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

adventurous challenging emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

This book made me question whether or not I was truly a fan of science fiction. While the premise was something I had been incredibly drawn to, the book felt incredibly dense and hard to follow for the majority of the book. When the pieces finally clicked and the ending happened, I found myself reflecting on the book and wishing I had gotten more out of it. The writing was beautiful. The concept was a great premise. I loved the fact that the story had been told out through letters. When Red and Blue begin to fall in love, the story shines. All this aside, the beautiful parts of this book were often hidden away by dense writing or abstract execution. Part of me wonders if this book is best read in print, and not through an audiobook where perspectives can become muddled and words overly dramatic. 
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