Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - Księgarnie i kościopył

Loved it! It was just as excellent as Legends & Lattes, but definitely with something new and enjoyable.

It was great to get to see what Viv was like when she started out. Fern is amazing, Potroast is a treasure, and I loved Satchel! All of the characters, from the main to the supporting (like Pitts!!), were all so vibrant and fun.

I also really loved how well this book depicted books and their impact on people. Even those who may not consider themselves readers can have their lives changed by the right story at the right time. Viv's words in the epilogue really drive that point home. I loved the epilogue!!! Especially how it leaves the "story past the story" so open to more joy and friendship.

Comparing B&B to L&L, I like how this book shows the beginning of Viv's career as a mercenary, just as L&L shows its end. From the opening scenes in each we can already see a marked difference in Viv's actions and attitude. It would be cool to see more of Viv's growth during that interim, but also these two books feel like a complete story.

I also like how the endings of the two books contrast so well. Where B&B ends in goodbyes, emphasizing that the chapter of Viv's life in Murk is ending, L&L ends in a beginning instead.

My favorite theme that is traced across both novels is that idea of sometimes not being the right person at the right time, and that's ok. I think that acceptance, that comfort with growth and rejection of the fear of missing out, is what truly makes this a cozy book/series.

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chainsawmochi's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

"Bookshops & Bonedust" unfortunately suffers from the sequel (or in this case, prequel) syndrome of being good but not as good as the original. While I did enjoy getting to know a younger version of the main character, Viv, I felt like she was much flatter in her characterization than she was in "Legends & Lattes." The cast of supporting characters were loveable, but not as loveable as those found in the previous book.

As for the plot, it was solid; I was entertained and enjoyed myself while reading. I enjoyed the slow and steady pace. There was some action in areas to break up the easy feeling--to keep one on one's toes, I suppose you might say. The growing danger of the villain was a nice touch. The moments of reading a book within a book were nice as well, giving the reader a good look into the literature of Viv's world. I really enjoyed that bit as it is something you don't normally see in a fantasy novel.

That's really what makes this series, as a whole, wonderful--author Travis Baldree is able to weave and create a world around the characters without being too abrasive about it. The world building is gentle, easy. It feels so natural to learn about the universe held within the series by just taking in small things like town names, the literature, the food, the drinks, and the small shops that Viv visits and eventually owns.

Second come the characters. As I mentioned, in this book, Viv is a little lackluster compared to the older version of herself that comes later. The Viv we have in "Bookshops & Bonedust" is still fresh to the world, so it's understandable that she comes across as a blank slate. She doesn't really know who she is yet, either. Joining her this go around is a cast of characters that are memorable. That being said, I don't feel like they stick in the same way the characters in "Legends & Lattes" do. They are still interesting, but they just don't scratch the itch the same way.

If you are going to read this book, please do yourself a favor and read it before you take a gander at "Legends & Lattes." For those readers that have already read the aforementioned book, maybe skip this one unless you really, really love Viv.

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hypofocus's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

What a lovely followup to Legends and Lattes! This one got some tears outta me. This book feels like what tender reassurance sounds like to an unsure heart.

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indoctrine's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

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embersbooknook's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

I absolutely adored this book. And I can say with absolute certainty that this and Legends & Lattes will both be oft reread and very cherished books in my life, always.
It felt a bit like House in the Cerulean Sea, these two books. The same warm, found family, struggles, and ultimately finding out who you are and where you belong.

I shed a few tears at the end of this one, though not in a bad way - it reminded me of the bittersweetness of life, exactly Travis Baldree said ‘one goes up and the other goes down, and the crossing will not be repeated’ - there are so many moments like that in life as you find your way, and I was unexpectedly very moved by it.

I absolutely adored all the characters - Maylee, Fern, Gallina, Satchel, Zelia Greatstrider, Pitts the poet, and even Iridia. And Potroast of course!😄 He reminded me of my own little dog.
Travis has a way of building a story that feels like home, and one I have no doubt I shall return to again soon.

Also, the lovely writing pace that Travis started in Legends & Lattes is honed and perfected in Bookshops & Bonedust.
The pace is literally perfect - we have things going on, character development, humor, cozy moments, touching moments, just being moments - and somehow he sews them all together so masterfully that you never want to put it down at all. It…feels like life. The ebbs and flows, and I couldn’t love it more.
I would literally recommend this book to anyone. Beautiful story.

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hayleyvem's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious 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

3.0

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themichellegray's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

3.0

Travis Baldree delivered yet another cozy fantasy set in the 'Legends & Lattes' world! This time it was a love letter to books and the connections readers make with one another. Unfortunately, its difficult not to compare this book to its predecessor.

While I really enjoyed the lore behind Viv's greatsword and friendship with Gallina, this story was lacking some of the warmth that L&L provided. The newly introduced characters were lovable enough but didn't charm me in the same way that Cal and Thimble did. The pacing was VERY slow and often felt as-if nothing was happening; the goals were secondary and the dangers weren't fully explained.

Despite my critiques, this was still an average read that felt safe to return to each day and I really appreciated the epilogue!

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