Review: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

Author: Travis Baldree
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Paperback
Kindle Unlimited: No
Published: February 2022
Publisher: TOR
Series: Legends & Lattes, Book #1
Price: $12.99 Kindle/$11.30 Paperback (Amazon)

Synopsis: {via GoodReads}

After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time.

The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.

If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won't be able to go it alone.

But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.

Review: 

*Contains Spoilers*

This book is like a cozy blanket and I absolutely loved it. Travis Baldree does an amazing job of writing fantasy that's lite and approachable, without too much complexity that readers get lost in the overly elaborate worldbuilding. The story is fun and, while there's a humor to the idea that an orc wants to hang up her sword and open a coffee shop, the premise is one of gentleness and homecoming. Viv finds where she belongs and comes to realize she's more than she thought she could be. The story is beautiful in it's gentility. 

The Characters: 

The characters are the entire story. While there's a simple plot happening with a magical item, the characters are really the whole book. Without the relationships between Viv, Tandri, Cal, Thimble, and the rest there is no story. So much so that I'm going to skip elaborate discussion about the plot. Let's just say Viv (MC) retires from adventuring and brings with her a magical item she believes is bringing her luck. That's all I'll say about the plot because I don't think the plot is the point at all. Rather, it provides a framework for the character development in a way few novels actually succeed at.

The main character, Viv, is a strong character with interesting flaws. She's completely believable, which is saying something because she's a completely fictional race. She's not othered by the author or the other characters, instead she's treated very much like a person throughout the story. Baldree's treatment of Viv as an orc is exceptional. Being an orc isn't her whole identity, it's just a thing about her. She's got personality and, importantly, though she has a rougher side, she's a nice person who draws people toward her with her warmth. 

Likewise, the other characters are a mix if races that don't define them. Thimble is a gentle rattling baker, Tandri is a succubus who isn't defined by her sensuality, and Cal is a friendly hob. Each of the characters has personality and it's easy to see as the story progresses how this coffee shop, Legends & Lattes, brings them together around a central goal in a way that's meaningful to each of them. The story's character development is it's strongest element and Baldree does it well.

Rating: 

❤❤❤❤❤ 5/5 - Exceptional. I would give this book 10 hearts if my rating system allows that. Highly recommended to those who enjoy fantasy lite and like stories about the power of love and friendship.