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Reviews tagging 'Torture'
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
211 reviews
abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
🎧
I heard good things on about this book on social media. For me, this book was alright. I spent the first part confused.
I heard good things on about this book on social media. For me, this book was alright. I spent the first part confused.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Torture, Body horror, and Blood
Minor: Confinement, Murder, and Animal death
austenite93's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Torture, Violence, and Death
markguitar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
First, I hate the AI generated description and topic list that is listed in Storygraph. It gives away too much. I'd have rather said that two adversaries from rival factions are fighting a time war in which each must go back in time to undo the advances of their rivals. That's the basic plot. To say that they fall in love is to say too much, I think...even though that's really what the book is about. Also, to say that it is LGBTQ themed is really misleading. Yes, the main characters are women who fall in love, which makes it "LGBTQ friendly," but gender is pretty much irrelevant in this book. These characters don't even take on the same physical form from one assignment to the next. This book is romantic, but not in the least bit steamy, sexual, or physical in the least. It is gory and violent, though.
I wasn't sure how to rate this book. 3? 4? Beautifully written. If you like poetry, it's great. I do, but in this book, sometimes the language interferes with the story. It's sometimes hard to figure out what's going on and why. It requires some thought and concentration, which I usually appreciate. In this case, I felt like I had to interpret the poetry as I was reading the story just to understand what some of the imagery was telling me about the characters and the plot. If I'm into poetry, I'll seek it out. When I'm reading sci-fi, I'm looking for something different and this wasn't really it for me. I'm not much into love stories and this is more love story than sci-fi, even though it's loaded with more sci-fi elements than nearly any sci-fi book you'll ever read. To me, the love letters were a bit long and indulgent, which caused an otherwise very short book to drag. However, the end of the book nearly brought me to tears with a real emotional payoff. Thus, I didn't really enjoy the journey, but I appreciated it when I reached the destination.
I wasn't sure how to rate this book. 3? 4? Beautifully written. If you like poetry, it's great. I do, but in this book, sometimes the language interferes with the story. It's sometimes hard to figure out what's going on and why. It requires some thought and concentration, which I usually appreciate. In this case, I felt like I had to interpret the poetry as I was reading the story just to understand what some of the imagery was telling me about the characters and the plot. If I'm into poetry, I'll seek it out. When I'm reading sci-fi, I'm looking for something different and this wasn't really it for me. I'm not much into love stories and this is more love story than sci-fi, even though it's loaded with more sci-fi elements than nearly any sci-fi book you'll ever read. To me, the love letters were a bit long and indulgent, which caused an otherwise very short book to drag. However, the end of the book nearly brought me to tears with a real emotional payoff. Thus, I didn't really enjoy the journey, but I appreciated it when I reached the destination.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Violence, and Gore
ernestoittig's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Torture, and Blood
bloomingbookworm's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Incredibly difficult to follow and understand. The war and two different sides are never explained. There is also no distinguishable differences between the two characters, writing style wise or even emotionally, which made it hard to remember which character’s point of view you were reading. You only get one brief physical description of one of the characters midway through the book, so I couldn’t even visualize the characters in my head. Adding half a star because I did enjoy some of the metaphors, however the purple prose didn’t make up for the lack of world building and character development. If you like ambiguity and books that are up to interpretation, you might enjoy this book, but it wasn’t for me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Violence, Murder, Torture, and War
jayvdw's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
For the past 1,5 years, I have been improving my reading speed. Trying to read faster whilst following the story. This book made me want to slow down for the first time. At first, it was forced, by the complex writing and intriguing world. But quickly it became voluntary, I wanted to take in the beauty and complexity of the book. This book showed me that writing isn't only about reading a story, but simultaneously can be about the beauty of how the story is written. El-Mohtar and Gladstone are masters at their craft, I would not call them writers but wordsmiths. Using specific words to create a gorgeous tale of love, treachery, action, history, and politics.
There is so much to love about this book and the less one knows about it, besides its beauty the better. This book truly gave me a new perspective on books and writing.
This is how we win.
There is so much to love about this book and the less one knows about it, besides its beauty the better. This book truly gave me a new perspective on books and writing.
This is how we win.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Suicide, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture
monstrouscosmos's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Characters: 10/10
Relationships: 10/10
Atmosphere/Setting: 9.5/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Plot/Intrigue: 9.5/10
Internal Logic: 10/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Overall: 68/70, 5*
I love epistolary novels, quantum time travel plots, and messy star crossed sapphic romances, so I figured from the get that I'd be really into this. and I was! I especially loved the ways the characters spoke with one another across timelines, and gave context for themselves as individuals, within their respective collective experiences, and within their shared relationship over time(s). the writing about writing was also really fun! there are definitely moments that delve into disturbing themes and events, but for the most part I found the tone stayed hopeful in belief for better circumstances.
it's definitely something I need to relisten to (I feel like I missed a lot in my first run thru due to the narrative bouncing around quite a lot), but I'm so excited to revisit it!
Relationships: 10/10
Atmosphere/Setting: 9.5/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Plot/Intrigue: 9.5/10
Internal Logic: 10/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Overall: 68/70, 5*
I love epistolary novels, quantum time travel plots, and messy star crossed sapphic romances, so I figured from the get that I'd be really into this. and I was! I especially loved the ways the characters spoke with one another across timelines, and gave context for themselves as individuals, within their respective collective experiences, and within their shared relationship over time(s). the writing about writing was also really fun! there are definitely moments that delve into disturbing themes and events, but for the most part I found the tone stayed hopeful in belief for better circumstances.
it's definitely something I need to relisten to (I feel like I missed a lot in my first run thru due to the narrative bouncing around quite a lot), but I'm so excited to revisit it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Medical trauma, Torture, Abandonment, Colonisation, Animal death, Child abuse, Blood, Cannibalism, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Self harm, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, and Stalking
Minor: Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Cursing
Graphic: spidersbook_benagachi's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Smart, poetic and definitely a romance in that I don't feel like I have any real Idea of who each woman is or why they think they're in love with each other. Also, it doesn't actually show us how you lose the time was. Totally not for me. If you like smart references, poetic writing and zero character depth this is totally for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Gore, Torture, Blood, Murder, and War
kajoreads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It took me a while to get emotionally invested, which isn’t ideal when the book is only 200 pages long.
The last third was worth the wait though.
The last third was worth the wait though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Grief, Violence, and War
Moderate: Colonisation, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Torture
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, and Pandemic/Epidemic
saskiahill's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
If you can, read in one or two sittings as the writing flows and it's not the easiest to keep track of.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Animal death