We start out with a young Viv adventuring and killing things. She is injured and the crew drops her in Merk to recuperate. She is going stir crazy so she gets to know the small town and the many fun characters. The audio book is fantastic. I love the narrator and how he brings the words to life. I'd love to see some artistic renderings of the creatures like Pot Roast and satchel. I really love this series and hope there's more.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree brings back Viv in the time before she creates her legendary coffee shop. Injured and stuck in the town of Murk, she finds herself invested in helping the local bookshop. Her summer does not turn out as she suspects with friendship, adventure and even a summer fling.
I loved this book! I loved the first one and I think I loved this prequel even better. I am a sucker for a cozy bookshop story and this hit the spot perfectly! I enjoyed seeing another side of Viv and watching her fall in love with reading. That combined with the bookshop owner and her cute pet I wanted to be a part of the group myself. Seeing all of the parallels with things readers (including myself) love in real life just made it so much better.
Then there is the adventure. Even injured Viv does not want to stop. The chaos comes to her in an unexpected way that keeps you wondering how it will all turn out. The ending was satisfying and so bitter sweet my heart hurt. Then the epilogue just made it better. I don't know if the author plans to continue writing books in this world but a book continuing the epilogue from the friend's point of view would be amazing!
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, cozy books and everything in between. I am already raving about it to people I know! I loved it!

This book was very cute and definitely gives some insights into the characters of book one, which I highly recommend you read first. It was neat to see Viv's beginning. Nice fantasy adventure story.

Picking up Bookshops & Bonedust was a no-brainer after reading the cozy fantasy Legends & Lattes! Baldree gives us a chance to get to know Viv's past which definitely explains a lot about her decision to start a coffee shop in Thune. After going a little too hard in her first real battle as part of the Rackam's Ravens, Viv is injured and has to stop in a sleepy beach town to heal up for a while.

This novel was exactly what I'd hoped it would be: easy, silly, and warm. Perfect for any time, really!

Thank you to NETGALLEY and and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook for Bookshops and Bonedust. This was a very cute, whimsical story. I loved the inclusivity of having an lgbtq fmc and found all the characters to be likable, and their little accents done by the narrator/author to be charming. I don’t really have any critiques about it, as I feel it did what it set out to do for the kind of book that it is.

Bookshops & Bonedust is a cozy fantasy novel which precedes Legends and Lattes giving us a piece of Viv’s story which explains the events which led to her wanting to settle down and start her coffee shop. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel - and the audio book specifically was well done. If you enjoyed Baldree’s Legends and Lattes you will love this as well.

Note: I received a free digital audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I absolutely adored this book. After reading Of Legends and Lattes, I was worried that a prequel wouldn't hold up. However, this is just as charming and lovely.
After an injury on the battlefield, Viv is forced to wait in the small town of Murk until her company returns. She stumbles into a bookshop out of sheer boredom and meets the owner who encourages her to try out a book. It's not long before she's spending most of her time in the shop. But something is lurking behind the scenes and Viv is determined to figure out what it is.

Just finished listening to "Bookshops & Bonedust" by Travis Baldree, narrated by the author himself, and I'm loving the cozy fantasy genre even more!

The premise of Viv laying low and healing, helping out in a bookshop while indulging in some spicy reads had me hooked. The plot was easy to follow and I did enjoy the relationship between Viv and Maylee, with Viv being completely clueless.

But here's the thing – I couldn't help but wish this book was a continuation of "Legends & Lattes" rather than a prequel. The only link between the two is Viv, and I wanted more of that enchanting world and the characters we built relationships with already. I did enjoy the epilogue that gave us a glimpse back to "Legends & Lattes" and the possibility for the story to continue.

Nevertheless, Travis Baldree's narration was a delight, and I'm looking forward to more cozy fantasy adventures!

After reading Legends & Lattes earlier this year, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue with the series. But after a very rough couple of months, I wanted to warm hug of a book that I knew I would get from Travis Baldee, so I was excited to listen to Bookshops & Bonedust.

Bookshops & Bonedust takes place before Legends & Lattes, but Viv is still the main character. This was still a warm hug - tea and friends, books and cozy chairs.

Unlike Legends & Lattes, there is more action.

And, oh man, that epilogue! ((Gasps))

Bookshops & Bonedust was the perfect escape from reality. This is the prequel and can be read whether you have read Legends & Lattes or not.

Bookshops & Bonedust publishes November 7. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

Viv is back, back again. Viv is back, tell a friend.

This is equally as cozy as Legends and Lattes but with more at stake as our gal, Viv, is still very much in the booming business of swording it up. That said, I didn’t love it as much as the first book and was looking for those cute lil Easter eggs we got sprinkled into the coffee shop - all we got was the invention of “blind date with a book” and author signings.

I really liked that we ended on an epilogue that brought us forward in time, a few years down the road from where L&L left off and hopefully setting up another book in the series.

CW/TW: war, injury, violence

I was very excited to receive an ARC of Travis Baldree's second book. I enjoy Legends & Lattes, and was eager to learn more about Viv and her life.
This is the prequel story that tells how Viv, an orc mercenary, was wounded in battle and was forced to convalesce in a small town named Murk. Viv is surprised to find herself making friends, voraciously reading books recommended by the bookshop owner who talks like an educated sailor, and maybe falling in love. Humorous encounters with townfolks give her a different perspective on what her future could be, and the battle-hardened orc leaves Murk with a books, friendships, a career change, and a love of coffee.

This is definitely a cozy fantasy read! Listening to the audio was also a pleasure! It turned out the author also narrated the novel! Excellent job!

It was just what I needed after a bunch of busy books and a very good and welcoming listen. Caught my attention and was very enjoyable!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the arc!

If you loved the adventure Viv went on in the first book, you'll love the prequel as well. This is where the entire cozy adventure began and it's simply lovely. Grab your blanket, a cup of coffee, and a tasty pastry and transport yourself in the world of Viv and the friends she makes along the way. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for providing me the ARC and allowing me to on this delightful journey.

Thank you NetGalley for this audiobook ARC!!
Oh my goodness. This was wonderful. Young Viv realizing there’s more to life than being an excellent warrior, falling in love with books, and being an all around “useless sapphic” was everything I wanted and then some. Fern, Pot Roast, and a certain charismatic baker captured my heart right away, while many other characters worked their way in later. Just the right amount of action and relaxation. And that epilogue? 😭❤️ 10/10

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio , for the ARC.

"Bookshops and Bonedust" provides an enchanting prequel to "Legends and Lattes" that is both fun and heartwarming. Narrated by the author, Travis Baldree, it introduces us to Viv, the orc barbarian, in her prime, recuperating in the sleepy beach town of Murk. The story balances charm with higher stakes due to Viv's youth, seamlessly fitting into the larger narrative. It's a top contender for my best reads this year, with well-developed side characters and emotional depth. Baldree's narration and the production quality are exceptional. A delightful and emotionally resonant audiobook that I wholeheartedly recommend.

In this prequel, Viv is young and ready for battle, also injured from her last battle. While she recuperates in a sleepy town, she accidentally befriends the local bookseller and baker. Of course, even while helping bring some life to this sleepy town, Viv is a mercenary at heart and always finds her way back to adventure... This audiobook captures the range of emotions from the downtrodden realization that recovery is necessary, to the quiet joy of making new friends, to the thrill of a hunt, and it's all exceptionally well done!

I liked Legends & Lattes a lot, I LOVED Bookshops & Bonedust! Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to listen to an advance copy of the audiobook!

After devouring "Legends and Lattes," I was eager to dive into its prequel, "Bookshops and Bonedust," and it proved to be another magical trip into this world. Viv's early career with Rackam's Ravens takes a twist when she's sent to recover in the uneventful town of Murk. Or so it seems.

Baldree's narrative style is, once again, masterful. Their language is so soothing it felt like an adult bedtime story, effortlessly lulling me into the world of Thune. This tale dives even deeper into Viv's history, adding layers of complexity and making her eventual success in "Legends and Lattes" all the more satisfying and sweet.

Speaking of sweetness, "Bookshops and Bonedust" elevates the sugar confections that become a hallmark in Viv's coffee shop to a whole new level of importance. It's as if all the pastries come with a whole new backstory, adding depth to something as simple as a cinnamon roll.

This prequel only intensified my yearning to see a bookshop open next to Legends and Lattes one day. If you thought the original book was a cozy, immersive experience, this prequel will feel like coming home. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have become a cosy fantasy fanatic! I credit several authors and some co-workers/friends, but especially Travis Baldree.

This book is a gem! It takes all the descriptive fantasy elements I adored in L&L and gives a peek at the main character's life years prior. A whole new town, new cast of neighbors and folk of all sorts and a lovely story to unfold. I recommend listening to the narration as the author does an excellent job telling his own tale and setting the tone. Ideally, looking at a copy of the book while listening allows the reader to see the spelling of names, which in fantasy can be unique.

Thanks NetGalley, the publisher and author for allowing me an ARC audio to return to a now beloved universe/storyline.

If you liked Legends & Lattes, you’ll like this. If you don’t have any idea what that is, you’ll still probably like this. Bookshops & Bonedust is the prequel to Legends & Lattes and manages to be just as cute despite the extremely high bar. Viv, a young orc injured in battle, must use her time in recovery to engage in a journey of self discovery despite her determination to be out proving herself. Nonetheless, trouble finds its way to her. If you’re looking for something funny, comforting and low stakes, this is it. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

This book was excellent. So much better than legends and lattes to me. This felt like a love letter to book lovers and i loved that viv got so much more character development.