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alibrarymouse's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
For lovers of cozy fantasy, this one absolutely defines the genre, but takes it one step further by saying you are what you make of yourself and your circumstances.
After a slightly surprising beginning, Baldree tackles hard subjects like racism, reinvention, and restarting after loss, but in the most lighthearted, cozy, soft way that the whole book feels like spending time in a liminal space. That magical moment when life isn’t entirely real stepping into a coffee shop on the weekend, but anything is possible because there aren’t any expectations.
The characters are gorgeous in their own ways, and come together beautifully as a ragtag team that works. I am biased: Thimble is absolutely my favorite and I want to hug him so badly. He’s a literal cinnamon roll, and the description of his makes me want to try them and bake from scratch myself.
Motivations were realistic, the book was so sweet and so easy to submerge yourself in.
After a slightly surprising beginning, Baldree tackles hard subjects like racism, reinvention, and restarting after loss, but in the most lighthearted, cozy, soft way that the whole book feels like spending time in a liminal space. That magical moment when life isn’t entirely real stepping into a coffee shop on the weekend, but anything is possible because there aren’t any expectations.
The characters are gorgeous in their own ways, and come together beautifully as a ragtag team that works. I am biased: Thimble is absolutely my favorite and I want to hug him so badly. He’s a literal cinnamon roll, and the description of his makes me want to try them and bake from scratch myself.
Motivations were realistic, the book was so sweet and so easy to submerge yourself in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Gore
Minor: Racism
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
philippmk's review against another edition
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.5
Legends & Lattes is such a cute cozy fantasy that I cannot help but recommend!
After in arriving Thune to live out her dream of running a successful coffee shop, Legends & Lattes chronicles Viv’s journey of bringing her dreams to life with the help of some new friends.
From the first page, readers are able to get right into the heart of the story. While I wish there was a bit more world-building on Baldree’s part to help readers understand the background behind Legends & Lattes, Baldree makes up for this by creating a found family made up of delightful characters that get their own moments to shine. I felt that Baldree does a great job of making this book feel like settling in a blanket after a long day and keep readers engaged throughout the book.
If you’re looking for a fantasy novel that’s good for fall, appeals to a cottage core aesthetic, and/or that’s similar to T.J. Klune, you might enjoy reading Legends & Lattes.
After in arriving Thune to live out her dream of running a successful coffee shop, Legends & Lattes chronicles Viv’s journey of bringing her dreams to life with the help of some new friends.
From the first page, readers are able to get right into the heart of the story. While I wish there was a bit more world-building on Baldree’s part to help readers understand the background behind Legends & Lattes, Baldree makes up for this by creating a found family made up of delightful characters that get their own moments to shine. I felt that Baldree does a great job of making this book feel like settling in a blanket after a long day and keep readers engaged throughout the book.
If you’re looking for a fantasy novel that’s good for fall, appeals to a cottage core aesthetic, and/or that’s similar to T.J. Klune, you might enjoy reading Legends & Lattes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Stalking
parkersicle's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Cursing, and Fire/Fire injury
retto314's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was a lovely little fantasy. The writing was excellent, the characters interesting if a bit underdeveloped, and just enough action to keep things moving while still being a relaxing experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Stalking
thekenthing's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Amazing. Unlike anything I have ever read. Has the best mix of humour, tension, romance and triumphant. Recommend for all those DnD peeps that wondered what happened after all the adventuring was done.
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood
tym_flies's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Super cute and fun! Makes me want to quit what I'm doing, cut all ties, and open a cute little coffee shop. Easy on the conflict, a sprinkle of romance, all around a lighthearted read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood and Violence
green_amaryllis's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Bullying and Blood
Minor: Xenophobia
kefeshe's review against another edition
lighthearted
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? No
3.0
Would recommend for a very light and easy read. During a stressful week, it was lovely to have a cosy little story to follow along with. The pastries sounded delicious, almost wished I could be in "Legends and Lattes" myself!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Blood