A review by nidorina
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

emotional 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? Yes

4.0

the prose took a bit to grow on me, but ultimately i did fall in love with this book. the cast is brilliant and watching them come together in loving support of each other nearly made me cry, especially at the end. i wish i could've known more about each character's life outside of the coffee shop and their relationship to viv, though; those relationships were strong, don't get me wrong, but some of the characters didn't feel as fully-realized as i would've liked because they didn't seem to exist outside the context of viv.

i see this book recommended with the disclaimer that you don't have to be familiar with d&d. i don't think that's entirely true. i wouldn't say you've ever had to have played a game, but without familiarity with the genre and its conventions, you'll end up at least a little confused; things like rattkin are mentioned without description, and specific scenery descriptions are sparse.

pendry is my boy and my son and i hope he's doing great out there.

genuinely just a brilliantly soft and cozy read about the idealized version of a community coffee shop. it captures the coffee shop au trope and the things that draw people to it perfectly, and i'm thrilled to discover that the novel is opening the doors to a genre of works similar in tone.
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