Valerie S. (VolunteerVal) - reviewed on 12/4/2023 + 642 more book reviews

Having (surprisingly) liked Legends & Lattes, I looked forward to listening to Bookshops & Bonedust and enjoyed it more than the first novel.

This is a prequel to L & L and features Viv, an orc, as she recovers from a battle injury. While recuperating in a little beach town, she befriends several local merchants, including the 'colorful' owner of a bookstore. As she spends time in the bookshop, Viv suggests small changes to make it more comfortable for her which, of course, makes it more inviting for other customers. It was fun to read about the implementation of things that we take for granted in great bookstores (comfortable seating, book recommendations, blind date with a book, etc.).

Since I'm not a fantasy reader, my mind skimmed over the sections about the conflicts Viv was battling (which is primarily where the Bonedust details appear). I also focused on the personalities of the characters rather than envisioning the types of fantastical beings they were.

I'm not a coffee drinker so I felt several steps removed from the central theme of Legends & Lattes, but I love bookshops with all my heart so I felt more connected to the plot of Bookshops & Bonedust. I highly recommend listening to these titles as they are narrated by the author, a professional audiobook narrator.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for access to the audiobook. I'm eager to learn if there will be more novels in this series.

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