Legends & Lattes
Ratings936
Average rating4.2
For years Viv wandered the road, taking bounties and quests alongside her companions. But after a while, the orc barbarian wanted a change. Instead of bashing heads for a living, she wanted to settle down and start a new life. One that brought joy to herself and others. Viv sets her sights on the city of Thurne. There she would begin a new adventure, building the first-ever coffee shop in the city. But setting up shop isn’t as easy as it seems. Especially when life on the road leaves you with a sometimes undesirable past.
How could I possibly pass up reading a fantasy book about starting a café? I was also intrigued to see if such a theme could hold my attention and entertain me. Travis Baldree did an amazing job putting together this novel. It may be a book with low stakes and small moments of tension, but the characterization and story are just as compelling.
The relationships in this book foster understanding and acceptance. Being an orc Viv has faced the scrutiny that goes along with it. Due to her experience, she is less judgmental than most. This perspective paves the way for Viv to hire on metahumans others would look down on. And it’s the best decision she could make as she forms friendships and a comradery that helps the shop thrive. Together her companions create a peaceful and welcoming atmosphere in the coffee shop.
However, Viv does have some mountains to climb to keep her shop afloat. Not only does she have to entice people in with a new beverage no one has heard of, but she also has to navigate the local gang. The pressures of starting a new business in town were turned delightfully entertaining by adding humor and a bit of misdirection. While Viv does encounter rough patches, there isn't a central focus on the unsavory bits of her adventure. The tone remains light-hearted and makes the villains, while not overtly dark, still worthy foes.
And once the café is up and running, be prepared to crave a sweet pastry and cup of coffee as you read. The descriptions used for the food and coffee are mouth-watering. I loved reading about the characters' experiences with each new delicacy. Witnessing the apparent confusion over the newness of it all to the genuine enjoyment of each treat was heartwarming.
Legends and Lattes is a feel-good book. The tone is light and set towards Viv beginning life anew. And while she may want to fall back on her warrior ways at times, she fights against her road instincts. Forced to rethink the situations she’s put in causes some slight mishaps in the adventure that make it all the more entertaining. This was such an enjoyable read!
Originally posted at www.behindthepages.org.
Unfortunately, I was never invested in the characters or the story to be able to enjoy it. I decided to push myself through it, because the book was short. Otherwise, I would have DNFed. I am so sorry. I wanted to like it so badly.
Should've read it with a cup of latte
The first chapter is nice, kinda anti cliche or anti adventure, but then it feels like a quest log to upgrade a coffee shop. And overall it’s written in a simpler style compared to other fantasy books, maybe similar to young adult books, but it’s not for that age, so there’s some dissonance for me.
A few cute moments here—drinking the first latte, adding cold drinks and baked goods to the menu, various, unique customers. But sometimes it's just too sweet, and they actually literally invent things from our world without any fantasy features except calling it a “gnome technology”. Also the romantic relationship feels like it was added in the last moment, maybe because there are almost no hints about it.
When describing most of the dialogues the author doesn’t specify emotions or a way of speaking which can be a little confusing sometimes. And the stakes are really low as stated on the cover and that’s the point, but the villain feels very simple and not threatening at all.
Super light read overall, the ending is fine but the epilogue isn’t interesting at all.
Maybe the prequel is a bit more interesting.
was juggling three books at once (this, space politics, and horny queers fighting zombies) and this was the lightest fare and the narration was fun. (and i don't even like/drink coffee) turns out this homebody really enjoyed the soft, cozy companionship and reno projects. the cast is very sweet and tender 🥹 i wanna be friends with viv and tandri and cal and thimble 🥺 also lol at all the other characters commenting on viv's obliviousness regarding a certain someone.
Feels like reading a children's book, in the best way. No tension and ambles forward at a comforting pace throughout.
I loved reading about all the new characters Viv interacted with, I loved how everyone had their own little quirks and that Viv was able to network with them and even befriend some, it was so sweet when everyone banded together to help her out. There were so many loveable characters, I couldn't possibly pick favourites, but Thimble and Amity have a special place in my heart.
This was such a cosy story. I loved how the story made me feel like I was sitting in a cafe while reading. Also made me hungry for bread and Thimblets 💞
Viv having lower back pain from working non-stop was too realistic 😂
“What flames could not consume, never shall be extinguished”
Cosy fantasy is one of my all time favourite genres and this is the book that supposedly started the hype. I'm glad to say that it did not disappoint. If you're looking for a low stake, character driven, cosy fantasy then this is the right book for you.
Despite it's low stake title, because I felt so invested in the characters I was deeply hooked about every little thing that happened. All the characters are so likeable which made for a very enjoyable read. What I did not expect is for my heart to be torn into pieces both through sadness and happiness towards the end. It really did wrap the book up nicely. I wish I could put all the characters in a bubble because they're just so cool (especially Thimble, Thimble owns my heart)
I do wish there was more backstory wise so we could understand where the character's actions come from rather than guessing - I assume that's why there is a prequal coming out. I would love to know more about Viv, Tandri, Cal, Thimble and also the Madrigal. Their character is so intriguing I really need more!
When I first saw the author talking about this book on social media and noticed that very intriguing cover, I knew I had to give it a try. I hadn't even realized that the author is a popular audiobook narrator but I'll be sure to checkout some of their audio works too. And this book... what can I even say about how lovely it turned out to be.
I'm a huge huge fanfic fan. I'm mostly dedicated to one fandom but I love reading fluffy fanfics and AUs and a coffee shop AU has always been one of my favorite fanfic tags. So, when the author mentioned that this is a coffee shop AU, how could I resist. And it's every bit and more enjoyable than any great fic. The world building is not extensive and we get just enough information that we feel comfortable in the setting and that is perfect because we don't need to know anything more. The writing is easy to follow, very accessible, and with a very lighthearted and optimistic feel that you will feel happy while you read along. It's also a slice of life story, so the pacing is not necessarily slow but languid, because no one is in a hurry and there are no high stakes.
And the food ... god. My mom is very much into diet culture and healthy foods, so I'm a bit restricted in what I'm allowed to eat at home. So I can definitely say, the mouthwatering exquisite descriptions of coffee and cinnamon rolls and chocolate croissants made me wanna weep because I wanted to taste it all. The way the author describes the main character's first experience with coffee is extremely evocative and the line “it was like drinking the feeling of being peaceful” felt like it was ripped out of my heart. This book would be one of my all time favorites just for that one amazing sentence. But the book is so much more because it is also about finding your tribe, the kind of people whom you can be yourself with, always being supportive and having each other's backs. It's a heartwarming tale of friendship and found family and one of the loveliest I've read in recent times.
Viv is an orc who is tired of her bounty hunting past and when she encounters an enticing beverage called coffee in a cafe during one of her endeavors, a dream of opening a coffee shop flickers in her mind. She is lovely, smart and very optimistic about her new way in life and is very sure about never wanting to go the way of her past anymore. Her love for coffee is too endearing and the way she respects and welcomes everyone to her shop is awesome.
Tandri is a succubus who has always been misunderstood and maybe even mistreated because of her heritage, and she just wants to find a place where she can be normal and belong. When she joins as as assistant to Viv at the coffee shop, it seems like the perfect association. Viv has made many plans as to how to build the coffee shop but it's Tandri who helps her realize what more needs to be done to attract customers. Their association grows slowly into friendship and more, into something where they depend on each other for emotional support and deep companionship. The relationship unfolds subtly but beautifully and it's a joy to read about.
Cal is one of the first people Viv meets in the new city and hires to help her build the shop. He is diligent in his work and embarrassed about getting free coffees once the shop is open but he is one of the main reasons the shop exists and a great but calm and reserved friend. Thimble on the other hand is like the baker sent from heavens whose confections re so enticing that they'll compel anyone passing through to come in for a taste and become a regular customer. He may have said not more than 15 words in the whole book but this story wouldn't be the same without his presence and his lovely food.
In their endeavors, they are also helped in small and big ways by many other people of the town. The old neighbor Laney who wants to trade her inedible recipes with Thimble but will eat something from the cafe everyday; Pendry who is from a family of masons but wants to be a bard in the coffee shop; Durias the gnome who enjoys playing chess by himself; Hem, a student who doesn't like hot coffee but loves working on his research in the cafe; and the strange mafia head of the town who falls in love with the cinnamon rolls - all of them feel the magic of the coffee shop, support Viv and find their own kind of home at the Legends and Lattes cafe.
To conclude, this was the most comforting book I've read in a long time with beautiful characters, lots of soul soothing food which I wished I could have or drink coffee right at the moment, and a tale of heartwarming found family and friendship which made my heart feel full of hope. Maybe we'll get more such lovely books in the future.
A lovely cozy story, with a lot of heartwarming moments. It gives the vibes of the best kind of cozy video games.
I think I'm not in the mood for a cozy fantasy—keep looking at how many pages I have left and trying to rush through it. Putting it aside for when I need a soft book like this!
This book was exactly what I needed at this point in my life. It's a nice slice of life that allowed me to slow down for 20 minutes each morning before heading into my 65-75 hour work weeks. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a nice, simple story to sink into.
Great, fast, fun lighthearted story of life after dungeon crawling. I'm always a sucker for strong, unbreakable friendships.
Yep, cozy fantasy DOES really sum it up well. A book that just makes you feel all warm inside to read. I don’t even like or drink coffee but it made me want to boil the kettle and make myself some.
Viv and Tandri are great and their relationship was super cute towards the end. Their joy of slowly building up the shop was infectious, especially when faced with another treat from Thimble (best character).
Getting to know each of the regulars, one by one, just made the shop come alive; from the awkward bard, Pendry, to the at-first annoying scholar Hemington, to the cryptic old gnome, Durias, and finally Hob, the lovely old grouchy craftsman. All of them were so lovable that by the end they felt a bit like a family.
My favourite part would probably be each time the menu would get updated and we’d get to read the whole thing, slightly longer every time. Always put a smile on my face to see that on a page. ~Finer tastes for the working gent & lady~
read for the tarot readathon 2023: eight of pentacles
literally so cute and cozy and as a former barista, this gave everything i liked about being a barista and didn't have all the things i hated
Cozy and light read. I listened to the Audiobook version of this book, which kept me motivated to go on walks every day without fail. This story felt like one of those harmless world building games where you as a character have to build your own house, find your friends, make money, and just live happily ever after without any major conflicts. All the descriptions regarding food were amazing and I started wondering if I have to build a coffee shop now. A pleasant read, with not much of a plot.
An enjoyable fun read. I liked the characters - especially Thimble!
Looking forward to the next book in the series!
I read this book at a very wrong time for me. It was way to calm. I constantly expected something bad to happen and it didn't and that drome me crazy.