This book has been on my tbr for so long, so when I actually got approved for an egalley for the upcoming Tor paperback release, I screamed!

Viv, an orc, is a hired merc who is tired of the skull-bashing life. She leaves her troupe to open a coffee shop in a city with a little help from a magical artifact. Little does she know, magic can attract trouble as she risks falling into her old life again.

Legends & Lattes is just the cutest found family, heartwarming fantasy I’ve ever read. The characters are so lovable and it’s just a lovely story of finding yourself and letting people in.

I really thought that there wouldn’t be much of a plot to this story, but there was enough action and intrigue to keep you glued to the pages. Not to mention you can’t help but read it with a smile.

This edition also comes with a little prequel short story. In this, we follow Viv and her troupe before she discovers the joys of coffee. It was a cute addition, showing the dynamics between her old friends and the slight changes in her attitude towards the mercenary life.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!

This book gave me a very specific feeling and, as a reader, you may know exactly what I'm talking about. There are some books I've read in my life that immediately have this feeling of a safe place or being comforting. The kind of books that are great for rereads because they give me a sense of peaceful familiarity. This is how I felt reading this book and it's one of the major reasons I love it so much.

Viv is a great comfort character. She never gets overly riled and seems to always keep her head in most all situations. The people that come to surround her as she creates this new life are just as soothing. I feel like this book, so much like coffee and a pastry, is a balm to the soul.

It's a love story to coffee and the eclectic gathering at coffee shops just as much as it is to friendship. (And, also, amazing cats!)

Definitely recommend this one!

I requested a digital copy in order to sample the prose on my phone (since I don't have a eReader) before requesting a physical copy for review. My review will be based on the physical ARC I read (if I qualify)

Thanks to Tor Books for the gifted read. Wow, I wish I knew about cozy fantasy books sooner because I would be all over that genre. This is all the cozy you want from a book with fantasy elements to it, so if you're either a fan of fantasy books or of cozy books, you'll get a little bit of something here.

The emphasis on this book is more cozy than fantasy, so folks who are used to high fantasy elements, lots of backstory, and tons of world building may not get the kind of book that they want. I mean, those cozy mysteries are emphasis on cozy than mystery, so you can pretty much the same here. However, it definitely doesn't lack in the fantasy elements. You have various different fantasy creatures and magical elements playing throughout the story. You get enough about the world to keep you going, but I will admit I wanted to know more about Viv and her background as a ruthless orc who killed for hire. But I didn't mind learning about Viv's lighter side especially as she journeyed to open her own cafe selling a drink no one has ever heard of in a town she just moved to.

The characters were really the driving force of the story. I loved Viv and her background. I loved hearing about Tandri and how she'd been discriminated because of who she is and how she found a safe space at the coffee shop. I absolutely loved the regulars and of course, I loved the cat. Every character really brought something to the world and made it feel so realistic. You had the regular who never orders anything, the person who sits in the corner contemplating a game of chess, the folks who walk in and out of the cafe everyday with the hopes of digging into a good cup of coffee and a warm pastry. It really brought a sense of comfort and I couldn't help imagining myself at one of those cafe tables quietly reading my book and observing everyone going about their business.

I think what I loved the most about this story is Viv's journey. You don't know what kind of life she had, but you know it was hard and her decision to open her own cafe was self-care at its finest. I was just imagining her picking up her sword and fighting off villains, but I loved that she puts her sword up on the wall and focuses her time on making delicious cups of coffee.

The inclusion of coffee in a world where there's no coffee was so clever. I loved watching Viv and Tandri try to sell something no one has ever tried or even heard of. The way that it's included in the story breaks a bit of the fantasy of the world, but at the same time I found myself giving props to Travis Baldree for taking something so coveted in the real world and making it an anomaly in this fantasy world. It really made me happy to see everyone trying it out for the first time and the excitement it brings to the small town.

Of course, coffee can't be served alone and when they introduce pastries to the shop, I was definitely in love. Similarly to the coffee, Baldree introduces these real-world elements to the story as if they're new ideas and the excitement and reception they get from the characters really makes you believe that there may be some magic in a cinnamon roll. The descriptions of the food were incredible and really made me wish I had a chocolate croissant and warm latte next to me.

No story isn't without its conflict and I really loved how this one plays out. It felt almost like a mafia story where the wise guys come to the cafe threatening to burn the place down if they didn't pay for existing. I really loved how that intertwines with the business and made a lot of sense in the world. I also loved that there was a little bit of conflict with Viv's past. You may not know everything that happened in her life prior to becoming a barista, but you know enough to know that the people coming to mess with her are from that dark past and Viv needs to do something about it.

Overall, this book left me with a giant smile on my face. I loved the characters and following along with them as they literally built a coffee shop in a world where coffee is the newest thing anyone could have tried. I think this might have opened up an entire genre of books for me to check out.

Legends & Lattes was such a cute & super cozy fantasy read! I honestly wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I'm so glad I gave this a chance!

This is a delightful, cozy fantasy. Reminds me a bit of Discworld but makes its own place through tough-yet-vulnerable characters learning how to trust and support each other. Hoping for more of their stories!

I haven’t read a more beautifully written book in a long time! Everything about this was whimsical. I have a deep commitment now to Travis Baldrees books and I cannot wait to see what Travis comes up with next. This book reminded me of why I fell in love with reading

Ever wonder what world and battle weary adventures do when they wish to retire? Well, Viv's story is just one option and I loved it! Viv wants to open a coffee shop in Thune, the first of its kind, but is Thune ready for a coffee shop? Travis Baldree has written a cozy and warm novel that made me smile from start to finish. As a Dungeons and Dragons player for over 20 years, I have often wondered what adventure seekers do when they want to retire...Legends & Lattes did not disappoint. I loved Viv's character and every single person she met along the way. The chess playing elder gnome was a particular favorite and the sweet romance was just the icing on the cake! I hope to see more from Mr. Baldree because the world needs a nice low stakes adventure now and again.
Plus, any book that can possess me to make cinnamon buns is a winner in my opinion!

**Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Legends & Lattes follows Viv, an orc who is tired of her old life as a warrior. She discovers coffee during her travels and decides to head to the city of Thune to start the city's first ever coffee shop. She brings her old sword and a mysterious artifact with her.

But as with any new adventure, she faces challenges along the way. Thune has its own problems, and Viv may have upset the wrong people. Luckily, she also forms friendships with some of the right people.

As someone who loves fantasy with darker elements, I wasn't sure how I would feel about Legends & Lattes, but now I want more fantasy books like this. I loved the cast of characters, like a succubus named Tandri with marketing prowess and a rattkin named Thimble with unbelievable baking skills. (And, of course, for the cat lovers out there, a dire-cat).

I highly recommend Legends & Lattes anyone looking for a quiet, slice-of-life book with fantastical creatures, this book is bound to please readers. I can't wait to see what Travis Baldree does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a book I did not knew I needed until I read it. This is the first "cozy" fantasy I have read and I hope it is not the last. Viv is an orc tired of living the warrior life so retires to Thune, with a magical artifact, to open a cafe in a former horse barn. The other creatures she meets accept her as she introduces them to the gnomish drink - coffee. Viv credits her success on the magical artifact she has brought with her, but when her world shatters was the artifact or Viv herself that created this wonderful found family? I appreciated the catastrophe that affects Viv's life is quickly resolved and the way the people of Thune showed their appreciation for Viv and all she brought them, but it was reciprocal because they also brought her so much. This will definitely be a re-read for me each year and I really hope that we are able to visit Thune in the future. . .

Thanks Tor and NetGalley for the ARC. This book is delightful and a great, cozy fantasy read. The biggest reason I gave it four stars instead of five is that the beginning feels really long and drug out whereas the ending feels too short and rushed. But I love everything that happens!

If you like d&d type high fantasy settings but also spend a lot of time reading coffee shop AUs on AO3, then this is the book for you. Viv is an orc barbarian who has spent her life adventure. Now she's ready to hang up her broadsword and try something new, so new in fact, that most people have never heard of it. Some time back she encountered this exotic gnomish beverage called "coffee" (sometimes it's even served with milk!) and now she's determined to convert everyone in her new city to a coffee lover. Along the way she'll pick up new friends and allies, and even trade on some older connections to keep things running smoothly.

This is a cozy, low stakes fantasy story. There is no major trauma (at least, nothing unfixable), no character death, no relationship angst. What we do have is a group of misfits banding together to create a welcoming community center. I enjoyed all of the characters in this book, and I hope that Baldree will write future stories expanding on some of them. Legends & Lattes is a perfect fantasy comfort read, and I'm glad to see that it seems to be building up a good following.

This book is the definition of cozy fantasy! I adored every bit of this story and how comforting and warm the plot wise. While there was no overly intense life threatening plots, I still felt like I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen. Viv is such a great character and I would love to see more of this adorable cozy after adventure stories!

This book brought me so much joy, not only from the creativity of it, but from the hopefulness of it. For someone who has never rolled a dice in D&D, this was an incredibly approachable and comforting read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy of this book!

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH. If you are looking for a soft fantasy book, one that feels like you are cozying up in a blanket with some hot chocolate in front of a fire while it rains outside, this is the one for you. This is a story about going outside the box you were born into. Going outside the box of people's expectations and learning your happiness matters so much more than someone else's opinions of you.

This is a very quick read. It is about an Orc moving to a small town and wanting to open a coffee shop, which is something no one in the area has even heard of. 'Coffee? What is that, like an alcoholic dream? No fam, it isn't. But you'll have to try it to find out what it is.'

Found families, self love, happiness... fully loved this book.

Legends and Lattes is a cozy and relaxing read and I really enjoyed it. It follows an orc who decides she wants something different after adventuring and decides to open up a coffee shop. The characters in this book are unique and interesting and I liked the writing style as well. I think this would also do really well as a series and I hope that it’s made into one. I recommend it!

This was a sweet, cozy fantasy. The only thing that would have been more enjoyable was if they were creating a tea shop instead of a coffee shop. It felt a bit like an adult book in the same vein of the middle grade book [book:The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart|26869762], which I also thought was super cute. If you need lots of action or a major quest in your fantasy, this isn't the book for you. If you want a pleasant story to pass the time with about an Orc barista, this may be right up your alley.

This was definitely the cozy low stakes found family book that was promised. Reading this book was the equivalent of watching a coffee shop ASMR video on YouTube. I'd say that if you're having a stressful time and don't want to think too hard about things, or if you have just read a bunch of grimdark fantasy and want the opposite of terrible people doing terrible things, and you also want to chuckle at how real world coffee shop dynamics were slowly incorporated into this fantasy world, this would be good for you.

This was such a cute premise for a book. I love coffee and fantasy so putting them together was amazing. But I will say that the plot fell a little flat for me. I think it just needed something a little more to keep me engaged.

Absolutely loved this book! I hope it becomes a series, but am content with this story as it is. I just want more from these characters! Nice change of pace in the fantasy world.