It’s a nice relaxing read the plot gets a bit murky which made me struggle a bit but the story is so feel good I had to finish it it kinda felt unfinished at the end so definitely hoping for a book two but also if one didn’t happen I’d be okay it wasn’t left with a million unanswered questions just more I love the wholesome life they have and want more of it

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zumpers's review against another edition

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funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

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katie_a_13's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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theaceofpages's review against another edition

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lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I just don't get it. I have heard so many good things about this book (everyone seems to love it) so when I saw that my library got it I decided to give it a shot. And I was disappointed. I mean, this pretty much reads like an instruction manual as to how to open a coffee shop if you have lots of savings and wonderful luck (oh, and no competition since no one has even heard about coffee and it becomes popular quickly). There's building, then adding a drink, then another drink, then a pastry, then another pastry, then another drink, etc. And not all that much in between beyond serving customers (in what seems to be a simultaneously low stress and busy/profitable coffee shop). I guess there is a major setback around 80% into the story, but everything is fixed easily and back to normal by the end.

I didn't find myself really caring about any of the characters (although Thimble could be interesting had we been given more information - I feel like there could be an interesting back story there. Honestly, Viv's (and everyone else actually) lack of interest was a little upsetting). It feels like one of those fanfics aimed at people who love certain characters, but you don't know them before hand so just get bored. The world is also not that interesting. It's a pretty bland and generic fantasy world (which can definitely work with the right author and/or story, don't get me wrong) with nothing much fleshed out. I would have loved an actual fantasy coffee shop (think fantasy drinks instead of/ in addition to "gnomish beans" (just coffee assigned to a fantasy race) - think foods and drinks made with fantasy ingredients)

I considered giving up many times (I often found myself reaching the end of a chapter, realising I had taken nothing in and going back and re-reading only to discover that there was noting there) but since it's short I decided to see where it goes. I know this is low stakes, but I was still expecting something more. When I found out this book was written for NaNoWriMo it made a lot more sense - a lot of it feels like words for the sake of words. I recently read a cozy SciFi book that I loved and looking back, it's because there was actually a mystery in the background as well as well fleshed out characters and intriguing setting, and the writing quality was far higher than it was for this book.

I am happy for those who enjoyed it, of course, but I guess this is yet more proof of how different my reading tastes are from what is considered to be popular by the broader online world.

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apolloann's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

Oh man. This book was everything I wanted it to be. I have never read anything that could be considered overly "cozy" before, and have to admit I was a bit skeptical, but Legends and Lattes left me feeling like I'd just spent a winter evening, curled up in front of a fire with a cup of hot chocolate. The characters were introduced and developed beautifully, building a lovely found family for Viv, the main character. I can't wait to read more by this author, and see how else he is able to create such a warm and inviting story, while still giving the reader plenty of plot. I will definitely be looking for more cozy fantasies in the future.

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erebus53's review

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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.

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