Reviews with content warning for War - This Is How You Lose the Time War

This is a novella, but it almost reads as poetry in the way that it's written. It's one of those books that you don't really get the entire story until the end, but getting there is definitely worth it. I always enjoy books where a lot of the story is told through letters, and this was no exception. This isn't necessarily the kind of book I would pick up on my own, but I am definitely glad that I read it.

One of my favorite things about this book was the way language was used in very specific ways throughout, to convey emotions, to show what's going on with the Time War, to bring us into this specific world. It's the kind of story that will keep you thinking long after you finish reading it.

Content Warnings

mrmarshall591's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I read this for a queer book club and I was very hesitant at first as the writing style was beautiful yet so difficult for me to understand.

Despite how confused I was throughout the book, I think I was able to follow along well enough to at least very much understand and LOVE the ending.

Also, the cover is beautiful!

Content Warnings

tifftastic87's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective slow-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

Synopsis
Red and Blue are two agents in a war that spans timelines and planes. When Red finds a letter in the ashes of mission she's just completed a correspondence of sorts begins between the two. Boasting and goading quickly becomes discussions of etiquette and philosophies and much more. Over the letters the question remains, will they risk their lives for one another?

Red, Scarlett, Vermilion and Pomegranates
Red begins as untrusting, stiff an methodical in her correspondence. She wants nothing more to win, but as the plot moves she grows and she changes and she becomes something so much more than she was. I loved watching her discover herself and make her own choices about what she will become.

Blue, Sapphire, Indigo, and Waves
Blue begins open and confident, she appears to the be the one of the two who is more willing to take risks. She seems to want more than just winning straight from the beginning. She knows what she wants and she goes for it. I really enjoyed reading her actions and learning about the Garden through her.

Words like rhythm, poetry, and bird song
The way this book is written is lyrical and poetic. Each sentence varies in length, providing a rhythm to the reader. Very little is overtly described, but there is so much given in the prose that imagery, swirling like a fever dream, can be plucked from the words. It is a bit of a wild ride. I was turning pages fast at some points, going back and re-reading sentences at others.

I would do it all over again and strongly recommend it to anyone.

Content Warnings

arlaubscher's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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

4.75

Content Warnings

babudarabu's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

qteabeans's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

What a stellar book. This is my second time reading This Is How You Lose the Time War and it was worth making time for it. It really embodies that sense that queer people will need to create a world of their own to have a place that supports and celebrates their love and connection.

Content Warnings

yourbookishbff's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

Content Warnings

melshoo's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-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

Short (not even 200 pages?!) but packs a punch. I probably highlighted something from every chapter. Really lovely. I’m sure I’ll reread this at some point.

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