Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree | Book Review

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Series: Legends & Lattes #1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Cosy Fantasy, LGBT
Pages: 312
Published By: Tor on 19th October, 2023
Format: Paperback
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Book Synopsis:

High fantasy, low stakes – with a double-shot of coffee.

After decades of adventuring, Viv the orc barbarian is finally hanging up her sword for good. Now she sets her sights on a new dream – for she plans to open the first coffee shop in the city of Thune. Even though no one there knows what coffee actually is.

If Viv wants to put the past behind her, she can’t go it alone. And help might arrive from unexpected quarters. Yet old rivals and new stand in the way of success. And Thune’s shady underbelly could make it all too easy for Viv to take up the blade once more.

But the true reward of the uncharted path is the travellers you meet along the way. Whether bound by ancient magic, delicious pastries or a freshly brewed cup, they may become something deeper than Viv ever could have imagined.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree is a cosy, heartwarming slice-of-life fantasy about found families and fresh starts – perfect for fans of TJ Klune, Katherine Addison and T. Kingfisher.

Book Review

I saw this book all over TikTok and Instagram. Then, after reading the blurb, I realized it was D&Desque, so I knew I had to read it. Honestly, I’m SO glad I did! I recently started playing Dungeons and Dragons at the end of 2023, and this book gave me all the feels. In fact, when I say I read this in one day, I am not lying… I absolutely DEVOURED THIS!

As for the story, the book is advertised as low stakes, and I would definitely agree with that. Although there is no major plot, drama, or fighting, the story premise makes for a great cosy fantasy read. I loved pretty much all the characters in this book, except for the odd villain or bad guy. Viv is an orc, Cal is a hob, Tandri is a succubus, and Thimble is a rattkin — which is a great range of characters for this style of book. Personally, my favorites were Thimble and Cal! Travis’s writing style was easy to follow, and moreover, there were nice sprinkles of character backstories woven into the main premise.

Additionally, I loved the friendships that developed throughout this story, along with a little love interest too. Meanwhile, the coffee shop flourishes into a place where the neighbors can come together and build a community. The romance doesn’t feel forced, but rather, blossoms just as naturally as the friendships do. As a result, I became deeply attached to the majority of the characters while reading. I love a book that can do this.

It’s safe to say that I am very excited to read the prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust. Furthermore, there is a third book being released later this year called Brigands & Breadknives.

In conclusion, if you’re someone who hasn’t read fantasy before and doesn’t want extensive world-building, this is a great beginner fantasy book to try. Also, if you’re interested in or play D&D, I think this would be a really fun read.