Legends & Lattes: A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes

When I saw an upcoming book being described as a cosy fantasy story set around an Orc retiring to set up a coffee shop, I jumped at the chance to preorder it. Then forget about it. Because life happens. But this finally appeared on my kindle app the other day and I thought I'd make a cuppa and scroll through a few pages. My coffee went cold. I couldn't get enough of this - honestly, from the world-building, to the rich characters, to the bending and snapping of old tropes around fantasy characters and the delicious descriptions of food and drink (no, seriously) this was perfection wrapped in wax paper. Best served with Thimblets and your favourite mug of coffee. Dont read if you don't have much time to spare, because you will lose hours as you delve into the wonderful world Travis has built and fall in love with (almost) every single character and this story.

I don't remember the last time I read a book cover-to-cover in one sitting. Legends and Lattes is a delightful, delicious, heart-warming tale and you owe it to yourself to read it! Just remember to get some good coffee and biscotti before you begin.

Travis Baldree has some interesting projects to his name. To begin with, he is a game dev veteran of Torchlight, Fate, and Rebel Galaxy, and in 2017 he began narrating audiobooks. He’s perhaps most well-known for his work on Will Wight’s Cradle series. Then in 2021, he took part in NaNoWriMo and somehow in less than 3 months got his edits done and whatever else needs doing to send a young novel out into the world and that novel is, of course, Legends & Lattes. Of course, the book was published through indie publisher Cryptid Press so I presume he had some help there but still, colour me impressed. This is a wonderful little book. I saw Legends & Lattes floating around my Twitter feed a fair bit in late January. I follow a lot of TTRPG nerds, bookworms, and video gamers so there is a lot of crossover interest in a book advertised as a “cozy fantasy novel about an orc barbarian-ess who retires to open a coffee shop”, alongside that absolutely beautiful cover art. I immediately knew I had to keep my eye out. The thing is, come 22nd February I was between books and whoopsadaisy, my finger slipped. Usually, I like to wait for reviews to come around when I’m purchasing so I can make a judgement but I couldn’t resist. The world needs a “cozy fantasy” genre and I had to check this out. Oh my god, you guys, this book is actually the feeling of drinking a nice hot beverage (shall we say… coffee?) on a rainy day. Relaxing and blissful. Most of the novel is literally just about building Viv’s coffee shop, a quirky Gnomish thing that most of this world has no idea about, making new friends in this new city after hanging up her adventuring sword (literally), and growing the business. And somehow it’s lovely. Yes, I usually like a little more action in my books but sometimes a little banter between an Orc Barbarian lady and her new Hob friend as they turn an abandoned livery into a coffee shop is just what you need. The entire cast of characters, too, are an absolute delight. Viv herself is nervous about this new venture, after hacking and slashing her way through dungeons and monsters for years, and she takes a few magical precautions to help her along. She doesn’t exactly believe in herself, but she certainly believes in the idea and that draws some wonderful people to her. First off, Cal, the Hob who helps her build up the shop. He is so willing to help, and while he comes off a little wary at first, he’s really taken by Viv’s drive and I always smiled when he entered the scene. Then we meet Tandri, a sweater-wearing succubus who longs to live her life without the reputation of her ancestry constantly following her around. She is an excellent business partner and seems to understand exactly what the coffee shop needs. Her and Viv’s friendship is so lovely too. I may have liked to see a little more growth between them but I think wh...

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 ...

4.5/5 This whole book read like a fresh sip of hot coffee--rich and fulfilling, spreading warmth from the core all over your body. The fantasy setting is delightful and delightfully *grounded,* at that, and the lovingly queer romance between the leads is a sweet, slow burn that is does not drag and doesn't get too sappy, either. While I prefer prose that's a little bit more purple, the writing is phenomenally solid for what I had almost feared would be an overhyped romantic romp, and the characterizations are also fantastically well-rounded and not stereotypical. I love Viv as a main character a lot, as well as her calvary of friends and loved ones that make up the supporting cast. All and all, a thoroughly sweet, enjoyable book that I know I'm going to turn to again and again whenever I need a shot of comfort and goodness.