This book was really charming! It’s the first foray for me into this kind of fantasy with orcs and dwarves etc but this Cosy approach was probably perfect for a romance reader like me. I hadn’t read the first book (I believe B&B is a prequel), but that didn’t detract from my experience at all. It stands up to being a stand-alone, but I’ll most likely seek out Literature and Lattes now. I listened to the audio, which was well read, but it seemed a slightly odd choice to have a male narrator, given how female-orientated the story is. (Perhaps it is the same narrator as the first book, kept for continuity, and the first book has more male characters so it feels a better choice? Or perhaps the choice was made under the opinion that male listeners wouldn’t like a woman narrating? Either way, it was something that stood out to me.)

My Thoughts: 3.75 stars

This was one of my most anticipated reads. I absolutely loved the first in this series as it gave vibes from one of my favourite game: World of Warcraft. This prequel was good and I did enjoy it, I felt as though there wasn’t much plot as such. I understand it is a cosy mystery with low stakes and it could be because I could not connect as much with an audiobook but I felt I would have preferred a follow on rather than a prequel and a little more character depth and development. I will be reading the physical copy when available and see if I can connect more which could change my view :)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Travis Baldree has done it again! Another perfect, cosy read that's just perfect for these autumn evenings.

I loved hearing more about Vic, learning about her life before Legends and Lattes and sharing in her newfound love of books. This beautiful story follows Vic healing after a leg injury and finding herself suddenly with a much quieter life than she expected, in a town far smaller than she wanted and feeling confined by her healing and wish to return to her sword swinging life.
Instead, she finds herself embracing new experiences, new friendships, and romance.

Another beautifully told tale to comfort readers and transport you to a mellow, homely world.

As someone who loved Legends and Lattes, this prequel was a delightful companion to the main book.

Detailing an adventure within the same world, I found this book to be a fun and playful addition to the former, adding extra characterisation and weight to the characters and their world. A joyful book with a great narrator.

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Macmillan UK Audio and NetGalley for the free audio-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect example of a 'cosy' read - it has all the possibilities of a wild fantasy, heavy on drama and action, yet it chooses a slower pace, a softer character and lower stakes. As a result, the reader is left with a comfortable prequel to Legends and Lattes which introduces the wonderful character of Viv.

While the romance aspect was almost lost amongst the other side plots and felt a little like a side-quest gone astray, the book was very enjoyable and Baldree narrates the story wonderfully, with the perfect voice to accompany each character.

The story is well paced and has enough of a plot that the reader (or in this case listener) is kept engaged from start to finish and the side characters flesh out the tale wonderfully. Especially Potroast.

While it is not imperative to have read Legends and Lattes, the epilogue for Bookshops & Bonedust does spoil it a little, though there is nothing shocking/groundbreaking revealed.

4.5 stars

Another fantastic cosy read. I expected this to be a sequel but it's a prequel that introduces some wonderful new characters and friendships set in a small town where Viv helps a bookstore owner whilst she recovers from an injury that prevents her from continuing with her mercenary life. Along the way they get mixed up with a necromancer.

Very cute, very fun read.

An injured battle-hungry orc finds herself stranded in a town where she steps into a crumbling book shop and with a motley crew of misfits they fight evil while bringing the bookshop to life again.

I loved that in this tale the bookshop was a protagonist too. Again a fantasy fiction which I enjoyed reading and would recommend. Go read Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree!

Thank You for the review copy.

Travis Baldree has done it again. Fans of cozy fantasy, look no further, this is the book for you.

Bookshops & Bonedust is the prequel to Legends & Lattes, with its story taking place during the time in which Viv was still working as a mercenary, only that, for some circumstances, she is forced to take a break from adventuring and swordfighting. It has charming characters, a lighthearted tone and a cozy atmosphere that feels like a snug embrace, and it is a great read if you want to take a break from reality and just feel warm and fuzzy for a short while.

For people who might be wondering if they should read Legends & Lattes before or after this: While the majority of Bookshops & Bonedust happens before the events of Legends & Lattes, the epilogue takes places after it. Personally I think you might get more enjoyment by reading L&L first, but both options work fine.

If authors narrating their own stories for the audiobooks then you are in luck here! Travis Baldree has narrated hundreds of books including, of course, his own!

Overall, Bookshops & Bonedust has cemented Travis Baldree as one of my favourite authors of cozy fantasy and one whose books I can easily recommend to everyone!

Thank you very much to Macmillan UK Audio and NetGalley for providing me an Audio-ARC!

"Bookshops & Bonedust" by Travis Baldree is yet another cozy read that I enjoyed just as much as "Legends & Lattes" (which I gave a four-star rating). The story revolves around Viv, a tough orc warrior who finds herself in a completely unexpected situation after an injury takes her away from the battlefield and lands her in the quiet town of Murk. I really enjoyed the characters, but especially, I especially enjoyed The Bookshop. It became a special place for Viv, and as a fellow book lover, I could totally relate to the magic of books and their power to inspire.

"Bookshops & Bonedust" is a book about the magic of books and the beauty of unexpected friendships. And if you enjoyed "Legends & lattes", I highly recommend it. Travis Baldree has once again created a story that will leave you with a warm, cozy feeling long after you've finished reading.

(Will be updated when review is posted on other platforms)

I gave Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree 5 stars

Viv's career with the notorious 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 beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn't possibly imagine.

Still, adventure isn't all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, 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.

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I started book 1 in the series but didn't get far before I was approved for an ARC for this book. So I put Legends & Lattes down and picked this prequel up instead.

I had heard so many things about Legends & Lattes, so I went in with high expectations. I must say it delivered! It was a very cozy read with low stakes. My go-to genre is usually cozy mystery, and that is because they have mundane moments in the main characters' life that I like to read about, just like this book. Food, books, family and relationships!

I listened to the audiobook, and it is the author himself narrating it. He did an amazing job, so I think I will pick up the audio version of Legends & Lattes instead of the e-book version.

This book comes out 09 Nov.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CyTQZjQrY-E/

5 stars

I loved every minute of this book. It is extremely cosy with much lower stakes than Legends & Lattes, which is probably the only 'negative' I could think to mention.

I loved the atmosphere of the bookshop and getting to meet younger Viv and seeing what she was like before settling down. I also particularly enjoyed meeting new characters in this world and seeing the friendships that develop - Pot Roast was my favourite.

Despite not having a lot of action, the book is funny, fairly fast-paced, and is a very good prequel; I felt it worked very well as its own story while providing some extra context to Legends & Lattes.

Finally, I listened to this as an audiobook and think the author done an amazing job of making it a fun listen and a great experience. I look forward to seeing what Travis Baldree does next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you so much for this ARC!

This story follows Viv, an orc mercenary whose leg was injured during battle and is left to recover in Murk, a quiet little town. She misses the action, but she's not going anywhere with that injured leg, so she might as well explore the town. Viv soon finds a struggling bookshop where she befriends the owner and finds a love for books, among other things ;), and she embarks on a different adventure than what she's used to.

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I was very excited to finally jump into this cozy fantasy world I've been hearing so much about and it didn't disappoint!

I haven't read Legends and Lattes yet, but since I got this ARC, I decided to start with the prequel. This was exactly what I was expecting: cozy and wholesome, a charming setting, lovable characters, and just good vibes all around. I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to read the next one.

The narration was quite good and even though men doing women's voices is a pet peeve of mine, it didn't bother me with this one. It's a lovely listening experience, Travis did a really good job!

A brilliant cozy fantasy, I enjoyed lots the first one and this was no exception. I am part of the luck bunch who could access this ARC and I am
So happy about the whole author work and the way the book was created. I liked it had a little bit of everything that you need in a cozy book. I love viv as character and can’t wait for know about more adventures and how the rest of the characters evolve. Brilliant storytell and brilliant world construction.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

If you have read Legends & Lattes and liked that, you would like this one too. This is the perfect cozy fantasy book, and it can be perfect if you need a little break or just want something with low stakes and a more cozy feeling. It is still fun and entertaining even though it's not as action-packed as more traditionally fantasy.

This book takes place before Legends & Lattes, so you do know some of what will happen after this, but i still thought it was nice to see some of what had happened earlier in her life, and just more of Viv.

And the epilogue! That was a very nice addition to the book. Loved it.

The fact that the author narrates this book himself makes it even better. It comes to life in a great way, and you get it exactly how the author envisioned it.

This author's book just make me feel calm and cozy, and I love them. The first book made me want to open a coffeeshop, and this one reminded me why I love bookselling. With added reanimated bonedust golem monsters.

What a lovely experience to know that there would be stakes, but they wouldn't be anxiety inducing, chosen one style of drama. Baldree's characters - like TJ Klune are all similar in that they're caring, emotionally aware and sarky, but all different enough that you can tell them apart and love them in their own way.

I don't love prequels, as you always know how they turn out - but for a low stakes story, where you DO NOT want the author to mess with the ending of the later book and create more drama for those you love, a prequel is perfect.

Don't miss this one, for a cozy winters night.

I was fortunate enough to receive the e-ARC along with the audio ARC of Bookshops & Bonedust and let me tell you I was HYPED!!

Legends & Lattes was one of my absolute favourites of 2022, it being the perfect heart warming, low stakes, cosy fantasy of my dreams. B&B being a prequel to this tale does try to follow the same path, athough I feel maybe not AS successfully as L&L!  That being said, I VERY much enjoyed being back in this world with Viv and all the new friends we get to know whilst following her along on this journey.

The story itself again follows Viv, an orc mercenary who is injured whilst carrying out a job. As a result, she ends up stranded in a small town whilst she recovers - it is here that she finds the towns bookshop and it's owner Fern who she befriends.

The story itself was very enjoyable, a bit less cosy fantasy as it actually had some level of stakes to it! The characters were fun (and adorable!) the best part of it all was how well done the audiobook is, it’s narrated by the author himself and he does an outstanding job!

Overall - I will forever read anything Baldree writes and although L&L to me was the better book, this was a great prequel! 3.75stars

Thanks so much netgalley and the publisher for the ARCs.

What a delightful reading/hearing. :)
It is like the first one a cozy fantasy story but i liked the loveable charakters and the conversations between all of them. The story isn`t an engaging adventure with action left and right but nevertheless i found myself drawn to the story. Till the end I wanted to know all about the relationships, friendships and lives all together.
Perfect for the stressful time before christmas.

This audiobook is very good and as always a very cosy fantasy story. I actually enjoyed this one FAR more than the previous book. It is clear that the writer is perfecting his craft and keeping us entertained. I swear to god, I never wanted to eat more pastries than when reading this book.. well, listening.
very good narration too.

Loved this. It was so heart warming and cosy. Loved seeing a younger Viv and you can really see different sides of her personality. I love the new characters we met. Fern owns the bookshop and loves to recommend great books that the reader would have never of picked up. There’s a beautiful relationship between Fern and Viv. A baker, a carpenter and a doctor add to the fun cast of characters. The descriptions of Murk make you feel like you’re really there. I also listened to the fabulous audio that really bought the book to life. If you loved Legends & Lattes then you’ll love this. I need more books in this world please.

I am a cosy fantasy convert! Always one to shy away from daunting tombs of high fantasy due to their sheer size and detail, despite loving their content, I have now found a binge-worthy cosy fantasy series from Baldree! Bookshops and Bonedust is a worthy prequel to the much loved and highly reverred Legends and Lattes. Feisty orc Viv is eager to continue her hunt fo powerful necromancer, but following an injury, she is forced to the sleepy beach town on Murk to recuperate. The very idea vexes her. Yet, it isn't long before the Bookshop and its sweary owner draw her in. Friendships and summer flirtations sweeten her stay in Murk but are threatened by an irksome gnome and a suspicious grey traveller. Vivs' quiet restful stay suddenly becomes unexpectedly eventful. A quirky, feel-good and humorous read that will keep you smiling from beginning to end. Superbly narrated by a male narrator with perfectly timed delivery to make the nost of the humorous one-liners #bookshopsandbonedust #travisbaldree #prequel #cosyfantasy #humour #bookshops #netgalley #audiobook #Murk #orcs #gnomes #legendsandlattes