Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Feb 27, 2022 Carrie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, arc, asked-or-received-for-review

Legends & Lattes felt like a warm hug. I would call it "cozy fantasy" which sometimes is just what you need.

Viv is an Orc who has decided that it was time for her to leave behind her warrior days and set down some roots. To have a fresh start in life. So what does she do? She opens a coffee shop. A gnomish invention she discovered along her travels. But here's the catch the city that she has decided to settle in has no idea what coffee is. So opening up a coffee shop is going to require some he Legends & Lattes felt like a warm hug. I would call it "cozy fantasy" which sometimes is just what you need.

Viv is an Orc who has decided that it was time for her to leave behind her warrior days and set down some roots. To have a fresh start in life. So what does she do? She opens a coffee shop. A gnomish invention she discovered along her travels. But here's the catch the city that she has decided to settle in has no idea what coffee is. So opening up a coffee shop is going to require some help. In doing so she makes some great friends and relationships as a result.

The secondary characters in this book are so very loveable especially Cal the Hob. I adore Cal. One of my favourite fantasy characters is Flint Fireforge from the Dragonlance books. And Cal is giving me those same vibes, there is something that made me think of Flint when reading Cals scenes and to me that is a big compliment. It is safe to say that I can add another character to my favourites list with Cal.

Now don't get me wrong when I say this is a cozy fantasy it doesn't mean that there are not things that take you out of the coziness like a kick to the stomach. Viv has an item and there is someone from her past life that wants what she has, and they will do anything to get it for themselves.

Let's talk about the coffee shop it's self, it is here that everything takes place. I could close my eyes and be transported there. The descriptions of the baked goods, I can smell. The cheerful atmosphere and music. It is like the heart of the book, because without it the events and friendships would not have happened.

When I first saw this book on Travis Baldrees Twitter I knew I had to read it. Fantasy is my favourite genre, I am sucker for books that talk about food or take place in cafes. To top it all off I am actually a barista. So for me this book was meant for my eyes to read.

So if you like books to give you that warm cozy feeling, found family and cats. A mysterious gnome, Thimble the baking Rattkin, and something to make you smile. Pick up a copy of Legends & Lattes yourself, curl up with a cup of bean water and experience this wonderful book for yourself.

Thank you Travis Baldree for giving me a copy of your book for review.

Originally posted on I Can Has Books ...more

15 likes · Like · see review

Jan 11, 2025 Netanella rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2025-sffbc-read-all-the-books, fantasy, 2025-sffbc-tbr-cleanup, 2025-january-reading-challenges, 2025-shiny-lit-on-the-rocks, 2025-wbtm-whatever-your-weather, 2025-horror-aficionados-mount-tbr, 2025-wbtm-author-speed-date

3 1/2, rounded up to 4, because I was expecting to skim this book and ended up enjoying its found-family vibe much more than I expected.

Here's to coffee and cinnamon rolls and friends! ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Feb 26, 2022 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: provided-by-publisher, arc-are

Regular blog readers might think this is an odd title for me to be enthusiastic about, but I’m a fan of Dungeons & Dragons, currently working my way through Campaign 1 of Critical Role’s stream, while keeping up with Campaign 3 (and the animated series of Campaign 1 ‘Vox Machina’ on Amazon Prime). My son has been playing with a group fortnightly for five years and in the meantime we’ve accumulated a lot of D&D board games, books and resources.

So when I spied a post for the upcoming title Legend Regular blog readers might think this is an odd title for me to be enthusiastic about, but I’m a fan of Dungeons & Dragons, currently working my way through Campaign 1 of Critical Role’s stream, while keeping up with Campaign 3 (and the animated series of Campaign 1 ‘Vox Machina’ on Amazon Prime). My son has been playing with a group fortnightly for five years and in the meantime we’ve accumulated a lot of D&D board games, books and resources.

So when I spied a post for the upcoming title Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree on my Twitter feed I immediately added it to my TBR, curious about how the combination of cosy mystery and D&D themed fantasy would work. Then the author announced he was looking for reviewers and I signed up with my fingers crossed.

In Legends and Lattes, Viv, an orc-barbarian, has had enough of murder and mayhem and after tearing a stone reputed to bring luck from the cleaved head of a Scalvert Queen, leaves her adventuring party and sets off to the town of Thune. Relying on the pull of a dowsing rod, Viv is led to a near derelict livery, and after haggling with its owner, finally has a place she can call her own. Viv plans to introduce coffee to Thune by establishing the city’s very first coffee shop and, hiring a taciturn hob named Calamity as her carpenter, sets about transforming the property.

The business gets off to a slow start, but with the help of Tandri, a savvy succubus looking to be taken seriously, and a ratkin, Mr Thimble, who produces the most divine pastries, ‘Legends and Lattes’ soon attracts regular customers. As the menu grows, so does the cafe’s popularity, but Viv can’t quite let go of the worry that she’ll lose it all.

There’s not a lot of subtlety when it comes to the story’s themes, but I was charmed by the way in which this group of disparate but delightful characters come together, accepting one another for who they are, and encouraging each other to be who they want to be. There’s also a sweet romance that develops between Viv and her assistant Tandri, with just a little angst stemming from their own insecurities as an obstacle.

There’s not a mystery per se in Legends & Lattes, but there is a little well paced, light suspense and drama when the neighbourhood gang insist Viv pay them for the privilege of operating in their territory, and a former party member decides he wants Viv’s reward from their last bounty. Though tempted, Viv is determined to not revert to her old ways of dealing with problems, even when it threatens to cost her everything.

As promised on the cover, Legends & Lattes is a novel of ‘high fantasy and low stakes’, a winsome, heart warming, feel good read to enjoy with your favourite brew and pastry. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 06, 2023 Chompa rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, 2023

I've seen this book mentioned a lot and it apparently is the epitome of a growing sub-genre called "Cozy Fantasy". It's a nice little story about an Orc warrior named Viv who retires and starts up a coffee shop. There is a lot about coffee and pastries and building up the business, which honestly sounds boring as hell, but is actually really nice. Viv gathers friends and builds a new life after her life of adventure.

This is not my usual type of read and while I didn't love it, I did really enjo ...more

1 like · Like · see review