Blurb: High Fantasy with a double-shot of self-reinvention.
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.
A hot cup of fantasy slice-of-life with a dollop of romantic froth.
Review: Viv's whole life had been one adventure after another, living in the moment. She craves something more, and with one final campaign, she has what she needs to build a peaceful life for herself. This includes running a cafe and introducing a population to the most wonderful hot gnomish drink, coffee. Yet the city of Thune has other plans and an old thorn comes back to haunt her. Will Viv find the peace she always dreamt of or will the life of the sword pull her back to old ways?
This was an incredibly well-written epic fantasy nestled in a cozy nest. It's not much of a mystery, and the tension doesn't grasp your heart hard. I never felt really tense over anything, but it still pulled me ahead with the plot. There's wonderful attention to detail, and I felt totally immersed in the setting. Viv is an amazing protagonist. She's an orc barbarian who is trying to learn a new way of living, and it's not easy. She works hard and is eager to share her love of coffee with the world. Her honest desire for this peace wins her some good friends. A cast of characters that I completely adore! There is a light hint of romance, but it isn't the focus of the story. It's more about finding yourself, friends, and community. It gave me the warm fuzzies. I cannot wait for more stories from this debut author. It's addictive as Thimble's cinnamon buns!
This wasn't a LitRPG, but I could imagine setting up a Dungeons & Dragons game like this. Retired adventurers setting up a business. How to go about it, learning all the ins and outs, competition, the pressure of the local mafia and maybe guilds.
You had me at nestled. That's prefect for me, the chick who wants to live in a Hobbit Hole.