A review by just_one_more_paige
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

adventurous hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 
 
Well, this exploded onto the literary scene last year and there was no chance I wasn’t going to read it. A cozy fantasy about a coffee shop with a sapphic (ish – I mean they both sue she/her but also aren’t technically human so, idk exactly what that means), and a blurb that talked about how it was the “what happens after the D&D campaign ends” plot. Plus, I don’t think I saw any negatives vibes about this book at all. So. Yes, please. 
 
Viv is an orc who’s decided to hang up her sword and, essentially, retire. And what will she do with her retirement? Open a coffee shop, of course. In a city that has never heard of coffee before. It’s the kind of journey that takes a community and support. And even though Viv starts off solo, she stumbles into a heartwarming AF found family situation, gathering a builder/carpenter (Cal), an artist and server (Tandri), a baker (Thimble), a musician/mason (Pendry), and a few others. Drawn together by Viv’s dream, and buying into the concept completely, this group builds and rebuilds the coffee shop, while facing down some specters from Viv’s past, and some threats from other sources as well, to create a space that is safe and homey for them all. 
 
I mean, my goodness. The people were right. This is hella cozy. All the aspects of fantasy that I love – magic, multi-species, legends/folklore – with just enough antagonism to create interest and plot (never so much that I felt tense or overly concerned about the final outcome). Mostly just, comfort. All the highlights of building a business from the ground up, of working towards a dream, to make friends and a home in a new place, and just a dash of the stress and sleepless nights that come with that type of undertaking IRL. And as a person who drinks way more coffee than is likely healthy, or even useful, the fact that this entire novel (novella?) is essentially an ode to coffee, “like drinking the feeling of being peaceful,” spoke to my damn soul. 
 
This review is basically a list of things that made me cheese, and feel cheesy, while reading. The awkward and sweet discomfort Tandri and Viv have as they push and pull from friends to more(?) is so endearing. A solid found family situation is one of my favorite tropes of all time. The baking piece was mmmmmmmm. Introducing the most common coffee house treats to people with no frame of reference for them allowed me to rediscover the magic of the bitter coffee and sweet pastry combo and I’m grateful for that. The cover art gives top notch fanfic/fan-art (I cannot get over the detail of Tandri’s tail – it gives me feels). And the little chapter icons are a cute touch too. I love a good comeuppance epilogue! The bonus story, that was like an origin story to this “remaking” story, was enjoyable; I liked the little extra look into who Viv is as a “person.”  
 
Look, the message of “it’s the community/people around you who make home/belonging” is not new. But there’s a reason for that: it’s such a comforting and beautiful message. And Baldree gives it a creative face here that I simply loved. There is a wholesomeness in the promise that you can be worthy of kindness/support/love regardless of previous lifestyle/choices if your heart is right and that’s a lovely message, full of promise and hope. *deep sigh of contentment* 
 
“Things don’t have to stay as what they started out as.” 
 
“I’ve heard a lot of stories and a lot of legends in my time, and they’re always worse than the real thing.” 
 
“The darkness bristled with dangers, some perhaps even worth risking.” 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings