Coffee is a hug in a mug well this is a cwtch in a book! It’s so cosy, fun and heartwarming.

I own Legends & Lattes but am yet to read it, and as this is a prequel that can be read as a standalone, I knew I wouldn’t have a spoilers.
I’m now wondering why I haven’t read L&L because B&B is damn near perfect! I loved it.
Every single character you meet is fabulous and quirky, so much so I can’t pick a favourite. There’s even a little adventure and intrigue that had me gripped. It’s fabulous and beautifully written. Will be in my top 10 reads of 2023. Loved it! ♥️

Favourite things
*Names of the unique creatures eg. Tapenti 🥰
*Potroast ~ cute, funny & a little hero 🐶
*Relationships ~ they made my heart smile ♥️
*The banter ~ absolutely brilliant 😅
*Quote ““Because I’m headed down the hill, and you’re headed up it. I’m just glad we chanced to meet on the way.” Beautiful ♥️
*The epilogue ~ gorgeous and got me teary eyed. 🥹

Thank you so much, NetGalley & Pan MacMillan, for the arc of this amazing book.

*cwtch is a Welsh hug 🥰

Yes... ok, I now understand the hype guys! I think reading this before delving into Legend's and Latte's actually worked in my favour because, apart from knowing that Viv survives, I had no real idea on the ending at all, something that set the stakes a little higher, but also allowed me to go into the story fresh, with no preconceptions or assumptions... something that's rare with a prequel.

I think one of the things I loved about this book was it’s cozy fantasy at its heart, but with a hint of adventure & it shows brilliantly that adventure doesn’t just come from daring journey's & battles, but also from creeping out of your comfort zone, offering your help & maybe making a few new friends on the way. It also shows the power of literature. The way it can bring adventure into your life, friendships, meaning. It really is a book for book lovers, and I couldn't help but relate to both Viv and Fern. Viv in the way she felt when she read and almost felt at home in a book for the first time, and Fern in the pleasure she got from knowing Viv, as well as many others, enjoyed the stories she recommended.

The characters in this book absolutely own my heart. Viv is your stoic, but soft at heart warrior Orc, who tends to leave damage in her wake, but the damage she leaves this time ends up bringing her a lot more than she expected. Fern, the Rattkin, who has taken over Thistleburr Booksellers after her father passed. Maylee, the baker and dwarf who steals Viv's heart for a short time. Gallina, the gnome who initially irks Viv, but eventually worms her way into the group. And we obviously can't forget about Potroast the most loyal, if not bizarre guard dog and satchel, who I won't mention too much for spoilers. Baldree brings this bizarre bunch of characters together, as well as multiple other residents of Murk and creates a community, a family almost, somewhere that starts to feel like home and people that Viv will do anything to protect.

The scenes, especially those between the main four: Viv, Fern, Maylee & Camilla made for some heartwarming, but mainly hilarious scenes. The banter, the snark, the wit, it was all brilliantly executed and ensured each and every character would worm their way into your heart. I especially loved the intimacy that was shown through some of the scenes, not just in romance, although there was that too, but in the friendships, in the opening up to people and allowing yourself to be seen. The characters are absolutely the strength in this book, but fear not because the plot is just as entertaining and intriguing.

Ok, so the first 30-40% or so is set up, but as the story progresses so does the drama and sub-plot, I say this because the characters and their development were 100% the main plot and everything else was just a bonus. I loved learning more about the world, the magic, getting a little more adventure and some danger thrown in there as well. It may be low stakes but it definitely had me worried a few times, if not for Viv, then for my other faves, and I think Baldree gets the perfect blend of cozy fantasy and action, ensuring the story progresses at a pretty rapid pace, but we never quite loose that cozy feel.

If you like your fantasy's cozy, with low stakes & superb character development I can't recommend this book enough. I finally get the hype, and I can assure you that Legend's and Latte's will be getting a serious bump up my TBR. I would absolutely recommend reading this first if you're new to the series, a lot of reviews I've seen have enjoyed this, but not as much with almost being able to guess the outcome, but for me everything was fresh, and I think a certain part at the end hit so much harder having not read the first (second in the series) book yet. Travis Baldree, your characters own my heart & I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us next.

Legends & Lattes is one of my favourite cosy reads. It’s high fantasy but the overall vibes are very chill with Viv, an orc mercenary of sorts, leaving her life of action behind to run a coffee shop. How cute is that?

Now, imagine a younger version of Viv, still in the midst of her adventurous lifestyle but taking a break due to injury, stumbling across a cutesy bookshop and helping the owner pick up business, and falling in love along the way - that would be Bookshops & Bonedust! While I’m not sure anything can match how much I adored Legends & Lattes this certainly came close. It was so lovely to see more of Viv’s life in this prequel and meet characters that undoubtedly shaped her into the orc we eventually meet in Legends & Lattes. Best part though? Satchel. That’s all I’ll say, the best way to meet Satchel is by ✨meeting him✨

*Thank you to Netgalley and Tordotcom for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Bookshops & Bonedust is the prequel of Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. I read the first installment a few months ago and I loved every single page. I wasn’t ready to leave Viv and her world and when I heard about this prequel I knew I had to get it.

In this book Viv is wounded and has to stay at Murk, a very cozy and calm beach town. Worried about her career as a mercenary, she finds herself killing time, healing and reading fantasy books recommended by Fern, a rattkind that will become her new best friend.

I never thought I would enjoy reading cozy fantasy, but this was the perfect reading for autumn. It has a mixture of adventure, romance and the love for books that really resonated with me (yes, I know, it’s possible to relate to a sapphic orc). It was a very satisfying reading and I would enjoy 100 more pages.

Murk and their citizens were delightful and I had a great time with them. I could see the places clearly in my mind and felt a part of the city most of the time. The worldbuilding even when it’s not heavy handed felt enough for the story itself. You don’t need more information about necromancers or dwarfs. I think this book is a great choice if you don’t read fantasy often as it’s easy to understand while it also has all the elements of the genre.

Adding the bookish elements is a true win. Fern is that kind book owner that gives the best recommendations. However, Gallina was one who definitely stole the show: the grumpy gnome finding her place in the world. How fun and sweet her story was.

Even when I enjoyed Legends and Lattes more, Bookshops and Bonedust is the perfect prequel and I’m sure everyone who is a fan will enjoy it. You get to know Viv better and the epilogue is truly a warm hug on a snowy day.

This book is full of heart and has a lot of charm. I’m sure I’ll revisit this story every now and then, when I feel sad and want to go back home.

<b>4/5
Rep: Sapphic representation</b>

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this advanced copy.

I love it but I love the first one more

This prequel to Legends & Lattes follows a young Viv, struggling with an injury and discovering first loves and the allure of bookstores!

The sleepy beach town setting was perfect for this cosy fantasy, with entertaining residents, such as the perpetually angry bookshop owner, and a number of skeletons. It's low stakes, especially since we know her fate in Legends & Lattes, and so you can sit back and fully relax for hours of pure escapism with this novel. It was nice to see the origin of Viv's love of books, which she mentions briefly in Legends & Lattes. Viv's relationship with Maylee is sweet, with a wholesome charm to it.

Thank you to Tor Books & Tor UK for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review 📚
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree - 4/5 ⭐

I was naughty, I requested this book before even reading Legends & Lattes. L&L had been on my TBR for way to long, but when I was accepted to read and review B&B I obviously picked up Legends and started reading instantly. Safe to say I was in love with how awesome in was. I'd also like to point out, this is a prequal to L&L.

Now, B&B. This was easily as good as the first book in the series. Which can often be difficult. The characters developments and world building was, once again, absolutely mind-blowing. There's so much detail throughout the whole thing. I was obsessed.

This book was so much more heartwarming and just a big cozy feelung. The feeling of finding where you belong and it becoming your home, it was so beautifully done. At points you wanted to just start weeping, but in such a "this is beautiful" way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

With how popular Legends & Lattes was, this prequel was highly anticipated by a lot of people.

Once again we're following Viv in a cosy fantasy setting as she renovates a building and tries to fit into a community. This time it's a bookshop, while she's temporarily off-duty due to injury.

I always like seeing sapphic romance in books, but this one felt a little awkward the whole way through. Maybe that's just because I'm used to reading romance, rather than having a temporary romance as part of a fantasy book.

The plot pacing felt a bit off. Or possibly there just wasn't enough of it. Honestly, my favourite chapter of the whole book was the epilogue. By a long way.

I don't know. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood to read a cosy fantasy. It was fine, but not one I'd be looking to go back to or recommend to others.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free digital review copy. All thoughts are my own.

I'd fallen out of love with fantasy books, but 'Bookshops and Bonedust' has drawn me right back in! When Viv is injured in battle, she is left behind at the Perch Inn to recuperate whilst the Ravens continue to hunt for an evil necromancer. Orcs. elves, dwarves etc abound in the apparently sleepy town of Murk, but she seeks solace and company in the bookshop next door. When strange things begin to happen, Viv can't help but get involved!
Loved the descriptive writing which drew me right into Murk! Enjoyed the story so much, Legends and Lattes has been added to the Christmas list!

This companion entry in the series, following Legends and Lattes, is undeniably cute and cozy. However, I personally wished for a bit more substance in the plot. Nevertheless, as an escapist and easy read, this book succeeds in its intended purpose. I would recommend it to readers seeking a pleasant break from grimdark fantasy or other depressing reads. That being said, I found myself longing for a more elaborate storyline, as I have a preference for fantasy novels with greater depth and complexity.

Let's just start by saying yet again the audio for this was FANTASTIC ! Would highly recommend.

I don't think I will ever get enough of this world and these characters. This book has the perfect feel-good cosy vibes while still having some action and adventure, and the humour has me laughing out loud . Satchel was just my favourite, and I NEED MORE ! This book is straight to the top of my best books for 2023 !

Thank you to Netgalley, PanMacmillan, and Travis Baldree for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

You know that feeling when you just feel so warm and cosy after reading a book? This was that book! In a great prequel to Legends & Lattes we follow Val before she opens her coffee shop and I blooming adored it!

There were higher stakes, giggles, as always - fantastic characters to entwine yourself in, it’s just such a lovely fun series to read and I really hope we’ll see more!

As always, I audioed alongside the physical and the narration was so on point! I felt the characters energy and it was a real joy to listen to, really added to the whole feel of my reading experience!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I was worried as a prequel that this book just wouldn't be as cosy as the first but it was perfect. Cosy fantasy is just exactly what this series is.

We get to learn even more about Viv and her past and learn to love her as a character for even more reasons. We also get to meet some new characters who bring out the best in Viv.

It took me a bit longer to get through this book compared to the first but that was nothing to do with the book and more with my lack of time to read! I couldn't wait to delve back into this world each time I picked up my Kindle!

This was another cosy fantasy read from Travis Baldree and I loved it even more than Legends & Lattes. There's so much more going on in this one. There's action, including great sword fights, a friendly bone homunculus, a cute Gryphet, love interests, friendships, mystery. I was gripped from the first page, thrown into a fantastical world with amazing friends, that I just didn't want to leave.

There is something so uniquely cosy about this series of books. The way Travis Baldree describes food in particular - don't read his work on a empty stomach or you'll regret it. Whenever I picked up this book I immediately wanted to eat a pastry!
Personally, I prefer this prequel over Legends & Lattes; the plot was more intriguing and every member of the supporting cast found their way to my heart. Will definitely need to reread L&L after this! (Perhaps whilst eating a pastry...)

After not being a huge fan of Legends and Lattes, I was very hesitant to start this book. However, having an ARC of it, I felt the responsibility to dive into it. I'm so glad I did!

So far, I've noticed that some people haven't really enjoyed this second installment, but it worked for me way more than LL.

There's nothing new in saying that Travis truly shines in writing cozy fantasy and conveying a feeling of peace and comfort through his prose. However, for me, this book went way further than just that. I found myself finally connecting with its characters and being moved by their stories, thoughts, and actions. (I might have even shed a few tears.)

To be honest, I feel both Legends and Lattes and this book are paired in quality, but who am I to deny the fact that whenever I feel deeply connected to a book, there's no way I don't fall in love with it, and that was the exact case for this book.

"Bookshops and Bonedust" is the cozy fantasy book I was missing in my life. It is adventurous, featuring a first-love trope and absolutely mesmerizing characters. After this, I simply can't wait to read the author's future books.

DNF 90 pages in

Earlier this year I read Baldree's debut Legends and Lattes and while I thought it was ok I felt there were things missing. I was hoping to have my feelings change with the release of this prequel and while I loved the book element and Potroast the Gryphet, I just feel that there is something I am personally missing from Baldree's writing. The side characters are interesting, the setting is fun and I understand why people enjoy it but for me there is just a disconnect with Viv and the writing.

Bookshops and Bonedust is the prequel to Legends & Lattes featuring Viv during her warrior career as she recovers from an injury.

Travis Baldree knows how to write cozy, comfy fantasy, and Bookshops and Bonedust is an excellent comfortable read.

I feel like I'm always saying the same thing but Travis Baldree is a cozy fantasy gem. Love love love this!

Thank you Pan Macmillan, Tor, Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Legends & Lattes was one of my favourite books of 2022 and the minute I heard we were getting a prequel I knew that I would love it just as much and guess what? I did. I loved every second of Bookshops and Bonedust.

Viv is such an amazing character and I'm so glad we got to see a bit of her life before Legends & Lattes. She's a fiercely loyal character who you cannot help but love. She also makes the most amazing friends and this book had some of the greatest.

The setting for this book was just perfect and I honestly loved that it revolved mostly around a bookshop. Fern is one of my all time favourite characters, she's a rattkin bookseller who loves to swear and has the most adorable gryphet beside her. I think a lot of us readers can relate to Fern on many levels!

Being back with Viv and this world that Travis has created honestly feels like a warm hug. I love how these books make me feel and I just love how cozy and perfect they are. I will never stop recommending this series and I know for a fact that Bookshops & Bonedust is one of my favourites for 2023.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After recently reading Legends & Lattes, I was thrilled to get hold of an ARC for Bookshops & Bonedust.

Bookshops & Bonedust did not disappoint!
Travis Baldree's writing, the characters, the world building - all incredible.

This book has the perfect balance of cosy fantasy and excitement.
The pacing, the intrigue, the story, each a credit to Baldree's writing and each making Bookshops & Bonedust a must-read.