Cozy, warm, funny, and a quick read. Travis Baldree does a wonderful job narrating as usual, and his inflection for each character is both unique and creative.

I couldl ive happily in this world, opening up bookshops and cafes and listening to stories of travellers and adventurers.

Author Travis Baldree does a wonderful job narrating Bookshops & Bonedust, which gives us a look at a young Viv (set 20 years before the events of Legends & Lattes) who's just suffered an injury, derailing her current career plans. Forced to take a minute and recover, she stumbles upon the simple beach town of Murk. Viv initially hates this because she’s one about action, and Murk seems to be anything but that; however, she soon discovers that this seaside town might be just what the doctor ordered. I really loved this. It was cozy and all about finding family and helping those in need. I also loved that it tied in the beginning events of Legends & Lattes perfectly. If you're looking for a cozy fall read, I’d highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the audio-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This one just really took me by surprise! I’d read Legends & Lattes last month and was not the biggest fan. I thought it was cute, but lacking, kinda boring and didn’t really believe in the love story. I requested this audio ARC before I finished that first book and realized I wasn’t a fan and I’m glad I did because I might have passed on it and missed this magic! Travis Baldree really spun it out for this prequel and won me over.

Bookshops & Bonedust has our main girl Viv stuck in the town Murk while recovering from an injury in a hunt gone wrong for a powerful necromancer. There she finds and befriends a foul-mouthed ratty Fern (HILARIOUSLY bad mouthed, loved her) and becomes invested in fixing up her struggling bookshop with her while also reading her adventurous and spicy 🌶️ 😂 novel recommendations. While there a romance with a neighbouring baker and retired mercenary blooms which has her thinking about what she wants from her own life. FORESHADOWING. But, when a creepy stranger appears she’s pulled back into a dark and dangerous mystery that threatens everything around her, and her own abilities and desire to protect her friends.

So everything that was charming about Legends & Lattes was here but mixed with a better setting (in my opinion—bookstore over cafe any day), funnier more endearing characters with better inner lives, and a not SUPER high stakes plot but high ENOUGH that it was interesting and mysterious, never boring. Add to that a more believable romance, though it still had some issues for me, and a great narration, this prequel just did for me what everyone was hyping L&L for but didn’t deliver. I really loved it. So much fun.

And I’m still saying someone better make a video game based on these books because I want to PLAAAAAAAY!!!

Thanks so much to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the audio arc in exchange for my honest review.

Favorites of 2023!
Upon receiving approval for an advanced audiobook from Macmillan Audio on Netgalley, it's safe to say that my day was made. My boyfriend and I had thoroughly enjoyed the first installment, particularly as he's a staunch fantasy enthusiast, nudging me to explore the genre further. Hence, fueled by our mutual admiration for the initial book, I embarked on this one with a hint of skepticism. Could the secondary characters in this prequel capture my heart as Thimble, Cal, and Tandri had? To my delight, the characters in this narrative, particularly Satchel, proved just as endearing and charming.

I found delight in witnessing the younger version of Viv, still the same individual yet somewhat inexperienced and impulsive. The presence of mystery and a touch of suspense in this narrative managed to captivate me more than the first book. Moreover, the writing appeared more refined, further surpassing my expectations. As much as I cherished "Legends and Lattes," this prequel has effortlessly become my favorite.

In terms of the audiobook narration, Travis Baldree's exceptional rendition added an extra layer of enjoyment, particularly when voicing his own characters. This recommendation stands firm for devotees of "Legends and Lattes," cozy fantasy enthusiasts, and anyone seeking heartfelt reads akin to a warm embrace. Personally, I am eagerly anticipating a potential third installment, as these characters have truly become my friends, and their story has captured my investment. Waste no time in acquiring this book—whether through the printed version or the audiobook. From the first moment to the last, it's a guaranteed five-star experience. Many thanks to Netgalley for this opportunity. To embark on this enchanting adventure, follow the link provided below.

Not going to lie, I completely forgot this was a prequel to Legends & Lattes when I first started reading it and I was thoroughly confused. Once I figured out what I had forgotten, the story took us on a fun adventure with Viv while she healed from her injury. Viv is a horrible patient, she does not actually take the time to rest. Instead she single-handedly brings a town back to life.

I love that Travis Baldree narrates his own novel. Travis does a great job narrating, it is easy to keep the characters straight and you know the character names are being pronounced correctly.

Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Bookshops and Bonedust is a prequel to Legends and Lattes and it is really meant to be read after Legends and Lattes when we already know Liv the main character. It has a few of the same problems most prequels do, you know the character is going to survive and move onto something else so it is a little harder to build any kind of of climax since we know everyone is going to survive and what happens to them next. It is a challenge and I will say the plotting is better in this book than Legends and Lattes but it didn’t quite overcome the hurdle of building suspense.

Liv, hurt while in battle, ends up recuperating in a small port town. She has never been one for standing still and so it is a struggle to just hang out all day waiting to heal. While convalescing, she meets a lovely Ratkin, Fern, with a down and out bookshop who gives her a book to read with a bet to make it more tempting. Liv discovers a whole new world in reading books and wants to help out Fern, who is struggling to keep her shop running. There is also a cute little baker, Maylee, who Liv is trying to date, but she really is clueless about how to do that as well.

Danger comes to town in the form of a necromances searching for something he has hidden away. Liv ends up in the middle of it as trouble just seems to find her. With the assistance of an interesting band of characters, including a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, she will endeavor to protect her new friends from the evil Necromancer, dabble a bit in some interesting reading and begin her journey on wondering if there is something beside being a mercenary she would like to do.

All and all this was an interesting book. I didn’t care as much about the relationship with Maylee that was explored as if you have read Legends and Lattes, you know it isn’t going anywhere. The Necromancers magic was interesting and so was Liv’s help in bringing the bookshop back to life. Still it lacks…something. This is probably because it is a prequel and we know Liv isn’t going to stay and she will definitely survive what is happening in the book so you can’t really build tension.

I would say if you haven’t read Legends and Lattes yet to start with this book, however the epilogue is a pretty big spoiler for the next book. It is a conundrum on how I want to rate this because of the issues I mentioned above. I really liked the characters and the plot but the prequel-ness of it did affect my reading. Perhaps going into with that kind of expectation will make sure that you don’t have interpretation as I did.

Definitely looking forward for what Liv and her coffee shop have in store for us next and I’m hoping a little bone creature and certain Ratkin and her griffin dog find their way there.

Narration:
Bookshops and Bonedust was narrated by the writer, Travis Baldree. Normally I discourage this, as there have been quite a few times that it really doesn’t go well. Exceptions to that rule are Julia Quinn (who is beyond a fantastic narrator) and now Travis Baldree who does a great job with this narration. I was actually surprised to find he has over 300 narrations to his credit, most in the D&D fantasy quest type realm. Which would explain why this was an effortless listen with him as the narrator. His voice and performance were fantastic and he was able to bring all the characters he created to life and give this a good D&D type vibe. I definitely enjoyed his narration of the world he also created.

Viv is my newest comfort character. I will protect her with my life (like she even needs protecting).
Travis Baldree didn't invent the cozy fantasy but he create a world I would love to live in.
This is a wonderful prequel to his first novel and I would read 100 more adventures of Viv's.

So when I was approved on Netgalley for this advanced audiobook from Macmillan Audio, it's fair to say that made my day. Since then, I've listened to it *twice* completely. First just myself, then with my husband on a road trip... and he enjoyed it too. (This is high praise.)

I want to come right out and say I approached this book with some skepticism. I mean, how could these supporting characters latch onto my heart the same or even close as Thimble, Cal, and Tandri. Well, I'm happy to report the characters in this prequel are just as loveable, charming, and endearing (especially Satchel).

I also enjoyed the younger Viv, the same gal but a bit more green (figuratively speaking 😄) and impulsive. There's also some mystery and just a lil bit of suspese that kept me hooked, more than the first book. I also found the writing a bit more polished. Point being, this exceeded my expectations and as much as I loved Legends and Lattes, this one is my favorite.

And as far as audiobook narrations go, Travis Baldree is exceptional. Super fun hearing his voice interpretations for his own characters. Can't recommend enough for fans of Legends and Lattes, cozy fantasy, and just wholesome and heartwarming books that feel like an embrace.

I requested the audiobook version of this book, prior to having read the first book in the series, Legends and Lattes. I had heard great things regarding this series and figured I would give it a try. Prior to reading this edition I did listen to the audiobook of the first through audible.

After having listened to both books, I don’t believe I would have missed anything had I not read the first book before this one. This is a cozy fantasy series, that puts the fantasy world in a very calm light. I applaud the author for trying something outside the norm with the fantasy genre, however it did not work for me.

My issues with this book specifically it is very similar to the first, aside from the fact that the location has changed. It follows a very similar plot and storyline, which some people enjoy. This novel feel flat for me as it did not hold my attention and I felt the characters were lacking.

The author himself, isn’t necessarily the worst as the narrator,, however I found his reading not consistent and if I understood the storyline of this series, as it is a prequel, it might have been nice to have a different narrator for contrast.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advanced listeners copy.

Thank you to Macmillan for the audio ARC!

I absolutely loved Legends & Lattes, so I was really excited for this book. This was absolutely delightful.

I love cozy fantasy so, so much. This was such a good, slow, warm fantasy novel. It was a remarkably quick listen, and I devoured it in a day and a half. The author did a wonderful job narrating.

There are so many things that I love about this. The different fantasy races, the critters, the characters. Viv is a great main character and I really enjoy her. The side characters were lovely (Fern!! Pot Roast!! Maylee!!). I loved the bookshop setting and the plot surrounding it. The conflict, while "big," didn't overwhelm the cozy aspect. There are parts of this that are bittersweet, but this still left me feeling happy overall! The epilogue tied things up so beautifully.

This is definitely a new comfort book for me. I'm 100% picking up whatever this author writes next. I would read dozens of these d&d type cozy fantasy novels. I desperately hope there is a sequel set after Legends and Lattes.

Since I'm on a Baldur's Gate kick, I think maybe I'll make Viv my next character.

I got this book for free from the publisher for the purpose of review.

This is the sequel to the hit 'Legends and Lattes.' HOWEVER, it is chronologically a prelude/happens before the events of the story. This is the story of Viv when she first becomes a mercenary, as opposed to at the end of her mercenary career in Book 1.

The TLDR for this will be: if you enjoyed book 1, you'll like this too. I personally enjoyed book 1 more, but I think this is of similar quality.

The protagonist must make friends with people in a small town, while she tries to recover from a wound. She befriends a local bookshop owner, even as she she aids the local town guard investigate a cult of necromancers.

Like book 1, this has a warm and fuzzy feeling reading it, but with more of a focus on action and mystery. I'm glad I read it. It's not High Art, but it was a good afternoon's read. The author has a talent for characterization and dialogue. I thought the book had a fairly slow start. The plot was entertaining, even though it only gets into gear about 100 pages into the 350 page book.

One last thing, I listened to the audiobook of this book and read the ebook of book 1. The audio format was A LOT better experience than ebook. The author is also the narrator, and the author's talent as an audiobook narrator is on full display.

I loved the first one and I loved this one as well. The setting was so cozy and the characters make you fall in love. I could read this over and over and still find it so welcoming.

If you never read book one that's OK. This can be read as a standalone or even in a mixed up order.

This comes out just in time for the cold to set in. Grab a cup of tea and this book and enjoy!

What an amazing book and world to get lost in! Bookshops & Bonedust is set prior to Legends & Lattes and focuses on Viv just after being injured in battle. She’s sent to the coastal town of Murk to recuperate against her will. To her surprise she finds herself spending a lot of her time in a bookshop with its foul mouthed proprietor.

This book was full of cozy vibes, discovering the world of books, finding new friends & love, delicious baked goods and a little adventure and danger as well.

I listened to this on audiobook and highly recommend. It was narrated by the author himself and listening to it swept me away to Murk. He was so animated and brought everyone to life.

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.

This has such a lovely vibe to it, the atmosphere of this book was much cozier than I was expecting it to be. I loved the story and the narrator did a wonderful job with bringing each character to life.

I actually haven't read Legends & Lattes yet but after this am definitely going to have to pick it up. I loved the worldbuilding and the character development, the writing style was so pleasant. This is the type of fantasy for me, there wasn’t a bunch of character names I needed to learn on the first page, and the plot was slow-paced in such a good way. I was able to fully follow along and everything unraveled really well, the ending really brought in all the feels and I couldn’t be happier with it. This book was amazing.

Thank you so much to the author, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished listening to the Bookshops & Bonedust audiobook from Travis Baldree. This was a cute fantasy story that was a great love letter to book readers as it tells the story of mercenary Viv who was injured and had to be left in a small town where she becomes friends with the local bookshop owner, Fern. There’s also romance and mystery as they learn about a necromancer's plot and find the ingredients needed to resurrect a homunculus. The audiobook is also read by the author, Travis Baldree and he manages to keep you interested and believing in his world as you go along. I had previously heard of Travis' other book, Legends & Lattes, and after concluding this book I will be definitely checking that one out as well. If you want a fun, high-fantasy story I suggest checking out Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree which is available now.

4.5 stars!

This book takes place before the beloved Legends and Lattes, also by Travis Baldree. We find Viv, fighting as a mercenary, injured, and nursing her wounds in Merk, a sleepy little town. Soon we're treated to a fresh batch of lively and intriguing characters. Viv, aware that she'll be moving on, can't help but grow attached and do what she can to improve the lives of those around her. She helps revamp a bookshop. She works to uncover a mystery. And she falls in love. Before she gets to move on, however, her fighting skills are put to the test and everything is on the line. This cozy fantasy takes a turn for the exciting before closing with humor, heart, and the promise of future stories to come.

Initially I was disappointed by this tale because I was missing the characters I'd come to know and love from the first book, Legends and Lattes. But as time drew on I became increasingly fond of these sometimes ornery but often lovable beings. The fantasy was richer. The love scenes bittersweet. The danger was pleasantly surprising. And I got a tear in my eye reading about Viv's inevitable goodbye. The epilogue, however, gave me ALL the feels and got me excited for the potential for future stories in this series!

I'd like to thank Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Bookshops & Bonedust is Viv's backstory, before she opened her coffee shop in Legends & Lattes. When Viv injures her leg in a fight, she ends up convalescing in a quaint little beach town. She finds a bookstore that could use some improvements, and a few new friends who can use their unique skills to help. By about halfway through the story Viv was so entrenched into the small town I couldn't imagine how she would ever leave and end up at the place where the first book starts. I am not a big reader of fantasy books, but cozy fantasy is one genre I'd like to see more of. I really enjoyed all the unique and charming characters and how they work together to solve some unusual problems.

The author Travis Baldree narrates the audiobook himself! He does a great job on all the voices of the characters, I really feel like I got to know their individual personalities the way he intended.

4 1/2 ⭐️

Bookshops & Bonedust is the prequel to Legends and Lattes. This book brings us back to the world of high fantasy and our favorite character, Viv. It takes place twenty years before Legends & Lattes, she is a young Orc just trying to be a mercenary. Viv injures her leg and has no choice but to spend time recovering in the tiny seaside town, Murk. It’s there that she stumbles into a bookshop.

Travis Baldree is not only the author, but also the narrator! He really is such a great storyteller and audiobook narrator. He portrays all of the characters beautifully! This is a heartwarming story and has a wonderful message. It is the perfect cozy fantasy read! The epilogue ties in perfectly to Legends & Lattes. High hopes for a third installment to this wonderful series!

Thank you to Netgalley, Tor Books, and MacMillan Audio for my advance listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

Rating: 4.31 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 4/5
-Cover: 5/5
-Story: 3.75/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Fantasy, LGBT, Romance
-Cozy Mystery: 3.75/5
-LGBT: 5/5
-Fantasy: 5/5
-Romance: 3/5
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Yes

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

Never read a cozy soft fantasy book before. I thoroughly enjoyed it, not something I would read a lot of but something I would pick up if I just want something easy and fun. I love the characters, except the warden. The small adventure in this book was fun and, unlike high fantasy, easier to follow. The ending though. Ugh broke my heart.