Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

A book-shaped hug for cozy fantasy lovers.

This prequel to Legends and Lattes is set when our main character, Viv, is still finding her footing as an adventurer and warrior. She's scar-free and loving her time with her new crew until a severe leg wound from a fight leaves her convalescing in a small town. She's confident her crew will come back for few weeks, well she's pretty sure, okay she's just really hoping they return as promised.

Forced to take a step away from the warrior/adventurer life and slow down (figuratively and literally, she is hobbling on her injured leg), she meets a harried bookseller in a musty bookshop, a retired warrior-turned baker, and a host of other warm, loving and insightful characters.

In her first conversation with the bookseller, Viv is recommended a book, which she takes hesitantly, and once she starts reading, can't put it down. Between a blossoming love of reading and a growing friendship with the bookseller, Viv helps fix-up the old, crumbing, overstuffed bookshop. Readers of Legends and Lattes will appreciate the similar beats found in this storyline. As Viv starts building a community around herself, her confidence in the adventurer life begins to shake. However, before she can make any decisions a necromancer threatens the peace she's found, and the adventure comes to her!

Did you know that the audiobook is narrated by the author, Travis Baldree?! To my surprise, I learned he's an accomplished narrator, and he does not disappoint! There is quite a sprawling cast of characters that make up the townsfolk and villains, and Travis gives each one their own cadence, timbre and accent. What a treat to have the author so talentedly read the book. I wonder if those are the voices he heard in his head as he wrote the story?

The story can be read without having read Legends and Latte's first, but the epilogue does have some spoilers. Also, the epilogue!! Travis, you stopped my heart, then made it explode.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced listener copy.

This book is best read while you're recovering from an injury/illness, sitting in a well-loved chair, while eating fresh baked goods. Oh, and if the book suddenly opens up a portal into another dimension, definitely reach your hand through and see what you can find.