Thank you to Tor Books for sending me a copy of Bookshops and Bonedust in exchange for an honest review.
Viv, an orc mercenary injured in pursuit of a powerful necromancer, ends up stuck in the quiet beach town of Murk while she recovers. Frustrated and far from the action, she spends more and more time at a local bookshop owned by a foul-mouthed ratkin named Fern. Eager for something to do, Viv agrees to help Fern keep the shop afloat in exchange for hand-picked books to keep her entertained in her downtime.
But things don’t stay quiet for long, even in a sleepy town like Murk. Viv’s life takes an unexpected turn as she encounters mysterious travelers, a summer romance and a surprising number of skeletons. It turns out that running a bookshop is more of an adventure than Viv ever expected.
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After the success of Legends and Lattes, it makes a lot of sense that Travis Baldree returned to the world of his bestselling novel. For anyone who hasn’t read the latter, you can easily dive into Bookshops and Bonedusts without any background knowledge.
Bookshops and Bonedust follows Viv at a very different point in her life. She’s young and inexperienced and yearning for adventure. She also has a soft spot and a heart that she isn’t ready to embrace yet. Still, for readers of the original, she’s recognizably herself, even if she’s a bit brasher.
My favorite part of Viv’s journey in Bookshops and Bonedusts is her realization of the power of books. She’s understandably suspicious when Fern first hands her a novel – after all, she’s a young orc warrior who just wants to get back out there and kill some bad guys. But when she opens her mind, the possibilities are actually endless. Fern’s skills as a bookseller shine through in her choices, finding the perfect books to capture Viv’s attention.
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Bookshops and Bonedusts isn’t only a love letter to reading but to the experience of running a bookstore. Baldree perfectly captures the plight of a bookseller. As someone who’s worked in a bookstore for almost seven years, everything rang true to my experience. The questions surrounding what to stock, how to get people in the door and how to stay open even with a long-standing business were so accurate to the industry. I’ve heard the same from other booksellers as well. All of the sweet, silly, sometimes messy elements are perfect for book lovers and booksellers alike.
My one pushback isn’t a problem with the book itself but with prequels in general. Throughout the novel, something dark looms over all of the retail-related hijinks. Soon, the stakes become much higher than they are in Legends and Lattes. But are they really higher? Readers know where Viv ends up later on, so if you’re familiar with her story, you know she’ll be okay. On the other hand, I think that for a lot of readers, the lack of stakes will just add to the cozy nature of the novel.
Overall, Bookshops and Bonedust does a great job of linking returning characters with a brand-new plot. Check it out if you’re a book lover looking for a little adventure.
Bookshops and Bonedust comes out on November 7 and is available for preorder at your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org.
TW: abandonment, animal cruelty/death, blood/gore, death, medical content, murder, violence
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/hobbit-day-book-recommendations-j-r-r-tolkien/
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