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erebus53's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
I didn't know what to think going into this title. It was one of the most read books in my book club so I assumed it was an easy read and was not disappointed.
This is a cosy novel. It's fairly short and is aimed at modern nerds. The main character is an orc fighter who is used to being the brawn of her adventuring party. During her travels she recently encountered, and was won over by, a strange gnomish beverage.. a stimulating bean water called "coffee".
Having saved up her plunder, and a magical stone rumoured to have fortune enhancing properties, she heads to the city to set up a shop.. but who will she sell to, considering nobody has even heard of her product?
Much of this story is the building of the shop, finding employees, making friends, designing a menu, and getting rid of people who want to intimidate, extort or stalk them.
As a result the aim of the game seems to be, leaning into friendships, and using your words, when your sword could be doing the talking.. if you wanted it to.. nothing says "not interested" like a couple of feet of steel.. I mean...
This story leans hard into the sort of personal loves and anachronism that roleplayers typically bring to a game. Mashing things into a high fantasy setting, like coffee machines, cinnamon pinwheels, electric- er.. "thaumic" lute, ceiling fans, and a pet interdimensional hell cat, make it a lighthearted adventure in.. interior decorating and urban marketing(?).
Not.. ultra-engaging, but exactly what I was in the mood for at the time.
This is a cosy novel. It's fairly short and is aimed at modern nerds. The main character is an orc fighter who is used to being the brawn of her adventuring party. During her travels she recently encountered, and was won over by, a strange gnomish beverage.. a stimulating bean water called "coffee".
Having saved up her plunder, and a magical stone rumoured to have fortune enhancing properties, she heads to the city to set up a shop.. but who will she sell to, considering nobody has even heard of her product?
Much of this story is the building of the shop, finding employees, making friends, designing a menu, and getting rid of people who want to intimidate, extort or stalk them.
As a result the aim of the game seems to be, leaning into friendships, and using your words, when your sword could be doing the talking.. if you wanted it to.. nothing says "not interested" like a couple of feet of steel.. I mean...
This story leans hard into the sort of personal loves and anachronism that roleplayers typically bring to a game. Mashing things into a high fantasy setting, like coffee machines, cinnamon pinwheels, electric- er.. "thaumic" lute, ceiling fans, and a pet interdimensional hell cat, make it a lighthearted adventure in.. interior decorating and urban marketing(?).
Not.. ultra-engaging, but exactly what I was in the mood for at the time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, Death, Violence, and Gore
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence and Death
wishbea's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
Utterly brilliant! I knew this book had been hyped up a lot and I was shocked at how well it lived up to that hype, I never expected to be so invested in a fictional coffee shop ran by an orc but here we are.
Even the side characters are completely loveable, I can't wait for the sequel.
I did not expect Durias to be a time traveller!!! It's such a small thing that doesn't need to be there but the fact that it is makes me love this world even more
Edit: With time I think this wasn't as good as I thought it was, the romance is barely there and most characters have 1 trait. Rating lowered to 4 stars from 5.
Even the side characters are completely loveable, I can't wait for the sequel.
Edit: With time I think this wasn't as good as I thought it was, the romance is barely there and most characters have 1 trait. Rating lowered to 4 stars from 5.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol, Gore, Cursing, and Death
traa's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence, Death, Xenophobia, and Bullying
cturn'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
Minor: Sexual harassment
jhbandcats's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
5.0
This book was absolutely charming, sweet without being treacly, funny but with some serious themes. It’s also a clever, unique idea - a battle-weary orc lays down her sword to open a coffee shop in a land where no one has ever heard of coffee!
Viv, the aforementioned orc, believes her good luck with her new coffee shop is due to the magic stone she keeps nearby. It’s really her warmth and enthusiasm and friendship that creates goodness and success around her. The story is simple with few plot twists or complexities, but it’s just such an easy read - I sank into the story and never wanted it to end. I just wanted a latte and lots of cinnamon rolls and croissants.
After all, how could I *not* like this? There’s a hero cat!
Viv, the aforementioned orc, believes her good luck with her new coffee shop is due to the magic stone she keeps nearby. It’s really her warmth and enthusiasm and friendship that creates goodness and success around her. The story is simple with few plot twists or complexities, but it’s just such an easy read - I sank into the story and never wanted it to end. I just wanted a latte and lots of cinnamon rolls and croissants.
After all, how could I *not* like this? There’s a hero cat!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Blood, and Violence
_alyssar_'s review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder, Death, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
drtx_bwt's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Murder and Death
mandkips's review against another edition
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence and Sexual harassment
Minor: Blood and Death
madradstarchild's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Violence, Chronic illness, and Death