Reviews with content warning for Blood - Legends & Lattes

If you want a relaxing slice-of-life style fantasy novel about someone who decides to completely change their life's path then give this book a try. The main character Viv is an orc who decides to retire her sword and mercenary lifestyle and decides to open up a coffee shop in a city. The only problem is that no one knows what coffee is where she decides to set up shop. The novel is mainly about building the shop from the ground up (literally) and the connections Viv makes along the way and how she learns to expand her business.

The story was cute and I enjoyed my time at Legends and Lattes with the cast but the story was way too low stakes for me. As such, it took me quite a while to read because it wasn't an attention grabber but I couldn't stop smiling every time I picked up the book (and I carved coffee/pastries every time I picked this up so yes, I did actually end up reading portions of this at a cafe definitely recommend trying that to add to the ambience of the novel).

I wish we had been given more about Viv's life when she was working as a mercenary and what led her up to deciding to open the shop. I was thankful for the extra story about her adventures before but I felt like it would have been better as a lead up to the events in the novel rather than as a bonus. But still, the novel was well written and it is such a rarity to find a book where the characters actually talk things out and strive to understand where others are coming from instead of drawing their own (often wrong and/or biased) conclusions. It was quite refreshing and I can't wait to read the next installment!

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shipqueen394's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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muchadoaboutliz's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

I’d love more cozy D&D based books like this one. It was warm and delightful in all the right ways. I just kind of wished I had waited until the fall to read as it would be perfect on a chilly day with a warm sweater and a hot drink.

The characters were all delightful and the story of the shop was a good one. It took a while to get going but once it was there, it was wonderful. Also the food descriptions were immaculate. I could pretty much taste everything that the shop served, which was both great and terrible at the same time haha.

I’d highly recommend this as a cozy fantasy read, perfect for the fall and early winter.

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apolloann's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Oh man. This book was everything I wanted it to be. I have never read anything that could be considered overly "cozy" before, and have to admit I was a bit skeptical, but Legends and Lattes left me feeling like I'd just spent a winter evening, curled up in front of a fire with a cup of hot chocolate. The characters were introduced and developed beautifully, building a lovely found family for Viv, the main character. I can't wait to read more by this author, and see how else he is able to create such a warm and inviting story, while still giving the reader plenty of plot. I will definitely be looking for more cozy fantasies in the future.

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alibrarymouse's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

For lovers of cozy fantasy, this one absolutely defines the genre, but takes it one step further by saying you are what you make of yourself and your circumstances.

After a slightly surprising beginning, Baldree tackles hard subjects like racism, reinvention, and restarting after loss, but in the most lighthearted, cozy, soft way that the whole book feels like spending time in a liminal space. That magical moment when life isn’t entirely real stepping into a coffee shop on the weekend, but anything is possible because there aren’t any expectations.

The characters are gorgeous in their own ways, and come together beautifully as a ragtag team that works. I am biased: Thimble is absolutely my favorite and I want to hug him so badly. He’s a literal cinnamon roll, and the description of his makes me want to try them and bake from scratch myself.

Motivations were realistic, the book was so sweet and so easy to submerge yourself in.

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erebus53's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I didn't know what to think going into this title. It was one of the most read books in my book club so I assumed it was an easy read and was not disappointed.

This is a cosy novel. It's fairly short and is aimed at modern nerds. The main character is an orc fighter who is used to being the brawn of her adventuring party. During her travels she recently encountered, and was won over by, a strange gnomish beverage.. a stimulating bean water called "coffee".

Having saved up her plunder, and a magical stone rumoured to have fortune enhancing properties, she heads to the city to set up a shop.. but who will she sell to, considering nobody has even heard of her product?

Much of this story is the building of the shop, finding employees, making friends, designing a menu, and getting rid of people who want to intimidate, extort or stalk them.

As a result the aim of the game seems to be, leaning into friendships, and using your words, when your sword could be doing the talking.. if you wanted it to.. nothing says "not interested" like a couple of feet of steel.. I mean...

This story leans hard into the sort of personal loves and anachronism that roleplayers typically bring to a game. Mashing things into a high fantasy setting, like coffee machines, cinnamon pinwheels, electric- er.. "thaumic" lute, ceiling fans, and a pet interdimensional hell cat, make it a lighthearted adventure in.. interior decorating and urban marketing(?).

Not.. ultra-engaging, but exactly what I was in the mood for at the time.

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philippmk's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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