Bookshops & Bonedust

Bookshops & Bonedust (2023) Travis Baldree (Legends & Lattes #1)

The sequel to Legends & Lattes recently came out, so I decided I really needed to read the prequel to that so I could reread Legends & Lattes and then the new book.

For some unknown reason I’d put off reading this story. I loved the first book, but I managed to convince myself I didn’t want to read about Viv before she retired.

This was, of course, silly of me.

The story is set at the very beginning of Viv’s career, when she is young and rash and takes foolish chances.

He glanced down at her, and the disappointed grimace on his lips made her nausea double. “Hells-damned fool. Clap a hand to that. Stay put, and try not to die, if you can.”

One of the things I especially like about Viv is how she is honest with herself–even if she doesn’t want to be.

With every impact, she found a new, more colorful epithet for Rackam. Not that it was his fault, of course. Still, it was a lot more satisfying to curse someone by name, even if that name should’ve been her own.

The boredom of healing quickly gets to her, so she wanders the town and managed to meet the local bookseller (after almost stomping through her floor) and takes the ratkin’s bet that she’ll enjoy the book Fern has recommended her.

Reading isn’t a complete distraction when one is healing from injury, but it’s a whole lot better than staring at walls.

Eventually Viv befriends not just Fern, but also the local baker, the local handyman, and a young woman who wants to become a mercenary.

But not the local constaulary,

“So what you’re saying is that you’d like to store a potentially dangerous object, which is of immense value to an even more dangerous necromancer, here. In my offices.”

Viv shrugged uncomfortably. “Yeah. Yeah, I guess so.”

Iridia smiled thinly. She slid the (object) off the desk and weighed it in both hands. “I do so look forward to your eventual departure.”

It was a lovely story.

Characters: Viv, Fern, Iridia, Potroast, Maylee, Gallina, Satchel, Brand, Ketch, Pitts, Highlark, Varine the Pale, Balthus, Zelia Greatstrider, Berk, Rackam

Cover by Carson Lowmiller

Publisher: Tor

Rating: 8.5/10

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