Reviews with content warning for Medical content - Sagas & Sable d'Os

"High Fantasy. First Loves. Second-Hand Books."

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree is another cosy fantasy that you could almost fall asleep to! Almost...

This novel is a prequel to Legends & Lattes, taking a peek at Orc Viv's life before opening a coffee shop in Thune. Following a battle, Viv is injured and ends up in the seaside town of Murk, where she makes friends with Fern, owner of a rundown bookshop, and her furry pet Potroast. Between reading books recommended by Fern, she has a summer fling with the gnome owner of the nearby bakery, Maylee, clashes with the town doctor Highlark and Gatewarden Iridia, gets into a fight, which lands her a night in jail and battles not once but twice with a necromaner.

I borrowed a copy of this book from Taunton Library and listened to it on cloudLibrary. As with his first novel, Travis Baldree was the audiobook narrator, which I appreciated. I read this for the 52 Book Club Summer Reading Challenge 2024, for prompt 21, team football/soccer, double letter word in the title.

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creationwing's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Enjoyable prequel to L&L, with loveable characters I'd like to see more of. That said, I almost wish there were fewer so we could explore a few relationships more deeply.
This book is not as strong as the other in terms of having a cozy setting, I would say. The nature of Viv being there to recuperate means that she cannot build a hearth and home. The

looming threat once she gains the sword

also makes it difficult to settle into the cozier scenes in the latter half.
As always, the narration by Baldree is well done, and helps to immerse with the world.

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harleyglynn's review against another edition

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

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hdunscombe's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was probably in my top three books of the year. I loved it even more than Legends & Lattes and I adored that title too. It was a delight to catch Viv earlier in her life and see when she first witnessed a smaller and quieter life early in her career, which ended up staying with her to inspire her cafe much later. All of the characters were an absolute delight and the diversity of creatures and identities felt very natural. Baldree's narration is SO satisfying too. Do not sleep on the audio! His accents and delivery have a true storybook quality.

At its face, one might think this book is just a fun romp of magical creatures, but it goes much deeper than that. The growth and conversations and reflections that Viv and her friends experience are a generous mirror of what actually makes our own contemporary lives most rewarding: having trusted companions and a sense of community, welcoming new experiences, being open-minded, finding meaning in art, and discovering and reinvesting in one's passions.

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gattolino_nn's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I do love a cozy fantasy and this book is certainly that. I now dream once more of a simple life of running a book store and getting into situation far above my pay grade.

I liked seeing younger Viv and the beginning of her journey. I think it reflects how a lot of us may feel starting work for the first time. Making a mistake that you think will be the end and discovering a way to move on and learn from it. This was the journey that we see Viv take throughout the book as she recovers. She is not perfect but no one is.

Much like in the first book I loved the characters and all the interactions they have with one another. There is some super sweet moments balanced out with hilarious situations. There is also more action in this book compared to the first so for those wanting a little higher stakes, this book has you covered but still wants you to feel cozy.

I do like how this series starts at the end of Viv's adventuring and finishes with her just starting. It feels like a book end, we get to see where she is now and how she started. If you are on the fence because this is set before the first book, it is worth the read and I think you will enjoy it.

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