Reviews

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

paintedanna's review

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

clemmatine's review

adventurous funny 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? No

4.0

perusal's review

adventurous lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-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? Yes

4.5

zachlz's review

adventurous reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

ssodders3's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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

4.5

vickiwatts's review

adventurous lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

blreed's review

This was undoubtedly my most anticipated release of 2023, but I have to say, I did it and myself a disservice by reading it in print instead of audio. I think that Travis Baldree's narration is a huge part of why Legends and Lattes was so enjoyable to me last year. Bookshops and Bonedust has a lot of the same enjoyable elements as its predecessor (it's pretty much the same book but set in a bookstore and with a rattkin who says fuck a lot), but I found it hard to muster the motivation to pick it back up every time I set it down. The leisurely pace would have made this wonderfully suited to keeping me calm on my heinous commute or keeping me company while cross-stitching, though.

I didn't hate this, and there were certainly several moments that made me feel all teary about the power of books or the truth of timing being wrong. The hopeful ending was one that I probably really needed to read at the end of this year. I just didn't adore it the way I expected to.

Edited to add: Satchel was perfect. More talking skeletons in books, please!!

tricia_c91919's review

4.0

Someone reviewed this by saying something to the equivalent of it felt like a warm hug of a book. I wholeheartedly agree. Cozy genres are everything I didn't know I needed.

owl83's review against another edition

adventurous relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

supernova_reader's review

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

A fun adventure story. Has cozy elements with an old bookstore being bright back to life, and swordfights and a big evil magic enemy. Charming supporting cast. The Main character’s attitude was a delight to return to, and the small romance element was cute. Nice to see something where both people know it’s temporary but it isn’t treated flippantly.