batsysk
Written on Sep 7, 2024
‘The most fun I've ever had in a coffee shop’ – Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of London
A cosy, heartwarming slice-of-life fantasy about found families and fresh starts, Legends & Lattes is perfect for fans of TJ Klune, Katherine Addison and T. Kingfisher. From the Hugo Award-winning author, Travis Baldree.
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 of Nettle & Bone
Inkstone Books exclusive edition. Signed, numbered, with sprayed edges. Limited to 350 copies.
- ISBN10 1035007304
- ISBN13 9781035007301
- Publish Date 10 November 2022 (first published 22 February 2022)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 5 March 2024
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Pan Macmillan
- Imprint Tor
- Edition Inkstone Books Exclusive
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 320
- Language English
- Special Numbered Signed Sprayed Edges
Reviews
Metaphorosis Reviews
Written on Aug 12, 2023
Summary
Viv, orc adventuress, has retired from the questing game, and, with the help of a savagely bought bit of magic, now wants to open a ... coffee shop. At first, all goes well, but it's not entirely plain sailing.
Review
I come to Legends & Lattes quite late in the day, and thanks to what seemed to be a never ending buzz about the book – a thing I’m normally leery of. It looked ‘nice’, though, and I thought I could use something light and easy. On that front, Legends pays off in full.
The acknowledgements in the back note that this was originally self-published (and congratulations to Baldree for making that rare leap to fame and fortune). To be honest, it kind of feels that way. I read the mainstream, Tor-published version, and the book is well written and edited, nicely laid out, etc., and probably was as a self-published book as well. But it’s a little too nice and easy for my taste. The conceit of the book is simple – in a straight fantasy environment (orcs, elves, adventures, magic), an ex-adventurer wants to open a coffee shop. But it feels much too “what if my local coffee hangout were in a fantasy world?” – too simplistic, perhaps. There are lattes (the title gives that away), espresso, biscotti, ceiling fans, ice makers, iced coffee, rock music through an amplifier, etc. Anything you need to run a cozy coffee shop, presto! there’s a fantasy equivalent. To my taste, it’s just not escapist enough (or, if you prefer, not fantastic enough).
The other, major problem I have with the premise is set up at the very start, and bothered me all the way through. Protagonist Viv and her cohort are all fundamentally nice people – there is essentially nothing bad about them, and that’s great. Viv has given up her life of violent questing and treasure hunting. They’re all kind, generous, and nice to each other all the time. No problem there. But what is a problem for me is that all this niceness is built on an act of incredible selfishness and cruelty – Viv seeks out and kills another creature (the hive mother of an entire colony, no less), just so that she can take one of its organs and thereby fulfill her own dreams. Sure, she and her friends are nice – but that niceness is founded on savage murder that’s essentially never addressed. There’s a mild, passing nod at the fact that these hive mothers are going extinct, but … oh well. Hey, make me another of those twisty pastries with sweet paste (chocolate croissants), while we all act civilized. For me, at least, this original sin severely undercut my ability to accept the pleasantness of it all.
My edition of the book has a little prequel story in it – at the end. I read it after the main book, but I think it would have worked as well (or better) at the beginning, as a true prequel.
I’m all in favor of the idea of cozy fantasy, and I’m very glad for Mr. Baldree that he’s been recognized. All the same, this felt like a bit of a niche book to me, and I wonder whether it might have been better of staying that way. There’s a sequel out, and I’m of two minds as to whether to pick it up. On one hand, cozy fantasy is nice, relaxing, and I might not demand too much of it. On the other, the massive moral contradiction in this first book bothered me a lot, and I suspect that would carry through to another book in the world as well.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
pamela
Written on Mar 31, 2023
I understand why Legends & Lattes appeals to people, but this book was definitely not for me. A cozy read in interesting times seems like it should be just what the doctor ordered, but I just found Legends & Lattes unbelievably dull.
The story is simple. Very simple. Which, I suspect, is a big part of its appeal. It read like a novelisation of a video game side quest. The stakes were low, and the conflicts were on rails with nothing unexpected or attention grabbing about the story.
Here's the thing; Legends & Lattes is not bad. It's well written, and the characters are interesting. But it relies very heavily on vibes, which is not enough to carry a book. It felt like a writing prompt padded out to 50,000 words, and picking it up felt like a chore instead of something I was excited to do. Probably my most disappointing read of the year, given how much I'd been looking forward to it.
Quirky Cat
Written on Jan 1, 2023
Book Summary:
Viv is an orc barbarian needing a bit of a career change. She's tired of being paid to raise hell – and her blade. She's looking for something new...something different. And she knows exactly what it is she wants to do – open up a coffee shop!
Given Viv's history, it should be no surprise that this venture will not be as easy as she would like. Friends and enemies don't just disappear with a career change; even the city itself may create a few complications. But that won't stop Viv from chasing her cafe dreams; she might need some help to get it done.
"it was like drinking the feeling of being peaceful. Being peaceful in your mind. Well, not if you have too much, then it's something else."
My Review:
I have been hearing about Legends & Lattes nonstop for months! So I finally sat down to read, and let me tell you – it is worth the hype. Every positive thing you've heard about this book is probably right. It is such a cozy and fun fantasy novel to dive into. If you've been in need of a relaxing read but don't want to deviate from fantasy, I have good news for you.
In my mind, I just kept thinking to myself; this is what would happen if a D&D group decided to fantasize about running a coffee shop. It has charm, chaos, and brilliant characters. And those vibes! It's perfection!
This is the perfect book to read if you have just finished a heavy novel, as it is an ideal palette cleanser. I wish I could go back in time and read it for the first time all over again! I would have been more careful to place it between two of my darker reads, you know, to balance out my emotions.
Highlights:
Cozy fantasy
LGBT/Lesbian
High Fantasy
Trigger Warnings:
Stalking
Fatmisia
Thanks to Cryptid Press and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Terri M. LeBlanc
Written on Oct 31, 2022
I finished Legends & Lattes this morning with my breakfast. What a delightful light fantasy novel. Seriously. It reminded me of Jim C. Hines's Princess series — taking the best elements of fantasy and giving them a unique fun updated twist. I hope we'll see more adventures from Viv and the crew. And there needs to be a recipe book to accompany this one. My mouth was watering every time those cinnamon rolls came up.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
layawaydragon
Written on Aug 24, 2022
thorngil45
Written on Mar 15, 2022
Ashley
Written on Feb 23, 2022
Everything I hoped it would be! ♥️
chrssym
Written on Feb 23, 2022
Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub
Written on Feb 17, 2022
Legends and Lattes is a delight! Creative and sweet, with just the right amount of danger, I enjoyed every word. The book follows Viv, an orc who leaves behind a life of killing and looting to open a coffee shop. That’s right, an orc running a coffee shop. Not only is it unlikely, but no one in the city of Thune even knows what coffee is. Viv definitely has her work cut out for her! Luckily for her, she has a Scalvert’s Stone, which is supposed to bring success. Unluckily for her, someone knows she has it, and wants it.
The premise is so much fun, but what made it even better for me were the supporting characters. There was a wonderful group of unique misfits who slowly turned Viv’s dream into a reality that was so much more than she expected. From the succubus who really wanted to leave the reputation that comes with her race behind, to the rattkin cook, each character added a unique charm to Legends and Lattes. They showcased Viv’s character growth and added a little something extra. I can’t decide who my favorite character was: Cal the hob or Thimble, the rattkin cook. There was something intensely charming about the cook being a rattkin. I also loved Durias the mysterious gnome. I’m a sucker for sage-like characters and I would love to read another book set in this world, just about him.
The coffee shop itself became another character and I fell in love with it. There was something cozy and calming about the way it was described. I loved the descriptions of the coffee and goodies that could be found there, and I would love to nibble on a thimblet!
The pacing was excellent, the story itself was sweet, and the ending was perfect. Legends and Lattes would be the perfect book to read on a rainy day with a cup of your favorite hot beverage.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2022/02/20/legends-lattes-a-novel-of-high-fantasy-and-low-stakes-by-travis-baldree/