Legends & Lattes

A very enjoyable read! This story is set in a world where various types of mythical beings live together in harmony. The main characters are an orc, a succubus, a hob, and a rattkin. Secondary characters include a gnome, a dwarf, various types of fey, and a dire-cat. I loved the diversity!

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The story begins strong, with the final gory battle for the orc, Viv. She finally has what she needs to leave the mercenary life and begin a new one. She’s decided to open a coffee shop at a time when most people, except gnomes, have never heard of coffee.

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It’s an excellent premise because, built into it, are themes of leaving the past behind and embracing new beginnings, facing challenges, and creating community.

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Tandri peeled off a piece and obliged. As she chewed, Viv could feel some kind of atmospheric shift around Tandri, a sultry radiance, and her tail lashed back and forth in elegant loops. Viv and the rattkin watched her chew, rapt.

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When the succubus opened her eyes again, her irises were huge, cheeks flushed. She looked dreamily at the rattkin. “You’re hired.” Her voice had gone husky. Then she startled and glanced at Viv. The aura dissipated. “Wait, that is why he’s here, isn’t it?”

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Orcs aren’t known for their friendship skills, but Viv wants to hang up her broadsword and change her future. Along the way she has to deal with covetous ex-coworkers, the mob, and one enormous, almost-deadly set-back. She’s able to rise above the challenges with the help and generosity of her friends.

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The writer had a successful career making video games and then began, on the side, narrating fantasy adventure books. He enjoyed that so much (and was so good at it) that he eventually quit the gaming industry to lean into narrating. During the pandemic, he mentioned to some friends that he wished he could narrate something more wholesome and with lower stakes.

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That year, he decided to join the National Novel Writing Month and began writing this fabulous book. On its release, it went viral on booktok and bookstagram, (if not for the story, for the fantastic cover art)! The success of this book on those platforms has significantly increased interest in a genre called “cozy fantasy” (the type that Terry Pratchett has been writing for a while now).

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The dire-cat appeared with more regularity. Viv sometimes felt the prickle of Amity’s regard and turned to find her perched in the loft like a sooty gargoyle, surveying the diners with disdain. Tandri tried using treats to tempt the animal into claiming the bed they’d made for her, but Amity only ate them, made very deliberate eye contact, and then sauntered away with her tail high. Viv discovered she didn’t mind having a watchful monstrosity around. Not one bit.

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The swears in this story are great and include expressions like “wrack and ruin”, “gods-damned…”, and “all eight hells”.

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I also really loved how each character is a different race. The diversity gives the story depth and color and brings it to life. The reader is able to build the character in our minds-eye when we learn how the tail of the succubus Tandri swishes around behind her, how the rattkin Thimble hums while he bakes and squeaks when he’s upset, how Cal the circumspect hob says “hmm” as an affirmation. The writing is great!

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At the end of this book, the author shares a recipe for Thimblets, a type of biscotti sold in the coffee shop, Legends and Lattes.

This is a must read!

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