This prequel hits the spot in a way that only Travis Baldree's works do. Filled to the brim with the perfect mix of cozy comfy fantasy and just enough tension to keep you hooked until the end. I can only hope that we'll get to see more of Viv and her adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the eARC for an honest review.

4.5. I missed the pure coziness of Legends & Lattes, but there’s plenty of camaraderie here—and it was nice to read more of Viv’s story.

Bookshops & Bonedust was such a lovely cozy fantasy focusing on a convalescing orc helping out at a seaside bookshop.

I think Baldree's writing has improved a lot since Legends & Lattes (which I also enjoyed, although I found the beginning a bit slow). B&B brought a lot of the same elements: a cozy setting, a secret plot that the MC must uncover, and a range of interesting characters. But it didn't feel repetitive of L&L and you could see the seeds being planted for further character growth.

I really adored the mystery in this book and while the ending was a bit predictable (it was a prequel, after all), there were still a few twists that surprised me.

The characters were probably the main strength. Potroast was an adorable lil' animal friend and I just loved him! Satchel was probably my fave character cuz he always made me laugh. Such a great cast overall and I enjoyed my time with them!

A big thank you to Tor and NetGalley for an early copy of this title. All thoughts are my own.

There is something so absolutely heartwarming about the world Travis Baldree creates with his character Viv and her cozy adventures. When I first ran across Legends and Lattes, I picked it up but took a little bit of time to read it. Once I actually did, I fell in love with each and every character. The same happened with Bookshops and Bonedust, except I didn’t hesitate when I was approved for the Advanced Reader Copy through Netgalley. This is a prequel to the coffee shop and the Timbits, so this seems to be when Viv was in her prime with Rackam’s Ravens and things are going well, except she’s been stabbed and now needs to rest and recuperate until her team comes back for her. In the meantime, she has to figure out what to do with her days and not get into too much trouble, which is kind of hard since she’s a mercenary and seems to have trouble constantly following her. Nevertheless, the town of Murk seems to have exactly the people she needs in her life, whether she knows it or not.
I cannot recommend this book enough and do not want to give too many details away, but I promise, if you give this book a chance, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Never really thought about reading a “cozy fantasy,” but I have to say that I really enjoy it! This book, like Legends & Lattes, is everything it promised to be, but now with the added element of seeing Viv a little more impulsive and brash. I really liked seeing her character contrasted with what we learn of her in L&L, and I liked seeing her grow throughout the book. Most definitely, my favorite character was Fern, because I too have a penchant for cursing any time I’m slightly inconvenienced or even just excited. Never mind that my dream is definitely to have a little bookshop by the seaside. I also liked the action we got, and was pleasantly surprised by Satchel! An awesome character addition and totally unique. Overall, would recommend to those who are looking for a lowkey, cozy read. Perfect for an evening in with a cup of tea!

Note: Would also love to see more worldbuilding of the land they live in and more about the types of characters. It was hard for me to picture Iridia the tapenti, as I don't know what race of character that is.

A charming, comforting read!

A fantasy fit for book enthusiasts, Bookshops and Bonedust highlights the joy of recommending the perfect book and getting to watch someone kindle a love of reading. I love the insight it provides into what inspired Viv to open Legends and Lattes. I also simply adore Fern, a bookselling ratkin with a sailor's mouth!

The story strikes a strong equilibrium between levity and emotional depth, leaving an enduring smile on my face throughout. The theme of savoring the present and unearthing solace in unexpected realms resonated with me. Bookshops & Bonedust is what cozy fantasy should strive to be.

Travis Baldree nails it again!

Happy Pub Day Tuesday

I really loved Legends and Lattes so much. I loved the cozy, sweet world Travis Baldree created and wanted to get to know Viv more. I was so happy to see there was a prequel and to be honest, I loved it even more! Bookshops and Bonedust is just as cozy and just as sweet but with more character development and a book shop this time!

“Are all of these important?” She gestured with her head.
Fern looked affronted. “Of course they’re important! They’re my books?”

What reader can’t relate to that quote?! I loved the bookshop and the side characters very much. I also loved the thoughtfulness and camaraderie and mystery.

“You know, there’s a lot of people out there. Lot of noise. I love what I do, I love every day, but none of us sees more than a tiny piece of all the world, like we’re lookin’ out a little-bitty window. And I saw you through mine, and somethin’ inside me said, “That’s somebody you oughta kbow.” Simple as that.

This is the perfect book to curl up with under a cozy blanket after a long day that feels like the best warm hug and will make you smile and feel content.

4.5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @torbooks for the early copy!

This one is out today!

Gosh this one was a great prequel to Legends & Lattes! I am so thankful to Tor Publishing Group for granting me early access to the ARC. Baldree's books are perfect for rainy days. This book was definitely special and heartwarming especially to a book lover. I appreciate Baldree's skills in setting up the world, his abilities as a DM really shine! I can't wait for the next installment in this series, whichever characters he chooses to write about.

This is one of my most anticipated books of the year, after *loving* Legends and Lattes over the summer.

Bookshops & Bonedust is a prequel to Legends and Lattes, when our main character Viv is young and *invincible*.

Except she gets her leg badly injured battling skeleton-like creatures that reminded me of my Zelda days.

As a result, she’s unceremoniously dropped off in this seaside village to recover.

I love seeing Viv before we know her in L&L— then she’s so level-headed, and that is not the case here.

While Viv hasn’t quite developed yet, this story has all the cozy fantasy elements you hope for.

Imaginative creatures (check out Potroast the Gryphet on the cover, basically a large pug with an owl head), a bookshop, friends, and a splash of romance that by the end, left me giddy.

Plus, this is an ode to booksellers and readers and the stories we love.

I’ll admit, I was dubious because this is a prequel and we already know where Viv winds up, and with whom.

But I’ve learned not to underestimate Travis Baldtree, and it’s served me well. This is such an excellent winter read with a cup of coffee and a cozy chair!

I highly recommend! All the stars.

It was a very obvious choice for me to request this book when I saw it available on Netgalley. After all, Legends & Lattes was one of my favorite books of last year, and I was very lucky to be able to coordinate with Travis Baldree for him to come visit the library where I work! It was an amazing visit and it was so great to hear him read from the book, in the voices and everything!

B&B is a prequel to L&L, where an injured Viv is dropped off in a sleepy seaside town. She's young, full of piss and vinegar, barely able to imagine a life where she isn't using a weapon and killing baddies. Recovering from a stab wound in a town that has nothing much more than a bookstore, a tavern, and a bakery sounds like hell on earth. But she's stuck, so she has to make the best of it. ... and she does.

This is another delightful story of second chances, baked goods, new friends, found family, learning about yourself, and love. It's exciting, but you know that nothing too terrible is going to happen. It's full of romance (and casual queerness, hooray!), but just enough to leave you wanting more (my only real complaint with the book was that there wasn't enough romance). It involves a delightful cast of characters, and the best part? Well, it's in the name, so it's no surprise, but a bookshop plays a central theme in the story, and man, it is wonderful. Viv learning about herself through books was so magical, and I was just so happy to read about it (I may be biased as a librarian, but oh well). There was magic, sure - you gotta have an evil necromancer, of course - but the real magic? Books, and friends, and a certain someone who lives in a bag (and I can't give away more due to spoilers).

A real treat of a story and one that gave me the warm fuzzies. Can't wait for more from Baldree!

another fun, cozy read perfect for the fall and the changing weather! very low stakes with the slightest bit of drama. i loved the story to this one and how it was an intro to Viv but still felt like we already knew her from the last. i really enjoyed the conflict in this one compared to the first book because it felt more suspenseful. thank you Tor and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this one early!

Baldree is back at it again with another charming story, this time as a prequel to his first book, Legends and Lattes. This story follows a younger Viv, the main character of the first book, and her experiences in a quiet seaside town as she recovers from an injury.

I actually liked this one more than the first one! It felt less episodic (leveling up a coffee shop) and had more of a traditional plot. I enjoyed getting to know the new characters, especially Fern, a bookselling rattkin that Viv befriends. I think fans if the first book will really enjoy getting another chance to get back into this cozy world.

Four and a half of Five strong stars for another charming, unique cozy fantasy read from Author Travis Baldree! I loved how unique Legends and Lattes turned out to be, and readers will be eager to read about this relatable orc during all of the new adventures!

Thank you Tor Publishing Group for providing me with a complementary eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

If you were a fan of Baldree's LEGENDS & LATTES, then you will absolutely love this prequel BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST! Baldree excels at creating the perfect cozy fantasy atmosphere. I felt transported to Murk to spend time with Viv and friends at the bookshop. B & B has the same vibes as LEGENDS & LATTES with added depth to Viv's character and the world around her.

Where I think this book struggles is with the pacing. There is quite a lull in the middle. Which is okay for some readers since this is a cozy, slice of life story but for me, I felt like this book was a little too long. We know where Viv ends up at the end since this is a prequel to L & L so the pacing of this book let me down a little.

If you get the chance to read BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. Travis Baldree narrates his own novel so the story is told exactly the way he wanted it to be told. He does so many voices to bring all of the characters to live. The audiobook made for a truly immersive experience!

I'm excited to continue to read anything Travis Baldree writes. Whether it's in this universe or in another!

4/5 stars

This was another great book by Baldree. It was just as cozy and relaxing as Legends and Lattes. The last book made me want to drink espresso and have delicious baked treats while I read and this one made me want to go to all the bookshops and libraries and cozy up while I read. This book can be read as a stand alone but if you like either one you'll want to read both. I'm recomending this to everyone I know!

This is a pretty good follow up to Legends and Lattes. I can't say that I enjoyed it as much though, which was a tiny bit disappointing. Because I knew this wasn't where Viv would land, it was almost hard to see her making friends and beginning a relationship in this town. It made me not as invested in the emotional attachments in this one. Had I read it before Legends and Lattes, I think I would feel differently about this aspect. We see Viv entering her baby gay status with Maylee, and we see that she learned a bit, and why she was so much more cautious with the relationship in Legends. But seeing her soft side before she embraced that side of herself on her own was awful sweet. I still love Viv, and want to jump back into her future and learn more about the people around Viv.
The audio on this one was absolutely fantastic imo. Having the author do the narration usually works well for me though. ;)

This was another cozy, low stakes fantasy book that is a prequel to Legends and Lattes.
It made my heart happy to read this one. There were books, baked goods, pets, and friendship.
The take home message is that people come in and out of your life at different times but the relationships are still important. For me, I think I connected with the older version of Viv in Legends and Lattes more than her character in this story. But I think that is just a feature of where I am in my life.
This book also had more fantasy and mystery to it then the pervious book which made the plot a litter more intense (not overly intense, this is still a warm and slow book!).
Overall this was another beautiful, delightful, and cozy story for fans of fantasy and non-fantasy alike and I definitely recommend reading it!

An extremely quick read that wraps around you like a warm hug!! From the moment I picked this one up I was hooked. There’s something about this author’s writing that just feels so warm and cozy from the jump

Bookshops and Bonedust follows a younger Viv, an orc mercenary, who is healing from a leg injury while the rest of her group continues on, promising to circle back for her in a few weeks. As she grows restless, Viv explores the town and makes friends with the owner of a local bookshop, Fern and her sidekick Potroast, and helps them breathe life back into the bookshop. She also fumbles her way into a relationship with the town's former mercenary turned baker, Maylee, a dwarf. While cleaning up the bookstore, they stumble upon a mysterious book that is more than meets the eye, sending them on a journey of uncovering who exactly put it there and why.

Filled with baked goods, friendship, family, and a bookshop, Bookshops and Bonedust is a cozy fantasy that was paced well, cute, and wholesome. I really enjoyed the friendships in this prequel, and also the message that maybe not everyone is meant to be in your life forever, but those relationships can also serve a purpose in making you who you are and who you become down the line.

“Because I’m headed down the hill, and you’re headed up it. I’m just glad we chanced to meet on the way.”

Read if you love:
-cozy fantasy
-friendships
-high fantasy
-cozy mystery
-lgbtq romances

Bookshops & Bonedust is a charming prequel to Legends & Lattes. It hits a lot of the same tones as L&L in a way that didn't feel repetitive while also exploring some of the more melancholy aspects of growth and relationships. This is a story that felt like a warm hug, and one that I could see others revisiting year after year, especially in conjunction with L&L. There is a satisfying conclusion that left me excited for more entries in this world.

I didn't quite love this entry as much as L&L - I think I connected better with Viv's character in L&L - but I'd still highly encourage others to read this entry as well. I think the beauty of these stories is the timelessness of their themes. While I didn't connect as much in this moment with B&B, had I read this a few years earlier I think this would have had more impact. Thus I think that in the right hands, this would easily be a five star for someone else.