Legends & lattes: a novel of high fantasy and low stakes

An orc retires from adventuring to start a fantasy city's very first coffee shop. This setup combined with the positive messages of defying societal stereotypes, letting go of violence to build peace, and trusting in your friends feels like a premise from Terry Pratchett's Discworld. Protagonist Viv is determined to put her fighting days behind her and share the wonder of gnomish coffee with the public. While this dream has been guiding her for years, she's still uncertain about many things--whether she should trust the strange artifact she won to truly bring her good fortune, how to best advertise a coffee shop, and how she feels about sweater-wearing succubus Tandri, whose artistic talent and clever ideas help the shop take off. Viv's circle grows to include a ratkin baking prodigy (inventor of this world's pain au chocolat), an odd handyperson named Calamity (call him Cal), and a bard whose music is magically amped up. Can Viv overcome the Madrigal's protection racket, jealousy of an old colleague, and shop visitors who don't want to buy anything? Legends & Lattes is a novel, and shop, that will delight anyone who enjoys coffee-shop alternate universes, slow-burn romances, and the vindication of friendship.

Baldree debuts with a gentle little cozy set against an epic fantasy backdrop. Aging and tired of bloodletting, orc swordswoman Viv leads her mercenary crew on one last adventure. After slaying a monster and wrenching from its skull a legendary stone, a talisman said to bring good fortune to its bearer, she abandons her erstwhile comrades--warrior dandy Fennus, Gallina of the sharp knives, and Taivus--and settles down in Thune. There, she buys a decrepit stable and hires Cal, a hob carpenter, and Tandri, a reformed succubus, who become her friends and helpers in opening a coffee shop that eventually takes the town by storm. The slight conflicts that follow are far from standard high fantasy fare: Viv must defy a local protection racket and evade the machinations of the envious Fennus. Viv's success in business is buttressed by her growing affection for Tandri, adding a dash of sweet romance to this tale of finding meaning in the little things. This charming outing will please anyone who's ever wished to spend time in a fantasy world without all the quests and battles. (Nov.)

*Starred Review* An orc retires from adventuring to start a fantasy city's very first coffee shop. This setup combined with the positive messages of defying societal stereotypes, letting go of violence to build peace, and trusting in your friends feels like a premise from Terry Pratchett's Discworld. Protagonist Viv is determined to put her fighting days behind her and share the wonder of gnomish coffee with the public. While this dream has been guiding her for years, she's still uncertain about many things—whether she should trust the strange artifact she won to truly bring her good fortune, how to best advertise a coffee shop, and how she feels about sweater-wearing succubus Tandri, whose artistic talent and clever ideas help the shop take off. Viv's circle grows to include a ratkin baking prodigy (inventor of this world's pain au chocolat), an odd handyperson named Calamity (call him Cal), and a bard whose music is magically amped up. Can Viv overcome the Madrigal's protection racket, jealousy of an old colleague, and shop visitors who don't want to buy anything? Legends & Lattes is a novel, and shop, that will delight anyone who enjoys coffee-shop alternate universes, slow-burn romances, and the vindication of friendship. Copyright 2022 Booklist Reviews.

Baldree debuts with a gentle little cozy set against an epic fantasy backdrop. Aging and tired of bloodletting, orc swordswoman Viv leads her mercenary crew on one last adventure. After slaying a monster and wrenching from its skull a legendary stone, a talisman said to bring good fortune to its bearer, she abandons her erstwhile comrades—warrior dandy Fennus, Gallina of the sharp knives, and Taivus—and settles down in Thune. There, she buys a decrepit stable and hires Cal, a hob carpenter, and Tandri, a reformed succubus, who become her friends and helpers in opening a coffee shop that eventually takes the town by storm. The slight conflicts that follow are far from standard high fantasy fare: Viv must defy a local protection racket and evade the machinations of the envious Fennus. Viv's success in business is buttressed by her growing affection for Tandri, adding a dash of sweet romance to this tale of finding meaning in the little things. This charming outing will please anyone who's ever wished to spend time in a fantasy world without all the quests and battles. (Nov.)