A good cozy mystery
Definitely will be reading more
Overall 4/5
Anxiety 1/5
Spice 0/5
Bargain (buy bargain borrow burn)

I loved the last book, so I was excited to read this one. It lived up to the hype and I will continue to read about these characters if given the opportunity.

I was lucky enough to get an advance audiobook courtesy of NetGalley, and have based my review accordingly. Absolutely phenomenal! A low stakes cozy fantasy read that keeps the reader in rapt attention the entire time. The occasional bits of stories that the Viv, the main character, reads keep the pacing fresh. The voice acting is both engaging and relaxing, commanding focus while not bringing too much excitement to such a cozy book.

This was exactly what I expected, a cozy fantasy with just enough stakes to keep things interesting but also so sweet and heartwarming. And with delicious sounding food. I need a recipe book for this world next.

I appreciate receiving an ARC for this. I’ll be honest, I just don’t get it. I DNF’d legends and lattes, so maybe this style of cozy isn’t for me.

“Every book is a little mirror, and sometimes you look into it and see someone else looking back.”

Thank you to @netgalley and @Macmillan.Audio for the audiobook arc. The narration by Travis Baldree, no surprises there, is excellent. Since they’re his own characters, Travis captures the voice of each one especially well, making all of them sound unique and convincing. If I could, I would enlist Travis Baldree to read out to me all the books I want to read now.

Well we have to start with that ending. Of all the books to make me cry this year, I’d have never guessed this would be one. For about 90% of the book it was similar to L&L – a nice, cozy slice of life story with some action here and there but after that, it was a super emotional gut punch and I need Travis to write Book 3 right now. I don’t know how to talk about the ending without spoilers, so I’ll just say that I was once again sneakily listening to it in the office and when I got to the end, I was literally wiping off tears praying none of my colleagues would walk up to my cubicle at that exact moment. Also while this book can technically be read first, for maximum enjoyment (subjective) I would say it has to be read after Legends & Lattes.

As with Legends & Lattes, this book makes one feel cozy, warm, and more importantly hungry. I was barely one chapter into the book and was immediately craving potatoes, bacon, and eggs; by chapter 5 I wanted needed biscuits, by chapter 8, I …

I forgot to talk about the author’s prose in L&L but in B&B, it is simply immaculate. He’s able to create the world and immerse the reader into the immediate atmosphere of a scene seemingly effortlessly. The side characters are more fleshed out, more memorable and one or two of them have their individual growth arcs. Before I had read the book, based on the cover and the blurb I guessed that my most favorite character would be Fern (the rattkin) the bookshop owner who swears or Potroast (the gryphet) but it actually turned out to be a character that is introduced almost halfway into the book. I definitely need that character to return in future books.

“Because right things happen at the wrong time”

One thing to note is how well the author layers a theme while still maintaining a gentle and light tone to the story. In L&L, Viv has purposefully made a change to her life and wants a fresh start and hedges it with a bet on a magical artifact that actually turns out to be something else. In B&B, a change has been forced on Viv’s life and as a result she meets some people who are the right people and she does some things that she truly enjoys but the timing might not be right. Another thing to note/love is how most of the readers are going to get nostalgic to the fonder times when they discovered reading or bookshops. I truly enjoyed everything about “Thistleburr” in this story.

My tiny nitpicks with this story are that it has bit more action and higher stakes than L&L and in overall is a touch darker too. It might subjectively work for some people who might have wanted some more action in L&L but my preference is on the lighter side for action in cozy fantasy. I also would have liked some more time spent in or around the bookshop than following the side mystery that was set up.

Overall though, with the way this book has expanded the world and Viv’s backstory, and with the author’s flair for writing instantly teleporting prose, and superb side characters – I am delighted. This is an excellent addition to the legends & lattes world and Travis Baldree was and remains, an auto-buy author for me. My strongest recommendation is to read this via audio.

I think I have to resign myself to the fact that as much as I like cozy fantasy, this version of it is not for me. I feel exactly the same way about Bookshops & Bonedust as I do Legends & Lattes - that is, particularly underwhelmed. Its central premise is Viv’s time before her coffee shop owner days. And while it is an appropriate setup for why she might pivot to this life, it also feels like an odd detour to what we were told her backstory was in the first book.

The problem with a low stakes fantasy, as this is aptly marketed, is that the plot is not going to carry the book. It has to be the characters, and the atmosphere. I’m not expecting grand world building or extravagant quests. I just want interesting characters having interesting conversations. Unfortunately, the characters here felt like neatly packaged versions of a general personality trope - the quirky bookseller or the tsundere gnome that was always supposed to be a “softie” all along. I felt like I could predict every one of their interactions - the banter felt perfunctory.

For some people, I think this familiarity is going to be why they like this series at all, there really are no risks. And I won’t highlight anything in it as technically bad. In fact, I think fans of the first book will love this because it matches the tone exactly and hits many of the same plot beats. But it’s the kind of story that’s going to pass through my mind and will be gone in a few years.

Thank you to the publisher Macmillan Audio for providing an audiobook ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

I adored this book just as much as Legends and Lattes!
This one felt a bit more action packed than Legends and Lattes but I didn’t mind.
It was such a lovely story. It features the girl gang all booksta girlies would want to be a part of.
It’s such a fun read, I found myself literally laughing out loud at points and that rarely happens with books. I might chuckle a little internally, you know those little snorts of air, but this produced actual audible laughter.

Travis Baldree’s narration is wonderful. I feel like it really adds the special touch to an already fabulous book.
I can’t recommend these books enough. This is the prequel to Legends and Lattes so if you haven’t read that one already that’s no problem.
If you’re looking for a low stakes, cozy fantasy novel with a diverse cast of characters that features mouth watering baked goods, strong female characters, and a plethora of books, this is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook!

What an absolute delight of a book. I truly loved the first one and didn’t this one would be better — but it was. I was hooked from the first chapter and grew to love each character. You can’t help but to root for them wholeheartedly. 10/10 for me.

Bookshops & Bonedust is the prequel to the wildly successful Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. If you had any doubts about who the King of cozy fantasy is, this book will cement that spot in your heart as belonging to Baldree.

Once again we are experiencing a heart warming adventure through the eyes of Viv, but this time we are seeing her in her early years back when she was still pretty green as a mercenary and doing her best to find her way in life.

Recently injured Viv is stuck recovering in a small town by a port waiting for her second chance at joining a crew and getting back into the action. During her recovery Viv begins to explore the town and of course in true Viv fashion makes some new friends along the way. Not only do we get some new lovable characters in this book and if I’m being honest pot roast is my favorite. We also get a different view of a character you would have first met in ‘Legends & Lattes’.

I’m gonna go on record and say Baldree is also the King of making readers hungry. His ability to suck you into the world and make it come to life in such a way that you begin to experience all aspects of it including the smells is simply superb.

If you loved the witty humor of the first book then I’m confident you will love it here as well. Honestly I think Baldree has found the perfect formula of humor mixed with mystery and a dash of romance that is sure to keep readers coming back for more as long as he decides to keep putting out stories in this world.

Considering all that has been happening in the world in the last 5 years or so I hope Baldree and the other authors who have jumped on the cozy fantasy keep putting out content. I personally believe we need more uplifting stories like this to help keep our spirits high as living in the real world especially as of late can be pretty grim so this gives us a great escape.

this hit this spot for a cozy read! i can’t even begin to explain how much i love this world. the characters, the atmosphere, the storytelling. everything about this story is so wholesome, it brings me so much peace and comfort. after reading the absolutely cozy legends & lattes, this prequel was just another breath of fresh air. i have grown so fond of viv and i enjoy following her adventure. i need more, pls. travis baldree, I AM A FAN.

I wanted to read Legends & Lattes, but I’m on a no-buy for this year, so when k saw that this prequel was available for review, I requested it. Now, obviously, I have to buy Legends & Lattes as soon as 2023 ends.
This book is sweet and unique. It’s cute & quick. I may have felt more attached having known the setting and characters had I read the first book first, but I still enjoyed this.
I don’t always love male narrators, especially for female MCs, but this narrator is the author, so that’s great.
Love the book shop setting and the small town feels and the queer romance.

Before I start the review, I just want to say thank you so much to the publishing company as well as NetGalley for giving me an advance readers copy in audiobook form.

If you really loved Legends and Lattes, then you are going to devour this book! What Legends and Lattes did with coffee this book does with the joy of reading. I found myself slowing down a lot when listening to this book because I just wanted to save every minute of it.

I would strongly recommend getting the audiobook because the author of this book is the one that actually narrates this story, and he does a phenomenal job bringing these characters to life!

An excellent prequel to the first book!

This story has the same relaxing vibe as the first one but with a similarly high-stakes adventure on the side. I enjoyed seeing the originals of Viv and how she came to enjoy a slower life.

Excellent read, would recommend it!

This prequel to the delightful "Legends & Lattes" gives us a glimpse of Viv as a young warrior at the beginning of her career. She's injured on what is really her first mission and having to stay at a quaint little village of Murk for several weeks waiting to heal up.

If you're not familiar with Legends & Lattes, this is a fantasy adventure story without the adventure. Both this, and the original, are set at the time between the adventures in the quiet downtime. It's a very slow burn where not much happens outside of character interactions.

The plot this time is a bit more complex - the main one feels similar, with Viv helping the local bookseller to spruce up her shop but there's also some romance and more action. Everything is colored by Viv's (and everyone's) knowledge that she's just here temporarily and she really wants to get back to the exciting life of a sellsword.

The characters in this book are better fleshed out than in L&L and there's more of a story. It still has the same warm fuzzy vibe that made the first book so wonderful to read - a slow burn that you kinda hope would just continue on forever. As one review aptly put it: if a fantasy novel and Animal Crossing were combined.

If you loved the first novel, you won't be disappointed with this one. On the other hand if you didn't like it, this won't change your mind. If you're new to the series, I'd still probably start with L&L instead of this one but realistically can read either one first.

Note: I listened to the audio version and it is read by the author.

If you're looking for a cozy, enjoyable read you can't go wrong with this. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Viv the Orc mercenary burst onto the literary scene with Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes (2022), instantly defining the cozy fantasy book category and earning well deserved accolades and hordes of fans (the good kind of hordes, naturally <wink>).

Now the author returns with a major contribution to Viv’s backstory in Bookshops & Bonedust (2023). Not by going all the way back to how she came to join the mercenaries in the first place (perhaps another novel is hovering in the wings about that, one could hope), but a tale about how the young Orc’s impetuous nature and ambitious desire to just get in there swinging and take out the bad guys landed her with a serious leg injury in the sleepy seaside town of Murk. This is where her mercenary colleagues left her and where she would impatiently spend a few weeks recovering and keeping a weather eye peeled for the necromancer they had been seeking to win a bounty, and her evil minions that Viv had met in battle.

Her first few days in Murk are not auspicious. She inadvertently throttles the Elf healer that had been prepaid by Rackam’s Ravens to take care of her, learns to make her painful way around her rented one room (unfortunately up a narrow flight of stairs), and generally indulges in the sulks about her turn of misfortune.

And then, through a mishap with a rotten plank on the boardwalk directly in front of the town’s only bookshop, Viv takes a limping step into a wider world. Fern, the foulmouthed young rattkin proprietor and her sidekick – a gryphet dog-like creature with the improbable but delightful name of Potroast, are both rasty characters with attitudes out the door. But gradually, almost imperceptibly, they become friends.

As Viv heals over the subsequent weeks, Fern presses a succession of carefully curated books on Viv, who moves from a most reluctant reader (but with nothing else to do and time on her hands), to someone who, much to her own surprise, becomes entranced with the selections. It doesn’t hurt that most feature sword fights, pirates, derring-do, and (eventually) what Fern hilariously terms ‘moist.’

If the booksellers association of America had a fictional character to nominate for best book hand seller, Fern would get my vote!

However, with the initial set up of the book being a failed battle, one could surmise that a successful battle would round out the tale, and you would not be wrong. There is peril aplenty and I held my breath more than once in the final climactic battle, fearing the worst for a couple of my favorite side characters.

The book ends with an epilogue that jumps forward 20 years to a Viv who is now happily married and slinging the espresso that we all know about from Book 1. But it also harks back to the past, with a sheen of wistfulness that I’ve experienced and liked when JRR Tolkein did it at the end of the LOTR books, and in movies like Interstellar and Arrival. It also hints at possible future reunions, too – and somehow in the hands of this talented author, it manages to weave together the past, present and future.

I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Baldree at one of his book release events talking about how he can literally hear the dialogue in his head as he is writing, which makes sense as he is a professional narrator and does a splendid job with the audio version of this book (a copy of which I gratefully received from Netgalley, but which did not influence this review). He effortlessly glides between characters with distinctive voices and delivery. The author/narrator has a true gift in evoking the sights, smells, tastes and sounds of all the various settings and scenarios found in this book. That leads to a truly immersive listening experience. The only place where the audiobook was perhaps a bit challenging was when a chapter began with dialogue that seemed out of place. It quickly became clear what was going on (Viv’s internal voice as she read the opening lines from a chapter of her latest read), but I can imagine that seeing it in print as perhaps italicized would have erased any misapprehension about what was going on.

Highly, highly recommended….Bookshops & Bonedust represents a true highlight of my reading year thus far!

I received an audio ARC and ebook ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.

This was an entertaining followup to the breakout novel, [book:Legends & Lattes|61242426].

While not as solid a story as that told in the first book, this prequel adds quite a bit of backstory to the main character of both novels, Viv.

Although as a prequel this novel is set some years before the first published book, I would recommend reading Legends & Lattes first. It serves as a better introduction to the characters and settings. Also, this book has an epilogue that is set after the events of both books.

On a final note, Travis Baldree does the audio reading of this book himself, and he is excellent at capturing the characters and keeping the story moving....

Personally, I don’t drink coffee, so I resonated a lot more with this book with its celebration of bookshops and reading when compared to Legends and Lattes. The plot and characters were very compelling and, since Viv is still a mercenary in this one, we get more action than Legends and Lattes, which I found quite enjoyable, although the vibes are still very much warm and cozy.

I definitely think you could pick up this book having never read Legends and Lattes. I listened to and enjoyed the audiobook, which was read by the author, Travis Baldree. I think that when the authors narrate their own stories, they tend to enhance the experience and this was no exception. Additionally, Travis Baldree has prior experience working as an audiobook narrator so the quality of his narration is incredible! (And yes, I actually looked that up after finishing this because his voice sounded so phenomenal.)

Personally, I also really loved the themes (mild spoilers on the themes discussed in the remainder of this paragraph.) The book really centered on the value and importance of transient experiences and relationships within shaping our lives, which I found to be incredibly unique and refreshing. Additionally, these themes add a lot of value to this story considering that it is a prequel and we already know where Viv will end up long-term.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the arc!

This was sweet and adorable just like the first book and just like the first book it was so well written and full of such deep world building I found myself often getting lost it in it.

Another perfect cozy fantasy read by Travis! The guy can do no wrong in my eyes. We meet Viv in a prequel setting to Legends & Lattes where she stumbles upon a bookshop where a heartwarming adventure awaits her!

Thank you NetGalley and Travis Baldree for the early access to this audiobook! Pot Roast will always have my heart!