Legends & Lattes is the cozy, slice-of-life fantasy you’ve been looking for. The book’s tagline describes it as a story of “High Fantasy and Low Stakes,” which perfectly sums things up. This book has the energy of a D&D session played by people who love Animal Crossing instead of combat.

Author Travis Baldree tells a simple story here, and a familiar one, even if it takes place in a fantasy world. At its core, Legends & Lattes is about starting something new. It may be difficult and feel like it’s too late, but it’s never impossible. Baldree shows the benefit of getting out of your comfort zone through Viv and her shop. This is primarily an internal story; we rarely step outside the shop, and that’s okay. The stakes revolve around Viv’s livelihood and the cafe’s well-being, making this more of a slice-of-life story than a full-fledged fantasy adventure.

Despite her past as a warrior for hire, Viv is genuinely good. She actively works to change her way of thinking and approaching problems. She literally hangs up her sword as a decoration in an effort not to attack every issue with violence. With their shop, Viv and her new friends try to create something special for the people around them, with very little expectation of reward.

Another real standout in Legends & Lattes is the descriptions of the food and drinks. I’m one of those people who somehow doesn’t like coffee, but this book made me crave it. And I dare you to read Legends & Lattes all the way through without buying yourself a cinnamon roll!

When the world feels like a bad place, sometimes you need a quiet, comforting book to take your mind off things. Legends & Lattes is that book. It’s perfect for when the weather gets cold; read it curled up with a warm drink, preferably at your favorite local cafe.

This book is exactly as advertised: a cozy fantasy with low stakes. There is a little bit of drama, but it’s easily resolved and the cast of characters is very charming. They are a small group but well rounded and they fit into the story comfortably.

The baked goods are very well described and I love how they are all based on human creations, so I can taste them as well. It also makes me want a strong cup of coffee, though I don’t currently have the energy to brew one! It was a fun twist, to bring human creations into the fantasy world. Not only does it add even more comfort to an already warm setting, it brings some fantasy into our world as well.

I very much love how no one needs to forgive Viv for her past and the people she’s hurt or killed. It’s mentioned and known, and yet Viv is who she is now, not who she was then. She doesn’t have to make up to anyone, except for herself. And even that is coming to terms with the fact that people can change, fundamentally, and otherwise.

The romance is very sweet and obvious from the beginning. A slow burn with an obvious ending, but still satisfying when it finally happens. The slow way Tandri worms her way into Viv’s heart is sweet. Tandri is intelligent and commanding. She’s been hurt but hasn’t lost her confidence.

My favorite little marker of progress and the passage of time was the gradual editing of the menu, as written by Tandri. The baked goods, the addition of ice beverages…I was only disappointed that they didn’t add a mocha to the menu!

I can’t wait for more in this series! It was a quick read and easy to get into with not too much that required explanation. The next book is a prequel, again centered on Viv, but involving a bookstore! While a sequel would be great, I relish the opportunity to get to know Viv more.

While the beating heart of this book is its peaceful, heartwarming atmosphere and incredible cast of characters, it has even more to offer:
- beautiful writing that is incredibly evocative without taking away from the narrative;
- masterful pacing that makes this book a rapid read that, nevertheless, is never rushed;
- deeper themes of understanding, kindness, enduring friendship, rejection of stereotypes, and perseverance that (while simple) are no less poignant and important;
- a general lightness and ease that makes this the perfect comfort read while still targeting an adult audience;
- complex and complete worldbuilding that is never dumped on the reader or over-explained;
- a beautiful example of the "found family" trope that will leave you smiling to yourself at minimum once per chapter;
- a conflict that is not an overblown misunderstanding or other frustrating plot convenience but an event that spurs on the transformation of not only the main character but those around her;
- a sapphic romance that not only doesn't take the spotlight away from the most important relationships in this novel (the friendships) but is also incredibly natural and free from angst or external judgment/obstacles;
- varied and diverse characters that each have their own moments to shine, coming into their own and finding purpose in a new phase of their lives;
- and so much more!

This truly is such a gem of a book, and I have only come to love it more the second time around. Learning that this is Travis Baldree's debut novel has completely blown me away! All I can hope is that Baldree never stops writing so I can continue to live in his peaceful, happy little world full of loveable misfits finding belonging together like a slightly unexpected yet breathtaking jigsaw puzzle.

This was so cute! It was cozy and heart warming. I really got to know and care about the characters. Thimble was my favorite! I was hoping for some more action scenes, but I feel like we got exactly what was advertised. Everything was just sweet and nice and I enjoyed the story and how it was told. I’ll definitely read the next one.

There aren’t enough words for how much I love this book. Cosy, sweet, heart-warming LGBTQ+ fantasy. I cannot wait to share my love of this novel in-store! You need to read this book with a hot coffee and sweet cinnamon roll.

This book was so much fun. It felt like being wrapped up in a warm blanket. What a wonderful world to get to spend time in! I would recommend this to anybody and think it’d be great for people to check out if they want a little bit of fantasy but not high fantasy like a lot of the books in the genre. I will definitely read more by this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for review copy.

I absolutely loved this book. So many people talk about how cozy of a fantasy it is, and they are absolutely right. Viv just wants to open up a coffee shop (which this part of the fantasy world has never had before) and ends up finding friends and community along the way. "High Fantasy with Low Stakes" also get thrown around a lot and is also so true. The plot is not going to be world ending like with epic fantasy, but it so important to Viv and those she draws close to her. It's just full of the good feels and earned rewards.

I was given an ecopy of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree in exchange for my honest review. After hearing so much hype around this story, I was excited to dive in.

Warning, do not read this book without a warm cup of coffee or tea and a pastry...you're gonna want them.
Five Stars!

The hype around this book is on point. Travis Baldree may not be the first to write a cozy novel in a high fantasy world, but he certainly made leaps and bounds on the path to making cozy aka slice-of-life high fantasy a staple in the mainstream fantasy subgenres!Not only is it well written in the general aspects of character creation (I adore Viv, the orc warrior turned cafe owner) and plotting with twists (did anyone else see that coming with the crime syndacate head?) but he is also a master at world building. Baldree could have simply made it believable that coffee, like tea and ale and mead and whatnot, is a staple in the fantasy world's diet. No one could have questioned that really because, like tea or hops, there is no rule that says coffee beans are for the real world only.

Instead, Baldree makes introducing coffee (and spices like cardamom and even chocolate) to the patrons of this fantasy world cafe part of the story. As a reader who is well acquainted not only with the tastes of coffee, chocolate, cinnamon, and cardamom, but also with making things with them in baking and brewing, I was suprised. Not by the concept of introducing them but by how I felt like I was also be introduced to them. I grew up around these flavors and spices. No one introduced me to them. It was simply something that existed. So, when Baldree's tiefling…eh…I mean succubus (heh) and orc and lil rat person explain what these things are, I paused. I contemplated my own chocolate chip cookie or cup of cacao hull tea (sorry Viv, I can't drink coffee), and thought about it hard. It was like knowing a person for forever but never being properly introduced with their full name. What an experience!

This book is splendid and the only possible complaint I could have is wanting more. Not just more of Baldree's world but more cozy slice of life high fantasy in general. I want stories about halfling tavern keepers falling for half-elf clerks or dwarven mead brewers falling for druid beekeepers. Give me the stories of the well loved NPCs from our games! And thank you Travis Baldree for making it clear with your stories and its sales and fandom that this is not just something I want but what a huge section of fantasy readers want.

What a wonderful “found family” story, set in a coffee shop! In Legends & Lattes, Viv learns a new way to live and welcomes others into her entrepreneurial business venture. I love the teamwork and care among the main characters, who wouldn’t normally “fit” into each other’s worlds. This book feels like a medieval, cozy pub ASMR room with a fire crackling, rain dripping outside, and lively conversation among the patrons. I’d recommend it to readers who appreciate coffee shop culture, friendship stories, and/or those who want to dip their toes into the fantasy genre. It’s a great place to start!

Tagged as “a novel of high fantasy and low stakes,” Travis Baldree’s debut novel is about as cozy as it gets. In Legends & Lattes, you’ll meet Viv, an orc barbarian with plans to leave the warrior life behind and open up the city’s first coffee shop. As Viv goes about starting a business, she ends up in some hilarious situations. Hiring an
assistant to help run the coffee shop shouldn’t be a problem, after all, Viv has hired people before, but she quickly realizes that hiring an assistant for a coffee shop and hiring mercenaries for a quest require two different skill sets. Luckily, she manages to find a succubus to help around the shop, who, like Viv, appears to also be making an active choice about who she wants to be. As it turns out, Viv is not just opening the first coffee shop, she’s introducing an entire town to coffee for the first time. Baldree’s descriptions of the smell, taste, and making of a cup of coffee will having you craving a cup of your own. The closest thing the people of this town have experienced is tea, but Viv assures them it’s an entirely different experience.
Like Viv’s coffee, or hot bean water as it's sometimes described in the novel, Legends & Lattes is an entirely different fantasy read. It has so much charm and characters that you’ll quickly grow to love and root for.
My advice, put yourself on hold for the downloadable audiobook. Travis Baldree is a full-time audiobook narrator and of course narrated Legends & Lattes; it’s sure to be a great listen!

Fantasy is not a genre I typically gravitate towards unless a book's premise entices me, and this one did. I play Dungeons and Dragons which allowed me to appreciate this novel on another level, but I think Legends & Lattes is a perfect beginner fantasy novel as well.

Just like everyone said, this is charming as hell. I was a little nervous that the story wouldn’t pull me in or that there wouldn’t even be much of a story, but I shouldn’t have worried — Viv’s journey to try and build a life for herself outside of battle was more than enough to keep me intrigued. And the cozy elements added such warmth and contentment. Best enjoy with a hot beverage and a sweet treat.

amazing!! the atmosphere, the coziness, and the characters make this a perfect book. I highly recommend to people who love TJ Klune!

This was a perfect definition of one cozy read. It was quite a unique story; which I absolutely loved and enjoyed it.!!

This is an absolutely wonderful story! Now I know why everyone was calling it "cozy". This is a story about Viv, an orc, who gives up her life of battles and bounties and plans to start fresh by opening a coffee shop. It's as simple as that, and yet not as simple as that. Viv meets new friends along the way and it is such a warm, heartwarming story. I highly recommend it. And I can't wait to read it again!

This was my first cozy fantasy! Low stakes but what a great read! The world-building was unique and quite easy to follow!
4/5 stars

Thank you to Tor (via NetGalley) for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book! I don’t think I’ve ever read a cozy fantasy before, but I want more! I loved the vibes of this book so much, and that the plot was so low stakes. Sometimes fantasy is a little too much for me because it’s all action and life or death, so this was a great change of pace. The fantasy environment but with much smaller conflict.

The end set it up for a possible sequel, so I’m hopeful for more books in this world! Either way, I will definitely check out whatever Travis Baldree writes next.

Legends & Lattes is on many lists of best-of books of 2022. It is a cozy fantasy, where the world-building is easy to understand and the stakes are on the low side. In this story, an orc is tired of quests and fighting, so she decides to open a coffee shop and introduce her customers to cinnamon rolls. The journey is one of friendship and finding yourself in a new position in life. There is a mild love story.

Recommend for those looking for a quick read or maybe a pallet-cleanser between big, complex fantasy series. Travis Baldree has created some immaculate cozy vibes!

A lovely warm and cosy read that deserves the hype! I loved all the food and drink descriptions - in a lot of ways it reminded me of Redwall. The same serene glow!

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for sending me a copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

I fully believe that this situation was a "it's not you, it's me" situation, and it was one that reminded me that I won't always love what the rest of the book community loves. As a ravenous fantasy reader, I think cozy fantasy is simply not for me because it's not the style I am used to. The story was far to slow for me and ended up being a struggle for me to get through. I just really didn't care how they built the coffee shop or how the machine worked.

I did really love the characters and wished that I had seen more of their backstories and motivations. The found family aspect was wonderful and I loved the way that everything came together and the message behind the story. It was so sweet and fun to watch evolve!

If you're more of a slice-of-life person, then definitely check this out. It might be the book for you!