The Book Report #128
Episode #127
Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree
The Book
Tor published this book, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, on the 11th November 2025.
The copy I own is a signed first-print hardback. It has 339 pages. This includes acknowledgements, About the Author, and a chapter from Bookshops and Bonedust, a prequel to Legends and Lattes.
What Did I Think?
Fern has left her home and has moved to a new bookshop with help from Viv and the friends she has collected while working at Legends and Lattes.
But something is wrong, and something is missing from Fern’s life. Fern has lost interest in selling books. She is need of something new.
From the time Asteryx and company saved her carriage from being looted by highwaymen. Her life has felt empty.
She gets drunk one night and stumbles onto Asteryx’s wagon, and instead of talking to Viv about her problems, hides under the tarp. And wakes up miles from home.
Fern joins them until the next village but ends up staying a while longer. Zyll is in the travelling party, but she is a prisoner on her way to be exchanged for a bounty. We find out what Zyll did at the end; but is overlooked as she continues to steal the silverware wherever they go. Asteryx turns a blind eye to this.
Friends
This book is about companionship. But unlike the previous two books, it doesn’t have the main two characters become love interests. Fern does find someone, which I believe was a shock to her, but she finds a true friend in the Oathmaiden, Asteryx.
And although one of the main plots is Fern finding herself, and this story finds her still looking, she is more aware of her needs and has an idea of how to get closer to fulfilling them.
I understood what was happening in the book. It just wasn’t the same. The action, compared to the previous books in the series, didn’t. I ended up missing Viv and her exploits. I know there may not be much more drama from Legends and Lattes. But I am wondering how the next edition of short stories will play out.
Would I Recommend?
For those enjoying the other books in the series, I would say yes, I would recommend it. I would advise that if you are expecting the same, it isn’t. This is a new episode from a different viewpoint.
I did like it, but I was also hoping for something else.
Please give this a go.
Would you like to purchase your very own copy?
You could try these online stores: Amazon UK/USA. Waterstones. AbeBooks UK/USA, Barnes and Noble and eBay UK/USA.
Alternatively, you could try your local bookshop or even your local library.
