Title: Legends & Lattes
Author: Travis Baldree
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication date: February 22, 2022
Length: 294 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Rating:

After hearing raves about Legends & Lattes ever since its release, I finally gave it a try… and absolutely loved it. What a treat!

Viv is an orc who’s ready to put down her sword, leave behind her life of violence, and try something completely new — opening a coffee shop in the city of Thune, where no one has ever even heard of coffee. With the earnings from her sword-for-hire work saved up over her lifetime, she buys a run-down property, enlists the help of a talented builder, and hires a barista (after explaining what a barista is).

She sat back on the flagstones and rolled the bean between her thumb and forefinger. “I told you I came across it in Azimuth, and I remember following the smell to the shop. They called it a café. People just sat around drinking it from these little ceramic cups, and I had to try it, and … it was like drinking the feeling of being peaceful. Being peaceful in your mind. Well, not if you have too much, then it’s something else.”

The people of Thune don’t know how badly they need coffee in their lives… but with the help of clever marketing (free samples!) and the addition of freshly-baked cinnamon rolls, soon the line is out the door and the cafe’s business is booming.

I absolutely adored this book, from the wonderful main characters to the clever nods to coffee culture (such as the introduction of lattes, iced coffee, and to-go cups, as well as open mic events and the annoyance of a customer who comes to study all day but never buys anything).

Of course, there are conflicts too, as when a former colleague of Viv’s suspects that she’s hidden an object of great magical power from the rest of their crew, and is willing to take dire steps to take it from her.

I’m keeping this review short, because there’s so much pleasure to be had in discovering the joys of Legends & Lattes without expecting anything ahead of time. This is a gentle, lovely fantasy tale (with coffee!!), and while there are moments of danger and despair, the overarching themes of friendship and support are what make this book shine.

Don’t miss it!