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bexi's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
So cozy! Deserves all the hype it's been getting. Also: Thimble đź’ś I have nothing further to say.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cursing and Toxic friendship
Minor: Blood, Gore, Sexual harassment, Violence, Death, and Alcohol
creativechaos's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Lovely book for folks who have played or enjoyed Dungeons & Dragons. With a twist of modern thanks to the whole concept of a cafe with its lattes and treats, the story comes together naturally, the characters are lovable and impossible to forget, and the story is simple but incredibly well written. A story of found family, as D&D usually is.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Cursing
purplepenning's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Cozy domestic fantasy that's charming and inclusive
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Gore
Minor: Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Cursing
breadwitchery's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Death, Blood, Cursing, and Violence
tinyelfarcanist's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
With a charming array of characters, Legends & Lattes manages to keep you excited with an update on a coffee shop's menu. Now I want to try every pastry mentioned in the book.
I love how they get to create these aromatic beverages ahead of their time thanks to gnomish ingenuity. Oh, the magic of gnomish technology!
There's a blooming romance, but I didn't catch the chemistry the rest of the characters seemed to. In the end, this is not a romantic story, but one of found family and new chapters.
I love how they get to create these aromatic beverages ahead of their time thanks to gnomish ingenuity. Oh, the magic of gnomish technology!
There's a blooming romance, but I didn't catch the chemistry the rest of the characters seemed to. In the end, this is not a romantic story, but one of found family and new chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence and Death
booksthatburn's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
LEGENDS & LATTES pronounces itself high fantasy with low stakes, and it absolutely delivers. Viv has given up adventuring and now worries about things like building her coffee shop, attracting customers, explaining what coffee is, and other small intricacies of running a business in a new place, doing the everyday work that builds a cozy space for all who enter it peacefully. I love its take on a café cat.
As an orc, Viv deals with some conversational bumps as people tend to assume that the only thing she can be is the profession she’s left behind. Leaving adventuring as suddenly as she did left some hard feelings, and occasionally people from her former life show up whether she’s ready for them or not.
The worldbuilding assumes at least a passing familiarity with a D&D-style setting, and offers a lovely breath of fresh air which is something more exciting than the life of an NPC and less tumultuous than that of an adventurer… in the form of a former adventurer whose goal now is to build and run a coffee shop. It’s not a trouble-free endeavor, but the logistics are quieter and the problems are solved with tasty treats instead of violence. Sometimes Viv struggles with the temptation her sword offers, for some problems which arise have a more violent solution available to her.
The only thing stopping this from being the metaphorical embodiment of a fuzzy blanket, a requested hug, and curling up with my favorite beverage is a couple instances of ableist language, the kind of thing I routinely note and dock half a star for, but which don’t mar my overall enjoyment of the book.
It begins and ends with the fiddly and interesting process of designing a space for a purpose, full of details about floor plans, furniture, carpentry, and soothing conversations. Viv proceeds from step to step in a soothingly methodical manner, quietly surprised when she succeeds in building a calm and welcoming space, and even more surprised when she gets friends along the way. This is a delight to read and a breath of fresh air.
As an orc, Viv deals with some conversational bumps as people tend to assume that the only thing she can be is the profession she’s left behind. Leaving adventuring as suddenly as she did left some hard feelings, and occasionally people from her former life show up whether she’s ready for them or not.
The worldbuilding assumes at least a passing familiarity with a D&D-style setting, and offers a lovely breath of fresh air which is something more exciting than the life of an NPC and less tumultuous than that of an adventurer… in the form of a former adventurer whose goal now is to build and run a coffee shop. It’s not a trouble-free endeavor, but the logistics are quieter and the problems are solved with tasty treats instead of violence. Sometimes Viv struggles with the temptation her sword offers, for some problems which arise have a more violent solution available to her.
The only thing stopping this from being the metaphorical embodiment of a fuzzy blanket, a requested hug, and curling up with my favorite beverage is a couple instances of ableist language, the kind of thing I routinely note and dock half a star for, but which don’t mar my overall enjoyment of the book.
It begins and ends with the fiddly and interesting process of designing a space for a purpose, full of details about floor plans, furniture, carpentry, and soothing conversations. Viv proceeds from step to step in a soothingly methodical manner, quietly surprised when she succeeds in building a calm and welcoming space, and even more surprised when she gets friends along the way. This is a delight to read and a breath of fresh air.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Ableism, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Excrement, Death, and Racism
george_d_keaton's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I have read plenty of cozy mysteries and cozy romances, but this is my first time reading a cozy fantasy novel. Legends & Lattes delivers on the premise in the blurb: high fantasy and low stakes. I love pirate stories because they are going after booty not trying to save the world from Cthulhu. I loved this story because Viv the orc barbarian wants to start a new life, simple as that.
The story builds literally and figuratively. The first half of the book is Viv and her buddy Cal building the coffee shop out of an old livery. It's like an episode of "This Old House," only in fantasy form. They have to fix the roof, install a stove, wait for deliveries, pretty mundane stuff, but the writing helps bring a certain charm to the construction. Along the way there are hints of conflict as men from the local underworld try to convince her to pay for protection. Old friends and a certain frenemy show up as well and try to steer her in opposite directions. All the while Viv stays strong and follows her heart.
I should warn you that the descriptions of coffee and pastries is very vivid and will make you want to go get some.
The book is a very relaxed and chill way to spend a few hours. My biggest complaint is that a budding romance is not explored in depth. I don't need raunch in my cozy fantasy, but it would be nice for the ladies to enjoy their time together more. There are a lot of good spirited antics going on. I really enjoyed getting to see the characters build a new life while building a coffee shop.
The story builds literally and figuratively. The first half of the book is Viv and her buddy Cal building the coffee shop out of an old livery. It's like an episode of "This Old House," only in fantasy form. They have to fix the roof, install a stove, wait for deliveries, pretty mundane stuff, but the writing helps bring a certain charm to the construction. Along the way there are hints of conflict as men from the local underworld try to convince her to pay for protection. Old friends and a certain frenemy show up as well and try to steer her in opposite directions. All the while Viv stays strong and follows her heart.
I should warn you that the descriptions of coffee and pastries is very vivid and will make you want to go get some.
The book is a very relaxed and chill way to spend a few hours. My biggest complaint is that a budding romance is not explored in depth. I don't need raunch in my cozy fantasy, but it would be nice for the ladies to enjoy their time together more. There are a lot of good spirited antics going on. I really enjoyed getting to see the characters build a new life while building a coffee shop.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Stalking
Minor: Cursing
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