When Viral Marketing Works: "This is How You Lose the Time War"

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Pages: 198 Genre: science fiction, romance

Rating: 5 Stars

Sometime last year, This is How You Lose the Time War went viral with the specific recommendation to go in blind. I obviously can't stop you from continuing to read my review, where I will still put a summary, but I would like to extend that recommendation to you. So, this is your opportunity to come back later.

Our two agents are in a war, and they're on opposing sides. These two are the best at what they do, which is why the Commandant agent doesn't question it much when she finds a note from her counterpart on one of their battlefields. Thus begins something bigger than the two sides of the war that both agents are fighting to win. And war demands a victor, which puts both agents at risk if their connection is found out.

I loved this book. It's not often that I find a book that manages to scratch that English class itch, but this one does. It's weird and unique and heartbreaking and uplifting and everything you want to find in a good book. Plus, it's a really quick read.

The writing style took a moment to grow on me, but grow it did. While sometimes leaning into abstract, I overall found it to be atmospheric with a very strong narrative voice. While the two main characters weren't too distinct from each other, I don't think they needed to be. Thematically, and narratively, I thought the style of writing worked really well as it was.

And the story itself was stunning. I don't want to say too much about it, but I feel like the premise had no reason to work as effectively as it did. Once I got my footing (which didn't take very long, just a couple letters in), I was really invested in the wellbeing of these two characters.

I just loved the experience of reading this book. I'm upset that this is the only time I'll be able to read it for the first time.

And who would've guessed that my first 5 star read of 2025 would be a science fiction romance?