Jan 29, 2025 Staff Reads: Legends and Lattes
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
Reviewed by Sydny, Public Service Assistant
Legends and Lattes follows Viv, a mercenary orc who, after years of “blood work”, decides
to trade in her sword and shield for some beans – coffee beans, to be exact. Setting up a cafe in the city of Thune, where no one has even heard of coffee before, Viv sets out to make herself a new home in this “novel of high fantasy and low stakes.”
The first time I read this book, I found I was rather disappointed in it. When the book says low stakes, it means low stakes. The characters were beautifully written, and the atmosphere was perfect for the tone, but I couldn’t help but feel like I was missing something as a reader. I left the book alone and came back to it recently, and found that this time, having different expectations, I absolutely adored the book. It’s the perfect read for a rainy day, or if you want to curl up with a hot drink under a warm blanket in the cold. While there is a bit of tension ( as there must be to have a story ), the book very much delivers on its cozy promise. The world of Thune is just as you would imagine any fantasy city to be, with characters straight out of a Dungeons and Dragons manual. One of my favorite games to play while reading it was to try to guess what coffee related item the book was going to introduce next ( and what fun little name it would give each item ). This book is made for anyone who loves the world of the fantastical and also likes to put the Yule Log Stream on every holiday season. Get it in print, eBook, or eAudio book.