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A Legionnaire's Guide to Love and Peace
In this charming fantasy with a swoony friends-to-lovers romance, two soldiers must decide the futures they want in the wake of a last-chance hook-up on the night before the world was supposed to end.
On the eve of the battle that will decide the realm of Telrus’s fate, Katrien takes a hard look at her prospects. A mere legionnaire, she and her spear will be at the fore in the morning, facing off against the Demon Lord and his wretched army, and it’s all but certain she’ll perish in the fight. But if the end of the world is mere hours away, there’s no reason not to hook up with her handsome, dedicated battle partner Emory—despite any anti-fraternization policies their centurion may have in place.
Only, the world doesn’t end the next day. Instead, an insufferable prince raised in hiding comes out of nowhere with a plucky band of heroes, defeats the Demon Lord, and seals the rift to the hellish plane. The realm is saved. The war is over. And Kat suddenly has a lot more future than she knows what to do with. It’s a future that could include Emory . . . if only he weren’t so set on staying enlisted with the very army Kat was unwillingly drafted into.
And while the Demon Lord has been destroyed, peace is still a long march away. When Kat inadvertently draws the eye of the prince, she, Emory, and the rest of their motley unit are pulled to the fore of the formation—and the heart of the danger—as the army embarks on one last campaign. The mission: laying a road as a foundation for the prince’s future rule. The real mission: scouring the last of the Demon Lord’s servants from the material plane.
As Kat and Emory work to secure a lasting peace, they’ll have to decide what they want their futures to look like—and if there’s room for love at the end of the road.
On the eve of the battle that will decide the realm of Telrus’s fate, Katrien takes a hard look at her prospects. A mere legionnaire, she and her spear will be at the fore in the morning, facing off against the Demon Lord and his wretched army, and it’s all but certain she’ll perish in the fight. But if the end of the world is mere hours away, there’s no reason not to hook up with her handsome, dedicated battle partner Emory—despite any anti-fraternization policies their centurion may have in place.
Only, the world doesn’t end the next day. Instead, an insufferable prince raised in hiding comes out of nowhere with a plucky band of heroes, defeats the Demon Lord, and seals the rift to the hellish plane. The realm is saved. The war is over. And Kat suddenly has a lot more future than she knows what to do with. It’s a future that could include Emory . . . if only he weren’t so set on staying enlisted with the very army Kat was unwillingly drafted into.
And while the Demon Lord has been destroyed, peace is still a long march away. When Kat inadvertently draws the eye of the prince, she, Emory, and the rest of their motley unit are pulled to the fore of the formation—and the heart of the danger—as the army embarks on one last campaign. The mission: laying a road as a foundation for the prince’s future rule. The real mission: scouring the last of the Demon Lord’s servants from the material plane.
As Kat and Emory work to secure a lasting peace, they’ll have to decide what they want their futures to look like—and if there’s room for love at the end of the road.
368 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2025
7 people are currently reading
10599 people want to read
About the author
Emily Skrutskie
12 books1,044 followersEmily Skrutskie is six feet tall. She lives and works in Los Angeles. Skrutskie is the author of THE ABYSS SURROUNDS US series, HULLMETAL GIRLS, the Bloodright Trilogy, starting with BONDS OF BRASS, and THE SALVATION GAMBIT.
Her latest novel, A LEGIONNAIRE'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND PEACE, is now available!
Her latest novel, A LEGIONNAIRE'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND PEACE, is now available!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
July 3, 2025
This is like if at the end of Return of the King Aragorn forced every soldier who marched on the black gates to go and build a road before they could go home.
A concept I am indeed obsessed with. Battle weary Katrien made a misguided call on the eve of a monumental battle she was sure not to survive: she slept with her battle partner and shield, Emory, never knowing a prince was on the way to stave off the demon hoards and save the realm. Now scores of soldiers, Kat and Emory included, will have to lay down their weapons and attempt the one thing they have been taught to never expect: peace itself—that and constructing a road across the kingdom before they can officially be discharged.
Emily Skrutskie pens a truly delightful fantasy romp that has all the sprinklings of D&D and Tolkien to keep even the most stalwart fantasy reader satisfied. I always love being dropped into the thick of the action with little or no immediate context to go on, falling in with characters as they face down turmoil and disastrous circumstances. This is exactly how we come to know these characters: our persistent spear Katrien, and Emory, her shield, partner, and unfortunate hookup battling at a hellmouth with imminent death approaching. Against the backdrop of a never ending war miraculously coming to a close, we follow a plethora of soldiers as they come to terms with this development and who exactly they are outside of soldiering. Focusing on identity, but with demon attacks, magic totems, and marvelous relationship dynamics, Skrutskie builds a standalone fantasy that feels expansive and oh so heartwarming. The Legionnaires Guide to Love and Peace takes a cozy overtone with found family and characters who would go to battle for each other under any circumstance. Undercutting the (mis) adventures is an uncertain romance that is heavy on the idiots to lovers; two people not unsure of their feelings, but whether or not they can have a future where they can keep backing each other. Certainly here for more wondrous adventure from Skrutskie and tall, capable, muscular women being worthy of romance!
“Orders?” she whispered, when she couldn’t take it any longer. “Ruin me,” he replied.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
A concept I am indeed obsessed with. Battle weary Katrien made a misguided call on the eve of a monumental battle she was sure not to survive: she slept with her battle partner and shield, Emory, never knowing a prince was on the way to stave off the demon hoards and save the realm. Now scores of soldiers, Kat and Emory included, will have to lay down their weapons and attempt the one thing they have been taught to never expect: peace itself—that and constructing a road across the kingdom before they can officially be discharged.
Emily Skrutskie pens a truly delightful fantasy romp that has all the sprinklings of D&D and Tolkien to keep even the most stalwart fantasy reader satisfied. I always love being dropped into the thick of the action with little or no immediate context to go on, falling in with characters as they face down turmoil and disastrous circumstances. This is exactly how we come to know these characters: our persistent spear Katrien, and Emory, her shield, partner, and unfortunate hookup battling at a hellmouth with imminent death approaching. Against the backdrop of a never ending war miraculously coming to a close, we follow a plethora of soldiers as they come to terms with this development and who exactly they are outside of soldiering. Focusing on identity, but with demon attacks, magic totems, and marvelous relationship dynamics, Skrutskie builds a standalone fantasy that feels expansive and oh so heartwarming. The Legionnaires Guide to Love and Peace takes a cozy overtone with found family and characters who would go to battle for each other under any circumstance. Undercutting the (mis) adventures is an uncertain romance that is heavy on the idiots to lovers; two people not unsure of their feelings, but whether or not they can have a future where they can keep backing each other. Certainly here for more wondrous adventure from Skrutskie and tall, capable, muscular women being worthy of romance!
“Orders?” she whispered, when she couldn’t take it any longer. “Ruin me,” he replied.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
July 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I will start off by saying that I don't think this book qualifies as a cozy romantasy as it didn't have enough cozy elements for me to feel that. Having said that, the stakes are low and the villains are not that scary.
I love how this book focuses on the "ignored" infantry, the first line of defence between the evil-doers and the typical fantasy hero(s). I liked how each relationship was crafted and the lightness soldiers saw their role. A lot of them drafted, they were there against their will but they still saw it best to make the most out of their experience. The friendships, teasing and camraderie were definitely capture in every interaction and made this feel like a "found family" book.
Another aspect I really respect and hope to see more of is an accurate description of female warriors. They're not the cliche skinny but badass fighters. They've battled enough that they've earned their muscles and shoulder strength, and they might even be taller than some of the guys. Yet, they're still adorable and look incredible in a dress. Because feminity is not narrow and actually encompasses any female presenting body type, so we should appreciate each of them equally. I feel like in romantasy, we're told these girls are incredibly strong and capable, but they're described in ways that don't match their abilities, whereby muscles would be expected.
Ok, now let's dive into what I disliked! I thought this book would be comparable to THIS WILL BE FUN, which was a very campy version of this. Similarly, we get a very funny prince and aristocratic camp, but that's where the humour sort of ends. The remainder of the book felt like it was taking itself too seriously, and I wish it had leaned into humor a lot more because then I wouldn't expect as much from the narrative.
As stated previously, the stakes are not high. Each Demon Lord is dispatched too quickly and easily for the reader to feel the dangers of these creatures. There is very little in the way of tension in the plot as a result. The worldbuilding is also not too developed because the main focus is the characters. This would have been fine if the prose was embedded with a lot more humor, but it felt too serious for this book.
Regarding the romance, I really enjoyed the small gestures and the sacrifices they made for each other. They see each other in ways others don't and they're so in-sync it's hard not to imagine how that works out of the battlefield. But the third-act conflict sort of felt unbelievable to me, I just didn't believe for a second that our FMC would take the prince up on his proposal and neither did I believe Emory, our MMC, would let go of her so easily. It felt a little forced and sort of broke the magic build up until then, but the ending was rewarding enough that I can overlook this.
The plot reveal at the end was easily guessable and I hated that a specific character never got to be held accountable as they're simply eliminated from the narrative. That would have made it all more worthwhile since the betrayal and guessing who it was that betrayed the prince within four suspects was truly the highlight of the plot, since the "threats" of the Demon Lords didn't feel that dangerous.
Finally, the pacing felt a little off for me. Whilst I enjoyed my reading experience overall, there were a lot of moments where nothing was happening and it only picks up at around the 75% mark which is quite late all things considered. The middle definitely dragged and I don't think that's what the author was going for.
I will start off by saying that I don't think this book qualifies as a cozy romantasy as it didn't have enough cozy elements for me to feel that. Having said that, the stakes are low and the villains are not that scary.
I love how this book focuses on the "ignored" infantry, the first line of defence between the evil-doers and the typical fantasy hero(s). I liked how each relationship was crafted and the lightness soldiers saw their role. A lot of them drafted, they were there against their will but they still saw it best to make the most out of their experience. The friendships, teasing and camraderie were definitely capture in every interaction and made this feel like a "found family" book.
Another aspect I really respect and hope to see more of is an accurate description of female warriors. They're not the cliche skinny but badass fighters. They've battled enough that they've earned their muscles and shoulder strength, and they might even be taller than some of the guys. Yet, they're still adorable and look incredible in a dress. Because feminity is not narrow and actually encompasses any female presenting body type, so we should appreciate each of them equally. I feel like in romantasy, we're told these girls are incredibly strong and capable, but they're described in ways that don't match their abilities, whereby muscles would be expected.
Ok, now let's dive into what I disliked! I thought this book would be comparable to THIS WILL BE FUN, which was a very campy version of this. Similarly, we get a very funny prince and aristocratic camp, but that's where the humour sort of ends. The remainder of the book felt like it was taking itself too seriously, and I wish it had leaned into humor a lot more because then I wouldn't expect as much from the narrative.
As stated previously, the stakes are not high. Each Demon Lord is dispatched too quickly and easily for the reader to feel the dangers of these creatures. There is very little in the way of tension in the plot as a result. The worldbuilding is also not too developed because the main focus is the characters. This would have been fine if the prose was embedded with a lot more humor, but it felt too serious for this book.
Regarding the romance, I really enjoyed the small gestures and the sacrifices they made for each other. They see each other in ways others don't and they're so in-sync it's hard not to imagine how that works out of the battlefield. But the third-act conflict sort of felt unbelievable to me, I just didn't believe for a second that our FMC would take the prince up on his proposal and neither did I believe Emory, our MMC, would let go of her so easily. It felt a little forced and sort of broke the magic build up until then, but the ending was rewarding enough that I can overlook this.
The plot reveal at the end was easily guessable and I hated that a specific character never got to be held accountable as they're simply eliminated from the narrative. That would have made it all more worthwhile since the betrayal and guessing who it was that betrayed the prince within four suspects was truly the highlight of the plot, since the "threats" of the Demon Lords didn't feel that dangerous.
Finally, the pacing felt a little off for me. Whilst I enjoyed my reading experience overall, there were a lot of moments where nothing was happening and it only picks up at around the 75% mark which is quite late all things considered. The middle definitely dragged and I don't think that's what the author was going for.
June 22, 2025
This was fun…until it wasn’t.
We start off strong with a delightfully absurd tone that feels clever rather than cringey—like we’re in on the joke. I loved the queernormative world where everyone’s bi and the potential for romantic chaos is high (unfortunately this was not explored to its full potential)
But the shine wore off pretty quickly. The romance between Emory and Kat never felt earned—they barely spend time together on the page, and there’s no real tension or chemistry. Honestly, Kat’s relationship with Adrien was more compelling, and I kind of wish the book had gone in that direction.
Characters overall felt underdeveloped. Emory, ostensibly a main character, is almost completely flat, and the side characters blended together to the point where I had trouble keeping track of who was who. The magic system had potential and I really liked the idea of getting magic from tokens, but it felt too vague and abstract to really hook me. Additionally, it felt a little weird to have a magic system that is so closely tied to class without any more than a surface level examination of class in this world.
The biggest issue was that it just got boring. The stakes never felt high, even with literal demons on their tail, and by the halfway mark it really started to drag, especially since every demon attack went exactly the same way. I wasn’t rushing to pick it back up, and once I finished, I didn’t think about it again.
Not bad, not great. Just okay.
I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley
We start off strong with a delightfully absurd tone that feels clever rather than cringey—like we’re in on the joke. I loved the queernormative world where everyone’s bi and the potential for romantic chaos is high (unfortunately this was not explored to its full potential)
But the shine wore off pretty quickly. The romance between Emory and Kat never felt earned—they barely spend time together on the page, and there’s no real tension or chemistry. Honestly, Kat’s relationship with Adrien was more compelling, and I kind of wish the book had gone in that direction.
Characters overall felt underdeveloped. Emory, ostensibly a main character, is almost completely flat, and the side characters blended together to the point where I had trouble keeping track of who was who. The magic system had potential and I really liked the idea of getting magic from tokens, but it felt too vague and abstract to really hook me. Additionally, it felt a little weird to have a magic system that is so closely tied to class without any more than a surface level examination of class in this world.
The biggest issue was that it just got boring. The stakes never felt high, even with literal demons on their tail, and by the halfway mark it really started to drag, especially since every demon attack went exactly the same way. I wasn’t rushing to pick it back up, and once I finished, I didn’t think about it again.
Not bad, not great. Just okay.
I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley
July 27, 2025
I wasn’t sure what to make of this book when I first started, and I love when books surprise me. A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace, while not without its rough edges, is a very cozy fantasy novel about life at the tail-end of a war and figuring out to do when you’ve survived against the odds. Emily Skrutskie writes with humour, depth, and compassion. I received an eARC from NetGalley.
Kat is a spear-bearer in the Third Century of the kingdom of Telrus. She fights alongside her shield-bearer and lover, Emory, as well as eight other members of her decade. Together, their army has waged a war to repel the invasion of demons from Hell. The book starts with the final battle of this war, and then most of the book concerns the aftermath, as the Third Century embarks on a road-building campaign.
Skrutskie’s characterization is deft and deep, with even many of the side characters taking on distinctive personalities. The camaraderie within Kat’s unit truly comes alive as a result. I loved hearing about each character’s hopes and dreams now that the war is over, from Kat and Emory’s list of culinary experiences to other characters’ hopes of settling down and starting a life or a business. Indeed, though I just opined in my review of The Incandescent that if a book has romance I want it to be sapphic, Kat and Emory’s romance is a great demonstration of how a good writer will make me make an exception. They are totes adorbs.
I’m also a sucker for stories set after the final battle and defeat of the Big Bad—this was the premise that initially drew me to the book. I love how Skrutskie lays out all the challenges that come during the aftermath. There are the bigger, political questions—but there are also so many personal ones, such as, “Do I stay in the army or do I take release?” When it turns out Kat and Emory might have slightly different aspirations, this creates an entirely understandable conflict. Suddenly, the bonds forged during battle and the impending threat of death might not last into peace.
Finally, throughout it all, this is Kat’s story of self-actualization in a world that grants privilege to those who can channel “angelic power.” I love how Skrutskie provides frustratingly little exposition into the angels, heaven, hell, demons, etc. They just are, and this is just the way the world is, and Aurean gold is just a thing. Deal with it! In less capable hands, such actions would have me complaining a heck of a lot. Yet Skrutskie makes me believe. She shows how this world works without giving me a ton of backstory, and it keeps the novel light and charming.
I hesitate to label A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace as “cozy” fantasy. There is a lot of conflict, a lot of fighting, and some death. Yet if it is not cozy, then it is definitely cozy-adjacent. This book delivers exactly what the title promises, and I think fantasy fans who like some romance and some humour and a glossy, stylized approach to high fantasy dipped in sword-and-sorcery will enjoy this a great deal.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
Kat is a spear-bearer in the Third Century of the kingdom of Telrus. She fights alongside her shield-bearer and lover, Emory, as well as eight other members of her decade. Together, their army has waged a war to repel the invasion of demons from Hell. The book starts with the final battle of this war, and then most of the book concerns the aftermath, as the Third Century embarks on a road-building campaign.
Skrutskie’s characterization is deft and deep, with even many of the side characters taking on distinctive personalities. The camaraderie within Kat’s unit truly comes alive as a result. I loved hearing about each character’s hopes and dreams now that the war is over, from Kat and Emory’s list of culinary experiences to other characters’ hopes of settling down and starting a life or a business. Indeed, though I just opined in my review of The Incandescent that if a book has romance I want it to be sapphic, Kat and Emory’s romance is a great demonstration of how a good writer will make me make an exception. They are totes adorbs.
I’m also a sucker for stories set after the final battle and defeat of the Big Bad—this was the premise that initially drew me to the book. I love how Skrutskie lays out all the challenges that come during the aftermath. There are the bigger, political questions—but there are also so many personal ones, such as, “Do I stay in the army or do I take release?” When it turns out Kat and Emory might have slightly different aspirations, this creates an entirely understandable conflict. Suddenly, the bonds forged during battle and the impending threat of death might not last into peace.
Finally, throughout it all, this is Kat’s story of self-actualization in a world that grants privilege to those who can channel “angelic power.” I love how Skrutskie provides frustratingly little exposition into the angels, heaven, hell, demons, etc. They just are, and this is just the way the world is, and Aurean gold is just a thing. Deal with it! In less capable hands, such actions would have me complaining a heck of a lot. Yet Skrutskie makes me believe. She shows how this world works without giving me a ton of backstory, and it keeps the novel light and charming.
I hesitate to label A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace as “cozy” fantasy. There is a lot of conflict, a lot of fighting, and some death. Yet if it is not cozy, then it is definitely cozy-adjacent. This book delivers exactly what the title promises, and I think fantasy fans who like some romance and some humour and a glossy, stylized approach to high fantasy dipped in sword-and-sorcery will enjoy this a great deal.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
June 20, 2025
this reads like a cozy dnd campaign in the best way possible!! low spice, high coziness, very wholesome and charming. def what i needed!
April 29, 2025
I've followed Emily Skrutskie's career ever since the wonderful Bonds of Brass. And while sometimes her work can be hit or miss for me - I didn't care how that series ended, with the couple spending most of that final book physically apart; but I loved The Salvation Gambit. I think she's a phenomenal writer who doesn't get the attention she deserves. She's one of those talented SFF writers who flies under the radar but has proven time and time again she'll be an auto-buy author for me.
In "A Legionnaire's Guide to Love and Peace," Skrutskie leaves sci-fi adventure behind for cozy romantic fantasy featuring a bi4bi m/f pairing (I need more of those in fantasy please!) in a queernormative world. Just loved how she showed each love interest was bi without ever saying it explicitly or showing it by throwing another distracting love interest into the mix. I've had enough of bi love interests in love triangles or who cheat on an established relationship. The focus was always on Kat and Emory, and their lovely, slow burn friends to lovers swoony love story.
The author takes on her usual tactic of twisting tropes in unexpected ways in this effort as well. This story takes the little explored concept of what happens when the Lord of the Rings style battle is done and soldiers find themselves with nothing else to fight. At times I really wished I had a military glossary because I know nothing about Roman military organization and there weren't many context clues to understand the terminology.
I enjoyed the hapless prince who at first seems like a pompous embarassment and then grows as a leader as he leads this battle-weary contingent of soldiers to the path of building a road and protecting him from Lesser Lords after the main Demon Lord was finished.
Many parts of this book made me smile, swoon and laugh out loud. It had a unique, irreverent tone that I appreciated.
I liked how there was still tension in Kat and Emory's romance without the only tension being sex constantly interrupted, which is often the case with friends-to-lovers. I appreciated that Emory had enlisted instead of drafting and was trying to figure out his calling instead of soldiering, which also provided nice moments of tension and interest.
That said this was a very cozy fantasy that was really more vibes than plot. The stakes were medium high but it was more like a buddy camping adventure. At times it definitely felt inspired by a D&D campaign.
Overall though this felt like a warm hug of a story. I loved Emory and Kat together and especially their cute bucket list of things to accomplish if they ever survived the war. They were just so cute together. I'm glad the slow burn wasn't an excruciating one. I also liked the conceit of them having a one night stand at the beginning of the book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In "A Legionnaire's Guide to Love and Peace," Skrutskie leaves sci-fi adventure behind for cozy romantic fantasy featuring a bi4bi m/f pairing (I need more of those in fantasy please!) in a queernormative world. Just loved how she showed each love interest was bi without ever saying it explicitly or showing it by throwing another distracting love interest into the mix. I've had enough of bi love interests in love triangles or who cheat on an established relationship. The focus was always on Kat and Emory, and their lovely, slow burn friends to lovers swoony love story.
The author takes on her usual tactic of twisting tropes in unexpected ways in this effort as well. This story takes the little explored concept of what happens when the Lord of the Rings style battle is done and soldiers find themselves with nothing else to fight. At times I really wished I had a military glossary because I know nothing about Roman military organization and there weren't many context clues to understand the terminology.
I enjoyed the hapless prince who at first seems like a pompous embarassment and then grows as a leader as he leads this battle-weary contingent of soldiers to the path of building a road and protecting him from Lesser Lords after the main Demon Lord was finished.
Many parts of this book made me smile, swoon and laugh out loud. It had a unique, irreverent tone that I appreciated.
I liked how there was still tension in Kat and Emory's romance without the only tension being sex constantly interrupted, which is often the case with friends-to-lovers. I appreciated that Emory had enlisted instead of drafting and was trying to figure out his calling instead of soldiering, which also provided nice moments of tension and interest.
That said this was a very cozy fantasy that was really more vibes than plot. The stakes were medium high but it was more like a buddy camping adventure. At times it definitely felt inspired by a D&D campaign.
Overall though this felt like a warm hug of a story. I loved Emory and Kat together and especially their cute bucket list of things to accomplish if they ever survived the war. They were just so cute together. I'm glad the slow burn wasn't an excruciating one. I also liked the conceit of them having a one night stand at the beginning of the book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 13, 2025
“orders?”
“ruin me.”
tfw you hook up with your battle partner who you totally aren’t in love with because you’re both going to die in battle the next day. except you survive and the war ends and oops, now you have to talk about your feelings ✌️
a legionnaire’s guide to love and peace is a lighthearted fantasy romance set in the aftermath of the final battle. a team of heroes led by the realm’s prince swoop in to save the day, and soldier kat is suddenly left to reckon with the future she didn’t expect to have—and how her impulsive hookup with emory, the man who has been her battle partner for the last three years, may have changed things.
i know booksta loves an enemies-to-lovers romance, but my personal weakness is partners-to-lovers. call it the mulder and scully influence if you must. give me two idiots who would take bullets for each other, who know each other better than anyone else, who expect to die side-by-side, who secretly yearn for each other but can’t be together because they’re idiots and/or fraternization is forbidden. it’s about the DEVOTION 👌 kat and emory didn’t quiiiite live up to my expectations in that sense, although i still quite enjoyed their shield/spear dynamic. there’s also a not-at-all subtle but still interesting theme of generational wealth and privilege woven into the story, although i think that could have been developed better (kat’s realization near the end was abrupt).
while i found the first half much stronger than the second, overall this was an enjoyable fantasy romp that reminded me a little of ella enchanted in tone. and shoutout to the author for writing a tall, muscular woman who loved her body and didn’t have to make herself smaller to find love!
arc provided by netgalley and del rey in exchange for an honest review.
rating: 3.5/5.0 stars, rounded up
May 25, 2025
If a cozy romantasy can be set in wartime, this is the book. (derogatory)
Possibly longer RTC.
Possibly longer RTC.
June 14, 2025
Thanks to PRHAudio for the preview. All opinions are my own.
This was cute! Somehow cozy among the demon attacks, with a fun group of found family and a very sweet romance. A little bit of magic and an exasperating prince round out the book.
I’d recommend for a quick and fun escape.
This was cute! Somehow cozy among the demon attacks, with a fun group of found family and a very sweet romance. A little bit of magic and an exasperating prince round out the book.
I’d recommend for a quick and fun escape.
April 22, 2025
This was my first read from this author but it definitely won’t be the last! Equal parts action and adventure and charming romance made for a fun read and had me devouring this in just one day! I really enjoyed not just Kat and Emory but all the side characters as well! Each contributed to this story as it progressed and that was wonderful!
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read early!
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read early!
September 14, 2025
3.5⭐️ I enjoyed the story, but it wasn’t totally what I was expecting.
Was it cozy? Mostly. The apocalypse has been avoided, so there’s no world-ending danger on the horizon and the story is a lot more character driven, but there was still an element of danger that contributed to the stakes and the pacing.
Was it romantasy? Kind of. It’s set in a fantasy world and there is a romance, but I would say the plot focused a lot more on Kat’s journey of self-discovery than on her romance with Emory. I did enjoy their connection and they had really sweet moments that made me root for them, but the romance wasn’t as central to the story as I tend to prefer. I would also agree that Emory’s character was far less developed than Kat’s as a result of her being the true focus of the story.
Overall, I liked the story and the characters, and it was a unique take on the fantasy genre, but going in expecting a romance-forward story and getting a story more focused on a personal journey left me struggling to really get into it.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Was it cozy? Mostly. The apocalypse has been avoided, so there’s no world-ending danger on the horizon and the story is a lot more character driven, but there was still an element of danger that contributed to the stakes and the pacing.
Was it romantasy? Kind of. It’s set in a fantasy world and there is a romance, but I would say the plot focused a lot more on Kat’s journey of self-discovery than on her romance with Emory. I did enjoy their connection and they had really sweet moments that made me root for them, but the romance wasn’t as central to the story as I tend to prefer. I would also agree that Emory’s character was far less developed than Kat’s as a result of her being the true focus of the story.
Overall, I liked the story and the characters, and it was a unique take on the fantasy genre, but going in expecting a romance-forward story and getting a story more focused on a personal journey left me struggling to really get into it.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2025
3.5 / 5 Stars
This is a very solid fantasy with a dash of romance. The synopsis in layperson terms: Katrien (Kat) and her fellow soldiers have been fighting the Demon Lord and his demon zombies for a long time. When they are on the eve of the ultimate battle, Kat and her battle partner, Emory, decide to break the anti-fraternization policy (and literally also break a cot) but they’re going to die the next day so YOLO. Except that they don’t die the next day and instead the Demon Lord is vanquished by a very magically powerful but emotionally unintelligent prince (can’t be book and street smart as a royal, it turns out). Now Kat and Emory have to navigate their feelings for each other while trying to navigate life after war.
There were a lot of things I really liked about this book. I found Prince Adrien, the least self-aware man alive, to be very funny. I really like Kat and Emory’s relationship. It is a slow burn so sometimes I was living off of crumbs like them looking at each other from a distance but I was fully invested nonetheless. I loved the LGBTQ+ representation in the book (we love that most folks were pansexual with no explanation needed – that’s just the world we live in). I really like Kat as our main character and liked reading about her family history and her connection to magic (there’s also magic and it makes sense).
I have been on a kick of reading really enticing and hard to put down fantasies and I found myself feeling okay putting this book down mostly because of the war aspect. Maybe others found it obvious but I would have benefited from a glossary of military and magic terms because I found myself a bit lost in the beginning which made it hard to visualize certain chapters. Also because they fight in formation and advance inches at a time, the beginning battles didn't feel dynamic and therefore, didn’t draw me in. And then when we moved to peace times, I just wasn’t as interested in continuing to read about the military dynamic in any capacity. The book got me back in the last 20% which is why I bumped the rating from 3 to 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Random House Publishing - Del Rey and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
This is a very solid fantasy with a dash of romance. The synopsis in layperson terms: Katrien (Kat) and her fellow soldiers have been fighting the Demon Lord and his demon zombies for a long time. When they are on the eve of the ultimate battle, Kat and her battle partner, Emory, decide to break the anti-fraternization policy (and literally also break a cot) but they’re going to die the next day so YOLO. Except that they don’t die the next day and instead the Demon Lord is vanquished by a very magically powerful but emotionally unintelligent prince (can’t be book and street smart as a royal, it turns out). Now Kat and Emory have to navigate their feelings for each other while trying to navigate life after war.
There were a lot of things I really liked about this book. I found Prince Adrien, the least self-aware man alive, to be very funny. I really like Kat and Emory’s relationship. It is a slow burn so sometimes I was living off of crumbs like them looking at each other from a distance but I was fully invested nonetheless. I loved the LGBTQ+ representation in the book (we love that most folks were pansexual with no explanation needed – that’s just the world we live in). I really like Kat as our main character and liked reading about her family history and her connection to magic (there’s also magic and it makes sense).
I have been on a kick of reading really enticing and hard to put down fantasies and I found myself feeling okay putting this book down mostly because of the war aspect. Maybe others found it obvious but I would have benefited from a glossary of military and magic terms because I found myself a bit lost in the beginning which made it hard to visualize certain chapters. Also because they fight in formation and advance inches at a time, the beginning battles didn't feel dynamic and therefore, didn’t draw me in. And then when we moved to peace times, I just wasn’t as interested in continuing to read about the military dynamic in any capacity. The book got me back in the last 20% which is why I bumped the rating from 3 to 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Random House Publishing - Del Rey and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
April 13, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley and Del Rey Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
What a cozy, warm hug of a read, with a little spice thrown in! Kat and Emory are adorable. After fighting together for years through a brutal war, they're both trying to figure out what they want next. Emory is convinced he'll remain an enlisted soldier, while Kat can't wait to return to her father's forge. Emily Skrutskie does a great job of exploring the internal struggle that happens when people change and the dreams they wanted no longer fit who they are.
The plot was fast paced and even though it takes place in a fantasy world, I never felt like I was being hit over the head with world building or info dumping. The side characters were quirky and I was always happy to see them pop up on page. But of course, the real heart of this book is the relationship between Kat and Emory. Their devotion to one another was so endearing and I couldn't get enough of their food list. Their side quests to find certain food items that got them through the war were all well placed, cute, and didn't slow down the plot. I also really appreciated that there was still fighting, adventure, and magic throughout to keep things moving.
I highly recommend this book and loved it enough that I plan to buy a physical copy when it's published!
What a cozy, warm hug of a read, with a little spice thrown in! Kat and Emory are adorable. After fighting together for years through a brutal war, they're both trying to figure out what they want next. Emory is convinced he'll remain an enlisted soldier, while Kat can't wait to return to her father's forge. Emily Skrutskie does a great job of exploring the internal struggle that happens when people change and the dreams they wanted no longer fit who they are.
The plot was fast paced and even though it takes place in a fantasy world, I never felt like I was being hit over the head with world building or info dumping. The side characters were quirky and I was always happy to see them pop up on page. But of course, the real heart of this book is the relationship between Kat and Emory. Their devotion to one another was so endearing and I couldn't get enough of their food list. Their side quests to find certain food items that got them through the war were all well placed, cute, and didn't slow down the plot. I also really appreciated that there was still fighting, adventure, and magic throughout to keep things moving.
I highly recommend this book and loved it enough that I plan to buy a physical copy when it's published!
May 6, 2025
I’m trying to parse my feelings on this book. First, I was asked to read this by the publisher through NetGalley. From the email it was billed as a cozy fantasy about two people finding love after a war. That is…. Not what this book is.
It is mostly fantasy war between a kingdom and a demon realm. There’s a lot of talk of angels, demons, godly powers, etc. but no real talk of religious practices. The angels and demons were more for finding out how the powers worked and world building. The war itself is NOT over in the book, and it is spent almost entirely in the ranks of the army.
The army themselves are the only redeeming characters in this book. The prince, his friends, the authoritarian leaders were SO UNBEARABLE. I think this was supposed to be a comedic relief of some sort, but I found myself rooting for the prince’s assassination halfway through. Which sucks because that’s a plot point the main characters are actively trying to stop. This means at some point I was willing the villains to win, or at least someone to take out the nobles so I’d get to stop reading about them.
The book wasn’t bad. I found parts of it really enjoyable, the relationships were touching, and the found family was good. I just was not prepared for what it actually was.
It is mostly fantasy war between a kingdom and a demon realm. There’s a lot of talk of angels, demons, godly powers, etc. but no real talk of religious practices. The angels and demons were more for finding out how the powers worked and world building. The war itself is NOT over in the book, and it is spent almost entirely in the ranks of the army.
The army themselves are the only redeeming characters in this book. The prince, his friends, the authoritarian leaders were SO UNBEARABLE. I think this was supposed to be a comedic relief of some sort, but I found myself rooting for the prince’s assassination halfway through. Which sucks because that’s a plot point the main characters are actively trying to stop. This means at some point I was willing the villains to win, or at least someone to take out the nobles so I’d get to stop reading about them.
The book wasn’t bad. I found parts of it really enjoyable, the relationships were touching, and the found family was good. I just was not prepared for what it actually was.
January 10, 2026
2.5 ⭐︎
I just didn't care at all.
I just didn't care at all.
December 6, 2025
This book has a very strong start and great setting. You're basically put immediately into the action and are able to understand the pre-established relationship. Skrutskie has a very good writing style, I never felt bogged down by world building or how the infantry worked. How the magic system is explained was always very clear and never felt like the information was just being dumped on me. I also liked how it wasn't done all at once and we learned information when it was reasonable for Kat to share, we don't understand how the tokens work until she herself is taught how they work for instance.
I did feel though it got to a point where nothing had happened to keep me locked into the story past the introduction. The stakes never raised, and frankly, Kat and Emorys interactions were so scattered that I couldn't really connect to them as a couple. The premise of the story was the aftermath of them sleeping together, but I never got the impression their relationship changed that drastically. I was expecting more tension from that. I feel their relationship kept being interrupted by a lot of the other plot points characters, which yes are apart of the narrative but with the book being less than 400 pages i wonder if maybe some other scenes could have been changed especially considering again their relationship is a large part of the premise of the book, theyre even the tag line. The number of side characters as well was a bit much for how little much most of them ended up doing. I did get the sense of camaraderie with the other soldiers, but most of their personalities blended together, and only two of them really stood out as their own character. There was meant to be a mystery story line with the princes companions but it didn't really click because I wasnt attached enough to either try and figure it out or feel the sense of betrayal by the reveal. The small anecdotes about them when we first met them wasn't enough for me to care about them or what they might do. I will say did appreciate how many were female soldiers or fighters and there wasn't any of the typical sexism thrown into the world they got to just be women who did the same as the men no questions asked.
I wish I got more out of Emory in general. Yes, he's very sweet, and he and Kat do have these lovely moments, but I never felt like we really got peeled back who he is. He stayed incredibly consistent the whole time and while I got the understanding he had feelings for Kat, I never felt this will they won't they tension or there was ever really any question what would happen afterwards.
Kat, however, I did like as a main character. Always enjoy a tall buff woman when they are meant to be that sort of warrior fighter character instead of the tiny little petite girls who can inexplicably fight men twice their size after two days of training I love her motivation, and what is literally, I want to go home now. I don't want to be this important hero. I like the parts around how yes she is put in a position to possibly do more to make changes for the common people but it's also shouldn't be put on her in the first place to do that.
One of the strongest parts of the book was actually the discussions around how the wealthy and elite of society who are meant to be the leaders instead hoard all their wealth, draft their citizens to make them fight while keeping their own children away from it and using resources that could be better used at the front again to keep their own families taken care of first. I like how this plot line does get resolved. It's not a sweeping fix for the whole system, but you can see how it would make a positive impact on the more impoverished citizens. It was also really interesting seeing how the tokens were used outside of warfare and how a lot of regular people were able to use the more ordinary bits of magic in their everyday lives.
Although I do have criticisms, I think this would be very enjoyable for people who enjoy a low stakes fantasy, which isn't a negative thing. I think marketing as a romantasy was misleading, but if people enjoy a cozy fantasy with some light romance, they should definitely check this out because it was still a well written story with a likeable main character I've given 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because I ain't despite criticisms I have, I felt more positive than negative about my reading experience.
Arc copy provided by netgalley
I did feel though it got to a point where nothing had happened to keep me locked into the story past the introduction. The stakes never raised, and frankly, Kat and Emorys interactions were so scattered that I couldn't really connect to them as a couple. The premise of the story was the aftermath of them sleeping together, but I never got the impression their relationship changed that drastically. I was expecting more tension from that. I feel their relationship kept being interrupted by a lot of the other plot points characters, which yes are apart of the narrative but with the book being less than 400 pages i wonder if maybe some other scenes could have been changed especially considering again their relationship is a large part of the premise of the book, theyre even the tag line. The number of side characters as well was a bit much for how little much most of them ended up doing. I did get the sense of camaraderie with the other soldiers, but most of their personalities blended together, and only two of them really stood out as their own character. There was meant to be a mystery story line with the princes companions but it didn't really click because I wasnt attached enough to either try and figure it out or feel the sense of betrayal by the reveal. The small anecdotes about them when we first met them wasn't enough for me to care about them or what they might do. I will say did appreciate how many were female soldiers or fighters and there wasn't any of the typical sexism thrown into the world they got to just be women who did the same as the men no questions asked.
I wish I got more out of Emory in general. Yes, he's very sweet, and he and Kat do have these lovely moments, but I never felt like we really got peeled back who he is. He stayed incredibly consistent the whole time and while I got the understanding he had feelings for Kat, I never felt this will they won't they tension or there was ever really any question what would happen afterwards.
Kat, however, I did like as a main character. Always enjoy a tall buff woman when they are meant to be that sort of warrior fighter character instead of the tiny little petite girls who can inexplicably fight men twice their size after two days of training I love her motivation, and what is literally, I want to go home now. I don't want to be this important hero. I like the parts around how yes she is put in a position to possibly do more to make changes for the common people but it's also shouldn't be put on her in the first place to do that.
One of the strongest parts of the book was actually the discussions around how the wealthy and elite of society who are meant to be the leaders instead hoard all their wealth, draft their citizens to make them fight while keeping their own children away from it and using resources that could be better used at the front again to keep their own families taken care of first. I like how this plot line does get resolved. It's not a sweeping fix for the whole system, but you can see how it would make a positive impact on the more impoverished citizens. It was also really interesting seeing how the tokens were used outside of warfare and how a lot of regular people were able to use the more ordinary bits of magic in their everyday lives.
Although I do have criticisms, I think this would be very enjoyable for people who enjoy a low stakes fantasy, which isn't a negative thing. I think marketing as a romantasy was misleading, but if people enjoy a cozy fantasy with some light romance, they should definitely check this out because it was still a well written story with a likeable main character I've given 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because I ain't despite criticisms I have, I felt more positive than negative about my reading experience.
Arc copy provided by netgalley
June 2, 2025
Heat Index: 5/10
—battle buddies to lovers
—"if it's our last night on Earth, we might as well..." except....
—man who likes to get manhandled
—babysitting the Chosen One
The Basics:
On the night before the battle that's supposed to end it all, Kat and her best friend and battle partner Emory throw caution to the wind and give in to their long-simmering attraction. After all, it's not like they'll have to confront what it all means after tomorrow, right? Except the long-lost heir to Telrus, Prince Adrien, shows up and defeats the Demon Lord at the last minute. Now he wants Kat's aid as he prepares to rule, and Emory... just wants Kat. But what does it all mean? Both in terms of the Demon Lord possibly being still out there, and, like? Her relationship with Emory? BIG QUESTIONS.
The Review:
In the author's note, Skrutskie talks about being inspired by all the guys on the battlefield who really thought they were going to die before Frodo swanned in. And yes, you absolutely get that here. This is a send-up to classic high fantasy, a little on the cozier end, a lot on the funnier side, yet still with both physical and emotional stakes. The threat to the realm may not be the true point of Kat's conflict, but it's still, like, an existential threat.
Is this a romance? There's a love story and there's an HEA, but I do feel that this leans a little more on the "romantic fantasy" side. I'd have no problem with recommending it to the right romance fan, but I don't know that the love story is QUITE as principal as the title, tagline, and synopsis would indicate. And that's not necessarily a bad thing—I just want to note it. Kat's personal journey is about as much about finding her place in realm's destiny as it is about figuring her love story.
But... nonetheless, shock of all shocks, the love story remained my favorite part of the book. I'm hard to sell on friends to lovers, but I ADORE a "ruin the friendship" moment. We meet Kat and Emory right after they've ruined the friendship (by banging it out on their commanding officer's cot) but BOY is the tension heavy. He's clearly besotted; she's clearly confused (albeit quite physically satisfied, go Emory). It's the perfect kind of push and pull, and I found it quite adorable.
Because this is so solidly Kat's POV and Kat's story, Emory doesn't have quite the degree of development she does. Yet, he's far from a hollow love interest. There's a great thread of exploring the career soldier we don't often talk about in these fantasy stories. And despite that, Emory is so sweet, so overwhelmed by Kat, so endearingly... in love. Also, he likes being manhandled, and I like that he likes being manhandled.
I wouldn't call it quite a love triangle, but the other person sort of... offering alternatives? Not quite romantic ones but destiny ones? To Kat is Adrien, the very Chosen One prince guy who defeated (or did he?) the Demon Lord. Possibly the funniest character in a funny book, Adrien knows he's not all that inspiring to the people, but he's been hidden away all his life to save the world and he's going to do it, goddammit. And also provide, like, infrastructure and stuff.
This novel is truly about what happens after the final battle, and why saving the realm goes beyond just defeating the Big Evil. A huge part of the conflict between Kat and Emory is that he never really imagined a future outside the army—in part because he assumed he wouldn't make it that long, really. What happens now that they have whole lives ahead of them? Options outside of fighting side by side until they can't fight anymore?
For all that this all sounds very serious, and it is thought-provoking... This is also truly funny (it has one of the better "hide his boner" scenes I've read in a while) and wonderfully queer-normative. When Adrien considers his potential consorts, he considers men and women; Kat and Emory, too, are casually queer. I think everyone is? It's great.
The Sex:
There isn't much sex on the page here—there's one full-ish sex scene, I'd say. Everything else is made up of brief flashbacks, allusions, and tension. But boy, is that tension hot. And what we do get is so well-written, conveying both passion and pent-up, well, love. There's also a rather fun term for magical birth control here (used by both Kat and Emory, yay).
The Conclusion:
I'd recommend this to those who like a bit of coziness in their fantasy, a lot of fun, and a somewhat milder but very real and very heartfelt romance arc. Freya Marske fans, look no further! I think this would be right up your alley. And a lot of other alleys, too. It's a lovely book.
Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with a copy fo this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
—battle buddies to lovers
—"if it's our last night on Earth, we might as well..." except....
—man who likes to get manhandled
—babysitting the Chosen One
The Basics:
On the night before the battle that's supposed to end it all, Kat and her best friend and battle partner Emory throw caution to the wind and give in to their long-simmering attraction. After all, it's not like they'll have to confront what it all means after tomorrow, right? Except the long-lost heir to Telrus, Prince Adrien, shows up and defeats the Demon Lord at the last minute. Now he wants Kat's aid as he prepares to rule, and Emory... just wants Kat. But what does it all mean? Both in terms of the Demon Lord possibly being still out there, and, like? Her relationship with Emory? BIG QUESTIONS.
The Review:
In the author's note, Skrutskie talks about being inspired by all the guys on the battlefield who really thought they were going to die before Frodo swanned in. And yes, you absolutely get that here. This is a send-up to classic high fantasy, a little on the cozier end, a lot on the funnier side, yet still with both physical and emotional stakes. The threat to the realm may not be the true point of Kat's conflict, but it's still, like, an existential threat.
Is this a romance? There's a love story and there's an HEA, but I do feel that this leans a little more on the "romantic fantasy" side. I'd have no problem with recommending it to the right romance fan, but I don't know that the love story is QUITE as principal as the title, tagline, and synopsis would indicate. And that's not necessarily a bad thing—I just want to note it. Kat's personal journey is about as much about finding her place in realm's destiny as it is about figuring her love story.
But... nonetheless, shock of all shocks, the love story remained my favorite part of the book. I'm hard to sell on friends to lovers, but I ADORE a "ruin the friendship" moment. We meet Kat and Emory right after they've ruined the friendship (by banging it out on their commanding officer's cot) but BOY is the tension heavy. He's clearly besotted; she's clearly confused (albeit quite physically satisfied, go Emory). It's the perfect kind of push and pull, and I found it quite adorable.
Because this is so solidly Kat's POV and Kat's story, Emory doesn't have quite the degree of development she does. Yet, he's far from a hollow love interest. There's a great thread of exploring the career soldier we don't often talk about in these fantasy stories. And despite that, Emory is so sweet, so overwhelmed by Kat, so endearingly... in love. Also, he likes being manhandled, and I like that he likes being manhandled.
I wouldn't call it quite a love triangle, but the other person sort of... offering alternatives? Not quite romantic ones but destiny ones? To Kat is Adrien, the very Chosen One prince guy who defeated (or did he?) the Demon Lord. Possibly the funniest character in a funny book, Adrien knows he's not all that inspiring to the people, but he's been hidden away all his life to save the world and he's going to do it, goddammit. And also provide, like, infrastructure and stuff.
This novel is truly about what happens after the final battle, and why saving the realm goes beyond just defeating the Big Evil. A huge part of the conflict between Kat and Emory is that he never really imagined a future outside the army—in part because he assumed he wouldn't make it that long, really. What happens now that they have whole lives ahead of them? Options outside of fighting side by side until they can't fight anymore?
For all that this all sounds very serious, and it is thought-provoking... This is also truly funny (it has one of the better "hide his boner" scenes I've read in a while) and wonderfully queer-normative. When Adrien considers his potential consorts, he considers men and women; Kat and Emory, too, are casually queer. I think everyone is? It's great.
The Sex:
There isn't much sex on the page here—there's one full-ish sex scene, I'd say. Everything else is made up of brief flashbacks, allusions, and tension. But boy, is that tension hot. And what we do get is so well-written, conveying both passion and pent-up, well, love. There's also a rather fun term for magical birth control here (used by both Kat and Emory, yay).
The Conclusion:
I'd recommend this to those who like a bit of coziness in their fantasy, a lot of fun, and a somewhat milder but very real and very heartfelt romance arc. Freya Marske fans, look no further! I think this would be right up your alley. And a lot of other alleys, too. It's a lovely book.
Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with a copy fo this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 7, 2025
Cute and not explicit fantasy romance, The forces of darkness were about to take over the world and a couple soldiers thinking it’s their last night alive get together. Then the day is saved and they have the long march back to the capital to figure out what’s next for them. Stands alone and fun read.
May 27, 2025
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.
(DNF at 30%)
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.
(DNF at 30%)
August 8, 2025
Emily Skrutskie doing fantasy was unexpected but not unwelcome--and she did it wonderfully! Bright and fun, full of wild action sequences and soft character moments, this book is exactly the vibe I love.
did-not-finish
August 23, 2025dnf at chapter five (13%). the beginning was very confusing and didn't grab my interest enough for me to push through.
June 20, 2025
This book was such a delight
Skrutskie has a gift for writing stories that consume you! Once I began, I didn’t want to stop.
Despite the extremely high stakes situations, the story remains cozy and comforting. The characters will tug at your heartstrings from the very first page. I loved the romance! Sweet and steamy. Their story is so beautiful.
The token based magic system is really fresh and inventive. I’m always happy when a book introduces a magical concept I haven’t seen before!
Warning!! Have some snacks nearby because this book will make you hungry (trust)
If you love:
✨Unique magic systems
⭐️A cinnamon roll MMC
✨War tactics/political intrigue
⭐️D&D vibes
✨Battle couples
Then I highly recommend this one!
Thank you Del Rey for the gifted advanced copy!
Skrutskie has a gift for writing stories that consume you! Once I began, I didn’t want to stop.
Despite the extremely high stakes situations, the story remains cozy and comforting. The characters will tug at your heartstrings from the very first page. I loved the romance! Sweet and steamy. Their story is so beautiful.
The token based magic system is really fresh and inventive. I’m always happy when a book introduces a magical concept I haven’t seen before!
Warning!! Have some snacks nearby because this book will make you hungry (trust)
If you love:
✨Unique magic systems
⭐️A cinnamon roll MMC
✨War tactics/political intrigue
⭐️D&D vibes
✨Battle couples
Then I highly recommend this one!
Thank you Del Rey for the gifted advanced copy!
June 14, 2025
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.
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.
June 25, 2025
What an incredibly unique and fun and cozy and inviting book despite the twists, turns, and nerve wracking bumps in the road along the journey!!!
I LOVED the experience of reading A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace! I have no history (at all!) with D&D but after hearing this book compared to D&D it has absolutely sparked my interest. I also love Emily being inspired by LOTR when writing this book and her comments about how the two relate!
Reading this book felt like a welcome departure from reality in that certain stigmas and beauty standards were abandoned within the pages and in many ways flipped on their heads! At the same time, the book was so relatable in the sense that many times the citizens doing the hardest work were often times the most overlooked. Likewise that certain classes were only elevated because of wealth and privilege that had been passed down from generation to generation. So while this was absolutely a romantic fantasy book to escape into, there was still so much depth and gravity inside.
And BOY DID I LOVE EMORY! I love a MMC who wears his heart on his sleeve. The way Emory clearly and quietly loved Kat throughout was beautiful. Anytime we would get a glimpse at the way he would look at her or the gentle ways he would touch her… those were my favorites. I really enjoyed that he loved Kat as she was and saw her so fully.
Because what is there not to love about Katrien?! I LOVE HER WONDERFUL SELF. I thoroughly enjoyed walking this journey alongside Kat. Her unique balance of self assuredness and insecurity was so relatable and was her moral code. I just really love everyone we got the chance to meet in this book. What a cast of loveable guys and gals. I loved Mira and Sawyer and Carrick and Giselle and Von and Giselle! It’s gonna be hard setting these guys back down.
And to speak cryptically and in a way as to not give away spoilers? The golden blur. Oh. My. I sobbed. And the part once we saw a beautiful glass ceiling? I just knew what would happen next! What a book!
Any final thoughts? I truly loved this one and only wish we had gotten more on-the-page romantic moments between Emory and Kat. I also would have loved to see more of their relationship and how it grew over the three years that the two were battle buddies. With that said, I’m very happy with the story we did get!
Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace in exchange for my review! And thanks to Emily Skrutskie for crafting this wonderful story!!!
I LOVED the experience of reading A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace! I have no history (at all!) with D&D but after hearing this book compared to D&D it has absolutely sparked my interest. I also love Emily being inspired by LOTR when writing this book and her comments about how the two relate!
Reading this book felt like a welcome departure from reality in that certain stigmas and beauty standards were abandoned within the pages and in many ways flipped on their heads! At the same time, the book was so relatable in the sense that many times the citizens doing the hardest work were often times the most overlooked. Likewise that certain classes were only elevated because of wealth and privilege that had been passed down from generation to generation. So while this was absolutely a romantic fantasy book to escape into, there was still so much depth and gravity inside.
And BOY DID I LOVE EMORY! I love a MMC who wears his heart on his sleeve. The way Emory clearly and quietly loved Kat throughout was beautiful. Anytime we would get a glimpse at the way he would look at her or the gentle ways he would touch her… those were my favorites. I really enjoyed that he loved Kat as she was and saw her so fully.
Because what is there not to love about Katrien?! I LOVE HER WONDERFUL SELF. I thoroughly enjoyed walking this journey alongside Kat. Her unique balance of self assuredness and insecurity was so relatable and was her moral code. I just really love everyone we got the chance to meet in this book. What a cast of loveable guys and gals. I loved Mira and Sawyer and Carrick and Giselle and Von and Giselle! It’s gonna be hard setting these guys back down.
And to speak cryptically and in a way as to not give away spoilers? The golden blur. Oh. My. I sobbed. And the part once we saw a beautiful glass ceiling? I just knew what would happen next! What a book!
Any final thoughts? I truly loved this one and only wish we had gotten more on-the-page romantic moments between Emory and Kat. I also would have loved to see more of their relationship and how it grew over the three years that the two were battle buddies. With that said, I’m very happy with the story we did get!
Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace in exchange for my review! And thanks to Emily Skrutskie for crafting this wonderful story!!!
May 22, 2025
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!
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!
June 22, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
If you're looking for a sweet, low-stakes romance with just the right amount of magic and action mixed in, this is the read for you. I've always been curious about what the normal soldiers were up to while the big chosen heroes were saving the day, and this scratched that itch perfectly. The author did an amazing job giving us the soldiers' perspective, and you can tell the amount of research that was done to make the army feel real and competent. Kat was a great protagonist; she's said to only be about 21 but she and her love interest definitely felt like they could've been up to their 30s even, they were both so mature about the problems that came their way. I also appreciated the fact that Kat is a big, broad-shouldered, muscled woman who's larger than most people, including her love interest, which was incredibly refreshing to see. Emory himself was sweet and a little bit dorky, and his quest to try all the foods on the list he and Kat made together was one of the cutest things in this book. Their romance was very sweet and believable; normally with friends-to-lovers, I feel a lot of authors rely too much on backstory that the audience doesn't get to see but here, Emory and Kat's relationship was fleshed out well on the page, and you easily get the sense that the two of them match each other perfectly as comrades, friends, and lovers. The obstacles that prevented them from being together were also realistic for soldiers in their positions. The side characters were really charming as well; everyone from the golden prince Adrien to their comrades in their decade felt like real people navigating the world around them. My only nitpick would be that I wish there had been more hints about the real traitor before the final, sudden reveal, as I think that could have added a lot to the character's arc. Other than that, I absolutely adored this book, and while I have eagerly added the author's sci-fi series to my TBR, I hope they continue delving into writing fantasy. I'm excited to see what's next!
If you're looking for a sweet, low-stakes romance with just the right amount of magic and action mixed in, this is the read for you. I've always been curious about what the normal soldiers were up to while the big chosen heroes were saving the day, and this scratched that itch perfectly. The author did an amazing job giving us the soldiers' perspective, and you can tell the amount of research that was done to make the army feel real and competent. Kat was a great protagonist; she's said to only be about 21 but she and her love interest definitely felt like they could've been up to their 30s even, they were both so mature about the problems that came their way. I also appreciated the fact that Kat is a big, broad-shouldered, muscled woman who's larger than most people, including her love interest, which was incredibly refreshing to see. Emory himself was sweet and a little bit dorky, and his quest to try all the foods on the list he and Kat made together was one of the cutest things in this book. Their romance was very sweet and believable; normally with friends-to-lovers, I feel a lot of authors rely too much on backstory that the audience doesn't get to see but here, Emory and Kat's relationship was fleshed out well on the page, and you easily get the sense that the two of them match each other perfectly as comrades, friends, and lovers. The obstacles that prevented them from being together were also realistic for soldiers in their positions. The side characters were really charming as well; everyone from the golden prince Adrien to their comrades in their decade felt like real people navigating the world around them. My only nitpick would be that I wish there had been more hints about the real traitor before the final, sudden reveal, as I think that could have added a lot to the character's arc. Other than that, I absolutely adored this book, and while I have eagerly added the author's sci-fi series to my TBR, I hope they continue delving into writing fantasy. I'm excited to see what's next!
August 4, 2025
In this charming fantasy with a swoony friends-to-lovers romance, two soldiers must decide the futures they want in the wake of a last-chance hook-up on the night before the world was supposed to end.
On the eve of the battle that will decide the realm of Telrus’s fate, Katrien takes a hard look at her prospects. A mere legionnaire, she and her spear will be at the fore in the morning, facing off against the Demon Lord and his wretched army, and it’s all but certain she’ll perish in the fight. But if the end of the world is mere hours away, there’s no reason not to hook up with her handsome, dedicated battle partner Emory—despite any anti-fraternization policies their centurion may have in place.
Only, the world doesn’t end the next day. Instead, an insufferable prince raised in hiding comes out of nowhere with a plucky band of heroes, defeats the Demon Lord, and seals the rift to the hellish plane. The realm is saved. The war is over. And Kat suddenly has a lot more future than she knows what to do with. It’s a future that could include Emory . . . if only he weren’t so set on staying enlisted with the very army Kat was unwillingly drafted into.
And while the Demon Lord has been destroyed, peace is still a long march away. When Kat inadvertently draws the eye of the prince, she, Emory, and the rest of their motley unit are pulled to the fore of the formation—and the heart of the danger—as the army embarks on one last campaign. The mission: laying a road as a foundation for the prince’s future rule. The real mission: scouring the last of the Demon Lord’s servants from the material plane.
As Kat and Emory work to secure a lasting peace, they’ll have to decide what they want their futures to look like—and if there’s room for love at the end of the road.
Heather's Notes
I liked this story until the end. While it does have the HEA, I did not like how easily they both gave up on being together. Neither one of them was willing to fight for it. Also they didn't finally come to their sense - something outside of them happened to keep her from marrying the prince - which felt like a cop out. I also didn't really care about the epilogue, it was a bit anti-climatic. Especially since this looks like it is a standalone. Still apparently this was the author's first romance story, so not bad.
On the eve of the battle that will decide the realm of Telrus’s fate, Katrien takes a hard look at her prospects. A mere legionnaire, she and her spear will be at the fore in the morning, facing off against the Demon Lord and his wretched army, and it’s all but certain she’ll perish in the fight. But if the end of the world is mere hours away, there’s no reason not to hook up with her handsome, dedicated battle partner Emory—despite any anti-fraternization policies their centurion may have in place.
Only, the world doesn’t end the next day. Instead, an insufferable prince raised in hiding comes out of nowhere with a plucky band of heroes, defeats the Demon Lord, and seals the rift to the hellish plane. The realm is saved. The war is over. And Kat suddenly has a lot more future than she knows what to do with. It’s a future that could include Emory . . . if only he weren’t so set on staying enlisted with the very army Kat was unwillingly drafted into.
And while the Demon Lord has been destroyed, peace is still a long march away. When Kat inadvertently draws the eye of the prince, she, Emory, and the rest of their motley unit are pulled to the fore of the formation—and the heart of the danger—as the army embarks on one last campaign. The mission: laying a road as a foundation for the prince’s future rule. The real mission: scouring the last of the Demon Lord’s servants from the material plane.
As Kat and Emory work to secure a lasting peace, they’ll have to decide what they want their futures to look like—and if there’s room for love at the end of the road.
Heather's Notes
I liked this story until the end. While it does have the HEA, I did not like how easily they both gave up on being together. Neither one of them was willing to fight for it. Also they didn't finally come to their sense - something outside of them happened to keep her from marrying the prince - which felt like a cop out. I also didn't really care about the epilogue, it was a bit anti-climatic. Especially since this looks like it is a standalone. Still apparently this was the author's first romance story, so not bad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2025
Imagine: You and your best friend, closest confidant, and partner in battle know that you will be making your last stand tomorrow. Your commanding officer is at a meeting, her tent is empty... I mean you might as well break the bed and have some great sex before you die, right?
Yeah well now what do you do that you survived not only the battle, but the whole war?
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Release Date: Jun. 24 2025
Tropes
• Friends to Lovers
• One Night Stand (night before events of this book)
• ✨️The Chosen One✨️
• "Well the big bad is defeated... Now what?"
• Rebuilding Society
• Funny Side Characters
• Cozy vibes
I wasn't exactly sure how this was going to go, but I immediately fell in love with these characters. Kat and Emory are sweet and their feelings for each other is something I could actually feel throughout the story. Adrien is a great side character, and his ending makes complete sense.The story bounces between the decade and the royal/nobles, and how Kat is kind of stuck in the middle of it all due to her single token.
I would be more likely to recommend this to fantasy readers that want a cozy romance rather than romance readers, just because the romance is closer to a subplot here. Did I mind that? Nope! It's perhaps better since we don't really get a 3rd act breakup with this!!
Overall, a really nice read that is, all things considered, a really soft story about finding love and making each day something worth sharing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey for providing an eARC in exchange for this honest review.
Yeah well now what do you do that you survived not only the battle, but the whole war?
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Release Date: Jun. 24 2025
Tropes
• Friends to Lovers
• One Night Stand (night before events of this book)
• ✨️The Chosen One✨️
• "Well the big bad is defeated... Now what?"
• Rebuilding Society
• Funny Side Characters
• Cozy vibes
I wasn't exactly sure how this was going to go, but I immediately fell in love with these characters. Kat and Emory are sweet and their feelings for each other is something I could actually feel throughout the story. Adrien is a great side character, and his ending makes complete sense.The story bounces between the decade and the royal/nobles, and how Kat is kind of stuck in the middle of it all due to her single token.
I would be more likely to recommend this to fantasy readers that want a cozy romance rather than romance readers, just because the romance is closer to a subplot here. Did I mind that? Nope! It's perhaps better since we don't really get a 3rd act breakup with this!!
Overall, a really nice read that is, all things considered, a really soft story about finding love and making each day something worth sharing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey for providing an eARC in exchange for this honest review.
July 26, 2025
3.75 rounded up
This was a fun little romance focused on two foot soldiers who have been fighting as a pair in the demon wars. I loved that this story chose to focus on regular people instead of the heroes (although the heroes do appear as side characters). I actually wish I'd gotten more time with the other solders in their unit - some of them seemed really endearing and I was a bit sad that we didn't double down on prioritizing the regular people stories over the Prince and his group of friends. But overall, I enjoyed this and found the grittiness of focusing on common soldiers to be a great change from many of the other fantasy stories on the market!
Spoilers for the ending...
My biggest drawback was that I didn't feel like the ending gave the main couple much agency in committing to their relationship. The male lead decides to step out of the way when Kat receives a marriage proposal, and I was a bit disappointed that he didn't fight to be with her more (although I understood his reasoning). On the flip side, even though it seemed like Kat might turn down the proposal, the decision is ultimately out of her hands because the Prince rescinds it first. Between these two events, it just left me feeling like the couple ended up together through outside influences rather than either intentionally choosing the other. It was still a sweet ending, but I wish they'd had more agency there.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was a fun little romance focused on two foot soldiers who have been fighting as a pair in the demon wars. I loved that this story chose to focus on regular people instead of the heroes (although the heroes do appear as side characters). I actually wish I'd gotten more time with the other solders in their unit - some of them seemed really endearing and I was a bit sad that we didn't double down on prioritizing the regular people stories over the Prince and his group of friends. But overall, I enjoyed this and found the grittiness of focusing on common soldiers to be a great change from many of the other fantasy stories on the market!
Spoilers for the ending...
My biggest drawback was that I didn't feel like the ending gave the main couple much agency in committing to their relationship. The male lead decides to step out of the way when Kat receives a marriage proposal, and I was a bit disappointed that he didn't fight to be with her more (although I understood his reasoning). On the flip side, even though it seemed like Kat might turn down the proposal, the decision is ultimately out of her hands because the Prince rescinds it first. Between these two events, it just left me feeling like the couple ended up together through outside influences rather than either intentionally choosing the other. It was still a sweet ending, but I wish they'd had more agency there.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 24, 2025
I got a free advanced copy of this book from the Penguin Random House booth at Emerald City Comic Con. Thanks to PRH for the free copy and ECCC for having them there.
There are people who will call this a romantasy, and I feel like the publisher wants to lump it into that category because it's a category that's incredibly popular right now. But I refuse to put it in that category because (at least to me) that category is full of things that this book does not have and that only makes it better in my opinion. I'm not going to make this about all the things I don't like about romantasy but know that I generally don't like it, and I want to be up front of about that in case it's going to somehow change your opinion of my opinion (if that makes any sense at all). This is not a romantasy, it is a fantasy that has a romance in it.
This book is excellent, and it deserves to fly off the shelves. I hope it does well when it comes out.
I read Emily Skrutskie's first duology what feels like a million years ago and loved it, and I hadn't actually been aware she was taking the plunge into fantasy until I got this book handed to me at the comic con. I was excited about reading it because I always liked her sci fi and I was not disappointed.
First off, Kat's a great protagonist. She's not some chosen one, she's not some super special person with some unusual skill set, she's just a soldier who happens to have a single magic token that she doesn't even really know how to use. She's served in the army after being drafted for three years, fighting a demon army. She's down to earth, and realistically exasperated and overwhelmed. She does things not because she's a chosen one but because she's a soldier and she does her best to keep the people in her unit safe.
Second, the supporting characters are well drawn. The prince especially is interesting because he's irritating and tone deaf at first and slowly evolves into someone who isn't exactly a man of the people, but who at least seems to genuinely understand that he needs to pay some attention to the "little people", even if he's not perfect at that either.
(Kat's commanding officer, Mira, is someone I could read a whole book about)
Third, I found the magic system and world really interesting. It's all sort of based in religious terminology (the army is literally fighting devils and dark lords who came from the Mouth of Hell; the nobility and commanding officers of each until are all given superhuman powers by gold tokens that serve as conduits to allow them to utilize power granted by angels of the Host), but there's no proscribed morality or anything. It's just angels vs. devils and therefore the army wasn't fighting against another group of humans over territory or power, they were literally fighting not to get conquered by literal demons.
The romance is with a fellow soldier who is her closest friend, and their love is based on mutual affection and respect that they're technically not allowed to act on because of military regulations. The romance itself was fine. I thought Emory was a good guy, and that the way it was woven through the story didn't overwhelm the rest of the plot and didn't take away from the main plot which was in large part about Kat reaching her full potential and also trying to figure out what to do now that she no longer had to worry about fighting all the time.
There was very little complain about with this book. The plot, the writing, the characters, the setting, the worldbuilding... all of it was great. And perhaps it's unfair of me but I knocked off .5 of a star because of one thing that happened when the book was almost over because it's one of my least favorite romantic roadblocks (I'll put it below a spoiler warning below; and honestly it might not even bother you... it didn't hold things up for long so I can't be THAT mad, but it really is one of my all time least favorites)
Anyway, in conclusion, 4.5 stars, great book. If you're looking for a fantasy book with a romance in it, this is definitely a winner. Definitely the advance copy I got from ECCC that I've enjoyed the most so far.
SPOILER BELOW
The thing that made me take .5 of a star away: at one point, the prince proposes to Kat (it's not a love triangle, thank god, he's just got to get married and she's a pragmatic choice for him), she's essentially decided to say no, but Emory decides (despite the fact that she tells him out loud more than once that she DOES NOT WANT to marry the prince, that it would be like being drafted into the army, something she hated because it took all her choices away from her and would lock her into a marriage with a man she finds exhausting and infuriating to deal with) that he "loves her too much" to be the thing that makes her "throw away this great opportunity". This just pisses me off. I get that it's partly because of his own insecurity (he's a penniless orphan who volunteered for the army), but my god do I hate the whole "I'm doing this for your own good" thing.
She's perfectly clear how she hates the whole idea of being married to him, how trapped she feels by it, how much she loves Emory... but no. He's got to be all senselessly noble, deciding what HE thinks will be better for her without actually listening to what SHE wants. Maybe I'm just naive, but if someone you love tells you they love you and DO NOT WANT to marry someone else, LISTEN TO THEM.
Again, it doesn't take long for the situation to get resolved, but this chapter made me so angry I had to put the book down for a minute. Anyway, this may be a thing that is just specific to me, so who knows if anyone else would even be bothered in the slightest, and in the end it's still a really good book.
There are people who will call this a romantasy, and I feel like the publisher wants to lump it into that category because it's a category that's incredibly popular right now. But I refuse to put it in that category because (at least to me) that category is full of things that this book does not have and that only makes it better in my opinion. I'm not going to make this about all the things I don't like about romantasy but know that I generally don't like it, and I want to be up front of about that in case it's going to somehow change your opinion of my opinion (if that makes any sense at all). This is not a romantasy, it is a fantasy that has a romance in it.
This book is excellent, and it deserves to fly off the shelves. I hope it does well when it comes out.
I read Emily Skrutskie's first duology what feels like a million years ago and loved it, and I hadn't actually been aware she was taking the plunge into fantasy until I got this book handed to me at the comic con. I was excited about reading it because I always liked her sci fi and I was not disappointed.
First off, Kat's a great protagonist. She's not some chosen one, she's not some super special person with some unusual skill set, she's just a soldier who happens to have a single magic token that she doesn't even really know how to use. She's served in the army after being drafted for three years, fighting a demon army. She's down to earth, and realistically exasperated and overwhelmed. She does things not because she's a chosen one but because she's a soldier and she does her best to keep the people in her unit safe.
Second, the supporting characters are well drawn. The prince especially is interesting because he's irritating and tone deaf at first and slowly evolves into someone who isn't exactly a man of the people, but who at least seems to genuinely understand that he needs to pay some attention to the "little people", even if he's not perfect at that either.
(Kat's commanding officer, Mira, is someone I could read a whole book about)
Third, I found the magic system and world really interesting. It's all sort of based in religious terminology (the army is literally fighting devils and dark lords who came from the Mouth of Hell; the nobility and commanding officers of each until are all given superhuman powers by gold tokens that serve as conduits to allow them to utilize power granted by angels of the Host), but there's no proscribed morality or anything. It's just angels vs. devils and therefore the army wasn't fighting against another group of humans over territory or power, they were literally fighting not to get conquered by literal demons.
The romance is with a fellow soldier who is her closest friend, and their love is based on mutual affection and respect that they're technically not allowed to act on because of military regulations. The romance itself was fine. I thought Emory was a good guy, and that the way it was woven through the story didn't overwhelm the rest of the plot and didn't take away from the main plot which was in large part about Kat reaching her full potential and also trying to figure out what to do now that she no longer had to worry about fighting all the time.
There was very little complain about with this book. The plot, the writing, the characters, the setting, the worldbuilding... all of it was great. And perhaps it's unfair of me but I knocked off .5 of a star because of one thing that happened when the book was almost over because it's one of my least favorite romantic roadblocks (I'll put it below a spoiler warning below; and honestly it might not even bother you... it didn't hold things up for long so I can't be THAT mad, but it really is one of my all time least favorites)
Anyway, in conclusion, 4.5 stars, great book. If you're looking for a fantasy book with a romance in it, this is definitely a winner. Definitely the advance copy I got from ECCC that I've enjoyed the most so far.
SPOILER BELOW
The thing that made me take .5 of a star away: at one point, the prince proposes to Kat (it's not a love triangle, thank god, he's just got to get married and she's a pragmatic choice for him), she's essentially decided to say no, but Emory decides (despite the fact that she tells him out loud more than once that she DOES NOT WANT to marry the prince, that it would be like being drafted into the army, something she hated because it took all her choices away from her and would lock her into a marriage with a man she finds exhausting and infuriating to deal with) that he "loves her too much" to be the thing that makes her "throw away this great opportunity". This just pisses me off. I get that it's partly because of his own insecurity (he's a penniless orphan who volunteered for the army), but my god do I hate the whole "I'm doing this for your own good" thing.
She's perfectly clear how she hates the whole idea of being married to him, how trapped she feels by it, how much she loves Emory... but no. He's got to be all senselessly noble, deciding what HE thinks will be better for her without actually listening to what SHE wants. Maybe I'm just naive, but if someone you love tells you they love you and DO NOT WANT to marry someone else, LISTEN TO THEM.
Again, it doesn't take long for the situation to get resolved, but this chapter made me so angry I had to put the book down for a minute. Anyway, this may be a thing that is just specific to me, so who knows if anyone else would even be bothered in the slightest, and in the end it's still a really good book.
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