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.

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Published Mar 17, 2020

Average rating: 6.86

1,039 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *This Is How You Lose the Time War* is a beautifully written, poetic sci-fi novella centered on a unique enemies-to-lovers romance. Review...

Karla
Apr 10, 2026
10/10 stars
It was a beautifully written love story, it could be a little purple prose for some which got me in the beginning but after reading about 15%, I went back and reread the beginning and I feel like you grasp the concept A LOT better.
I believe the flowery language is done on purpose because they’re both trying to impress each other, I know some say it takes away from the plot but THAT is the plot.
The love isn’t just the letters, it’s that they’re 2 agents on opposite ends, they have to undo what the other does, their love is forbidden but it transcends time and space, they’re both so powerful and yet yearn for each other because they can’t have each other no matter what happens.
I love seeing all the historical times and their take on it, no matter how many times over it happened.
I thought it was a great read!!
Annie.S
Sep 13, 2024
5/10 stars
I wish this was a limited series that I could watch. The imagery used in this book would be better understood seen than read. I liked the premise of the story so much but had trouble visualizing it.
faetedfantasy
Aug 18, 2024
10/10 stars
I’m already excited to reread this book! It started out with an incredible humor and transitioned into being hauntingly beautiful.. I’m in absolutely pieces because of this book
Zoe E.
Jul 16, 2024
5/10 stars
This one was just not for me. Had to force myself through it (coming close to DNFing). The conceit is interesting - two agents on opposing sides of a (time) war fall in love, but the love doesn’t really feel earned and we don’t know the characters well enough to be vested. I was able to guess the identity of the seeker quite early. This one just didn’t thrill me.
EricaC
Jun 30, 2024
10/10 stars
The most lovely book - poetry meets sci fi meets love story

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