The 41st book I read this year was ‘This is how you lose the time war’ by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar.
An attempt at summarising
This story follows two ‘time agents’ from opposing sides in the time war. Each going back in time to tweak events to ensure their agency is the most successful in the future. They begin by leaving notes to one another, taunting each other over their victories or losses. These notes soon becomes ones of curiosity, exchanging information about their different societies. They express admiration for the other’s work. They talk about loneliness, their childhood’s and eventually how they are tiring from this never ending time war. The narrative jumps about in time, with flashbacks and flashes forward. When their agency’s discover their relationship, they are left with a choice between choosing to be loyal to the other, or to their people.
What did I think?
I enjoyed this book, its very short and sweet, the plot is a little meandering and you don’t really understand what’s happening until about 50 odd pages in (or, if you watch reviews on Tiktok, some people never understand it). I liked the way the relationship between the MC’s changes and the world building is very clever and completely different to anything I’ve read in the last couple years. The narrative style is very reminiscent of books like The Starless Sea, so if you like books like that, you will like this story.
Here’s some other stuff…
- Wishing for a star – Ana Balen
- A review of all the books by Carissa Broadbent
- Hold your Horses – Prickle Island Zoo series – Ali K Mulford
- Changes – Elizabeth Jeffery
- Trauma Bonding – Lauren Kozlowski
- First Time Caller – B. K. Borison
- The Wings of the Spectrum – Sarah Marriott
- The Mountain is You – Brianna Wiest
- Year Goals for 2026 and a reflection on 2025
Antonia Bernardin 
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