نقدها
I will read any Cozy fantasy this man writes, I love these books so much!
3 stars; It wasn't bad and I liked it. I thoroughly enjoyed Legends & Lattes so reading this was a no-brainer. Halfway through, I lost interest in continuing. It might've been a mix of real life stuff and the fact the cozy fantasy was feeling too slow for me that had me working on this book for the past 6 months, but by God, she's finished!I will say, one thing I dislike heavily in prequels is the amount of connections the author has to tie-in to the main book to make it a prequel. In Bookshops & Bonedust, I didn't get too much of that and I appreciate that so much.Uncertain if I will ever get to book 2? book 3? whatever Brigands & Breadknives is numbered, but I hope it's a better reading experience than I had here.
Rating: 4/5Bookshops & Bonedust is a cozy, character-driven fantasy with a touch of adventure that held me in a chokehold the entire time. May Contain Spoilers BelowIt follows Viv, a wounded orc mercenary stuck in a quiet seaside town, reluctantly finding herself drawn into the world of books, friendship, and unexpected danger. Travis Baldree is an author I’ve had reccomended to me numerous times for him Legends & lattes series. The DNDesc writing style has be on the edge of my seat every few chapters. He manages delivers heartwarming, cozy fantasy vibes as we follow Viv’s adventuring life. Whilst this book maintains a comforting, low-stakes charm it also adds layers of action, nostalgia, and personal growth, making me want to read this book over and over again until I can get my hands on the original book that made this all possible, Legends and Lattes. “Books, you know. The best ones anyways - they don’t just change you. They change how you see the world.”CharactersViv Injured and stuck in a small town, the half-orc is initially frustrated, eager to get back to her mercenary life. But over time, she’s forced to slow down and engage with the world in a new way, especially through the bookshop that becomes her unexpected refuge. Watching her learn patience, forge meaningful bonds, and discover the quiet joys of a less chaotic existence makes her character arc particularly satisfying.FernThe heart and soul of the bookshop, Fern is a delightfully bookish rattkin with a deep love for literature and an unassuming but strong-willed nature. She’s the perfect foil to Viv—gentle yet determined, practical yet imaginative. Fern’s passion for books is infectious, and her role in introducing Viv to the comfort of stories is one of the novel’s most touching elements.Fern is the only character I can decipher from the others. Solely for how unique she is compared to the rest of the characters. Her love for books highlights her to be very similar to myself.MayleeThe gregarious, flirtatious baker brings a dose of fun and warmth to the story. Maylee’s easygoing confidence and undeniable charm make her an intriguing presence, particularly in how she interacts with Viv. Their dynamic adds a subtle but engaging layer of romance that never overshadows the main narrative but enhances Viv’s emotional journey.ConclusionThough the pacing is slow, the rich atmosphere and heartfelt relationships make up for it. A perfect read for those who enjoy cozy, low-stakes fantasy with a touch of action and found family.My only complaint is singularly the fact I struggle to picture the characters different from one another. Personally, I’ve never been good at this however with the addition of multiple species made everyone seem far too similar for my liking.I’ve yet to figure out what Potroast is.Despite this, Legends and lattes will be the next book to arrive onto my shelves.
Travis had me chuckling through this book! No spoilers but I enjoyed reading this one. Many fantastical characters. I get a real D&D vibe. Was just as exciting as it was cozy.
I liked the story more than the first book and the setting but i liked the characters of L&L more
The perfect cozy read to spend an afternoon. I'm so glad we got to meet this wonderful cast of characters, with some old friends also coming to visit. Heartwarming, laugh-out-loud funny, and charming, with a touch of action, adventure, and romance, makes this a wonderful read.
Yet another masterpiece by Travis Baldree. He managed to capture the wonderful warm, cozy magic that was in the first book and packaged it into much the same, but with a very different story. It felt a lot like the first book in that it was cozy... comfortable. Like snuggling under a warm blanket, wearing fuzzy socks and drinking a warm mug of tea. I found myself pausing ever so often to daydream about the wonderful world that we are visiting. Much like Viv, we might feel the place is too slow, too quiet, too simple. But also like Viv...we come to love it for those very same reasons. Mr. Baldree weaves words in a magical combination to bring us this port town with vivid imagery. I can feel the hot sand and the salty sea breeze. I can hear the gentle thunder of waves and the creek of old, sunbleached wooden planks. I really hope Mr. Baldtree continues to write more of such works. I will forever have a place in my heart for pure warm fantasy without the overwhelming political intrigue or years-long backstory. Just real characters, real emotions, beautiful descriptions and escape.
