ARC Review: Brigands & Breadknives, by Travis Baldree

Book Review

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Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC access to this book in exchange for my honest review.

I cannot recall when I first heard the term “cozy fantasy.” Still, before I knew that was actually a commonly used descriptor for books, I used it to describe Travis Baldree’s “Legends & Lattes,” the first book in his best-selling series about an Orc named Viv who opens a coffee shop in a town where no one has ever heard of coffee.

I read “Legends & Lattes” in the late Summer of 2024 when my son was just about to turn six. We live in a lake community, and I read most of the book while I sat on the beach trying to keep an eye on my son and his friends, who were just becoming independent enough to swim the deep end of the lake without an adult.

The book was so heart-warming, focused on fantasy characters, and had very few action sequences. The characters were endearing enough to keep me engaged, and the plot was easy enough to follow while still keeping a watchful eye on the kids.

After completing the book, I posted this five-star review on Goodreads: