Bookshops & Bonedust Review

Cozy Fantasy | High Fantasy | Found Family | Prequel

Legends & Lattes Series – Prequel

cosy fantasy

📝 First Impressions

Returning to the world of Legends & Lattes felt like visiting an old friend, only this time, we get to discover a younger Viv, long before she decides to exchange her sword for a coffee shop.

In Bookshops & Bonedust, Travis Baldree takes us back to Viv’s early days as a mercenary. After an injury forces her to abandon her companions temporarily, she finds herself recovering in the quiet seaside town of Murk. For someone accustomed to fighting monsters and chasing danger, being told to rest might be the worst punishment imaginable.

But Murk has other plans for her.

What begins as an unwanted interruption gradually becomes a story about friendship, books, unexpected connections, and discovering that life has much more to offer than the next battle.

I thoroughly enjoyed returning to Baldree’s charming fantasy world.

💜 What I Loved

One of my favourite things about this book was the opportunity to explore an earlier chapter of Viv’s life, particularly the time she spends alongside the gnomes.

Having already met Viv in Legends & Lattes, I loved discovering more about the experiences and friendships that helped shape the person she would eventually become. There is something particularly satisfying about returning to a familiar character and discovering that her past contains stories worth telling in their own right.

I also appreciated that Baldree didn’t simply repeat the formula of his first novel.

Instead of a coffee shop, we have a struggling bookshop. Instead of a retired adventurer trying to build a peaceful future, we meet a young mercenary who hasn’t yet realised that there might be more to life than fighting.

The bookshop itself is a wonderful setting. Fern, its rather outspoken owner, brings plenty of personality to the story, while Viv’s gradual discovery of reading adds another delightful layer to her character.

And then there are the friendships.

Baldree has a lovely way of bringing together unlikely companions and making their relationships feel like the heart of the story. The fantasy elements provide the setting, but the connections between the characters are what make this world so enjoyable to revisit.

I particularly liked the balance between the quieter moments and the adventure. There are books, conversations, new friendships, and everyday pleasures, but also enough danger to remind us that Viv is still very much a warrior.

Most importantly, I simply enjoyed the story. It was entertaining, comforting, and a pleasure to follow from beginning to end.

🤔 What Didn’t Quite Work for Me

I don’t have any major complaints about Bookshops & Bonedust.

It is a relatively gentle fantasy novel, even with its moments of danger and adventure. Readers expecting an action-heavy story about a mercenary company might find the emphasis on everyday life and personal relationships surprising.

However, that quieter approach is precisely what defines Baldree’s storytelling.

The novel doesn’t attempt to reinvent fantasy or deliver an enormously complicated plot. Its pleasures are smaller and more personal, and I think it is best enjoyed with those expectations.

While it didn’t quite become an all-time favourite, it was certainly a story I was happy to spend time with.

👥 Who Would Enjoy This Book?

I would recommend Bookshops & Bonedust to readers who enjoy:

Cozy fantasy with memorable characters and a welcoming atmosphere.
Stories about friendship, found family, and unexpected connections.
Bookshops, books, and characters discovering the pleasure of reading.
Fantasy worlds where everyday experiences matter just as much as magic and adventure.
Character-driven prequels that add depth to familiar protagonists.

Although the story takes place before Legends & Lattes, I would personally recommend reading the books in publication order. Knowing the older Viv makes discovering this earlier period of her life particularly rewarding.

💭 Final Thoughts

Bookshops & Bonedust is another lovely addition to Travis Baldree’s cozy fantasy world.

What I enjoyed most was the chance to spend time with a younger Viv and discover a little more about the experiences and people who influenced her life before the events of Legends & Lattes.

The combination of friendship, books, adventure, and a wonderfully inviting fantasy setting makes this an easy story to become attached to.

Baldree reminds us that not every important adventure involves saving the world. Sometimes, the people we meet along the way leave a much greater impression than the battles we fight.

And sometimes, an unexpected stop in a small town can become a story worth remembering.

✨ The BookFairy Verdict