Thank you for the ARC! Sadly unable to read as this was downloaded onto an old device I no longer have access to and the book has since been archived.

If Legends & Lattes was a cozy cup of coffee, Bookshops & Bonedust is a warm, spiced tea on a rainy afternoon — equally comforting, but with a different flavour.

This delightful prequel takes us back to a younger, more impulsive Viv, a battle-hardened orc who finds herself sidelined by injury and forced to convalesce in a sleepy seaside town. What starts as an inconvenient detour turns into a transformative journey, as Viv discovers unexpected friendships, a charming bookshop in need of help, and a different kind of adventure — one involving dusty tomes, mysterious necromancers, and just a little bit of romance.

Baldree’s writing continues to shine with humor, heart, and a refreshing gentleness that’s rare in fantasy. The world is lovingly detailed, the characters instantly endearing, and the stakes are personal rather than epic — which makes them feel all the more real. If you loved the cozy fantasy vibes of Legends & Lattes, you’ll fall head over heels for this quieter, more introspective story.

Bookshops & Bonedust is a reminder that even warriors need a break, and sometimes, the most powerful journeys begin with a good book and a bit of rest.

This was my second chance for Travis and sadly I think he’s just not the author for me.
I can see how people love his cosy fantasy books so I’m sad I wasn’t one of them

I adored this prequel to the cozy joy that is Legends and Lattes. I l love how Baldree writes high fantasy and getting to see a younger Viv was so heartwarming and it’s fun to see she has always loved a baked good.

Full review and links to social will be posted as soon as possible.

I'd like to thank the publisher Tor and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Viv's career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam's Ravens isn't going as planned.

Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she's packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she'll never be able to return to it.

I adored this. Legends and Lattes was such a lovely place to exist in my head, i jumped at the chance to return. This book is perfect for a cosy read on a midsummer night with a mug of tea. The story is the same low-stakes, high character driven vibe from the first book, which i loved.

Perfect if you find some fantasy books a bit too intense sometimes and just want more of slice of life view of fantasy.

A sweet prequel to Legends and Lattes, following a young Viv as she finds her feet after a serious injury. Full of pastries, vulgarity, strange creatures and, of course, books, I found this wonderfully engaging.

Ebook provided by NetGalley. Thank you.

The prequel to Legends and Lattes showing orc Viv's early life at the beginning of her mercenary career.

Viv's enthusiasm to get the job done maybe without thinking too much about it leads to her getting a nasty leg injury which results in her group leaving her to recover in Murk, a dismal little seaside town.

On her explorations Viv comes across Fern and her dilapidated inherited bookshop. Fern loves the place but customers are very thin on the ground and Viv takes it upon herself to help once Fern's book recommendation inspires her that is...

An excellent and diverse cast of characters: Viv is an orc, Fern is a rattkin, we also have a dwarf, a gnome and some other beings. Each character is written so well with a distinct personality and I loved the way they all came together.

If I had one criticism it's that the "big finale" took a while to come and was over a little too quickly. I also wanted more of the end!

A great cosy ready. So much fun, low stakes and great characters. I really want to meet satchel…
Featuring a really interesting world, beautiful descriptions and just so much fun (even the dark stuff), this is a cosy fun read you won’t regret.

Yet another cosy fantasy masterpiece by Travis Baldree! I thoroughly enjoyed Legends and Lattes so this was a welcome treat back into the world of Viv. This felt like having a warm hug and a nice warm cup of tea (and a yummy bakery treat from Maylee’s!); plus some of it took place in a bookshop which was perfect for a bookaholic like me. I love how there was some low stake problems but there was still an element of mystery and danger amongst the bookshelves. I really enjoyed this and it was the perfect little cosy treat to read.

I found this book very middling. There isn't anything particularly memorable for me but I enjoyed it as I was reading it. As a prequel one of the places it falls flat for me is with the romance. With Legends and Lattes you know the relationship wont last so while it plays a part in helping the characters grow I found it hard to enjoy knowing it wouldn't last.
I wonder if cosy fantasy is not for me. My opinion seems to differ from the majority. This book is beloved by so many I fear I am in the wrong.

*Bookshops & Bonedust* by Travis Baldree is an absolute delight—an enchanting blend of cosy fantasy, heartfelt storytelling, and a deep love for books. As a prequel to *Legends & Lattes*, this novel offers a glimpse into Viv’s early days as a mercenary, but at its heart, it’s a story about unexpected friendships, self-discovery, and the quiet magic found in a good bookshop.

Viv’s journey to the sleepy seaside town of Murk wasn’t her choice, but it turns out to be exactly what she needs. I loved seeing her character at a crossroads, forced to slow down and find meaning beyond the battlefield. Her growing bond with the gruff yet endearing bookshop owner, Fern, was one of my favourite parts of the story—it’s a beautiful reminder of how books can bring people together.

Baldree’s writing is warm, witty, and effortlessly immersive. Murk, with its quirky inhabitants, mysterious travellers, and occasional skeleton-related surprises, feels like the kind of place I’d love to visit. While there’s still plenty of adventure and action, the novel’s true charm lies in its quieter moments—the comfort of good company, the joy of discovering a great book, and the unexpected ways life can surprise us.

This book is pure escapism, wrapping you in a world that feels like a warm hug. If you loved *Legends & Lattes*, or if you simply enjoy cosy, character-driven fantasy with heart, *Bookshops & Bonedust* is a must-read. A glowing five stars from me!

Absolutely phenomenal, I loved this as a sequel and really enjoyed getting to know the new characters we were introduced to..
It was also great seeing Viv before how we knew her in Legends and Lattes and the origins of her weapon etc.
Baldree has a fantastic way with words and character growth and this book had many many laugh out loud moments. I loved this whole heartedly

Where Legends & Lattes was finding its groove (admittedly very well), it was just so easy to slip back into Viv's world in this prequel. Tentative new love, second-hand bookshop, a weird animal - this hit every single mark for me and if you loved the original I refuse to believe you'd have a bad time with this one.

Thank u forever to NetGalley and Tor for the e-arc, I am spoiled.

A great prequel to Legends and Lattes, it keeps the cosy atmosphere while giving the reader something entirely different to work with. I greatly enjoyed reading this and look forward to Travis Baldree's next literary adventure.

This was an easy and cozy read. It was well written and I really loved the bookshop element and the characters were really quite lovable. Looking forward to reading more from the author.

Like the first book this was a little bit of a let down compared to what I was expecting. It was a nice Cosy read but I didn’t feel like much happened apart from the coffee shopping existing. Don’t think I would read any more books in this series.

I really enjoyed reading this book.
The whole thing was very well written and it involving a bookshop made the whole book even better.

The characters where all quite quirky and there was even a bookshop pet.

This was my first book by Travis and I enjoyed reading about Viv starting her mercenary career and how she stumbled upon the cute and cosy bookshop.

I enjoyed the cosiness and the little bits of mystery throughout it and am looking forward to reading Legends & Lattes when I get a chance.

After really enjoying Legends and Lattes I was really excited to dive into this book. I enjoyed that it was a prequel to the book and enjoyed hearing the back story of Liv. I found it took a while to get into the flow of the story but would recommend.

Prequels always make me nervous. Will the author ruin the image I have of the characters I already know and love? How will they surprise me when I already know the fate of the characters?

I’m glad to report I had nothing to worry about here. Travis Baldree did a fantastic job at delivering something fresh, but still kept all of the qualities I loved about the previous book.

Viv was every bit as lovable as the first book and it was such a joy to see her younger, hungrier, but as big hearted as ever. I also adored all the new characters and would happily have spent another 500 pages in there company!

The stakes in Bookshops & Bonedust were kept at the perfect level that propels the plot, but doesn’t disrupt the cosy vibes that I come to Baldree for.

I loved this prequel just as much as Legends & Lattes and I’ll be revisiting these books for years to come.