Tales from the Territory: Stories from the World of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

This fantasy collection has five stories, three brand-new, by the author of Legends & Lattes. I had read the other two before, but enjoyed rereading them. This is a beautiful book from Subterranean Press, with illustrations.

Goblins & Greatcoats is a prequel to Brigands & Breadknives. Goblin Zyll solves a crime in a dramatic fashion and meets the magical knife Bradlee, which Zyll calls Breadlee. This was previously published.

Just a Thimbleful is the charming story of the beginning of ratkin Thimble’s baking career, in Thune. Thimble quietly takes over his father’s job working in a mansion’s kitchen, where new recipes are always rejected. Thimble is inspired by a visit to a shop that sells spices and wants to create something delicious with cinnamon. Thwarted at the mansion, Thimble gets his chance when the Legends & Lattes coffee shop opens.

Pages to Fill, previously published, tells orc Viv’s story as a treasure hunting mercenary orc.

Mirograph introduces Tandri as a university student who meets with a professor who goes a little too far with magic and photography. This one is eerie, and fairly short.

Cavaliers & Coffees is set after Legends & Lattes. Viv, Tandri, Thimble, and Cal become increasingly worried when a rival coffee shop opens nearby, with lower prices and inferior baked goods.  There are hints that a future story set in Thune could appeal to tea drinkers.

Brenda