Nils and I are excited to be taking part in Black Crow’s Read along for the upcoming BOOKSHOPS AND BONEDUST, the much-awaited sequel/prequel to Travis Baldree’s Legends and Lattes.

A standalone cosy fantasy about the power of good bookshops, great friends and the unexpected choices along the way from the bestselling author of BookTok sensation Legends & Lattes.

First loves. Second-hand books. Epic adventures.

Viv’s career with the renowned mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned. Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk – 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 struggling bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted. Even though it may be exactly what she needs. Still, adventure isn’t far away. A suspicious traveller in grey, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

Sometimes, right things happen at the wrong time. Sometimes, what we need isn’t what we seek. And sometimes, we find ourselves in the stories we experience together . . .

What are our expectations?

Nils: I was really sceptical about the hype of Legends and Lattes, I honestly didn’t think it could live up to it and I wasn’t completely sure I could enjoy a slow, gentle book where not much action takes place. However, after only a few pages into Legends and Lattes I was won over and swept away. 

Beth: I was the same, in regards to the hype. I’m always very suspicious of hyped-up books, I’ve been stung too many times in the past. But actually, what made me want to read it despite the hype, was the slice-of-high-fantasy-life cosiness. I’ve been really drawn to that kind of read lately.

Nils: Oh I’m the same, ever since reading The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, I’ve been so drawn to cosy fantasy.

Immediately I was so invested in Viv’s dream to open a coffee shop, I was desperately hoping her and Tandri would grow close and I really really wanted Thimble to make me some sweet treats.

Beth: Thimble was my absolute favourite, he was so precious! I loved that Viv trusted in him and gave him the space to flourish, despite not really being able to speak up for himself!

Nils: So my expectations for Bookshops and Bonedust is that Travis Baldree can work his magic once again and deliver a cosy read that’s enchanting and soothing. I’m expecting Viv to be quite different as we will be meeting a younger version of her, perhaps a more war hungry version? So perhaps there will be more action than the first book, which would be interesting to see if this still works within a cosy fantasy. 

Beth: I’m not sure how I feel about that to be honest, the lack of action is what I loved about the first book. In my edition of Legends and Lattes there was a short story set when Viv was in the mercenary band, and I just didn’t feel as invested in their fight. 

Nils: I don’t think I read that short story, but I also don’t think we need to worry too much, I’ve seen a few early reviews on Instagram and they all say it’s still a gentle and cosy read. I’m also looking forward to meeting all the charming side characters, of the non-human kind of course, as part of what I love about Baldree’s worldbuilding is that it is filled with an array of fantastical beings.

Beth: I’m most looking forward to seeing Baldree’s version of a fantasy bookshop! I absolutely love working in a bookshop myself, so I can’t wait to see one brought to life in a high-fantasy world!

We will be following a slightly different schedule to Black Crow’s as theirs is daily and we’ll be sharing discussion posts throughout the month. Here’s our schedule:

13th Nov – Ch1-12

17th Nov – Ch 14-28

20th Nov – 28-end

Bookshops and Bonedust is out today! You can pick up your copy on Bookshop.org