Bookshops & Bonedust is my first foray into the cosy fantasy genre, and it definitely won’t be my last. I fell in love with the unusual cast of characters straight away, and I was soon swept up in Viv’s introduction to books, reading, and friendships.

This book is a prequel to Legends & Lattes (which I can’t wait to read), which is why I thought I’d start here. It quickly introduces Viv, badass orc lady, who I easily recognised from the brilliant Legends & Lattes artwork. She’s staying in the town of Murk to recover from an injury; along the way she meets all kinds of different fantastical creatures who become more important than she ever could have hoped.

My favourite of these fantastical creatures is Fern, the small, foul-mouthed, bookshop-owning rattkin. She has a pet gryphet called Potroast, and I loved them both instantly. She becomes a great friend to Viv, along with Gallina the fierce gnome and Maylee the lovely dwarf. Honestly, there wasn’t a single character I didn’t like, and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them all. Even Satchel, who I’ll save as a surprise… he’s excellent!

Bookshops & Bonedust is a gentle book, full of wonder and words. It’s a love letter to books and reading, all wrapped up in a fantasy story that trundles along at a delightful pace. Travis Baldree has a great way with words, and I hope there’s more books to come following Viv and her friends. I now see the appeal of cosy fantasy, and I’m really excited to delve deeper into this genre!