Having loved Legends and Lattes I was extremely excited to join Viv for another cosy adventure and I was not disappointed. Following Viv as she stays in a small town to recover from an battle injury we are introduced to another fantastic cast of characters.

I loved that although there was more action in this book that the first it did not lose the cosy feel. The bookshop element was perfect as well with the descriptions transporting me there.

I loved that the epilogue gave us a little insight into post Legends and Lattes too and would love to see more from this world.

If you enjoy cozy fantasy, this is a must read. Viv meets new people and discovers her love for books.T hey develop all the many ideas bookshops use at the moment to sell (meta coming through). There are a lot of unusual creatures who need to work together and except their different ways. I wasn't as invested as when I read Legends & Lattes but I still had an amazing time with this and would highly recommend it

A prequel that stands on it's own as a great cosy - but not too cosy - fantasy read.

I read Bookshops and Bonedust before Legends and Lattes, despite hearing about and wanting to read Legends and Lattes for ages, this just came first because I really wanted to review it, and Netgalley luckily obliged. Thank you!

I primarily experienced Bookshops and Bonedust through the audiobook, which is masterfully read by the author, Travis Baldree, who clearly loves and understands his characters and reads with unwavering energy and affection, drawing the listener in to spend time with Viv and the friends she makes in the town of Murk while enduring a period of convalescence having been wounded at the beginning of the book.

After listening to this book, I immediately bought Legends and Lattes to listen to, and listening to that, did not feel like Bookshops and Bonedust either needed any prior knowledge of Legends, or that it spoiled what was to come, despite it being a prequel and knowing, ultimately where Viv was going to end up. Legends and Lattes felt a lot more slow paced, I preferred the plot in Bookshops, though maybe people who read Legends first think that about Legends too, it could just be the element of discovery in a new world and characters that leads me to think that way.

Bookshops and Bonedust just felt really nicely paced, a really great balance between character development, 'fantasy peril', danger and threat, a touch of romance, and just the feeling of being wrapped up in a book blanket. I loved the characters in Bookshops, they felt a little more vivid to me that those in Legends, though again, that could just be because Bookshops was the first book I read out of the two, but I really liked Satchel and Fern, and Fern's friendship with Viv. The world building was good too, just enough so that I could picture and feel the setting.

I would recommend the audio version, I really want to own hard copies of the books now, there's nothing like being able to see the spine of an old book friend on a bookshelf, like surrounding yourself with a found family, but I'll be listening to the audio over again for sure, loved it!

Okay, so I need to be honest. I started this book all the way back in the summer, but with the house move I just completely forgot it. And I so regret leaving it for so long.

This prequal follows Viv when she takes a (forced) break in the sleepy seaside town of Murk. Along the way, she makes a bunch of friends and helps to reinvent a book store.

I loved this. It was delightful and cosy and everything I wanted. This series is the ultimate cosy fantasy and Travis Baldree can do no wrong.

I also got an audio e-arc of this and the audio book was so well done! Really recommend reading it this way.

Thank you to Travis Baldree, Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the free e-arc and audio book! I'm so sorry it took so long to review. All opinions are my own etc.

While I enjoyed Legends and Lattes as a cozy audiobook perfect for background noise, I found Bookshops and Bonedust had basically the same story as L&L. If that's your cup of tea, great! For me, I couldn't focus on the story and an hour of the audiobook felt like a day. Even romances tend to have more inciting incidents than B&B sadly had.

Nice cosiness, but with more fantastical elements. It does include a more solid reason behind the switch from Viv being a mercenary to living and wanting a more settled life and the struggles she went through to get to the place we see her at. There’s more romance in this book and at the end, it felt like it was a set up for a possible sequel, which I wouldn’t be disappointed in getting.

It’s not as good as the first one, but I did go into this book with such ridiculous expectations because of his previous book and the memories from reading that, that it was due to be a little disappointing. There were new characters to get to know and love, or hate, which was actually nice and I loved the bookshop set up.

Travis’ writing is still great with this one, adding to the world building and creating amazing imagery within my head while reading, with his words. However, I still need to read Viv discovering and trying coffee for the first time and knowing that this is her future. But, all in all, I did thoroughly enjoy this prequel and, with the added bonus of the narrator doing such a great job, while being compelling and dragging me straight back into this world.

I loved it so much. I could read books like this one forever.

I loved the setting. I already loved Viv but all the people of Murk were also lovely. The mystery with the necromancer was also nice. Just a great read!!

Travis is a lovely narrator as well.

I really loved the prequel to Legends and Lattes and found the world created once again thrilling and heart-warming in one. It was written really well and i feel like the characters all felt really distinct and memorable. The action was paced well and the writing kept me hooked throughout. I feel like the more i read of this series, the more i enjoy it. This is definitely the perfect cosy fantasy read!

Absolutely obsessed yet again.
I thought Travis Baldree couldn’t top Legends & Lattes, but I love the second book just as much!

All of the cosy vibes are still there, we revisit characters we love, meet new characters and new adventures! I thoroughly enjoyed being in the bookshop and wish I could hop into the world itself!

The prequel to Legends and Lattes we are following Viv's career with the renowned mercenaries. Rackham's Ravens. After being wounded on a job, Viv is left in a sleepy beach town to recuperate. Fighting boredom Viv finds herself at a failing bookshop will she be able to save the shop and will trouble follow her there?

After loving legends and Lattes I couldn't miss out on this instalment of Viv's adventures. An injured Viv, a bookshop and a cast of weird and wonderful characters gave me cosy, comforting fantasy vibes and I loved it. I both read and listened to the audiobook and loved both media. Having Travis Baldree read the novel was great and his narration is wonderful.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

to put it simply, low stakes and incredibly cozy!
What more needs to be said?
No matter if you are already familiar with the works of Travis Baldree or not, the Author invites the us into a world full of very lovable fantastical characters with real feelingsand solvable problems.

For this version of the Audiobook, Travis Baldree narrates Bookshops & Bonedust himself, and takes the listener on a journey to get to know Viv and her time helping out in the down on its luck Bookshop, in the sleepy beach town of Murk.

This is a cute and cosy listen, perfect for relaxing on an autumn / winters night. I preferred Legends and Lattes but this is still a good read/listen.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I absolutely adored Legends & Lattes so needless to say, I was really excited for this one.
And while it didn't quite feel as magical to me as L&L did, it still had that special feeling that I haven't found in other cozy fantasy books. Travis Baldree just writes such beautiful found families, and I love how the characters grew and grew together throughout the story.
This one had a bit higher stakes than L&L which I really enjoyed. Overall, I liked the storyline in this one a lot.

The characters were amazing, I loved all of them and their relationship dynamics just felt so real.
The audiobook was also fantastic, it was such a delight to listen.

I adore the world the author is creating and I definitely recommend this one to all cozy fantasy fans.

This was wonderful. It's hard to top Legends and Lattes, but I don't think it needs to be topped. This was a lovely prequel, showing Viv and a few new characters on a whole new cosy fantasy adventure! I loved the new setting of a bookshop, because in case you hadn't noticed, I love books. The new characters were just as good as the original characters (I would die for Potroast) and it was a story that was just as good as the first.

I feel like this book had more action in it than the last. Though there was some action in Legends and Lattes, this one had a bigger overall story with mystery and adventure and murder. For people looking for something cosy and low stakes like Legends, this book still has those cosy moments, but it does have high stakes. Conversely, for people who liked Legends but thought it could use a bit more action, this one could be perfect for you! I feel like Bookshops added action adventure without losing that lovely cosy vibe that the first book had going for it. It got a good balance between the two.

For anyone asking if the books connect up, they do! Though I don't think you necessarily have to read Legends and Lattes to understand Bookshops and Bonedust, those who've read Legends are rewarded for their efforts! I really think this was the perfect prequel.

Read for bookshops and well bonedust as well as great characters, sapphic love, found family and a sprinkling of action!

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for a copy of this eARC in exchange for a review.

I really liked this book I do however prefer legends and lattes but it was still a fun read 😁

I liked the story which was just as heartwarming as Legends and Lattes. However, I accidentally requested the audiobook and I’m afraid to say that I absolutely hated the narrator (who I think was the author himself 🙈).

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.

A lovely and equally cute and cosy story. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first book but it was decent. Highly recommend if you are looking for quality writing, fun characters and a low stakes feel-good fantasy.

3.7 stars

I adored Legends & Lattes it was a book that I was intrigued by but I never expected to fall head over heels in love, collect what feels like a million different editions and to unlock a new obsession with all things cozy so when I saw that Travis Baldree had a new book coming out it was an absolute must.

Bookshops & Bonedust is a prequel to Legends & Lattes and we meet young Viv who winds up in a sleepy seaside town to recover from a battle injury- and soon the magic of small town, cozy, found family, sapphic vibes kicks in throw in Viv helping to boost sales in the local bookshop and you have one of my absolute favourite reads of 2023.

The magic for me with Travis Baldree's stories is all the other side characters who have their own stories within stories within stories and even the smallest details can make or break your heart.

Travis Baldree as a narrator on the audio is something incredibly special, not only are they a great narrator they also know these characters inside and out and I like to think as they are writing the characters they are also creating voices- that's something special!

I listen on most audiobooks on x2-2.5 and I lost no clarity and could very easily follow the plot at increased speed.

I loved this book, it was exactly the hug in a book that I have grown to need- also where can I get my own Potroast?

I was expecting this to be another delightful story following Viv and her exploits, but I didn't anticipate just how much I would love every minute of it! The found family aspect that I enjoyed so much in Legends and Lattes was here once again and the friendship between Viv, Fern and Maylee was beautiful. I loved the expansion of the world we saw here and although the main thrust of the story is the found family, there is more plot involved in this prequel, which I really appreciated. The bookshop was adorable and Potroast was a delight, as was Satchel. Overall, this was one of those books that just wraps you up in a big warm hug and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.