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delandjessica's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book was just a pleasant experience from start to finish. It advertises itself as “A novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes,” and it absolutely delivers on that promise. I didn’t realize I was reading a “cozy” novel until about halfway through, but by then I was so invested in the characters that I didn’t even care.
If you have any background in Dungeons and Dragons or the Dragonlance book series, the world in this book will feel very familiar to you, but the great thing about it is that it’s not necessary in order to understand and enjoy the story. Pretty much the entire book boils down to an orc woman decides to give up being a bloodthirsty adventurer for hire and establish her own coffee shop. There’s very little conflict, tension, or stakes involved, and mostly just follows the orc as she figures out how to build and run the shop and how to make it successful, including them going through a whole charade of “discovering” modern coffee shop things like adding ice or pairing it with biscotti. It’s a lighthearted jaunt into the personal world of this one character and presents such a refreshing angle on a story universe that’s usually so focused on killing and plundering and adventuring and the like.
The characters are unique and relatable, and I found myself getting excited with them whenever they had a win. However, I knocked off a star because the ending was really unsatisfying. The author went through all the effort of setting up a villain of sorts, who does a terrible thing near the end of the story, but then there’s no final confrontation of any kind between him and the main characters. They essentially just deal with the problem he causes, and then leave things up to karma to deal with, which does happen in a very contrived epilogue at the end. It just left me feeling discontented, but it wasn’t enough to ruin the rest of the book since I enjoyed it so much.
Also, please note that there is some strong language in this book that just kind of comes out of nowhere starting at around the 2/3 mark. It personally felt really out of place in this traditional fantasy world. The book also features a LGBTQ+ relationship, so if that’s not something you’re interested in, this isn’t the book for you.
If you have any background in Dungeons and Dragons or the Dragonlance book series, the world in this book will feel very familiar to you, but the great thing about it is that it’s not necessary in order to understand and enjoy the story. Pretty much the entire book boils down to an orc woman decides to give up being a bloodthirsty adventurer for hire and establish her own coffee shop. There’s very little conflict, tension, or stakes involved, and mostly just follows the orc as she figures out how to build and run the shop and how to make it successful, including them going through a whole charade of “discovering” modern coffee shop things like adding ice or pairing it with biscotti. It’s a lighthearted jaunt into the personal world of this one character and presents such a refreshing angle on a story universe that’s usually so focused on killing and plundering and adventuring and the like.
The characters are unique and relatable, and I found myself getting excited with them whenever they had a win. However, I knocked off a star because the ending was really unsatisfying. The author went through all the effort of setting up a villain of sorts, who does a terrible thing near the end of the story, but then there’s no final confrontation of any kind between him and the main characters. They essentially just deal with the problem he causes, and then leave things up to karma to deal with, which does happen in a very contrived epilogue at the end. It just left me feeling discontented, but it wasn’t enough to ruin the rest of the book since I enjoyed it so much.
Also, please note that there is some strong language in this book that just kind of comes out of nowhere starting at around the 2/3 mark. It personally felt really out of place in this traditional fantasy world. The book also features a LGBTQ+ relationship, so if that’s not something you’re interested in, this isn’t the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Features a focal lesbian relationshipjennifer_worrall's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
nomili's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It's a bit easy to see where the plot leads to, but the characters are written with Love, sass and sarcasm. A book to really enjoy.
Content Warnings
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
melodyseestrees'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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Grief, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Stalking, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
classical_learner's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
bluedilly's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Alcohol, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Violence, Blood, and Cursing
mobymaize's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
The tagline “High Fantasy, Low Stakes” applies in such incredible fashion for this novel. I’ve read so many stories with combat & bloodshed at their core, so reading a calming story about a gay orc & gay tiefling making a coffee shop is a very nice departure from that stress.
ALSO I LOVE THIMBLE SO MUCH MY SWEET BABY BOY AAA
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual harassment, Fire/Fire injury, and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Medical content, and Death
yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
5.0
I loved this! It was so sweet and cozy and light-hearted. I was in the feels the whole time.
I love Tandri. She’s fierce and adorable and loveable. I loved the journey through learning about coffee. As they added more items to the menu and enjoyed more items it was adorable to see. The romance was subtle but very adorable. Viv was someone who was so passionate and persistent you couldn’t help but root for her.
Definitely a low stakes book to read when you want to feel cozy and reminded of the power of friendship (corny I know but so true). Absolutely loved.
I love Tandri. She’s fierce and adorable and loveable. I loved the journey through learning about coffee. As they added more items to the menu and enjoyed more items it was adorable to see. The romance was subtle but very adorable. Viv was someone who was so passionate and persistent you couldn’t help but root for her.
Definitely a low stakes book to read when you want to feel cozy and reminded of the power of friendship (corny I know but so true). Absolutely loved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol
claire_leibovitz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
3.75
If fire triggers you, please don’t read this. It has a very intense fire scene.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Alcohol
amuletofkings's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
4.0
Very cute! A nice break from the gigantic page counts and world-ending stakes common in fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cursing, Racism, and Sexual harassment