Legends & Lattes: A Heartwarming Cosy Fantasy and TikTok Sensation
£4.70
‘The most fun I’ve ever had in a coffee shop’ – Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of London
Legends & Lattes from Hugo Award-winning Travis Baldree is a cosy, heartwarming slice-of-life fantasy about found families and fresh starts – perfect for fans of TJ Klune, Katherine Addison and T. Kingfisher.
High fantasy, low stakes – with a double-shot of coffee.
After decades of adventuring, Viv the orc barbarian is finally hanging up her sword for good. Now she sets her sights on a new dream – for she plans to open the first coffee shop in the city of Thune. Even though no one there knows what coffee actually is.
If Viv wants to put the past behind her, she can’t go it alone. And help might arrive from unexpected quarters. Yet old rivals and new stand in the way of success. And Thune’s shady underbelly could make it all too easy for Viv to take up the blade once more.
But the true reward of the uncharted path is the travellers you meet along the way. Whether bound by ancient magic, delicious pastries or a freshly brewed cup, they may become something deeper than Viv ever could have imagined . . .
Return to the world of Legends & Lattes with Bookshops & Bonedust, the hilarious and heartwarming prequel.
‘This is a warm hug of a book, a place to retreat from the world for a little while, drink a coffee, and come out a little better’ – T. Kingfisher, bestselling author ofNettle & Bone
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Additional information
| Publisher | Tor (16 Jun. 2022) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 4428 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 318 pages |
by V. O’Regan
“Ladies’ stockin’s and exotic bean water. Gods help us.” – ‘Legends & Lattes’ by Travis Baldree.
This is the first book in a new series of cosy fantasies. While this is the first time I have encountered the term ‘cosy fantasy’, I expect that the Discworld novels of the late Sir Terry Pratchett would be classed in this sub-genre of fantasy.
The story revolves around Viv, an orc barbarian, who after decades of adventuring is ready to hang up her sword and embark upon a new project. She plans to open the first coffee shop in the city of Thune. Of course, no one there knows what coffee actually is. …
‘Legends & Lattes’ proved to be great fun and I zoomed through it.
by Elle
I absolutely loved this from start to finish. I actually read it in one sitting as well. This is a wonderfully wholesome, cute and cosy fantasy that I didn’t know I needed till now.
We meet Vic our retired adventurer, hell bent on opening a coffee shop in a city where no one even knows what coffee is! Along the way on her new adventure she meets friends and foes and the underbelly of a brand new city, hell bent on screwing up her plans.
The story is fast paced (not in a bad way) and mainly focuses on our the charcters, meaning it isn’t plot driven story. The world-building is phenomenal, it really immerses in the story, the characters are super well-written and their realtionships with each other, proving that the plot isn’t the main point to this story, it’s the characters and their journey together and gosh they are so likeable.
I loved this book, its a super quick read, super cosy and perfect for a night in under the blankets. I cannot wait for the prequel.
by Grumps
There may not be enough adjectives that could be used to reflect the book that I have just finished. Very quickly you are ensconced in this world where mythical beings live together. The words of Travis Baldree bind together to create characters that you can almost touch, you become part of their world. Their world is described down to the last wooden splinter that you try to remove from your finger. This is the quality of the world behind that Bistro that you can smell and taste. Legends and Lattes should be on the national curriculum next to Mr W. Shakespeare.
by Jarrak
I was a little late to this party having only heard of the novel a couple of weeks ago over on twitter (see still good for something). I read the post and immediately bought the novel for my kindle and started reading a few days later and I was immediately sucked into the world where an Orc adventurer can have a midlife career change leaving the questing and bounty hunting behind to open a coffee shop in a distant city. The story itself is pretty straight forward as Viv our erstwhile Orc recovers a mysterious “stone” from the body of a fallen foe, using it as a guide she is led to a run down livery stable and using her life savings she begins to transform the building into a coffee house sometime no one has see outside of the Gnome regions. Various people (human and otherwise) gravitate to her offering friendship and services but all it not easy for the wood be entrepreneur, dealing with local gangs and corrupt “police” when you’ve made a choice to not use your highly efficient sword to cut through the bull***t makes things more difficult. Overall we are offered a very entertaining story full of wonderful characters and with humour and drama aplenty, well worth checking out if you have a taste for fantasy or looking for something that is a little different.
by Merry
This book surprised and delighted me. I am a bit suspicious of gushy reviews from the great and the good, but I tried a sample and fell right in. Unable to put it down, I troughed right through it. What a delight – the story is terrific, Viv immediately found a way to my heart and I was quickly absorbed by her adventures as she starts her new life. Her friends – new and old – the conjured smell of coffee and aromas of delectable pastries all coalesce into a joyous and often suspenseful whole. As for the dire-cat – well, read the book and find out what a glorious beast it is. I hope we meet again.
by BusyG
This I think would qualify as cosy fantasy – there is some romance but it’s overall more about friendship. It managed to walk just the right side of too cheesy and be heart-warming instead. You will definitely fancy a coffee and sweet treat at some point reading it though. I will read book 2 at some point – due out next month – which is perhaps the ultimate endorsement.
I’m not sure what fans of “woman opens shop” books (eg Jenny Colgan) will make of the fantasy angle but the overall story will appeal. Fans of gently humorous fantasy will be very at home. Cosier and less laugh out loud than say Terry Pratchett but some humour and very much worth a go if you like that sort of book.