Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree | Book Review

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree is a cozy fantasy story about starting over, making friends, and chasing dreams. It follows Viv, an orc who decides to retire from being a fighter and wants a peaceful life instead. So, she opens a coffee shop, but there’s one problem: no one in town even knows what coffee is. She finds an old building, hires a few people to help, and slowly gets the town to warm up to the idea. Along the way, she builds friendships, deals with competition, and proves that anyone can change their path, no matter their past.

(Legends & Lattes oleh Travis Baldree adalah cerita yang cozy banget, kayak fantasy tapi santai gitu. Ini tentang Viv, orc yang udah capek jadi petarung dan pengen hidup tenang. Akhirnya, dia memutuskan buka kedai kopi. Tapi, masalahnya di kota itu, orang-orang gak tau apa itu kopi. Viv mulai dari nol, cari bangunan tua, mengajak beberapa orang buat bantu dia, dan pelan-pelan bikin warga kota penasaran sama kopi. Sepanjang ceritanya, dia membangun pertemanan, menghadapi persaingan, dan nunjukin bahwa siapa aja bisa mengubah hidupnya, gak peduli masa lalunya kayak apa.)

TL;DR: Orc quits violence, opens coffee shop, wins hearts. Cozy fantasy with found family, slow-burn romance, and more pastries than plot twists. 

⚠️ SIDE EFFECTS

🔺Sudden cravings for cinnamon rolls you can’t bake.

🔺Unrealistic life fantasies ("Maybe I too should quit my job and open a café?").

🔺Emotional damage from soft orc hugs.

🔺Vocabulary expansion (RIP Google Translate).

🔺Extreme FOMO if you don’t have a Thimble in your life.

Not recommended for: Haters of joy, people who think fantasy needs dragons, or anyone who’s never cried over a perfectly described scone.

BOOK REVIEW 

Legends & Lattes is a cozy fantasy story about Viv, an orc who decides she’s done with being a mercenary and wants to chase a new dream by opening a coffee shop in a town where no one even knows what coffee is. It’s a vibe for anyone who’s ever wanted to say "screw it" and start fresh whether that’s leaving a toxic job, pivoting careers, or finally chasing that "what if?" dream. Her story feels so relatable for anyone who has ever wanted a fresh start. It takes guts, but the payoff? Chef’s kiss.

But this book is also about the people she meets along the way. As she builds her coffee shop, she also builds a community. There’s Thimble, the quiet rattkin baker, Tandri, the artistic and business-savvy succubus, and Cal, the carpenter with a heart of gold. What I love about this story is how it shows that success isn’t just about hustle culture, it’s about the people who show up for you. By the end, Viv’s shop isn’t just serving lattes, it’s serving found family realness.

Also, can we talk about how this book flips fantasy tropes like a pancake? Orcs are supposed to be bloodthirsty? Nah, Viv’s too busy perfecting her espresso shot. Succubi have to be femme fatales? Tandri’s here to crunch numbers and slay business plans. And every character gets to be more than what the world assumes they should be. It’s a whole mood for anyone who’s ever felt boxed in by stereotypes or "this is how it’s always been" nonsense. Viv’s story screams: You get to define yourself, no permission needed.

Viv’s journey as a business owner feels a lot like what real entrepreneurs go through. She’s out here scouting locations, hiring a team, and dealing with competitors while trying to sell coffee in a town that’s like, "What’s a latte?" Total risk, but she doesn’t fold. Instead of getting mad when people don’t get it, she stays patient, by letting them sample, ask questions, and slowly catch the vibe. And that’s the lesson: When you know your thing is fire, you can’t let doubters derail you. Belief > instant validation.

But Viv isn’t just selling coffee, she’s curating a whole mood. Her shop’s got the cozy aesthetic, the smell of fresh pastries, and that "stay awhile" energy. Real ones know people don’t just buy things, they buy feelings. Viv gets it. No pushy sales pitches, just patience. She listens, adapts, and lets the coffee speak for itself. Flexbility is the key. Success isn’t about forcing it, it’s about reading the room and adjusting.

What starts as a small coffee shop becomes the town’s safe space. Viv’s story proves success isn’t just stacks of cash, it’s building something meaningful. This book nails it: Chasing your dream isn’t just about you winning, it’s about the community you create along the way. Manifesting and uplifting? We love to see it.

(Legends & Lattes adalah cerita cozy fantasy tentang Viv, si orc yang udah capek jadi tentara bayaran dan memutuskan buka kedai kopi di kota yang bahkan nggak tau kopi itu apa. Big mood buat kamu yang pernah pengen "udahan, mau ganti karir!" entah itu keluar dari kerjaan toxic, ganti haluan, atau akhirnya kejar mimpi "what if?" yang selama ini diam-diam bikin kepikiran. Perjalanan Viv ini relate banget buat siapa aja yang pengen fresh start. Emang butuh nyali, tapi hasilnya? Chef's kiss.

Tapi ini buku bukan cuma soal Viv, ini juga tentang orang-orang yang dia temuin sepanjang perjalanan. Sambil membangun kedai kopinya, dia juga membangun komunitas. Ada Thimble, si tikus baker pendiam, Tandri, succubus jago bisnis yang artistik, dan Cal, si tukang kayu baik hati. Yang keren, cerita ini menunjukkan kalau sukses nggak cuma soal hustle culture, tapi juga soal orang-orang yang support kita. Pada akhirnya, kedai Viv nggak cuma menjual latte, tapi juga tempat untuk found family beneran.

FYI, buku ini flip stereotip fantasy kayak bikin pancake! Orc harus galak? Viv sibuk bikin espresso. Succubus harus femme fatale? Tandri malah jago bisnis. Setiap karakter bisa jadi lebih dari apa kata dunia tentang mereka. Big yes buat kalian yang pernah dikotak-kotakin stereotip atau dijegal "udah dari sananya begitu". Pesan Viv jelas: Kita yang menentukan diri kita sendiri, no need approval!

Perjalanan Viv sebagai pemilik usaha tuh rasanya kayak apa yang dialami sama para pengusaha di dunia nyata. Dari cari lokasi, hire tim, sampe hadapi kompetitor sambil jual kopi di kota yang "latte apaan sih?". Resiko? Gede. Tapi Viv nggak menyerah. Daripada marah, dia sabar kasih sampel, jelasin pelan-pelan, biar orang paham vibe-nya. Intinya: Kalau kita yakin ide kita keren, jangan dengarin orang-orang yang meragukannya. Belief > instant validation.

Tapi Viv nggak cuma jual kopi, dia bikin whole experience. Kedainya aesthetic, wangi kue fresh dari oven, ditambah "stay awhile" energy. Real ones tahu kalau orang-orang beli bukan cuma produk, tapi juga perasaan. Viv paham banget. Dia nggak maksa, tapi sabar menunggu orang jatuh cinta sendiri. Fleksibel itu kunci. Sukses bukan soal memaksa, tapi baca situasi.

Awalnya cuma kedai kecil, akhirnya jadi safe space warga sekitar. Kisah Viv ini jadi bukti kalau sukses bukan cuma tentang uang, tapi bikin sesuatu yang meaningful. Buku ini nails it: Mengejar mimpi bukan cuma buat diri sendiri, tapi juga komunitas yang kita bangun. Manifesting sambil uplifting orang lain? We stan.)

THINGS I LOVE

■ Viv’s coffee shop = ultimate vibe check. One of the best parts of this book? Viv doesn’t just run a coffee shop, she builds a whole squad. It’s not just about the beans, it’s about creating a safe space where people like Thimble and Tandri become family. Their friendship? Actual goals. No fake drama, just real support, growth, and those "ride or die" moments. Found family FTW.

■ Fantasy, but make it cozy. An orc opening a coffee shop? Genius. Most fantasy is all "swords, war, doom," but this? It’s wholesome, warm, and weirdly relatable. Magic + pastries > yet another dark lord. The book keeps that fantasy charm but swaps epic battles for slow-brewed comfort, like a literary hug.  

■ Descriptions so good, you’ll get hungry. The way this book describes the shop, the rich coffee smell, the buttery pastry warmth, the come-stay-awhile energy is chef’s kiss. I could taste the cinnamon rolls. Reading it feels like wrapping yourself in a blanket with your favorite drink. Cozy-core at its finest.

■ The message? "start now, scared later." Viv’s whole journey is about second chances, taking risks, and doing the unexpected. Yes. It’s the kind of story that whispers, "Hey, you can reinvent yourself." For anyone stuck in a "what am I doing with my life?" spiral, this book is your sign to just go for it.

■ Romance and rep done right. The slow-burn romance? Perfection. The diverse cast? Finally. No tokenism, no big speeches, just people existing (and falling in love) without a fuss. It’s refreshing AF to see a fantasy where marginalized characters just live. More of this, please.

(■ Kedai kopi Viv = vibe check terbaik! Salah satu hal terkeren di buku ini? Viv nggak cuma buka kedai kopi tapi dia juga bikin satu squad lengkap. Ini bukan cuma soal biji kopi, tapi tentang menciptakan safe space buat orang-orang kayak Thimble dan Tandri yang akhirnya jadi keluarga. Pertemanan mereka? GOALS banget. Nggak ada drama palsu, cuma dukungan real, tumbuh bersama, dan momen-momen "ride or die". Found family emang the best!

■ Fantasy tapi cozy banget. Orc buka kedai kopi? Jenius! Biasanya fantasy isinya "pedang, perang, kiamat", tapi ini? Wholesome, hangat, dan somehow relateable. Magic + kue pastry >>> lord jahat kegelapan. Buku ini tetap punya charm fantasy tapi mengganti pertempuran epik dengan kenyamanan slow-brewed kayak pelukan sastra.

■ Deskripsinya bikin laper. Cara buku ini mendeskripsikan kedainya, aroma kopi yang rich, kehangatan kue pastry, energi "ayo santai dulu" beneran chef's kiss. Aku bisa bayangin rasa cinnamon rolls-nya. Bacanya kayak selimutan sambil menyeruput minuman favorit kita. Cozy-core level dewa!

■ Pesan moralnya? "Kasih nyali buat mulai". Perjalanan Viv itu tentang second chance, mengambil risiko, dan melakukan hal yang nggak terduga. Ini tipe cerita yang bakal bisik-bisik "Hey, kamu bisa reinventing diri lo kok". Buat yang lagi stuck di fase "duh, aku ngapain aja sih di hidup ini?", ini buku tanda buat kamu buat langsung take action aja!

■Romance dan representasi yang beneran pas. Slow-burn romance-nya? Perfect. Karakter-karakter diversenya? Akhirnya! Nggak ada tokenism, nggak ada pidato panjang, cuma orang-orang yang exist (dan jatuh cinta) apa adanya. So refreshing lihat fantasy dimana karakter marginalised bisa hidup normal. More of this please! )

✨ PERFECT FOR PEOPLE WHO:

🔺Want fantasy without the doom-and-gloom.

🔺Love slow burns (romance and coffee roasting).

🔺Have ever whispered "I could fix them" about a fictional character.

🔺Think "cozy" is a personality trait.

🔺Need proof that starting over isn’t failing, it’s upgrading.

THING I DON'T LIKE 

Okay, I love this book, but low-key struggled with the writing style. Some parts had my brain buffering like a bad Wi-Fi connection, and I definitely missed a few details. (English isn’t my first language, so) Still obsessed though, worth the occasional Google Translate pit stop.

(Aku suka banget sama buku ini, tapi sejujurnya gaya bahasanya bikin otak aku loading kayak sinyal WiFi lemot. Ada beberapa bagian yang agak susah dicerna, jadi pasti ada detail yang kelewat. (Apalagi bahasa Inggris bukan bahasa utama aku, jadi ya Google Translate jadi bestie). Tapi tetep aja, buku ini worth banget buat dibaca!)

RATING

Coffee Vibes: 9/10 

Orc Rizz: 8.5/10

Found Family Feels: 11/10

Readability: 7/10 (English said "good luck bestie" but we persevered)

Magic-to-Mundane Ratio: Perfect! Just enough fantasy aspects to be fun, not so much that I need to take notes.

WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT LEGENDS & LATTES

🔺Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables): "Oh, how perfectly romantical! A kindred spirit in Viv though I do think she should’ve named her shop ‘The Coffee of Green Gables.’ And where are the poetic soliloquies about espresso? A tragic oversight."

🔺Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit): "No quest? No dragons? Just… running a business? Well, it is rather nice. Though I’d prefer more scones and fewer swords, thank you."

🔺Lord Henry Wotton (The Picture of Dorian Gray): "Darling, an orc giving up violence for customer service? How quaintly bourgeois. Still, I’d visit just to critique the decor, and corrupt the baker."

🔺Count Dracula (Dracula): "Why is the coffee shop open during the day? Disgusting. But the ‘eternal community’ theme? Fine. I’ll take a blood orange cold brew. To go."

🔺Jo March (Little Women): "Viv’s out here living my ‘I want to be independent, open a bookstore, and fight society’ dreams but with better profit margins. I’m inspired. Also, where’s my Thimble? Beth, don’t die, I need you."

CONCLUSION 

Legends & Lattes is a cozy and heartwarming story that swap the swords for espresso shots and keep all the heart. No world-ending chaos, just vibes, growth, and found family. Viv’s journey from battle-hardened mercenary to coffee owner show? It's a big "it’s never too late to pivot" energy. The friendships? The warmth? The "build the life you want" message? Chef’s kiss. Yeah, the writing style threw me a few times (low-key had to reread some lines), but honestly? Zero regrets. If you’re craving a comfort read that’s equal parts magical and wholesome, this is your sign to grab a blanket, brew some tea, and dive in. Soft fantasy for the win.

(Legends & Lattes punya cerita yang cozy dan heartwarming, bayangin aja swordfight diganti sama espresso shots, tapi tetep penuh makna. Nggak ada kiamat atau chaos, yang ada cuma good vibes, perkembangan karakter, dan found family yang bikin meleleh. Perjalanan Viv dari tentara bayaran yang tangguh jadi pemilik kedai kopi? Ini sih big "it's never too late to change" energy. Persahabatannya? Kehangatannya? Pesan "you can build the life you want"-nya? Chef's kiss lah ya. Iya, gaya bahasanya emang kadang bikin kita pause dan harus baca ulang beberapa kali, tapi jujur? Nggak nyesel sama sekali. Kalau kamu lagi pengen baca sesuatu yang magical tapi sekaligus wholesome, ini tanda buat kamu untuk ambil selimut, menyeduh teh, dan langsung dive in. Soft fantasy emang juara!)