Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree
In Travis Baldree’s new novel, Brigands & Breadknives, we take a little step to the left and join Fern, the rattkin bookshop owner from Bookshops & Bonedust, on an accidental (or was it?) adventure.
Brigands & Breadknives is the third book in Baldree’s series that began with Legends & Lattes. Rather than an epic quest that spans multiple books, Baldree writes cozy self-contained adventures that all take place in this same magical world populated with orcs, goblins and all kinds of other fantastical beings. Because of this (and a sense of humor that wraps you in its arms and gives you a big squeeze), his work has drawn comparisons to Terry Pratchett’s Discworld.
Fern’s Restless Heart
While the first two books focused on Viv, the mercenary orc who fell in love with coffee and retired to open a cafe, this third novel takes us into Fern’s head. This rattkin bookshop owner begins the novel unsettled, moving from Murk to join Viv and open a new bookstore in Thune. Everything has been neatly arranged, and the bookseller quickly finds success.
But Fern can’t shake the feeling of unhappiness that encouraged her to make this move across the country. In my household, we call this decision to move in order to fix a mental or emotional problem, “pulling a geographical.” And, as everyone discovers, merely moving from one location to another doesn’t leave the problems behind. In spite of the support, success and loving embrace of new and old friends, she finds herself sunk in a guilty depression.
An Unexpected Journey
In a drunken moment of avoidance, Fern stows away in the cart of the famous warrior, Astryx One-Ear the Oathmaiden, and wakes up far from Thune when she is discovered in the cart. Her absolutely shattering hangover only intensifies when she meets Astryx’s precocious chaos goblin prisoner, a bounty to be delivered to still further away Amberlin. Fern talks her way into staying in the cart with an exaggeration of her sparse ability to speak Goblin.
And thus, the adventure commences!
Lessons Beyond the Page
As I cuddled into my chair and snarfed down this story, I was surprised to find a gorgeous lesson about how, sometimes, we just need to put the book down and get out into the world. Reading is good, and reading fiction actually helps you build empathy, learn important life lessons within a steady set of guardrails, and even reduce some mental health issues.
But when we stand up, place our bookmark into the pages and walk out our front doors, a wide world waits to enrich our lives. Meeting new friends can lead to laughter and adventure. Exploring new places fills our heads with unusual ideas. Even just taking a different road to work can spark original thoughts.
In discovering these new places with Fern, I found myself yearning to take a road trip, or at least visit that farm stand that always tempts, especially in the autumn when they serve cider doughnuts.
Who knows what could happen. Perhaps, like our protagonist, I will build lifelong connections with new friends, break down preconceived notions, and return to my little apartment with a new assurance about my goals and a broader view of the world.
I certainly hope so.
Especially if the end of the journey might include a latte made by a legend and one of Thimble’s delicious baked goods.
About Travis Baldree:
Travis is a #1 New York Times Bestselling author, a Locus, Nebula, and Hugo finalist, and a full-time audiobook narrator who has lent his voice to hundreds of stories. Before that, he spent decades designing and building video games like Torchlight, Rebel Galaxy, and Fate. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.
