You’re missing out if you haven’t read This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladwell. Like, truly, from the bottom of my heart, I implore you to add this to your TBR at the very least because it will change the way you view poetic prose and science fiction.

At only 198 pages, this is a short read bursting with vivid description and immersive passages. The length by no means tarnishes the effectiveness of storytelling and that is evident in the power of their poetic prose and their ability to establish such rich and alluring settings while maintaining a gripping and heartfelt plot. Science Fiction is one of those genres that can terrify people due to its seemingly unlimited outreach and fabula. Dealing with a novel where time travel is at its core is one such daunting element to scifi books but there is no need to feel afraid friends.

El-Mohtar and Gladwell capture the essence of science fiction through contrast in nature vs. technology and weave it through this time travel narrative, which not only sets a strong foundation for the reader to view the plot from, but they provide a much needed emotional tether to the conflict – forbidden love. When two warring sides, opposites in almost every way, are battling it out through the threads of time and space, what can be more tragic than two operatives falling in love? What can evoke such swelling of emotions as the fated doom of their distant relationship.

If you’re a fan of the concept of letter in stories, as has recently popped back into popularity with the much-loved YA Fantasy novel Divine Rivals, then you will love this. The progression of their acquaintanceship is so smooth and genuine, moving from some light-hearted teasing and boasting to this profound and heart-breaking intimacy between these two agents. The effectiveness of these letters in narrating the budding relationship between Red and Blue is so subtle, so simple, yet so impactful that I cannot help but think about this method of storytelling well into the night when I really should be sleeping.

This sapphic love story not only highlights the beauty of language – of description and prose and the art of letter writing – but it also shines a beautiful light on female relationships, more specifically, female romances. It does so simply by being relatable to all; there is no difference between these letters and interactions between Red and Blue than there would be between lovers of any orientation which, in my eyes, aids in the normalisation and acceptance of homosexual relationships in the media and in society. This is the kind of story that humanises the experience of love and shows that there are no differences in the story of love between beings. It’s stunning and harrowing and precious and I cannot recommend this book enough.

This Is How You Lose The Time War is a blessing to read and a staple for your TBR list, your book shelf and your life experience. Pick it up today and you will be thanking me (or cursing me for persuading you to read such a hauntingly beautiful book).