In Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes, Viv, a warrior-orc, decides to retire from fighting and migrates to the medieval settlement of Thune to open a coffee café. Nevermind that no one in Thune has ever heard of this magical elixir, she is determined and the tale that unfolds is pure magic….

Legends & Lattes
by Travis Baldree
Series: Legends & Lattes #1
Narrator: Travis Baldree
Length: 7 hours and 19 minutes
Genres: Fantasy
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate

Rating:
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.5x

High Fantasy with a double-shot of self-reinvention

Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv the orc barbarian cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen.

However, her dreams of a fresh start pulling shots instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners and a different kind of resolve.

A hot cup of fantasy slice-of-life with a dollop of romantic froth.

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I learned about this audiobook on Twitter, when authors and book friends were talking about the upcoming release of the second audiobook. I immediately hopped over to Audible to grab a copy. I regret nothing!

I freaking loved this story, from the building she bought to how the shop developed and the trouble that followed. Narrated by the author, the tale ended up being brilliant and I cannot wait for Bookshops & Bonedust, the prequel coming November 2023 from Macmillan Audio.

I liked Viv from the start; I mean, who doesn’t love another coffee loving gal? Her enthusiasm for it and reverence for the coffee machine that whips up lattes and espresso had me grinning. With a bit of magic buried beneath the stones, she sets out to create the shop she dreams of. Even though she is a warrior, there is a vulnerability and inquisitiveness to her that I found charming.

Viv slowly gathers friends and allies, beginning with a carpenter who helps her turn the dilapidated building into her coffee shop and home. Next comes Tandri, a succubus with business sense, and a baking ratkin named Thimble who creates cinnamon rolls and delightful confections. Soon, they have a bard and alchemist in their mix. It was delightful watching them work together.

Together they create magic, but trouble is brewing. First, a local thug comes demanding a fee and another lurks in the shadows, looking to steal Viv’s luck.

The story has a wonderful cozy vibe to it, and I easily slipped into this fantasy world. It’s a story filled with friendship, faith, hope, community and love. There is humor, danger, and cleverness as Viv works to keep her sword and bloodshed out of her new life.

A slow burning romance develops that felt natural and further enhanced my enjoyment of the tale. The story is perfectly paced, and admittedly, all the talk of coffee and cakes had me drooling a time or two.

This is a story for everyone and I highly recommend grabbing your earbuds and listening! If you love fantasy and well crafted tales, this one is a must!

Amazon | Audible

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2023 Audiobook Challenge
• COYER 2023 Upside Down
• COYER Upside Down Chapter 1: It's a Cold Summer

Source

Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/05/legends-lattes-by-travis-baldree.html