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shottel's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.75
A delightfully down-to-earth story set in a world most of us recognize as the backdrop for epic adventures of high magic and dangerous beasts, Legends & Lattes has us follow the main character as she opens a coffee shop in an unfamiliar city which has no knowledge of what coffee even is. She deals with some very mundane issues of corruption, business, and old friends, while a romance blooms in the background. My sole problem with this book is that it seems that romance stays a bit in the background; maybe the author is trying to riff on the whole "oblivious lesbians" stereotype, but I don't feel like there was a satisfying conclusion to that line, even as every other thread gets tied up in a neat knot by the end. Nevertheless, the book is generally quite lighthearted, very well-written, and a wonderful break from the "big" stories most fantasy novels trade in. I strongly recommend it, with the sole caveat to not expect much from the romance part of the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Violence
monicalaurette's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was fun and gave me exactly what I expected from it. I wanted a fantasy book that didn’t have a lot of high stakes, and that’s what I got. I also got a little bit of a found family (after the family of Viv’s prior crew) and enjoyed how everything came together.
I’ve seen some people complain about how often Viv had to explain coffee to someone, but I honestly didn’t think it happened much and each time Thimble came up with a new food item I was so happy for him. I think he might be my favorite character out of all of them.
“Things don’t have to stay as what they started out as.”
Not much else I can really say about it without spoiling anything but I’m glad I finally picked this up and interested to see if the prequel story is equally as fun to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Minor: Stalking
scifi_rat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, Violence, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
tinkeringcheck's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
So I absolutely adored the characters, especially kind and determined and orcish fish out of water Viv. I also loved the community of odd ducks that gather around her, the little corner of the city we see, the retired DND character settling down and starting over vibes, and the low stakes fantasy atmosphere where pressing issues include generating word-of-mouth-advertising. I read it all in one sitting and can't remember the last time I had such a relaxed and easy time with a book.
... But (and I hate that there's a but). The plot. What took me out of the story was how most of the plot beats are just recreating the elements of a Hip Modern Coffee Shop. Which was cute at first in a wink-wink nudge-nudge way, but when it became the entire plot it just felt... boring. These characters are deeply amazed by modern things like *checks notes*a range hood , but when it happens for the nth time with no fantasy veneer it starts to feel a little hard to care. I really think the story could've hinged on one of the mysterious, easily hand-waved B plots and felt much more cohesive.
Honestly, I think the plotting might have fallen victim to the low stakes promise - or at least one interpretation of it. Here, that meant the characters were facing molehill instead of mountain challenges with the same weight and payoff. And I think that can work, if woven into a bigger story. But here it's like the bigger story wasn't allowed any airtime because that would be too many stakes. And yet a mountain of consequences fall on the characters from that bigger story anyway, but now it feels like the characters had no agency to deal with it beforehand.
So I'd argue the story doesn't even stick to its low stakes claim in the first place. It's more like 90% 'low stakes' and 10% 'consequences from the interesting, higher stakes plot happening invisibly in the background that we decided not to use but still have its consequences air-dropped out of nowhere.'
... But (and I hate that there's a but). The plot. What took me out of the story was how most of the plot beats are just recreating the elements of a Hip Modern Coffee Shop. Which was cute at first in a wink-wink nudge-nudge way, but when it became the entire plot it just felt... boring. These characters are deeply amazed by modern things like *checks notes*
Honestly, I think the plotting might have fallen victim to the low stakes promise - or at least one interpretation of it. Here, that meant the characters were facing molehill instead of mountain challenges with the same weight and payoff. And I think that can work, if woven into a bigger story. But here it's like the bigger story wasn't allowed any airtime because that would be too many stakes. And yet a mountain of consequences fall on the characters from that bigger story anyway, but now it feels like the characters had no agency to deal with it beforehand.
So I'd argue the story doesn't even stick to its low stakes claim in the first place. It's more like 90% 'low stakes' and 10% 'consequences from the interesting, higher stakes plot happening invisibly in the background that we decided not to use but still have its consequences air-dropped out of nowhere.'
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcohol and Violence
abby_can_read's review
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was an adorable read. I can understand why it's popular and I can see the appeal of the cozy fantasy genre. I liked how simple the plot was -- there weren't any big plot twists like I'm used to. The characters were fun and I loved reading about their relationship develop. The pacing was good. While I liked the ending, I would love to read more about these characters and their futures together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence and Sexual harassment
Minor: Xenophobia
msgslibrary's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
lucystolethesky's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Violence
dragonaion's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-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
I was unsure what to expect when I saw this book, but kind-hearted fantasy was just the thing I was looking for. Halfway through the book, I found that I couldn't put it down.
This reads exactly like a one-on-one D&D campaign, whose main adventurer reached the end of the main campaign, maxed leveling, and said to their DM, "I don't want to stop playing... But I don't wanna adventure anymore."
This book is the DM smiling, leaning forward against their screen and saying, "Do you remember the coffee you found in that last city?"
This reads exactly like a one-on-one D&D campaign, whose main adventurer reached the end of the main campaign, maxed leveling, and said to their DM, "I don't want to stop playing... But I don't wanna adventure anymore."
This book is the DM smiling, leaning forward against their screen and saying, "Do you remember the coffee you found in that last city?"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, and Sexual content
virtuadoll's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
the fucking comfort book ever
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Violence and Sexual harassment
refrejarator's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
3.5
Very sweet - a nice, low-stakes read for quiet days with a cuppa.
Content Warnings
Minor: Stalking, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Blood, Racism, and Xenophobia
Racism/xenophobia is for fantasy characters and races, and not focused on heavily.