Brigands & Breadknives

In Baldree’s endearing third Legends & Lattes fantasy (after Bookshops & Bonedust), rattkin bookseller Fern moves cross-country to open a bookstore next door to her old friend Viv’s coffee shop, hoping this will cure her ennui. Despite a warm welcome from her new community, however, she remains oddly dissatisfied. One night, she drunkenly stows away in a wagon belonging to Astryx One-Ear, an ancient elven adventurer and bounty hunter, who’s currently bringing a chaotic goblin named Zyll to face justice. Unwilling to return home as she’s unsure how to explain to Viv why she’s discontent, Fern arranges to keep traveling with Astryx and Zyll. The journey proves perilous, with rival bounty hunters and Zyll’s enemies all wanting a piece of the goblin, but Fern’s escapades on the road allow her to reassess her life’s trajectory and discover a passion for telling stories in addition to selling them. But when she must choose between old friends and new, it could change everything. While this road trip romp is more action-packed than previous installments, Baldree still conjures up the sense of cozy intimacy the series is known for. It’s a delight. (Nov.)