A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace, by Emily Skrutskie – A Book Review

Hello, fellow book lovers! I’m excited to share my May Nerd Initiative Book Club pick with you all: Emily Skrutskie’s A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love & Peace. I got the opportunity to deliver a book review for this title before its release next month, and though it’s not my typical genre, I’m very pleased with the novel.

The author of science fiction books such as Hull Metal Girls, Bonds of Brass, and The Abyss Surrounds Us pivots to fantasy romance with this charming tale of two soldiers who hook up before a battle that will surely mean the end of their world… until it doesn’t. Thrust into an uncertain future of peace, these warriors have to search their hearts to find what they might want from this new world and each other.

Skrutskie has crafted an engaging protagonist in Katrien, a spear-bearer in the army of Telrus which has battled a demonic scourge for the past three years of her military conscription alongside her shield-bearer Emory. The book begins after their fateful hookup before the battle that will likely spell their last stand against the Demon Lord and the awkwardness of their fear of discovery. Fraternization of such nature is strictly forbidden, and for good reason – when one’s affections go past camaraderie, one can make foolhardy decisions on the battlefield that jeopardize their entire decade (a battlement company of 10) or century (100, try to keep up).

Skrutskie fills the pages of Legionnaire’s with militaristic formation and hierarchies without bogging the reader down in jargon. She does the same with character names. Though creative enough to convey fantastic elements, she keeps her names from becoming cumbersome. Oftentimes I’ll be reading fantasy and a character will have a multisyllabic name that sounds like someone spelled out the sound of one scatting the guitar line of White Zombie’s “Thunderkiss 65” and I’ll have to employ a kind of selective synesthesia and just say “Your name is D from here on out.” With Skrutskie’s characters, I didn’t need such a tactic.

The characters are believable and relatable. As anyone whose found romance in a hellish work environment can attest, the attraction between Emory and Katrien rings genuine. The other soldiers around them have romances and dreams of their own, and there’s a wonderful diversity represented therein. Romances and attractions are accepted without explanation or apology universally among all characters. From royals to commanders to soldiers and parents. Telrus seems to be a spirited kingdom that has retained its sense of humanity and community even in the face of actual hell erupting onto their land – something we can all relate to and hopefully in which we can find some guidance or inspiration.

The emergence of the royals and their magic adds another layer of hierarchy into the lives of the soldiers, and the emergent peace finds them wondering what a warrior without a war could be. Kat, as one who was drafted into service, is certain she’ll take the opportunity to return to a simple life, while Emory has only ever imagined himself as a warrior. As they share their pasts and hopes for the future, they endear in one another a fuller portrait of who they are. Not as a spear and a shield but as people. 

The monkey wrench that the royals throw into the proceedings created some interesting themes and challenges for the characters. Some of the revelations I was able to predict while others kept me intrigued and surprised as they played out. Prince Adrien bursts onto the scene as a naive and rather braggart hero but softens into something more human as the narrative evolves. Though the main threat is neutralized early in the novel, dangers persist that keep the reader invested in the soldiers and their mission, propelling one to devour the book as quickly as possible.

This book is a swift read which I consumed in three sittings, reading eleven chapters at a time. I often struggled to put it down, enamored with its lyrical prose and balanced light tone despite its heavy themes. I was left besmitten by Katrien and Emily Skrutskie, herself, and eager to discover more of her back catalogue as well as her future. And, interestingly enough, hungry for meat pies and strawberries.

Overall score: 8/10

An endearing protagonist, a “swoony” romance, fierce creatures, magic, and a little bit of smut (Chapter 19) make this a fun read for anyone who appreciates fantasy, romance, or comedy. The book releases as a trade paperback on June 24th from Del Rey Books.

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Will you be reading Emily Skrutskie’s A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love & Peace? Do you have a favorite fantasy romance? Let us know in the comments section below and check back for more reviews.