Coffee, Cold Steel, and Second Chances
I am a bookworm through and through, but I’ve loved how much my reading choices have evolved over the last year. If I look back at my past preferences, fantasy wasn’t in my wheelhouse at all—yet now, this series feels like a warm blanket on a cold day. A tale of self-discovery and second chances, Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree is a cozy dose of the “warm fuzzies” that I desperately needed this January. The story follows Fern, a rattkin who has grown weary of her predictable existence tucked away in a bookstore. Seeking a fresh start, she travels to Thune to visit an old friend—the owner of an inexplicably lucrative coffee shop you might recognize called Legends & Lattes. Fern is hoping for a “new version” of herself, but she soon realizes that a change of scenery isn’t enough to shake her funk. Restless and overwhelmed, Fern makes the classic mistake of getting “toasted” and passing out in an unfamiliar place. This fortuitous error sends her packing far away from Thune with a monster hangover and the company of a strange band of brigands: a feral, hilariously useful goblin and a legendary warrior elf. Together, they fight off dishonorable vagabonds while exploring life’s unexpected opportunities.
What truly made me love this book was the brilliant balance of humor and heart. I found myself laughing out loud at Fern’s colorful swearing and the goblin’s antics—and yes, there is even a giant chicken with teeth to keep things interesting! This story is the ultimate “cozy fantasy” because while it features real peril and adventure, it maintains a heart of gold. Most importantly, Fern’s journey toward finding her own value outside of life’s demands is so incredibly relatable, especially the parts about getting older and navigating the changing seasons of life. It is a breath of fresh air in the middle of winter, and having read every book in this series, I will definitely read anything Travis Baldree writes next. This is an absolute must-read!
