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A review by floral_knight
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Imagine Interstellar but poetic and sapphic. (But not exactly).
I did not expect to be reading poetic and sapphic Interstellar, so it took me a second to adjust to the prose. Once I did, it was a fabulous, wonderful, enrapturing journey. The worldbuilding is so imaginative and compelling; although part of me wants a no nonsense book set in this universe so I can better understand the mechanics of everything, the twisting poetry felt necessary. It will turn you inside out. You'll read a sentance three times: once to begin, twice to comprehend, thrice to savor.
This is a novella, so it can't do full justice to the universe they created. There's not enough time. I'm sure there are other gaps in quality that other readers have noticed, but if you're a fan of literature that describes depths equal parts grotesque and beautiful, you'll understand why this is a 5 star read.
I did not expect to be reading poetic and sapphic Interstellar, so it took me a second to adjust to the prose. Once I did, it was a fabulous, wonderful, enrapturing journey. The worldbuilding is so imaginative and compelling; although part of me wants a no nonsense book set in this universe so I can better understand the mechanics of everything, the twisting poetry felt necessary. It will turn you inside out. You'll read a sentance three times: once to begin, twice to comprehend, thrice to savor.
This is a novella, so it can't do full justice to the universe they created. There's not enough time. I'm sure there are other gaps in quality that other readers have noticed, but if you're a fan of literature that describes depths equal parts grotesque and beautiful, you'll understand why this is a 5 star read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Torture, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Self harm, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt