A review by beckyyreadss
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

I wanted to read this book because I loved and adored the first book in this series and when I saw he was making this book in the series, I was so excited what it was going to be about. I was a little nervous with it being a prequel but was so happy it still included Viv.  

This book is based on Viv the orc barbarian, who we met in Legends & Lattes and her career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam’s Raven isn’t going as planned. She has been wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer and she is packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk, the town is so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it. What's a thwarted soldier of fortune to do? Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn’t possibly imagine. Still, adventure isn’t all that far away. A suspicious traveller, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful that Viv could have ever expected.  

This storyline was so full of action but was still very relaxing at the same time. I loved jumping back in this world and still wanted to spend the whole book giving Viv a hug. I loved the themes that are in this book – the found family, the LBGT representation and the females in this book kicking ass and taking names. I loved the side characters; they were all built and had their own characters developments as well as Viv. Just like the previous book in this series, I liked that the fantasy was basic and would recommend this book to anyone who doesn’t know if they like fantasy or don’t want the complicated world-building. Even though it was an adventurous book, I loved the bookish vibes with the bookstore still being the focus of this book, but that there was also a serious storyline, and you wanted them to success and defeat the villain.  

I did miss the cozy, autumn vibes that we got from Legends & Lattes. The pacing of this book did lag a bit in the middle, I was finding myself struggling to push through to the end, but then the action started, and it picked up towards the end.  

I would love for Travis to write another book in this universe and with these characters. But if he writes anything else, I will probably read it as well.  
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