Rate: 3/5
Medium: Audiobook
Overview (No Spoilers):
Brigands & Breadknives merges together Baldree’s previous two novels and brings together many familiar characters and places. Fern, from Baldree’s second novel, Bookshops and Bonedust, takes the lead in this third story. Initially, (and the following is a spoiler), Viv is helping Fern move her bookshop next to Legends and Lattes. This combination could have been its own nostalgia fueled fun, but almost immediately and through a sequence of seemingly impossible events, Fern ends on in an adventure that will challenge the Rattkin to confront what she really wants to achieve in her life.
The writing style is familiar, with humor and amusement still on the menu, though this story is less cozy than its predecessors. I enjoyed how Baldree shaped this story into finding oneself despite having all the ingredients at hand that should lead to a contented existence.
Fern is not all that sympathetic as a main character due to her incessant wallowing in guilt and selfish decisions. Not to mention her consistent choice to avoid the consequences of her path despite the hurt it could be putting her friends through.
Of the supporting cast, the two sentient weapons, Nigel and Breadlee, are a consistent source of amusement and Zyll the goblin is a mystery that grows more and more entertaining with every confounding situation and story of her chaos. Astryx is an Elven swordswomen who is a walking legend. She’s grown so old and callous with her long storied life that she has forgotten what it means to actually live. Astryx becomes slightly more likable as she finds her humanity (elfity?) again. Fern and Astryx work well as grindstones for each other to help the other sort through their own personal strife.
Overall, Brigands & Breadknives is a familiar tale that is entertaining but relies on some of the charm left over from the first two novels.
Additional Insights (Spoilers Abound):
- How could Fern abandon Potroast?
- I feel like there could be a book about Zyll alone. I think Astryx would provide ample fodder for additional stories as well.
- I loved the twist that Zyll has secretly taken out her own bounty to get her transported.
- The time in the dead god worshiping monastery was amusing. And a good lesson for Fern.
- How will Quillin and Fern get along?
The Critiquing Chemist 
I really do need to go back and check out the first book. Funny part is, there is actually a copy in my house! XD
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