Title: Legends & Lattes
Author: Travis Baldree
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Tor
Pages: 320
Release Date: 10 November 2022
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Hello fellow book lovers, today I'm sharing my review for Travis Baldree's Legends & Lattes, which is quite possibly the cosiest, most uplifting book I’ve read all year. And I loved every heartwarmingly uplifting second of this low stakes, found-family centric slice of life.
Synopsis
High Fantasy with a double-shot of self-reinvention
Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv the orc barbarian cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen.
However, her dreams of a fresh start pulling shots instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners and a different kind of resolve.
A hot cup of fantasy slice-of-life with a dollop of romantic froth.
Review
Words cannot do justice to how utterly adorable this was! The prose was lovely and really envelopes you like a warm (toasty) hug that I didn’t want to leave. I will say that the plot was mostly character driven, which I really enjoyed as the many of the characters we meet were utterly endearing.
I loved Viv, who despite her orc barbarian appearance was such a nervous and utterly adorable character, whose sole concern is no one liking her business—it was nice to also see a character actively reject the use violence to solve her problems, and instead seek out creative ways to remedy things. Given the plot’s low stakes, I was surprised by how good the tension surrounding Viv’s problem was—and there’s even a love-to-hate antagonist, who’s just dastardly enough for us to despise (and boy did I!)
The eccentric, rag tag group that Viv inadvertently gathers around her were also firm favourites, each with their own unique charm that kept the cosy heartfelt narrative going.
I especially loved resident artist (and viv’s co-worker) Tandri, a succubus attempting to dismantle the prejudices attached to her species, and Thimble the baking extraordinaire whose delicious creations bring soo much joy to Thune—both of whom find solace and a place to belong at Legends & Lattes.
The food descriptions were also lovely and had me craving all the delicious sweet treats mentioned (I’m also super excited to try out the recipe for Thimblets which is included at the back of the book (alongside a prequel short story.)
There is a hint of romance nearing the end, but the plot’s focus definitely leans more towards the friendship and found family aspect, which is beautifully done.
The world building was utterly beautiful and I can see soo many possibilities for expanding this diverse world--I'm hoping there'll be alot more books/ spin-offs as I’m absolutely desperate to see more of Thune and it’s residents.
And, although based firmly in a high fantasy setting (with Orcs, Succubi, Hobs, Elves and Dwarves making up the majority of the world’s characters) it’s definitely a great intro for newbies into high fantasy-style fiction who might not be ready for any of the longer examples of the genre. Plus, with the main story being just over 250 pages, it’s quite a quick and satisfying read that perfect to settle down with in an evening.
Overall, a throughly enjoyable low stakes, high fantasy that’s sweet enough to leave you feeling all fluffy and warm inside. I’d definitely recommend to fans of slice of life fantasy, the found family trope or serotonin boosting games such as Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley.
And also, a massive thank you to Tor UK and Blackcrow PR for the incredible proof.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
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