This Is How You Lose the Time War
- Downloads：1433
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-08-14 10:52:47
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Amal El-Mohtar
- ISBN：1534430997
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
In the ashes of a dying world， Red finds a letter marked "Burn before reading。"
So begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents in a war that stretches through the vast reaches of time and space。
Red belongs to the Agency， a post-singularity technotopia。 Blue belongs to Garden， a single vast consciousness embedded in all organic matter。 Their pasts are bloody and their futures mutually exclusive。 They have nothing in common---save that they're the best， and they're alone。
Now what began as a battlefield boast grows into a dangerous game， one both Red and Blue are determined to win。 Because winning's that you do in war。 Isn't it？
A tour de force collaboration from two powerhouse writers that spans the whole of time and space。
So begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents in a war that stretches through the vast reaches of time and space。
Red belongs to the Agency， a post-singularity technotopia。 Blue belongs to Garden， a single vast consciousness embedded in all organic matter。 Their pasts are bloody and their futures mutually exclusive。 They have nothing in common---save that they're the best， and they're alone。
Now what began as a battlefield boast grows into a dangerous game， one both Red and Blue are determined to win。 Because winning's that you do in war。 Isn't it？
A tour de force collaboration from two powerhouse writers that spans the whole of time and space。
Reviews
Gobeit
，
Reading this book constantly felt like I was just about to solve a puzzle- that moment when I start to think “Is it…like this？ Yes， I think… it might…” It was enchanting like a puzzle， and also like a puzzle， I was looking for the piece I was missing。 I’m still to close to the end of this book to know quite how I feel; I’ll have to circle back in time。
Kaitlyn Keel
，
While the book itself is quite word heavy， it creates visuals that remind me of Fitzgerald。 The small twist is completely unexpected and a welcome suprise。 El-Mohtar and Gladstone truly created a world unlike any other。
anthony e。
，
Lyrical and exquisite。 The poetic nature of this was the real draw for me; the love story aspect felt well-paced until about the middle， where it became extreme very quickly。 A bit like actual love？ A bit rushed， perhaps？ Hard to tell。 Still， I love the marriage of science-fiction and poeticism， something I enjoy but see far too little of。 I'm deducting a star for some clunkiness throughout， which I think is only noticeable because so much of it is so fluid and graceful。And speaking of clunkines Lyrical and exquisite。 The poetic nature of this was the real draw for me; the love story aspect felt well-paced until about the middle， where it became extreme very quickly。 A bit like actual love？ A bit rushed， perhaps？ Hard to tell。 Still， I love the marriage of science-fiction and poeticism， something I enjoy but see far too little of。 I'm deducting a star for some clunkiness throughout， which I think is only noticeable because so much of it is so fluid and graceful。And speaking of clunkiness， can I just comment on the title？ The "This Is。。。" portion is really unnecessary， and feels extraneous。 "How You Lose the Time War" just has a better ring to it， and feels more direct。 。。。more
Zelene Marcos
，
I WANT TO DIE
Greg Fanoe
，
Admittedly， this wasn't necessarily the most exciting book in history， but I dug the unique structure and it had some cool ideas。 Admittedly， this wasn't necessarily the most exciting book in history， but I dug the unique structure and it had some cool ideas。 。。。more
Roxane Bicker
，
Ein unglaubliches Buch， das mich sprachlos und heartbroken zurücklässt。 Bildgewaltig， poetisch， unbeschreiblich。 Unbedingt lesen！
Yoanna
，
That was one acid trip of a book。 I kept wondering what the thought process was for the authors when they came up with these characters， never sure what they look like， what they are。 It was a little hard to get into it at first， because it was so weird， but then I was caught in the flow and the ending snuck up on me。 Very interesting experience and definitely challenged my imagination at times。 A gratifying read for sure。
S
，
4。5+This is a beautiful， emotionally affecting little novella。 I loved it for the characters， unique concept/world， and of course for the dramatic w/w queer longing。 The plot focuses on “Red” and “Blue”， the “most dangerous” time-traveling soldier-assassins on opposite sides of a war， and their interactions。 “Red” is from （I think） a distant-future， more-consensual-Matrix-type human empire， and “Blue” is from a fairy-type empire called Garden。 I’m often out on time travel， but here it was elevat 4。5+This is a beautiful， emotionally affecting little novella。 I loved it for the characters， unique concept/world， and of course for the dramatic w/w queer longing。 The plot focuses on “Red” and “Blue”， the “most dangerous” time-traveling soldier-assassins on opposite sides of a war， and their interactions。 “Red” is from （I think） a distant-future， more-consensual-Matrix-type human empire， and “Blue” is from a fairy-type empire called Garden。 I’m often out on time travel， but here it was elevated by the massive time。+ distance scale， inclusion of historical events via very brief outlander-type scenes， and interesting take on parallel universes， or “strands。” -0。5 because I wanted more about pretty much everything （especially world building + and post-ending plot）— but I still loved it。 。。。more
Allie Sanford
，
This was essentially the most beautiful poetry book I've ever read， but just okay fiction。 This was essentially the most beautiful poetry book I've ever read， but just okay fiction。 。。。more
Hannah （wetheliteraries）
，
4。5* Holy shit。
Skye
，
It pains me to admit how much this book confused me。 That being said the writing was beautiful， and I was somewhat invested in the story， despite not knowing what was going on。 A sapphic romance that evolved from taunts and espionage to grand confessions of love so suddenly that I’m not really sure when it happened。 I think I wanted to like this more than I actually did。 I finished completely confused as to what I had just read。 I keep having to tell myself that beautiful prose does not allow fo It pains me to admit how much this book confused me。 That being said the writing was beautiful， and I was somewhat invested in the story， despite not knowing what was going on。 A sapphic romance that evolved from taunts and espionage to grand confessions of love so suddenly that I’m not really sure when it happened。 I think I wanted to like this more than I actually did。 I finished completely confused as to what I had just read。 I keep having to tell myself that beautiful prose does not allow for the absence of world building， because otherwise this would be a five star read。 The world isn’t fleshed out whatsoever， and as much as I credit my own imagination， it didn’t help me in piecing together a setting。 The author utilized hugely abstract concepts but didn’t take the time to develop and explain them。 I’m fairly certain this was done intentionally， but I found that I focused on the confusion over the story unfolding before me。 I understand this was a personal problem and can see how this book would appeal to many。 Beyond everything， it was a beautifully written story。 。。。more
Liz Hartman
，
I rarely leave reviews， but this book deserved it。 I really don't know how to describe how much I loved it， but I do ABSOLUTELY love and adore it❤ I rarely leave reviews， but this book deserved it。 I really don't know how to describe how much I loved it， but I do ABSOLUTELY love and adore it❤ 。。。more
Esme N
，
“Because it is the end， she cannot resist the urge to make this deadly thing beautiful。”In the ashes of a dying world， Red finds a letter marked “Burn before reading。” The following correspondence between Red and Blue （rival agents in the time war） is one of love， violence and betrayal。This might be my favourite book ever。 I know I’m prone to exaggeration， but this really might be it。 Did I have to read this book twice to figure out what was happening？ You betcha！ Am I ashamed？ Nope！ Also I got “Because it is the end， she cannot resist the urge to make this deadly thing beautiful。”In the ashes of a dying world， Red finds a letter marked “Burn before reading。” The following correspondence between Red and Blue （rival agents in the time war） is one of love， violence and betrayal。This might be my favourite book ever。 I know I’m prone to exaggeration， but this really might be it。 Did I have to read this book twice to figure out what was happening？ You betcha！ Am I ashamed？ Nope！ Also I got to read it twice so jokes on y’all that understood it on the first pass。I usually say that I’m not a fan of sci-fi and I think the enemies-to-lovers trope is overdone。 This is How You Lose the Time War has OBLITERATED these opinions and I vow never again to dismiss a book because it is of a genre/trope I don’t think I like。Not only is this written amazingly beautifully， it is a compelling （sapphic） love story that full on broke my heart and healed it and broke it again and UGH it’s so good。 Y’all please， please read this。Often people criticize books/media for having an unrealistic depiction of love。 Is this a realistic love story？ Ultimately， no， but they’re also time travellers so let’s suspend our disbelief for now， eh？Finally， Blue says at one point in the book “Ontario sucks。 As the prophets say。”， and as someone writing this review on Toronto public transit， I can only agree。A playlist for this book:Hunger // Florence + the Machine （obviously the anthem of this book）Beautiful Crime // TamerTime Machine // WILLOWWe Have It All // Pim StonesYou // Keaton HensonThere are SO MANY quotes that I could choose to convince you to read this book， but here is one:“The thought that you could have trapped me is so delicious that I confess myself quite overcome。” 。。。more
Samantha Maloney
，
I was really disappointed by this book。 The two main characters were almost indistinguishable from each other， and there was a serious lack of world building that lead to confusion and frustration while reading。 I think the overall idea of the book is interesting and had a lot of promise， but the execution， unfortunately， fell flat。
Amiee
，
I just couldn't get into it。 It never got more interesting than the first chapters。 I just couldn't get into it。 It never got more interesting than the first chapters。 。。。more
Esmay Rosalyne
，
4。5 starsConfusing， captivating， awe-inspiring。。。 beautiful。
Jo
，
J’avais cru comprendre que ce roman était clivant… Well， je suis du mauvais côté du fossé émotionnel。Trop nébuleux， trop vague， presque trop lyrique。On est tellement dans le flou que je suis incapable de décrire ce que je viens de lire， je sais juste que je n’ai rien ressenti。
Sherwood
，
So good。 So sensual。
Evelin
，
Каква книга само！？ Тази книга съдържа най-красивия и романтичен език на писане， когато става дума за две влюбени души。 Една от онези книги， които можете спокойно да разгърнете на произволна страница и да намерите своя нов любим цитат。 Проблемът е в това， че макар романът да представя супер мега епично-фантастичната версия на обречените влюбени Ромео и Жулиета， то всичко свързано с фантастиката оставя читателят объркан。Накратко сюжетът е за Времева война， която се води между 2 раси и 2-ма от опер Каква книга само！？ Тази книга съдържа най-красивия и романтичен език на писане， когато става дума за две влюбени души。 Една от онези книги， които можете спокойно да разгърнете на произволна страница и да намерите своя нов любим цитат。 Проблемът е в това， че макар романът да представя супер мега епично-фантастичната версия на обречените влюбени Ромео и Жулиета， то всичко свързано с фантастиката оставя читателят объркан。Накратко сюжетът е за Времева война， която се води между 2 раси и 2-ма от оперативните им агенти， които по стечение на обстоятелствата постоянно се сблъскват。 Червена е от расата с техниката и науката， а Синя е от тази която е по-близо до природата и може да прима формата на най-различни същества。 Един ден Синя оставя писмо до Червена и след това започва тяхната дълга кореспонденция през вековете， в която ние проследяваме разцъфването на любовта им， макар те да не могат дори да се докоснат。 Интересното е， че писмата им не всеки път бях във формата， която ние сме свикнали писма да изглеждат。 Писмата можеше да са написана върху променящата се структура на стичаща се лава， върху водна капка или по пръстените на растящо дърво， последното от които й беше отнело десетилетия и то само за да натрие носа на Червена。 Повярвайте ми， този роман се чете само заради тези писма。 Не само за начинът по който ги получаваха и формата им， но съдържанието им - тяхната поетичност， изпълнена с толкова много чувства и абстрактност， а метафорите 。。。 за метафорите тук мисля че човек може да се напише научен труд и пак няма да е обхванал всичко。 Просто уникално！В същото време всяко нещо което ни беше обяснено по отношение на фантастиката нищо не беше обяснено като хората。 Ок тези 2 раси водят комплексна битка през времето и пространството， ама защо точно я водят на Земята？ Те от Земята ли са произлезли？ Говореше се за космически кораби， други колонии ли имат някъде из Вселената или там им е родния дом？ Приемаха формата на хора， а как реално изглеждаха？ Като са толкова различни раси по един и същи начин ли пътуват напред-назад във времето？ Как и защо е започнала Времевата война？ и още и още。 През цялото време се чувствах страшно объркана и нищо не разбирах。Така че ако случайно ви се чете за супер мега епичната забранена любовна история на две женски същества， то тази книга ще ви разтопи от вътре и ще ви накара да искате още， но се чувствайте предупредени， че фантастиката е проблематична。 。。。more
Tegan
，
I don't know how to even describe this novella but it was amazing。 It was very poetic which I don't typically like but it worked here so well。 This was so romantic I got very warm fuzzy feelings。 The ending was amazing and moving。 I recommend to anyone who likes Sci Fi， give it a try and don't let the writing turn you away。 I don't know how to even describe this novella but it was amazing。 It was very poetic which I don't typically like but it worked here so well。 This was so romantic I got very warm fuzzy feelings。 The ending was amazing and moving。 I recommend to anyone who likes Sci Fi， give it a try and don't let the writing turn you away。 。。。more
Emma
，
Short and excellent。 A beautiful portrayal of love。
fa
，
literally what is the plot。 does it even matter？ its like wow lesbianism transcends time。 loving someone as an act of consumption， carrying traces and fragments of them within， being able to access other realms because of the parts of them that live in you wtf… and in a literal sense！ “eat my meals at the red table of your heart，” like natalie diaz wrote in her poem。 crazy。 <3
Debs
，
Metto 2 stelle ma in realtà è 2。5。La scrittura è bella e poetica ma l'ho trovata un po' confusa， soprattutto nel riferimento al world building。 World building che sembra molto interessante ma poco approfondito per dare spazio alla relazione tra Blu e Rossa。 Metto 2 stelle ma in realtà è 2。5。La scrittura è bella e poetica ma l'ho trovata un po' confusa， soprattutto nel riferimento al world building。 World building che sembra molto interessante ma poco approfondito per dare spazio alla relazione tra Blu e Rossa。 。。。more
Leann Wolley
，
Actually a 3。5， I think。 Definitely creative in concept。 I particularly enjoyed the strange ways the two protagonists packaged and ‘read’ their letters to each other。 The descriptions of Garden and its inner workings were intriguing， too。 Perhaps due to the letter-writing format and the sometimes purposely trans-human descriptions of the two main characters， I did find it a little difficult to fully envision and invest in them。 I also found the motivation for the beginning of their contact unsat Actually a 3。5， I think。 Definitely creative in concept。 I particularly enjoyed the strange ways the two protagonists packaged and ‘read’ their letters to each other。 The descriptions of Garden and its inner workings were intriguing， too。 Perhaps due to the letter-writing format and the sometimes purposely trans-human descriptions of the two main characters， I did find it a little difficult to fully envision and invest in them。 I also found the motivation for the beginning of their contact unsatisfactorily vague， even if the story does thread back through itself in some ways by the end。 。。。more
Alaina Morrison
，
This is such a tough one for me to rate。 It's a sci-fi， time travel， post human love story and it's prose is absolutely stunning。 Poetic really， and brimming with stop-you-in-your-tracks metaphors。 But on the other hand it did literally stop me in my tracks many times with complete confusion about what was going on。 The world building and plot is confusing and all over the place when read for the first time。 It's a short book so I will definitely read it again and I feel like I'll get 1000% more This is such a tough one for me to rate。 It's a sci-fi， time travel， post human love story and it's prose is absolutely stunning。 Poetic really， and brimming with stop-you-in-your-tracks metaphors。 But on the other hand it did literally stop me in my tracks many times with complete confusion about what was going on。 The world building and plot is confusing and all over the place when read for the first time。 It's a short book so I will definitely read it again and I feel like I'll get 1000% more from it the second time。 。。。more
Emily D
，
No dice。
Lila
，
the universe was so vague and unnecessarily incomprehensible it made TIME TRAVEL seem logical by comparison but I can excuse poor world building in the name of sapphics！！！
May
，
In the words of VE Schwab， “holy shit this is good。”
Kimmie Johansson
，
Do I utterly adore these poetic， borderline confusing， books because I like to think I am better than everyone？ Perhaps。 Was this still a beautiful book which almost made my heart burst？ Absolutely。
Ray C
，