This is an absolutely delightful prequel to Legends & Lattes. After an unfortunate leg injury Viv is required to recuperate in the small village of Murk. She ends up spending her days in the local bookstore getting close with the town baker. Unable to completely relax Viv continues to attempt to track down the necromancer that her group was going after when she was injured.

I had such a wonderful time listening to this audiobook. The world is so lovingly crafted. Spending time with these characters is just a joy. I will read anything Travis Baldree decides to write. I think I ending up enjoying this book slightly more than Legends & Lattes but both are great easy 5 star reads.

Super cozy as there’s no other description more fitting for this series. I heard so many great things about the first book, so I jumped on this one. I listened to the audiobooks back-to-back, and I was a bit torn at which to read first since this one is a Prequel. But I ended up going with publication order and glad I did. In Legends and Lattes, we get flashes of what Viv’s life used to be like and we kind of wonder what happened back then. So, this is where we get some of those answers — in Bookshops and Bonedust. I enjoyed Bookshops and Bonedust just a bit more, but if you liked one, chances are you’ll love the other. They are both narrated by the author, Travis Baldree, and he was amazing. I felt like the whole story and each character is portrayed exactly as they’re meant to be. I LOVE the supporting characters; they’re the cutest amount of quirky with the best names. If you’re looking for a fantasy read with comfy vibes, give this series a try. NOT very “moist” as Viv would say, LOL, but so adorable all the same.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.

I just love this series! Vic’s adventures are the epitome of cozy fantasy! I love how she collects a multitude of different friends and inspires loyalty as she goes. We should all aspire to be more like Viv! Travis Baldree is a wonderful narrator (and author)! I can’t wait to hear more from this series!

As much as I enjoyed the previous book in this series, Legends & Lattes, this one really found its way into my heart. Maybe because I already loved Viv and have seen where she ends up in L&L. Seeing how this experience created a little wisp of a dream for her future. Maybe this time listening to the audiobook and Travis’ excellent narration added something that made the characters more alive and vivid. Maybe because Fern is my favourite character ever with her filthy mouth and impeccable book suggestions. I’m not sure exactly what it was but by the end I was in tears and then also squeaking with joy at the epilogue. I also need the epilogue to mean what I think it means with more adventures to come with Viv.

This book is filled with everything I wanted, action, adventure, personal growth, little bit of magic, friendship (and maybe a little bit more), a sleepy seaside town, and a bookshop I would love to visit. I also want to eat a scrumptious lassy bun from Mallie’s (sp?) bakery. They made me so jealous as they were devouring delicious baked goods and moaning over how good they tasted. It was a great treat to see the beginning of Viv and Gallina’s friendship. I hope we see more of the plucky gnome in future books as well. Another character I really loved was Satchel. The dry, accented voice Travis used for him was perfection. I was over the moon when he played a part in the big face off and was able to get his happy ending as well. And Potroast! What a funny little creature but adorable and brave as well. I don’t know how the author came up with him but he was the perfect addition to Fern’s bookshop!

I can’t wait for many more adventures in this world from Travis Baldree! They are a warm hug to snuggle into and take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

I received an early audio book copy of the book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review which was such a joy to do because this was such a wonderful book.

Book Review:
Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes #0)
Written by Travis Baldree
Book 160/200
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Audio, ARC
Pages/Time: 352/8hrs 1min
Published: 2023
Rating: 10/10

“Wait, she really did read something? What did she ask for?” Fern finished shelving the volume in her paws and turned back to Viv, her eyes sharp with humor.
She mouthed one word. "Moist"

*This ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.*

Cozy fantasy is back in full stride as we return to the world of Legends & Lattes in this long anticipated prequel. I again find myself in love with this world. Travis Baldree has created such a comfortable and whimsical world.

I have been looking forward to this book since it was announced and I am happy to say that it does not disappoint. While I would say that Legends & Lattes is a touch better, Bookshops & Bonedust is a wonderful experience of a book. Viv is such a great character, and this book really puts you in the dream job of any booknerd, running a bookstore. This book has a touch more action and drama than the prior book, but still captures that cozy atmosphere. And the epilogue leaves this one open to sequels. I can't wait to see what it will be: Comic Books & Cudgels? Tacos & Tartans? Deep Dish & Daggers? Poleaxes & Porters?

Another cozy adventure with Viv and a new set of exciting and lovable side characters.

I’ll admit that I was extremely skeptical when I learned that this was going to be a prequel book. I didn’t find the idea of Viv, during her life as a warrior, hanging out in a bookstore all that intriguing. I was wrong…

Baldree manages to write a story that is equally as charming as the previous one. Viv is stabbed in pursuit of a necromancer and brought to a small town to convalesce. She explores what little there is in the town and stumbles upon a bookshop, owned by Fern. Viv quickly takes an interest in reading and helping to restore the shabby bookstore.

Having Viv injured was a clever way to immobilize our main character and contain the setting. As with Legends and Lattes, the stakes are low and the main evil isn’t the focus of the story. Instead, we get to hang out and get to know the townspeople. Fern was lovable and I enjoyed her enthusiasm in talking about books, an obvious nod to all of us book lovers. We even get to see the origin of how Viv met one of her companions from Legends and Lattes.

I was pleasantly surprised and how much this prequel worked for me and looking forward to other stories Baldree has to tell in this world. If you enjoyed Legends and Lattes, then I’m confident you’ll enjoy this novel as well.

4 / 5 stars

My sincerest gratitude to Netgalley, Travis Baldree, Macmillan Audio, and Tor for the ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

So happy that I got this arc! I enjoyed the first book when I listened to it earlier this year, and I was so excited to see the second one on netgalley already! Overall, I think enjoyed Bookshops and Bonedust better than Legends and Lattes. Cozy fantasy is not a genre I usually go for but I have enjoyed these two books!

What I liked:
-I love the author’s narration. I feel that the characters I being portrayed exactly as they were originally written, which I feel sometimes gets lost in certain audiobooks.
-I loved the new characters that were introduced, especially Satchel! I would love to see more of the cute creatures and kind monsters that live in this world.
-I felt that this book had more “action” per se than its predecessor, which I feel helped keep me intrigued throughout the book.

What could have been better:
-My only thing as a reader is that I generally read more fast-paced, action packed books because I tend to be a mood reader. I ran into this issue with the first book where I felt bored at times. This definitely improved a lot in Bookshops and Bonedust, but this feeling still lingered. I believe it is just due to the “coziness” of the book, and doesn’t lessen the actual quality of the writing, but more so reflects on me as a reader LOL.

I really enjoyed Legends and Lattes so I was excited to read this one. I guess I didn't realize this was a prequel. I enjoyed the bookshop setting. Once again gave me all the cozy whimsicalness I was looking for. I loved the side characters. They really pulled this story along and kept me reading. That being said I didn't enjoy this one as much as Legends and Lattes. I didn't connect with Viv in this story mainly because I knew she wouldn't be staying. Anything that happened outside the bookshop I didn't care about and the narration isn't the best. I hate to say that because the author narrates it, but it's not great. I ended up giving it 3 stars. It was fine but Legends and Lattes is better.

I, like the rest of the fantasy reading community was ecstatic when Travis Baldree announced the prequel to his book, Legends and Lattes. Bookshops and Bonedust has the same cozy energy that many people loved about Legends and Lattes.

I was approved for an audio arc of this book which was really exciting for me because I listened to Legends and Lattes on audiobook and Travis Baldree narrates that one as well as this one. He does such a good job as an audiobook narrator that I wish he would extend his narration to other books outside of his own.

From a content standpoint, Bookshops and Bonedust didn't work for me like Legends and Lattes did. I felt it lacked the charisma that made the first one so special. The book came alive in my imagination and, unfortunately, that was not the case for this installment. The characters felt flat and stagnated to me and I had a hard time keeping what was happening straight in my mind. I thought the plot was a little convoluted and confusing.

I still think this will be a good cozy read for a certain group of people. It just didn't work for me, sadly.

Thank you to Tor Books for providing me with an ARC.

Bottom line, if you liked Legends & Lattes, you’ll like Bookshops & Bonedust. I loved getting a Viv prequel and can absolutely see a sequel on the way…. This book had me feeling warm, fuzzy, cozy and loved. I can’t wait to see what else Travis comes up with!

I'll admit I was a little skeptical when I heard that Travis Baldree was writing another book following Viv. After all, our orc barbarian settled down and earned her happy ending in L&L, and I'm not a fan of sequels that undo the ending of the previous installments. (Looking at you, Star Wars sequel trilogy).

So while I was relieved when I found out Bookshops & Bonedust was a prequel, I still had concerns. After all, the difficulty with prequels is that the need to end with the protagonist in the same emotional and developmental place they're at in the beginning of the original story. But Travis Baldree takes that challenge and makes it the core strength of Bookshops & Bonedust.

When we first meet Viv in Legends & Lattes she's a world-weary veteran adventurer ready to hang up her sword, settle down, and open a coffee shop. But Bookshops & Bonedust takes us back to Viv's days as a brash young novice adventurer, charging headlong towards as many undead as she can swing a sword at.

Her recklessness results in a leg injury, forcing her to recuperate in the sleepy seaside town of Murk. While there she befriends Fern, the adorably foul-mouthed proprietor of the town's dilapidated bookshop, and discovers the joy of reading for the first time.

Like its predecessor, the strength of Bookshops & Bonedust lies in its protagonist's emotional journey. Viv's injury forces her to slow down and approach her life more thoughtfully, to form interests and relationships she would never have considered in her dangerous life as a sword for hire. And while many years of adventuring still await Viv by the time she's healed and the story of Bookshops & Bonedust is over, the reader can clearly see how she's become the person who will one day settle down to open a pleasant little coffee shop.

When orc and a mercenary Viv finds herself injured, the result of her own impetuosity in battle, she is left behind in Murk, a small beach town. Despite doctor’s order to rest, she is soon out exploring the town, not that there is much to see. Well, there’s a rundown bookstore run by Fern, a young rather foul-mouthed ratkin with a pet griffon named Pot Roast and an uncanny ability to match the right book to the right person if only more people wanted books. And there’s a bakery with great baked goods and a dwarf proprietor who offers the possibility of romance if only for a little while.

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree is one charmer of a fantasy tale. It is the prequel to Legends & Lattes, a story I have not read but this did not interfere with my enjoyment.. In many ways, this is an homage to books and their ability to bring people together and, as such, it is a perfect read for those of us who love books. i listened to the audiobook narrated by Baldree and he does a wonderful job of breathing life into the characters and making it an absolute joy to listen to.

I received an audiobook of this book from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for n honest review

Book title: Bookshops and Bonedust
Author: Travis Baldree
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

As a big fan of Legends and Lattes I had high hopes for this book, and oh boy it did NOT disappoint!! This story is a prequel to the first book where Viv gets injured and has to take a rest in a small town. While there she meets a host of characters who she help out and connects with while she's there for her short stay. I don't know who I love more...Fern the foul mouthed funny bookshop owner, Pot roast her adorable pet, Galena (not quite sure of the spelling, I had the audio) the witty gnome, and Satchel, oh sweet and scary Satchel! The way the Baldree can write these warm and cozy worlds makes you just want to jump in and join this found family. The ending to the book made me look so forward to the next one!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Legends and Lattes was one of my favorite books I read last year, I loved it so much I’ve peer pressured all of my friends who read to read it. So I was insanely excited to hear that Travis Baldree was writing another book with Viv, even if it was a prequel and we weren’t going to see my other favorites like Thimble and Tandri. After getting approved to read this early you would not believe the sounds that I made I was so amazingly happy.

In Bookshops & Bonedust we get to see a younger less battle hardened Viv as she recovers from a near fatal leg wound and is stuck in the costal town or Murk. While being unable to adventure and generally do the things that young Viv enjoys she stumbles across a struggling bookstore run by Fern, a fabulously foul mouthed ratkin, and her Griffit Potroast. Viv soon discovers her own love of reading, meets Gallina for the first time, and starts a romance with a local baker.

I loved this book for all the reasons I fell in love with Legends & Lattes, it’s a cozy and warm story set in a fantasy world with a colorful and lovable cast of side characters, if you loved Legends and Lattes you’ll likely love this one, also stick around for that epilogue that takes places after the events of Legends and Lattes. It’s wonderful to see Viv before she got tired of adventure and seeing how a short period of time has had such a profound impact on her life.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Just as charming at Legends & Lattes. I really enjoyed this audiobook and can't wait to read more from this author.

The coziest most wonderful slice of life book 😍😍

I'm also obsessed with Pot Roast.

I adored Legends and lattes and so I was a little bit apprehensive about how this prequel was going to match up but it was exceptional. I also really appreciated the perspective it gave because one thing that I struggled with with Legends and lattes was that I genuinely believed it would have been better as a QPR. I really read Viv as arospec and while that is important I think that this prequel clears more things up and leaves me more satisfied with the ending of Legends and lattes. It becomes more clear that Viv has just been through some shit and wasn't quite ready to embrace or acknowledge her romantic attraction and I needed to see that.

So if you have already read Legends and lattes I highly recommend that you will also pick this one up. The narration is wonderful it's read by the author just as the first is and enjoy this coziest of cozy books. Also there's a dog / Griffin/pug pet character named Pot Roast and I would die for Pot Roast.

Travis Baldree does it again! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I had enjoyed the first book, Legends & Lattes, and ecstatic to find I loved this prequel just as much! Travis has a great voice in both storytelling an narration. As an avid fantasy fan and Dungeons and Dragons player myself this felt like a cozy cup of Gnomish coffee on a rainy day. The story is low paced while still being compelling and the characters feel realistic, especially for Table Top Role Play Gamers. I would take Viv in my part any day! What a pleasure to have read this ARC!

A charming, comforting read!

A fantasy fit for book enthusiasts, Bookshops and Bonedust highlights the joy of recommending the perfect book and getting to watch someone kindle a love of reading. I love the insight it provides into what inspired Viv to open Legends and Lattes, and I simply adore Fern, a bookselling ratkin with a sailor's mouth!

Another cozy winner from Travis Baldree!

This Legends & Lattes prequel takes readers to main character Viv's early days as an adventurer before she dreamed of opening a coffee shop. Stranded in a small town and nursing an injury, Viv has to find ways of occupying her tedious down time. What follows is an unexpected hobby, a satisfying project, new friends, and a star-crossed romance.

A good deal of this book is a love letter to readers. Viv discovers the joy of stories, the difficulty in putting thoughts about a book into words, the frustration of another person interrupting reading time by making conversation. (That last one in particular had me laughing and incensed simultaneously!) To top it off, Viv helps to renovate and revitalize a bookstore - a project to entice the daydreams of the most avid readers.

Be forewarned: there is a bit of heartache here too, in the form of romance that comes at the wrong time. The concept is nearly nonexistent in media deluged with perfect romance books and happily ever afters, and I love that Baldree chose to highlight such a realistic experience. For those who hate sad, know that the situation is tempered by the knowledge of this story being a prequel to a book where the characters are happy.

My only complaint is one I also experienced with Legends & Lattes. I love the story, the slice of life coziness, the goals and projects and progress. Yet I found my attention drifting at times, and I would have to skip backwards in the audiobook and force myself to focus on the story.

As to the audiobook version - Travis Baldree is a pleasant narrator, and I love the extra specialness and perspective of an author reading their own writing well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Bookshops & Bonedust
Written & Narrated by Travis Baldree

I received an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this audiobook through Netgalley.

I liked the sound of this audiobook so much that I listened to Legends & Lattes first.

Now, I’m 20 minutes into Bookshops & Bonedust, and I’m lost and confused. Why are we hearing about Viv’s younger self? Is her background important? Why are we going back in time?

Now that I’ve finished this audiobook - I can easily say that I consider this to be a good cozy book.

I think the word-building and the backstory need to be done better.

Why this part of Viv’s life? Are all the future books going to be about her past? I like to know these things.

That aside - this book is great. It has friendships, a bookstore, a summer fling, and enough action to make it a good book.

I do recommend this book. And, I look forward to listening to more in this series!