Travis Baldree’s absolutely outstanding coffee-centred cosy fantasy.

I’ve seen Legends & Lattes going around the writing community for a long time and heard a great many good things about it. I had it sitting in my wishlist on Amazon for ages, waiting for a good moment to buy, and then when that time came along, the author had the audacity to get a trad publishing deal and for the book to be republished by Tor, which meant it disappeared and I “had” to wait for it to become available again. I jest, of course. Massive congratulations to Travis for his incredible achievement. I’m glad I waited though, because while the original paperback cover was amazing, the hardback is also gorgeous, and it even includes the book’s stunning original artwork inside. And reading this book really was a lovely way to start 2023! (Even though I started it on New Year’s Eve, but shhhh).

Blurb

She’s done slaying monsters. She’s ready to service coffee.

After decades of adventuring, Viv the orc barbarian is finally hanging up her sword for good. Now she sets her sights on a new dream - for she plans to open the first coffee shop in the city of Thune. Even though no one there knows what coffee actually is. If Viv wants to put the past behind her, she can’t go it alone. Help might arrive from unexpected quarters - yet rivals old and new stand in the way of success. And Thune’s shady underbelly could make it all too easy for Viv to take up the blade once more. But the true reward of the uncharted path is the travellers you meet along the way. Whether bound by ancient magic, delicious pastries or a freshly brewed cup, they may become something deeper than Viv could ever have imagined.

Review

I’ve never read a cosy fantasy before, and in that regard I feel a bit like the residents of Thune who had never experienced coffee before. I’m also not a coffee drinker; I don’t like hot drinks, for the most part. And in that regard I’m a bit like Hemington. But just like the coffee shop itself, there’s something here for everyone. Legend's & Lattes is feel-good fantasy at its finest from start to finish. It’s a heartfelt story about finding your people and following your heart, and much more besides. The plot is really great, and though there’s low stakes - there’s not a lot in the way of danger - the pace moves along comfortably. The descriptions of Viv and friends building the coffee shop and getting all the bits together for it are written in a way that keeps things interesting, because you can feel the excitement of the characters, and you want them to succeed. Viv’s drive to be different and change her fortunes and follow her passion is infectious. And it’s all backed up by a marvellous cast of well-rounded supporting characters.

I think Tandri is my favourite character. She’s really expressive and lovable, and the way she supports Viv is heartwarming. I love that she’s an artist, and it reminded me of the time I used to work in a cafe designing the menus and chalk boards. The antagonistic characters are exceptionally well done, not only for their motivations, but the way their behaviours are described as well. The creepy ones set you on edge and make you really feel the discomfort alongside the heroes.

The worldbuilding was an interesting case - there were plenty of small details that fleshed out the world and brought it to life, but given that the stakes were low, there wasn’t a lot of the grander stuff you might see in an epic fantasy. In short, it’s very intimate. However, there were some sparse enigmatic nods to there being much more to the world than meets the eye, and I was impressed by how well deployed they were.

The new Tor hardback came with a short prequel story at the end, which I enjoyed. I don’t know whether it was in the indie release, too, but it was good to have a bit more after the story was done.

In all, Legends & Lattes comes highly recommended from me.