Book Review: This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

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Book review of This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Decorative collage for book cover of This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
📝 What is this is how you lose a time war about?:

In a world ravaged by war, a secret letter sparks an unexpected connection between two rival agents from opposing factions. What starts as a competitive exchange evolves into a deep, forbidden romance that could alter the course of time itself. But with their bond risking deadly consequences, they must navigate a dangerous path between love and duty.

📚 Genre: sci-fi Romance
🎧 Format: e-book
💞 Feels: ⭐⭐⭐

I liked reading the messages that the main characters wrote to each other. Seeing all the ways they could call each other “red” or “blue.”

I didn’t really end up caring or identifying with the characters, though. There was a plot, that I thought I should be paying attention to, but realized wasn’t necessary as the book progressed. So there’s a war going on, which is relevant, but the actions happening outside of the correspondence is irrelevant.

The book is mainly vibes and no plot. Not really something I knew I was getting into when I was reading the book. And not really caring about how the characters end up didn’t make the third act where everything is coming together hit how I think it was “supposed” to. But I finished it. And I enjoyed the journey, but I didn’t find the exercise all that revolutionary. Maybe if I knew more about the writing process of two sci-fi authors coming together to write this Romeo & Juliet tale I might be more impressed. Romeo & Juliet is mentioned towards the end of the book, like if you have to tell me what I should be connecting…

You’ll like this book, if…

So I think you’ll like this book, if you’re a cozy mood reader, in the mood for an atmospheric love story where you just need to be carried away by the love overtures.

✅ Spinoff novella nomination: N/A

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments.

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