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Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes)

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Aleksandra (Ola) Hill is a Polish-Canadian writer and the founder and publisher of khōréō, a Hugo-nominated and IGNYTE-winning magazine of speculative fiction by immigrant and diaspora writers. Her fiction has been published or is forthcoming in Analog Magazine, LeVar Burton Reads, Writer’s Digest, and others. Learn more at www.aleksandrahill.com Set in the world of New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes , Travis Baldree's Bookshops & Bonedust takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books.

Sometimes, right things happen at the wrong time. Sometimes, what we need isn't what we seek. And sometimes, we find ourselves in the stories we experience together.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. While I absolutely loved this book (as did many others—it was nominated for multiple awards and Baldree won the Astounding Award for Best New Writer in 2023), there are certain readers who will likely not enjoy it. In particular: if you are looking for higher stakes and extensive moments of tension—this book is not for you. Most challenges are vanquished almost as soon as they appear, which can give the feeling of a lot of stuff happening without much consequence (this is magically explained later in the novel, but that will not be satisfying for some, I presume!). The evolution of Viv’s café is also a big formulaic—from one type of coffee to two, from no pastries to one pastry to more, from tiny kitchen to large kitchen. If you’re looking for a book that goes into a realistic scenario of growing a food services business—this also probably isn’t for you (but I do highly recommend Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential to scratch that particular itch!). Still, adventure isn't all that far away. A suspicious traveller in grey, 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. The relationship between Viv and Maylee was probably the most poignant when it came to working the theme. Maylee has already traveled Viv's road and is on her way down the hill as Viv is making her way up. They've met in the middle, and even though they both know it is doomed to fail, they still decide to enjoy whatever time they have together before life pulls them in different directions. It's sad, but it's also beautiful, and it plants the seed for who Viv would eventually become. This is not a nail-biter of a book: the reader never truly worries that she will end up homeless and destitute—the stakes are never quite that high. Rather, the challenge is whether she will give up on her dream and whether she is willing to continue trusting herself and the path that she has chosen and, more importantly, whether she is willing to ask for help—or, more critically, accept when others offer the help she so willingly and unquestioningly gives to strangers.

While I do regret holding out so long on reading LEGENDS & LATTES, the silver lining is I was still riding that 5 Star High from finishing it so recently and getting to start the next one - the one I thought was a sequel, but when I got it in my hands, I realized that it's a prequel.But things don’t stay quiet for long, even in a sleepy town like Murk. Viv’s life takes an unexpected turn as she encounters mysterious travelers, a summer romance and a surprising number of skeletons. It turns out that running a bookshop is more of an adventure than Viv ever expected. I enjoyed Bookshops & Bonedust even more than Legends & Lattes (which I also loved so, so much)! The characters, the town of Murk, the bookshop, the pure comfort this story exudes. Everything was phenomenal and so delightfully atmospheric! Bookshops & Bonedust takes the world of Legends & Lattes and weaves it into a universe. It does the impossible: showing us a character twenty years before her story, and making us hold our breath to see what happens next. It's the rare prequel that beautifully adds depth, power, and love to the lore. This is a book for those who were once young and pulled between fighting the world with all they had . . . or curling up in a dusty bookshop with a good story." - J R Dawson

I really fancied a chilled, comfortable read. This series has been described as being high fantasy, good company, low stakes. This is exactly what I needed. This is a story about following your dreams, even when they take you away from who you thought you had to be. It's sweet, beautiful and, most of all, kind. I hugely recommend this book."—Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Every Heart A Doorway 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.

Legends and Lattes and Bookshops and Bonedust, Travis Baldree truly knows the secret recipes for crafting wholesome cozy fantasy novels. Bookshops & Bonedust" is not as cozy a read as its predecessor, but it's more thought-provoking and has a lot of heart. Telling a story about the things that help shape characters into whom we come to love is worth telling, especially if done so with as much care as Baldree has displayed here. I didn't even get into some of the other cool things that pop up in this book, like the little bone boy who lives in a satchel and is brought to life with magic dust like a ghoulish subservient Peter Pan, or the giant scarred orc who spits poetry like a beat poet in a Coen Brothers movie. I was so happy to see it pop up in my Kindle yesterday, like a surprise birthday present, but your birthday isn't for six months. The book started with Viv being injured in battle and her trying to rest was hilarious! She did not want to rest at all and she was such a reluctant patient. Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!

Before I say anything else about the book, I need to say that I love love loved Potroast more than I have loved any other character in a long time. Potroast is a sort of cross between a pug and an owl and I love him. However, this is the perfect book for you if you: are looking for comfort and coziness, want a queer, low-drama romance, and/or delight in descriptions of food. I recommend it most for those who feel deeply lonely: it’s the type of book that makes you want to reach out to those around you, and that may inspire you to ask for—and allow yourself to receive—the help that you need. Set in the world of New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books. This is a book that is going on my list of books to read every year. I'm already looking forward to the next time.A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing! If you were a fan of Baldree's LEGENDS & LATTES, then you will absolutely love this prequel BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST! Baldree excels at creating the perfect cozy fantasy atmosphere. I felt transported to Murk to spend time with Viv and friends at the bookshop. B & B has the same vibes as LEGENDS & LATTES with added depth to Viv's character and the world around her. Our beloved orc, Viv, gets injured whilst her and the other mercenaries are pursuing a powerful necromancer. Unable to fight on her injured leg, she resides for a while in the seaside town of Murk so that she can have a (supposedly) peaceful recovery. Here we meet a loving and lively cast of characters, all with their own interesting lives and stories.

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