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A review by natashaleighton_
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.5
Legends & Lattes is quite possibly the cosiest, most uplifting book I’ve read all year. And, I can confidently say that I loved every heartwarmingly uplifting second of this low stakes, found-family centric slice of life.
It follows Viv the orc who’s decided—after decades of adventuring—to hang up her sword for good for the dance to make her new dream a reality: to open up the first coffee shop in Thune. The only problem is no one seems to know what coffee is.
If Viv wants her new business to succeed, she’ll need all the help she can get, even if that means searching in unexpected places. But both old rivals and new are determined to stop her from succeeding—if Viv’s not careful she might just find herself taking up the blade once more.
But with soo many new people to meet along the way—whether bound by ancient magic , delicious baked pastries or freshly brewed cup of coffee—Viv may just find herself with deeper ties than she ever thought possible.
Words cannot do justice to how utterly adorable this was! The prose was lovely and really envelopes you like a warm (toasty) hug—I truly didn’t want to leave. I will say that the plot is for the most part character driven, which I really enjoyed as the characters (well, most of them) were utterly endearing.
I loved Viv, who despite her orc barbarian appearance was such a nervous and utterly adorable character, whose sole concern is no one liking her business—it was nice to also see a character actively reject the use violence to solve her problems, and instead seek out creative ways to remedy things. Given the plot’s low stakes, I was surprised by how good the tension surrounding Viv’s problem was—and there’s even a love to hate antagonist, who’s just dastardly enough for us to despise (and boy did I!)
The eccentric, rag tag group that Viv inadvertently gathers around her were also firm favourites, each with their own unique charm that kept the cosy heartfelt narrative going.
I especially loved resident artist (and viv’s co-worker) Tandri, a succubus attempting to dismantle the prejudices attached to her species, and Thimble the baking extraordinaire whose delicious creations bring soo much joy to Thune—both of whom find solace and a place to belong at Legends&Lattes. The food descriptions were also lovely and had me craving all the delicious sweet treats mentioned (I’m also super excited to be able to bake my very own Thimblets thanks to the recipe included in the new Tor edition.)
There is a hint of romance nearing the end but the plot’s focus definitely leans more towards the friendship and found family aspect, which is beautifully done.
The world building was just beautiful and I can see soo many possibilities for expanding this diverse world through an infinite number of books and series (I’m absolutely desperate to see more of Thune and it’s residents.)
And, although based firmly in a high fantasy setting (with Orcs, Succubi, Hobs, Elves and Dwarves making up the majority of the world’s characters) it’s definitely a great intro for newbies into high fantasy-style fiction who might not be ready for any of the longer examples of the genre. Plus, with the main story being just over 250 pages, it’s a fairly quick and satisfying read too.
Overall, a throughly enjoyable low stakes, high fantasy that’s sweet enough to leave you feeling all fluffy and warm inside. I’d definitely recommend to fans of slice of life fantasy, the found family trope or serotonin boosting games such as Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley.
And also, a massive thank you to Tor UK and Blackcrow PR for the incredible proof.
It follows Viv the orc who’s decided—after decades of adventuring—to hang up her sword for good for the dance to make her new dream a reality: to open up the first coffee shop in Thune. The only problem is no one seems to know what coffee is.
If Viv wants her new business to succeed, she’ll need all the help she can get, even if that means searching in unexpected places. But both old rivals and new are determined to stop her from succeeding—if Viv’s not careful she might just find herself taking up the blade once more.
But with soo many new people to meet along the way—whether bound by ancient magic , delicious baked pastries or freshly brewed cup of coffee—Viv may just find herself with deeper ties than she ever thought possible.
Words cannot do justice to how utterly adorable this was! The prose was lovely and really envelopes you like a warm (toasty) hug—I truly didn’t want to leave. I will say that the plot is for the most part character driven, which I really enjoyed as the characters (well, most of them) were utterly endearing.
I loved Viv, who despite her orc barbarian appearance was such a nervous and utterly adorable character, whose sole concern is no one liking her business—it was nice to also see a character actively reject the use violence to solve her problems, and instead seek out creative ways to remedy things. Given the plot’s low stakes, I was surprised by how good the tension surrounding Viv’s problem was—and there’s even a love to hate antagonist, who’s just dastardly enough for us to despise (and boy did I!)
The eccentric, rag tag group that Viv inadvertently gathers around her were also firm favourites, each with their own unique charm that kept the cosy heartfelt narrative going.
I especially loved resident artist (and viv’s co-worker) Tandri, a succubus attempting to dismantle the prejudices attached to her species, and Thimble the baking extraordinaire whose delicious creations bring soo much joy to Thune—both of whom find solace and a place to belong at Legends&Lattes. The food descriptions were also lovely and had me craving all the delicious sweet treats mentioned (I’m also super excited to be able to bake my very own Thimblets thanks to the recipe included in the new Tor edition.)
There is a hint of romance nearing the end but the plot’s focus definitely leans more towards the friendship and found family aspect, which is beautifully done.
The world building was just beautiful and I can see soo many possibilities for expanding this diverse world through an infinite number of books and series (I’m absolutely desperate to see more of Thune and it’s residents.)
And, although based firmly in a high fantasy setting (with Orcs, Succubi, Hobs, Elves and Dwarves making up the majority of the world’s characters) it’s definitely a great intro for newbies into high fantasy-style fiction who might not be ready for any of the longer examples of the genre. Plus, with the main story being just over 250 pages, it’s a fairly quick and satisfying read too.
Overall, a throughly enjoyable low stakes, high fantasy that’s sweet enough to leave you feeling all fluffy and warm inside. I’d definitely recommend to fans of slice of life fantasy, the found family trope or serotonin boosting games such as Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley.
And also, a massive thank you to Tor UK and Blackcrow PR for the incredible proof.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Racism and Injury/Injury detail