Did I love this even more than Legends and Lattes? It is quite possible! I was not expecting to get emotional while reading this but it was just so sweet I couldn't help but tear up.

I love that this prequel is still slice of life and that it helps you to understand why Viv would want to start her own business in the first place. I love the friendships she formed in this story and I think that this was a little more plot driven than Legends and Lattes while still having amazing characters and cozy vibes. I think the nature of a prequel makes it feel like the stakes are lower because you know where the character ends up, but I didn't find that distracting at all. Can't wait to read whatever Travis Baldree puts out next!

I genuinely cannot believe that this book was somehow better than Legends and Lattes, but here we are! Bookshops and Bonedust manages to recapture that same feeling of coziness and comfort while expanding Viv's world. The new characters and this new adventure are so much fun, and while the vibe of this book feels similar it's distinct from the first book. The stakes are slightly higher (there is a necromancer involved this time!) but that piece of the story acts as a guiding thread to help progress the rest of the story along instead of being the central focus. I absolutely adore Fern and Potroast! I'll update this review after the book comes out so people can avoid spoilers, but suffice it to say this is easily one of my favorite books of the year and I HIGHLY recommend it!!

Travis you are intense. How did you elevate this? How did you bloody do it? So much fun and I am very surprised to say that this was better than the first!

I really enjoyed this book.
It is about Live who get wounded and has to stay in this small town while recovering. She is not happy about this because her war band leaves her to go catch the bad guy. Liv really wants to be the one to catch the necromancer that is running around and ruining lives. She ends up walking into a book shop one day and meeting the owner Fern. From there, Liv finds friendship, a little romance, some life lessons and may be closer to finding that necromancer than she thinks. This is a cozy adventure server with a warm hug.
I love books about books and this one did not disappoint..
One thing that i thought was different is that we get little excerpts of the books that Liv is reading. I had the audiobook and am picky about the ones I listen to. The author narrate his own book. I like his narration and the voices for each character were just different enough that I could tell who was speaking without being told,
5 STARS

I loved this book!! Talk about a super cozy, high fantasy read!! Perfect for the fall season!! This book makes me so excited for the colder weather and sitting by a cozy fire!! First the coffee shop then the bookstore!!! Omg!!! This story was so so cozy and inviting and I loved reading about Viv before Legends and Lattes. I hope there is another book because I cannot get enough. I highly recommend if you are looking for a cozy fall read that is peaceful and sweet!

Books about book lovers always do it for me.

This felt to me how L&L felt to most people; a warm hug. Dirty bookshops and the threat of a necromancer aren't what a warm hug feels like to you? More for me.
Reading this gave me a deeper appreciation for Viv and her story, and I think if I re-read L&L, I'd have a more enjoyable experience. This prequel leaned more into the adventure and fantasy elements than the cozy ones, and that is a major reason it worked for me. The stakes are slightly higher in the story itself, but there's a cozy comfort in knowing that this takes place in Viv's past, and we know she goes on to find her happiness.
I would definitely pick up a high-stakes fantasy if Travis ever decides he wants to go there. There are always fun and interesting fantasy elements that are only ever glimpsed through the low-stakes lens, and I'd love a deeper exploration.

Ahhh!!! This book is an absolutely fantastic prequel to Legend and Lattes! I loved seeing some of Viv’s backstory, and there are some excellent side characters in here that were very funny and sweet. We still got some good action as well, with a nice helping of cozy bookstore renovations!

I recommend reading L&L first because there’s an epilogue at the end of this one that will be more impactful if you’ve already read L&L :)

I listened to the audiobook, which the author narrated, and it was extremely well done!!

Thanks so much to Netgalley for the audiobook ARC!

LOVED this audio! I am not usually a fantasy reader but have absolutely fallen in love with this series! Travis Baldree not only writes these fun books but is also the perfect narrator!

Cozy fantasy and Travis Baldree are my favorite. This prequel was everything I never knew I needed. The epilogue had me crying. I loved all of the characters, but especially Fern and Satchel and Pitts (our little poetry reading orc, be still my heart). I adored the whole concept of Fern picking out books for Viv. Honestly, this felt like a love letter to readers everywhere.

Additionally, the narrator made this book feel absolutely magical. I want to go back and get sucked into this world again and again.

A prequel to the lovely Legends & Lattes, this novel follows a younger Viv who is waylaid in a small, coastal town with a stab wound that needs healing. Loathe to stay put, she eventually sinks into a rhythm in the new place. She makes friends, one of whom is a bookstore owner who starts sending her back to her inn with tailored book recommendations. As one would expect, there is conflict and adventure, but that pales in comparison to the relationships in the story and of course, the vibe. The cozy fantasy vibe is strong and well-executed. This is an absolute delight.
The audiobook is narrated by the author himself, and it's great. Baldree is clearly experienced as a narrator, and just knowing that he was reading his own work made it special and that much more believable. A+ all around, a really lovely experience.

5/5 A book-shaped hug for cozy fantasy lovers.

This prequel to Legends and Lattes is set when our main character, Viv, is still finding her footing as an adventurer and warrior. She's scar-free and loving her time with her new crew until a severe leg wound from a fight leaves her convalescing in a small town. She's confident her crew will come back for few weeks, well she's pretty sure, okay she's just really hoping they return as promised.

Forced to take a step away from the warrior/adventurer life and slow down (figuratively and literally, she is hobbling on her injured leg), she meets a harried bookseller in a musty bookshop, a retired warrior-turned baker, and a host of other warm, loving and insightful characters.

In her first conversation with the bookseller, Viv is recommended a book, which she takes hesitantly, and once she starts reading, can't put it down. Between a blossoming love of reading and a growing friendship with the bookseller, Viv helps fix-up the old, crumbing, overstuffed bookshop. Readers of Legends and Lattes will appreciate the similar beats found in this storyline. As Viv starts building a community around herself, her confidence in the adventurer life begins to shake. However, before she can make any decisions a necromancer threatens the peace she's found, and the adventure comes to her!

Did you know that the audiobook is narrated by the author, Travis Baldree?! To my surprise, I learned he's an accomplished narrator, and he does not disappoint! There is quite a sprawling cast of characters that make up the townsfolk and villains, and Travis gives each one their own cadence, timbre and accent. What a treat to have the author so talentedly read the book. I wonder if those are the voices he heard in his head as he wrote the story?

The story can be read without having read Legends and Latte's first, but the epilogue does have some spoilers. Also, the epilogue!! Travis, you stopped my heart, then made it explode.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced listener copy.

This book is best read while you're recovering from an injury/illness, sitting in a well-loved chair, while eating fresh baked goods. Oh, and if the book suddenly opens up a portal into another dimension, definitely reach your hand through and see what you can find.

Oh, my bookish friends, let me tell you, this one's an absolute treat! Travis Baldree's narration (yes, you heard that right) takes the characters to a whole new level of awesomeness. Cozy vibes of friendship, family, and bookstores, are all packed into this delightful prequel to Legends and Lattes. And guess what? I'm secretly glad I haven't read the latter yet!

Follow Viv on this quirky adventure, but hold on tight, because her character arc isn't reaching its final destination just yet, and that might give you a bit of a rollercoaster ride in the relationship department. But let me assure you, I was totally invested and adored the entire cast of characters. It's all about youth and big dreams, and boy, does it take you back to that nostalgic spot in your own life!

And hey, brace yourselves, because the world-building here is more surprising than a secret book stash in your grandma's attic. It leans harder into the fantasy realm than you might expect, but don't worry, it's an enchanting shift that I embraced with open arms.

Now, let's talk about the audio, my dear audiobook enthusiasts. It's an absolute delight to follow along and trust me, you'll be thoroughly engaged and invested. The narration is like a warm hug on a rainy day—easy to get into and brings those characters and their magical story to life.

So, in a nutshell, this book is like a steaming cup of cocoa, cuddled up with your favorite bookish blanket, and losing yourself in a world of enchantment and heartwarming moments. Take the plunge and get ready for an adventure that will leave you smiling and longing for more!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Viv has just landed herself in a quaint little town after being injured during her latest mercenary job. As a very large orc, she stands out in a crowd...literally. Despite being a stranger, this small town takes her in and makes her temporary home a haven... except maybe for the necromancer that's still on the loose out there somewhere. Will Viv ever get better, will she get her target, and maybe most importantly, will she find love?

Baldree's Legends & Lattes was a favorite of mine last year, so I was stoked to get my hands on this. It did not disappoint! Fun, funny, poignant, and emotional, plus add in Baldree's fantastic writing (and narrating!), and you have the recipe for the perfect story. This was a charming and fast read, filled with all the best things that books can be. I will read every Baldree book he releases! 4.5 rounded up to a 5.

This has all the cozy fantasy feels. As the reader, you’ll get the adventure, the humor and new found friendships within this read. You are introduced to Viv, who finds herself defending those she grows to care about while still sorting out her path in life. The end will spoil Legends & Lattes a bit for you but it is a rather sweet ending.

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC.

4 out of 5 Stars

It wasn't as good as Legends and Lattes but was still a really enjoyable read and very cozy.

4.5./5

Travis Baldree really has cracked the formula for a cozy read. Set long before "Legends and Lattes," this prequel offers a glimpse into a brief chapter of Viv's life. After suffering a terrible injury, she is ordered to recover in the small town of Murk. To pass the time, she takes up reading under the tutelage of a small rodent bookseller called Fern. She is soon enveloped in the town's community and encounters a delightful cast of characters very much reminiscent of LL. She even develops a small crush on a goblin. Her routine is disturbed by the arrival (and subsequent death) of a suspicious man, and joins forces with her new friends to solve the mystery. The book ends with a touching epilogue set a few years after LL, hinting at a new story to come. I found "Bookshops & Bonedust" to be just as good as LL. The elements are the same (albeit with slightly higher stakes) and especially celebrates the joy of reading. There was some hilarious dialogue (I loved Viv's first experience reading a steamy romance) and some cute nods to the book world (author visits, blind-date-with-a-book displays). I also respect a man who knows pacing and when to end a story. This was a very quick read and felt appropriate given the genre. It was a treat listening to this on audio knowing Baldree is a professional audiobook narrator. It felt like I was absorbing the story exactly how he intended it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this audio ARC!

First and foremost I must say that Travis Baldree is a fantastic narrator. I thoroughly enjoyed the cadence of his voice and he gave the characters such great voices. I would highly recommend audio as a format for this book.

Many people who have rated this book 3 stars have called it a disappointment, whereas I disagree. This book is slightly less cozy than Baldree's previous book, Legends and Lattes, as the stakes are higher. The scene of the bookshop really worked well for me, and I grew to love Fern. I think this atmosphere felt warmer and fuller than the coffee shop in L&L. The plot, however, was a bit darker, with a necromancer involved. I find it interesting that the plot of L&L bored me because there wasn't enough, but the plot in B&B bothered me because it was too much - I wanted more bookshop. I also struggled with this being a prequel, knowing that most of these characters were left behind before I even started the book.

This book is written well, and I felt warm and cozy reading it. I do understand the appeal, I am just not fully enamoured with this world like others are. If you liked L&L, you will likely like this one just as much.

I absolutely loved getting a little backstory of Vic and a piece of her life before Legends & Lattes. But what sealed it for was the fantastic epilogue!

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Travis narrate this book. He did a fantastic giving voice to his characters. I seriously just wanted to go hang out with Fern at her bookstore.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for a copy of this audiobook. This is my honest voluntary review.

You know what you’re getting into with another cozy fantasy from Travis Baldree. I recommend reading Legends & Lattes prior to this prequel because the epilogue has spoilers for L&L. The eARC I received was the audiobook, which I was excited to learn is narrated by Baldree himself. I love when authors are talented enough to narrate their own books and do it well.

These books aren’t necessarily must-reads, but they really are fun, relaxing palette cleansers with lovable characters and proverbial “low stakes” fantasy elements. Viv is still in her mercenary days in this story, albeit sidelined by an injury. The story is similar to L&L in terms of friendship- and business-building, but by no means is it a copy and paste.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the eARC; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Just as charming as Legends and Lattes! I am not sure what there is about a cozy fantasy, it just puts me in a good mood while I am listening to it or reading it.
I was fortunate enough to revive an ARC of the audio version and as Travis Baldree is the narrator it is of course read in just the way it is intended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.