Legends & Lattes — Travis Baldree
Genre: Fantasy
Spoiler Alert: No Spoilers!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Synopsis:
“After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time.
The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.
If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won't be able to go it alone.
But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.”
My Thoughts:
It’s no secret that I love a good adventure story. When I’m looking at new books to read, I immediately move towards murder, mystery, and excitement. But every now and then I need to take a breather. It’s exhausting, going on all these high energy adventures, one after the other.
I happened across Legends & Lattes on one of my usual wanders down the book aisle in Target. (I really shouldn’t be allowed down that aisle.) I was instantly intrigued by it. I mean, a casual post-adventure story set in a coffee shop? I’m sold! And it was exactly what I was looking for.
Legends & Lattes is a different kind of adventure. It’s not a heart-racing, fight for your life story. Not exactly. But it is full of heart, and life, and make or break choices. It’s a story about an orc who thought she needed magic to get the life she wanted. But, as almost always happens with these kinds of things, the magic she held didn’t work exactly as she expected it to. This is a story about realizing that exactly what and who you need most, is almost always right under your nose. And to pause, look around, and appreciate what you’ve accomplished.
I was instantly attached to the characters in this story. I was so sad when I finished the book, because I thought I was saying goodbye to such a beautifully-written world and amazing characters. But, as I was sitting down to write all this out, I learned there is a prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust, which follows Viv as she plans her final adventure. Not only that, but it sounds like Travis Baldree has more plans for this world, and we may be returning sooner rather than later…
I am so excited to have stumbled across this story. If you are looking for a more low-key adventure, look no further than Legends & Lattes. It’s the high-fantasy world you’re craving, minus the blood-shed and near-death experiences. Mostly.
