I give this book a SOLID 4.5 stars. This was a rare stand alone prequel that adds so much to the first book, Bookshops and Bonedust has all the cozy vibes and action I had come to expect from Legends and Lattes. There's a loveable animal companion, a frazzled bookshop owner, a baker of fine treats, and a necromancer lurking somewhere in the background. If you were wondering why a mercenary orc would want to open a coffee shop, read this, maybe with a nice cup of coffee of your own. This book is the perfect example of there's a right book for every time, and a right time for every book. Super cozy, super well written (and narrated) Travis has definitely made himself an instant buy author for me after these last two slam dunks.

Wow, this was FUN! If you loved Legends and Lattes but wish it had more adventure, more magical beings, and a sense of foreboding while still being cozy and comforting, this prequel is PERFECT for you. I loved the cast and the concept! The audiobook narration by the author was also IMMACULATE!

rep: lesbians!! no humans so no race

spice level: none

tw: fighting, attempted mugging, healing from major injury, mobility aids

Bookshops & Bonedust was an enjoyable prequel to Travis Baldree's popular low stakes fantasy novel, Legends and Lattes. To be honest, I think I preferred this latest release. While B&B contained all the coziness and charm of its predecessor, the stakes were a little higher, and the pace a little quicker, both of which made the story more enjoyable. Travis Baldree does a nice job narrating his own stories, and I like hearing the way he imagines his characters to sound. My absolute favorite part of B&B was getting to read the origin stories of some of my favorite elements from L&L. The epilogue left room for a possible third book, and should another book be on its way, I will happily read that one as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy!

Let me start off by saying that this was a wonderfully cozy, follow up to legends and lattes by the same author. I highly enjoyed audiobook, just as with the first Travis Baldree lends so much emotion and knowledge of these characters that they literally jump out at you.

Bookshops and Bonedust takes place many years prior to Legends and Lattes. It did not quite make that clear in the beginning, and I had to look up that information partway through the book because I was just curious. I wish that info had been made more readily known at the beginning of the audiobook. But by the end of the audiobook, you absolutely know where this book lies in the timeline of things.

Freshly hurt after a bounty with her group of comrades, Viv is stranded in a seaside town to heal. While healing, she wanders randomly into a book shop and meets a whole slew of characters that become found family. Through a series of events, the necromancer that Viv was previously hunting with her coworkers ends up in the seaside town. Viv is off on a adventure to figure out how to catch the necromancer, and foil her evil plot. All while saving the decrepit bookstore that is on the verge of closing in the sleepy little town.

I enjoyed this quite a bit. I did prefer Legends and Lattes to this book by a marginal amount. But this was an absolutely wonderful cozy. Read perfect for the fall season.

This is another cute companion entry in the series that started with Legends and Lattes. As expected, this story was cozy.

I wish the story had a little more meat because I prefer stories with a little heavier plot. Yet, as an escapist, easy read this book succeeded in what it was trying to accomplish.

I would recommend this one to readers looking for a nice pallet cleanser between grimdark fantasy and other depressing reads.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I have been meaning to read Legend's and Latte's, so when the opportunity to listen to this audiobook came up it was perfect. Either L&L would come off my TBR, or get deleted. Well I was pleasantly surprised. It's a character study in a fantastical world. Yes there is magic, but it's not the focus Yes there is romance, but it's not steamy. Sure the main characters are all "creatures", but they're very human. It's a fun story about forming friendships for a season but that have a lifetime of impact. I highly recommend this book and the author being the narrator was icing on the cake. I will be reading L&L very soon, and can't wait for more from this author.

This is my first true cozy fantasy read. I really didn't know what to expect. If I'm being honest this is one of those things that kept popping up and I thought to myself "I need to read that".

The story starts off with Viv being injured and especially left to recover in a run down inn of sorts. While waiting for her crew to "retrieve" her she makes true meaningful friendships. She also reevaluates what's important.

I just really enjoyed this book. It's absolutely adorable. I'm so happy that Travis Baldree and Netgallery allowed me access to the Audiobook early. When the physical copy is released I will pick it up.

I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I requested this book. I wasn't terribly concerned that I haven't read Legends & Lattes, as this is the prequel to that. I repeatedly read reviews of Legends & Lattes, that characterized it as “a warm hug.” And what is a “cozy fantasy?” I wondered. Is that a thing? Well, let's examine. . . .

Given the information with which I started this adventure, the book's opening struck me as surprisingly violent. There are bursts of battle violence on and off throughout the story. Profanity is abundant, and steamy romance book passages are read (from books within the book). Alcohol is consumed to excess. So, (at least this particular) cozy fantasy probably is not recommended for children [as always, you choose what's right for your family] or sensitive readers of any age.

For all the violence and profanity, though, the main theme seems to be caring relationships, both platonic and romantic. These relationships earn a ratings bump [to 3.35⭐].

Other themes include cooperation, social responsibility, consideration, the importance of reading (and finding the books that are right for you/reader advisory services), and inclusivity—characters include quite a variety of fantasy creatures: orcs, dwarves, elves, goblins, ratkin (wererats—today I learned), and the like. The seaside town in which the story takes place has small businesses—pub/inn, bookshop (obviously), and bakery among them—and the owners of each play significant parts in the story. Character development is fairly good and I became invested in the what happened to the characters. In addition to the fantastical beings, there are magical objects, including grimoire and bonedust.

I wasn't as enthralled by the story as I had hoped, but I do genuinely wish to read the next (published first) book. I don't know whether most fantasy lovers will like this book, or if they might feel the same kind of mild disappointment that some traditional mystery lovers feel about cozy mysteries. If you aren't put off by the qualifiers I opened with, and if you're game for a mostly light read, why not give this a try?

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC, which is narrated by the author, of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected November 7.

The first book in this series was a big surprise hit for me last year. I wasn't aware that cozy fantasy was a genre, let alone something I needed in my life until I met Viv the orc. I think if you are a fan of the first book then you are going to enjoy the second one just as much because it takes place in a bookstore. The book starts as Viv gets hurt and is left in a small town to recover. There isn't much to do in this small town so she wanders into a bookstore and the adventure begins. There is a new cast of crazy characters for you to get to know and I love that she turns this bookstore around. After finishing I hope that Travis will write more in this world and from the epilogue it seems like it will be happening!

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillian audio for the advance audio copy.

This book was high on my anticipated reads for the year. I adored the first book Legends & Lattes like many other readers. Light cozy fantasy. Was this one as good as the last one? Probably not. But still a delightful read with a cozy bookshop theme.

I think Travis Baldree does fantasy well as either a palette cleanser for fantasy readers, or for those looking to dabble in fantasy without a ton of world building.

This is set as a prequel to Legends and Lattes. It's was nice to get a bit of backstory on Viv, the orc we grew to love.

I think this series is totally acceptable even for middle grade readers as long as your okay with the occasional curse word in their reading.

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.

Loved it! This had just a little of everything I love in a book. I picked up Legends & Lattes recently and I can't wait to find out what happens next. This was a great fall read.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book.

This title was just as cute and cozy as the first in the Legends & Lattes series. I recommend this title to fans of D&D, cozy books, and anyone who has ever been a bookseller!

My current read just wasn’t appealing to me, and I wanted something cozy while I convalesced from the latest COVID booster this fall weekend. This exactly fit the bill.

There are many similarities here to Legends & Lattes. Viv the mercenary orc has hung up her sword — temporarily this time, while she’s recovering from a battle injury. There’s a light sapphic romance, though we know Viv and Maylee will eventually part because Viv ends up with someone else in Legends & Lattes. There’s the same elements of found family, a lurking threat that will be vanquished by that found family banding together at the end, and so many delicious descriptions of baked goods. Even better, this takes place in a bookshop.

And just like in Legends & Lattes, I don’t hate that the male author has written a primarily female main cast.

Eagerly awaiting whatever Travis Baldree comes up with next. That mystery novel he mentions in his acknowledgements sounds amazing — maybe try returning to that idea at some point?

Bookshops & Bonedust was everything I was hoping it to be. Cozy and mysterious. Viv is such a strong character in physical strength and mental strength and you can relate to her even though she is an Orc. Travis Baldree is a great author as well as how he reads the characters in the audio into life is just extraordinary. Bookshops & Bonedust is just as great a read as Legends and Lattes was. I think Satchel might have been my favorite character. I hope we get more stories of Viv and her adventures!

While I don’t think this hit the nose in the same way the first book did, I enjoyed it IMMENSELY. Baldree continues to deliver on cozy fantasy with heartwarming characters and a comforting plot.
3.5✨ rounded up.

Thank you MacMillan and Netgalley for an ARC of the audiobook.

Excellent follow up to Legends and Lattes. I enjoyed being back in the world with Viv and seeing a part of her life before the coffee shop. The cozy vibes were in full swing again and I really liked that was even a bit more romance in this one. I hope that we get more in this series and are look forward to continuing in this cozy fantasy world Travis Baldree has created!!

4.5/5

I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley, I screamed when I saw I got the ARC for this book!

I had never really read cozy fantasy until the first book, and I adored it. I was able to immerse myself in that world and just relax. I laughed, loved and cried with the characters, and books that can make you feel that are so special. First we got coffee and baked goods, then in this second book we get a bookish Viv with another full cast of fun characters. One of my favorite aspects is that a battle hardened orc is reading mildly spicy books and eating sweets eventually going on to opening her own shop. It is not a typical character and I LOVE that. Such a fun follow up, I must say that I want Pot Roast as a pet, he sounds so damn cute. Here’s to hoping for a third adventure!!

A prequel to Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust is a comforting and cozy fantasy read. Viv has been wounded while on the hunt for a powerful necromancer, and she finds herself in the beach town of Murk where she learns a love and books and finds herself on an unexpected adventure. The love of literature in this book is enough to make any bibliophile happy, and this read is so warm and lovely. It’s another slice of life and Viv is so kind and I loved the community built in this one. I would say it’s not as strong as book one, but it’s very enjoyable. I loved getting that backstory of Viv as her time as an adventurer. It is so charming and heartwarming and the epilogue made my heart happy. The writing for this and Legends & Lattes feels like a hug in its warmth and it’s just a lovely read.

Bookshops and Bonedust is a charming prequel to Legends and Lattes. This book follows Viv, who is forced to recover from a leg injury in the small town of Murk. While there, she finds herself befriending a local book shop owner, and helping the store gain customers, and finding joy in reading. Of course there is action and some romance too!

If you loved Legends and Lattes, you’ll definitely enjoy Bookshops and Bonedust. It has the same cozy mystery vibes, and it’s so fun to explore Viv’s life before she settled down to run a coffee shop. Fern’s character was also a standout for me! The epilogue was a nice touch, and I’m glad it was included. The author narrates the audio book and it’s absolutely fantastic. His voice adds an extra layer of coziness to the already cozy vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC.