This is How You Lose the Time War

This Is How You Lose the Time War by award-winning authors Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar is a breathtaking and innovative love story that defies the typical boundaries of time and space. Amidst the ashes of a desolate world, two rival agents from warring futures—Red, an elite warrior from a technologically advanced dystopia, and Blue, a sleeper agent from a lush, organic utopia—find themselves in the midst of a battle for the best possible future. Their mission? To outsmart and outmaneuver each other in a game of cosmic chess that spans centuries, dimensions, and realities. The turning point occurs when Red discovers a peculiarly cryptic message from Blue: "Burn before reading." This seemingly inconsequential taunt kicks off an extraordinary exchange of letters hidden in the most improbable of places—under layers of volcanic ash, within the rings of tree trunks, or even woven into the genetic code of bees. Their correspondence soon transcends the initial bravado, evolving into a deep, intimate connection. Despite the relentless demands of their respective masters and the manifold dangers involved, Red and Blue’s letters become a lifeline, binding them together through a tapestry of words marked by poetic eloquence and emotional depth. As their bond strengthens, it illuminates a love so profound that it defies the conventional rules of warfare and time itself. However, this epistolary romance carries tremendous risk: the discovery of their clandestine relationship would mean certain death for both. Bound by their duty yet drawn irresistibly toward each other, Red and Blue must navigate the tenuous line between loyalty to their causes and the burgeoning love that threatens to alter both the past and the future irrevocably. In the words of some of the literary world's greatest voices: “A fireworks display from two very talented storytellers.” – Madeline Miller, bestselling author of Circe “An intimate and lyrical tour of time, myth and history.” – John Scalzi, bestselling author of Old Man's War “Lyrical and vivid and bittersweet.” – Ann Leckie, Hugo Award-winning author of Ancillary Justice “Rich and strange, a romantic tour through all of time and the multiverse.” – Martha Wells, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of The Murderbot Diaries This Is How You Lose the Time War is an exquisitely crafted tale that combines the intricacies of time travel, the poignancy of a forbidden love affair, and the relentless urgency of a grand, interstellar conflict. It is a novel that will captivate readers, lingering in their minds long after the final page is turned.