Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - Legends & Lattes

Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

49 reviews

hayleyvem's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted tense 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

Content Warnings

thecavewoman's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

For a majority of this book I would find myself enthralled with the pages and come back to myself for a short moment and realize that I was smiling like an idiot at the book. This is truly such a cozy and heartwarming book that provides a much needed break from life. Plus, it's best enjoyed with a hot beverage of your choice (though coffee might be your best bet).

Content Warnings

wishbea's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? Yes

4.0

Utterly brilliant! I knew this book had been hyped up a lot and I was shocked at how well it lived up to that hype, I never expected to be so invested in a fictional coffee shop ran by an orc but here we are.

Even the side characters are completely loveable, I can't wait for the sequel.

I did not expect Durias to be a time traveller!!! It's such a small thing that doesn't need to be there but the fact that it is makes me love this world even more

Edit: With time I think this wasn't as good as I thought it was, the romance is barely there and most characters have 1 trait. Rating lowered to 4 stars from 5.

Content Warnings

antarcticsloth's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful 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? Yes

3.75

This story was such a cozy read I loved it. It’s outside of what I typically read, but I’m glad I did. The only reason I didn’t rate it higher is I personally don’t enjoy when there’s allusions to fantasy racism, which there definitely was in this story. Other than that, a lovely read.

Content Warnings

solaris's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

This was such a cosy book. Maybe it's because I'm in my thirties and have gone through the whole "take a risk to set up a new life for yourself" thing, but I found this book so relatable and enjoyable to read. There's a succubus character who's never reduced to sex appeal and lovely character interactions throughout. Highly recommended.

Content Warnings

melethwi's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

4.75

Books do not usually bring me to tears but this one did out of sheer love for the characters. I WOULD DIE FOR THIMBLE!!!!!

.25 deducted for the romance not happening faster- but the lack of romance didn't take away from the warm and fuzzies at all!!!

Content Warnings

adrians_library's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would to be quite honest. I was expecting to read a book about an orc who opens a coffee shop with a comedic tone but what I got was so much better
than I could have hoped for.
This book, at its core, was about the importance of support systems and self care. While it was light-hearted as a whole, it had some incredibly insightful passages discussing work-life balance, self worth, personal growth and evolution, and the power of friendship and found family.
Again, this novel did focus primarily on the inner workings of the Legends & Lattes cafe, but it is clear that the author put a great deal of thought and love into the world building when discussing the magic system through Hem’s character, or showing the wide range of creatures and races when addressing Viv’s past as someone who is well traveled and well read.

I really enjoyed how this book managed to subvert expectations at nearly every turn. Starting the
book, I was expecting the Madrigal to be the “big bad” of the story, only for the conflict to be resolved with weekly payments of cinnamon buns. This dedication to non-violent conflict resolution, as well as the continued effort to maintain a peaceful life on Viv’s part, is really beautiful. She is not what she has always been, people are capable of change and growth.

Probably my favorite part of this book was the overall ambiance and general relaxed vibe. I enjoyed reading about the environment of the coffee shop, I loved being able to envision myself in this tavern-like place with beautiful music playing, delicious pastries, and, of course, fresh brewed coffee.
Being able to see these characters grow with each other, love each other, learning to trust each other, was incredibly healing and beautiful.
I picked this book up as a way to get back into the habit of reading following a challenging school
year in which I had little to no time to pursue my own interest and hobbies.

Seeing Viv grow to a point where she sees herself as worthy of a comfortable and peaceful life was powerful and exactly what I needed to read about.

Not only was I able to enjoy some time without stress and fall into a beautiful fantasy setting, but I was also able to find characters I see myself in as a queer overachieving person. Thank you Travis, and thank you Viv.

Content Warnings

alexalily's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

Content Warnings

moodles's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

keegan_leech's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful lighthearted fast-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

3.75

To use a coffee metaphor, Legends & Lattes is like a cortado. It's light, simple, warm, goes down quickly, and doesn't have the bite or bitterness that you might find in another drink. I really blazed through it, and enjoyed myself the whole time. My edition even had a delightful short story in the back which, in this analogy, could be thought of as the complimentary biscuit that came with the drink (and that's as far as I'll be stretching that metaphor).

The book really delivers on the cosy coffee shop fantasy that it advertises. The stakes are low, the characters are charming, and everything works out just as you'd hope by the end. It has the feel of a fluffy, lighthearted one-shot your dungeon master threw together to give the party a break between more weighty, involved campaign arcs.

Which is all fantastic. But there's not much more to the book than it appears at first glance. The plot beats are all very conventional and while it's very thematically cohesive, there isn't much depth to that thematic content. From very early in the novel, its clear that this is a book about being able to change, or be something other than what is expected of you. Some very light (and very early) spoilers to give some examples:

The main character is a muscular orc brawler, but she's intelligent and caring and dreams of settling down to open a coffee shop. When she does, she builds the cosy, picturesque café in a building converted from a filthy, run down livery. The first employee is an academic, driven succubus who actively fights against an in-universe perception that all succubi are deceitful nymphomaniacs.

This pattern crops up so often that the book begins to feel a little one-note, but at least it's a pleasant note to listen to.

In fact, I rather appreciated the winking in-fiction explanation for why this was the case (this one's a real big spoiler for the end of the book):

They were magically drawn together because of a kind of empathetic connection with the feeling of being more than what's expected of them. I thought this was cute, especially the way that it frames empathy and community as a kind of magic or good-fortune. Although it's only one step removed from "The real treasure was the friends we made along the way."

All-in-all, this is a good book, and I'm looking forward to the sequel, but don't go in expecting it to surprise you. Ironically, considering its themes, this book is pretty much exactly what it seems to be.

Content Warnings

More...