Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree -> Restarting July 20th, 2024

[Aly]

When an injury throws a young, battle-hungry orc off her chosen path, she may find that what we need isn't always what we seek.

In Bookshops & Bonedust, a prequel to Legends & Lattes, New York Times bestselling author Travis Baldree takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books.

Viv's career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam's Ravens isn't going as planned.

Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she's packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she'll never be able to return to it.

What's a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn't possibly imagine.

Still, adventure isn't all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

[Andy]

Chapter 2: I am a little bored, and what is a tapenti? :P At least something happened in the last page...

[Andy]

Chapter 6: this really picked up! :) (view spoiler)[ I like all the people Viv is meeting, and I like that she reads now! :) Not a fan of the books she is reading though! Ah! (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Chapter 16: (view spoiler)[I thought the love intereet would be Fern, not Maylee, but it is a nice twist! :) (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Chapter 28: (view spoiler)[Satchel is such a nice character! The book with the blank pages is intriguing, but the story is getting a bit slow again... (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Finished: (view spoiler)[I liked the ending, though I felt it dragged a little, and yet it was missing some moments, for example between Viv, Gallina and Rakham. I am also not sure how Satchel managed to vanquish the sorceress, as this was actually off screen??? My favourite character is Satchel anyway! :P (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

I'll be reading this one soon :)

[Andy]

Kira wrote: "I'll be reading this one soon :)"

Happy reading!
There is a buddy read for Longshadow if you wanted to finish the Regency Faerie tale series! :) I just started it!

[Kira]

I'll start too!!!

[Kira]

Still need to get to this one

[Kira]

Finally read this one!

Prologue - Chapter 8: (view spoiler)[Knowing Viv since I have already read Legends & Lattes, I can see how much it pains her to sit out during a mission because of her injury. The description of how that oil worked sounded so painful to me I can't imagine how desperate Viv must be to get better that she asked for the same treatment again. The bakery might be the same one that influenced Viv to start her own when she retired. I am quite liking Fern, the bookshop and all the reading discussion happening in the story (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9-17: (view spoiler)[Viv is forging such pure connections with the townsfolk I am absolutely loving it ngl. I wonder who that man was lurking around in the bookshop and how is he connected to the necromancer, his escape is shrouded in mystery too. I hope none of the folks Viv has come to know or bond with are involved in anything nefarious. I am a bit confused about the kind of connection developing between her and Maylee. My favourite is still her time spent at the bookshop. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 18-27: (view spoiler)[Well that was an unexpected turn of events. The gray man turned up dead in the town and no one has any idea who or what killed him. The "Satchel" makes for an interesting servant ngl and now the title of the book makes complete sense too haha. To reiterate what I said earlier, I have become a huge fan of the bookshop and I wish I could spend my entire day someplace similar too. The mystery book sale idea is definitely going to be a hit. I am awaiting Varine's arrival in this quiant little town (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 28-36: (view spoiler)[Poor Satchel, I have grown quite fond of him and I hope Viv is able to find a way to free him from the necromancer's grasp. The book signing event with the local author was a brilliant idea, I am so happy to see that the bookshop has been revived and there's a good chance would be able to stay open way beyond what Fern had feared. I am wondering if the author will give us an ultimate showdown between Viv and her party and Varine after all (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[It was a bit of a let down with respect to how Varine was vanquished since the majority of the plot revolved around how utterly dangerous she was. But I definitely liked all the other bits and especially that epilogue which tied together this book with Legends & Lattes. It feels great to know how Viv's story originated and what had her excited to open her own bakery at last. It also seemed like the next book is going to be Viv's venture into the bookshop world which I am most excited for (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

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RESTARTING JULY 20TH, 2024


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[Vicki]

Through Ch. 10 / 26%

(view spoiler)[I was not sure at all how I'd like this one, but I really am enjoying it. I didn't read book 1, so I don't know anything about any of the characters which is fine with me.

Viv, bless her heart. she really wants to be the best warrior but now she's been injured. At least she's off her crutch and seems to be healing well.

I like Fern a lot, especially because she owns a bookstore and got Viv into reading. Plus, Viv is talking books to others so that could spread the love of books.

Loving all of the fun names of the characters: Potroast (kind of ironic since she appears to be hen-like or much like a hen so she could be cooked in a pot roast). I have no idea what a rattkin is lol but it's fun anyway. Her description was just a fun read.

Gallina the gnome is a fun name too. Although, not much has happened with it so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Through Ch. 20 / 43%

(view spoiler)[I like how Viv is interacting with everyone and she seems to be growing some. I like her relationship with Maylee so far. I also wondered about the guy they got and who escaped, who he might be and if he'll come back to play an important role at all; otherwise, why was he even included?

And what about the goblin? I'm curious about her too. I just thought the eye contact and having that moment between the goblin and Maylee was cool.

I also like the "pirate" feel of being on the boat, in the ocean, etc. I've always liked pirate stories and this section just reminded me of that. lol (hide spoiler)]

Quote I loved that I think would resonate with nearly all readers, if not all: (view spoiler)[Having you here is connecting me to why I do this. To why I used to love it. I don't know if I can explain it, but watching you read what I give you, putting a book in your hands and seeing what happens to you once you put it back down...I can't make you understand how that gives me something I didn't know I had to have."

For me, it's instilling the love of books, reading, and taking imaginary trips to unknown places, multiple types of characters, cultures, and so forth. I will do ANYTHING to instill a love of reading in my grandkids! (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Through Ch 30

(view spoiler)[I liked the intro to Satchel and I really like his character.

I was wondering about the word "Bonedust" and what it meant, and now we know. lol I thought, DUH! And I felt a little bit stupid for not realizing that. lol Oh well, now I know.

Oh and the gray man is dead so there's that. I wonder who killed him and why. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Finished

(view spoiler)[I'm really glad I read this one. I liked pretty much all of the characters but loved Satchel. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

10 chapters

I agree, super cute so far

(view spoiler)[ I don't remember how this ties into the first one at all!
so we'll both miss all those little tie ins together! lol I remember the basic plot of the first one but not any of the characters or anything else.

I also think they are both really cute. I love that it's about a book store. Viv has had some really great ideas and I love that she's helping Fern with the store.

I really hope it becomes more successful

but who is the shadow guy? and the gnome trying to get an invite . . .hmmm (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

20 chapters

this one feels really slow

(view spoiler)[ and I feel like it's missing the spark that I loved in the first one. it's cute but I don't feel really pulled in. . .

I agree, I like Maylee and their interactions but they don't feel super romantic or swoony

Surprised the man in Gray is dead! I didn't expect that. hopefully this satchel and bones will get the story going (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Vicki wrote: "Quote I loved that I think would resonate with nearly all readers, if not all: .."

I really liked that quote too!

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "10 chapters

I agree, super cute so far

I don't remember how this ties into the first one at all!
so we'll both miss all those little tie ins together! lol I remember the basic plot of the first ..."

Definitely in it together! lol My favorite part was (view spoiler)[all the bookstore scenes and how she helped Fern and how Fern promoted her love of books. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

and done!

(view spoiler)[ I agree. really cute and I liked how it reminded me that IT WAS THE SAME MAIN CHARACTER FOR BOTH BOOKS! lol
I don't know why I didn't tie that together. Ugh, I feel so dense.

I'm glad she kept going too! I was glad she didn't stay even though she made such good friends. she changed them, it was so good.

I loved all the wild creatures, too, in the book store!

but yeah, this one lacked that spark, for me, that the first one had (hide spoiler)]