I haven't read Legends and Lattes yet, but I was interested in reading this book after hearing all the raving reviews for the first one. I love the imaginative world of Murk and was initially really drawn in, but the latter half of the book dragged on and I had a hard time feeling invested in the story. Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank-you to the publisher & NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Bookshops & Bonedust won’t be published until November 2023, and typically I try to hold reviews until it’s closer to the publish date, however as soon as I saw the approval email come in, I had to drop everything and read it. I will absolutely be reposting this review and continuing to hype up the book as its release looms.

Bookshops & Bonedust (B&B) is a prequel to Legends & Lattes (L&L), which saw phenomenal success in the self-publishing world as well as with its subsequent TOR US/UK traditionally published. Legends & Lattes has recently been nominated as Best Novel in the 2023 Hugo Awards, which is incredible. Travis really elevated the sub-genre of cozy fantasy in my opinion, it wasn’t a sub-genre that I saw mentioned a lot until the success of L&L. But moving on from L&L, Bookshops & Bonedust is a prequel, therefore it absolutely does not matter if you’ve read L&L prior to jumping into B&B or not.

“The more I think about it… it seems like it ought to be obvious, but people in books are wrong all the time.”

This is the story of a female orc mercenary temporarily left behind in the seaside village of Murk to recuperate after an injury. Her name is Viv, for people who have already read L&L there is so much more depth to discover and dig into with Viv. B&B also has an incredible cast of secondary characters in Fern, Maylee and Iridina. Fern is a ratkin and she owns and operates Thistleburr bookshop. Maylee is an adorable baker, because you always need snacks to accompany any endeavor. Iridina is a city watch leader and she and Viv develop a bit of hostility towards one another but end up needing to lean on one another to protect Murk. I loved how Viv’s relationship with each of the secondary characters was different but all were equally well developed.

“[..] but if you could read past the end? The words that didn’t get written? Maybe it ends up being something else altogether?”

Travis really excels at creating the atmosphere of the overall story, he pays close attention to details describing smells and sounds, as well as sight. Everything from the scent of ocean spray in the air, to the fresh baking that Maylee brings over is described incredibly. I felt as if I was living in Murk and walking beside Viv the entire time I was reading these pages. I was sitting in a corner of Thistleburr cozy as the rain fell outside, digging into a book that Fern had recommended.

“See you in the story past the story”

Overall, I highly recommend picking up Bookshops & Bonedust when it releases on November 7th, 2023. The epilogue scene does have some allusions to how Legends & Lattes ends and where Viv’s story could continue from here.

Delightful. Does a grand job of meeting expectations without trying to be more than it is, which could have been an easy trap to fall into for the second book. Hints at what a third book might be about also! Keen! Thanks

If you were a fan of Legends and Lattes, you are going to love this book. It was wonderful getting to know Viv prior to coffee and pastries. I adored all of the characters. Bookshops and Bonedust made my cozy fantasy loving heart just burst with happiness. After reading the epilogue I can’t wait to read what’s in store next.

I loved this even more than the first! I actually think it fixed some of my problems that the first book had of being too slice of life and too low risk. Not this one!

Wounded in a hunt for a legendary necromancer, Viv is left by her mercenary company to heal in the small town of Murk. This is not at all how Viv wanted things to go, she is a battle hungry orc driven by the job. Being still in a backwater town is definitely not in her nature, but she is truly left here to regain the use of her leg that was badly gored by some beast in the heat of battle. Her company has paid for the doctor to care for her and room and board at the tavern. Viv visits a local bookstore near the tavern and makes friends with the owner , Fern, a rattkin with a foul mouth, and her pet, Potroast. Fern convinces Viv to try reading a book while she is recuperating and picks out one she knows Viv will love. Fern is a book whisperer always able to pick out just the right book for her patrons but she doesn't have many of those. Viv decides to help the rattkin to fix up the shop. Adventure finds them in this delightful story of friendships. There is a good bit of gratuitous profanity and some inter- species affections, but it is still a wondrously fun story.

Loved the vibes of this book and it was such a great read! This author is 100% on my auto buy list from this point forward!

just as cozy and amazing as the first one!!! i desperately need more books in this world. viv is amazing

Fun and captivating! Viv and company have my heart and I was so excited to jump back into this warm and welcoming world that Travis Baldree has built for us. I absolutely adored Legends and Lattes and so I was thrilled to receive an ARC for this prequel through NetGalley.

From the publisher, “When an injury throws a young, battle-hungry orc off her chosen path, she may find that what we need isn't always what we seek.
Set in the world of New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree's Bookshops & Bonedust takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books.”

Fans of the first book will enjoy the relaxed setting, the grumpy but warm-hearted new characters, and the ever-optimistic Viv as new adventures and trials unfold in this wonderful prequel to Legends and Lattes!

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and Tor Publishing for both the digital and audio ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you liked Legends & Lattes, then you are going to love this one. This one gives all of the same cozy feelings from the first one with baked goods, friendship, and found family. This also gives an appeal to your inner book nerd with the bookshop and reader's advisory angle. My inner librarian was swooning.

I think I may have liked this one even more than L&L, which I didn't think was possible. I loved seeing Viv a little bit more in her battle hardened era. She's younger, a bit naïve, and impulsive. I love it. Fern is 100% a believable bookseller. From her customer service voice to her copious swearing and both sadness and hesitance when it comes time to weed out old books. She reminds me a bit of myself. I now also want to name my next pet Potroast. Travis has done it again with his immersive world building and charming, yet slightly dysfunctional, characters.

I loved the additional chapter at the end that brings it all back to L&L. I'm glad I got to see a glimpse of Viv's life prior to L&L. I hope to see more of these characters in additional books. At this point, I will read anything Travis writes in this wonderful world he has created.

omg, so cute! Although this is set as a prequel, readers absolutely do NOT have to read the books in order. The fantasy universe is the same, but it isn't really explained in either book-- any reader who could bluff through a conversation about D&D, has seen a LotR movie or two, or has been to more than 1 Ren Faire could probably follow along with little difficulty.

Although this is still a light and fun read, it is a little less exuberantly so than Legends & Lattes-- some readers told me they found book 1 too fluffy, and those qualities seem a little milder to me in this book. It's also pretty impressive as a second book, since those can be tough.

Fantasy readers will find a few things worth discussion. Both in this series and in all of the more stand-alone Discworld novels, it seems like something is going on. Either it's a multiverse thing and the way we have things in our universe (rock music, coffee shops, postal service) bleed through into those universes (and did we create them, or did they bleed through into our universe from somewhere else?), or it's a dumpling thing because there are only so many ways to make a single thing (dough with bits in, or new book displays) and all societies everywhere will eventually hit on what is essentially the same arrangement.

I did find myself thinking at one point, after the core group of 4 characters is all in the same place for the first time, "huh, 4 female main characters in a fantasy novel-- that's bold." But no one thinks it's remarkable to have an all-male adventuring party, so I had to take a moment to channel RBG and consider how awesome it is to have 100% representation (even if it's in a book). I am interested in the author's process and how this group of characters developed-- what a cool thing to talk about at a book group!

I would die for Potroast. Also... can I get a Potroast of my very own?

This prequel builds upon the world Baldree started in LEGENDS & LATTES and provides more backstory to Viv... it's not the coffee discovery story I was expecting to get, but I think this was even better. It was a pleasure to experience Viv find enjoyment in books and reading while also starting friendships with residents in Murk. In many ways I enjoyed BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST more even if it was overall a quieter storyline.

And the epilogue? Perfect. I sincerely hope we get a Legends & Lattes #2 so readers can find out if Viv's ideas from the epilogue turn into reality or not (I hope they do).

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Tor Books in exchange for an honest review.

After the love I had for Legends and Lattes, I was so excited to pick this one up and I can absolutely say it did NOT disappoint.

A prequel to the Legends and Lattes story, we follow Viv after an a injury forced her to recuperate in the small town of Murk. There she meets some of the townspeople, and begins to make the most of her time spent in recovery. When her past adventures left unfinished though start to follow her into her life on Murk, it’s Viv’s second-nature to jump right back into the thick of it and protect her new friends.

I think if you loved Legends and Lattes, but wished for more plot, you might enjoy this book even more! Still has the cozy settings, characters and feel from the first one but with a bit more adventure sprinkled in. With the romance subplot in the first one I wasn’t sure how Travis Baldree would encapsulate that through this book, but this one has just as much romance as the first. The romance in this book takes on a whole new edge as well, with Viv’s introduction to romance novels!

The incorporation of a bookshop in this one keeps the same cozy feel as a coffee store. I love how the author seamlessly weaves stories into his story, and just like the first one, has me dreaming about running away to a small town to open a bookstore.

This is absolutely one you should pick up, if you loved Legends and Lattes! You can also read this one without having read Legends and Lattes! The start of Viv’s adventure can start here for you, but I will say it’s much sweeter if you read Legends and Lattes first!

Welcome back to the cozy fantasy world of your dreams! Here we glimpse a younger Viv, wounded in battle (due to her own youthful exuberance), and left in a small seaside town to recover. We get to see the seeds planted that lead to the Viv of Legends and Lattes while also getting to meet brand-new characters in the town of Murk. Of course, there is also a problem to overcome, and a lovely bookshop to spend time in (and perhaps a fling?). The descriptions of the books, baked goods, and settings are so well written that one could believe one could walk out the door and into the town. I adored spending time in this world again.

I love this author. I love his characters and imagination. I did love book 1 more but it was fun to journey along with Viv in the prequel. I love all the side characters so much. Thank you

When I learned that Bookshops & Bonedust would be a prequel featuring Viv early in a life and career that, as Baldree described in in Legends & Lattes, was more often than not "strength and violence and a sudden, sharp end," I was intrigued but not especially hopeful that he could pull it off.

He pulled it off.

More than a prequel or a follow-on of a successful stand-alone hit, Bookshops & Bonedust equals the charm and emotional heft of Legends & Lattes AND honors the first book in a way that's both surprising and fresh. Everything about Baldree's work is innovative and -- I don't want to use this word because of its connotations with the trivial and contrived -- wholesome. Wholesome in a way that's heartfelt and honest, a celebration of decency and community, in choosing to see people in all their complexity and to look for the good wherever it happens to be.

I have yet to read Legends and Lattes, but this book stood alone just fine. A feel-good read with a fantasy core different than any other feel-good reads I've read before. Definitely great for anyone needing a sweet little break away from the real world.

Bookshops & Bonedust, the eagerly awaited prequel to the charming Legends & Lattes, reunites readers with Viv the Orc. Viv only understands combat as her purpose or at least she did until she's sidelined. Spending an undefined amount of time in a sleepy town doesn't excite this action-oriented Orc, but she becomes interested in a local bookshop. Not only does the world of books provide an escape from the tedium of healing, but it opens Viv to new relationships she would've never considered before. It's not all books and scones though as an evil entity lurks in the shadows.

Baldree is really onto something with his cozy fantasy novels. In fact, I'd probably like this one even more if it leaned into the relaxing atmosphere of the first novel just a little bit more. I understand the author is trying to find that balance of excitement vs slice-of-life pleasures, but some of my favorite moments of the first novel come from making new recipes and reading about the joys these characters are facing. Some of that continues in Bookshops & Bonedust, but it feels like more emphasis was put into creating a menacing foe this time around.

Something that I loved about this novel is the new characters that Baldree introduced. I thought for sure that I'd be too attached to the previous novels' characters to let these new ones in, but I think I'll miss these characters just as much. So while Bookshops & Bonedust isn't the exciting breath of fresh air of the first title, it is another wonderful story with Viv the Orc and her friends. I hope there are many more adventures for Viv to come.

Let’s start with the most important things, shall we? I absolutely adored the heck out of Legends & Lattes. It took me far too long to actually get my hands on it, but once I did, I inhaled it–never wanting it to end. It provided precisely what I wish every single “cozy fantasy” book would. It’s low-stakes perfection and ideal for coffee-loving fantasy readers both young and old (and everything in between).

So naturally, when it comes to the books that I love with all my heart, it can be a little bit nerve-wracking picking up a sequel, prequel, spin-off, and the like. Once you’ve put that initial book on a pedestal, you don’t want anything related to it to fall flat…
…let me reassure you right this very second that Bookshops & Bonedust lived up to every single expectation I set for it (and then some). It was precisely what I hoped a prequel to Legends & Lattes would be!

In my opinion, these books should be read in publication order rather than chronologically. My first reason for that has to do with the fact that this is a younger Viv than we meet in Legends & Lattes, and so she isn’t the same, mature character who wants a life of peace, calm, and coffee.

She has growing up to do and she does a lot of it in Bookshops & Bonedust–but I only appreciated the character development because I’d already read Legends & Lattes. My second reason is due to the epilogue, which actually made me get a little weepy! That final chapter wouldn’t hit the same way if you haven’t read the first book, but it’s so incredibly precious if you have.

While the first book felt like it was written with coffeeholics in mind, this book was definitely written for the bookworms. My, oh my, the quotes about books, reading, and escapism got me in my feels (in the best way possible). I found myself highlighting and making notes like crazy in my Kindle copy!

A few reasons why you should pick up Bookshops & Bonedust:
• It’s so funny! I can’t count the number of times that I laughed aloud at Viv’s sarcasm, Fern’s surprising potty-mouth, Satchel’s stoicism, Potroast’s… well, just Potroast himself… and all of the bizarre scenarios the whole gang found themself in.
• It’s filled with so much warmth! Travis Baldree is an expert at the found family trope, that’s for sure. There were moments that really made my heart swell with happiness and I may or may not have had to wipe a stray tear once or twice.
• I don’t care if you already think you love books, it is possible to love them more and you will find yourself doing just that by at least the halfway point in this book.
• It has ALL the cozy vibes you could possibly ask for. Reading this was like getting a big hug, having a warm cup of coffee, and sitting by a beach campfire all at once. It was just completely wonderful.

If I had to think of one word to describe this book, it would be “precious.” When I set it down after spending an entire weekend wrapped in its embrace, I was (understandably) sad to return to reality, but I also found myself sporting the cheesiest grin because it just made me so dang happy the whole time I was reading it! There’s simply no way you could possibly regret reading Bookshops & Bonedust, so do yourself a favor and dive into this world as soon as you can!

[CW: (major) Cursing, (moderate) Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Violence, (minor) Animal cruelty and Gore]

After Legends & Lattes, it had to be difficult in the extreme for Travis Baldree to beat the book that was a Tiktok Cinderella story.

So it is with great exclamation and intentional verbosity that I tell you…

He did it!

After the third try from the acknowledgments at the end of the book…which btw, Travis? If you’re reading this, I want that first attempt! It sounded amazing!

Back to this one though. How do you write a story of which everyone already knows the ending? I can never seem to get into a prequel, there’s just not enough suspense, not as much riding on the next word.

But cozy fantasy seems to be just the right genre for a prequel. Viv is young and inexperienced and Travis doesn’t hero worship her, he shows all her flaws, and that makes her even more real. And Fern? Fern with her tiny stature and foul mouth had me convinced that perhaps Travis follows me on tiktok and wrote her just for me. (He doesn’t and he didn’t, but shouldn’t a good book make us all feel that way?!)

I will say that I did miss his mouth watering food descriptions (just an idea Travis- but you could absolutely ghost write cook books on the side!!!) and there’s a bit of that here, but this book is about a book shop and not a coffee shop, alas my sweet cinnamon rolls.

But this is a book I would read and read again, and just further cements Travis onto my auto-buy author list.