Book Review: Tales from The Territory
Tales from the Territory is the latest installment to the Legends and Lattes universe. While this anthology of short stories won't scratch the itch that a full new novel would provide, it does offer up some great backstory for characters we all know and love from the main books. We learn a bit about Zyll and Breadlee in Goblins and Greatcoats. Just a Thimbulful provides the backstory to my favorite Ratkin baker Thimble. Pages to Fill reveals something vital in Viv's background. Mirograph, the oddest story of the bunch, delves into the struggles Tandri faced in her youth as a succubus. Finally, there is Cavaliers and Coffee which I hope is setting the stage for the next full novel.
Goblins and Greatcoats
This story came out a few years ago, I mentioned it previously in my review of Brigands and Breadknives. It introduces us to the goblin Zyll and Breadlee, the sentient breadknife that we follow in Brigands and Breadknives. Zyll comes into an inn to eat only to discover she is standing in the middle of a murder scene. The tavern guests mistake Zyll for a Gatewarden come to inspect the crime and she never corrects their assumption. It's a good story.
Just a Thimbulful
This is Thimble's origin story. It covers how the ratkin became a baker, served for an unappreciative boss, met Viv and started making cinnamon rolls for the Legends and Lattes coffee shop. This is arguably my favorite story of the lot, but I do have a fondness for cinnamon rolls, so that may be skewing my opinion.
Pages to Fill
Viv and her crew are in the gnomish city of Azimuth chasing down a rouge dapplegrim, a kind of shapeshifter, fronting as an elf. Mystery abounds as they try to find the thief, but what they find instead is warm, brown, and best served with steamed milk.
Mirograph
This tale follows Tandri the succubus as she studies at university. She's an art student that works as an assistant to one of the professors. Tandri struggles with being a succubus because of how the other students treat her, but finds solace and friendship in working with the eccentric Professor Alameda. Not all is well though. This tale takes a bit of a dark turn compared to some of the others. It's definitely my least favorite of the bunch, but it wasn't bad per say, just a bit dark for what I want to see in a cozy fantasy.
Cavaliers & Coffee
This is the final, and longest, tale of this anthology by Travis Baldree. In it, we find ourselves back inside Legends & Lattes with Viv, Tandri and Thimble. Sadly, not all is well in Thune. An underhanded establishment called Cavaliers & Coffee, operated by a curiously dressed dwarf has opened up a few doors down from our trio of friends and is stealing all their customers, which isn't very nice. What's worse is how he is accomplishing that theft. Will Viv sink into her old warrior ways and bash him on the head, or will she find a better way to solve this problem? You'll have to read it to find out!
Tales from the Territory hits a bookstore shelf near you on September 30, 2026.
Thank you, Net Galley, Subterranean Press, and Travis Baldree for the opportunity to review this ebook in advance of its publication. 4/5 Stars.
I’m Justin. I write about librarianship, leadership, public service, and books. If you found this piece relatable, leave me a like or send me an email. Subscribe if you want more of what’s bouncing around in my head. If you found this article helpful, consider buying me a coffee.
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