Scan barcode
kay_west_reads's review against another edition
5.0
5/5 A book-shaped hug for cozy fantasy lovers.
This prequel to Legends and Lattes is set when our main character, Viv, is still finding her footing as an adventurer and warrior. She's scar-free and loving her time with her new crew until a severe leg wound from a fight leaves her convalescing in a small town. She's confident her crew will come back for few weeks, well she's pretty sure, okay she's just really hoping they return as promised.
Forced to take a step away from the warrior/adventurer life and slow down (figuratively and literally, she is hobbling on her injured leg), she meets a harried bookseller in a musty bookshop, a retired warrior-turned baker, and a host of other warm, loving and insightful characters.
In her first conversation with the bookseller, Viv is recommended a book, which she takes hesitantly, and once she starts reading, can't put it down. Between a blossoming love of reading and a growing friendship with the bookseller, Viv helps fix-up the old, crumbing, overstuffed bookshop. Readers of Legends and Lattes will appreciate the similar beats found in this storyline. As Viv starts building a community around herself, her confidence in the adventurer life begins to shake. However, before she can make any decisions a necromancer threatens the peace she's found, and the adventure comes to her!
Did you know that the audiobook is narrated by the author, Travis Baldree?! To my surprise, I learned he's an accomplished narrator, and he does not disappoint! There is quite a sprawling cast of characters that make up the townsfolk and villains, and Travis gives each one their own cadence, timbre and accent. What a treat to have the author so talentedly read the book. I wonder if those are the voices he heard in his head as he wrote the story?
The story can be read without having read Legends and Latte's first, but the epilogue does have some spoilers. Also, the epilogue!! Travis, you stopped my heart, then made it explode.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced listener copy.
This book is best read while you're recovering from an injury/illness, sitting in a well-loved chair, while eating fresh baked goods. Oh, and if the book suddenly opens up a portal into another dimension, definitely reach your hand through and see what you can find.
This prequel to Legends and Lattes is set when our main character, Viv, is still finding her footing as an adventurer and warrior. She's scar-free and loving her time with her new crew until a severe leg wound from a fight leaves her convalescing in a small town. She's confident her crew will come back for few weeks, well she's pretty sure, okay she's just really hoping they return as promised.
Forced to take a step away from the warrior/adventurer life and slow down (figuratively and literally, she is hobbling on her injured leg), she meets a harried bookseller in a musty bookshop, a retired warrior-turned baker, and a host of other warm, loving and insightful characters.
In her first conversation with the bookseller, Viv is recommended a book, which she takes hesitantly, and once she starts reading, can't put it down. Between a blossoming love of reading and a growing friendship with the bookseller, Viv helps fix-up the old, crumbing, overstuffed bookshop. Readers of Legends and Lattes will appreciate the similar beats found in this storyline. As Viv starts building a community around herself, her confidence in the adventurer life begins to shake. However, before she can make any decisions a necromancer threatens the peace she's found, and the adventure comes to her!
Did you know that the audiobook is narrated by the author, Travis Baldree?! To my surprise, I learned he's an accomplished narrator, and he does not disappoint! There is quite a sprawling cast of characters that make up the townsfolk and villains, and Travis gives each one their own cadence, timbre and accent. What a treat to have the author so talentedly read the book. I wonder if those are the voices he heard in his head as he wrote the story?
The story can be read without having read Legends and Latte's first, but the epilogue does have some spoilers. Also, the epilogue!! Travis, you stopped my heart, then made it explode.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced listener copy.
This book is best read while you're recovering from an injury/illness, sitting in a well-loved chair, while eating fresh baked goods. Oh, and if the book suddenly opens up a portal into another dimension, definitely reach your hand through and see what you can find.
among_the_stacks's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
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? N/A
4.0
clotalksbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A book featuring books, what's not to love? Managed to live my fantasy of working in a cute little bookshop with access to baked goods through the characters. Loved learning more about Viv and how she came to be the person we saw in Legends & Lattes. Although this is a prequel, I definitely think you get more from it if you read L&L first.
Just a nice, cosy read, with just the right amount of sword play to keep me on my toes. Would recommend!
Just a nice, cosy read, with just the right amount of sword play to keep me on my toes. Would recommend!
_j3ss1ca's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
charlielizabethm's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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? No
3.75
This book is fine.
The writing about books and coffee in the series is very nice.
The writing about books and coffee in the series is very nice.
dodgerjess's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.75
ajalexanderreadsromance's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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? Yes
4.0
pizzabanditkat's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.5
massmassmarket's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
I enjoyed the Bookshops. Could've done without the Bonedust.
There's DNF-ing a book, but you ever heard of DNFin' an entire character? I refused to read any paragraph or line of dialogue related to a certain gnomic, author-mandated "comedic" sidekick and nothing of value was lost. The narrative was still easy to understand. That is a problem, and Baldree seems talented enough he should've known better than to phone it in like this.
I loved all the cozy bits, the developing relationships, and was hugely invested in the survival of the Thistledown bookstore. This book should've had the courage of its conviction and committed fully to the bit. The adventure/mystery plot was just paint-by-numbers boring, so why bother including it at all. Did his editor insist on it?
There's DNF-ing a book, but you ever heard of DNFin' an entire character? I refused to read any paragraph or line of dialogue related to a certain gnomic, author-mandated "comedic" sidekick and nothing of value was lost. The narrative was still easy to understand. That is a problem, and Baldree seems talented enough he should've known better than to phone it in like this.
I loved all the cozy bits, the developing relationships, and was hugely invested in the survival of the Thistledown bookstore. This book should've had the courage of its conviction and committed fully to the bit. The adventure/mystery plot was just paint-by-numbers boring, so why bother including it at all. Did his editor insist on it?