This was everything that I had hoped for when I heard Travis Baldree was writing a sequel/prequel to Legends and Lattes.
There was such a risk that bringing a new story and new characters into the mix would muddy the waters, or lose some of the charm and warmth from L&L - however, I should not have doubted!

This book is a great way of spending more time with Viv and getting to know a new host of characters, without diluting any of the impact of L&L - it makes complete sense why the plot of B&B wouldn't have been mentioned in L&L, so there isn't any whiplash or dissonance for the reader.

B&B ups the stakes slightly, with an ominous villain lurking through the pages, but the story remains cosy and sweet and fresh.

Loved it, more please!

I enjoyed Viv the orc’s journey from a bloodthirsty warrior to a small town temporary bookshop employee, where she is stuck while recuperating from an injury. I was a fan of the first book in the series, Legends and Lattes, and while Bookshops and Bonedust has a slightly different, less cosy autumnal vibe, it still has many of the ingredients I liked in that first book: funny, interesting characters (and creatures) that build a community; a gentle sense of mystery and intrigue; and a little world that’s a pleasure to spend time in.

Nice entry in the cozy fantasy genre.
I haven't read Legends and Lattes, but I liked this prequel. It probably has a bit more action that L&L, but I was hoping for even a little more. There were long stretches where nothing really happened that I found somewhat boring, probably because, while I liked the characters, they didn't have as much depth as they could have, they were sketched more than explored deeply, and slow books need to have compelling and complex characters for me to get invested. My favourite was Satchel.
A good book, but not my favourite cozy fantasy.

This book was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed learning more about Viv and her backstory. It was very cosy and full of love for books and reading. It was a perfect prequel to Legends & Lattes. I did find the pacing was off, though, and it didn’t engage me a whole lot in parts. Overall, though, I liked it a lot.

I admit it; I haven't read Legends and Lattes. I know; I'm fired from reading books. But as this is a prequel, I thought I'd try it anyway. Surely everything I need would be explained here?

Well, mostly. As the main character was injured and recuperating, she was meeting everyone for the first time, so I didn't have to worry about preexisting relationships. However, some of the creature classes were new to me and I would have liked more description. That's a very tiny complaint, though.

This kind of feels like the book equivalent of those Hallmark movies where the busy big city person ends up in a small town where everyone knows each other and they all help out (but somehow they need the big city person to save something or other). I mean that in the best way; this is a nice, gentle, easy read, which is something we all need occasionally.

I'll be looking out for L&L now, and I recommend this if you're looking for a nice, gentle read. Don't be put off by the fantasy mentions; these are all just people being people.

If you loved the Legends & Lattes, then you are in for a treat!

In a prequel to the first book, the plot follows a younger wounded Viv on her way to recovery and helping to give new life to a worn down bookshop whilst making new friends along the way. The way in which Baldree writes makes for a really easy read and much like the first in the series, Bookshops & Bonedust is the perfect cozy fantasy for this time of year.

I can honestly say I have never wanted to visit a place as much as I have with this small town. All of the characters are very lovable and unique (my favourite might have to be Satchel) each with their own stories to tell.

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc of this wonderful book in exchange for my honest review.

Bookshops & Bonedust is the hotly anticipated new release from the king of cosy fantasy Travis Baldree and it certainly does not disappoint. If you loved Legends & Lattes you are in for a treat. Set years before the first book, here we meet Viv as a young mercenary, incapacitated on one of her first quests and forced to recuperate in the small village of Murk. While she dreams of returning to her band, Rackam's Ravens, as they hunt down a powerful necromancer, the reality is she is will have to find some other way of passing time until her injuries heal. The last thing she expected was to discover a passion for reading, but with some choice selections from local bookseller Fern she is soon hooked and even finds her horizons broadening. So, that is the bookshop from the title but how the bonedust fits in is a key part of the story and introduces one of my favourite characters, though to say any more would spoil the fun for readers.
This book can absolutely be read as a standalone, but readers who are already familiar with Viv will enjoy seeing this younger version of herself and it does give some insight into how and why she grew into the character that we all loved so much in Legends, and where her love of pastries comes from. Once again there is so much comfort in the reading experience with this book, and the characters soon start to feel like friends. I found that there was more of a plot here, with ever so slightly higher stakes, though since it is a prequel we can be pretty assured that the outcomes will not be too devastating. Reading this book feels like being wrapped up in a soft blanket, in a bubble away from the real world, and that is an experience to treasure.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Thank you to Travis Baldree, Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for allowing me to read this for an honest review.

I squealed when I was approved for this ARC, I was obsessed with Legends & Lattes and couldn't wait to hear more of our loveable Viv's story.

This part of story Viv's life has more adventure and mystery to the first book by Travis Baldree. There's more baddies and more fighting; while I was hoping for a more cute and cosy story like L&L I didn't mind how it was balanced out with Viv's new friend who has a bookshop, and new love interest who has a bakery.

For it having some action, and being more plot driven, I do wish the storyline was a little faster paced. Especially as we know from L&L where Viv goes and ends up, it almost takes that suspense away from later in life.

Overall, I loved the read and B&B was a great instalment in this universe!

Viv the orc finds herself recovering from a battle injury in the sleepy seaside town of Murk. In order the pass the time while her wounds heal she pops into a struggling bookshop where she ends up finding more than she bargained for.

Really enjoyed this prequel to the fabulous Legends and Lattes, it’s the ultimate cosy fantasy and perfect for curling up with at this time of year.

This author certainly knows his audience with lots of clever bookish references, plus enough action, humour and even a little romance to keep you thoroughly entertained.

I received a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review

YAASS travis baldee does it again in this prequel to Legends and Lattes, immediately you are sucked back into the cosy story of Orc retirement, witnessing Viv begin her eventual ascent to cafe owner from a nice vacation in a bookish town and the one before Tandri. What is next? Folklore and fetes? Chimaeras and Cul-de-sacs?

Legend & Lattes was kind of a phenomenon last year. It didn’t invent the cosy fantasy genre, but it certainly popularised it to a large group of people. So of course this prequel has garnered a lot of attention and I suppose the main thing you’ll want to know is if it’s as good.

Yes, it is.

Taking place at an earlier point in Viv’s life when she’s laid up recovering from an injury, this novel features a new crew of fantasy creatures, this time centred around the titular bookshop. I won’t spoil how the bonedust comes in. Also baked goods.

The stakes are higher this time which I personally enjoyed, and the character work is more assured. It feels like Travis Baldree is getting into his stride as an author, which is nice to see.

If you like your fantasy with a dollop of romance, this will also serve you - though of course, being a prequel, we already know it will be bittersweet.

Overall, a highly satisfying follow up that’s sure to please fans of the original.

Travis Baldree has a knack for writing the most wholesome and lighthearted fantasy books out there.

I don’t usually love prequels, but after reading Legends and Lattes I knew I would read anything else even remotely related to this series.

The characters, the story, the atmosphere - what’s not to love?

In Bookshops & Bonedust we meet a younger Viv, starting out her career and desperate to prove herself to legendary band of mercenaries Rackam’s Ravens.

Unfortunately, things don’t quite go to plan. While fighting a necromancer’s skeletal army Viv makes a rookie mistake and her leg is wounded. Being of no use on a hunt in her state, the group leave her (against her will, I might add) in the sleepy seaside town of Murk to recover, and so begins Viv’s journey to healing.

She is so far from any action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it, but after visiting Murk’s struggling secondhand bookshop and its surprisingly foul-mouthed owner, Viv realised that despite her injury she is able to immerse herself in different kinds of adventure - both through books and in life - and that Murk may not be quite as sleepy as it seems…

My thoughts:

Bookshops & Bonedust is not just a prequel to Legends & Lattes but a testament to the power of good friendships and - perhaps more importantly - good bookshops.

I adored Legends & Lattes and all the things I loved about it (The unlikely friendships! The celebrations of little wins! Charming ratkins!) are there in abundance. I didn’t devour this one in the same way as I did with L&L, but it still felt like a warm hug from an old friend. I very much enjoyed getting to know more about an earlier Viv, as well as meeting the new friends she makes along the way, and seeing books used as a form of escape was totally relatable.

Bookshops & Bonedust is the perfect choice for any fellow cosy fantasy fans looking for a low stakes comfort read to curl up with this autumn. The book is out now - a huge thank you to @netgalley and @torbooks for the e_ARC.

A fun, cosy fantasy with a little bit of everything: action, adventure, romance, foul-mouthed booksellers, mercenaries turned bakers and the cutest gryphlets around.

“Every book is a little mirror, and sometimes you look into it and see someone else looking back.”

3.25⭐️

In my review of Legends and Lattes I said that even though it was low stakes, there was enough of a plot to drive the book. This was sort of the opposite, and I’m disappointed because I wanted to love it the same amount.

It was still cosy and had the small town setting, and the cast of characters were cute. But because it was a prequel and we know Viv will leave, it took the tension out of the story. Also, Viv’s character at this point is not as interesting as in the future.

The world is still nice so if the author would write more books in this world I would be interested in reading it.

This was just the perfect autumn read

Was such a love of legend and latte and this did not disappoint
It was so cosy and a mix of books and adventure and friendship and really just what I needed 🥹😍

After the enormous success of his smash-hit debut novel, Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree immediately returns to the life of his orc barbarian protagonist, Viv, in a prequel set twenty years before the events of that first novel. Bookshops & Bonedust sees Viv injured in a battle and sent off to a seaside town to heal.

Here, Viv is young and headstrong, rushing into battle without a second’s thought, and she pays the price. Now, nestled in the nowhere town of Murk, she has nothing to do until she stumbles upon a local bookshop. The proprietor, a rattkin called Fern, manages to spark in Viv an interest in literature. From here, Viv helps to renovate the shop and sell books.

If you liked the first book you are going to love this one.

It’s just such a cosy fantasy read. Just as cosy and legends & lattes but has more plot

Highly recommend

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a review copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Returning to the cosy, high fantasy world first introduced in the D&D coffee shop hit, Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree once again follows the adventures of idealistic orc Vin in this familiar and charming prequel.

B&B follows a cocky and inexperienced Viv, early in her career, being deposited in a sleepy seaside town following a severe injury. Here she finds friendship, something like love and a passion for reading. (Also Potroast the rambunctious owl-dog, bless him forever.)

The novel definitely leans more heavily on the character dynamics and interplay than a coherent narrative and there were times during my read that I felt the absence of L&L’s comparatively clearer premise. (Whereas the journey of Viv’s coffee shop making iterative improvements offered a pleasing rhythm to L&L’s story, the orc’s sabbatical adventure tends to stop and start at random.) However, B&B makes up for its less intuitive pacing by significantly improving on the crafting of fully-rounded characters and this does mitigate the slower story.


Another improvement on its predecessor is in the attention and imagination paid by B&B to the queer identities and relationships of its characters. In some sense, this is the story of four queer women building their own futures in a sex-positive way while centring queerness and body diversity. Baldree’s novel rarely plays out in that exact fashion but it’s nice to see this aspect of Viv’s character be explored more meaningfully after the slightly slapdash romantic treatment in L&L.

Overall, Bookshops & Bonedust is an enjoyable romp with familiar characters and heartening morals, although if I had to choose between Viv’s adventures I suspect I’d read for Legends & Lattes every time.

Once again, Travis Baldree managed to write a book that is simply comforting.
Bookshops & Bonedust had just a tiny bit more action than Legends & Lattes, but it worked perfectly given the fact that Viv is still very much into adventuring and is forced to take a break due to her injury.
It was great seeing a slightly younger, more stubborn version of Viv and witnessing her character development, trying out new things and recognising that fighting is not all there is in life.
The relationships and dynamics of the different characters were very much in the same vibe as in Legends & Lattes, in a recognisable Baldree style.
I absolutely loved revisiting this world and am more than ready for this era of cozy Fantasy we are moving into!
While Legends & Lattes felt like an Autumn / Winter book, Bookshops & Bonedust felt more fitting for Spring / Summer - perhaps thanks to the novel being set in a seaside town. Fantasy escapism is my favourite kind, and this is just perfect for a cozy reading weekend - with nice drinks and a hoard of snacks.