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nekoprankster218 's review for:
This Is How You Lose the Time War
by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Sometimes books / stories go viral because they're just that good. I am glad that this one wasn't all just hype.
A classic enemies-to-lovers / star-crossed lovers story between two wildly different entities on two different sides of a brutal war that sees them as rivals until the unthinkable happens - they fall in love. Originally mistook this as a ergodic novel, but it ended up just being epistolary with a dash of mysterious details in the narrative that come together at the end and then some.
It's kind of spoilers to say so, but I'll keep it vague outside of the spoiler block and then those interested can see my reasoning: but this lowkey feels like soulmates territory.I say this because, by the end, it's clear that Red and Blue were always destined to be together. Due to the nature of time travel and paradoxes and stuff, their romance had already been pre-destined since they first took breath. The Red from the end of their romance had infected the Blue from before their romance with the influence to start the fateful letter correspondence in the first place, and Blue throughout their romance had planted the seeds that would give Red this idea and the tools to carry it out. It might be a stretch, but I'm into unconventional, unique takes on the soulmates trope.
About the only two issues I have is that when the romantic feels hit it felt kind of sudden and fast, and also some parts had confused me(such as Red's concerns of a shadow, which I think might've just been the seeker, but the particular usage of titles throughout the story makes me unsure if they were one in the same or in fact two different stalkers) . However, I decided not to let those keep this from being 5 stars - I can forgive the romance for being a bit quick due to the short length of the book and for the most part I feel like the stuff that had been confusing got answered.
I am curious if this will ever get a sequel, given the ending. I would be fine without it, and even feel a bit concerned if a sequel might not land as well. It's really just the plot of the Time War that feels like has more to potentially tell, but perhaps not much more about Red and Blue that would justify another full story on them (unless the sequel features them as background / side characters in another's story in the same setting?).
A classic enemies-to-lovers / star-crossed lovers story between two wildly different entities on two different sides of a brutal war that sees them as rivals until the unthinkable happens - they fall in love. Originally mistook this as a ergodic novel, but it ended up just being epistolary with a dash of mysterious details in the narrative that come together at the end and then some.
It's kind of spoilers to say so, but I'll keep it vague outside of the spoiler block and then those interested can see my reasoning: but this lowkey feels like soulmates territory.
About the only two issues I have is that when the romantic feels hit it felt kind of sudden and fast, and also some parts had confused me
I am curious if this will ever get a sequel, given the ending. I would be fine without it, and even feel a bit concerned if a sequel might not land as well. It's really just the plot of the Time War that feels like has more to potentially tell, but perhaps not much more about Red and Blue that would justify another full story on them (unless the sequel features them as background / side characters in another's story in the same setting?).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, War
Moderate: Animal death, Xenophobia, Blood, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture