Loved, loved, loved this book!!
If you loved Legends and Lattes, you will also love this one. This is definitely a cosy fantasy for book lovers! Included the same tropes that we saw in the first book - cosy vibes, found family, sapphic romance, magic, and adventure!

I loved the bookshop element of this story and Viv's journey into discovering reading and falling in love with reading.
This was just perfect and I read it in one sitting.

Such an enjoyable cosy fantasy, with some amazing and loveable characters. Each character within this book was full of life and had such depth to them. The plot was interesting, and well written. I could have read 100 more pages of this story for sure!

I was provided with an advanced reader and audio copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The audio copy is narrated by the author who does a fantastic job making each characters voice distinctive and unique. Listening to it while reading really brought the story to life for me.

Viv is a fantastic character and it's good that we get to see her grow as a person as she falls in love with the written word. It was fantastic that excerpts from whatever story Viv was currently reading we the reader got a glimpse of it too. Loved that


To be honest all the characters are absolutely brilliant and well thought through. I loved each and every moment spent with Viv and the rest of them in Murk.

And of course along with wonderful and memorable characters we also had a well crafted story that kept me wanting to see what happened next. What more could a reader possibly ask for. Pure fun and heartfelt down to the very last word.

4.5* rounded up

Thank you to Tor Books and Netgalley for providing a DRC of "Bookshops & Bonedust" (Released November 2023) in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

I finished this prequel to Legends & Lattes with a very happy smile and a satisfied sigh. I loved it for all the ways that it was similar to L&L and also for all the ways it isn't.

This prequel introduces us to a young Viv, an Orc at the start of her career still trying to find her place in the world. After an injury in battle she ends up in Murk feeling lost and restless and over the course of her convalescence ends up making a found family, indulging in a summer sapphic romance and of course seeking to save the day.

For those who felt frustrated at the true cosiness of L&L and felt it lacked stakes and action, then this instalment should be far more satisfactory. Yes it cosy fantasy but there is definitely more action on offer (related to the Bonedust) and definitely ongoing suspense.

At the same time though the heart of what made L&L so wonderful is present here. Viv meanders into finding new friends, a love interest and a project (the Bookshop of the title). I loved Fern, the foul mouthed rattkin owner of the bookshop, a sharp contrast to Thimble and his pastries and here delectable baking is still woven throughout with Viv's dwarf lover, Maylee, providing the delicacies.

For me I wish there had been a little more cosiness though. I loved the reading interludes and its relation to the story but part of what won my love in L&L was the focus on the growth of the coffee shop and its inhabitants. The situation here, though a really fun and interesting set up, is the focus and so feels much more at the forefront of the story meaning sometimes the development of the found family and the Viv/Maylee relationship is left in the background.

Despite that I still loved this book. It's completely charming, fun and heart-warming in so many ways. It was wonderful to get Viv back and to see her in action in her younger days. I don't know if we're getting any more stories from this world, I hope we do but in the meantime I'll treasure these two books as my go to reads for when I need to smile and just outright enjoy what is a truly lovely duo that should be treasured.

The prequel to the enormously successful 'Legends & Lattes' sees Viv, our erstwhile orc, back in her adventuring mercenary days, beginning her journey of growth and acceptance with a new found family in a bookshop. Baldree provides the same effusive warmth here that he did in Legends, focusing on the power of connections and stories to help people heal, change, and grow..

The peculiar thing with prequels is knowing where our hero ends up, and while certain lovely relationships and dynamics must conclude by book's end to move Viv forward, lending a touch of melancholy to an otherwise sweet story, there is at least some resolution in a lovely epilogue that ties together both novels.

Bookshops and Bonedust is a wonderful prequel to one of the biggest, brightest books of 2022, and while it never hits those same wholesome highs (for me), it's still an incredibly well-crafted, well-written story about found families and the power of books to change a life. A true delight of a book. Now let's get new, current-timeline stories with Viv and all the characters please!

I loved Coffee and Legends. It was such a perfect cosy fantasy perfect for a found family trope fans, so I was looking forward to this prequel. If you’re looking for a cosy read that’s low stake, you will not be disappointed. But is it as good as C&L? I personally don’t think so. I think it’s because this is prequel, so I knew what happens to VIve in the end. That alone takes away excitement unfortunately. But I still enjoyed this as a cosy autumn read and I finished in two day!😃

3,5-4 ⭐️

The last thing any self respecting mercenary wants is to be sent to rusticate in a backwater in order to recover from an injury. but that is exactly what has happened to Viv, a young orc in search of her fortune (and perhaps some glory too, while she's at it...)

On enforced rest in the quiet location of Murk, she unexpectedly finds herself spending time in, of all places, a bookstore. And against her will, the company of the eccentric proprietor and oddball customers begins to grow on her. It is fun to see her developing relationships with other characters like Fern and Maylee - and, of course, Gallina.

For anyone who loves reading, Viv's realisation of just how much adventure and enjoyment and effortless learning books have to offer is also oddly moving and very relatable.

And her new life is not without its curiosities and mysteries - from peculiar travellers to magical misfits. I have not read Legends and Lattes, but this novel works quite well as a stand-alone story that entices you to read the former once you are done with this one. Because, in the end, it turns out there's more than enough to keep Viv busy in what is really just the beginning of her adventure!

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

A standalone cosy fantasy about the power of good bookshops, unexpected friendships and the difficult choices we make along the way. Another beautifully crafted novel where the right things happen at the wrong time, what we need is not necessarily what we seek and we find ourselves in those experiences along the way.

Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, Viv is packed off agonist her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk. Far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to her former glory. What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do? Except find herself entangled in the history of the town, and an adventure or two.

Spending her time at a struggling bookshop in the company of it’s foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing she would have predicted. Even though it may be exactly what she needs. It would seem that adventure isn’t far away. A suspicious traveller in grey, a gnome with a chip on her soldier, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be even more eventful that she could have ever expected.

A perfectly executed prequel to Legends and Lattes, that continued the cosy fantasy vibes in a beautiful way. You can still find epic adventures in the pages of a book, as long as you know where to look, and opportunities can come from unexpected places. This was a lovely book, with excellent characters, and a magical bookshop. What more could you ask for in a story?

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for an advanced reader copy via NetGalley of Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree

4.25 ⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an eArc of this in exchange for my honest review.

I read Legends And Lattes earlier this year and loved it so I was super excited to get round to this book too, and it definitely didn’t disappoint! The cosy vibes were as perfect as in L&L, and the characters just as loveable. I love the way Travis Baldree writes the relationships between his characters, starting at strangers and seeing how that initial interaction evolves, and the impact characters have on each other as the story develops.

My only criticism that stops this rating being any higher is that I didn’t feel this book needed to be as long as it was. As a cosy fantasy with fairly low stakes, I feel it could have been a few chapters shorted maybe so that the pace didn’t drag in the middle so much.

The epilogue at the end was everything I needed and more. I really hope we see more from these characters, or at the very least more stories from this universe. These are top tier autumnal reads and I need more of them in my life.

Bookshops & Bonedust is just a delight to read. It is a character driven, cosy story following Viv the orc during the early days of her mercenary career. Due to injury, Viv finds herself on a forced break from action in the sleepy coastal village of Murk whilst she recuperates. That isn't to say there isn't any action or peril. Young Viv is still fiercely loyal and protective, and of course there is trouble on the horizon, but the shining heart of the story is the friendships. Quirky characters, found family and beautiful relationship building.

If you enjoyed Legends & Lattes, you will love this. It is a prequel, so we don't get to revisit the characters we loved as they're not in Viv's life yet, but don't worry, there are plenty of new characters to fall in love with. It is completely accessible to read as a standalone, but fans of Legends & Lattes will get a lot of joy from the ending that ties the two stories together. This book left me with such a warm, happy, comfortable feeling, which you don't always expect from a book with orcs, necromancers, skeletons and mercenaries, but that is the wonderful thing about this series. A great prequel, I would jump back into this world Travis Baldree has created without hesitation any time.

Ahhh Travis Baldree does it again. I truly loved this. Being back with Viv and getting more of her backstory was so wonderful. It felt like home, like a warm hug. And I'm not sure how else to explain it. Perfection. And the epilogue was also incredible! And such a great end to the book. Atmosphere, writing, characters, vibes, everything was perfect. Thank you for choosing to write this Travis, despite knowing this wasn't your plan, I'm truly grateful.

I’ll start this off by saying that Legends and Lattes was my favourite read of last year, so this had big shoes to fill and is my most anticipated release of 2023!
This prequel follows Viv a few years before she gives up her life of adventuring to open her own coffee shop. We meet Viv injured and recovering in a sleepy beach town.
I think maybe I was expecting slightly more of the adventuring side of things which didn’t really happen but that’s likely my fault for going in blind. The cast of side characters (especially Fern and Potroast) were endearing and I thoroughly enjoyed living in their world for a few hours. I think it’s accurate to say that I didn’t enjoy this as much as L&L but I’ll still read anything that Travis Baldree throws my way!

My thanks to Netgalley, Tor and Travis Baldree for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sometimes, all you need is a good cosy fantasy book. That couldn't be more true of both Legends and Lattes, and now the prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust.

Whilst it follows a similar pattern to Legends, getting to know Viv in more detail was just a lot of fun.

I don't think that reading Legends first was a hinderance for me, but I know that some people will find it hard to connect with the characters after reading Legends and knowing that Viv doesn't stay with the cast of Bookshops.

For me though, it was a perfect autumnal read!

This book was really charming! It’s the first foray for me into this kind of fantasy with orcs and dwarves etc but this Cosy approach was probably perfect for a romance reader like me. I hadn’t read the first book (I believe B&B is a prequel), but that didn’t detract from my experience at all. It stands up to being a stand-alone, but I’ll most likely seek out Literature and Lattes now. I listened to the audio, which was well read, but it seemed a slightly odd choice to have a male narrator, given how female-orientated the story is. (Perhaps it is the same narrator as the first book, kept for continuity, and the first book has more male characters so it feels a better choice? Or perhaps the choice was made under the opinion that male listeners wouldn’t like a woman narrating? Either way, it was something that stood out to me.)

Bookshops and Bonedust is the second book from Travis Baldree in their slice of life cosy fantasy reads. This book was such a wholesome good time with just the right amount of jeopardy thrown in! We follow Viv, and ex mercenary who's life is thrown into a spin after she is injured as she tries to come to terms with her injury in an old bookshop. However all is not as it seems.

I loved the mystery element of this book and how although low stakes- it still manages to have you on the edge of your seat.

In this perfect prequel to Legends & Lattes, Baldree takes us to back to Viv’s world as she recuperates in Murk having been wounded. With a sublime sleepy beach town setting and a wholesome cast of fantastical characters, there is nothing not to love about this book! Such a fun and lighthearted wonderfully told story that I have already recommended to lots of people. Sparkly goodness in a book.

Thank you to Netgalley & Pan MacMillan for providing this e-ARC, in exchange for an honest review ✨
This book has the distinctly cozy vibe & wonderful, easy flow of legends and lattes, but with a bit higher stakes.
Every single character has endeared me from page one, it’s giving me so much joy to follow and I finished it WAY too quickly.
I’m going to absolutely have to do a reread of this with legends and lattes once it’s out in hardback.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Travis Baldree has done it again! Another perfect, cosy read that's just perfect for these autumn evenings.

I loved hearing more about Vic, learning about her life before Legends and Lattes and sharing in her newfound love of books. This beautiful story follows Vic healing after a leg injury and finding herself suddenly with a much quieter life than she expected, in a town far smaller than she wanted and feeling confined by her healing and wish to return to her sword swinging life.
Instead, she finds herself embracing new experiences, new friendships, and romance.

Another beautifully told tale to comfort readers and transport you to a mellow, homely world.

A beautiful prequel to Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust was a lot more action packed and thrilling than L&L, but no less heartwarming. I loved it to pieces. It was exciting seeing a younger Viv, one that yearns for the rush of a battlefield, rather than grown weary of it.

I NEED to know what happened with Satchel. He requires his own spin-off.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan, Tor and NetGalley for the free E-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect example of a 'cosy' read - it has all the possibilities of a wild fantasy, heavy on drama and action, yet it chooses a slower pace, a softer character and lower stakes. As a result, the reader is left with a comfortable prequel to Legends and Lattes which introduces the wonderful character of Viv.

While the romance aspect was almost lost amongst the other side plots and felt a little like a side-quest gone astray, the book was very enjoyable.

The story is well paced and has enough of a plot that the reader is kept engaged from start to finish and the side characters flesh out the tale wonderfully. Especially Potroast.

While it is not imperative to have read Legends and Lattes, the epilogue for Bookshops & Bonedust does spoil it a little, though there is nothing shocking/groundbreaking revealed.