I recieved this book as an ARC having not read anything by Travis Baldree. I was a bit skeptical before starting because I'm not super into stuff relating to D+D and I felt concerned the 'low stakes' would translate to be boring. But I've heard good things so wanted to go into it with an open mind.

Overall though, I really enjoyed this. I thought the pacing worked well, there was a good ammount of suspense and mystery that kept things moving along with the bookshop improvement storyline. I was pleasantly surprised with some of the larger themes that were explored, especially around personal growth, timing, and how we're not always where we need to be for relationships to work out.

I did read Legends and Lattes before reading this, and I'm glad I did, because I think it added a depth to this book. You know where the character ends up, so it's interesting to see them in their past, especially as it relates to the aformentioned themes of the book. It was interesting to see how Viv was different in the past and her growth since then, but for me it was easier to like her as a character having read L+L first.

I'm glad I gave these books a chance, despite not being something I'd normally pick up. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

The prequel to the indie sensation Legends & Lattes offers up more of the same but following a different recipe (the cafe latte to the former's latte macchiato or something like that). We meet a younger orc barbarian Viv as she is injured trying to track down a nefarious necromancer. Left behind by her crew to rehabilitate, she finds herself drawn into fiction by the shy but talented bookseller ratkin, and into life in the village itself.
There is significantly more action in this book than in its predecessor as Viv first confronts a mysterious stranger and starts to explore where he came from. This comes at a cost, with a much less cosy feel than L&L. For me this was no bad thing, and her being younger and looking for action I feel it makes sense. However, I can see this being less well accepted by the hordes of fans of the original.
While the plot wasn't terribly involved, it was fine for the style of book and the slice-of-life notion means there is only so much that can be included.
I certainly enjoyed this book as it felt much more like a worthwhile read than L&L, with a beginning, middle and an end rather than sort of frittering out.

3 .5 (rounded up) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

I really enjoy these “cosy” fantasy reads. They are nice palette cleaners and it’s nice when it’s a fantasy but it’s not all saving the world and betrayal.

Legends and Lattes was great and so is this prequel-sequel. I hope to see more in this world, even if it focuses on other characters.

Definitely recommend to anyone who likes this cosy-fantasy genre.

Travis has done it again! Just like Legends and Lattes, this was a cosy fantasy set in a small town with many characters with distinct personalities that cross paths. It follows Viv after she has an injury and has to wait for it to heal in a small seaside town and ends up helping out a struggling bookshop.

Just like with Legends and Lattes it didn’t take me long to fall in love with the characters and really feel like I knew the town. I could picture it all and wanted to be there with them. I think my favourite character this time might be Satchel!

As this book follows the daily life of Viv as she recovers from an injury, it is fairly slow paced. However, I think this works perfectly for this kind of book and lends itself well to getting to know the characters and really feeling like you’re there with them. The epilogue was also just perfect and left me wanting more.

I will definitely be picking up anything Travis writes in the future! I can’t wait for more cosy fantasy in this world!

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for this early review copy.

“Through a pair of narrow front windows, she spied chaotic piles of books, charts, and miscellaneous junk. She could almost see the smell of mildew.”

Travis Baldree knows his demographic too well…What does an avid book reader like more than an artisan coffee shop… obviously an old indie bookshop!

What do book readers also like, a good prelude, a look at their favourite character before they became the ex-badass, now barista!

And that's what we find in the cosy fantasy book, the follow-up to Legends and Lattes, where we find the younger Viv, sidelined due to injury in a quiet, coastal town called Murk.

So what was a mercenary for hire supposed to do in this forsaken backwater? She entered the bookshop and picked up a book

“she was absorbed. She was transported. She was elsewhere.”

I think most of us can relate to that!

Travis continues to build the story in this little sleepy town, which only really sees some excitement when the boats arrive with the passengers. Apart from that the locals are friendly, well most of them and Viv starts to fit in and help out while making some new friends along the way.

““Well, ain’t you a big piece of somethin’ sweet?” she said, winking. “What can I getcha?””

However, like its predecessor, this book is not all sweetness and light, things do take a turn. And when Viv’s friends and even the town itself are threatened, our sword-wielding orc steps up and tries to help out, but is hampered by the local police called the Wardens.

Travis again creates this delightful tapestry of location & characters, which would normally be the background & NCPs of any D&D video game, but he brings them to life that you would want to put down your axe and shield, have a drink and stay a while.

Sadly, however, this short book ended and I was left wanting more (and hoping that we will see Viv and maybe some of the other characters again).
.

While I didn't enjoy this storyline as much as Legends and Lattes, I did completely have a good time in some parts of this book and to be perfectly honest there was only 1 part I didn't enjoy.
So, Viv gets injured during a fight scene right at the beginning of the book this time around and the head of the crew she's teamed with drops her off on the tiny island of Murk for medical attention and recovery. They continue on the quest to kill the deadly necromancer. Viv is not a compliant patient but she amuses herself by getting to know the locals and in particular the local bookshop and bakery.
There is a build up in this book which I don't think pays off well and this is what loses a star. I understand the low stakes of the book, but don't build up a kind of final boss and then the scene is flat. I originally thought this would be a 3.5 star but the epilogue of the book put it firmly back at a 4 star. I do hope that final scene becomes a new book because I would love to keep meeting Viv again.
The characters in this book were all fantastic and it's very obvious that Travis has a penchant for creating such great ones in every single book. The atmosphere on Murk was phenomenal. I think the author can do no wrong in my eyes and would read anything he continues to write

I did not realise this book was a prequel to Legends & Lattes until I was approved - from other reviews, it seems everyone reading it already has the context of the first book.

I adore the concept of these books and I will return to Bookshops & Bonedust once I have had the chance to read book one.

Thank you very much for approving me and I will be posting about these books after buying and reading them. I really appreciate the opportunity.

Well, that was certainly an emotional rollercoaster!

The story centres around Viv, who, after charging into a battle in order to prove herself to Rackam and his Ravens, ends up with a nasty leg injury. Unable to fight, and in much need of some healing time, Rackam leaves her in a small town on the coast with orders to rest, recover and stay put! Viv finds company with a foul mouthed Rattkin called Fern, the owner of a failing bookshop. Throughout their time together, Fern loans her books based on what she thinks she will like. It's so clever, we have a secondary story highlight Viv's development, not only with the snippets from the books she reads but the change in the type of books her friends gives her to read.

In "Bookshops & Bonedust" we join Viv at the beginning of her career, and I'll say it's quite a different Viv to the one we know and love. It's lovely to see her at the bookends (sorry!) of her career and the development of her character. Speaking of characters, this is filled with a cast of wonderful new friends. All of whom end up shaping Viv and likewise, she leaves a lasting influence on them.

Needless to say, it wouldn't be Viv without a bit of trouble (or for a young and overenthusiastic Viv, a lot of trouble) and some tasty baked goods! Cosy fantasy with plenty of suspense. I will say this caught me off guard with a sledgehammer to the heart of emotion.

Great plot, amazing characters, humour, drama, emotion and an amazing bakery, what more could you want?!

Bookshops & Bonedust is a prequel to Legends & Lattes and it takes place a few years before. As the first book, this one does not fail to deliver a warmth feeling and a cozy vibe. It is in ways similar to Legends & Lattes- but the stakes are a tiny bit higher. I can't seem to stop comparing the two. The similarities i'd say lie in the narration and the way that the plot progresses. So if you have liked the first one, i would definetely give this one a go.
It was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year and it did not let me down.

"Bookshops and Bonedust" by Travis Baldree is a lacklustre attempt at blending fantasy and romance. The story's premise promises epic adventures but fails to deliver, leaving readers with a tedious and uneventful narrative. The characters lack depth, and their interactions are uninspiring. Viv's transition from a soldier of fortune to a bookstore dweller feels forced and unconvincing. The romance subplot is underdeveloped and lacks chemistry, making it difficult to invest in the characters' relationships. The pacing is sluggish, and the plot lacks direction, meandering aimlessly without a clear sense of purpose. The book's attempts at humour and wit fall flat, resulting in a dull reading experience. Overall, "Bookshops and Bonedust" struggles to engage its audience and falls short of its potential for a captivating fantasy adventure with romantic elements.

Another warm and cosy fantasy from Travis Baldree which should delight fans of his first book, Legends and Lattes. This is a prequel to the original, where we meet a you Viv who is injured in a battle and has to spend time recuperating in a small seaside town where she is bored and restless. The characters that she meets within the town are a mixture of delightful and sinister, but we get another 'found family' tale with books, hot drinks and pastries to add to the general loveliness. The main differences for me that made this not quite as wonderful as L&L for me (personal preference really - not a fault with the book!) was I wanted to revisit the characters and places from the first book, though the new characters were as fun and quirky. I also preferred the lower stakes within L&L - this one seemed to have quite a bit more plot than I wanted from this cosy fantasy. But most people who like L&L should be satisfied with this prequel.

I received this book as an e-arc by NetGalley and Pan Macmillan in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

« Moist. »

Rating: 4⭐️
Genre: Fiction, Cozy Fantasy, Sci Fi & Fantasy
Pages: 352
Series?: Prequel
This is another great cozy fantasy from Travis Baldree. I did enjoy the first book a bit more but I also enjoy this one as well. I did think the first one was a bit more cozy fantasy whereas this felt a little more fantasy-based.

I have been reading a few cozy fantasy and romance books lately so I don’t know if that was the reason I didn’t absolutely love it. I felt like I struggled a bit throughout the book. When I read the first one, I zoomed through it and didn’t want to put it down, whereas I kept feeling a bit distracted in this one. I have been reading nonstop so I think I might also be a little burnt out on this genre of books. I already pre-ordered the book so I will read it again to see if I change my mind. I liked the plot and the characters but there was just something missing for me, though I am not sure what.
This is an excellent book for anyone looking for a cozy fantasy to read during the fall. It's a fabulous prequel so perfect to start with this and then read Legends and Lattes as it sets that book up nicely. It's a fun, quick, easy read!

« You know, books are what brought me to you. »

Travis Baldree would be a dream dungeon master for a D&D campaign. He has a gift for the small moments vivid in description that take you into a setting. The theatre of the mind, standing ovation.

Bookshops & Bonedust, while a joy, definitely didn't have the same easy flow and progression as Legends & Lattes. I picked it up and put it down rather than devouring it in one sitting. Though inherently that is not a bad things, more like savouring. A book for the coffee shop and days when low anxiety is the dream.

And yes, it did indeed leave me warmer than I started.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for the ARC.

In Bookshops & Bonedust, set 20 years before Legends & Latte, we find protagonist Viv at the start of her mercenary career. Following an injury, she finds herself stranded in the quiet seaside town of Murk, recuperating and waiting for the return of her mercenary company. Viv starts hanging around the local bookshop, Thistleburr’s, to pass the time and soon makes friends among the locals.

I absolutely loved reconnecting with favourite characters from Legends & Lattes, as well as meeting a wonderful cast of new characters, and quickly found myself invested in their endeavours to restore the failing bookshop and make it a success. There are again baked goods and repairs at the centre of the plot, as well as a summer romance, but my favourite elements came from the bookshop setting: following Viv as she, reluctantly at first, discovers the joy of reading, the perfectly integrated snippets of a range of fictional titles that mirrored Viv’s emotional journey, the book club feeling I got from Viv and Fern’s discussions, and the fact that half of Murk appears to secretly read Zelia Greatstrider’s spicy novels.

Even though the focus in Bookshops & Bonedust is again on snippets of everyday life, there’s a bit more of an adventure plot here than there was in Legends & Lattes. Even with the threat of a necromancer, a few brawls and fights, Baldree’s sophomore novel manages to maintain the cosy feel that I loved in Legends & Lattes. There’s a strong found family, and a beautiful bittersweet element to the romance plot. This was all I had hoped for, and more, and is getting a straight 5 star rating from me!

A highly anticipated release for me and thousands of others, in Bookshops & Bonedust we revisit Viv but meet her much earlier in her life, when she is barely starting out her adventurous career. After an injury, she finds herself left behind to recover in the sleepy town of Murc, and with little else to do she soon finds herself hanging around the local bookshop and bakery. But there is another mysterious stranger in town…

I loved being back in this world, and as usual the coziness is off the charts, with a main focus on books this time. The new characters are fantastic and, listen, the found family dynamic just gets to me okay?

Unfortunately I didn’t like this as much as L&L and I think that largely has to do with the pacing. I think L&L balanced the ‘stakes’ plot and ‘no stakes’ plot very well but I don’t think that happened here. It didn’t really kick off until around the 30% mark and it was very stop and start after that, in a way that felt very artificial.

However, that may just be the mood I was in (clawing my way out of a reading slump) and maybe a reread at some point will help. I don’t wish to dwell on my nitpicky complains with this book because I feel like it was a ‘me’ problem for sure.

Overall this was definitely very enjoyable and will be a great read for the colder months. I loved the way the romance was handled too.

Sidenote but the book starts with one of my least favourite tropes which is “person counting out loud their kill number” in a battle scene. It’s cringey and only allowed in Lord of The Rings.

Wow, wow, wow what a great prequel. I really hope that we get to see Viv's next adventure soon. I loved Legends and Lattes, and Bookshops and Bonedust did not disappoint. Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for my eArch.

Do you enjoy reading cosy fantasy books? ✨📚🫖

I've just finished the e-arc (thanks @netgalley 🫶) of Bookshops and Bonedust (the prequel to Legends and Lattes) and it's ABSOLUTELY as brilliant, cosy and magical as the first.

The plot is low-stakes (although, slightly higher than L&L given Viv is just at the beginning of her fighting career) and set in the small town of Thistleburr, where Viv has been sent to recuperate after a battle injury has left her unable to join the rest of her clan on their next mission. Viv meets Fern, the local bookseller, and the plot moves forward from there📚⚔️

No spoilers but you are in for an absolute TREAT with this one: bookshops, bakeries and hilarious character interactions/antics (and maybe a lil bit of romance 👀). Travis Baldree has done it again - this is peak cosy fantasy!

Bookshops and Bone dust will be published 7th November (uk) 🦴🥐📖

Thanks so much to @netgalley and @torbooks for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review ✨🥰

I´m not very much into cosy fantasy but Legends and Lattes definitely cought me. I loved both the character and the felling of a coffeeshop where I spend such a lot of time.

Bookshops and bonedust repeats the same feeling and idea with the advantage that we already kind of know the main character event though this story is based years before the previous book. Anyway, I felt at home reading this book, where coffee shop is exchangeed by bookshop. However, I dragged a bit during the first half of the novel, where the new not so secundary characters didn´t attract the same attention from me as the ones in the previous novel. I´d say the novel is not so cosy as the first one but close. I´d definitely recommend this one to whoever enjoyed the first one.

Bookshops & Bonedust is a cosy fantasy read with otherworldly creatures, a bookshop, a bakery and a sprinkle of mystery.
Having not read Legends & Lattes I feel that may have put me at a disadvantage for reading this and I found I couldn’t enjoy it. There was what felt like a lot of filler and I kept waiting to feel like it was going to get going yet never did. Whilst I really enjoyed the world this was set in this book unfortunately fell a little short for me. I will still pick up Legends & Lattes in the hope that this will mean I love this book more.
I feel a lot of premise in this world and enjoyed the relationship. I did find the ending left me feeling deflated as I didn’t think this was a HEA in my opinion.

Travis Baldree is going to be one of those authors whose books I’ll always read when they are released. For those who like to read fantasy to relax or for a sense of escapism, there’s something special and addictive about his books that isn’t matched by many modern fantasy writers. The combination of a true Dungeons and Dragons style and an utterly wholesome feel is what keeps me coming back for more!

Bookshops and Bonedust is an excellent prequel to Legends and Lattes: a new setting with a few familiar faces, but plenty of new friends and the same cozy vibes. This story sees follows Viv, the protagonist from L&Ls, but back in her mercenary days before her dreams of opening a coffee shop. When circumstance sidelines her from the day job, she finds herself resting up in the quiet seaside town of Murk for a few weeks, where she starts to make friends in and around Thistleburr bookshop. The empathy Baldree creates for the characters is phenomenal – he really gets you rooting for the lead cast in their endeavours to restore the bookshop’s fortunes, and you’ll delight as new friendships are forged and genuinely cheer at their successes.

There is undoubtedly more elements adventure and plot progression in this book – if you are new to Baldree’s works and usually read fantasy novels, the adventure elements of Bookshops and Bonedust will feel more familiar than L&Ls. The adventuring element is a smart choice for a book following Viv’s past, but has been balanced in the plot excellently so as not to overpower the relaxed nature of the book. This is peak low-stakes fantasy in my opinion, and while the plot will not cover as much ground as other contemporary fantasy novels, sometimes a small and cozy novel is exactly what I’m in the mood to read.