4.5/5 stars — a fascinating look into infantry formations in ancient western warfare

Myke Cole's nonfiction reflects his deft storytelling, making a potentially dense subject more palatable to fellow lovers of fantasy. Legion versus Phalanx contains enough well-researched detail to appeal to scholars of history but is explained in an unpretentious manner easily parsed by newcomers to the study of this era of history.

I don't read enough nonfiction (particularly military history) to speak to how this book fits with others of its kind, but I did find it more entertaining and easy to understand than similar books I read/studied as a history major in college. I enjoyed looking at ancient war in the Western world through the lens of its infantry and hope to see more nonfiction from Cole in the future.

Note: I took off half a star because I listened to the audiobook, and while it was largely an excellent experience, the narrator had a few inconsistent pronunciations and other minor issues. For anyone who wants to read this, I recommend a physical book (especially since I hear it has maps)!