Oh this was such a beautiful prequel to Legends & Lattes. I don’t read a lot of cozy, low stakes books but these are just so wonderfully written.

Younger Viv is just as lovable and kind and getting to peel into her life before the coffee shop was so wonderful. I could read 100 more stories of Viv and the trail of friendships she left in her wake.

Bookshops & Bonedust is a prequel to Baldree's New York Times bestseller Legends & Lattes, and it tells the story of Viv, a mercenary who is forced to retire after a serious injury. Viv is sent to the sleepy coastal town of Murk to recuperate, and she quickly finds herself drawn to the local bookshop, run by the foul-mouthed but kind-hearted Fern.

As Viv spends time at the bookshop, she begins to rediscover her love of reading and storytelling. She also develops a close friendship with Fern, and the two of them work together to save the bookshop from a greedy landlord.

Bookshops & Bonedust is a charming and heartwarming story about friendship, community, and the power of books. Baldree's writing is warm and engaging, and his characters are complex and relatable. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Viv and Fern, and the way that Baldree explores the themes of second chances and new beginnings.

One of the things I loved most about Bookshops & Bonedust is its setting. Murk is a delightful little town, full of quirky characters and hidden secrets. I could have easily spent the whole book exploring Murk and its many charms.

Another thing I loved about the book is its focus on books and storytelling. Baldree clearly has a deep love of books, and it comes through in every page of the story. He also does a great job of exploring the power of stories to transport us to other worlds and to help us understand ourselves better.

I think Bookshops & Bonedust is a good book, but it's not without its flaws. I would recommend it to fans of fantasy, romance, and heartwarming stories, but I would advise them to be patient with the slow pacing in the first half of the book.

📚 Review: Bookshops & Bonedust 🩼📖

By: Travis Baldree
Published: November 7, 2023

Viv’s career as a mercenary isn’t going as planned - she got injured during the hunt for a powerful necromancer and gets sent to the sleepy beach town of Murk to recuperate. To her own surprise, Viv ends up spending her hours in a bookshop with the company of its foul mouthed proprietor. Adventure isn’t too far away though, whether on page or in town.

With just a few weeks until pub day, I figured it was time to put my thoughts on this gem out into the world!

This book is set before the events of Legends & Lattes, showing us the seeds being sown for the Viv we know and love today. I felt a really special connection to this book - It starts with Viv hurting her leg and being frustrated over the limitation of her body & I read this while dealing with my own injury and frustrations surrounding it.

This one has so much magic in it that was a balm to my soul - delicious baked treats, discovering the fun/adventure/pull/excitement of books, found family, and community building to name a few. I loved seeing Viv’s soft, caring interior peek out from all her muscles.

Pick this up if you’re looking for some warm and fuzzies with a dash of action and adventure! Out 11/7!

Verdict: Really Loved 🥰

Thank you so much @torbooks for this #gifted copy! 🥰

This story is unbelievably charming, hilarious, and kept me entertained from the beginning to the very last word. Travis Baldree s not only an amazing, witty writer, but he is a gifted storyteller. He’s proven as much by being the narrator of his own audiobook.

What I love about an author reading their own work, is that you get a real sense of how the author sees this universe they have created. You hear the characters voices as the author hears them, you hear the pronunciation of the names as the author pronounces them , and you get the inflection and mood that the author is trying to portray. Now, any good author does that without having to narrate their own books, but there’s something so magical about having a book read to you by the author.

If the video game “Animal Crossing”, put out a D&D version of their game, then you would have the world that has been created in Bookshops & Bonedust.

Viv is a mercenary Orc who is recovering from wounds received from a powerful necromancer in her first battle. She’s stuck in the sleepy seaside port town of Murk with nothing to do. She’s already notorious among the residents for nearly choking to death the elf doctor who attended her wounds. Bored and missing battle, she happens upon a dilapidated bookstore and discovers a whole new world.

Viv”s fateful encounter with the proprietor of the bookshop-a foul-mouthed Ratkin called Fern-brings forth a cast of incredibly developed and (mostly) endearing characters who will all have a hand in helping shape this young Orc. Not all is as it seems in Murk and it turns out Viv just might be in the wrong place at the right time.

I didn’t know cozy fantasy was a genre I was missing in my life, but here I am, LOVING it. I didn’t want the story to end, I wanted more of the creatures that live in this world. My favorite characters were a homunculus, with a Jeeves-like personality, named Satchel, and of course Viv herself.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Audiobook ARC provided by NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and Tor Books!

Travis Baldree's writing and his voice feel like wrapping up in a cozy blanket with a cup of tea. His books are feel good fun reads and I am so grateful that I was able to get a copy of this ARC.

Since this was an audiobook ARC I'd like to start off with my audiobook specific feelings. Travis is a talented narrator, especially since he is also the author he does perfect justice to the story. His voices for characters are distinct enough to tell the difference between everyone without being too over the top or goofy. It's an enjoyable and immersive listen, very fitting for this book.

If you enjoyed the pace of Legends and Lattes then this one will likely also be for you. This book follows a young Viv having a somewhat quiet summer in a sleepy little town. Lots of sweet little moments between characters and slice of life scenes. I enjoyed watching the bookshop change and the characters change as well. I also laughed out loud at some of Fern's cursing.

I wasn't expecting to feel *too* many feelings about this book but the epilogue genuinely made me emotional, enough so that I need to go back and give legends and lattes a re-read. I hope Travis continues this series, I will keep reading them as long as he keeps writing them.

I don't give a lot of books 5 stars but this one earned it from me.

If you are a fan of Legends and Lattes, you are going to be so happy to have this book in your hands. It is not often that a book feels like a warm hug, yet Baldree manages to do that not just once but twice.

Bookshops gives us a view into Vivs life before we meet her in Legends. The story is sweet, mysterious and entertaining all wrapped into a sweet book. This series seems to be very popular on social media so I do not want to spoil any part of the story. If you enjoy a story of found families, origins of characters you already love or maybe you want a book that will make you feel good, this is a wonderful book to choose.

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree is the perfect cozy prequel to Legends & Lattes. In this story we get to learn a bit more about why Viv wants to slow down and retire from all the quests and pillaging. After being injured during battle, she is forced to slow down to heal and recoup in the town of Murk. There she meets an adorably sassy bookstore owner and helps her get her business back in shape. I loved watching the process of Viv falling in love with reading and the slower life.

This book checks off all the cozy fantasy boxes for me. We have slow living, books, baked goods, orcs, ratkins, and gnomes. It is pure perfection. And I love any book that talks about books! This book feels like a warm hug, just like Legends & Lattes. Fingers crossed for a sequel!

The story is read by the author which I love. I feel like we get a full sense of all of his intentions throughout the story.

Enjoyed the first book very much and was excited for this one. Great cozy book to read between the titles that stress you out or while spending more time inside and wanting to curl up and read all day. Low stakes fantasy is my new love. As a library worker/ bookstore lover this felt like he was writing to me and for me. He gets us. A coffee novel and now books... swoon. I love that he reads the audiobook too, so he gets his characters and their voices. I will be adding him to my first read list with other authors that I grab immediately upon release!

If you've ever wondered what would happen if a cozy mystery and a dusty old bookstore decided to have a baby, the answer is "Bookshops & Bonedust" by Travis Baldree. Let me tell you, this book is so cozy it practically comes with a pair of fluffy slippers and a cup of piping hot cocoa. If you enjoyed the first one, you'll enjoy this one!

The cozy factor in this book is off the charts. Picture a warm, crackling fire in the background, a purring cat in your lap, and a mug of tea that mysteriously refills itself. Every chapter feels like a cozy blanket wrapped around your imagination, and you'll find yourself sighing with contentment as you read.

Travis Baldree has a knack for witty one-liners and absurd situations that will have you chuckling at every turn. Who knew that a bookshop could be the backdrop for so many hilarious mishaps.

In the end, "Bookshops & Bonedust" is a delightful romp through the world of Viv and her quirky companions. It's a cozy read that you won't want to put down, as you'll be too busy savoring every delicious moment and laughing out loud at the absurdity of it all. So, grab your favorite reading nook, a warm beverage of your choice, and prepare to be enveloped in a world where the coziest of mysteries unfold in the most charming of bookshops.

🌶️ Spice Meter 🌶️ : 2 out of 5 Peppers

Final Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see where Viv started out and how she came to be in Rackam's group. I would recommend this to anyone who just needs a cozy read with a little bit of spice and a whole lot of love.

Disclaimer:
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This book has already made it to the top of my favorites list. With it being a prequel, there is always a chance it does not live up to expectations. The characters are as wonderful as I hoped and the story once again had the excitement, intrigue, and heart that I was looking for. Viv has easily become one of my favorite characters with her flaws and growth.

I enjoyed this cozy bookshop read ❤️ a prequel with younger viv injured. Action & some romance. I feel like this is a cozy, cuddle up with a blanket page turner. Bookshops & Lattes with a strong Orc. I think Travis made cozy fantasy a hit ❤️
#netgalley

In this prequel to Legends and Lattes, Viv is stuck in a town to heal after she receives a nasty leg wound. She befriends Fern who owns a bookshop in the town and begins to help her fix up the bookshop. Along the way, she accumulates more friendships with the town baker, a reclusive author, and others. While Viv feels like she's missing out on the action while she heals the action ends up coming to this small town and Viv plays a big part of it.

While this prequel wasn't as great as Legends and Lattes, I still really enjoyed it. The characters were well developed - especially Satchel! However, the romance did feel a little forced. The epilogue and connection to L&L was particularly exciting because it gives a preview into what the subsequent L&L book will be.

Legends and Lattes introduced readers to Viv, a battle weary orc who has retired from the mercenary life who runs a coffee shop. Bookshops and Bonedust takes fans back in time to Viv’s fighting days, were we meet a wounded Viv. Like the first book in this delightful series, Viv’s origin story is full of quirky characters and magical creatures. Readers will delight in watching Viv discover the joys of reading. The ending perfectly sets up future tales and I cannot wait!

Do you love Dungeons and Dragons? Do you love indie bookstores? Yes? Same, then you’ll love this book. This story is the poster child of cozy fantasy. It’s fun, sweet and light.

There’s literally a mouse-like character that owns a bookstore, as if she got kicked out of Beatrix Potter’s work for swearing too much and ended up in Murk.

I love when authors narrate their own books and this was not exception. I had a really nice time with this book.

I DNF this book - I just couldn't get into the story. There was nothing wrong with the audiobook, it just wasn't my taste: there was not nearly enough romance to keep me interested. I guess it was *too* low-stakes for me 🤷‍♀️

The narrator, who I believe is actually the author of the book, was good, and the story seems like something someone else will really love. My library will purchase a copy of this and that it will do well here. We own two copies of Legends and Lattes and they circulate very well, so I imagine a prequel will do just as well.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint! This is the backstory of Viv that is the main character in Legends and Lattes. Reading her backstory made me appreciate what she accomplished in Legends and Lattes all the more. This story had wit and banter, extremely poignant moments that brought tears to my eyes, a smidge is romance, and low stakes that are just enough stakes. Oh yeah, and a bag of bone dust that keeps the bookshop tidy. What more could you want?

This was a fun prequel to Viv’s story. Set in another tiny village filled with interesting and heartwarming characters. It was wonder to see how Viv got to where she is.

I cannot wait until my physical copy of Bookshops & Bonedust arrives, I loved this book so much. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for this audio ARC of my most anticipated read of 2023!

I feel like this book was MADE for the BookTok community. There are so many fun, silly elements that speak to all readers (especially if you’re just now discovering your love of books). This prequel to Legends & Lattes may bring you new characters and a new location, but still gives the cozy vibes we’ve all been chasing.

Favorite Character: Fern
Favorite Aspect: the discovery of the love of reading
Cozy-Meter: 7 (a little more action/adventure than Legends & Lattes)

DO NOT SKIP THE EPILOGUE ❤️

This is such a wonderful novel and a great prequel to Baldree’s Legends & Lattes. Anyone that loved that will love seeing Viv’s journey. This also makes the perfect autumnal read. Curl up with a mug of something warm, and let Baldree take you to a different world.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor for allowing me to listen to this awesome audiobook that’s sure to be a beloved cozy read for all. My opinions are my own.

Travis, may I call you Travis? Good.
Viv deserves more awkward dates and flirty kisses. This is the second book you have tortured me with. I just want someone to be pinned against a wall by her strong arms. I get it she is a warrior Ork with a 'go-with-the-flow' personality and it's entirely charming, but dear God please give her the kisses she deserves. That is all.