Brigands & Breadknives ARC Review

Happy Birthday to one of my most anticipated releases, Brigands & Breadknives! I was lucky enough to receive and e-ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review, so let's get into all the reasons you should pick up this book ASAP.

Note: If you haven't read it's predecessors, I've also reviewed Legends & Lattes and the prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust.

Genre: Cozy Fantasy

Category: Cozy Read

Want to know more about how we categorize books? See our Lexicon for details.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Plot: 5/5 stars

Characters: 5/5 stars

World: 5/5 stars

Pairing: Autumn harvest stew + rye bread + mulled apple cider

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PLOT

Fern leaves her sleepy town to relocate her bookshop next door to her friend's coffee shop, hoping the change in pace and scenery will break the chronic dissatisfaction she's felt. Despite the anxiety of uprooting her life and becoming neighbors with a friend she hasn't seen in decades, things go according to plan...for the most part.

“The opening of Thistleburr Booksellers in Thune was an unmitigated success. A new chapter freely opened in Fern’s life–– the page turned, the title printed, and ready to be filled with words of renewal, purpose, and peace. […] And that was wonderful, Fern supposed. Except that it didn’t matter. The hollowed-out feeling of dissatisfaction that had steadily eroded her center for the past few years was still there. In fact, it seemed to have grown.”

The weight of enuui is worsened by guilt––she's unhappy, but doesn't want to come across as ungrateful for all her friends have done for her. A drunken mental spiral leads to an unintentional journey when Fern wakes in the back of the legendary Astryx One-Ear's wagon, alongside Astryx's bounty, Zyll: a kleptomaniac goblin girl with a strange coat and bizzare obsession with silverware.

Fern means to travel with them only long enough to book passage home, but ruffians and monsters plague their route, Astryx's bounty is oddly adept at escape, and there are talking weapons. She gets caught up in the excitement, while her emotional turmoil grows with each passing mile. I enjoyed watching her inner and outer journeys play out together, forcing her to become more honest, confident, and true to herself.

With slightly higher stakes, more action, and a splash of mystery, Brigands & Breadknives is a tad less cozy than its predecessors. But Baldree adds weight without sacrificing any of the elements we've come to know and love him for. It's still cozy, fun, and hilarious, with deep, hopeful messages about following your passion. It's a light in the dark, assuring readers that they don't have to have it all figured out by a certain age, and that it's never too late to find a new path or love.

“What was the thing that you forgot?”

“That books are a weapon against loneliness. Putting them in the right hands lets people see one another. It makes us…better to on another. I think that’s a worthy thing to do.”

CHARACTERS

As mentioned above, we get to revisit familair characters. Viv, Tandri, Thimble, and Cal all make appearances. But Fern and her new companions are the main focus, and they don't disappoint. As the three women journey together they push each other's buttons, save each other in multiple ways, and teach each other how to be better and stronger versions of themselves.

Fern remains the foul-mouthed rattkin we came to adore. Only this time we get to see her vulnerability as she grapples with an identity crisis, self-doubt, people pleasing, and guilt. She provides both comedic relief and emotionality as she learns to live for herself, shedding the weight of others’ opinions and expectations. Watching her gain the courage to take action in life and write her own story, rather than continuing to live passively and simply sell others' stories, was meaningful to me. I believe many readers will connect with her and benefit from her story.

Like Fern, Astryx has been doing the same thing for quite some time; centuries, in fact. Her time with Fern shows her she’s gotten into her own rut and needs to make a few changes, but she can be stubborn and closed-off at first. Think Geralt of Rivia, except a female elven hero. Her sentient sword, Nigel, has a bit of a Jaskier / Dandelion feel.

Zyll is a bit of an enigma; she speaks little, often in a language the others do not know, escapes with ease, befriends dangerous birds, yet always comes in handy when her captors are in a tight spot and provides them with wisdom far more valuable than her bounty reward.

I don't want to spoil anything on the other sentient weapon; just know that they're sure to be a fan favorite.

WORLD

While the last two books took place in a set location, here Baldree's world expands to new towns and villages, snowy mountains, dark forests, sprawling valleys, and even religious sites. As Fern learns about the people and places she encounters, we become more imersed in this fantastical world's lore and a cozy D&D vibe.

TL;DR

Brigands & Breadknives is slightly less cozy than Baldree's previous installments, but it's still heartfelt, funny, and whimsical, with endearing characters, found family, and important messages. Come for the cozy vibes, stay for the colorful curses, sentient blades, a chaotic goblin, a stoic adventurer, unexpected friendship, and a sprinkling of Witcher vibes.

Some readers may not love the higher stakes, action sequences, foul language, and lack of appearance of Viv and Co., but I personally admire Baldree's decisions to let Fern be the main character and to push the limits of the cozy fantasy genre––which I find often sacrifices storytelling and character depth for the sake of atmosphere or aesthetic. I feel Baldree poured much of himself into Fern and her story, making it even more special.

That said, I think many readers will enjoy the changes and connect personally with Fern's stroy. I know I can't wait to add it to my shelf, and I'll continue recommending this series and reaching for it when I need a hopeful, comforting read.