TL;W[on’t]R[ead the Review]: Believe the hype, y’all.
Content warnings: arson, destruction of property via fire, sexual harassment (VERY challenged and punished)
Summary [courtesy of Goodreads]: Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv the orc barbarian cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen. However, her dreams of a fresh start pulling shots instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners and a different kind of resolve.
This book is basically pure serotonin. It made me so happy, and it makes me so happy knowing that it’s been acquired by Tor, is getting a full tradpub rollout IN ADDITION TO a new book set in the same world. Eek!!
This is a book that fully accomplishes what it says on the label (ie, subtitle), namely being “a novel of high fantasy and low stakes.” As I’ve said before, I usually HATE high fantasy, for whatever irrational reason, so I was hesitant about this one. But the low stakes really lured me in–I’ll try anything if you promise me a low-to-no-conflict adult narrative. And it works here to truly stunning effect. Essentially the story of a retired warrior orc–Viv–who decides to build a cafe (in a place that’s never heard of coffee), this is really the story of building an exquisite found family and relying on the power of community and mutual aid rather than anything fantastical or magical. It’s utterly delightful, from the semi-nonverbal rattkin baker, Thimble, whose delicious cinnamon rolls and biscotti (aka ‘thimblets’) make everyone swoon, to the stereotype-thwarting succubus Tandri who becomes Viv’s shop assistant (and maybe something more), the whole book is filled with charm. (And who could forget the mysterious and loyal direcat Amity, the book’s true MVP?) It’s also got a (VERY) slow-burn sapphic subplot between Tandri and Viv that nonetheless made me cry.
None of this is to say that NOTHING happens in the book: a ton happens, in fact. There are mafia-style threats, sexual harassers that must be send packing, backstabbing former colleagues, and [minor spoilers] a really intense fire that seems like it’ll be the death of Viv’s dreams. Somehow (magically), despite all of this, things get resolved quickly and satisfactorily, and kindness and empathy win out over meanness and general shittiness. The novel doesn’t pass over characters’ trauma or negative emotions, but it does allow them the space (and grace) to work through those feelings in a loved and supported environment.
There’s also way more emphasis on building the coffee shop, acquiring the necessary materials, and building up the menu over the course of the book than I would have thought possible–or possibly of interest–and yet it was SO SATISFYING to sit back and ‘watch’ as Viv and her new friends figured out how to do everything. Baldree must be enchanted, because I have no idea how he made that so engaging to read about. Yet here we are. Gushing over a fantasy cafe and its denizens. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
