Bookshops & Bonedust: First Loves and Good Reads

Curse you, real life problems! Kept me from reading this book for months!

I absolutely loved Travis Baldree’s last work, ‘Legends & Lattes.’ Few books I’ve read, if any, have made me feel so comfortable and relaxed as that one. Not to mention the phenomenal character writing! It’s a damn near perfect book, and if you haven’t read it yet, then you’re missing out.

And now, we have a prequel! ‘Bookshops & Bonedust.’ But is it a prelude worthy of your time? Or is it yet another unnecessary prequel to add to the ever growing pile?

Well, I can’t sugarcoat it: this book is fantastic!

In the early days of her adventuring days, Viv is injured in battle against the forces of a deadly necromancer. After her mercenary crew leaves her behind to recover, she finds herself stuck in the quiet coastal town of Murk. Luckily, she soon finds a good way to pass the time: reading books from the local bookshop. But her days are not to be spent making new friends and reading smut, for she soon finds herself in the necromancer’s path once again.

If you’ve read ‘Legends & Lattes,’ then you know what to expect from ‘Bookshops & Bonedust.’ Chill times, a cast of lovable characters, a relaxing store struggling to make end’s meat, grounded and witty dialogue, y’know; damn good storytelling. If you loved the first book, you’re gonna love this one too.

Except this one has a cute owl-dog. 11/10, best book ever, no notes.

There are a few key differences, though. For one: the ending to this book is much more bittersweet. Watching Viv develop new friendships, find her first love, and generally enjoying life is incredibly relaxing and wholesome. But beneath it all, there’s a quiet sense of looming finality. You as the reader know as well as Viv does that once her leg heals, she’s gonna hit the road again and leave it all behind.

This struck a mighty strong chord with me. Just a few years ago, I was in the exact position Viv was. I was set to move states, so I wanted to enjoy the time I had left with my friends back home. I enjoyed that time, and I cherish those memories to this day. But at the time, there was always that little itch in the back of my mind, reminding me that these precious days were going to end soon. I never thought that experience would help me relate to an orc barbarian who would later in life open a café, but here we are.

On a much lighter note: this book does something really fun. Occasionally, we’ll get a little glimpse at a few paragraphs of whatever story Viv is reading. This is a fun way for Travis Baldree to flex his writing muscles and add some extra flare to the story.

Also, the epilogue is really sweet. It brings us right back to ‘Legends & Lattes,’ and I couldn’t be happier.

Another key difference is the level of action. This time around, we have a proper antagonist for Viv and her friends to deal with. And not in the ‘I’m gonna ruin your business’ kinda way. More of the, ‘I’m gonna kill you and everyone you love’ kind of way. While the villain herself is kind of generic and underwhelming, the conflict against her makes for some of the best scenes in the book. The climax in particular is extremely creative, and our heroes’ ultimate victory is just as satisfying.

‘Bookshops & Bonedust’ is another slam dunk from Travis Baldree. This dude does not miss! It’s a fun read from cover to cover! I can’t wait to see what he’s got cooking next!

If you’re in the mood for a fun, relaxing read with a bit of fantasy adventure sprinkled in there, then this book is a perfect choice! Take a day, put on some chill music, grab a latte, and enjoy.

In fact, I think I’ll do just that myself.