Legends & Lattes

Baldree debuts with a gentle little cozy set against an epic fantasy backdrop. Aging and tired of bloodletting, orc swordswoman Viv leads her mercenary crew on one last adventure. After slaying a monster and wrenching from its skull a legendary stone, a talisman said to bring good fortune to its bearer, she abandons her erstwhile comrades—warrior dandy Fennus, Gallina of the sharp knives, and Taivus—and settles down in Thune. There, she buys a decrepit stable and hires Cal, a hob carpenter, and Tandri, a reformed succubus, who become her friends and helpers in opening a coffee shop that eventually takes the town by storm. The slight conflicts that follow are far from standard high fantasy fare: Viv must defy a local protection racket and evade the machinations of the envious Fennus. Viv’s success in business is buttressed by her growing affection for Tandri, adding a dash of sweet romance to this tale of finding meaning in the little things. This charming outing will please anyone who’s ever wished to spend time in a fantasy world without all the quests and battles. (Nov.)