‘I was just thinking that you don’t have to forget who you were… because that’s what brought you here.’

This is simply a cinnamon roll of a novel, literally. Legends & Lattes is a ‘cozy fantasy’, a novel that follows a long-time battle veteran orc, Viv, as she decides to settle down and follow her heart into a passion project and the next risky venture—opening up a cafe in a new town. Building a community space and introducing people to coffee is no easy task. While I was reading this, we got hit with one of those ‘record-setting’ blizzards that seem to be happening more and more frequently, so it was the perfect read to cozy up with. And of course, it imparted all the right sorts of themes and messages that might fill one up with hope for humanity.The characters are delightful, though given the small size of the book, we don’t exactly delve into too much backstory or character development. Viv is a fearsome orc with a soft, squishy interior who just wants people to have a good time and enjoy a cup of coffee. Cal, an extremely likable grumpy hobgoblin, is a welcome addition to helping Viv’s dreams be realized. Tandri, a succubus, with a penchant for calligraphy and magic and looking for a new start, comes to fill a space in Viv’s life that she scarcely even realizes is empty. The supporting cast of characters are all as intriguing and adorable as these three, and I know I’m leaving out some favorites, but for the sake of brevity, suffice it to say that the characters are a real treat and perhaps the highlight of this novel.This is ‘low stakes’, so admittedly the plot is not that heavy nor does it try to be too clever—but rest assured, there is a plot. I’m not the type of person to enjoy books that have no plot whatsoever and tend to just meander, with the exception of those immaculate character studies that really take you into the mind of a character. This isn’t that either. The writing is simplistic and straightforward, and at times it did read a bit juvenile in a modern sense—in a way that broke me out of the comfy ambiance and into the thought that I was reading a written story. Though it is simple, the plot is enough to get you engaged with the action on the page and to become extremely invested in the fate of the characters. It is somewhat convenient at times, but the feeling was cozy and reassuring for me, rather than annoying or unbelievable. We don’t get too many pointless scenes of characters sitting about not doing anything, and I appreciated that.Baldree is really exceptional in creating the warm and inviting atmosphere of this book. You feel as if you could step into Viv’s cafe and sit down with a sweet pastry or two and a cup of coffee. Now, I’m not really a coffee drinker, with the exception of espresso drinks, and tea is more my… cup of tea. But I incidentally made some espresso while reading this, and I don’t think it is entirely unrelated. The strength of this book lies in this atmosphere, a welcome escape from whichever situation you are in—thus well suited for those cold winter nights. Before I knew it, it was over, and though I was reluctant, it came to an end as all good things must. I’m certainly looking forward to whatever Baldree manages to come up with next, all the better that it is set in the same charming world.