Thank you, NetGalley and publisher, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what a wonderful read. This is told as a high fantasy with low stakes, and it truly is. The story follows Viv, who wants to start a new life and starts a coffee shop. I previously saw a Booktoker who recommended this title, and I wholeheartedly agree. If you're looking for a cozy fantasy, which is perfect for the weather, look no further.

There is friendship and love and some slice-of-life. This feel-good read has topped my top books for 2022. I would strongly recommend it.

Legends & Lattes is everything I wanted it to be. Cozy, low-stakes, big emotions and lots of found family. I really love the 'warrior who's killed the big bad, now what' trope and that really fit Viv's journey of discovery. I really hope to get more of this sort of fantasy from this author but I'll also start looking to existing stories because this was just a perfect read for me.

And Thimble. Oh Thimble. I love him so.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Tor for sending me a copy of this book!

I have been seeing the buzz around this book so I was so exited when Tor reached out to me about reading it! Cozy isn’t something I typically gravitate towards, but this one peaked my interest with the premise: retired warrior turned coffee shop owner set in a fantasy world? I am so happy I gave this one a chance!

As with any book billed to have a romance, I was worried this would focus too much on the romance and not enough on the plot, but I was so happy to find the romance very well done. It was understated in a way I love my romances to be. It was not in the forefront much at all, but still made an impact on the story.

Additionally, I found the plot to be more engaging than I anticipated. Yes, this was a low stakes story, but I was invested by going through the full business journey with Viv, with her small start up. The antagonists were believable in the scope of the story and illustrated how even a low stake story can be very readable and gripping without heart-pounding action every chapter.

I thought the characters were well thought out and each had a full range of emotions, both positive and negative, without feeding too much into the wishful thinking that sometimes “cozy” stories fall victim to. Although I do think some hurdles were recovered from a bit too easily, I am aware of the type of story this is so I really can’t even complain about that.

This is a perfect book for the autumn season, especially for those that read a lot of high fantasy throughout the year and are looking for a change of pace without the change in genre!

I normally do not read slice-of-life-style novels, so I decided to step out of my usual comfort zone and give Legends & Lattes a try. I'm glad I did, because I found this to be a very cozy and enjoyable comfort-read. A warm slice-of-life story is different from most of the other fantasy novels I've read, and if this sounds like something you'd be interested, I'd say it's definitely worth a shot.

According to comments from author Travis Baldree's Goodreads page, there is an indication that a sequel set in the same world is forthcoming! I'll definitely check that out as well.

Sometimes I don't just read dark and violent stories. I can use a nice cozy read now and then!

Thanks Tor for the ARC! Still a bit shell-shocked from Nona so I haven't been sitting and reading as much as I should.

"Legends and Lattes" by Travis Baldree is just a pleasant time. Viv is an adventurer who wants something more than a bloody end, so naturally she opens a coffeeshop in a place that doesn't know about coffee. And then, we just go with it. There is a baking arc!

Reasons to read:
-Low stakes in a fantasy setting, no end of the world issues, just small business issues
-Reminded me of the history of the potato getting introduced to Europe, no one really knows what coffee is here so how do you get people to drink it?
-If something bad happens to Thimble we go to WAR!!!!!
-There is a delightful cat
-Healthy relationships

Cons:
-I could go for another 1000 pages, maybe some recipes for the baked goods.

A perfectly cute and cozy story about an orc turning away from her adventuring lifestyle, and the charming cast of characters gets she meets along the way. I can't say I was especially convinced by the romance, but I enjoyed it anyway.

Funny and Sassy!!! I loved this book it was a perfect read to cheer me up during a blah week!! I definitely recommend this book!!!

Light and cozy fantasy with light adventure.

A retired Orc at long last hangs up her great sword to settle down and open a cafe, a dream she discovered after sampling gnomish coffee on her adventures. Viv makes friends along the way who help her renovate and set up shop, but moving to a new town and starting a business isn't without it's challenges.

This book wasn't exactly what I thought it was, but I still enjoyed it. I only personally gave it 3 stars on my Goodreads out of preference. Otherwise, I'd give it 4 stars by recommendation standards. It's original and heartwarming, and it's sure to be loved by my fellow DND nerds!

I didn't know how much I needed a book like this until I got my hands on it. Described as "high fantasy, low stakes", this is the story of an Orc named Viv who has grown tired of fighting. She hangs up her steel (literally) and opens up the first coffee shop in Thune.
And it is there that a stream of kindhearted people wind up in her life, changing it forever.
Conflict is met with a croissant, rather than violence and sharp banter is exchanged between all. It is the happiest tale I've read in awhile. But lest you think this means it is boring, fear not! Villains, old frenemies and a beautiful love story await you.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR9ES6AG/

Reading this book felt like snuggled into a warm comforter and sipping on hot cocoa, in a nutshell what I mean is feeling of contentment and comfort. I really loved and enjoyed it!! It was definitely a full 5 stars read for me

This book feels like a cup of hot coffee on a cool autumn day, absolutely delightful! I loved the sidelined adventures and the every day prospects of building and manning a coffee shop in a world full of mystical and magical creatures!

I have tried to read this a couple of times and I just don't think I'm in the mood for it at the moment. What I read was not bad by any means, and I am excited to read it at some point in the future! Also, this cover is amazing!

Legends & Lattes is an enjoyable cozy fantasy read. I tend to shy away from fantasy, but knew this one was beloved and short, so I decided to give it a try. It's about a female Orc who has decided to reinvent herself by creating a coffee shop in a new town. She has a diverse clientele and employees. As it's a cozy book, there is not a lot of action and the content is pretty wholesome. I listened to the audiobook, which is well-narrated by the author. I would recommend this book if you're looking for a heartwarming book about a group of misfits coming together. It reminded me of V.E. Schwab and TJ Klune.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

A mercenary orc hangs up her sword to open a coffee shop and makes herself a family along the way. The tagline for this is “high fantasy… low stakes” and that’s exactly right. This book is like a comforting cup of cocoa (or even… a latte!) under a warm blanket on a cold night.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fun fact: I had already purchased an original self-published copy of this book and added it to my towering physical TBR when a representative from Tor reached out and asked me if I wanted to read and review the updated Tor Books version. When I saw it included a bonus prequel story, I obviously jumped at the chance, since I was dying to read it anyway.

This book is... like a hug from your favorite person. Like a warm, leisurely copy of coffee on a cold Saturday morning, when you have nowhere to be. Like running into an old friend. This book was... just delightful.

I will never, ever say no to a good found family book, and this is one of my new favorites. I genuinely grew to love this world and all (but one) of these characters. I can't wait to see what else this author has to write!

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree is a fantasy for young adults and adults current scheduled for paperback release on November 8 2022. After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time. The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success, not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is. If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won't be able to go it alone. But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.

Legends & Lattes was a engaging and entertaining read. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and setting. I thought that Viv was a great character, and the fact that she was often unsure of things made her a better character in my opinion. I thought the story was fun on several levels, and while advertised as low stakes fantasy, I will say there are some moments that felt very high stakes emotionally for me- even though the fate of the world was not at risk. I greatly enjoyed the cast of characters, and my only complaint is that I want more of all of them. I want prequels and sequels so I can get to know this characters even better. I would love some companion stories while we are at it, because I want more on several of the secondary characters, not just the main group. I really enjoyed settling in to read this, and it was just what I needed to get excited about reading again and break me out of a reading slump where I was having trouble getting excited about anything I was reading.

Legends & Lattes was a delightful read, and I am so glad I found it. I am hoping for more!

I have read many cozy mysteries, but I really enjoyed this new take on a cozy fantasy. I loved all the characters and couldn't help but route for Viv as she tried to start her life anew! Looking forward for more books like this I can give to readers who say they dont like fantasy because the world building is too complicated to read! A nice cozy slice of life!

This book is absolutely amazing. It is a must-have for all cosy SFF displays, and a perfect gift for the holidays. If you love heartwarming fantasy, with a tiny bit of conflict and a lot of delicious coffee this book is for you!

This newly traditionally published version simply improves on the original. Plus the additional short story was perfection.

5 Stars - this book should be required reading.

I finished Legends & Lattes this morning with my breakfast. What a delightful light fantasy novel. Seriously. It reminded me of Jim C. Hines's Princess series — taking the best elements of fantasy and giving them a unique fun updated twist. I hope we'll see more adventures from Viv and the crew. And there needs to be a recipe book to accompany this one. My mouth was watering every time those cinnamon rolls came up.

Ok this was so cute and fun. Thank you very much for the opportunity to read an ARC of the new trad-pub version!

I LOVE coffee shops (used to work at one) and I love cozy books so I was really hopeful this would knock it out of the park. It was really enjoyable, but sadly did not change my life.

However, there's such a nice sapphic romance, the vibes are literally just building a business and I felt so stress-free, and I am now seeking more cozy fantasy thank you