Legends and lattes (International Edition)

So you're scrolling through books and happen across this one. You stop, thinking "hmm....that name looks familiar. Isn't there a Travis Baldree who narrates books?" And the answer is yes, yes there is. AND, that Travis Baldree the one who has voiced Cradle, Necrotic Apocalypse, Death Cultivator, and many others, has written a novel. This novel. Legends & Lattes is a wonderful slice-of-life standalone fantasy novel that is unlike any other. How? I'm so glad you asked! Well, first of all, there is only one (yes, you read that right, just one!) monster battle in the ENTIRE BOOK! And since it takes place in the prologue, that's not even a spoiler! After that battle, our heroine Viv hangs up her sword and embarks on a new journey - to open up a coffee shop! What's so special about that? Well, the thing is, no one in the city of Thune, where she opens her shop, has ever even heard of coffee! So, she definitely has her work cut out for her. Of course, not everything is smooth sailing, and not everyone wants her to succeed. In fact, Viv soon begins to butt heads with the local mafia enforcers, and she may also be facing trouble from a frenemy in her past! Yet Viv is determined to solve her problems without resorting to violence. Can she stick to that promise? One of the best things about Travis's debut novel, in my opinion, are the characters. As Viv begins her journey as a barista, she begins to pull in a wonderful and eclectic group of individuals around her, all of whom help to play a role in the potential success of her coffee shop. Not only that, but those characters are well-developed, each with clear personalities and quirks that quickly make them not only lovable but also real. One of the favorite characters is Thimble (whom we see on the back cover of the book), a ratkin who makes magic (not actual magic, but cooking and food magic) with the treats that he bakes. By the way, just as fair warning, you may find yourself craving a nice cup of coffee (or a latte!) and a hot cinnamon roll as you read the story. And, of course, what fantasy story would be complete without at least a little bit of romance? While the sapphic romance is certainly not the focus of the story (so don't worry, guys, you can still read it and not lose any street cred!), it is a very nice side story that grows alongside the main storyline. So, long review short, if all of the above doesn't make you want to grab a copy of this novel right now, then let me finish up by saying this: You NEED to read this novel. It is a truly unique fantasy novel that is as cozy as curling up by a fire with a blanket, a warm cup of cocoa (or coffee LOL), and a book on a cold, winter night. Let THIS book be THAT book. You will not be disappointed. In fact, now that I've written this review, I'm going to reread it, to rejoin all the friends I made the first time I read it.

I was looking for a book that I could easily get lost in, and this one was perfect for the task! The characters are fun and likable, while still being dimensional enough to hold interests and intrigue. The plotline is fun and unique, and heartwarming in a non-cheesy way. A quick, cozy read.

A friend recommended this book, and I am glad that she did. Sometimes, a cozy, low-stakes fantasy is exactly what I need at the end of a long day. The characters were endearing, the stakes were low but meaningful - I don't even like coffee and I was rooting for them all the whole way through. There's a lovely little theme running through the book of trying to be a better person than you were before and recognizing the strengths and skills of others. This is the sort of book to read on a rainy day, curled up on the couch with a hot cup of tea - er, coffee - by your side. It is a fairly quick read. Physically, I liked the weight of the book. Nice hardcover, nice size for reading, and I'm liking the trend of pretty colors on the edges of the pages.

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.

Funny, heartwarming and a very rare example of slice-of-life fantasy in feeling, though there is indeed a plot and build up and pay off. You fall in love with pretty much every character and the story never oubishes you for it.

Fun and lovely read. Great for anyone that likes feel good fantasy

Goed en snel verzonden door Amazon, is een cadeau voor iemand geweest die er erg blij mee is

The book is a fun read and I highly recommend it, this edition is really beautiful with amazing cover art, but the softcover binding is so-so. Not really pleasant to flip through, really tight and I'm afraid of snapping the spine if I open it too much. But the letters are rather big and approachable.

Lovely book. Low stakes and emotional investment. But you find yourself rooting for the characters from start to end.