Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
CW: Violence, Arson, Fantasy Racism, Mafia, Bothersome Ex, Low Self Esteem, Feelings of Shame, Species Driven to Endangerment, Animal Death, Swearing, Stalking, Described Injuries, Classism, Sexual Harassment
5/5
I'll start off by saying, you do not need to love coffee to love this book. Coffee is one of my nope foods, but I found myself believing that it probably tastes wonderful for the sake of the story. If you like TJ Klune's House in the Cerulean Sea or Under the Whispering Door, you're quite likely to enjoy Travis Baldree's Legends & Lattes. I knew I wanted to read it from its cover, which isn't always a bad way to pick a book. The story, setting, and overwhelming sweetness did not disappoint. The only change I would have made was the length, I want more!
In Legends & Lattes, Viv, a retired orc, is looking to start a new career. In a gnome city, she came across a concoction named "coffee". Ever since she's wanted to find a place to start her own cafe. As she starts to build her shop in Thune, she realizes she's building a life too. Her shop becomes the one of her dreams, she finds people she cares deeply about, and she's really happy. Unfortunately, there are people threatening to take this away from her. Will Viv be able to hold on to all she's worked for?
The details of the world and plot reminded me a lot of Dungeons & Dragons. Moreso the magic and the interactions than the fighting (although some versions of the book come with a short prequel that has lots of fighting). You definitely need to be into classic fantasy to breeze through the book, but don't be discouraged if you have to look a few magic species up! I personally had to look up a dire cat to gauge its size once one appeared in the cafe. Baldree has clearly thought through how his characters work in the world he set up, still making room for unexpected twists. I'm very interested to see what he'll do in the next book.
I went into this book assuming I was getting a big queer romance novel, and while I'm not disappointed, I want to warn that I didn't. There is WLW romance in it, for Viv specifically, but it was hardly the focus. This is a found family type of love story, which is very queer in nature. Many queer people have experienced a lack of love in their own families and from the world at large, so forming your own ends up being a far better option. There comes a time in Legends & Lattes when Viv needs help but doesn't assume more than 2 people will help her, but her new community steps in. The platonic love in this book is heart-melting.
Before becoming a writer, Baldree worked as an audiobook reader. If you choose to consume Legends & Lattes in an audio format, you'll notice that he is the reader for it. He had recorded many fantasy books that were high stakes and wanted something magical but more like a Hallmark movie. I disagree with Baldree that the opposite of high stakes for the world should be considered low stakes, which is what he has dubbed Viv's troubles in the book. There were moments for Viv that felt like, if they couldn't be fixed, nothing would ever be okay. That's not low stakes for her and her community. Baldree can pull the audience in and keep them throughout the book. He's absolutely a skilled writer and perhaps has sold himself short.
If you decide to read Legends & Lattes, be on the lookout for the bonus mini prequel. It's practically a prologue for the story, but it should still be read afterward. If you enjoy classic fantasy, queer content, and witnessing a woman realize her dreams, this is the book for you!
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