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A review by rosa_lina96
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Legends and Lattes sounded intriguing enough when it showed up at my local library, but when I discovered that there was a prequel, well….naturally I had to read that one first. And while I had to fight for my life against work and school responsibilities to actually finish the damn book, I’m glad I did.
Is it the best or most gripping fantasy story I’ve ever read? Well….no. But it feels cozy. Like a mug of warm tea, or clothes out of the dryer. It knows it doesn’t need some sweeping narrative to hold your attention, and it concentrates on the characters and their struggles (which feel very much real) instead. You could really identify with Viv and her struggles throughout the book, and that was what made it intriguing for me. When this person who’s made fighting her entire livelihood can no longer do that, well, what else is left for her? It’s an interesting question, and one that the book tackles pretty masterfully.
I do kind of wish the final confrontation with the villain hadn’t been over with in about five minutes, but that’s neither here nor there. It was a cozy enough read that I’m intrigued about the sequel, and that’s good enough for me.
Is it the best or most gripping fantasy story I’ve ever read? Well….no. But it feels cozy. Like a mug of warm tea, or clothes out of the dryer. It knows it doesn’t need some sweeping narrative to hold your attention, and it concentrates on the characters and their struggles (which feel very much real) instead. You could really identify with Viv and her struggles throughout the book, and that was what made it intriguing for me. When this person who’s made fighting her entire livelihood can no longer do that, well, what else is left for her? It’s an interesting question, and one that the book tackles pretty masterfully.
I do kind of wish the final confrontation with the villain hadn’t been over with in about five minutes, but that’s neither here nor there. It was a cozy enough read that I’m intrigued about the sequel, and that’s good enough for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content