A review by tofugal
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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

5.0

I didn’t think it possible, but I loved this even more than Legends & Lattes. Finally, a prequel that gets it right, with no contradictions or rehashing. Viv is still lovable as ever, just younger and not yet battle hardened. There are hints of who she’ll eventually become as she learns to appreciate the simpler things and found family. Fern, the profanity-prone ratkin bookseller, is my new favorite character of the duology. I also was very fond of Fern’s adorable gryphet, Potroast, and a necromancer creation turned friend, Satchel. The baker dwarf, Maylee, is my newest book girlfriend, though her romance with Viv is bittersweet since we know from the start it isn’t endgame. It did break my heart when Viv finally left Murk, as I always knew she would, but the ending left me hopeful for a Fern and Viv reunion.
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