Bookshops & Bonedust HC

Viv's career with the notorious 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 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 traveler in gray, 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.spend time in a fantasy world without all the quests and battles."―Publishers Weekly

“Legends & Lattes is a uniquely beautiful book. Its cast of endearing characters have no interest at all in killing one another. There is no Great Evil, no bloody battles, and yet the pillars of great fantasy―resilience, fellowship, and a desire to make the world a better place―are all here. It’s wonderfully wholesome, and I hope heralds the rise of a 'slice-of-life' sub-genre in modern fantasy.”―Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

“The most fun I've ever had in a coffee shop.”―Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of London

“I absolutely loved this book. It's a heartwarming story of how effort, intention and coffee can work together to change the world for the better. Fills my hunger for happy endings.”―Genevieve Cogman, author of The Invisible Library

“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. . . . 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.”―Booklist, starred review

"The definition of a cozy fantasy comfort read. . . . It was lovely.”―Olivia Atwater, author of Half a Soul

“Take a break from epic battles and saving the world. Legends & Lattes is a low-stakes fantasy that delivers exactly what's advertised: a wholesome, cozy novel that feels like a warm hug. This is my new comfort read.”―Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart

“Baldree's book is beautiful and uplifting, a soothing tonic in our troubled times. Escape into its pages and you won't ever want to leave.”―T. L. Huchu, author of The Library of the Dead

“A love letter to queer D&D players.”―Autostraddle

“Those looking for a more peaceful story set in a world reminiscent of the fantasy landscapes they love will adore Legends & Lattes―and keep an eye out for Baldree’s next charming tale.”―BookPage

"This is a warm hug of a book, a place to retreat from the world for a little while, drink a coffee, and come out a little better."―T. Kingfisher, USA Today bestselling author of Nettle & Bone

"If you like fantasy but you’re tired of reading about wars and general intensity, this is the book for you. . . . Cozy fantasy at its best."―Literary Hub