Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree

August 29, 2025

Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree

After living most of her life in the seaside town of Murk, Fern the bookseller decides she needs a change. Her orc friend Viv has retired to the city of Thune and opened a successful coffee house (and gotten married), and there is a vacant shop right next door, perfect for a bookstore. So Fern sells her shop and packs up her possessions and her pet gryphet Potroast and sets out for Thune. But even after opening the shop, Fern still feels that something is missing.

Third book in the Legends and Lattes series, which brings together the characters in the first two books and focuses on Fern the bookseller. Viv is not in this book very much, which was disappointing since she's a great character, but there are so many great characters in the series, including a goblin and a breadknife who aspires to be a famous weapon. Looking forward to more books in this cozy fantasy series. Read the previous two books first to get a sense of the characters and their backstories. All of the books have great covers. If you like this series, try The Spellshop series by Sarah Beth Durst.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review. 

Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree

August 29, 2023

Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree

As a young orc, Viv was injured when she was with a band of warriors pursuing a necromancer named Varine. While recuperating in a seaside town, she meets a rattkin bookseller named Fern and her pet gryphet Potroast. Viv also strikes up a romance with Maylee, the owner of the local bakery. But one of Varine's henchman is seen lurking about the town, and Viv knows that the day is coming when she will have to face down Varine, and only one of them will survive.

A prequel to Legends and Lattes that fills in some of Viv's backstory including how she met some of her fighting companions, also how she got her sword. Two of the best characters are Satchel the homunculous skeleton and Potroast the gryphet (a gryphet is half dog, half bird)! One of the things that Viv learns is that when there are people you care about and who care about you, it's easier for your enemies to get at your weak spots. She also learns about the magic and power of books. Very enjoyable and creative, recommended for fantasy readers.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

It's Potroast the gryphet!

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

August 28, 2023

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

When retired orc warrior Viv decides to open a coffeehouse in the city of Thune, she has no idea of the challenges she will face. But in her last job as a fighting orc, she secured a magic stone known as the Scalvert's Stone which she believes will bring her good luck and guarantee success. She hires a talented young succubus as a shop assistant (and is somewhat distracting) and a rattkin baker who is a genius when it comes to pastry. The shop gains a regular clientele, which attracts the attention of the local gang, who come around to shake Viv down for protection money. There is a dire-cat (a creature that looks like a house cat but is bigger than a wolf) that shows up at unexpected times. Plus old acquaintances from Viv's fighting days keep popping up, some welcome, others not so much. Viv has to figure out how to deal with all of it, while still serving coffee and pastries to the working folk of Thune.

Fun creative fantasy with good characters and a little LGBTQ thrown in. Who would ever think to write a cheerful fantasy novel with a rather charming orc protagonist? Amity the dire-cat and Thimble the rattkin are wonderful creations. Looking forward to the next book to find out more about Viv and her friends. Recommended for anyone who enjoys fantasy or is looking for a fantasy that isn't about a quest or saving a fantasy kingdom.

A female orc