So readable and well written. Easy four stars, five for the right readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC.

4.25 stars!!

Bookshops & Bonedust was my very first experience with cozy fantasy and I didn't know what to expect if I'm being completely honest. When I tell you that not only was I thrilled and completely in love it's an UNDERSTATEMENT.

This story immediately caught my attention when I saw that it was set in a bookstore - my little book-devouring soul was beyond excited to jump right in! Viv may be an injured orc that really just wants to get back into the swing of things, but she's also so much more. I loved following her as she made friends, found love, and overall just found out more about what life holds beyond fighting. This book truly quenched my need for fantasy and left me in a warm, comfy/cozy ball of happy. Look, if this is what cozy fantasy is all about then please just expect me wrapped in my blanket in my book nook with one of these beauties in my hand for the foreseeable future. I'M NOT AVAILABLE FOR ADULTING UNTIL I'VE READ MY FILL. THANKS!

Bookshops and Bonedust was everything I expected, loveable characters, found family dynamics, character growth that made me emotional and of course a cozy fantasy vibe. This is a perfect fall read!

The audiobook is narrated by the author and professional audiobook narrator Travis Baldree. It is a special treat, getting to hear the book exactly as he intended it.

Thanks to Macmillan for an audiobook ARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

WHAT AN ABSOLUTE GEM. I love pot roast, I love Fern, I love books. This was a hug I needed, that made me start the reading the first book in the series! I love the pacing, the soft romance, the light fantasy and the embrace of the world created. What a treat.

3.5 stars would be a more accurate rating for this one, but I'm rounding up because I really enjoyed it! It was also a real fun treat to be able to listen to the audiobook for this -- it definitely made the story come alive in a different way for me as a reader, which I really appreciated.

It was really fun to revisit the world of Legends & Lattes via a prequel story that introduces us to a younger Viv; she embodies the combination of feeling like you know someone even though you're also aware you're meeting them for the first time. Like the previous book, this story embodies all things cozy and comforting - there's a small town! a bookshop! a bakery! But there's also mystery and magic afoot, as well as a sense of community with all the folk Viv meets in this story. Definitely a solid addition to this world Travis Baldree has created, and I think others will enjoy it as much as I did.

Says it right on the cover “A warm hug” and that’s exactly what it was! Cozy fantasy book that focuses on the family you build along your path that makes you who you are. I personally haven’t read Legends and Lattes but it has been on my tbr list and I’ll be picking that one asap. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of Bookshops and Bone Dust in exchange of my honest opinion

Last year I was delighted to read Legends and Lattes, and it ended up introducing me to cozy fantasies, a genre that I came to love! When I saw another book by the same author I had to requested and for sure I will buy a physical copy when it’s out! Another amazing book by Travis Baldree.

We are again with Viv in this book, before all the events of Legends and Lattes. This book is very cozy still but also has some romance, mystery and action, which adds layers to the story.

Additionally Travis managed to make ALL characters come alive in the narrative. They are so full of personality and each one of them has their own quirks and fears and hopes. It felt bittersweet to know that Viv’s future, as we see in Legends and Lattes, will not have them on it.

I also enjoyed to see how he tied some objects, narratives and facts that Viv tells us in Legends and Lattes here in Bookshop and bone Dust.

Overall, if you are a cozy fantasy reader this will become a must and I dare say I thought it was better than the first!

The difficult thing with prequels is how to make a story compelling when you already know the fate of the characters within. Baldree ollies right over that obstacle, delivering yet another cozy fantasy with our favorite orc barbarian Viv. And since Viv already got us to cozy up with coffee, this time she goes on to another comfort: books!

I was most interested in seeing how Baldree would handle the romance aspect of this book. As I said, we know Viv’s endgame. Getting her involved with someone else in this book would make the reader suspicious. Did the relationship sour? That wouldn’t feel great in a cozy read. Does the love interest die? Also not great! But Viv approaches the romance in this with a remarkable maturity. It’s important without being assumed to be for keeps. I loved that!

As in Legends and Lattes, there is a darker plot going on underneath the story of running a charming little business. Little bits of plot advancement are sprinkled all over, like tiny pit stops, and some of these bits are brought in to advance the more important plot of how to keep the bookshop afloat. The resolution of the darker plot is abrupt, but it was never the main focus, here.

And Baldree ends with a tease of more books about Viv! Which shouldn’t be a surprise or spoiler, because of course people want more! And I cannot wait to find out what bit of comfort Viv and her friends indulge in next. Massage? Music? Dance? That title drop is going to be LIT!

Cute! A welcome prequel to Legends & Lattes that gives a lot more insight into Viv's character arc.

I demand more Satchel.

Another beautiful tale of identity, friendships, and unexpected types of bravery from Travis Baldree. I loved Legends and Lattes, and I was so nervous this would disappoint. It didn't. The characters leapt off the pages (or out of the audiobook) and somehow left me feeling loved, supported, and wrapped in a warm hug. A decent amount of through line and plot made me want to keep reading. This is one I'll return to again and again.

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