Unfortunately this series just isn’t for me. I preferred this to Legends & Lattes but just didn’t captivate me and I had to push my way through to finish it. This is probably just me though as a lot of people have enjoyed it I just needed something a bit more exciting.

A magical cozy fantasy with a perfect vibe as previously known and expected of Travis Baldree. I don’t have too much to say about the book other than the vibes were immaculate and perfect for a rainy day and the characters won over my heart almost instantly! Certainly look forward to more from him in the future!

Bookshops and Bonedust is set in the same universe as Legends and Lattes, but takes place earlier, documenting a period in Viv's life at the start of her adventuring career. While it will I think me a must-read for lovers of the previous book, it can also therefore be read on its own - as I did, having inexcusably not read L&L last year when it made a huge stir.

The story takes place after Viv is injured in one her first battles as one of Rackam's Ravens. Impetuous and hot-heated, she heads for the thick of the fight, is injured, and and invalided out to recuperate in the little seaside town of Murk and, bored silly by the quiet, wanders in to a cluttered little bookshop for some distraction...

Thus we are introduced to the world of fantasy bookselling. I mean, of bookselling in a fantasy world - where a ratkin, Fern and her pet bird-animal, Potroast, are struggling to stay in business at Thistleburr Booksellers - which, by and large, doesn't traffic in ancient evil tomes (though one will turn up eventually). Rather its mainstay is nautical charts and popular fiction (Baldree gives us little glimpses of this). As Viv becomes friends with Fern and Potroast, we see just what a bookseller with a mission can do for an innocent customer - Viv is introduced not only to the delights of sword-swinging pirates, but also to the charms of smut.

It's really fun to see a friendship springing up and as the book proceeds, Viv makes others too. There may be danger, magic and adventure going on in the background - a sinister stranger turns up, there are rumours of a necromantic army and city gate warden Iridia is on high alert and Has Her Eye On Viv - but there are also baked goods to be eaten, books to be read and discussed and flirting to be done. Viv is clearly chaffing to get back to the fight, but also honest enough to admit that she may have found something - or rather someone - pretty good in Murk.

Adventure and danger do, it's true, come to the town in the end and Viv plays her part in defeating it, but I was pleased to see that Viv's success was due as much or more to the friendships she's made as to her fighting prowess (in contrast to the episode at the start where she fails just because she tries to do it all herself).

All in all, a cracking story and I can now understand the excitement around Legends and Lattes. I clearly have some catching up to do...

I kind of wish I'd either read this before Legends & Lattes OR it followed a different main character. Because I already knew what happened to Viv in the end, I didn't feel as invested, HOWEVER, the epilogue was unbelievably cute and made me cry.

Would recommend it to fans of cosy fantasy. Best enjoyed with baked goods.

Cosy fantasy. Wow what a genre. Travis Baldree has excelled within the genre (AGAIN). I could read 50 million worlds written by Baldree and never get tired. As a lover of all things as dark as my soul, cosy fantasy doesn’t often feel too comfortable… Baldree has formulated the true icon of the genre. A brilliant prequel that just keeps on giving. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for honest review.

Not as ‘cosy’ as legends and lattes but still really enjoyed getting to know new characters and have some more background on Viv. It wasn’t as focused as legends and lattes however the prequel was still very enjoyable.

Not my favourite genre, I'm not sure why I requested this when I felt the same about Legends and Lattes in the end. I still didn't particularly warm to Viv and perhaps because I'm not an avid modern fantasy reader, the story goes straight into the world rather than explaining who anyone is or why she was in a battle that causes an injury in the first place. I guess I need more of a plot, more of a reason to read it and higher stakes. I don't think the cosy fantasy genre is for me, sorry.

Definitely worth a read!

Travis Baldree knows how to write cosy fantasy! Bookshops and Bonedust is a brilliant prequel that focuses on Viv and her journey as she falls in love with READING! There were so many cute moments, and I loved seeing how the bookstore started introducing author signings, book clubs and more! What I loved about this book is that the plot is much more intricate. I still prefer Legends and Lattes but this was a delight!

4/5

Step into the enchanting world of Bookshops and Bonedust, the cosy high-fantasy prequel to @travis_baldree Legends & Lattes.

Meet Viv, a determined young mercenary eager to prove her mettle in Rackam's Ravens, a renowned mercenary company. The journey begins with a chaotic battle where Viv sustains an unexpected injury, leaving her unable to continue the hunt for a dangerous wielder of necromancy magic.

Forced into the tranquil beach town of Murk to recover, Viv battles the tedium and frustration of her enforced rest. An encounter with a rundown local bookshop and its outspoken proprietor offers her an unexpected purpose.

What unfolds is an adventure beyond Viv's wildest imagination, filled with new allies, friendships, and even the stirrings of first love. Prepare for a journey where destiny weaves an unexpected tapestry of excitement and intrigue.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

Another warm cozy hug of a book from Travis Baldree. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to review this as I absolutely loved Legends and Lattes. If you want something low stakes to curl up with and simply enjoy then this is the one for you.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read Bookshops & Bonedust earlier!
After Legends & Lattes this might be my favourite book. It’s still a cozy low stakes fantasy but with a bit more action than L&L. I also find that the author’s writing has developed since the first book.
I truly recommend this book to everyone because Viv is the best and I can’t get enough of her!!

I had worries going into this prequel. I knew whatever romance happened it would end, I knew Viv would go back to adventuring, and I knew my favourite side characters wouldn’t be present. I shouldn't have been worried at all. In fact, I enjoyed Bookshops and Bonedust even more than Legends and Lattes.

We join young Viv who’s found herself stuck in a seaside town as she recuperates from an adventuring injury (sadly not quite an arrow in the knee). In true Viv fashion, she makes some friends, some enemies, and helps a local bookshop get back on its feet.

I loved the central plot. The stakes felt high, but not so high that it ruined the cosy element. The cast of characters were lovable and unique. I adored Satchel and would read another book on just him.

It delivers on the cosy DnD style of world. Everything about this world feels familiar and I think sometimes it’s nice to read fantasy where you don’t have to go through that steep learning curve. As a reader, I naturally loved reading about the bookshop. Fixing up the bookshop felt very reminiscent of the coffee shop in Legends and Lattes.

This series is a lovely pallet cleanser for when you feel too bogged down by complicated magic systems, empire-level conflict, and tragic deaths.

2.5 stars. I expected to love this after reading Legends & Lattes. However, I really struggled to get into this. It felt dragged out and like not much happened. It was nice to have characters fleshed out tho but overall it just didn't hit the mark.

This book is a prequel to “Legends & Lattes” and follows the same ‘recipe’ of the first book - being a cosy fantasy but this time set in a bookshop instead of a coffee shop.

If you enjoyed the first book, I think you will also enjoy the cosy vibes of this one. However, by the nature of this book being a prequel, I couldn’t care as much about the characters or the risks taken, as I already knew that ultimately Viv’s story would continue beyond Murk.

If you are looking for a new cosy fantasy series I would read this book first and then Legends & Lattes, but I would only read B&B’s epilogue after finishing both books. In my opinion, by reading in chronological order you will feel that the stakes are higher and make Viv’s character journey more interesting.

Thank you, Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for giving me this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

I will be curious to see what the next book will bring!

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

I really liked the world and all the cosy fantasy vibes. And obviously as a book lover myself, I loved watching Viv discover the wonderful world of reading. I’m also now tempted to just ditch my degree altogether, move to a small coastal town and open a bookshop because it honestly just sounds like the dream job (maybe minus the suspicious travellers and skeletons Viv has to deal with).

My main issue with this book though is I just didn’t feel very connected to the characters or the plot. And honestly, I really can’t think of a reason why this is the case. There was nothing wrong with the writing, the characters were all likeable and the plot was quick but still had action. There is nothing obvious as to why I felt disconnected and not super invested in the book, I just did.

It was however a good little book and did provide all the cosy fantasy bookshop vibes I wanted.

Love this series. It’s fantasy but it’s like it’s half about us bookstagrammers! Cozy coffee shops and bookshops the joy of reading and friendship over reading. Lovely prequel to Lattes which was amazing.

This is so worth a read if you like adventure mixed up in cozy friendships and settings.

So glad I found this series!

Travis Baldree has become an author who I will immediately read from now. Bookshops & Bonedust is a charming prequel to Legends & Lattes, and I was delighted to follow Viv again and get to know who she was before she moved to Thune. Also I love Fern and Potroast with all my heart.

Just as good as the first one! I loved seeing a younger Viv and the cosy fantasy vibes were on point. The new characters easy to love and I can't wait to see what Travis Baldree writes next.

I loved legends and lattes and this did not disappoint. I loved seeing more of Viv's background and I loved that this was set in a bookshop

'Bookshops and Bonedust' has introduced me to the genre of cosy fantasy, and I am hooked!

I wasn’t aware that B&B was a prequel to Travis Baldree’s previous book, 'Legend and Lattes' (I just hadn’t got round to reading it yet), but luckily it didn’t take away any of my enjoyment and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything plot-wise.

I really enjoyed the setting of Murk and the mini-mystery regarding the necromancer, which took place in the background. It’s a fairly low stakes fantasy that has you less on the edge of your seat and more wanting to curl up with a hot drink on a rainy day while you read.

My only complaint was it did sometimes drag on and could have done with a small splash more action in places; however, I enjoyed this book so much that I’m now much more motivated to picking up L&L.

[This review is based on NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion]