This Is How You Lose the Time War
* HUGO AWARD WINNER: BEST NOVELLA * NEBULA AND LOCUS AWARDS WINNER: BEST NOVELLA *
“[An] exquisitely crafted tale...Part epistolary romance, part mind-blowing science fiction adventure, this dazzling story unfolds bit by bit, revealing layers of meaning as it plays with cause and effect, wildly imaginative technologies, and increasingly intricate wordplay...This short novel warrants multiple readings to fully unlock its complexities.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
From award-winning authors Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone comes an enthralling, romantic novel spanning time and space about two time-traveling rivals who fall in love and must change the past to ensure their future.
Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandment finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading.
Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, becomes something more. Something epic. Something romantic. Something that could change the past and the future.
Except the discovery of their bond would mean the death of each of them. There’s still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win. That’s how war works, right?
Cowritten by two beloved and award-winning sci-fi writers, This Is How You Lose the Time War is an epic love story spanning time and space.
“[An] exquisitely crafted tale...Part epistolary romance, part mind-blowing science fiction adventure, this dazzling story unfolds bit by bit, revealing layers of meaning as it plays with cause and effect, wildly imaginative technologies, and increasingly intricate wordplay...This short novel warrants multiple readings to fully unlock its complexities.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
From award-winning authors Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone comes an enthralling, romantic novel spanning time and space about two time-traveling rivals who fall in love and must change the past to ensure their future.
Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandment finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading.
Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, becomes something more. Something epic. Something romantic. Something that could change the past and the future.
Except the discovery of their bond would mean the death of each of them. There’s still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win. That’s how war works, right?
Cowritten by two beloved and award-winning sci-fi writers, This Is How You Lose the Time War is an epic love story spanning time and space.
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Community Reviews
(4 stars) I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the love story is beautiful & got me in my feels towards the end. I would’ve given 4.5 but initially in the beginning I was a tad confused on what was all taking place!
This book is such a fresh perspective out there in the book world. I went into this book blindly, not knowing the format, nor the depth of it's intricacies with science, and physics, and understanding time in the concept of a thread that can be traversed.
While I enjoyed this thoroughly, I did listen to this book, so it made it hard to follow unless I was expressly paying attention to it just due to those intricacies. Which genuinely props to the authors, it is so unique I am in awe! The character's banter through their letters that grows more and more flirty, fond, and secretive was extremely fun to follow. As a listener/consumer, it feels like I'm listening in on something I shouldn't know which of course is also a plot point here - them not wanting to be found out.
The twist too!! I really sat there for a few minutes after trying to explain to my husband how well rounded/thought out this was to ensure these two characters could end up together! Loved this, really fun to try something in this format.
While I enjoyed this thoroughly, I did listen to this book, so it made it hard to follow unless I was expressly paying attention to it just due to those intricacies. Which genuinely props to the authors, it is so unique I am in awe! The character's banter through their letters that grows more and more flirty, fond, and secretive was extremely fun to follow. As a listener/consumer, it feels like I'm listening in on something I shouldn't know which of course is also a plot point here - them not wanting to be found out.
The twist too!! I really sat there for a few minutes after trying to explain to my husband how well rounded/thought out this was to ensure these two characters could end up together! Loved this, really fun to try something in this format.
2.5 stars
first of all, i didnât know about the tweet but iâm glad some people who like this book have found it through a tweet!
secondly, this book felt a bit⦠gimmicky? like i enjoyed it occasionally but a lot of it just felt half done. it read more like a fun idea for a story than an actual finished book. i didnât really care for the half explanations of the sci fi threads, and the central relationship was justâthere. which isnât a compliment for a relationship⦠i think it suffered from tell, not show
first of all, i didnât know about the tweet but iâm glad some people who like this book have found it through a tweet!
secondly, this book felt a bit⦠gimmicky? like i enjoyed it occasionally but a lot of it just felt half done. it read more like a fun idea for a story than an actual finished book. i didnât really care for the half explanations of the sci fi threads, and the central relationship was justâthere. which isnât a compliment for a relationship⦠i think it suffered from tell, not show
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