was very sweet to see how Fern changed her career in a way that made her happier though. Over all it was a cute story, just not quite what I was hoping for out of book 3.

Review: Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree
Rating: 5/5

Brigands & Breadknives is everything I hoped it would be and more. Travis Baldree delivers another cozy, character-driven tale filled with heart, humor, and just the right amount of mischief. The narration is pitch-perfect, and the return to this familiar world felt like coming home.

The standout for me was Breadley, who absolutely stole the show. Baldree has a gift for writing characters you instantly love and root for, and this audiobook is filled with those moments that make you smile, laugh, and even tear up a little. If you’re a fan of Legends & Lattes, you’re in for a treat. This is comfort fantasy at its finest.

The highly-anticipated sequel to cozy fantasy Legends & Lattes, this story follows rattkin bookseller Fern who escapes to Thune. She finds herself on a legendary adventure with a ragtag group including a legendary warrior and chaos-goblin, and with every high stakes encounter with outlaws and bonding with her new group, Fern begins to discover who she really is outside of the bookshop.
While I didn’t gravitate to this story quite as much as its predecessor, I loved finally getting foul-mouthed Fern’s story and similarly to Viv’s journey to self-discovery. The narrator perfectly brought Fern’s rambunctious personality to life.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the previous books in this world starring Viv, so I was really looking forward to this one starring Fern, a returning character from the prequel. I had an idea in my head what this book was going to be, think cozy book shops and building a business like we saw in Legends & Lattes, but that’s not what you get here. What we do get is a middle aged Fern questioning what she wants out of life and finding adventure when she accidentally ends up playing squire to Astryx, a literal elf from legend.

I really loved the characters featured in this one and the friendships that are formed, but due to the adventures and significantly higher stakes, I did not get as much of the cozy vibe in this one. There’s a lot to love here but I think this might be my least favorite of the books so far. I would recommend this book to those who find themselves looking for more adventure in their cozy fantasies.

Just a note that I did get the arc of the audiobook from NetGalley which is narrated by the author and I thought it was a delightful way to take in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy! All opinions are my own.

Lovely next installment in the series! I love that Baldree has allowed the characters in book 1 to really have their happy ending. This feels like a really natural next story for the series. The story is less cozy than first first two published in the series (the first and the prequel), but it's written in the same voice and style. I wasn't as invested in the main couple as much as the goblin, I felt like the story would have been much more interesting if they the B-plot instead of the other way around!

If you haven't read the freebie short story Baldree published, I would read that first. I read it before and was wondering the entire time about how some question would be anwsered, and the ending made me cackle, it was such a good pay off. You'll be fine if you read it after or don't read it at all, I just thought it was hysterical.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc, all opinions are my own.

I loved Brigands and Bread knives. Baldree has created each book in this series like warm, soft, perfectly-iced cinnamon rolls, all snuggled up together for a leisurely read and a cup of coffee.

I enjoyed reading Fern's perspective. She is so different than Viv, but just as lovable. I will keep reading these books and any others that Travis Baldree feels inspired to write

🎧Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook.
Thoroughly enjoyable listen. There are few authors who can create so much character depth in a light hearted cozy fantasy setting.

I think this is my favorite one of the series yet! This is an interconnected standalone that takes place after the events of Legends & Lattes. This one follows Fern (the bookseller ratkin) on a grand adventure. It's a low stakes, cozy fantasy with a fantastic cast. We get to see some of our favorite characters from Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust but we also meet some great new characters (Zyll is a standout).

I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration. The author, Travis Baldree, narrates it himself and does a great job with the character voices and just the right amount of energy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a digital ARC of this book.

Back in the world of Legends and Lattes, this time we're following Fern as she goes on a crazy adventure and tries to figure out what the heck she wants to do in this life.

This book has everything you want from a Travis Baldree book. Lovable characters to root for, a low stakes fantasy adventure, and a heartwarming tale that is perfect for curling up in a nice comfy chair with a cup of tea.

I do feel like this one had a more action/adventure than the previous two in the series. We aren't staying in one location so we're seeing more of the world and having some more tense showdowns. But it still maintains that cozy fantasy feel you expect from The Legends and Lattes world.

Travis Baldree does a great job with the narration as always.

Well stuff is on fire in reality let's dive into something cozy, but of course there is a wrench. Out 11 November 2025 go back into Travis Baldree's fantasy world with "Brigands & Bread knives."

Fern is back, moves to town for a fresh start and to spend time with an old friend. Her new bookstore is a success! Which is a problem. Is this Fern's entire life now? Only solution, drink and hope for the best. Except she wakes up in the back of a wagon containing a famous bounty hunter and a really strange goblin. At least her personal problems are on the back burner for now!

Reasons to read:
-Narrated by the author
-Forget the mess outside right now
-This one didn't make me super hungry for baked goods
-Deciding that you can pivot your "dreams"
-Well I didn't expect that

Cons:
-Weird seeing someone reject something I'd love to do

I loved being back in this world! Fern makes a great main character. She's absolutely hilarious, but she also has emotional depth. I enjoyed seeing how she developed over the course of the story. And I loved the new characters we were introduced to, especially Zyll. Such a fun, cozy read!

Thank you ENDLESSLY to Macmillan Audio, Travis Baldree, and NetGalley for the advance listening copy of Brigands & Breadknives. All opinions are my own!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

I LOVE this newest installment into the Legends & Lattes world! In this story, we follow Fern the book selling rattkin. Fern moves to Thune to open a bookshop and be close to Viv but soon finds herself wanting more. As a result, she drunkenly ends up on the wagon of a famous crusader set to deliver her newest bounty. Adventure and trouble ensues as Fern tries to decide what direction she wants her life to take.

One thing I love about these stories is the characters. They’re multi-dimensional and clever in every situation. There’s plenty of coziness and comic relief, and these stories feel just as plot-driven as they are character-driven. I sincerely wish I had savored Brigands & Breadknives more!

To me, these stories are best read in order of publication, so be sure to pick this one up after the previous 2. You’ll be so happy you did!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Brigands & Breadknives is a fun, adventurous story set in the world of Legends & Lattes.

I enjoyed this one. Travis Baldree’s prose was witty and immersive, presenting a well-paced and engaging story. Although I enjoyed the adventure, I longed for the cozier feel of Legends & Lattes. I enjoyed returning to L&L’s world and its delightful characters. The world-building was wonderful, and the plot was entertaining. Fern was an excellent, vivid character, and I enjoyed the rest of the quirky, well-developed characters. I loved the character development. Legends & Lattes remains my favorite in the series, but I still had fun with this one!

Travis Baldree’s narration was delightful. I loved experiencing the story through his voice. He brought excellent energy, emotion, and accents to the story, making it even more immersive. I highly recommend the audiobook!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

While the previous two books could be read as standalones or in either order, you really do need to complete your homework before Brigands & Breadknives. Reading Goblins & Greatcoats, the free short story, is extra credit but helpful.

Fern has the opposite midlife crisis to Viv, leaving her cozy shopkeeper life and going on an adventure. She tags along with a legendary elven adventurer and their dynamic reminds me of Xena and Gabrielle. They're accompanied by a chaos goblin named Zyll and really you should read Goblins & Greatcoats.

I wouldn't call this book "cozy" but it is a lighthearted adventure. There's a lot of worldbuilding as Fern travels, leagues beyond "gnomish coffee machines." Especially the ratkin. I love all the ratkin in this book.

Brigands review

The warm cozy hug that we know and love about Travis Baldree and this world, but let’s take it on the road and have a bit more adventure to it!!

Fern packed up her life to open a book store next to Legends & Lattes and decides she hates it. Getting drunk and passing out in the cart of a famous elf who is bringing in a bounty, Fern convinces her to tag along for the ride and stick around.

First and most importantly, Travis Baldree brings these characters to life so so well. Being the author, he knows the tone and voices and inflections and everything in between the best and is such an amazing narrator. I absolutely adored Fern in the last book and this just really solidified my feelings for her.

As an almost middle aged woman rather lost with what to be in the world, I FELT Fern and had so many emotions going through this story. I did feel it was less cozy than the other two previous books in this world and had me more excited and anxious to continue and see where it goes and what happens. It wasn’t high stakes, I would say, but I think it had more to the world since there was traveling and run ins. The found family here was absolutely heartwarming and brought me to absolute tears at the end.

Overall the next installment of this series felt a great completed standalone, bringing back the familiar faces, which was a welcome to see them on the page for a good little while! And then a tale of finding something to be passionate about struck a cord so deep within me. Just like the ones before, this was an absolute win for me. Five stars.

Another cosy instalment in the Legends & Lattes series. Fern is a ratkin who has moved to the town of Thurn to open a new bookshop alongside her old friend Viv's coffee shop. Somewhere long the way though she feels like this isn't what she really wants to be doing and ends up mistakenly setting off across the country on a mission with a bounty hunter elf. There is a lot more action in this book than in previous ones, but there is still a lot of soul searching and cosy moments. It was nice to get to learn more about Fern (other than that she's a foul mouthed ratkin with a bookshop) but was sad to miss out on extra Potroast content!! There are a lot of new characters introduced and new locations as part of the adventure but sometimes it can feel a bit surface level rather than getting to know anybody particularly well. Overall it was an easy listen and Travis Baldree is of course excellent as the narrator, really giving characters a voice and distinction.

this is such a sweet series. this one returns us to Fern...and what a life she has chosen! her new companions are delightful. the audio version is so good, especially since Baldree narrates it!
thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Elves and goblins and rattikins, oh my! It was wonderful to return to Travis Baldree's world of Legends and Lattes, and great to follow our friend Fern from Bookshops and Bonedust. I may have dropped all other reading plans the day I was approved for this audiobook. I finished it in 24 hours!