huntress's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Stalking
yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved this! It was so sweet and cozy and light-hearted. I was in the feels the whole time.
I love Tandri. She’s fierce and adorable and loveable. I loved the journey through learning about coffee. As they added more items to the menu and enjoyed more items it was adorable to see. The romance was subtle but very adorable. Viv was someone who was so passionate and persistent you couldn’t help but root for her.
Definitely a low stakes book to read when you want to feel cozy and reminded of the power of friendship (corny I know but so true). Absolutely loved.
I love Tandri. She’s fierce and adorable and loveable. I loved the journey through learning about coffee. As they added more items to the menu and enjoyed more items it was adorable to see. The romance was subtle but very adorable. Viv was someone who was so passionate and persistent you couldn’t help but root for her.
Definitely a low stakes book to read when you want to feel cozy and reminded of the power of friendship (corny I know but so true). Absolutely loved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol
claire_leibovitz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
3.75
If fire triggers you, please don’t read this. It has a very intense fire scene.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Alcohol
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A wonderful cozy fantasy I definitely recommend to anyone looking to read something with low stakes but lots of heart.
Listening to the audiobook was a great choice—the author is also a professional audiobook narrator and he’s great at it! I loved the way he voiced each character so distinctly and sincerely.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
apolloann's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood, Racism, Violence, and Alcohol
proza's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cursing and Racism
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual harassment
erebus53's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, Death, Violence, and Gore
hayleyvem's review against another edition
lighthearted
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Xenophobia, Self harm, Sexual harassment, and Stalking
Minor: Alcohol
thecavewoman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
For a majority of this book I would find myself enthralled with the pages and come back to myself for a short moment and realize that I was smiling like an idiot at the book. This is truly such a cozy and heartwarming book that provides a much needed break from life. Plus, it's best enjoyed with a hot beverage of your choice (though coffee might be your best bet).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Murder, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol
verinvaldez's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Utterly brilliant! I knew this book had been hyped up a lot and I was shocked at how well it lived up to that hype, I never expected to be so invested in a fictional coffee shop ran by an orc but here we are.
Even the side characters are completely loveable, the romance develops beautifully and I can't wait for the sequel.
Even the side characters are completely loveable, the romance develops beautifully and I can't wait for the sequel.
Spoiler
I did not expect Durias to be a time traveller!!! It's such a small thing that doesn't need to be there but the fact that it is makes me love this world even more
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Gore, and Death