I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree Series: Legends & Lattes #0
Published by Tor Books on November 7 2023
Genres: Adult, Cozy fantasy
Pages: 352
Format: Finished paperback
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: Cozy, funny and satisfying, Bookshops & Bonedust is a must read for all book lovers.
Even though I haven’t read Legends & Lattes yet, I decided to dive into Travis Baldree’s prequel story, and I’m so glad I did. Bookshops & Bonedust can easily be read first (it is a prequel, after all), and I enjoyed it so much that I can’t wait to go back and read Legends & Lattes. This is a cozy fantasy that seems light and fluffy on the outside, but actually tackles some emotional, thoughtful themes if you dig a little deeper. It’s also full of lovable characters, and if you enjoy anything to do with bookstores, reading or baked goods—preferably all three together—you’ll fall in love just like I did.
Viv is a young orc who recently joined Rackam’s Ravens, a gang-for-hire who wander the countryside, working for whoever needs them. Fighting is in Viv’s blood, but when her leg is badly injured during one such fight, Rackam insists that she take a few weeks to recover. Viv reluctantly agrees to lie low in the nearby seaside town of Murk while the Ravens continue on their current job, but only if Rackam agrees to pick her up on their way back.
Viv wastes no time in getting to know the townsfolk, including Fern, a rattkin who owns a bookshop called Thistleburr Booksellers, and Maylee, a dwarf who runs Sea-Song Bakery. As her leg slowly heals, Viv begins to appreciate the little town of Murk and its quirky inhabitants. Sure, she’s eager to join back up with the Ravens, but she’s also become invested in Fern’s struggling bookshop and wants to help out. As for Maylee, there’s definitely something between them, although Viv isn’t sure what, but Maylee’s delectable breads and pastries aren’t the only reason Viv wants to spend more time with the dwarf.
But Viv is sidetracked when a threat appears in town—the very threat that the Ravens are trying to stop. Can Viv help stop the threat, get ready for Fern’s grand reopening, figure out her feelings for Maylee—and allow her leg to heal before Rackam returns?
My favorite parts of Bookshops & Bonedust were the low-stakes, day to day interactions between Viv and her new friends. Yes, there is some drama and danger in the form of an evil necromancer, but I honestly wasn’t very interested in that storyline. Instead, I was on pins and needles waiting to see how Fern and Viv would transform Thistleburr Booksellers from a dreary, messy store to a more welcoming and cozy space for reading and browsing. This book is a love letter to readers and bookstores, and I absolutely loved the way Baldtree took modern bookselling ideas like “blind date with a book” and author signings to infuse new life into Fern’s dying business. I also loved how Viv and Fern worked together, each contributing different ideas, to transform the shop into a cozy, safe place where everyone is welcome.
The author also addresses how important books are, even to those who don’t yet realize how much they love to read. Viv has never read a book in her life, but when Fern puts one in her hands and encourages her to try it, her life is changed forever. Fern has a knack for matching the right book with each person who comes into her shop, and it was a joy to see the characters transformed by stories.
I loved all the side characters, like Fern’s “gryphet,” a dog-like creature named Potroast, and Gallina, a gnome who wants more than anything to join Rackam’s Ravens. At first these characters grate on Viv—Gallina keeps sitting in her favorite chair at the tavern, for example—but little by little Viv comes to appreciate how special each is in their own way. I even liked Satchel, a strange creature made of bones and animated by magical bonedust, who is pivotal in their search for the necromancer.
But it’s the relationships that elevated this story from simply “cozy” to something deeper. Fern and Viv develop a wonderful, life changing friendship that may or may not continue in Legends & Lattes (the epilogue makes it seem like Fern might appear in that story, so let me know if you’ve read it!). I also appreciated the subtle flirtation between Viv and Maylee, which was sweet on the surface but also ventured into something I rarely see in fiction these days—the idea of “two ships passing in the night.”
As Viv becomes more entrenched in her new, temporary life in Murk, the reader wonders what will happen if and when the Ravens return. The answer is bittersweet to say the least, but a satisfying epilogue made me hopeful for Viv’s newly forged friendships. Bookshops & Bonedust is the perfect antidote to dark, heavy fantasy, and now is the perfect time to read it.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
“a love letter to readers and bookstores”
There could be no better recommendation for a book, indeed…
I had been aware of Legends & Latte and would probably have added it to my TBR one of these days, but I guess that I will now start with this one, it sounds too delightful to pass up… 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…OF MYCELIUM AND MEN (The Biomass Conflux #1), by William C. Tracy @SciFiMonth
I’m glad I started here, it makes more sense to read the prequel first:-)
This sounds absolutely perfect. I really want to read the first book as well but glad you found you could read this without having read Legends first 😀
Pages and Tea recently posted…The End Of The Year Book Tag: 2023 Edition
I read somewhere that each book in the series will be a standalone, more or less, which is great:-)
I’ve been wanting to read this books and I’ll probably start with the prequel too. I love the part in your review where you say the author addresses how important books are. I’ve always been a reader since I was little but it would be really nice to read about a character like Viv who has never read a book in her life but once Fern encourages her to try she enjoys it. MUCH LOVE!
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Book Blitz: Take Me Home Now by Oby Aligwekwe
This will make you very happy then, the reading/books parts were so heartwarming:-)
Wonderful review! I agree wholeheartedly — this is such a delicious book, and I was much more interested in the relationships, the bookstore, etc than in the necromancer storyline. I hope you read Legends & Lattes soon!
Thanks Lisa! I will definitely read L&L soon:-)
I am so happy you loved it Tammy! I loved Legends a nd Latte and plan to read that one too!
I can’t wait to read Legends & Lattes:-)
Robin enjoyed this one too.
It’s hard not to enjoy it:-)
I have been seeing this book everywhere.. guess it’s time to add the book to my ever growing TBR list.
Yes, add it!
Glad to hear you can read this one first, which I assumed you could. I own the second/original one and have put this one on my Christmas list. Sounds like perfect winter reads to me and I can’t wait to meet Potroast.
It is the perfect winter read, there’s also lots of tea:-)
Glad you enjoyed it.
Stormi recently posted…Week in Review #61
It was so good!
I listened to the audiobook of this one last week and loved it!
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – Some of My Recent Favorite Books Set in NYC
I’ll bet the audio was fantastic!
Fantastic review – I wish I was reading these books now!
Lynn 😀
Thanks Lynn, it’s never too late:-)
This is really exciting, I loved the first book so I think I will enjoy this one too!
Very glad to see you enjoyed this so much. Legends & Lattes keeps moving its way up my list, and I recently picked up a paper copy. Can’t wait to try this series.
I really want to read these books! I thought you had to read the other first, but sounds like it is okay to start with this one. Great review!
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…Naughty or Nice? Santa’s List Reviews and DNFs of Christmas Books Read in 2023
If you loved this then you will adore Legends & Lattes!
Fern doesn’t make an appearance, the epilogue of Bookshops & Bonedust is set slightly later than when the story of L&L happens… but the same sense of friendship and compassion is in it, you could imagine Fern walking in the door at any moment. The only big difference in Viv’s character in L&L is that she has retired so isn’t eager to get back on the road (although her great sword is hung proudly over the counter to ward off any would-be trouble makers, of which there are many)… making the story even cosier as there’s an even greater sense of belonging, even if this belonging has to be sought and carved out for herself in a new community… but without sacrificing any of the excitement or adventure, won’t say any more than that!