An ALC of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Before addressing the novel’s content, I need to talk about the narration. There’s something incredibly special about listening to an author bring life to their words via an audiobook. I could feel the deep love Travis Baldree has for his craft, for these characters, in every word. The pacing, voices, and emotion packed into the novel’s eight hours had me eagerly awaiting the next time I could settle in and listen.

I was a little nervous about reading this book as I found Legends & Lattes to be a little slow and monotonous for the first half of the novel. Bookshops & Bonedust is far more my speed. It still has the same deeply cozy vibes, but the plot elements in this novel are more varied and engaging. There is just more consistently going on outside of refitting the beloved, malodorous shop.

The villain is interesting, despite being one-dimensional and vanquished quickly with some careful plotting and the most helpful bag o’ bones. As with Legends & Lattes, the cast of characters is developed enough to lend emotional depth to interactions with Viv without pulling too much focus from her internal journey.

More importantly, though, the villian-tied plot allows for the real message of the book: “Sometimes it’ll never be the right time, and sometimes we aren’t the right people yet.”

The sapphic relationship explored in this book acknowledges this idea perfectly - their time together is limited, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t precious. These two focus on enjoying each other’s company, not on the sadness of parting, and I truly think this kind of narrative is both healing and necessary today.

This messaging is echoed in the epilogue through the peek in at Viv and HER WIFE Tandri. Though it hurt to leave Murk and her relationships behind, there was something better waiting for Viv on the horizon. Overall, Bookshops & Bonedust left me feeling soothed to my core. Life is difficult, but things will work out as they’re meant to. You have to believe in “the story past the story” and let it unfold in due time.

This book was the warm hug I needed. I cannot wait to see what Travis Baldree will do next.

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.

I thoroughly enjoyed this follow up to Legends and Lattes. In this prequel, we follow Viv on another cozy adventure where we meet some more unforgettable characters and spend time in the coziest of bookstores. This look into Viv’s past provided some excellent insight into the first narrative. Can’t recommend this highly enough.

Another great cozy fantasy from Travis Baldree.

I didn't understand the hype around Legends & Lattes when I kept hearing about it. I finally read it a few weeks ago, and it all made sense. I loved seeing how the characters developed and built up the coffee shop. There was something so nice and comforting about the story.

After that experience I was thrilled to get a chance to read Bookshops & Bonedust. I knew going into it that it was a prequel, so I didn't expect all of the same characters. It was fun to see the origins of some of the world elements, and it was a similar style of story.

I didn't get into the story quite as much as Legends & Lattes, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I never would have guessed that I would like cozy fantasy, but here I am, looking forward to more.

The narration was great.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for a free copy of #Bookshops&Bonedust by Travis Baldree. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved being back in a world with Viv! Cozy fantasy at its finest.

This is considered a prequel book as we meet up with Viv long before the events in Legends & Lattes. As she is recovering from an injury in a small town she becomes friends with Fern--a bookseller whose business is not doing so well. Shenanigans and even necromancers then happen. You have bone monsters, romance authors who write 'moist' stories, gnomes, dwarves, baked treats, elves, and conversations around books. My favorite. I really hope we get more stories like this with Viv because I already miss this world.

What I loved:
-all the characters had such a great personality and vibe to them. I especially loved Potroast and Satchel
-The cozy vibes: this book had higher stakes than the L&L, but was still cozy
-The audiobook is narrated by the author and he does an excellent job, highly recommend
-I loved getting to know Viv and her need for adventure before settling down
-The epilogue! I squealed.

Perfect for those seeking:
A cozy read
Light fantasy
Queer rep
Shenanigans

DNF 58% I just can’t get into these books. Unfortunately I didn't read Legends and Lattes until I got Bookshops and Bonedust from NetGalley. I read Legends and Lattes first, but really didn't enjoy it. So I went into this book knowing I already didn't care for the writing style.

It's neat that Travis Baldree is a professional narrator, but I found that surprising when I found out because some of his voices are quite difficult to understand.

I appreciate the cozy elements (books, pets, baked goods), but the story fell flat for me. The plot and characters weren't intriguing enough to keep me interested.

A wonderful glimpse into life before legends and Latte's! I can't wait for more glimpses into this world.
I just reviewed Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree. #NetGalley

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

I think I would have liked this more if I had already read Legends & Lattes, it was interesting but didn't really draw me in as much without that background. I probably would have connected with it more if I had read a physical copy as well- the narrator was fine, I just couldn't focus on it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun adventure in Viv's life. Like most people, I loved Legends and Lattes - and its cozy, low-stakes plot was exactly what I wanted right now. This prequel definitely had the same vibes, but somehow, it was even lower-stakes than the first book, which didn't work in its favor. Because this is a prequel, we already know where Viv ends up, so there wasn't much to question in this book. I think it would have made more sense if the epilogue with the letter Viv receives was instead a prologue. But, this book was still a lot of fun.

Travis Baldree does it again! I loved his first novel so much that I read it and listened to it on audio, so I naturally fell into a cadence with his outstanding narration of this second novel.

Viv, an orc, becomes injured and finds herself in Murk, a small town, where she befriends some quirky characters and has a variety of adventures through a dusty old bookshop.

I really enjoyed this second book and although it's a prequel, I adored the bookshop vibe that brought elements of a bakery, too.

Phenomenal job, Mr. Baldree. You did it again.
#bookshopsandbonedust #netgalley

Enjoyed this prequel to Legends & Lattes and the narration by the author was well done. It took me a bit longer to get into this story, but once I did, I was hooked. Viv, the orc, is wounded in battle, and her band of mercenaries leaves her in the town of Murk. Viv wanders into a bookstore, and gets a recommendation from the proprietor named Fern. Gradually these two form a friendship, with Viv helping Fern breathe new life into the bookshop that she inherited from her father. When a stranger in gray comes into the shop, Viv knows that a dangerous necromancer has come to town, and she tried to figure out what the mysterious figure is seeking. Of course, adventure ensues, along with more memorable fantasy characters, including a skeleton that is animated with a special bone dust. Viv also finds her first love, and the epilogue ties up the story nicely - with the hopes that these characters will continue in another volume.

Oh, Viv! Young Viv! Gah!

This was an absolute treat. There was a little more excitement in this one than in L&L, but it was so well done. I loved the Bookshop and how Baldree set it up. I wanted to live in this novel like I did the first one.

This is a wonderful cozy fantasy that I will come back to again and again. I really want to go reread Legends & Lattes now because I love how these books make me feel.

AND THE EPILOGUE WAS SO SWEET