emuhly 's review for:

A Legionnaire's Guide to Love and Peace by Emily Skrutskie

5.0

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i have been looking forward to this one for a long time — i was so excited when my request was approved! and i’m even more excited that it held up to all of my expectations. the set-up for this book is already something very unique — the story starts at what would typically be “the end”, the final epic battle against the forces of darkness. instead of sending our heroes off into their happily ever after beyond the end of the book, we as readers get to see how that happily ever after is really achieved. where do soldiers go once their war is won? what do you do when the simple priority of staying alive is relieved, and all that’s left is to figure out what you want beyond your own survival?

i loved watching kat & emory’s journey through these questions. there’s a lightheartedness to this work that gives the existential dread of facing your own future a bit of levity, but it doesn’t take away from the emotional weight of the two of them grappling with both their individual and joint desires. i am honestly shocked to report that i cried a couple of times over them (i really didn’t think it was that serious, but they crept up on me)! i absolutely loved this one, and i highly recommend it. 

thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.