This Is How You Lose the Time War

I enjoyed the experience of reading this book...but I'm not sure I enjoyed the book itself. The prose was at times beautiful and amazing and other times corny and took me out of it. The story was good, the characters were fine, I personally would have liked a little more sci-fy to balance out the heavy romance lean of this book. But that's just preference.

What's the opposite of “I bet this shit hits so hard if you're stupid”? Glorious. Gorgeous. Fucking labyrinthine to the point where I bounced off years back because I was too scared of feeling like an idiot to tolerate discomfort for a couple hundred pages. This came at just the right time so I can't kick myself too much for waiting. I love you, Blue.

The writing, the story, the characters, the mechanics of everything from basic letter-writing to the fundamentals of the multiverse, are all deliberately opaque, obtuse and often difficult to parse and follow. Which, in some ways is as much a positive as it is a negative, but it does make it a challenging read.

But, look beyond the sci-fi window dressings - with it's Douglas Adams heavy inspirations - and this is as classic a love story as it gets. Romeo and Juliet across all of time and space.

The story unfolds primarily through letters written by the two protagonists at the leading edge - and on either side - of a Time War that, even to them, seems to have no real meaning or intended end beyond war itself. Steadily the two develop an unrequited love from their existing rivalry and mutual respect. As they do, the story quickly develops from being one that's almost entirely exclusionary to the reader - filled with concepts, names and forms that are referenced but never explained - to one almost everyone can relate to in some fashion.

Once the story has its hooks in you, it's impossible to put down, though it does take a while to get there. But, the non-linear, timey-wimey nature of the story's core also encourages repeat reading, and I think it honestly would be even better as whole the second or even third time through.

I read a quote on Melodramatic Book Club that encapsulates how I feel about this book to such an extent, that I couldn't say it any better, so won't.

"It takes a concept and uses the most flowery, purple prose to describe events which is what obscures the whole point. If you're layering a story under so much weight of the language, a reader like me is going to be more frustrated than spellbound."

I get why people gravitate towards this book, but it's just not for me.

Peak lesbian pinning. I didn't always know what was happening, but the words were so pretty I didn't care

I didn't understand the plot, but that's okay because I had close to zero emotional investment in the characters. I've tried to read this book several times since it became a surprising bestseller in 2019, and although I finished this time I remain nonplussed.

3.5 stars

Some interesting development of the characters, but got very predictable in the last fourth of the book.

Did I understand much of anything? No but 5 for vibes

Hovering around a 3.75-4 stars for me.

I listened to the entirety of this audiobook while driving for work. This was another one I went into without reading anything about it except for the blurb. I am stealing and reusing one of my own descriptors that I made in my review of The Last Days of New Paris, but I feel like it describes what I felt when listening to this book as well. I felt this story wasn't as much of a narrative as much as it was an experience.

Going into the book, here is what I knew: two time-traveling agents working for different organizations wage war on each other throughout time. Though the two are enemies, they eventually fall in love. That's all the context I had, and it colored what I was expecting. I thought it would be a more traditional plot-driven book since that tends to be the trend with science fiction books. This wasn't it at all. In fact, it even led me to be a little disappointed at first.

It took me a while to get into the feel of the book. I feel like the main focus of it is the language. The letters written by Red and Blue (and even the prose itself to an extent) are filled with some of the most lyrical, abstract, and poetic writing I've ever heard. Metaphors, similies and craftsmanship with the English language fill their letters, like they are both composing music or sonnets. After getting used to this playing and building of language, I started to click with the book and immerse myself in it more. I believe listening to the book versus reading it might have helped with that. It helped the flow of the words feel more natural. It's very unique in that I can't think of another novel I've read that has this same kind of priority on language. There have been others that I've read that felt more like experiences, perhaps in the setting or by just exploring something, but this is the first I've read where the prose itself is what the reader is meant to immerse themselves the most in.

The setting also takes a setting seen in many different media--time traveling--and gives it a unique spin. In fact, I'd say this story is almost borderline weird fiction with how surreal it can get. The main characters are humans, but they stretch the definition of it by all of their enhancements, all to help them better fight their time-traveling war. The way they pass letters onto each other is... unconventional, to say the least. I don't want to say more because I think reading about them is part of the experience of reading this.

It's hard to talk about the characters because their development is not focused on very much. I can't really criticize the relationship not feeling like a natural progression or the two having chemistry because it's hard to quantify those things when all of their interactions are done through these letters filled to the brim with purple prose. But I was surprised, at the end, to find myself invested in their relationship and hoping that everything worked out. Maybe it was the dramatic, creative ways they communicated with one another? While I didn't feel there was much under the surface (even with the backstories they revealed about themselves, I'm the kind of person who feels more impacted when the characters have things happen to them as opposed to them talking of things that have happened to them in the past and seeing the aftermath), this isn't the kind of story that comes across as having that be a priority. I think when an author (or authors) write stories a certain way to make it clear what purpose they have in writing it, it's easier for me to not be so bothered by the lackluster aspects of it.

My biggest complaint? I've already gone over how beautiful and poetic the writing can be, especially in the letters that Blue and Red write to one another. I think sometimes it gets to be a bit too...much. Obviously, this isn't a case where you expect their letters to sound natural and like something most people would write. It's part of the experience, like I said above. But, in all honesty? Even with that in mind, sometimes it gets to be a little ridiculous at points. I guess it's a lucky thing that I listened to this through an audiobook because it means I can't reference it to paste quotes. Otherwise, this review would be filled with the most ridiculous ones. Holding coins under your tongue? An entire paragraph describing eating blueberry pancakes and honey in the most flowery, purple prose imaginable? A dramatic description of a character being locked in a glass coffin with no "necrophilic prince?" I'll be honest, I think even the most delicate and beautiful writing can't really cover up the silliness of such things, and only works to highlight it even more. That's the main reason why I hesitate to give it a full four stars so readily.

But despite the initially bumpy ride, things smoothed out as time went on, and I found myself enjoying it. If you're looking for a traditional story, I don't think this will do it for you. If you're okay with experiencing a story through its writing and take joy just in the act of listening to poetic prose, you will enjoy this. I recommend the audiobook. The narrators do a great job with their respective parts, and it helps better to let the words flow over you.

7.0

Admitedly my first “more-poetry-than-prose” book, so there were definitely parts where i didn't bother to understand the poetry and just felt the vibe instead.

Good book though! Sci-fi elements are there but i don't really think it's a sci-fi book. It's like if Romeo and Juliet was fucking sick and not wack and dumb

Few books have such beautiful lines as to make me cry and yet this book exists. Words don't exist to describe how much I adored this novella.

A romance with the precision of a Swiss watch, it got a little overcomplicated by the end but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is an implausible love story between two implausible people behaving implausibly in an implausible situation. It's quite elegantly written, and I didn't dislike it, but I didn't become engaged in it, because I couldn't believe in any of it.

The two protagonists fight on opposite sides of a seemingly endless and ruthless time war; they come from very different societies. They begin a sort of correspondence, very much at arm's length and without meeting each other, and despite their differences and their remoteness from each other, they somehow fall in love with each other. Could this really happen? Maybe, but I'm sceptical; and the authors failed to convince me.

time travel stuff is notoriously difficult to do well but i think the authors managed to craft something pretty intriguing and satisfying. this makes me want to write letters again. however, i would've rated the book higher if the time we spent with each character (outside of correspondence) weren't so... vague. like, i had a general sense of the nature of each agency, and how their agents operate, but it was more like i was letting the book's atmosphere lazily haze around me than being fully engrossed in the descriptions or actions, some of which was overly metaphorical and more alien than relatable anyway. it's probably best to just describe this as a tender exchange of letters because i don't think the rest will really stick with me if i don't summarize it in this review.

i read this via a combination of hardcover, ebook, and audiobook while at home and on the road. it was a bit tough to get rolling but once i got used to the style (and the plot stakes were higher) things pretty much cruised along through to the end. and i had a guess about something at the beginning that turned out to be right, so that was pleasing.

Another one that I read for book club that I would not have necessarily picked up otherwise. Honestly, I’m a bit conflicted with it.

The novel is about two agents on opposite sides of the war. What may have started as an attempt to turn each other, eventually leads to a budding romance of a sort. Through their correspondences, they are truly free, truly themselves, and therefore it’s all the more alluring. Not only must they hide the letters to each other throughout time and space, they must also shield their minds from the leaders that would surely turn them in.

The correspondences, as well as why they are feeling the way they are, are quite beautiful. The nature of needing more and finding it in the strangest place is perhaps a cliche, however it’s completely modified by them being fully crafted, time traveling soldiers. They visit strands of time (the description of which brought to mind the Marvel show Loki for me) stealing, kidnapping, killing, and pretty much whatever else is required of them. So them finding each other, and sharing these desires, is practically impossible. Yet it happened all the same. That’s what I really liked.

What I struggled with, was the lack of everything else. While it wasn’t necessarily the fact that it was missing, it could be awfully confusing when little snippets were dropped. I wanted more. More description, more explanation, more scifi craziness. Without it, and it being so short, I found it to be kind of lacking. It just needed a bit more to glue it all together for me.

wow that ending.. this was great. it started out slow and tbh i was a bit bored during the first half of the book but it built up to something so complex and interwoven. definitely needs a second read to fully appreciate

did i understand all of it? definitely not. but i enjoyed reading it so much. the way it’s written is so fun and beautiful and it makes me jealous that i can’t even begin to write like that.

Confirming that all of those booksellers were correct, this was a pretty good blue vs red style book.

In short: Epistolary Time-Traveling Warrior Lesbians.

While you might find this book in the science fiction section, the lyrical style of the prose and the soft world building lends itself closer to science fantasy. Reading this book is like watching Samurai Jack: every chapter is set en media res and we catch a sliver of a life briefly lived by our characters. We get just enough from the authors so that the world feels lived in but not so much that you start questioning the political machinations of each stop along the braid. Nor do you start to concern yourself with the mechanism of the time travel. The focus instead is on the many lives of Blue and Red and how their love and letters intertwine along the threads of time.

The prose is entirely lyrical in content, which might be off-putting for some readers, but given the opportunity, the text lends itself to powerful emotional arcs. Blue and Red are written with such complimentary voices, it’s hard to remember that this book was written by two people. This book doesn’t take itself too seriously either - there are turns of phrase that made me giggle and kick my feet. Time War warrants multiple reads which should be easy considering it’s only about little over 200 pages long.

All in all: A beautiful read that I will be revisiting again.

A Sci fi Romeo and Juliet told through alternating chapters of action and letters.

The letters are by far my favorite part to read. The Sci fi action of it all, although seemingly good, just isn’t exactly for me.

Overall though, some truly great writing is in here, along with some parts that I’m ok on.

all i can say is i want to take this book and wear it’s words like a second skin. i want to be swathed in it until it’s the only thing i know. bury me with it.

Beautiful but tedious.

So flowery... too flowery... I don't get the hype... I think other readers must enjoy the experience of prose formulated to be so abstract that it becomes poetic and whimsical without actually making much sense, but I do not. Boo.

P.S. I do WISH this one clicked for me; I caught glimpses of that tangible sci-fi/romance plot in the second half, but they weren't enough for me to say I enjoyed the book more than just the idea of the book.

Sci fi at its best. Lean and with big hearts and hugs.

Beautifully written, with clear direction from the authors. The pacing and structure guide the reader seamlessly through the narrative. It's a unique concept that captivates, offering a refreshing departure from the ordinary. As for the ending – it was perfect for me.
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Writing & art direction: 4.5 ⭐️ (above expectations / above average)
Story & narrative: 5 ⭐️ (exceeded expectations / excellent)
Impact & memorability: 3.5 ⭐️ (met expectations / average)