Decades of fighting have left Viv the orc barbarian tired of bloodshed. One last mission makes her the owner of Scalvert’s Stone, a mythical artifact with untested power that paves the road to her next adventure, opening a coffee shop in the city of Thune. Viv’s fresh start doesn’t come easy after a life of battle, and renovating the cafe space may be the least of her problems. Convincing the residents of Thune to give her unfamiliar drinks a try, facing the uncontested powers within the city, and the return of old enemies could quickly crumble the life of peace she is desperate to maintain. To successfully pull off her plan, Viv will need to enlist the help of her new partners in order to get the cafe back on track, which just may provide her with the perspective that she has been missing all along.
Legends & Lattes is easily the coziest fantasy novel I have ever read, centered around an orc barbarian turned entrepreneur Viv and her trials and tribulations in opening a coffee shop. Debut author Travis Baldree serves up a lighthearted and easygoing tale that feels like being wrapped up in a warm blanket with a piping hot cup of coffee. Following Viv, as she journeys to the city of Thune to start her new adventure, I was instantly carried away by the sights of the city, and the mouthwatering pastries and food described in ever-expanding detail. This is definitely a feast for the senses, combined with an incredible attention to detail. My favorite moments in particular were the chalkboard menu updates that were described after each new morning pastry addition. They all sounded so delectable I wished for nothing more than to jump into the page and enjoy a steaming cinnamon bun myself. As the cafe expands and takes on new upgrades, so are we introduced to our lovely cast of characters Viv, Cal, Thimble, and Tandri. I adored them all, especially Thimble and his careful attention to his breakfast pastry creations, and Viv and Tandri who had such a heartwarming love story. Every passing addition to the cafe team imparted such a strong sense of coming together, along with that found family component I was hoping for. Legends and Lattes is, at its heart, about community and friendship, and how personal quests for transformation cannot be accomplished alone. Look no further for a fantasy that doesn’t forgo a warm atmosphere and layers heavily on all things cozy. Legends and Lattes is the perfect book for anyone that has ever dreamed of ditching their responsibilities to open up a cafe or bookstore, or is in need of a well-earned escape.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this arc
Trigger warnings: fire, violence, sexual harassment
Literaryrobin 