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33 pages 1 hour read

This Is How You Lose the Time War

Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 2019

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Book Brief

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Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone

This Is How You Lose the Time War

Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 2019
Book Details
Pages

224

Format

Novella • Fiction

Publication Year

2019

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

This Is How You Lose the Time War follows rival agents Red and Blue, who work for the Agency and Garden, respectively, as they travel through time to secure their future. Initially adversaries, they start exchanging letters and eventually fall in love, transforming their mission and leading to a deeper understanding of themselves. The novel contains profanity, violence, and themes of loss and stalking.

Mysterious

Bittersweet

Romantic

Fantastical

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.1

261,051 ratings

68%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone is lauded for its lyrical prose, intricate plot, and deep emotional resonance. Critics praise its innovative narrative and character development, though some find the complex timeline confusing. It is celebrated for its beauty and depth, offering a unique experience in science fiction.

Who should read this

Who Should Read This Is How You Lose the Time War?

Fans of romantic sci-fi with a poetic, lyrical twist will relish This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. Comparable to Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, it captivates readers who enjoy intricate storytelling and imaginative worlds.

4.1

261,051 ratings

68%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

Character List

Blue

Blue is a protagonist in _This Is How You Lose the Time War_. She works as an agent for Garden, a nature-based collective society, and is skilled at weaving braids of time to influence outcomes. Blue is portrayed as fierce, cunning, funny, playful, loving, and tough. She keeps people at a distance but becomes fascinated by Red, an opponent and eventual lover, whom she lets into her life.

Red is a protagonist in _This Is How You Lose the Time War_. Initially an antagonist to Blue, Red works for the Agency, a technological society. She is logical, verbose, technical, intelligent, and awkward, with a deep sense of duty. Over time, her interactions with Blue soften her perspective and lead her to question her blind faith in her cause, demonstrating growth and autonomy.

Book Details
Pages

224

Format

Novella • Fiction

Publication Year

2019

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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