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.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for providing an ARC Audiobook. The book is published by Tor Books and will be released tomorrow, 11/7/2023.
If you liked Legends and Lattes, you would love this prequel BooksShops & BoneDust. This book brings us back to the world of high fantasy, which will appeal to Dungeons and Dragons fans and fantasy readers alike. We follow Viv twenty years before Legends & Lattes, as she is just a young Orc trying to be a mercenary. In the story we learned Viv injured her leg, and she needs to spend time recovering from her injury in a small town, whereby chance she stumbles into a small bookshop.
The epilogue was the ties perfectly between this prequel BooksShops & BoneDust and Legends & Lattes.
This is a heartwarming story with a wonderful message, the perfect cozy fantasy for your Fall TBR.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! I haven't read Legend and Lattes yet as I was waiting for this one. I loved the main character and this is definitely a great cozy read. It has action, a little love, friendship, and the narrator (and writer) did a great job bringing all these characters to life! Definitely a great listen.

First the story itself: As I was reading/listening it kind of felt like the montage scene in a movie as the bookshop was being pieced back together bit by bit. This trope worked really well because it tied the whole thing more closely to the first book (either of which could easily be read as a stand alone except for maybe 2% in book 2 where the first book is referenced) which had its own montage feel. Aside from that though, I wasn't all that engaged by the big backdrop story it was set against. It's not that it wasn't good or I didn't enjoy it, just that it seemed like excess.

As for the audiobook quality: I had a hard time getting used to the narrator's voice at first. Kind of a high pitch that threw me off a it. But I did acclimate and he did his characters justice with his voice acting in the end. In fact, his bakeshop character sounded just as I was picturing her.

All in all, I'd give this a reasonably solid 4 out of 5 and recommend it as a "cozy" story for those that want something a little lighter.

This review is based on an advance copy that I received for free.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing me with a complementary audiobook 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

There's something so magical about someone finding their love of reading. So if you liked Legends and Lattes you'll definitely love this prequel! Bookshops and Bonedust is the story behind Viv's decision to open a coffee shop and I loved every page of it. We start with Viv getting injured and needing to rest while her leg heals. She stumbles across a run down bookstore then the story really gets going. I won't spoil the plot but this was an action packed, cozy fantasy with laugh out loud dialogue and unique and lovable side characters.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Bookshops & Bonedust" takes us back to a younger Viv, who ends up chilling in a small town after messing up her leg in a scrap. She hits it off with the local bookshop owner, helps the struggling store get its act together, scores a summer fling with a cool dwarf who runs a bakery, and, of course, gets into some trouble along the way. It's a fun and cozy read that gives us a peek into who Viv was before she settled down as an orc managing a coffee joint. It might not top the awesomeness of "Legends & Lattes," but I had a blast reading it and wouldn't mind more stories in this world. I'm all about these chill tales between the wild adventures. Oh, and the author narrating the audio book? Nailed it!

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. ;)

Travis Baldree has given us another feel-good fantasy and I'm here for it.

After Viv, the orc, is hurt in battle, she's sent to Murk, by the beach to recuperate. Throw in a foul-mouthed bookshop owner, a gnome, and a few suspicious characters, and you have the best cozy fantasy out there. Just what you need for a fun escape read.

THIS. BOOK. IS. SO. CHARMING. Honestly melted my cold dark heart. It should go without saying that the author, Travis Baldree, expertly narrates his story. I was so captured by the world and the characters and actually liked this one even more than Legends & Lattes. It maintains all the charm of L&L but has more action and layers to the story which I really enjoyed. I found it to be more engaging. I totally teared up at the end and I don’t want this series/world to ever end. (I’ll say it again louder for Mr. Baldree - DO NOT STOP WRITING THESE BOOKS. Lovingly.)


(Booktok review will be posted on publication day)

Bookshops and Bonedust, Viv's backstory, is an absolutely delightful book in the world of Legends & Lattes. Travis Baldree does an excellent job narrating all the characters and action with all their nuances. This book is a prequel to Legends & Lattes, another fun cozy fantasy. Fingers crossed that Travis Baldree will continue writing more books in the Legends & Lattes world. Highly recommend.

🎧 Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for providing an ARC audiobook of this book, which is published by Tor Books tomorrow, 11/7/23.

Bookshops & bonedust is the prequel to Legends & lattes. It’s rare that the prequel is even more enjoyable than the first in the series but this was the case for me! I loved everything about this book: the plot, the dialogue, the characters, the scenery, the books. The plot begins with Viv needing to heal her leg injury (from a pretty bad fight) in the small, seafaring town of Murk. During a season of rest and discovery, she makes lifelong friends and gets entangled in a serendipitous adventure she wasn’t anticipating.

Characters I loved:
- Fern, the rattkin bookseller whose language is ever filled with passionate expletives and whose bookshop becomes a project for Viv to revive
- Gallina, a fiery spirited gnome who wants to prove her fighting skill and get Viv to put in a good word for her with the ravens (Viv’s mercenary group)
- Potroast, the adorable gryphet (like an owl-dog hybrid pet) I wanted to take home with me
- Maylee, the love interest, baker dwarf whose backstory is fascinating and who brings out a more tender side of Viv
- Satchel, the honor bound skeleton who takes a fancy to reading books and cleaning the bookshop

The dialogue was seriously fantastic and I’m a huge dialogue lover. The wit and banter were excellent. Each character was bursting with so much personality there wasn’t a character I didn’t like. The plot was more adventurous than legends & lattes, with quite a few intense action scenes, but still fitting snuggly within the cozy fantasy genre.

I already had high hopes for this prequel but my expectations were exceeded. What a gorgeous and cozy story I can see myself re-reading in the future. Read this book if you are easily moved by endearing characters, heartwarming friendship, new readers discovering books for the first time, and beautiful character development. ✨

The epilogue was the perfect bridge between this prequel and legends & lattes. It even made me tear up in the happy, sentimental, touched sort of way. So many feels!!! 💕

🎧The audiobook was an amazing medium for this book because Travis’ narration really makes the characters full personalities come alive. He does the most perfect fantasy accents!

📚“You help me remember why I bother.”

✨”See you in the story past the story.”

Of course I loved this audiobook. I was so happy to return to this world and loved this characters even more than the first one. How is that even possible?! I enjoyed everything about this and I hope we get more in this world.

I was so excited to read this book because I absolutely loved Legends & Lattes and how cozy and atmospheric it was, but this prequel unfortunately fell a little short for me. I think because this is a prequel and we already know where Viv's life went and how her story ended in the first book, this story felt a little lackluster. It's always tricky to read prequels that are published after the first book has already been out, and because I care so deeply about Viv and the characters she met in the first book, I found myself not caring about the characters and stories in this book. His writing and audio narration was still excellent so I will definitely pick up more books by Balrdee in the future.

Thank you Tor and NetGalley for the eAudioBook in exchange for an honest review.