Legends & Lattes

 Tell me a story... about starting over in retirement

Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree

Publication date: February 22, 2022

Date read: April 22, 2023

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.

I was hesitant to read this because I thought that it might be a little bit silly, despite my love of fantasy and Dungeons and Dragons. But after seeing more and more positive reviews, I decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did! Not only was this book not silly, but it was incredibly well-written and not just in an epic fantasy format, but just as a character-driven novel.

I loved how the story seamlessly blended the fantasy world medieval times setting with modern technology like espresso machines, without acknowledging that anything was amiss. It was a really fun choice that the author made. 

The characters in this story were really interesting and developed. Viv was a great main character - perfectly out of place in her situation but so easy to root for. All of the minor characters were fun and fit so well into the story. There wasn't anyone who I disliked reading about. Overall, both a fun epic fantasy adventure and a sweet love story. Recommended to any fantasy readers out there. 

There is also a short story at the end of the novel that was excellent. 

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Content warning: gore, racism (fantasy races)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.