Legends and Lattes – Travis Baldree

I found this one purely by chance – thank you to Kate over at yourtitakate.com for recommending this wonderful slice o’ life fantasy. If you’re after something super cosy and sweet, this is the one for you.

Synopsis:

Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv the orc barbarian cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen.

However, her dreams of a fresh start pulling shots instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners and a different kind of resolve.

A hot cup of fantasy slice-of-life with a dollop of romantic froth.

Content Warnings:

Arson, violence

My thoughts:

I don’t know where to start with this book, apart from I absolutely loved it. I’m a firm believer in the right book at the right time and Legends & Lattes was that very book. It was also the perfect book to balance out some of the heavier SFF I’ve been reading recently.

Nearly everything about this book is designed to give off the cosiest vibes possible (I say nearly everything, as there is a plot line that introduces some danger and risk). The descriptions of the food, the coffee and the coffee shop itself are all so warm and inviting – the descriptions of the food had me drooling and wanting to grab the nearest pastry. I’m not a coffee drinker at all, but I did find the characters’ reactions to the “bean water” or “milky bean water” amusing and it was lovely seeing the coffee shop slowly grow and become a hub of activity and community.

The characters are also wonderful. I loved how Viv defies expectations, becoming something other than the sword-wielding adventurer she once was. She doesn’t lose those skills gained over so many years of fighting; instead, she puts them to one side and learns everything she can about running a successful business. Her partnerships with Cal, Tandri and Thimble all provide excellent opportunities to learn and create new friendships.

While I liked Tandri and Cal as characters – both were fantastic and balanced Viv’s enthusiasm really well – my favourite had to be Thimble. Thimble is the genius, latte-loving baker who creates all of the pastries in the coffee shop. I loved this quiet little character who finds such joy in backing and creating new confections and I loved his persona overall. He is a genuinely sweet little character and I loved watching him come out of his shell under Viv’s care.

I could keep going on about how much I enjoyed this book and picking out all the things I liked, but if if I did that I’ll probably veer into spoiler territory! Honestly though, if you’re looking for a fantasy book to enjoy with a hot drink and pastry, this is it. Legends & Lattes is my second 5 star read of 2022 and one I think I will be coming back to again and again.