BOOK REVIEW - Bookshops and Bonedust - Travis Baldree - Audiobook - 4*

BOOK REVIEW

Bookshops and Bonedust - Travis Baldree

Well, did I not just dive into this one immediately after finishing Legends and Lattes? Yes, yes I did. I'm not ashamed. I needed to know more!

BLURB (which I did not read in advance!)

Viv’s career with the renowned mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned. Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk – so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it. What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a struggling bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted. Even though it may be exactly what she needs. Still, adventure isn’t far away. A suspicious traveller in grey, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

Sometimes, right things happen at the wrong time. Sometimes, what we need isn’t what we seek. And sometimes, we find ourselves in the stories we experience together.

Set twenty years before the events of Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust is a standalone cosy fantasy by BookTok sensation Travis Baldree about the power of good bookshops, great friends and the unexpected choices along the way. Narrated by Travis Baldree.

MY REVIEW

This book in terms of publication order, is the sequel to Legends and Lattes. That being said, it is in fact a prequel and tells us the story of Viv, who is laid up after an injury in battle, in an unfamiliar town, unable to take on more work while she recuperates. She is used to being in and out of different towns, picking up jobs, collecting the fruits of her mercenary labour, and moving on to the next. This story focusses on the time she spends recovering from her injury, away from her usual distractions. Threaded through the book is Viv slowing down and taking the time to appreciate the people and things around her. The story centres on a local bookstore, where Viv finds herself on her first days on her road to recovery. 

In a similar vein to its predecessor, the story is a lovely cosy fantasy, with no blood or gore, but instead,  friendships and character development. 

I connected brilliantly with Viv, even more so than in the previous book. She's so engaging and thoughtful, full of sarcasm and self-deprecating humour. She doesn't feel as though she's good at making friends or likable, but people gravitate towards her in such a beautiful way. It's hard not to like her. Her reading journey was so similar to mine, that it could have been a diary entry of my own (minus the mercenary, bounty-hunting, battle-ravaged orc part!). I found myself chuckling knowingly at her experience. We've all been there, Viv, and we love it too!

Fern is the owner of the bookshop and is another key character. Fern is COMPLETELY HILARIOUS. Foul-mouthed, quirky, and kind-hearted, just my kind of person. Together with Viv, the friendship is multi-faceted and endearing. When the skeleton man, Satchel, is introduced he adds another element to their friendship (and I laughed out loud at the description of Satchel falling to the floor and rolling under shelves when customers came in, which reminded me of Toy Story when the toys would drop whenever a person was nearby!). 

I also fell in love with the little Gryphet, Potroast, who cannot speak but communicates just as effectively without words. I adored him, the little feathered dog. 

There's more of a defined plot, with a satisfying crescendo at the end. It has elements of mystery, which I enjoyed, as it helped to bring the characters together, through a time of need. The epilogue helped to tie things together with the first book too (which is why I recommend reading in publication order!), though it does work as a standalone story. 

One thing that I found disconcerting with this book was my timing. I chose to read this right after Legends and Lattes, however the story is set many years beforehand. In my haste, I was delving into the past when the present was still very much in my mind so I felt at times still invested in the friendships and relationships from Legends on Lattes, almost like Viv was 'cheating'. If I could start over, I would leave some time between books. 

If, like me, you're new to Fantasy, I'd recommend this duology. Equally, if you love fantasy, but want something cosy, this will tick your boxes. 

Check out my video review:

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