Travis Baldree

I passed over this book when it was being hyped as the best thing since sliced bread back in 2022. It just looked too wholesome, too cosy, too self-consciously uplifting for me. I'm too dour for that kind of thing. I'm a good fit for that old joke "I was an optimist once, but I knew it wouldn't last.* Then, last year, in my contrarian way, I read the second book 'Bookshops & Bonedust', (which was actually a prequel) and was delighted with it. I liked Viv which was surprising given that she show more was an Orc mercenary (I was raised on Tolkien. Orcs are not supposed to be likeable.) and I lost myself in how joyful the book was.

So, this week, I finally read the original. It's not a complex tale. An Orc mercenary retires and sets up a coffee shop in a city where no one has ever heard of coffee. That's it really. And yet it was wonderful.

When I reviewed, 'Bookshops & Bonedust', I wrote, "I couldn’t say how the effect was achieved, but the book felt welcoming, the feeling you get when you step into a restaurant you’ve not visited before but where the aromas, the ambience and the attitude of the staff make it feel like home." This time, I want to see if I could figure out what Travis Baldree does that makes his books special. (I know, I should just enjoy the book, not vivisect it but it's a habit I can't kick).

As I read chapters about Viv turning a decrepit livery stable into a thriving coffee shop, I saw that Travis Baldree has a talent for making the mundane into something magical by adding, hope, kindness and tolerance.

There were tense, and even sad moments in the book but mostly it kept making me smile. It was sweet without being twee. It felt like a hope turned into a promise.

I think the power of the book comes from the different relationship Travis Baldree offers his readers. Instead of being asked to suspend my disbelief, I was being encouraged to extend my belief. I accepted that invitation, breathed in the scent of freshly brewed coffee and just-out-of-the-oven baking and let myself live in a little pocket of happiness. show less

Well, @travis_baldree’s LEGENDS & LATTES is fucking delightful. I read it in two sittings, which almost never happens these days, and I loved every page. Viv’s desire to create something special and defy societal norms about who a person is viewed as vs. how they view themselves is something I think a lot of people will appreciate. The other characters in TBR story are just a thought out and watching Viv create her own found family was exactly what my #queer little heart needed right show more now. If the world is exhausting you right now, take a moment, pour your favorite coffee (or beverage of choice), and let this delightful, quick, cozy fantasy warm your heart. @torbooks, great job on picking this up and publishing it!

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Travis Baldree's Legends & Lattes is a delightful gem of a book that wraps you in its cozy embrace from the very first page. It’s a low-stakes, heartwarming fantasy that feels like sipping a cup of your favorite latte on a chilly day.

The story follows Viv, an orc who decides to retire from adventuring to open a coffee shop—a bold and unusual choice in her medieval fantasy world. The concept alone is charming, but it’s the execution that truly shines. Baldree masterfully creates a sense show more of warmth and welcome, making the reader feel like part of the community Viv builds.

The minor characters are memorable and endearing, from the inventive hob carpenter to the vivacious succubus barista. And let's not forget the cat, who adds a touch of whimsy and comfort to every scene it graces.

Beyond its engaging characters, the book is a love letter to food and drink. The detailed descriptions of coffee and pastries are so vivid they’ll leave you craving a freshly baked cinnamon roll.

If you're looking for a break from high-stakes, action-packed fantasies and want something cozy, wholesome, and utterly charming, Legends & Lattes is the perfect choice. show less

4.5

An absolute delight start to finish. Viv is young and battle-thirsty, ready to prove herself and be a hero. Yet she is forced to take a rest and, instead of sullenly sitting alone until she is able to rejoin her band, makes connections knowing she won't be staying. We have the comfort of bookshops and baked goods as well interesting characters similar to what we had in Legends and Lattes without feeling like a carbon copy.

The best part of Bookshops and Bonedust, in my opinion, was the show more exploration of passing relationships and what they mean to each person. I've made many friends in over three decades of life and said goodbye to many as we took separate paths. That doesn't mean that those relationships didn't influence who I am today and weren't important.

Sometimes, it'll never be the right time. And sometimes, we aren't the right people yet.

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