Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

When Viv is injured in battle, she has to convalesce in a small town that appears tranquil and…boring. She stumbles upon a dusty old book shop, and does not expect the owner’s knack for suggesting the kinds of stories Viv can’t put down. Getting to know the people in the town gives Viv a different perspective on what a fulfilling life could look like, and raises the stakes when trouble comes into town.

I loved that we could see the seeds being planted for the Viv we meet in Legends and Lattes. It has the same cozy and warm vibes, a great ensemble cast of characters, and just enough action to keep you wanting more. Add in characters discovering a love for reading, and a little book shop given new life? It’s a hug in book form, and I truly enjoyed every minute of it! Expertly narrated by Travis Baldree himself, the audiobook is immersive and unputdownable, and I hope to enter Viv's world again soon.

I would love to play a game of D&D with Travis Baldree as the DM!

I loved this book more than the first! It gave the backstory and also showed that Baldree can deliver with action scenes while still being cozy!

On top of that, he’s just as good of a narrator as he is a writer!

This was a delightful audiobook. Travis Baldree did an excellent job giving the characters distinct voices without any sounding cartoonish or over the top (though one did make me think of TOS Chekov). I loved sweary little Fern who is so different from Thimble. The little snippets of books that Viv reads were fantastic; there's a part of me that would like to see one or two of them explored further. I definitely recommend the audiobook and I've already bought a hard copy for my bookshelves.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

I was a big fan of Legends & Lattes so I was thrilled to receive this review copy for the audiobook. I’ve heard so many good things about Travis Baldree as a narrator and got to meet him this year as well so it was time for me to finally try something he’s narrated. And what better than his own book?

While it felt a little overdramatic at the very beginning, I later realized that this actually fit the story really well in contrasts to the rest of the book and his narration. I really enjoyed his performance and definitely want to listen to more of his audiobooks because this was such a great experience.

The story itself was really fun and had me captivated. I enjoyed the mix of cozy plus action and really liked most of the characters. He included some awesome details about the books that starred within the story and I loved getting to know Viv more closely through this.

4.5
Travis Baldree returns with a prequel to see how Viv starts her mercenary career:

Viv is on one of her first quests with Rackam's Ravens and she is wanting more than anything to prove herself but things dont quite go as planned. Forging ahead of the team, leaves Viv severely wounded and forced to take rest in a sleepy sea side town of Murk. What' a mercenary to do with so much down time, well explore the town, befriend a bookshop owner and she'll soon realize that adventure is still not too far away.

You could read these books in any order as Legends and Lattes came out first and this is Viv's prequel and other the Epilogue there is nothing that would ruin Legend and Lattes if you decide to read this book first. I enjoyed getting to know Viv more in this book and see her as she was just starting out with Rackem's Ravens and her earnestness to impress. She is young and full of life and just wanting to have a sword in her arm at all times. You just get to see what a good person (Orc) that Viv is.

The thing that I realized about this book is that Viv does not need the stone in Legends and Lattes she is just a good person who draws other good people in. It makes me wonder if she lost that somewhere along the way or she just didn’t have confidence in herself in regards to it.

As much as I love Viv all the side characters are great as well, full of personality and even growth in the book as well. I think that every reader would love to visit or own Fern's bookshop.

I love that this series fits within the cute cozy mystery/fantasy read with a medieval feel to it. The storyline and world is easy to follow and just all around fun read. I enjoy all the characters and creativity that Baldree has with the type of characters in the book.

I hope that Baldree either creates more stories surround Viv or even just creates more stories in this world. I really do love it.

Enjoy!!!!!

I did not finish listening to this audiobook, but I did get a little over halfway through it. I loved the cozy bookshop vibes and atmosphere of this book, but the story pacing felt slower than I was expecting.

After reading Bookshops & Bonedust, Travis Baldree is cemented as my favorite cozy fantasy author. I fell in love (or fell in love again, in the case of Viv) with each character in this novel from start to finish, and grew attached to the story and the world in a way that I hadn’t after finishing Legends & Lattes. This prequel adds an amazing layer to Viv’s story that I believe readers are going to love.

I would first like to thank the lovely people at Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this book. I loved Legends and Lattes when I read it earlier this year and when I heard about and subsequently approved for Bookshops and Bonedust, I was over the moon.

I enjoyed the backstory of Viv and all of the adventures that she went through before opening up her coffee shop. As a book lover myself, I thoroughly enjoyed the bookshop scenery. The scene where she is reading her first spicy book and when Fern watched Viv read the book seemingly knowing each time she reached a rather spicy scene, made me giggle. That in itself is why I love this book so much. It makes me smile and to be perfectly honest, the vibes are just immaculate. It is a slice-of-life story, so it does lull a bit in the middle, but I don't mind that at all. The ending was particularly lovely, it was bittersweet. I hope Travis writes another book about Viv because frankly, I can't get enough.

This world is now apart of my comfort books that I know I can come back to again and unwind in. I love Viv and think her character is hilarious. It was especially cool to see her adventure before Legends and Lattes. It just gave a whole knew insight into Viv's mind and why she behaves the way she does. Fell in love with all the characters and hope we get to see some in future books. This one is more action forward, so if that was something you were missing in the previous book, you are sure to enjoy this one. Overall, I will always love a cozy fantasy that I can just dive into and have a good time.

Another exceptional cozy fantasy by Baldree that I could not put down. I felt so emotionally connected to these adorable fictional characters. This story was truly a perfect escape, and I loved my time with the younger Viv. I think most people who loved Legends & Latte's will go strongly to one side being they either loved one or the other more. For me, I still loved L&L more because of the high stakes BUT that doesnt mean I didnt love my time with little Viv and her adventures! I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy fantasy world of coffee and bookshops to get lost in.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an alc! The narrator knocked this out of the park and it was my preferred reading method!

This was a super cute cozy fantasy! Bookshops & Bonedust is the prequel to Legends & Lattes, which is still on my TBR 😬 But it was definitely still enjoyable without having read L&L!

I really loved getting to know all of the characters and seeing their relationships grow and develop. Pot roast was the star of the show though 😁 Story-wise, we all love a good book about books! I loved how Viv and Fern were able to work together to spread the joy of books to the small town of Murk.

I would definitely recommend Bookshops & Bonedust to folks looking for a fun little cozy read. I enjoyed the audiobook, but did struggle a little bit listening to it on a car ride, since the narrator’s voice was a little too soothing, I maaaaay have dozed off a little at one point 😅 (I was not driving!!)

While I think that many will resonate with this story and will recommend it, I found the story ultimately a bit lackluster when compared to it's sequel. Bookshops and Bonedust just did not quite capture the same magic as Legends and Lattes.

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree was as enchanting and endearing a cozy fantasy as I was hoping for, maybe even more so. It follows an orc adventurer named Viv who is ordered to take a break at a small coastal town after acquiring an unfortunate injury in battle. She is forced to meet and get along with several of the village's residents, as well as get exposed to the delights of reading, baking, and friendship. This entire experience was a delight, even enhanced by the narration of the author which is something I'm particularly fond of. The plot was quiet at times, but also mysterious, funny, magical, ominous, and heartwarming at many others. Those who cannot find pleasure to be had in a novel such as this I cannot fathom.

This was honestly difficult to get into. I think the low stakes is just not for me.
I probably won’t be reading anything by this author, but I know a lot of people adore this style, and to each their own.
Unfortunately not my vibe

I liked Bookshops and Bonedust MORE than Legends and Lattes.

Bookshops and Bonedust gives you the cozy vibes, the quirky cast of characters, the found family, and the lovely world of L&L. But it adds a bit more stakes, and (for me, anyway) a deeper and more interesting setting. Getting out into Murk and the surrounding area really worked to set the scene in a way I didn't quite get in L&L. And Viv isn't just working to build up her coffee shop but to save a bookstore as well as the town of Murk. A pleasant surprise was Viv discovering her love of books, while we get excerpts of the stories she is reading.

The biggest plus of all? Potroast. If you know, you know.

Ok but really, there's so much to love here. Once again, this story is so sweet, the characters are so kind, and it's a perfect balm for a bad day or a mind in turmoil.

Finally, Travis Baldree is such an amazing narrator! It was such a joy to hear the different characters through his voice. I am going to have to seek out other books he has narrated because it was just such a good listening experience.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for access via NetGalley.

✨ Review ✨ Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree; Narrated by author.

The prequel to Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust brings us back into the world of our beloved Viv. After an injury in her first battle as part of the gang, she's left to convalesce in a small town where she befriends a delightful cast of characters (shout out to Potroast and Satchel who were the stars of this story).

Yet again, Baldree brings this "cozy fantasy" genre to life where you live and breathe the coziness of building a business, making repairs, sprucing things up, finding new recipes, etc. etc., all while protecting the ones you love. The "adventure" plot I think could have had a bit more oomph to it, but overall this book was a total delight -- perfect for a slow winter day!

Baldree's narration was excellent - he brought the characters to life, and I binged this in two sittings!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: cozy fantasy
Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
Pub Date: out now!

Read this if you like:
⭕️ books and baked goods
⭕️ found family
⭕️ fantasy with a bit of fighting and adventure but lots of coziness
⭕️ the Legends & Lattes world

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, Tor and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

I see why everyone is referring to this as a cozy fantasy because it definitely fits that description. While I thought it was well-written and the narration by the author was great, nothing really happens for the majority of the book until about the remaining 10%. This was like 90% the story of how Viv helps remodel and revitalize a failing bookshop in the small town she is stranded in. If you're into that, then this is the one for you.

This is such a cute series! I love Viv! Baldree is really great at making a reader feel for his characters and their lives. I really enjoyed Legends & Lattes, and this book did not disappoint. I enjoyed getting to see a younger Viv who is less sure of herself and her abilities. She is uncertain of what she wants in life beyond being a bad ass bounty hunter. This adventure really plants that seed of belief that she could have a life outside of bounty hunting, which is the center of Legends & Lattes. The message of something and someone coming into your life at the wrong moment really resonated with me. I truly believe that people come into your life for a reason, but sometimes, when you meet those people, it's just the wrong time in your life. My only complaint is that I wish this book would have been released first. I would love to follow Viv along on her adventures that lead up to L&L, but I was very happy to see this story get wrapped up in the epilogue.

I would highly recommend this book. It is a quick, easy, and fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a chance to read this story in exchange for an honest review.

This was not the prequel I imagined it would be. However, I was not disappointed in this at all. I love the way the author makes the characters so lovable and their emotions fly off the page in vivid colors and creativity. I did enjoy learning more about the world and Viv. The story is well told and makes you feel like you’re inside the book with the characters. But, I did enjoy Legends a bit more.