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Rate: 4/5

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Medium: Audiobook

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Overview (No Spoiler):

A year ago, if you’d asked me what my favorite genre is I would have confidently claimed epic fantasy. After Bookshops & Bonedust, it is probably time to reassess my aforementioned answer as cozy fantasy is definitely having a day in the sun and I love almost every moment of it. 

Bookshops & Bonedust is a prequel to Baldree’s previous novel Legends & Lattes. One of my chief complaints in Legends & Lattes was that Vic’s backstory is hardly filled in. My curiosity is sated in Bookshops & Bonedust as we are treated to Viv’s early disastrous missions with her group of mercenaries. Taking place decades prior to Legends & Lattes, we find a young Viv who is impulsive and has the foolhardy invincibility of the youth. As a result of her poor decisions, Viv is left healing from her wounds in a remote village as the rest of her team continues the hunt. Ill at ease with the idleness of recovery, Viv soon makes some unexpected friends, from the bookseller, Fern, to the flirtatious baker Maylee. Weaving together familiar ingredients that made Legends & Lattes successful, Baldree isolates our favorite components of bookstores and Viv incorporates them into remodeling Fern’s rundown shop. Just as Viv gets comfortable, her main trade comes knocking, threatening everything about Murk that she’s come to enjoy during her short stay. Will she be recovered enough to safe the day?

In Legends & Lattes, the depth of Viv and Galina’s friendships is reiterated many times, though there is no sustenance to these claims other than their actions. We finally learn the story behind how these two friends met, along with Galina’s past and motivations. It makes me want to reread the first novel to see Galina’s through this new lens. 

My favorite part of this book is the ever amusing Satchel. He managed to insert the right amount of levity, while also giving context to the mysterious Vairine. 

Overall, Bookshops & Bonedust is a brilliantly cosy prequel that answers so many of my questions left open by Legends & Lattes. We are treated to Viv’s backstory while she ingratiates herself in another lovely community, and one especially rundown bookstore.

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Additional Insight (Spoilers Abound):

– Will there be a third book where Viv and Fern meet again? What about Maylee?

– What will happen to Satchel when the Bonedust is gone?

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