Legends & Lattes

This review was first published on Kurt's Frontier.

Synopsis:

Viv is a battle-weary orc who is aiming for a fresh start. She has traveled to Thune, her heart set on opening the city’s first-ever coffee shop. Yet her goal is beset with difficulties. Old and new enemies seek to disrupt her plans. More importantly, no one in Thune has the faintest idea of what coffee is.

It’s a path she can’t hope to walk alone. Whether through the arcane magic hidden in her shop, a delicious pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, people get drawn into her venture and become partners, friends, even family.

Review:

I’ve always said a storyteller’s greatest asset is the question, “what if …?” What if an orc came upon the concept of coffee and decided to turn it into a business? What challenges would such an unusual, budding entrepreneur face in a fantasy world? Is there magic? Yes. How about battle? A little. The blade work is minimal. Because I am something of an amateur barista, the title drew me to pick up the book.

Travis Baldree doesn’t go into much detail about the setting but describes the coffee shop in loving detail. I liked the interpersonal relationships, though some of the conflicts seemed resolved too easily. If you are looking for high fantasy, this isn’t the book. Other reviewers describe it as a “cozy fantasy” and even “a bit of fluff.” However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a fun read.

Loved the story as your reading you can see each person so clearly, would love another book like this! 💕💕

“Legends & Lattes” is the 2022 debut novel by Travis Baldree, who is better known in literary circles as a full-time audiobook narrator. It’s a classic alternative world fantasy novel with swords, magic, orcs, gnomes, and many other fantasy races. However, it is a very different and refreshing novel within this genre. The title page states it is “A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes.”

The main character of this novel is an adventurer, a female orc known as Viv. She has come to the City of Thune to pursue her dream. She’s grown tired of the typical life of a swordswomen, pursuing treasure, defeating monsters, etc. Viv is seeking to hang up her sword and settle down. Yes, she wants to open a new type of establishment known as a coffee shop.

She finds and buys an old livery stable and sets out seeking help to refurbish it to sell the latest gnomish drink. She finds a taciturn hob known Cal to help her remodel. Eventually, she seeks help with operating the shop. In response to her advertisement, she meets Tandri, a misunderstood succubus. Soon, a gifted ratkin baker called Thimbel becomes part of the team.

There are obstacles to be overcome, and issues both internal and external that must be dealt with. But with the help of her friends both former and new, Viv stands up to these new challenges. This is a heartwarming book, that draws you into a very different fantasy where the world doesn’t need to be saved, or the dark lord defeated. It tells the story of Viv and her friends coming together to create a special place for themselves and the people of Thune. It’s a great story!

My Tor e-book version included a bonus prequel story called “Pages to Fill” which tells the story of how Viv came to seek her new life, and her first encounter with coffee in a gnomish city. This was a great little bonus tale in the world of Legends & Lattes.