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

 

"A Legionnaire's Guide to Love and Peace" by Emily Skrutskie is a character-driven romantasy that follows two legionnaires as they navigate both war and the peace that follows. Having read and loved her other book, The Salvation Gambit, I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. More on that later.

The story opens with a battle against the Demon Lord and his minions - a confrontation that will decide the fate of the realm of Telrus. Katrien and her battle partner, Emory, don’t expect to survive it. But help comes from an unexpected source: an insufferable prince raised in hiding swoops in and saves the day. And yet, it’s not over. He has one final mission for Katrien and her decade, after which he’ll release from service those who wish to leave. Katrien must decide what she wants for her future, navigate her new responsibilities, and maybe - just maybe - find love along the way. Not an easy task, especially in an army with strict anti-fraternization policies.

Overall, it’s a solid fantasy filled with rich world-building, vivid and original characters, and a unique magical system. I loved that the legions were modeled after Roman military structure. The idea of tokens needing to be cultivated - and their intriguing source - was a fresh take I really enjoyed. The slow-burn romance was well-developed and built gradually, with some intimate scenes thrown in for good measure. I also enjoyed the interactions between the characters and their conflicts. Skrutskie's writing is good, but the plot itself didn’t always engage me. It lacked momentum and was too slow for my taste, which made it harder to stay invested.

That said, while the story had a lot of potential, it didn’t fully live up to its early promise. The premise is fantastic, but the execution fell a bit flat. The pacing is uneven - moments of high tension are followed by slower, less gripping passages. The beginning hooked me immediately, throwing us into the action and gradually revealing the world. But the middle lagged, with only occasional bursts of action.

For my taste, there simply wasn’t enough going on to keep my attention, and I wasn’t fully invested. It’s not a bad story, but it wasn’t the captivating read I had hoped for. I rate it 3 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to readers who enjoy character-based narratives, slow-burn romance, and detailed world-building - albeit slow-paced ones.

*Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own

* For more info about the book: "A Legionnaire's Guide to Love and Peace" by Emily Skrutskie

"Arcana Academy" by Elise Kova

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Arcana Academy" by Elise Kova is the first book in the Arcana Academy Trilogy, and what a fantastic start it is! This gripping tale masterfully blends romantasy, intrigue, and dark academia, hooking me from the very first sentence.

Written in the first person, the story follows Clara Graysword, who is sent to the Halazar prison for illegally inking tarot cards - a rare and powerful skill among the Arcanists. The narrative unfolds in the Oricalis Kingdom, where only Arcanists who graduate from the Academy are permitted to practice their arts in service to the king and noble houses. Those who fail - or defy the rules - are marked and sent to the mills, where survival rate is rare. While Clara languishes in jail, Prince Kaelis, the second of three royal brothers and the headmaster of the Academy, pays her an unexpected visit, striking an uneasy deal with her. Thus begins a compelling tale brimming with intrigue, secrets, and magic.

I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. Themes of friendship, trust, found family, enemies to lovers, human fallibility, betrayal, and slow-burn romance are expertly woven into a plot full of unexpected twists. As a fan of dark academia, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the students’ lessons and trials. The division into four houses—Wands, Coins, Cups, and Swords—gave me strong Harry Potter vibes, and I adored it!

The dark academia setting, the intricate world-building, and the unique tarot card magic system were all exceptionally well done. The system itself, with its major and minor cards and their varied uses - wielding, inking, and reading - was fascinating. Despite the large cast of characters, the author skillfully made them distinct and easy to follow.

One of the standout moments in the book was Clara’s participation in the Academy trials. These intense and high-stakes contests required her to showcase her inking, reading, and wielding skills to pass to the next level. The suspense of these scenes kept me on the edge of my seat and demonstrated both Clara’s perseverance and the complexity of the magic system.

The complex relationship between the strong-willed protagonist and the brooding dark prince was captivating. While Clara’s impulsiveness could be frustrating at times, her determination made her a protagonist you can’t help but root for. Meanwhile, Prince Kaelis’s many layers added depth and intrigue to his character.

If I have one complaint, it’s the use of the word “fuck” in the text, which felt out of place in the otherwise richly woven world. Additionally, the story dragged slightly in the final section and could have been tightened up. However, these minor issues didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment.

The cliffhanger left me speechless, and I’m eagerly awaiting the second book in the series. Overall, Arcana Academy is a spellbinding start to what promises to be an unforgettable trilogy. If you enjoy stories with morally gray characters, intricate relationships, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, dark academia vibes, excellent writing, and arcane magic, this is the book for you.

A quick note: the book contains a couple of explicit scenes, making it less suitable for younger readers. Personally, I found these scenes unnecessary, as the story was compelling enough without them.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "Arcana Academy" by Elise Kova