When I heard that one of my favorite narrators, who also happens to be a talented game designer and story writer was publishing his first book, I knew I'd have to check it out. Legends and Lattes is that book, and I will tell you upfront, this is one of my favorite books of the year. It's not shocking to me he wrote such a good story, but I was amazed at how much I came to really care for the characters and the world he creates.
And what a world it is. Anyone who has ever played a game Travis wrote and designed knows he creates a world you can sink right into, and this one is no exception. Taking place mostly in the city of Thune, you are drawn into how this city resembles a medieval city. The various craftsmen and women and their businesses feel so real, and you can almost see the various sights, especially as Legend's and Lattes the business comes into being. The neighborhood feels warm and inviting, but we still get a good look at the other districts of the city as well, both good and bad. Its a world with magic and adventurers, and yet it feels like a fully realized world where you can step into a locally owned coffee shop and buy a latte and a pastry. It's the coziest of worlds, with a real intimacy that is surprisingly pleasant and heartwarming.
The characters are such a treat. Viv is the orc warrior who gives up adventuring to take a chance on opening the first coffee shop in Thune, introducing it's denizens to the wonders of this gnomish treat. 22 years of adventuring were enough, and Viv wants to do something orcs don't generally do, which is live peacefully to a ripe old age and die peacefully in her sleep, not by an ax blow to the skull. She is such a fun character, because she has is the best kind of fish out of water story, wanting to put her violent past behind her to try and find peace for herself in something she thinks she'll truly be happy doing. She really could solve a lot of problems in the book by resorting to "Viv Smash", but she is dedicated to not being about that life, and its really heartwarming to see. How the story for her plays out is really unexpected, with a lot of twists and turns up until the very end.
The secondary characters are excellent as well. The most important of these is Thandri, Viv's assistant who is actually more a second main character. She is a succubus, although she doesn't use her inbred abilities, and actually sees them as a hinderance more than anything else. She is a talented artist, and is a lot of help to Viv in growing the business. She too is trying to escape her past, which was much different than I expected, and she really plays a pivotal role in Viv's life. They have such great camaraderie, and they work together seamlessly, really enhancing each others strengths.
There are quite a few other characters as well, such as the ratkin Thimble, who makes up for his silence, with a great work ethic and amazing ability to create sinfully delicious pastries. He is another vital part of the growth of Legends and Lattes, and his silent presence in felt throughout the story. The other characters are a fun bunch, from the nosy but nice neighbor to the shop, to the young wizard student who comes in to study, and is actually the cause of a new drink in the shop, created in a hilarious way. They all play so well together that you can't help but to want to go hang out with them yourself.
The antagonists shift throughout the story. The initial antagonists ended up becoming friendly with Viv, so they became what I'd call more neutrally aligned. The antagonist who causes the most harm is actually a blast from Viv's past, and knowing Viv, has ideas how to ruin what she's worked so hard to build for herself. While he may have some insight, his own narcissism may be his downfall, without Viv having to resort to a life she swore to avoid again. It was very intriguing to see how this played out.
The narration was handled by the author himself. Being a narrator by current profession, this was a logical choice, especially considering he knows the characters and story better than anyone. You can tell he poured his heart and soul into this one, and an already talented narrator puts on his best performance to date. The characters already had life, and he just enhances that even more, bringing all the character to life in new and exciting ways. You can feel the emotion throughout, and I'll be honest, you get hit right in the feelz several times. I highly recommend this format, although paper and ebook are excellent as well.
It's not often a book about a slice of life, with characters building lives, friendships, love and a coffee shop would be first pick of mine to read, but I may have been missing out. The term cozy is thrown around a lot, sometimes as a pejorative, but this book kind of embodies the best of what a cozy kind of story can be. With some fantastic characters, interesting relationships and fun world building, you have the recipe for the best kind of story, the ones you re-read time and again. This is definitely one that will get an annual re-read at least, and is the best kind of comfort read. I highly recommend picking this up in whatever format you prefer, you won't be disappointed.
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COZIEST BOOK OF 2022 - Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
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I’m all toasty inside
I don’t know why I purchased Legends and Lattes last year. I had seen it somewhere. Bookstore? Amazon? Facebook? Regardless, it ended up on my TBR pile. Well, not a pile exactly, more like shoved on shelves in my basement. Its sequel, Bookshops and Bonedust, recently appeared in stores. I’d finished a book that had been a bit of a slog. Was going to read something else, but it wasn’t what I *wanted* to read. You know the feeling. I gravitated to Legends and Lattes and within 5 pages I knew I was going to like it. It’s not an epic fantasy. It doesn’t deal with the end of the world. It’s about an orc who decides to retire from adventuring and open the first coffee shop in the town of Thune. The problem is, no one know what coffee is.This book is described as a “cozy fantasy”. It’s a “slice of life” if that life was lived in Middle Earth. I think, more so, it’s a comforting story that takes place in a fantasy realm. It reminds me of Becky Chambers “The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet” which is the cozy scifi equivalent. Both Chambers and Travis Baldree have a light breezy style. Our characters feel like real folks.So, did I like it? Let’s say I immediately went and preordered the deluxe hardcover edition. I want to read it again. And I usually don’t want to nor have time to reread books. I’m lucky to get through a couple dozen books in a year. It had me in tears at times. And it made me feel… good. As the Grinch said “I’m all toasty inside.”
Top reviews from other countries
ellens.bookishcollection
Cozy Fantasy at its finest.
Reviewed in Canada on April 24, 2023