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baccata 's review for:
Brigands & Breadknives
by Travis Baldree
With Brigands & Breadknives, Travis Baldree returns to his charming world of cozy fantasy - but this time with a noticeably different tone. While the previous books impressed with their feel-good character and low stakes, this third volume takes a more thoughtful and adventurous direction.
The focus is on Fern, who moves her bookshop closer to her friend Viv, but quickly finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure: drunk, she hides in a wagon and unwittingly ends up on a journey with the legendary elf warrior Astryx and a dubious goblin companion. At first, it's hard to like Fern. She seems reckless, swears a lot, and even abandons her loyal companion Potroast. But as the story progresses, a deeper, more human side emerges: Fern is in the midst of a life crisis, searching for meaning and identity.
Thematically, the story deals with the emptiness that remains when your dream job turns out to be no longer fulfilling - a topic that is likely to resonate particularly with readers in midlife crisis. The introspective moments are powerful, sometimes even moving, even if they don't always seem to fit seamlessly into the plot.
The story itself swings between a slightly chaotic road trip and meaningful character development. Some readers found the plot rather functional (a pretext for bringing characters together) while others found the emotional transformation and relationships to be the highlight. The humor, Baldree's usual lovable characters, and his talent as a narrator in audiobook format remain the book's strengths.
Over all: Brigands & Breadknives is less cozy than its predecessors, but still worth reading - especially for fans of the series. Those looking for a quiet, emotional fantasy journey that deals with self-discovery and new beginnings will find what they are looking for here. However, those expecting a clearly structured, meaningful quest may be somewhat disappointed. Nevertheless, it is a good book with heart - even if it does not quite reach the level of Legends & Lattes.
The focus is on Fern, who moves her bookshop closer to her friend Viv, but quickly finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure: drunk, she hides in a wagon and unwittingly ends up on a journey with the legendary elf warrior Astryx and a dubious goblin companion. At first, it's hard to like Fern. She seems reckless, swears a lot, and even abandons her loyal companion Potroast. But as the story progresses, a deeper, more human side emerges: Fern is in the midst of a life crisis, searching for meaning and identity.
Thematically, the story deals with the emptiness that remains when your dream job turns out to be no longer fulfilling - a topic that is likely to resonate particularly with readers in midlife crisis. The introspective moments are powerful, sometimes even moving, even if they don't always seem to fit seamlessly into the plot.
The story itself swings between a slightly chaotic road trip and meaningful character development. Some readers found the plot rather functional (a pretext for bringing characters together) while others found the emotional transformation and relationships to be the highlight. The humor, Baldree's usual lovable characters, and his talent as a narrator in audiobook format remain the book's strengths.
Over all: Brigands & Breadknives is less cozy than its predecessors, but still worth reading - especially for fans of the series. Those looking for a quiet, emotional fantasy journey that deals with self-discovery and new beginnings will find what they are looking for here. However, those expecting a clearly structured, meaningful quest may be somewhat disappointed. Nevertheless, it is a good book with heart - even if it does not quite reach the level of Legends & Lattes.