Bingo: I am counting this book for the “Work” category, since the plot centers around the main character’s business venture and place of work.
Viv, an orc adventurer, is ready to hang up her sword and settle into a more peaceful life. She wants to start a coffeeshop in the magical city of Thune, spreading the joy of caffeine and baked goods to all species, races, and character classes (those are the correct DnD terms, right?) Viv is stubborn and independent, but quickly learns that if her venture is going to succeed, she will need to learn to connect with and rely on others. With the help of a hobgoblin carpenter, a ratkin baking prodigy, and an artistically gifted succubus, Viv will face new challenges, encounter old enemies, and learn that sometimes, the real coffee is the friends we made along the way.
So, right off the bat, I need to mention that I have never played Dungeons and Dragons. This might have hampered my enjoyment of this book, since it takes place in a decidedly DnD-inspired world. My only prior experience with orcs was the Tolkien kind, which apparently is different from whatever Viv is, and while some of the species I could figure out from context clues (stone-fey=fairy made out of stone?) others I had to do some googling for (wtf is a ratkin?). If you are familiar with DnD, you will probably have a much easier time jumping into the world of this book. However, even with my ignorance of the setting, I was able to enjoy it. This is the book that popularized the term “cozy fantasy,” and cozy it is. The stakes are relatively low, the plot moves forward in a predictable manner, and relationships between characters are at the forefront. There are also a lot of mouthwatering descriptions of beverages and baked goods. If you’re looking for a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, you could do worse than curling up with “Legends and Lattes.”