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hendrixpants's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content and Violence
relin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
It was lovely to get some pre-history on Viv before Legends and Lattes! It was very sweet and soft.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Animal cruelty and Bullying
For the Animal death, its related to wild non-earth-like creatures. The Animal cruelty is short, and treated as unexpected cruelty by the non-animal beings who saw it.booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST is a slightly bloodier (but still very cozy) prequel to LEGENDS & LATTES. Viv is an orc warrior, wounded in the leg just as she's starting out her career with Rackam's Ravens. She spends the summer recuperating from an injury in a seaside town named Murk, helping a local bookseller turn her shop around, and getting to know the cute dwarven baker down the street. It’s a story about finding joy and meaning and impermanence, appreciating something good even when you know it won’t last forever.
BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST is an unabashed love letter to books, bookshops, and booksellers helping the local bookseller get out of a rut and fix up her store. Viv is recuperating from a leg injury which sidelines her while the Ravens go after a necromancer. She hates being left out of the action and forced to slow down, but starts to feel the benefits as her forced rest continues, discovering an interest in reading.
As a prequel, BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST helps to explain why Viv would want to start a coffee shop when her adventuring is done, something Legends & Lattes didn’t dwell on in any detail because that wasn't the focus of its story. This can be read before, after, or completely separately from the first book, though the epilogue takes place after Legends & Lattes and contains minor spoilers.
BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST is an unabashed love letter to books, bookshops, and booksellers helping the local bookseller get out of a rut and fix up her store. Viv is recuperating from a leg injury which sidelines her while the Ravens go after a necromancer. She hates being left out of the action and forced to slow down, but starts to feel the benefits as her forced rest continues, discovering an interest in reading.
As a prequel, BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST helps to explain why Viv would want to start a coffee shop when her adventuring is done, something Legends & Lattes didn’t dwell on in any detail because that wasn't the focus of its story. This can be read before, after, or completely separately from the first book, though the epilogue takes place after Legends & Lattes and contains minor spoilers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Cursing, Confinement, Violence, Blood, War, and Death
Minor: Ableism, Racism, Animal cruelty, and Slavery
booksemmahasread's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, and Medical content
fanboyriot's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
Read For:
Sapphic
Cozy Vibes
Slice of Life
Wholesome
High Fantasy
This has such a lovely vibe to it, the atmosphere of this book was much cozier than I was expecting it to be. I loved the story and the narrator did a wonderful job with bringing each character to life.
I actually haven't read Legends & Lattes yet but after this am definitely going to have to pick it up. I loved the worldbuilding and the character development, the writing style was so pleasant. This is the type of fantasy for me, there wasn’t a bunch of character names I needed to learn on the first page, and the plot was slow-paced in such a good way. I was able to fully follow along and everything unraveled really well, the ending really brought in all the feels and I couldn’t be happier with it. This book was amazing.
Thank you so much to the author, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (5/5)
Release Date: 07, November 2023
POV: Third Person
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rep: Queer (MC)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Cursing
Moderate: Blood, Gore, Violence, Death, and Confinement
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual content, Torture, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Murder
indieandajean's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillian Audio for this audiobook ARC of Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree in return for an honest review!
In Bookshops & Bonedust we meet young Viv, an orc merc with a love of bashing skulls, in what at first seems like the lowest moment of her career. Injured and feeling abandoned, Viv is healing from a stab wound in the sleepy seaside town of Murk while her associates in Rackam's Ravens are off trying to hunt down a dangerous necromancer. As luck would have it, Viv's uncanny ability to make friends puts her firmly in the middle of a cozy business restoration (readers of Legends and Lattes will find this familiar, but no less charming) as well as in the crosshairs of trouble.
The book brings all the cozy fantasy energy that Legends and Lattes was praised for, with a more adventurous and involved plot. The bookshop elements up the cozy and familiar factor for readers in the best possible way, and with the lovable characters that fill the shops walls, it's easy to cheer for the inevitable happily ever after.
Travis Baldree's ability to create a fantasy world that feels believable without getting lost in the weeds of unnecessary/ excessive world-building is commendable and makes it easy for any reader to enjoy the novel without feeling out of depth. Readers need not enter into the book with a vast knowledge of fantasy creatures and tropes, as while the inclusions are fun for those familiar, it is primarily set dressing for the warm story of interpersonal dynamics.
This is the perfect prequel to Legends and Lattes and can be read before or after the cozy coffeeshop fantasy. I highly recommend this read to anyone looking for a read that will make them feel warm and well cared for. This book, much like Legends and Lattes, is the literary equivalent of a blanket and cozy fireplace on a cold winters' night.
In Bookshops & Bonedust we meet young Viv, an orc merc with a love of bashing skulls, in what at first seems like the lowest moment of her career. Injured and feeling abandoned, Viv is healing from a stab wound in the sleepy seaside town of Murk while her associates in Rackam's Ravens are off trying to hunt down a dangerous necromancer. As luck would have it, Viv's uncanny ability to make friends puts her firmly in the middle of a cozy business restoration (readers of Legends and Lattes will find this familiar, but no less charming) as well as in the crosshairs of trouble.
The book brings all the cozy fantasy energy that Legends and Lattes was praised for, with a more adventurous and involved plot. The bookshop elements up the cozy and familiar factor for readers in the best possible way, and with the lovable characters that fill the shops walls, it's easy to cheer for the inevitable happily ever after.
Travis Baldree's ability to create a fantasy world that feels believable without getting lost in the weeds of unnecessary/ excessive world-building is commendable and makes it easy for any reader to enjoy the novel without feeling out of depth. Readers need not enter into the book with a vast knowledge of fantasy creatures and tropes, as while the inclusions are fun for those familiar, it is primarily set dressing for the warm story of interpersonal dynamics.
This is the perfect prequel to Legends and Lattes and can be read before or after the cozy coffeeshop fantasy. I highly recommend this read to anyone looking for a read that will make them feel warm and well cared for. This book, much like Legends and Lattes, is the literary equivalent of a blanket and cozy fireplace on a cold winters' night.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Alcohol, Death, Medical content, Violence, Blood, Animal death, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
uranaishi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Medical content, and Violence
Minor: Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Slavery, Animal cruelty, Racism, and Torture
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
You got me with the bookseller who just wants to connect people with books, honestly. That angle was absolutely my favorite part of this one, as Viv gets into all of the books that she's recommended. It's honestly quite adorable!
This book has the same cozy vibes as [book:Legends & Lattes|61242426], with the epilogue bringing the two full circle. I would definitely continue to read stories set in this world because it's just so cozy and fun and a delight to read. Loving the fact that cozy fantasy is making the mark that it is.
Also, Travis Baldree reads the audio and does a fabulous job, honestly. Sometimes it's hit or miss with authors reading their own books, but he has a great narration voice. I would listen to more books with him as the narrator!
This book has the same cozy vibes as [book:Legends & Lattes|61242426], with the epilogue bringing the two full circle. I would definitely continue to read stories set in this world because it's just so cozy and fun and a delight to read. Loving the fact that cozy fantasy is making the mark that it is.
Also, Travis Baldree reads the audio and does a fabulous job, honestly. Sometimes it's hit or miss with authors reading their own books, but he has a great narration voice. I would listen to more books with him as the narrator!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Death
krisalexcole's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Medical content, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, and Death
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Medical content, Blood, and Violence