When an injury throws a young, battle-hungry orc off her chosen path, she may find that what we need isn't always what we seek.
In Bookshops & Bonedust, a prequel to Legends & Lattes, New York Times bestselling author Travis Baldree takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books.
Viv's career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam's Ravens isn't going as planned.
Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she's packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she'll never be able to return to it.
What's a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?
Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn't possibly imagine.
Still, adventure isn't all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.
Title : Bookshops & Bonedust
Author : Travis Baldree
Series : Legends & Lattes
Format : eARC
Page Count : 352
Genre : LGBTQIAP+ fantasy
Publisher : Tor Books
Release Date : November 7, 2023
Reviewer : Hollis / Micky
Rating : ★ ★ ★ ★ / ★ ★ ★ ★
Hollis' 4 star review
While I did really enjoy this one, and once again we have characters that have stolen my heart, I'm not sure it's quite as good as Legends & Lattes. Or maybe a tiny bit of that extra love goes to the novelty of book one. Not sure. But if you wanted, or needed, more action even though you like the coziness of the first? I think you'll be very happy.
Once again though it's the romance that doesn't quite work for me. In this one it's hardly as prevalent, more just a taste of something that could've been possible, but it still didn't do much for me despite how much I wanted it to. I really enjoyed the friendships, the little found family, all of those aspects. That's where the strength was. Though Gallina did irritate me more often than not. But it was Potroast. It was Fern and her potty mouth. It was Satchel and his sad sweetness. They more than made up for it. Oh, and Viv too of course.
From coffee shop style AU to bookshops, Baldree is giving readers what they want. And that lovely little treat of an epilogue means we might see the two combine. Or at least we can imagine it. Delightful.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
Micky's 4 star review
Headlines:
Cosiness wrapped in bookshelves
Small town fantasy feels
This was a bunch of cosiness wrapped in books, friendships with small town fantasy feels. Readers find Viv from Legends & Lattes a couple of decades earlier, recovering from some battle wounds in this small town. The town was an eclectic mix of characters and creatures going about their business.
All was initially cosy until some nefarious characters appeared to mess up the equilibrium. Viv's prowess as a mercenary was vital. The pacing was lovely, despite the dramas that popped up, this read kept the cosy feels throughout with smatterings of friendships, chemistry and characters to get invested in.
This was a more enjoyable installment in this series for me and I suspect I might have enjoyed L&L a little more with this book beforehand.
Thank you to Tor Books for the review copy.
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