I’m going to be honest, I haven’t actually finished reading this yet. So this review is just what I think so far and how I think I’ll feel by the end of the book. I’m just under two-thirds of the way done so I feel like I have a good feel.

I love that this book is fantasy, but not a story that you have to read pages upon pages of build up or introduction to understand the world or the types of characters that are present. Very much a “world of Warcraft” style world but with more modern twists and turns. I love the writing as well; it’s simple yet magical! Also a huge fan of short chapters.
The characters are very diverse in their types, talents, and how they are presented throughout the story. Unfortunately, I find so far there hasn’t been a great amount of fleshing out for Viv or some more important secondary characters like Tandri. I feel like I barely know who they really are.
My other issue comes from the fact that I feel like the plot hasn’t really progressed. There has been a ton of small side plots that have come and been mostly resolved. But there doesn’t seem to be a consistent main plot connecting it all together. I’m hopeful that this might change in the remainder of the book because I really love the world and the concept, just not sure if it was executed correctly with this storyline.

Absolutely fantastic. I bought a copy for the library before reading it KNOWING I would fall in love with it. Two chapters in I bought a special edition for myself. This book is a warm cup of coffee on a cloudy morning. Fans of D&D/fantasy will love this book, but it goes beyond just that. It's a beautiful book about new beginnings. I cannot stop gushing about Legends & Lattes to everyone.

If you read any amount of fantasy and haven't heard of this book, I assume you're living under a rock. This high fantasy, low stakes novella is a nice break from heavy war-laden fantasy with the flavor of a D&D campaign with your great friends, where everything feels familiar and everyone will come out alright in the end.

This book was a breakout success thanks to TikTok word-of-mouth, so it’s always intimidating going into a book with that much hype.
Legends & Lattes is a cozy fantasy about Viv, an orc adventurer who sets down her great sword to set up a coffee shop in a city that doesn’t know what coffee is. She makes friends with locals, and goes through the ups and downs of starting a business.
The beginning was pretty rough for me. Viv is just starting up in the city, remodeling the property she buys. It was boring, dry, and not that engaging. It was a lot of description about what Viv was doing, and not much about how she felt making such a drastic leap in her life. I almost lost hope, but once the café was built and the main cast in place, it became much more enjoyable. It was much more fun to see Viv interacting with her employees/friends and customers than just slowly building the café.
Speaking of main cast, I really enjoyed the characters. Viv and Tandri, the artistic succubi who helps Vvi run the place, were a great pair. They also have a pretty cute romance. Thimble, the baker, was undeniably my favorite character. He was just so cute that every time he was on page, I got excited! Cal, the grumpy carpenter, was also great.
I rated this book 3.25 stars. It was a nice cozy fantasy and it did it’s job in bringing a smile to my face. I just didn’t like it as much as most other people.

WHY CAN'T MORE HIGH FANTASY BOOKS BE LIKE THIS ONE!!!!
What happens when an adventurer lives long enough to retire? They open a coffee shop.
Such a fun book, great characters, wonderful setting. Why did I wait so long to read this book it was so fantastic.

This book is absolutely adorable!!! As a dnd player, I was so excited to read this, and it so exceeded my expectations! All the things that happen AFTER a character stops adventuring are always interesting. This was just such a nice cozy story and I would read a million more books by Baldree if they all had this vibe. Perfect break in between crazy fantasy novels. Highly recommend!

Legends and Lattes was a very sweet, non-adventure story for those that enjoy adventure. A mixture of fantasy and D&D world-building, Baldree created a cozy fantasy novel that warms the heart. I loved the characters and the slow-burn romance.

Viv the Orc is tired of living the warrior life. After winning her last battle, Viv decides to settle down to a quiet life and open the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. With the help of some friends, new and old, Viv starts experimenting with types and flavors of coffee as well as some sweet treats for customers to enjoy. However, there is one person in Thune who is not happy about the little coffee shop and plans to do something about it. Will Viv's cozy coffee life be turned upside down?

This. Book. Is. Perfect. I now want to read any and all cozy fantasy novels. There are literally no complaints from me about this story at all. It just feels warm and cozy and gives all of the good feelings.

I saw so many amazing reviews for this but I just couldn't get into it! I DNF around 15%.

Thank you for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Being a huge fan of the cozy mystery genre, when I heard this being referred to as a cozy fantasy, I knew I had to pick it up.

It did not disappoint!

Fresh and endlessly creative, this charming story will leave you with a wonderful feeling. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Legends and Lattees is one of my favorite fantasy reads of 2022. I definitely recommend grabbing a copy and reading to your heart's delight!

Viv, exhausted after years of fighting, decides to the hell with it and carries on her way to open a coffee shop in Thune. Thune, a city where nobody had heard of this bean goodness. Old relations and odds/ends quickly have our heroine thinking if all the legends and fables are too good to be true. Will legends and lattees be able to become a true success?

I devoured this novel in a short time span. Travis Baldree writes the magical cast of characters so each is important and not pushed to the wayside. The plot is lighthearted fun and kept me wanting to read on.

Thank you Macmillian for my earc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

This book was a refreshing breath! It was so unique and cozy and it even manage to make me tear up. I wished it was slightly faster paced so we could dig more into Viv and Tandri’s relationship, but it was still a great read!

Legends & Lattes is the perfect low stakes cozy fantasy. It’s found family done so right! Viv, Cal, Tandri, and ESPECIALLY Thimble are such lovable and fully realized characters. Who doesn’t want to go get a latte from an Orc barista and a steaming cinnamon bun from an adorable ratkin?!

- LEGENDS & LATTES is the book equivalent of a warm bath, or a gentle hug, or an ASMR video.
- I love that this book is an ode to friendship and community. The book has several characters who are used to doing things by themselves, and then they find each other and discover their lives are fuller if they work together and support each other.
- I hope that with the success of this book, along with other books similar in tone like the MONK & ROBOT books, we might see a subgenre of gentle SFF emerge.

A story of kindness and taking a leap of faith in an unknown place, about following a dream and the hardships you may face when doing so, and a story of making a home and finding love where you least expected it- Legends & Lattes was like a big warm comforting hug to my fantasy loving heart who yearned for just one novella of my faves doing every day life/ mundane things 🥰

It was the coziest of of cozy fantasies, and one of the the most beautiful, heartwarming stories that I’ll think about forever

5/5
Legends & Lattes is easily the coziest fantasy novel I have ever read. Debut author Travis Baldree serves up a lighthearted and easygoing tale that feels like being wrapped up in a warm blanket with a piping hot cup of coffee. The perfect book for anyone looking for an escape from the everyday.

5/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for offering me an eARC of this book!

This was so incredibly cute! It’s not my usual genre, but I would definitely like to get more into fantasies like this so I would love recommendations! I was worried that the “coziness” would subtract from the plot, but surprisingly, there was a really good balance from both character-driven and plot aspects! This is the perfect fall read, and my heart is incredibly happy and gooey just thinking about this. ❤️

This is the book I never knew I needed so badly in my life!

Viv, orc barbarian, is tired of her warrior life. She opens a shop selling a little known delicious treat, coffee. She quickly surrounds herself with a wonderful cast of characters and an ever growing menu of goodies and treats. Legends & Lattes is a wonderfully cozy fantasy novel that has all the great fantasy elements and races we've come to expect. Like Viv's coffee, this book warms the soul. The story focuses on friendship, family and supporting those you love. Any conflict is easily resolved, but creates plenty of character growth along the way.

Overall, I loved this book. It just feels good. In a world that is full of so much darkness, worry, and stress, Legends & Lattes is a great break from reality.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree.

This was a really fun book! I love the combination of cozy and fantasy, it's such a good mix and I could read books like that for ages!

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. Legends & Lattes is as sweet and cozy as the name. This is a fairly low angst, slow burn romance centered around the first coffee shop in town. Viv is an orc who is so darn tired of going out and fighting baddies, and she just wants to convince people to come to her new shop for coffee and delicious pastries. She makes new friends, finds love, serves fantastic cinnamon rolls, and has to fight off old enemies. While this is a fairly quick read, the pace is gentle, and the characters are lovely. Viv and her new friends made me want nothing more than to curl up with a hot beverage and my love on a cozy couch. This book is a warm hug, and it will be one of my future comfort reads.