Brigands and Breadknives Oh My!
Winter is the perfect time to get cozy under a blanket and read a good book. Nothing is more comfortable than a low-stakes fantasy written by the wonderful Travis Baldree. Brigands and Breadknives is the next instalment in the Legends and Lattes series. If you prefer an audiobook, this one is read by the author.
Return to the cozy fantasy world of the #1 New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes series with a new adventure featuring fan-favorite, foul-mouthed bookseller, Fern. Fern has weathered the stillness and storms of a bookseller’s life for decades, but now, in the face of crippling ennui, transplants herself to the city of Thune to hang out her shingle beside a long-absent friend’s coffee shop. What could be a better pairing? Surely a charming renovation montage will cure what ails her! If only things were so simple. It turns out that fixing your life isn’t a one-time prospect, nor as easy as a change of scenery and a lick of paint. A drunken and desperate night sees the rattkin waking far from home in the company of a legendary warrior surviving on inertia, an imprisoned chaos-goblin with a fondness for silverware, and an absolutely thumping hangover. As they fend off a rogue’s gallery of ne’er-do-wells trying to claim the bounty the goblin represents, Fern may finally reconnect with the person she actually is when there isn’t a job to get in the way.
Travis Baldree is another one of my favorite authors. I can’t help but pick up anything he writes. I also adore his audiobook narration style. A couple of years ago, his book Legends and Lattes took the world by storm, showing that fantasy books are also cozy. I fell in love with Liv’s story. She pushed through all her struggles and came out on top. This book, however, follows Fern. The bookseller is introduced in the prequel. Fren has such a funny personality. Plus, she’s a bookseller. I really understood her struggles with being in a profession and getting burnt out. If you didn’t already know, I used to be a cook, and while I loved it, I couldn’t see myself doing it for the rest of my life. So I really understood Fren’s problems. I loved how she wrote the letters to Liv. Astryx is a very well-thought-out character. While at first she is just going through the motions of what she’s used to, she also has to fit into the mold people have created for her through her stories. I love that Fren breaks through her walls and becomes a dear friend. I loved her quiet progression. What I’m saying is that Travis really seems to create deep characters. They all have such personality and depth to them that I find them so enjoyable to read. Also, I want this patchwork jacket that the goblin wears. I highly recommend giving his books a read or listen. I have both!
