As a history teacher with a strong interest in historical fiction and fantasy, A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace immediately caught my attention. The premise was unique and full of potential, and I appreciated the play on Roman military terminology.

However, I found the pacing to be a challenge. The story moved slowly for me, which made it difficult to stay engaged. That said, there are thoughtful moments and emotional depth that may resonate with readers who enjoy a more introspective, slow-burn approach. It just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace is a standalone romantic fantasy by Emily Skrutskie. The night before what they thought would be their doomed last stand against the Demon Lord and his army of thralls, Katrien finally hooks up with her handsome battle partner Emory. But when a prince raised in secret alongside a band of noble young heroes suddenly appears and defeats the Demon Lord in one fell swoop, they are left to love with the consequences (and emotions) of their one night stand that is explicitly against regulations. And when Katrien accidentally draws the eye of the prince and their unit is given one final campaign to travel with the prince and clear the remaining Demon Generals, she has a choice to make.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I was instantly charmed by it. I went in expecting an exact type of book based on the description and it didn’t disappoint. I would consider it a romance first and a fantasy second, but I don’t think everyone agrees (based on other reviews I’ve read). I’d go as far as to say it is a cozy fantasy romance. While it has some relatively high stakes, it has this very cozy vibe in that the main focus of the narrative is not the war against the demons, but on Katrien and the choices she needs to make in regards to her future—leave the army she was drafted into to return to a normal life, stay alongside Emory who is an enlisted army man through and through, or take the opportunity at a brighter future the prince’s attention has suddenly gifted her.

I liked Katrien, a tough legionnaire who is placed in this sudden romantic predicament. I thought it was a fun mash-up/subversion of both fantasy and romance genres. Something about a romantic entanglement having top billing over a serious possibly deadly situation just completely had me. I liked Emory too and absolutely believed in his love for Katrien (“If I loved you any less, I could be selfish. I could put myself above you… But, Kat, I love you too much to let myself be your worst option.” *swoon*). Set in a queernormative world, it’s a bi4bi romance although never explicitly stated. There’s a ton of fun awkward situations and heartfelt moments in between the demonic battles. I also loved Prince Adrien, this ridiculous young man full of pomp and his own self importance. In any other book, he would have been insufferable to read about, but he was just perfect here, serving as a spoiler foil to Emory.

A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace is a charming blend of cozy romance and high fantasy.

*Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the eARC via NetGalley

In this utterly captivating blend of epic fantasy and tender romance, readers are swept into a richly drawn world teetering on the edge of apocalypse—only to find that the real story begins after the end was averted. With a premise that flips genre expectations on their head, this story hooks you from the very first line and refuses to let go.

What makes this novel shine is its balance: the writing is sharp yet tender, the worldbuilding is immersive without overshadowing the characters, and the romance is. It's the kind that aches in all the best ways. Fans of the friends-to-lovers trope will be delighted by the slow unraveling of Kat and Emory’s bond as it shifts from necessity to choice, from comfort to love.

There’s a deep humanity running through every chapter, about what it means to choose life when you’ve already braced for death, and how difficult (and brave) it is to envision a future when all you’ve ever known is war.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5

A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace is an entertaining fantasy with romance, found family, and magic.

I enjoyed this one, but some parts felt off to me. I had seen it pitched as a cozy romantasy, but it felt more like a romantasy with cozy moments. I enjoyed the action and fighting scenes, and the magic system was fascinating. The world-building was lovely, although a few parts felt underdeveloped. The pacing fit the story nicely, although I longed for more plot development. The characters were fun, vivid, and well-developed, and the found family was delightful. The friends-to-lovers romance was sweet and tender. Kat was a great main character, and Emory was an adorable love interest. Emily Skrutskie’s prose was entertaining. I would recommend this to romantasy fans!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC!

I really loved the reading experience of this fantasy romance that lives on the cozier side. Kat is a fantastic main character, and I think the author did an excellent job with the friendship between her and Emory. Despite not being with them through the years of their friendship, I completely believe the love and trust between them. I do think that for being pitched as a romance, the relationship feels like it takes a back seat to the plot and Kat's character development until around 70%, and then the final stretch felt very romantic and lovely to me (and actually made me tear up!).

Something I think was done so well was the world building! By the end of the book I completely believed that the world outside of our specific story was real and thriving. I felt like it was a really unique style of fantasy and maybe I'm just not reading a lot of military based fantasy, but I liked the way the setting in the army ranks complemented the story.

I absolutely adored everything about this book. We meet the characters in the immediate leadup to the final all-out battle in a war against demons literally crawling out of the mouth of Hell. As frontline infantry, our protagonist Katrien and her friends are sure that they are marching to their death, but they are miraculously victorious as a secret heir to the throne with unmatched power flies in and defeats the Demon Lord. The infantry accompany Prince Adrien on his victory march back to the royal castle and along the way defeat the last lingering demon underlings.
The magic system in this book was so interesting: medallions that allow their user to guide and channel the power of the gods. Katrien inherited one token from her mother, but most people with access to these tokens stockpile them, often with upwards of five tokens. The prince has one hundred under his control and his family still has vaults full of them. I really liked this exploration of the upper class hoarding wealth and power, as well as the beautiful depictions of the lower class finding purpose and joy from their “lesser” tokens.
The cast of characters in this book are absolutely delightful; I adored all of Katrien’s fellow soldiers and found them so full of life, spirit, and humour, and their banter was so much fun. The casual queerness of the entire story and all the characters was really lovely. I especially loved Emory, who enlisted in the army as soon as he could, but feels isolated when all his friends jump at the chance to be pardoned from their compulsory service. I loved watching him learn that his life can be defined by something other than battle. I also liked the development of the prince into a competent leader.
I really enjoyed the tension between Katrien and Emory and all their subtle flirtations within their group. I found it really sweet how they helped each other through the challenges of battle and the complexity of accepting a life free of it.
Overall, this was such a fun read and I’m really glad I picked it up!

I just finished A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace by Emily Skrutskie, and I am obsessed. It’s the perfect mix of chaotic space politics, sharp banter, and slow-burn romance that had me grinning and yelling at the page. If you like your sci-fi with feelings and a little bit of fire, this one totally delivers.

This was a breath of fresh air in the romantic fantasy/romantasy genre! I do think it skews more closely to romantic fantasy than romantasy, with a heavy focus on world-building and most of the conflict of the story coming down to plot points rather than the smaller amount devoted to internal, romantic conflict.

Some of this also has to do with the fact that we have a partners/friends-to-lovers love story, rather then yet another enemies/rivals-to-lovers. And boy, did I love that! The author makes the bold choice to start the story off right after Kat and Emory have gotten together for the first time. Of course, they both thought they would be dying the next day, so the rest of the story revolves around them now working out the consequences of changing their long-standing dynamic. Everything about their relationship was so lovely and wholesome. Their insecurities and fears were realistic and handled in a mature fashion (for once!), but I particularly appreciated the focus on how important their friendship remained to them. We see their growing passion, of course, but much of the emotional workings of the story relies on the deep friendship and respect that has driven their partnership for several years.

I also enjoyed the larger plot and fantasy elements. For one thing, in fantasy stories like this, we often follow characters who are either already leaders or rare in some way or are building towards a leadership role based on their emerging “special abilities.” Here, while Kat does have some magical growth, the story is much more narrowly focused on the lives of the foot soldiers. Kat is thrust into a leadership role against her will and spends the majority of the book trying to sidestep her way back to being a regular soldier. It was definitely refreshing to approach a story like this through this lens, with the bravery, teamwork, and skill of the regular people who make up these armies being the true heroes.

There were also some good themes explored regarding the balance between following one’s own dreams and what we owe to one another. Much of Kat’s internal struggle comes down to this fact. She is in a privileged position with her access to magic, so what does that mean for her choices going forward? Is she obligated to give up the life she wants in pursuit of using this rare ability for the greater good? For his part, Emory must also confront the realities of life after wartime. It’s not a huge focus of the story, but I think the book did a great job of exploring an aspect of military life that is often left unexplored.

Overall, this was a great read! There was an interesting world peopled with a great cast of characters, and the central love story felt fresh and new. What’s more, this was a stand-alone book, so it’s perfect for readers looking for perhaps their next beach read to bring along on vacation!

Rating 8: If you’re getting a bit worn out on enemies-to-lovers, this is the perfect book for you!

Link will go live on The Library Ladies on June 27

A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace by Emily Skrutskie is a fantasy romance that follows two battle partners, Kat and Emory, on a friends-to-lovers journey. In a transitional time between war and peace, the soldiers navigate a future they never expected to live to see. They also begin to learn their place and purpose within the new, peaceful world forming around them. 

When I first heard about this book, I was immediately intrigued by the idea of a Dungeons and Dragons-inspired fantasy romance. I unexpectedly have grown to be a huge Bards of New York fan over the last two years, and it prompted a lot of research on my part into the D&D game world. I recently watched an outstanding interview with Deborah Ann Woll and John Bernthal where she briefly explains to him how the game is played. When John asks her if the goal of D&D is to win, she responds and says, “The goal is to tell a great story.” When I finished A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace, I felt like Emily Skrutskie truly achieved that objective when she took her inspiration from the game table and turned it into a novel.

Skrutskie writes such a tender account of the camaraderie and familial bond that forms between her characters while at war. We see all sorts of relationships play out in this story; however, the display of love and loyalty in the friendships is so comforting. The main characters have depth to their backstories, and the supporting characters are complementary and endearing.

The romantic storyline between Kat and Emory elicits a feeling that is very difficult to put into words. They have such a perfect blend of warmth, wit, and strength, and it is easy to root for them throughout the entire book. There is also a quiet yearning between them that I find to be very patient and sweet.  In addition to their pairing, there is LGBTQIA+ representation within the story, and the world is presented as one of inclusivity when it comes to love.

For a heartening novel, there are some weighty themes Emily Skrutskie addresses in her writing. Personal choice and obligation to country and family is discussed extensively. There is also substantial focus on class disparity. One’s social standing in Telrus hinges upon whether a person possesses magical tokens, how many they have, and how much wealth they come from. As a single-token magic wielder from a modest upbringing, Kat finds herself caught between the life of a common citizen and the life of a magical elite. As she drifts between fighting alongside the infantry and also helping the royal prince, we see the inequalities, problems, and choices that the people of Telrus face because of this divide. 

I highly recommend A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace for anyone looking to read a feel-good book with a side of suspense. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how much depth and emotion is packed into this stand-alone fantasy romance. 

Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Emily Skrutskie for allowing me to read this copy in advance.

Thank you to Emily Skrutskie, Del Rey, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of A Legionnaire's Guide to Love and Peace!

This novel follows the aftermath of a one-night stand between battle partners, Katrien and Emory, after surviving a war they both were not expecting to live from.

Tackling a fantasy world at the end of a long battle as a standalone is an enormous feat, especially when you add a layer of romance to it. I believe there is an incredible power in understanding one's strengths, which is why Skrutskie's ability to build a complex world in one book is nothing to sneeze about. But it does come with the price of the romance falling a bit into a subplot rather than the focal point of the novel.

I really enjoyed the plot, I found it interesting to explore the fallout of a war. After reading so many epic sagas, it was highly entertaining to read about what comes after the end credits. I think the author handled this premise very well, though at times I wished there would have been a glossary of terms or anything for us to use as reference- as terms would get confusing, as you're essentially being dropped in the middle of the chaos.

The romance felt a little lackluster, I was always waiting for more to happen. I did enjoy the tension between the characters, but just wished we had more scenes with them! I think with the plot being as involved as it was, the romance did feel at times like an afterthought.

Overall, regardless of my incessant need for more romance, the book was very enjoyable! It was a fun ride, with emotional scenes, an amazing array of diverse characters, and two hopeless idiots who deserve all the happiness of the world!

Rating: 3.75

very cute cozy romantasy that was generally very well written. the plotlines were cool and i loved the characters. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Thank you to Emily Skrutskie, Del Rey, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of A Legionnaire's Guide to Love and Peace.

I loved this book. Normally, in fantasy books, you follow the conflict and the war itself. But this book looks and what happens after? These characters thought they were going to die in the war, and now they are alive and have no idea what that means for them. They spent so long living day-to-day that the what's next question and future thinking did not exist. I loved watching the relationship grow between Katrien and Emory. They started off as battle partners and were dependent on each other to survive. On the night before they thought that they were going to die, they did something that was not allowed and hooked up, expecting that they would both be dead by the end of the next night. Now they are not dead, and the possibility of a future is presented. I enjoyed watching the development of Katrien and, through her perspective, Emory as well. You can see how the two have to grapple with a reality that they never thought was possible and figure out what they truly want for themselves moving forward.

This is a book where both the character development and the plot were done in synch perfectly. As readers, we got to see the aftermath of this war and through that, what the world is like. The worldbuilding was done throughout the plot in a way that makes sense. From chapter one, we are thrown into a conflict that we know little about, and as the story goes on, we learn more and more. I think that this is a great introduction book to fantasy romance because while there is a romance plot-line, there is also a fantasy-driven plot-line that we follow as well. Some issues need to be solved before the happily-ever-after can truly start, and that makes this a perfect candidate for those who are unsure. They can get a feel for what a fantasy romance is while still having key elements of an epic fantasy that they might enjoy.

Del Rey/Random House provided an early galley for review.

I am always willing to dive into fantasy novels, but this one also hints at a strong amount of romance as well (part of the new romantasy trend, perhaps?).

I liked where the author starts this tale, giving us some of the personal drama right out of the gate. Skrutskie then throws us right into battle with a painstakingly accurate portrayal of combat on the front lines. While this is not something that overly appeals to me as a reader or writer, I can appreciate her accuracy and skill in conveying that to the audience.

The challenge, for me, was caring about the conflict. We barely met a few of the members of the military squad only to be thrown into the center of the conflict with some Demon Lord and his hordes. I didn't feel a lot of stakes in it. It took the arrival of the prince for me eventually find a character to latch on to (and that was only because of his personality, not any of qualities). I just found that I didn't really care what happened to these characters or their world; I wasn't invested.

For the right audience, I suspect this one will click.

This was such a cute and cozy book, with equal parts action and romance. Overall a solid fantasy book with great world building, a unique magic system and very likeable (and unlikeable) characters. I would absolutely recommend this book and I will be buying it when it gets released.

I loved each of the character pairings, but especially the the friends-to-lovers slow burn between the main character and the male love interest. Each of the side characters were worthy of a full book, specifically the characters in the Third Century's first decade. The found family that they created was really wholesome with funny banter. It was insightful to see a the story taking place after a war (even though it wasn't technically over), seeing how each of the characters went about figuring out what their calling was after fighting in a brutal war for years and suddenly being presented with being released earlier than expected, notably Emory.

The magic system was interesting, as well as the main characters background and relationship to her magic, and how her character grows as she learns how to wield it. The terminology was a bit confusing at first but it was more explained as the story progressed. I was also bit confused as to what exactly the plot was at first and there was a lot of war terminology that I didn't understand, I had to look it up to fully grasp what was being said.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for providing me with an earc in exchange for an honest review. this book comes out June 24.

I enjoyed it. The romance was cute and really love the lot and characters. Kat is smart and Emory is sweet. I think the only reason why I couldn't really give it 5 stars is because I was confused a little with some scenes on the plot. Other then that, it was a great stand alone romantasy

Kat is just an ordinary legionnaire, not one of the nobles with extraordinary access to magical tokens who finally manage to defeat the Demon Lord after sacrificing countless legionnaires on the battle field. But in the aftermath of war, Kat has to navigate the attention of the prince who suspects the war isn't quite over and the romance she began with her battle partner Emory, when they both assumed they would die in battle.

I loved how this book took a common fantasy story line and told it from the perspective of one of the soldiers, rather than one of the stereotypical heroes. I also loved the mythology and magic system of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace is what I would call cozy fantasy/adventure with moments of tension. Our MCs have a one night stand, thinking that this is their last night on earth so what the hell, except it turns out they survive and now the war is over….and that’s where our story starts.

I enjoyed a story that focused on infantry—heroes, but not THE hero of the story, ya know? The author did a great job giving us the viewpoint of regular soldiers following orders of people who sometimes treat them like pawns on a chess board. The relationship between our two MCs was wonderful and felt truly caring and based on their connection, not just a physical bond.

My gripe would be that the pacing sagged a bit in the middle—not that I need action all of the time but there are a lot of scenes that started to feel “samey” because the scenes just didn’t move the chains quite enough. But this was still enjoyable, and I think fans of cozy fantasy will really enjoy the story!

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for access to this earc.

I’m unfortunately going to dnf this one at 56%, but I do think I’ll come back to this in the future at some point (& will update the review). I feel like this was marketed as a cozy romantasy and I feel like it’s more of a low fantasy romance which I know isn’t super different BUT I’m such a mood reader and this is just not what I’m in the mood for and it’s making me slumpy… plus I feel like it’s about to become a love triangle and that’s going to piss me off lmao.

However the writing is great and the storyline and plot is interesting so I want to give this book a fair chance :)

Kat, sabiendo que probablemente no sobrevivirá, se permite un momento de vulnerabilidad con su compañero de batalla, Emory. Esta elección, más emocional que racional, marcará el tono de toda la historia: el conflicto constante entre el deber y el deseo, entre el sacrificio y la esperanza.

A lo largo de la novela, seguimos a Kat en la brutalidad del campo de batalla, enfrentándose a horrores sin pausa, pero también lidiando con su relación con Emory, que pone en peligro la disciplina de la unidad. Cuando la batalla se vuelve más caótica y los demonios los superan, Kat debe decidir si proteger su corazón o la línea que mantiene unido al ejército.





Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All
Opinions are my own.

This was good! I enjoyed it. I read a lot of romance, but I always love new to me authors and this was one. I enjoyed the writing style and think this was super good! Definitely intrigued to read more.