It is no secret that I loved Legends & Lattes, in all of its Skyrim coffee shop glory, and I absolutely couldn’t wait for this prequel to arrive! Originally, I’d wanted to read this the same way I read Legends & Lattes (in one afternoon, forced inside by the rain, feeling the cosiest I have ever have in my life). While that unfortunately didn’t get to happen for Bookshops & Bonedust, I’m glad to say that once again I absolutely loved it.

I was slightly worried going into this; was it just going to be a copy and paste of the first book, with ‘coffee’ find and replaced for ‘books’? If you share the same concern, I’m pleased to say that from the very beginning - no, it is not.

We meet our main gal Viv at a very different stage of her life; she’s a newbie rather than a seasoned warrior; she finds her self tied to a town due to injury, rather than because she chose to be there. I really enjoyed that this felt very much like a true prequel - some characters we recognise might pop up, sure, but they aren’t the ‘same’ characters that we know.

Even if I didn’t manage it in an afternoon, this isn’t a long read so I won’t say too much more to preserve the plot. I loved the bookshop aspects; it was very obvious that these were written by someone who loves to read and talk about reading and push books upon other people, and if anything could tempt me back to being a bookseller it probably is the idea of getting to do it Skyrim-style. I enjoyed the non-book related plot as well and the host of wonderful characters it brought.

If you loved Legends & Lattes, I think you will love the prequel too - and if you haven’t read the first book, I’d be intrigued to see how you experience the overall story if you read Bookshops & Bonedust first!

Legends and Lattes has been a resounding success and for good reason. But when we get down to it, it is mostly ~vibes~. In the absolute best way possible, they're excellently written vibes; I want to visit the coffee shop and enjoy the vibes. In Bookshops and Bonedust Baldree has shown that he can write compelling storylines and plots as well. What more could we ask for?

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for a fair review.

I personally preferred the 'first' (this is the prequel) book in the series. don't get me wrong, this is still such a brilliant book but it hasn't stuck out to me as much as other fantasy books that I have read. I think what made me rate this a three stars (which is still brilliant in our rating system!) is the fact that I prefer a bit more plot. this book is very cozy and relies on vibes and I just prefer fleshed out plots with twists and turns and action.

HOWEVER, this is such a brilliant filler book for if you're in a reading slump and want something easy to read. I can totally see myself rereading this in the future when I am in a reading slump because it is a book that you can just follow along without a thought in your head.

the "problems" with the book is nothing to do with the author or the book itself: it is 1000000% a me-problem. it was a fun and cute read!

4.5 Stars

Legends & Lattes was one of my favourite books of last year and I still find myself thinking about it on a regular basis, so it was a treat getting to know young Viv and her exploits in Bookshops & Bonedust. What I like most about Baldree's writing is his masterful treatment of side characters, with Satchel standing out as a testament to the author's ability to breathe life into every corner of his literary realm. I particularly loved Satchel and the resemblance to Thimble from L&L adds a layer of nostalgia and continuity.

The prose dances gracefully between the mundane and the magical, creating a tapestry of words that captivates the senses. Baldree's talent shines brightest in the vivid descriptions, allowing readers to savour not only the intricate plot but also the delectable world of baked goods that serves as a delightful backdrop.

Absolutely perfect for fans of cosy fantasy or someone looking for a heart-warming relaxing read with loveable characters and great descriptions of baked goods!🥐🍞🍰

The world the author has crafted deserves to be celebrated, and I eagerly await the opportunity to immerse myself in his future creations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I devoured the first book and could not wait to read this one. Again the writing style is spot on along with the cosy vibe a perfect book for cold dark winter days.. I have recommended this to all book friends and gave it 4 stars.

Bookshops & Bonedust is the prequel to the fantastic Legends & Lattes.

We see a younger, adventurous Viv who after becoming injured recovering in a town and getting to know the inhabitants and the local bookshop.

We might be following a younger Viv, but make no mistake this is just as cosy as L&L. The story is interesting, the characters are lovable and leaves you wanting to spend more time in this magically cosy world Baldree has created!

The eagerly antipated prequel to Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust had ALOT to live up to, and Travis Baldree knocked it out the park. Travis somehow managed to embrace the low stakes aspect of cosy fantasy even further in Bookshops & Bonedust, giving Viv a forced break to slow down and take in the scenery. With a cast of likable characters, it was bittersweet falling in love with them knowing they are not in Vivs life in Legends & Lattes, however Travis manages to wrap it up so well by the end.

4.5 stars

Much like the first book this was a heart warming tale of discovering yourself, finding peace in a busy life and learning about a culture different from your own.

We again follow Viv, an orc mercenary, but this story takes place several years before Legends and Lattes. After being injured in battle she takes a rest period in a sleepy seaside town and helps a bookseller revamp her book shop whilst helping to investigate a mysterious sorceress!

I loved the atm0sphere of this book, costal towns are some of my favourite places to visit and this setting combined with slight bone/necromancy leaning magic created the perfect setting!

I also really enjoyed seeing Viv learning some of life's lessons prior to when we meet her in L+L. I loved the main friendship between Viv and Fern, the things they taught and supported each other with!

Overall I really love this series and if you need a break from a busy world and a reminder to cherish the things you have whilst also seeking new adventures in unexpected ways this is the perfect series!!

I’m so excited to dive into this entire series. It sounds so damn cosy. I’ll be reading it during the next ween readathon

I really really loved this book so much!!! I loved the mix between cozy and low stakes, and the more tense moments with the necromancer!!! I really loved getting to experience Viv fall in love with books and reading!!! This was an incredibly joyful, wholesome and easy read, and I hope to read more books like it!!!

lovely warm and cosy fantasy, really enjoyed the character developments and the introduction of more characters and towns in this fantasy realm.

I really enjoyed this one despite having not read the previous book! Thank you for the opportunity to read the arc!

Thank you NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Tor for providing access to the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I must start by pointing out that I read Legends & Lattes only a few months ago, having found it a pretty disappointing read. So when the prequel was announced, a part of me got incredibly curious, needing to see if the issues I had with the original persisted in this prequel.

And in a way, they did. Until about 70% of the book, I found it incredibly hard to immerse myself in the story. The characters still didn't resonate with me, even though I found Viv to be a compelling protagonist still. However now, looking back at the content of the book, the development of the author is incredibly clear - not only compared to L&L, but also compared to the beginning of the book. The writing style has evolved a lot, getting more advanced and enjoyable with every page, and the cast of characters felt much much lovable at the end of this book than L&L's overall cast ever did. Even the plot felt better, and maybe it's because this book actually had higher stakes and action between its pages - but regardless, it was a more enjoyable experience.

In summary, the author's growth is for sure something I'd love to follow in the future more, since the potential to deliver even greater work is there. But as it stands, I'm not feeling the same love a lot of the community has shown.

First I would like to say thanks to Netgalley for giving me early access to this book prior to release.

Travis Baldree has done it again with this fabulous cosy fantasy. I loved getting to know Viv more, learning her back story and where she came from. Also her ending up in a bookstore just gave this book immaculate cosy vibes.

From legends and lattes I think I wanted more and this was the perfect addition to that novel, but this one did feel like a short quick read even though a lot packed in - couldn’t recommend highly enough!

Another winner by this author. Hopefully, there will be more to come. I'm not usually into prequels but this was so good. It made me appreciate legends and lattes even more.

as an avid fantasy reader, this book will undoubtedly be a perfect sequel to a phenomenal first book (legends & lattes). I recently picked up the US copy of legends and lattes on my trip to the US, and am very much looking forward to reading it, followed by this enchanting sequel. I have heard nothing but rave reviews for both books, so I know I will not be disappointed by this lovely low stakes, fantasy, cosy series.

Another cosy instalment from Travis Baldree, this time with a much younger version of Viv the Orc.

I wasn't sure how to feel after finishing Legends and Lattes before this one and seeing Viv's determination to put down her sword and retire - I didn't know if I wanted to then go backwards to a younger Viv or if I'd get the same cosy vibes as Legends.

Well the cosy vibes were there, pretty much the same. As was the cute small town, the lovable cast of characters - ratkins, gnomes, and whatever the hell Pot Roast was. So that part felt familiar.

As for whether we needed to go back to explore the time before that Viv laid to rest - happily, I might add - in Legends...I'm less sure on that one. It almost took something away from Legends for me. I think we might have been better served for the second book to be the same world but a completely different set of characters to fall in love with.

Still, it was a cute read and I rated it a cosy 3 stars.

Set in the same world as Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree's second book, Bookshops & Bonedust, is a cosy fantasy novel that tells the story of Viv. A soldier of fortune who is forced to recuperate in a small beach town after she gets injured during a hunt. While spending time at a struggling bookshop, Viv meets some interesting characters, and unexpected adventures ensue.

The story is a prequel to the popular fantasy novel, filled with cosy cafes, bookshops and loveable characters.

Travis Baldree absolutely smashed this one!
I didn’t think it was going to stand up against Legends & Lattes but it definitely did!

I went into this book expecting to love it, based on how much I had enjoyed reading Legends and Lattes. I was right to be excited! Baldree nails the cosy fantasy genre, bringing more depth of character to Viv and fleshing out her backstory whilst also maintaining enough adventure to keep the reader interested.

As a lover of any books featuring a bookshop, this was always going to be a win for me, and this was a pretty good example of the genre. I'm not generally a lover of anything featuring romance, but what romance there was was never a main feature, so it was enjoyable for me to read.

If you like fantasy, adventure and cosiness, I would recommend this book to you!