I unfortunately can’t remember whose review on here stuck in my mind and got me to buy this book this weekend, but thank you once again to the Cannonball community for their great recommendations! I was wandering around the Strand and this was a random add-on to my pile based off the hazy recollection that this was well reviewed. This book was a nice treat after reading a bunch of 70s sci-fi that had me questioning if I even actually like genre fiction. Fortunately cozy fantasy is a thing now and it was so nice to read a book that reminds me that I do like the activity of reading that I have dedicated my life to.
Legend and Lattes is a very cozy fantasy novel and a delight. Viv is tired of adventuring and her back hurts. She decides to open a coffee shop after visiting one and being enraptured with the atmosphere and the drink. During her party’s last job, she gets the magical stone she’s been looking for that she thinks will bring her good luck, and she heads off to a city where there is no coffee and starts working to set up her shop. The rest of the novel is a low-stakes journey through her setting up the shop, getting staff, figuring out how to attract clientele, and learning how to trust other people and take care of herself. The core of the story is the relationships that she builds and the new people she has to learn to let in. There are some dramatic events, but the overall tone of the book is so comforting that I was never stressed.
I think what I especially liked was the lived-in feeling of the novel and the feeling of just bobbing along happily through the narrative. Also, people communicated very clearly and I appreciated that throughout. Nothing drives me more around the bend than conflict caused by willful miscommunication, and there were lots of straight forward discussions here when someone got upset or was worried about misunderstandings. I will add my voice to the chorus of recommendations! Enjoy the giant cute cat and the descriptions of delicious pastries! You will want a cinnamon bun when you’re done reading this.