Who knew baking, brewing, and serving could make for such a fun, compelling story? Instead, I was lulled into a peaceful, relaxing state of utter delight where I had a perpetual smile on my face and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to keep discovering what new fresh treat would be served up for both me and the patrons of Legends and Lattes. I wasn’t blown away, because this isn’t a “blow you away” story. The fact that it’s so focused on the internal makes it such a comforting “slice of life” story. Viv’s “adventure” is one we’re all fairly familiar with: striking out to try something new, to create something special with people who matter. Rarely do we see beyond the four walls of Viv’s coffee shop, and never once is that a problem.
Everyone who graces the page-primary protagonists Viv and Tandri, secondary supporting characters like Cal and Thimble, even minor bit-players like Lacey, Pendry, and the Madrigal-feel genuine and enhance the story in their own special way. Instead, it hones in on the one thing that makes every story great: compelling, real characters. The story doesn’t bother trying to break fresh ground or be unique with plot twists or grand reveals. The familiar setting is, in large part, what immediately draws you into the story-as easy to enjoy as a sip of your favorite fresh-brewed coffee drink. It’s a classic D&D-inspired world filled with magic, humanoid races (hobgoblins, orcs, gnomes, etc.) and the standard fantasy tropes like “corrupt city guard” and “wicked criminals”. Legends and Lattes follows Viv, orc barbarian badass, who decides to hang up her sword and open a shop brewing gnomish coffee, a delicacy never-before-seen in the city of Thune. It’s a soothing, comforting, yet delightfully familiar journey into the unknown, where the biggest monsters are self-doubt and uncertainty, but the treasure is worth far more than just gold or gemstones. Legends and Lattes is, without a doubt, the book we all need right now. That feeling you get, that “all is right in the world”, this book is EXACTLY like that! Best of all, you’ve got a freshly made cup of coffee in your hands and a tasty treat (chocolate croissants, perhaps?) sitting beside you. The sun is just rising, the world is quiet, and you’ve nowhere to rush off to.
0 kommentar(er)
