If you have been following my blog for a while now, you might know that I have been trying to read Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree for a long while now. In fact, I already did, but had to put it aside in spring 2023. Timing is key and spring obviously wasn’t the right time for a book full of cozy vibes and cinnamon buns. Was it right now?
About the book
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree Series: Legends & Lattes #1
Published by Tor Books on November 10, 2022
Pages: 312
ISBN: 9781035007318
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time.
The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success—not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.
If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone.
But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.
My review
Before reading
Once I DNF a book, it can go two ways. Either I’ll give it another try, or I’ll abandon it for good. In the case of Legends & Lattes however, I wanted to retry . Many people seem to love it and I think this book was a bit too tough in English. I just couldn’t get into it. The season could also have affected my reading experience as well, but I knew that, if I wanted to give it a second chance, it had to be in the darker months and in Dutch if possible. Thankfully, the translation came out in spring 2024, but I decide to put off reading it for a little longer. Again, it was spring, and I was still a bit reluctant as it was close to my DNF. So a few weeks ago, I randomly picked it up, because I otherwise kept postponing it. I dove in without any expectations, I just hoped to be proven right and understand the hype.
Characters
Baldree introduces a lot of diverse characters. Viv is an ork, but we also meet other fantasy creatures. The common ground they have is that they live in a small town and are there for one another. They accept everyone for who they are and don’t really judge. The ones who judge at the start, gradually warm up to the other villagers and frequent visitors of Viv’s little café. Most of them were hesitant as they never heard about coffee once in their entire life, but once the book progresses, Viv’s cozy shop is becoming their comfort place. Throughout the book, each of these characters show growth, which is to be expected for cozy books. However, they won’t stick in the long run, it’s just hard to remember them really.
Writing
The writing is as can be expected for cozy fantasy. It’s not too hard, just easy to follow. However, I struggled a lot with the English language, especially with the names for the fantasy creatures. This book worked better for me in Dutch, it was just easier to read. Still, I managed to finish it quickly, but that’s merely due to the plot.
Plot
This book doesn’t really have a plot. It strongly relies on vibes, and Baldree succeeded in that. The entire story breathes coziness, although there is a bit of tension at some point. This tension is necessary for me to keep the book exciting, otherwise it’s too boring for my taste. I’m not a huge fan of cozy books as the stakes are low and the character growth is close to none. This time it’s a bit different. Even though the stakes are low, the characters grow significantly. The vibes are just warm and nice, so are all the mentions of food. I mean, if you get hungry whilst reading, this book is just doing a great job.
Final thoughts
Although Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree is not too exciting, it’s a nice cozy fantasy functioning really well as a palate cleanser. The characters are diverse, but accepting of one another. They all show some significant growth, which is too be expected. The writing is accessible, although I needed the Dutch translation. The plot itself is relying heavily on vibes, but succeeds in this. It made me hungry on multiple occasions, I really wanted to have some of the cinnamon buns and chocolates! The reactions of the characters to all these new-to-them foods and beverages is too cute. I heard that the newest book in this series is a bit more adventurous, so I’m really curious for that. Maybe that would be more up my alley.
