The stairs opened into a long, rough-timbered dining area in an inn or tavern or whatever they called it around here. A big, stone hearth crouched cold along one wall, yawning like a disappointed mouth. An iron chandelier hung askew, entombed in candlewax. Glass floats and storm lanterns were strung or nailed up in the rafters, alongside netting and weathered oars with names carved into them. The handful of scarred tables were unoccupied. While my beloved Thimble was not present in this story - or Cal and Tandri - Baldree introduced me to a whole new set of characters to cherish and love. I don't know how this author writes such endearing characters - but I wanted to move to this little sleepy beach town of Murk - and never leave. Well, I lie, I would want to go visit Thune. Often. We didn’t get that same level of commitment to focus on the business as we did with L&L. It tried to bring in too many other elements and sort of forgot what made this type of story special in the first place. I can read about necromancers and magic swords anywhere. What I can’t get is book organizing, quirky customer service, and sales reports (I need it). I wanted to see them get their hands dirty turning the store around, of which it provided only glimpses. A prequel that gives us a chance to return to the warm and cozy realm of one of last year’s most unexpectedly great fantasy worlds, Bookshops & Bonedust is the heartwarming origin story you didn’t know you needed."—Paste Magazine Bookshops and Bonedust follows Viv at a very different point in her life. She’s young and inexperienced and yearning for adventure. She also has a soft spot and a heart that she isn’t ready to embrace yet. Still, for readers of the original, she’s recognizably herself, even if she’s a bit brasher.

Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn't possibly imagine.Gallina was initially a little bit annoying but, like the rest of the secondary characters, I grew to love her. She dreamed of joining Viv’s gang and while she annoyed her, they grew to be friends and equals.

This is the premise of Bookshops and Bonedust. And I guarantee you whether you have read Legends and Lattes or not will influence your experience of Bookshops and Bonedust, even though this is designed to be a standalone novel in the series as well. Except maybe for the epilogue that would make more sense and impact if you have read Legends and Lattes. But if you have read Legends and Lattes first, there is the possibility the stakes of the plotline will feel even lower than it should be. That is the nature of this book as a prequel. You will know Viv’s fate in Legends and Lattes already, and the dangers she faces in this novel will feel more minimal. Every reader will have a different reaction, but personally, this is a cozy fantasy. Stakes and dangers were never in my mind when I started reading Bookshops and Bonedust. If Legends and Lattes is a story about starting something new, no matter how late it is in your life, then well, Bookshops and Bonedust is about planting the seeds of hope that the change in life is possible. But things don’t stay quiet for long, even in a sleepy town like Murk. Viv’s life takes an unexpected turn as she encounters mysterious travelers, a summer romance and a surprising number of skeletons. It turns out that running a bookshop is more of an adventure than Viv ever expected. 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.Shall we talk about some of the other characters we’ve met at the start Nils? The three that made an impression on me were Iridia the Gatewarden, Pitts the Orc, and – surprise! – Gallina the Gnome! Firstly, I wasn’t keen on Iridia. This is the only negative I’ve experienced so far in this book; you always have to have a thorn in the protagonist’s side, but she was so obviously a thorn and for no apparent reason (or at least, I don’t accept the reasons she gives). And I think that’s MY “story beyond the story” that Viv experienced in her reading of others, that I’ve now experienced by reading HERS. Beth:Thimble was my absolute favourite, he was so precious! I loved that Viv trusted in him and gave him the space to flourish, despite not really being able to speak up for himself!

One of Travis's standout strengths lies in his ability to paint vivid, transporting scenes with his words. From the picturesque landscapes to the tantalizing descriptions of food and the evocation of Viv's deepest emotions, his literary craftsmanship shines through, immersing readers in a sensory-rich experience. Because I'm headed down the hill, and you're headed up it. I'm just glad we chanced to meet on the way." Beth: I think what was also so special about that moment was seeing Viv fall in love with reading for the first time, actually watching someone make that connection that at some point we’ve all felt. I thought it was a great moment between the protagonist and the reader. 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. What I love about Travis Baldree is that set against an epic world of adventure, he writes about the small victories that make life worthwhile. Bookshops & Bonedust does this and it is glorious."—Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of LondonIn "Bookshops and Bonedust" by Travis Baldree, we are reintroduced to our beloved character, Viv, who finds herself recovering in the quaint coastal town of Murk after a harrowing encounter with nefarious necromancers. As she heals, Viv grapples with the challenge of staving off cabin fever in this tranquil locale. Fortunately, her serendipitous discovery of a humble yet enchanting bookshop and its vivacious owner injects a new sense of adventure into her life. I'm excited to continue to read anything Travis Baldree writes. Whether it's in this universe or in another! Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing me with a complementary audiobook in exchange for my honest thoughts. With its immersive worldbuilding and charming characters, Bookshops & Bonedust is every bit as delightful as its predecessor. A spellbinding read that somehow manages to be both gripping and restful."—Heather Fawcett, author of Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries This prequel is the perfect place for readers to start Baldree’s cozy fantasy series where folks band together for good, and evil is conquered through cleverness and friendship.”—Library Journal, STARRED review

Beth: I was the same, in regards to the hype. I’m always very suspicious of hyped-up books, I’ve been stung too many times in the past. But actually, what made me want to read it despite the hype, was the slice-of-high-fantasy-life cosiness. I’ve been really drawn to that kind of read lately.

When the tavernkeep brought out a skillet and set it on the counter along with a fork and a napkin, she almost seized the hot handle with her bare hand in her hurry to drag it closer. The hash of potatoes, crispy, fatty pork, and two runny eggs was still sizzling and popping. She almost burst into joyful tears. Viv caught him watching her devour the food from the other end of the bar and tried to slow down, but the potatoes were salty and rich with the egg, and it was hard not to shovel it in without pausing. The noises she made as she ate were not polite, but they were definitely sincere. This was such a wholesome and sweet book. I was hooked all throughout, I never wanted to put it down. It's the type of story you simultaneously want to devour and want to make last forever. If I could be enveloped in this story for all my days, I would be! It's as simple as that.