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The author, renowned for his bestselling feel-good fantasy stories, recently published his latest novel in the set. Titled Brigands & Breadknives, the narrative focuses on Fern the ratkin as she starts a traditional quest following leaving her flourishing bookstore.

A Change from Familiar Territory

Unlike the earlier books in the set, which highlighted establishing a business, Brigands & Breadknives delves into the idea of disappointing friends and family. The author stated that the novel is concerned with understanding to disappoint people that you care about.

"This story is concerning understanding to let people down that you love, and mastering to say no," the author explained. "I'm writing a new project. Are people be let down? Should I care? Should I do my true passion to me, though it could upset fans?"

Own Experiences Shaping the Narrative

Baldree noted that his own experiences have consistently informed his stories. Previously, he was involved in video game design, developing projects like Torchlight and Rebel Galaxy game. His decision to leave the gaming world to narrate audiobooks inspired the character Viv's career change in Legends & Lattes.

"I found while writing the debut story that as you write a story, you unavoidably include a personal elements in the story," he said. "Then when readers connect with that, there's an incredible experience of connection."

Growing Popularity of Comfort Fantasy

As per Baldree, the popularity of feel-good stories has grown in the past few years, partly due to a longing for relief and personal bonds in the wake of the global pandemic.

"The world feels a somewhat chaotic, and I feel in our entertainment, most of us prefer an experience that actually just feels OK," Baldree explained. "During COVID, the series Game of Thrones came out, and I was like, 'I enjoy the show, but I have no interest in seeing my beloved characters meet grim fates.'"

Delving Into Alternative Routes

Whereas Viv found her satisfying conclusion in Legends & Lattes, the author thought he should not take that away from her by having her off from the cafe. Centering on Fern offered him the chance to explore a character taking the different route—leaving a comfortable existence to begin an adventure.

"I believe that the only way for issues are to open a business and run a shop," he stated. "Everybody's different, and more than that, we're individual at distinct times in our journey. The solution that worked for me 10 years ago is not effective for me today."

Building the Universe

In contrast to the earlier books, which were located in small towns, Brigands & Breadknives involves a travel narrative that permitted Baldree to develop his fantasy world avoiding exposition. The adventure alongside the elf warrior and her sentient blade Nigel the sword contains violent fowl, fearsome creatures, noble fighters, and a surprisingly chill monastery devoted to worshiping a eldritch god.

Future Projects

Regarding his upcoming book, the author is venturing into new territory with a LitRPG tale tentatively titled Four Bastards and a Baby.

"I've gone through numerous LitRPGs, and at this point I have established views about what I desire in one," the author explained. "I desire better development. I prefer a conclusion. Many these books aim to maintain the status quo, and I don't want that."

Revisiting the Setting

For fans of the setting of the original book, Baldree has created a collection of tales involving tales about the Thimble Thimble and Viv's love interest the succubus, which will be published in an future collection. Additionally, he believes he'll come back to the world to address his journey creating his latest novel, which is much more extensive and more story-oriented than his prior works.

"I'll have a book about creating something challenging that was really, really challenging for you to achieve," the author explains.