If you’re used to fantasies with battles and armies, or wicked vampires and other creatures, Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes will turn your expectations upside down. This is the story of what happens afterwards, after swords are laid down and fights are over. Seanan McGuire said, “It’s sweet, beautiful, and, most of all, kind.” Yes, stay for the kindness.
Viv is an orc who fights her final battle. She’s feeling the fights and the pains, with twinges in her back. And, she has a silent dream. When she takes a token from her last fight, she hopes it will clear her way to success. Viv has done a great deal of research, and she picks the city of Thune as the site of her new endeavor. Viv is going to open a coffeehouse. She buys property, cleans it up, and finds a hob to help her restore an old livery stable. But, her biggest problem might not be the building. No one is Thune has heard of coffee.
An orc, a hob, a succubus, and a rattkin walk into a coffee shop. Sounds like a joke, doesn’t it? But, it’s the start of something bigger. Viv has had support at her back before when she fought. Now, she’ll find an unusual circle of support in her battle for her dream business.
I’m not going to spoil this story. It is a kind story of Viv’s own growth and discovery of what she didn’t expect to find in Thune. I really just hope Baldree will bring back Viv and the other inhabitants of this story. I enjoy fantasy. But, Viv’s story is an alternate fantasy world with wonderful creatures. Legends & Lattes is “kind”.
Travis Baldree’s website is https://travisbaldree.com/
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. Tor, 2022. ISBN 9781250886088 (paperback), 294p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
I have this on hold at the library. I’ve been looking forward to it.
Don’t make the same mistake I did, Sandy. There’s a short story at the end of the book. It’s the prequel to this story, so read it first!
An enjoyable story, great characters and a surprisingly meaningful message. I really enjoyed this and hope the author continues the story of Viv and her friends.
I do, too, Jennifer. I really liked Viv and her friends. And, that cat!
I guess it is pretty popular. (With 8,000+ Amazon readers giving it 77% 5 star reviews that’s not surprising.) My library has 20 ebook copies and 149 on the wait list! I guess it will take a while. (The hardback has a much shorter list, but I doubt it would arrive before we leave for Florida.)
No hurry.
Jeff, The author self-published it first, and it became a TikTok sensation. Then Tor published it. It already had an audience when Tor published it. There’s a waiting list at our library as well. I was just lucky to get on the list early.