Bookshops & Bonedust

I think one of the things I liked most about this book (and there were a LOT of things I liked about this book) was that I had a certain confusion when I started reading it -- this was not the book I thought I would be reading! This is not a continuation of the previous story! Why did I have those expectations? And then I read the author's note at the back, and it turned out that this wasn't the book he thought he would be writing either, and somehow that made it exactly the right book after all.

Also, I love the characters, I love Viv's thorny younger self, I love the bookshop renovations, the gradual recreation of what we think bookstores are in a D&D universe. I loved the mysterious goings on, the adventure, the romance. I especially show more love Potroast. It's just as satisfying as the first book in a wholly different way. Delightful.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss. show less

I pre-ordered the library’s copy of this book. And that meant I could be first on the holdlist. Lucky Lucky Me. I literally clasped it to my chest when I saw the hold come in. I was a little worried because Legends and Lattes was so good. Was this going to be able to stand up to that one?
Spoilers: Yes. I liked it just as much. It was such a delight to get to meet young and impetuous and foolhardy Viv. And so cool to meet Gallina too! This prequel/sequel story is full of delightful characters, from the kindly inkeeper to the grumpy doctor to the sexy baker (why is that trope SO APPEALLING... I might have a think for sexy big hearted bakers XD ), to the in over her head local bookshop owner just trying to live up to her imagined show more father’s expectations.

I loved seeing Viv fall in love with books while she’s forced to take things slow while recuperating from a serious injury. Fern is this book’s ratling and she is so different from Thimble and I love both of them all the more for that. Read this book if you love DnD, interludes in big fantasy stories, cozy vibes, tea and scones, bookshops, found family, and characters relearning what they are capable of when they are forced to reevaluate things.

Highlights: indie author bookshop visits, meeting Satchel, rivals to grudging allies to maybe friends with Viv and Iridia (local guard captain), flirty mc flirty baker show less

A lovely return to Viv’s world, seeing her younger, more impatient, and planting the early seeds for what unfolds in Legends and Lattes - including meeting Galina. The premise is impressive: a cozy bookshop AU-style story without detracting from Viv’s aspirations as a fighter. The epilogue ties it full circle and sets up the next book beautifully.

While I’m not sure it surpasses the first book - different themes resonate at different life stages - it remains wonderfully detailed with engaging characters. I particularly enjoyed the depth of the world, where LGBT representation is entirely normalised and unremarked. A truly delightful read.

This is a very sweet cozy fantasy prequel to Legends & Lattes. While I think it could be read first in the L&L series (even though it was written second), to me it felt even more special watching Viv in her early days as a mercenary after having gotten to know her in her retirement. It made the bits with Maylee even more poignant to me, since we could have almost been seeing future Viv. Even though there are higher stakes and more outright fight scenes (I think) in this book than in Legends & Lattes, this book had a slower pace. It worked for me; it made me feel some of Viv's impatience with waiting for her adventuring band to return.

Perfectly cozy yet again! The thing I love about this series is the “main threat” lingers in the background while we focus on the mundane life that truly enriches the story. It’s the little things during these moments that make this book wonderful. The characters are continually learning about themselves and others while building deep and meaningful connections in a way that just glides effortlessly through the storyline. There’s minimal drama but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t engaging or doesn’t keep your interest, if you love banter and character development then this is must read for cozy fantasy.

Some things I’d like to note that I found truly made me happy was the body doubling that Fern displays, which is show more something I can relate to heavily. ‘Thistleburr’ is the main hangout, an over stuffed shabby bookstore, that shows a readers true passion for reading and sharing the experience of talking about books we love or seeing someone enjoy recommendations. It was just so relatable as a reader with an active bookish community.

There’s a sweet and delicate sapphic situationship that was so honest and pure, ugh my heart! It showed minimal drama when faced with problems, handled with maturity that was a breath of fresh air. A true example of two passing ships that aren’t in the same place in their lives to be together.

It was also witty and made me laugh quite a bit, it’s the type of humor that fit the characters so well and was very relatable. Even going as far as to interpret current topics into a fantasy setting that made it more enjoyable. 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 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 show more 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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Bookshops & Bonedust is the prequel to Legends & Lattes where Viv, after getting injured during a job, gets left behind in the small beach town of Murk to recover. With not much to do and on crutches, Viv spends her hours in a bookshop in the company of its foulmouthed owner and their pet named Pot Roast. It’s not where she saw herself being, but maybe it’s just what she needs.

But the sleepy town doesn’t stay very quiet for long - there’s a suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and a lot of skeletons to uncover.

Tell me why I waited so damn long to read this book?? I knew I would love it. A soft fantasy with a found family feel - those will always have me signed up.

This novel is also so show more adorable when it comes to talking about books. The amount of times I took photos of entire passages where Fern was talking to Viv about her latest book read ❤ ️ like the bit where Viv is reading a spicy romance and Fern is just staring at her with a crazy grin .

If you’re in need of a warm fantasy to curl up with, this will do it for you. There’s no high stakes - the fact it’s the prequel to the first book, kind of gives away that everything will be okay in the end, you know? Still, watch me give these series out as recommendations left and right.

*Thank you Tor and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review show less