A review by bookheathens
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

“There is a kind of time travel in letters, isn’t there? I imagine you laughing at my small joke; I imagine you groaning; I imagine you throwing my words away. Do I have you still? Do I address empty air and the flies that will eat this carcass? You could leave me for five years, you could return never--and I have to write the rest of this not knowing.” 


As agents Red and Blue travel back and forth through time, altering the history of multiple universes on behalf of their warring empires, they leave each other secret messages—at first taunting, but gradually developing into flirtation and then love.

“She supposes even infinity has to start somewhere.” 


This is How you Lose the Time War is the perfect example of “less is more.” Could this story have been another 300-500 page novel? Quite possibly. But instead, El-Mohtar and Gladstone created a sapphic, sci-fi, time travel... masterpiece.

I will warn all readers that you can’t go into this book trying immediately to understand every small detail of this book. You will read the first couple of chapters and then try to understand and connect everything. DON’T TRY TOO HARD! I know, I know, it’s difficult. But you’re only meant to pick up the breadcrumbs and hold them. Hold them close, enjoy the letters as they move to and fro, then when the authors want you to... It will all click, and suddenly you’re an emotional mess at your work desk... Oh. Just me? Okay, oops. But suddenly, it will make sense, and you’ll keep reading through to the end. Then you too, will come to the point of needing to form words to review this book, and you’ll struggle. It’s too hard to explain the glory of this book without giving away spoilers. 

This novella is incredible, and I recommend both a physical read and the audiobook. 🖤