Brigands and Breadknives returns us to Travis Baldree’s cozy fantasy world. While the first book, Legends and Lattes, and the second published book (that’s actually a prequel), Bookshops and Bonedust, are able to be read on their own, Breadknives and Brigands requires you to have read Bookshops and Bonedust, and it’s helpful if you’ve read Legends and Lattes.
Foul mouthed rattkin bookseller, Fern, has been adrift in her own life. Running her bookstore in Murk is no longer giving her the satisfaction it once did. A change of city, a new store, settling into a new life with the help of her dear friend Viv seems like a good solution. Unfortunately, Fern finds herself feeling trapped as this isn’t what she wants either. At a middle-aged 47, she no longer knows what she wants anymore. So when she finds herself drunk and at loose ends one night, she does the only sensible thing to do, climb into and hide in the wagon of a famous 1,000 year old elven adventurer, Astyrx the One-Ear, Oathmaiden, etc.
It seems Fern isn’t the only adrift in their life. Astyrx has been going through the motions for centuries now, going from one job to the next, never really connecting with people around her. Fern and Astryx form an unlikely pair to turn in goblin girl, Zyll, for her insane bounty. Wherever Zyll goes, trouble seems to be close behind. What follows is a small adventure while finding friendship and purpose along the way. I’ve enjoyed all three outings in Badree’s fantasy world. Brigands and Breadknives is the least cozy of the three in the sense that there are multiple fight sequences and a journey. However, the themes of friendship, finding purpose, and small stakes keep it in the cozy feeling.
If you’ve liked the previous two books, you will like this one too. You will especially like this book if you’re a fan of Fern. If you haven’t read any of these, this is not the place to start. They are fun to read in either chronological or published order so either other book is a good place to start if you like the idea of gentle fantasies involving coffee and bookshops.