Reviews

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

jerritneo's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing fast-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

3.0

jaclynastevens's review against another edition

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4.0

That was much better than I’d expected!

snipinfool's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I am happy Viv took the chance to follow her heart and find a way to a more meaningful life. The people she found to help her on her journey  showed Viv she was heading in a fulfilling and pleasurable direction. Cal, Tandri, and Thimble had skills that allowed Viv to reach farther than she dreamed. The lives of all four were enriched by their newly found friendship. This was a very enjoyable read.

rayy's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

oestridge's review against another edition

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3.0

It is unnegotiable that this is a cute book. If cute was all I had expected going in, then there would have been no room for disappointment. Legend & Lattes is a cozy, feel-good story about pursuing your dreams and the friends that become family along the way. It takes place in a magical world and its main characters are an orc and a succubus, which I guess technically makes this A fantasy novel. But when a book is nominated for the Hugo Award for best novel, I assume it's going to be THE fantasy novel and, through no fault of it's own, Legend & Lattes has fallen victim to be dangerous curse of being over-hyped.

pyrocube98's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

genevaskye01's review against another edition

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5.0

Okay fine was this maybe really cringey and stupid yes but I literally loved every minute of it. So cozy so cute so fall!!!!

cozy_goth's review against another edition

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5.0

A story of starting over and not letting the world’s perception of you define you.

I loved everything about this story, from the choice to have a female orc protagonist to the depiction of the ins and outs of adjusting to a big life change. The setting is fairly insulated, so despite taking place in a big city, the book didn’t overwhelm you with too much lore. The author trusts that you have a cursory knowledge of the typical fantasy tropes.

The emotions and problems the characters face are depicted in a way that is realistic and believable, the characters are fun and unique, and the story is hopeful and, as it says on the cover, kind.

A cute, cozy, queer romance. 5/5

stacialovestoread's review against another edition

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5.0

This book is so sweet and full of heart. Viv is a brutish orc who is tired of the pillaging lifestyle. After a chance encounter elsewhere, she’s decided to open a coffee shop…it’s like tea, but not really.

Jealousy is an evil green eyed (or green flamed) monster, but the power of love and kindness and truly good friends will always win out.

“To what the flames could not consume…”

thewallflower00's review against another edition

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3.0

Well, it delivers what it promises–it’s a cozy story with little danger or tension. It’s just about a female orc who builds a coffee shop from scratch. People are skeptical at first, as anyone would be when a giantess wants to start a small business instead of eat babies. But everyone loves it. She encounters troubles but they’re all minor–a complaining customer here, a gang boss who wants a cut there. But everyone falls in love with her and wins them over. Like a DCOM but without attempts at funny.

It doesn’t go into much detail around the world-building–it seems very based on World of Warcraft or Dungeons and Dragons. All the material is G-rated (no disembowelments). But it’s kinda neat how the author integrates fantasy elements into Starbucks (e.g. the cappuccino machine is a steam-powered gnome invention) and I personally like reading fantasy that’s not a doorstop epic. I hate how the publishing industry thinks they all have to be world-building bricks like Mistborn or Song of Ice and Fire. It taught me an important lesson on how important stakes are in a story.

Do I recommend it? I’m not sure. I’d say to try an excerpt–that’s what I did. I didn’t exactly fall in love, but I was intrigued, especially as someone who likes to write this kind of material.