Scan barcode
A review by weird_but_fucking_beautiful
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
challenging
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.5
But when I think of you, I want to be alone together. I want to strive against and for. I want to live in contact. I want to be a context for you, and you for me. I love you, and I love you, and I want to find out what that means together.”
This Is How You Lose The Time War, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone’s joint venture tells the story of Red and Blue, sworn enemies fighting on different sides in a Time war. While Red and Blue hop in and out of strands of time furthering their causes, they begin exchanging letters. Thus begins an illicit love story told through the promise of words written, and the impact that time has on all of us.
The one thing this book doesn’t do is spoon feed you any context. You are dropped into the narrative like a parachuter who misses the mark. It takes some time to get your bearings. Add in a prose which is lush and beautiful, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll need to read passages two or three times to gain precious understanding. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that except it took me personally out of the narrative flow in some instances. The book itself is short, but it uses its brevity constructively to say what it has to say. It is a beautiful and slow seduction through words that is as intricate as it is simple. I particularly liked the creativity in how the letters were sent. Chef’s kiss to the authors for the ending.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves words, is a fan of time travel novels, and is patient enough to allow the story to unfold at its own pace.
4.5 stars for me. A half a star off because I need a little more context going into a book.
This Is How You Lose The Time War, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone’s joint venture tells the story of Red and Blue, sworn enemies fighting on different sides in a Time war. While Red and Blue hop in and out of strands of time furthering their causes, they begin exchanging letters. Thus begins an illicit love story told through the promise of words written, and the impact that time has on all of us.
The one thing this book doesn’t do is spoon feed you any context. You are dropped into the narrative like a parachuter who misses the mark. It takes some time to get your bearings. Add in a prose which is lush and beautiful, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll need to read passages two or three times to gain precious understanding. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that except it took me personally out of the narrative flow in some instances. The book itself is short, but it uses its brevity constructively to say what it has to say. It is a beautiful and slow seduction through words that is as intricate as it is simple. I particularly liked the creativity in how the letters were sent. Chef’s kiss to the authors for the ending.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves words, is a fan of time travel novels, and is patient enough to allow the story to unfold at its own pace.
4.5 stars for me. A half a star off because I need a little more context going into a book.