This prequel to Legends and Lattes was a heartwarming and cozy tale of books, found family, and finding one’s purpose in life. If you loved Legends and Lattes, this book is the perfect follow up. I totally cried at the end!

Complete gem! Baldree’s thorough descriptions of cozy settings and wonderful characters pull you immediately in. I felt, once again, that I was a part of this little town and surrounded by new companions of Viv. The plot flowed nicely and even came with a little surprise at the end! If you loved Legends and Lattes, you will not put this one down!

I loved this one as much as the first. A lighthearted fun fantasy read. If you enjoyed the first you’ll enjoy this one for sure. Great characters and stories.

I loved Legends and Lattes. It was one of my favorite reads of 2022, and I was so excited to get my hands on Bookshops and Bonedust. Unfortunately, I was left a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, this was super cute and cozy, and I had a good time. I think lovers of Legends will enjoy Bookshops a lot. However, I feel like Bookshops is missing the magic that made Legends and Lattes a hit.

Bookshops suffers from what I call Prequelitis. Getting a "before you loved them" view of your favorite character(s) seems like a good idea. However, due to their nature, prequels rarely work. The romance is always a bit bland when you know they don't end up together. It makes investing in the relationship hard. Further, the tension is lost when you know the character(s) are doing just fine. I have seen a few reviews note that if the Epilogue had been the Prologue, the story would have worked better, and I completely agree.

I also struggled some with the side characters. I liked them. They made me smile. However, they also made me miss the characters from Legends because they were basically perfection.

Again, if you liked Legends you will like Bookshops, but it might be missing a smidge of the magic you felt from the Legends. I look forward to whatever Baldree writes next, whether in this world or a new one.

I did this via audio. Travis Baldree's narration is impeccable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Author Travis Baldree’s cozy fantasy Legends & Lattes introduced readers to a retired warrior who made a new life for herself in a small-town coffee shop. In the audio edition of the follow-up, Bookshops & Bonedust, readers get to explore one of her earlier adventures.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery

I did not enjoy the plot of this book as much as I loved Legends & Lattes. However, the author who does the audiobook narration was fantastic and the only reason I kept going. I lost track after counting him do TEN different voices -super talented!

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy.

I read Travis Baldree’s Legend & Lattes last month and really enjoyed its cozy fantasy vibes and of course the main character, an odd named Viv who runs a coffee shop.

Bookshops & Bonedust is actually a prequel to L&L and it’s another delightful read that gives us some backstory on Viv while she helps to renovate a bookshop while recuperating from an injury and takes time to boost her own love of reading. It also features a wonderful cast of characters and a fairly low stakes but very entertaining plot.

The audiobook is a real treat though because it’s narrated by the author, which I loved since he of course knows his characters better than anyone else. Thanks so much to @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy.

This takes place prior to the contents of Legends & Lattes and I can honestly say you don’t need to have read the first book in order to read this one (other than the epilogue content). This was cutesy again like the original book. I think it was my mood but I didn’t feel as engaged in this story until the second half!

If you haven’t read Legends & Lattes or Bookshops & Bonedust yet, I highly suggest you change that. I was late to the game, but if I had known book 1 was a love letter to coffee and pastries, I would have jumped in sooner! Book 2 is a prequel and love letter to book lovers and indie bookstores 🫶📚. (Oh, and there’s mythical creatures with a dash of adventure 🖤.)
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Viv is an orc who is forced to take a break from the mercenary life after an injury. While recuperating in the small sleepy town of Murk, she comes across a bookshop owned by a sweary rattkin bookseller named Fern. The two become fast friends as Fern recommends books to Viv, and Viv helps her spruce up the bookshop to attract new customers. Throw in a dwarf love interest, cute mythical pets, some dark forces tied to a necromancer, and all the cozy small town vibes 🧡. Will Viv return to her life as a mercenary once her leg heals and adventure calls?
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Look, I didn’t think “cozy high fantasy” was a thing. But @travis_baldree made it a thing and I am 100% here for it.
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I loved the reader references here. That feeling of utter blankness you get when someone asks what you liked about a book on the spot 😂. The joy of convincing someone to read from a genre they don’t usually dip into. (And then seeing them love it.) Book signings, blind date with a book, fangirling over an author, book club. All. The. Bookish. Things 🫶.
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I read and listened to this book. Baldree’s narration of his own book is phenomenal. I love when authors can narrate their own work because they are always able to add a little something special to it.
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Thank you to @torbooks @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the digital ARCs!
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“Never trust a writer who doesn't have too many books to read. Or a reader, for that matter.”
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Bookshops & Bonedust - Travis Baldree
4.5/5⭐️

Cozy fantasy has certainly earned its place as one of my favorite genres and this book continues that trend. This prequel to Legends and Lattes gives a deeper look into Viv's life as she recovers with the help of books and a cast of quirky characters. The narrator does a wonderful job of adding to the cozy atmosphere, as well.

Honestly - DNF’d this. I think the story wasn’t as compelling as the first but what really took me out of it was the narration from the author. Still willing to try it in print form but the audio was not for me

I was initially so apprehensive that I would not be able to enjoy this follow up as much as I loved Legends and Lattes. We go back in time to experience a younger Viv early in her mercenary career, sidelined due to an injury. With a new cast of characters, we get to witness the inate ability Viv has to draw people together. I slowly fell in love with this story. And by the end I was happy crying.

Another super cozy fantasy novel from Travis Baldree!

So fun to be back with Viv and see the connections to the first story, and get to experience things like her learning about coffee, etc. which then feeds into Legends and Lattes!

Travis writes characters that are so easy to root for and love, and the stories, although they have challenges within them, resolve so well and are the perfect book for a cozy day.

4.5 stars — I’m always wary of prequels. Will they live up? Will they fundamentally change the character? This one was spectacular.

We got to see a much different Viv, but the fundamentals are still the same. And not only that, we got to see glimmers of her changing into the Viv we meet in Legends & Lattes. I loved seeing her once again forming friendships with other misfits — sometimes reluctantly, but she just can’t help herself. And all of her friends were so different, but all brought something to Viv’s growth. And Viv herself goes through growth just on her own as well — learning to slow down, learning to think, learning to lean on others. Understanding the importance of connections.

Fern was absolutely delightful and definitely my favourite in this series. I would LOVE to see a Fern story. She was such a contradiction in some ways, and I loved her filthy mouth. She had her own growing to do, and it was delightful to see the way Viv opened her eyes and her heart, shook her out of her slump.

Maley (no idea spelling) was complicated, especially knowing how things would go with Viv eventually, but in the end she really brought her own things to Viv’s life.

Satchel was fantastic, though I was definitely wary of him. Pitt was adorable (and I wouldn’t mind a Pitt story too). And I loved meeting Galena so early! There were lots of other little characters in the town that all brought their own element to the story.

It gave me a lot of what L&L gave me, that feeling of happiness and connection, with a little more action, a little more mystery, a little more brashness. I can’t wait for more from Mr. Baldree.

Thank you to Travis Baldree (author & narrator), Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for this free advanced reader copy of "Bookshops & Bonedust" for an honest opinion.

A fan of "Legends & Latte's" (which I also listened to as an audiobook!), I absolutely had to grab this book the moment I spotted it in the audiobooks. I'm excited to relate the author is narrating this one, which I feel always gives you even more insight into how a book is meant to be taken, since we hear their excitement, sadness, and places were words in dialogue (and narration!) are meant to have more emphasis.

While I didn't love this one as much as the first, it was still a nice little fall cozy read, and it was great to catch up with the main characters. I'm also a fan of the frame narrative (the story-within-a-story) structural choices, where we get to go in and in and in like Russian nesting dolls, especially when its characters are relating genesis/origin stories.

This story is an excellent prequel to Legends and Lattes and Travis Bladree is an exceptionally talented narrator. Like the first book, it falls into the cozy fantasy genre. I really enjoy Baldree’s writing style. It allows for a relaxing read while being taken along on an exciting adventure. The pacing of the book is good, and I find myself not wanting to put the book down. I hope that Baldree continues writing adventures with Viv.

Thank you to Macmillian Audio and NetGalley for providing me with a free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Note: I have also purchased the print copy of this book and thoroughly enjoyed reading the book again. Baldree's books are ones that you can enjoy reading more than once!

This is the perfect cozy fantasy book. I also loved legends and lattes. The narration was excellent.

2.5 stars rounded up

I did not enjoy this one as much as legends and lattes. I feel like it kind of lost the intent or purpose of the book. It tried to be low stakes and cozy, but then had a necromancer?

Amazing world building and fantasy while still being a very simple slice of life read. Loved it. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Legends and Lattes is such a wonderful cozy fantasy so I was really looking forward to the release of this prequel.

I loved the bookish element of the story. As a reader I always love that trope, and this story-within-a-story was really fun to follow. There are so many great bookish details in this book—blind dates with books, comfy reading chairs, and falling asleep with a book in your lap are just some of the details that book lovers are sure to appreciate from this story! I also enjoyed getting to know Viv’s character better, and understanding more about her development was a treat.

This is a perfect read for cozying up in a good reading chair with a warm coffee and a scone (or three)—exactly what I was hoping for!

Thank you to @travis_baldree for another comforting installment, and a big thank you to @netgalley for the ARC!