Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my little heart, if you loved Legends & Lattes you are guaranteed to love Bookshops & Bonedust its magical prequel.

Viv’s career with the renowned mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned. Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk – so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it. What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a struggling bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted. Even though it may be exactly what she needs. Still, adventure isn’t far away. A suspicious traveller in grey, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

Sometimes, right things happen at the wrong time. Sometimes, what we need isn’t what we seek. And sometimes, we find ourselves in the stories we experience together.

Set twenty years before the events of Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust is a standalone cosy fantasy by BookTok sensation Travis Baldree about the power of good bookshops, great friends and the unexpected choices along the way.

This book was EVERYTHING, bookshops, baked goodies, romance, friendships, discovering the love of reading, cute critters and so much more! That ending and that epilogue melted my cold heart and Yep I shed a tear!

My favourite quote from the book: ‘Sometimes we aren’t the right people yet’

I will definitely be buying myself a hard copy of this book when it is released, 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

The origin story I knew I needed and am so glad I got!!
Oh my, I was so excited to jump back in to the world of Viv the Orc! I instantly fell in love with the new faces in Bookshops and Bonedust, and much like Legends and Lattes I loved the warm friendships, warm banter and even warmer curses 🤣 I was really happy to see more of a familiar face and how everything ultimately tied together and that epilogue... 😍
Another gorgeous cozy fantasy. I really hope to see them all again some day, even a short story would fill my heart with joy *nudge nudge wink wink Mr Baldree*

A huge, huge, thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the authors for the ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

It made my entire year to see that I had been accepted to receive and review this book before it's release as it was/is one of my most highly anticipated books of the year. After reading and adoring Legends and Lattes I was stoked to find out there was going to be a prequel and it absolutely doesn't disappoint.

Everything you love from the first book is present here. Great atmosphere, loveable side characters (looking at you Fern and Satchel (+ Potroast)) and a sprinkle of drama and adventure.

This would easily have been a one day/one sitting read for me but due to my unfortunate chronically ill life, I ended up reading it in short bursts over a week. I am however grateful that it allowed me to spend more time with Viv and the wonderful cast present in Bookshops and Bonedust.

I am keeping everything crossed that Legends and Lattes becomes a trilogy as I think that would be the perfect end to Viv's story but I'm more than happy with the duo we've got now! 💖

Highly recommend to anyone who loved the first and I will be getting myself a copy when it is released! Travis Baldree has cemented himself as a favourite author already.

As a big fan of the first book I also enjoyed this one! I didn’t love it quite as much. I felt like the initial d and d vibes were less. Not sure if it just felt too similar.

Bookshops & Bonedust brings us a world similar to that of what we see in Legends & Lattes, but not quite. Viv is still a mercenary and is wild and brash. After and injury and finding herself in a small, isolated village, she finds herself seeing things differently for a touch.
I found this to be a perfect accompaniment to L&L. It plants the seeds that lead to Viv's choices in L&L, and provides us with a beautiful cast of characters who are just as lovable as in the first novel. There are evil sorceresses and magic galore, but at its core, B&B is about finding people who make you better, even if it's just for a little bit. It was heart-warming and exciting - one that I would recommend over and over.
Baldree's writing style is very conversational, but descriptive. Reading his work feels like I'm sitting around a campfire being told exciting epics - a testament to his other role in audiobook narration. His descriptions paint a vibrant picture, so much so that I can vividly picture the world he builds.
All in all, a fantastic follow up!

I am overjoyed to have read this one! I loved the first one, and so, I had some expectations. And here things get a little tricky, because, on the one hand, this is not really similar to the first one, in many things. The main difference is the vibes, that here are less cozy (but they are cozy, just a bit less than the other book) and we have a bit more action, and less of the wholesome little stake fantasy vibes that were the main feature of the first book. So yeah, with this one expectations can be a burden, but it is a highly enjoyable book on its own. But, on the other hand, we have some good similarities between the two. Viv is the MC here, too. And this world is inhabited by so many different creatures, it is so good to see them all living together and discover them along the way. It is just so nice! Also, we get the small stake fantasy, too. Sure, we have an evil necromancer and some more fights in there but it is still small-stakes. And this makes a lot of sense, if you think about it, because this is a prequel to Legends & Lattes, so it is to be expected, in some ways, to see a bit more action, a bit more of classical plot in there. And we have the passion for your own job. Viv is really passionate about her being a mercenary, but she is also determined to see Fern doing well with her bookshop (and yes, a bookshop!!! Yay!), and Maylee is the goddess of baked goods.
And I know that comparing books is not the best idea, I know, but it is also quite impossible. But there is more to this book than the comparison with its predecessor.

First thing first, a word of warning: this book would made you hungry. The first one made me crave sweets like crazy, and good coffee, with this one the craving is more toward food in general (but bakery especially). In any event, be prepared.
And now let's get started with why this book is so good in its own right:

1) we have a lot of amazing characters. And sure, I talked about Viv, Fern and Maylee before, but they are not the only ones. Every character is alive and real and unique. My favorites are Pitts (he is such a cinnamon bun!) and Satchel. You need to meet them both! And let's not forget about Potroast! And we have also the elf writer and her bodyguard/butler/handyman, they are not so present but they are adorable, and I would have loved to see more of them around. And the Gatewardens too! And the doctor! I really liked all the characters we encountered here!

2) This book is a love letter to reading. To discover reading for the first time. To that magical experience that is losing yourself between the pages of a book that seems to talk right to you, that sees you for what you really are, that feels you, and that makes you feel seen.
And we get to read bits and pieces of the books that Viv discovered and loved. It is all so cute. And so wholesome.
It rekindles the flame of the booklover and it is so satisfying. And magical. And beautiful.
And it should be a comfort reading for romance and erotic authors out there. You are important too. And you are appreciated too!

3) Let me tell you that you should read this book just for point 2. All the rest is a nice plus, sure but... have you read point 2??
Anyway, it is an original story, and it is well-written and well-developed. It is not a book with big surprises, but it is a book that warms your heart. And sometimes we really need this kind of book!

one word sums up this book perfectly. WOW!
This is the first book in many years of reading that when I finished it I wanted to turn to page one and start reading it all over again.

I will admit I picked this book up by accident. I requested it on netgalley because I got the title mixed up with another book I had heard of but by the eight I'm so glad I did.

I have never been a fan of the fantasy genre and this time last week I couldn't tell you what an orc was. I'm well and truly converted and will forever be grateful to the author Travis Baldree for such a beautiful introduction to the world of fantasy books.

🌟🌟🌟🌟
4/5 stars

Never read a book like this befire. Never even thought if a stiry like this before and feel so disappointed in myself for that but also happy to have a new type of storyline to dig into. A real comfort read full of badassery and just so much character to bite into.
Female protagonist, she's an Orc who starts the book off in the middle of a battle where she unfortunately gets injured. Badly enough that she's left behind in a nearby sea town to recuperate and that's where the story is. She is a very likeable character in my opinion, self aware, of her situation and her flaws, strong and capable, more than capable, in a fight.
Whilst the story is comforting with the bookshop and the side characters, there is also still action and intrigue to keep you on your toes. Great read, highly recommend and I am now off to find this authors other books!

This is another absolute joy from Travis Baldree.
The prequel story of Viv is the prequel we all need in our lives - not only because we love her but it's about her discovering a love for books and helping to redesign a bookstore.

Fern is incredible - she is hilarious and swears a lot... I wonder if she reminds me of me...

I love this book so much and I'm already putting my pre-order in. I loved it.

Unlike many other reviewers, I came at this title without having read it's sequel Legends and Lattes, so I read this with no prior knowledge of Viv the book's heroine, or her subsequent adventures and barista talents yet to come! .
I really enjoyed the whole ambience of the tale. So many fantasy novels major on long gory passages of fighting with only a few given over to characters and their relationships so this tale came as a charming surprise.
Most of the story really is about a bookshop, it's readers, it's owner and the community in which it sits.
I enjoyed the interaction between the characters, Fern being a particular favourite, given her bookish nature and her brilliance in finding the right book for the right person
Satchel, however was ,for me, the very best character and I am sad to think that he isn't going be appear the follow up...although, maybe he may be given his own spin off, who knows!
Lots of reviews use the term cosy for this series, and that captures the style of writing very well. I can thoroughly recommend settling down with a cup of coffee and a good home baked biscuit to read about Viv and her pre story before going on to read Legends and Lattes.
Thank you to NetGalley Galley and Pan Macmillan for an e arc of this title in return for an honest review

Loved this return to the Legends & Lattes world!

In this prequel we meet a young Viv just starting her adventuring life and itching for action. She gets injured however and has to recuperate in a sleepy seaside town. She befriends a bookseller and connects with other book lovers, while also being wary of a necromancer threatening the locals.

I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as legends and lattes, but that’s understandable. I loved the friends Viv makes, and it’s very much showing us how, while the quiet life isn’t right for her yet, she can see how one day it will be.

I wasn’t a fan of the romance though, it felt like a distraction from the friendships. I did enjoy the necromancer plot, there were hints of Death from the Discworld which I found extra fun.

Overall, highly recommend, lovely story, just not quite as impactful as the first,

Having loved Legends & Lattes I was super excited to get a copy of Bookshops & Bonedust and it did not disappoint!
A wonderful, exciting and vivid prequel this book was a cosy read full of characters I guarantee you will fall in love with. I hadn't realised how much I wanted to know about Viv's backstory and now I need more books about her next endeavours and adventures .. even though I've read the book I know I'm going to be rushing out in November to buy a physical copy to read with a hot chocolate and a chunk of cake!

If you're looking for a fantasy adventure featuring everyone's favourite orc mercenary, the animated skeleton she carries around in a satchel, and the bookshop they both work in, you've found the right book! This prequel to the bestselling and beloved 'Legends and Lattes' is another gorgeous slice-of-life fantasy: a heartwarming and wholesome story of found family, tentative love, and bookselling struggles!

Oh, this book was such a TREAT, and I’m so
beyond grateful to of been given the opportunity to read an early review copy. Like so many others, I read Legends and Lattes earlier in the year, and utterly fell in love with the cozy fantasy vibes it brought.

Bookshops and Bonedust is Legends and Lattes turned up to eleven, in my eyes. The threat level is quite a lot higher, but oh, so is the cosy feeling. I mean, for most book lovers, a book that has a bookshop as a major setting is usually a win. There’s also still a lot of baked goods to go around too!

This is a prequel, taking place about twenty years before the events of Legends and Lattes. We meet up with Viv, out on her first foray of mercenary work, on her way to tackle a necromancer - and she gets pretty badly injured. Her crew set her down in the sleepy seaside town of Murk, tell her to heal up, and that they’ll loop back around to pick her up in a few weeks time. And so, Viv hobbles off into the town, and meets a brilliant cast of characters along the way, including a Ratkin called Fern, who’s struggling to run a failing bookshop, which was left to her by her father, and her lil pet gryphet, potroast.

I don’t want to give too much away, especially as the book isn’t due out until November, but if you in anyway liked the first book, this does not disappoint. The supporting cast of characters are brilliant, and each one has so much heart to them. Murk truly feels alive, with it’s sea salt air, the dwarf run bakery, and the gatewardens who are not to pleased to have a sword wielding orc roaming around their usually quiet streets….or the unusually pale man, who has the whiff of death about him.

Truly, I’ve been having a bit of a rough time recently, but this is one of those books that you can get fully lost in, and feel your own worries melt away for a little bit, and those kinds of books are so very special. I cannot sing its praises enough.

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the early copy to review (and to Travis Baldree for writing another brilliant book!)

I'm never sure about prequels. How do you maintain suspense and momentum when you already know what will happen to the characters later down the line. Often they can feel like a painting by numbers exercise or a way to extend the franchise of a series that is clearly already done.

Not so here. Travis Baldree has pulled off the amazing job of creating a prequel that is as endearing and charming as the follow up and which only enhances and enriches the world building he has undertaken. This has a strong plot, which is always a help and a huge and very welcome dollop of the coziness that made Legends and Lattes such a wonderful read.

Thank-you very much to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a lovely read. I loved everything about it - the fantasy plot and the cosy bookshop. The characters were all so precious and lovable. Gallina ended up being a favourite of mine!

It almost felt like two books in one. One being a fun fantasy plot then also being able to see the renovations of the bookshop and daily interactions between such lovable characters. I thought Satchel was amazing and the character has found a special place in my heart. This book was just such a light, comforting read - it would be perfect on a rainy day with a cup of tea and a blanket.

I actually have not read Legends & Lattes, but I definitely will add it to my winter list of cosy reads.

I didn't realise this was a prequel to Legends and Latte until the very end so I'm happy to say it can definitely be read as a standalone.
It was slow to get going, I really couldn't see why I had chosen it at first, but once Viv found the bookshop that all changed. The interaction of the characters was brilliant and I loved Satchel.
In many ways I just didn't want the book to finish as I was so invested in their world.
A wonderful book.

Bookshops and Bonedust is the highly anticipated prequel to the viral and well-loved Legends and Lattes. I haven’t read Legends and Lattes and wasn’t aware it was a prequel until the epilogue, so I’d say this could easily be read as a standalone. It has its merits, such as the lovely writing style that isn’t too over-written or dense, and the well-crafted fantastical atmosphere. However, I found the plot and pacing to be slightly underwhelming or simply not what I personally enjoy.

The plot is split into two interwoven parts: the ongoing hunt for a vicious Necromancer and orc protagonist Viv’s recovery and recuperation in a small port town. These two aspects feel slightly disjointed at times, or weirdly paced since the book tries to split equally between high and low stakes events. As well as this, there is an odd love triangle sort of situation, which isn’t exactly resolved in any sort of way by the end. Also regarding the ending, I found it very unsatisfying and rather abrupt, but now I know that the book is a prequel, I understand that it had to make its way towards certain things and away from what I expected.

All in all, less of a cosy and fun fantasy story than expected, but generally enjoyable with a handful of quaint characters and settings.

Bookshops & Bonedust is a prequel to Legends & Lattes set 20 years before.

Viv unfortunately suffers an injury whilst working with some mercenaries and is sent to Murk to recuperate. She ends up helping out in a struggling bookshop which despite being quite different to her normal routine, suits her well. But trouble soon arrives at Murk and Viv needs to team up with some new friends to sort it out.

I really enjoyed this. It can be read completely independently from Legends & Lattes. I loved all the characters - all very different. The relationships between everyone and the fun storyline made this a really cosy enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bookshops and Bonedust is a wonderful prequel to Legends and Lattes. It was great to read about Vivs adventures. The story feels like an ode to bookshops and community.