This Is How You Lose the Time War
Two agents on opposite sides of a war fought across time leave each other letters that start as taunts and become something else. A short, lyrical F/F novella.
At a glance
- Genre
- Science Fiction
- Trope
- Enemies to Lovers
- Heat
- Sweet
- Published
- 2019
- Length
- 208 pages
Reading Options
This Is How You Lose the Time War
As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- Two rival agents on opposite sides of a time-spanning war find their taunting correspondence evolving into a clandestine, intimate connection.
- Fans of epistolary fiction
- Readers who enjoy lyrical prose
- Reflective
- Features Enemies to Lovers
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: F/F
Pairing: F/F
Power balance: Equal, mirroring adversaries.
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
High tension, moderate angst.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
Recommended audience: Adult
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Red and Blue are elite agents serving opposing factions in a sprawling war across time and space. To demonstrate their superiority, they begin leaving cryptic, taunting messages for one another amidst their missions. As their correspondence grows, the nature of their communication shifts from rivalry to a profound, secret bond that challenges their allegiances and survival.
Central Conflict
The protagonists are forced to choose between the demands of the warring factions they serve and the burgeoning, forbidden connection they share with one another.
Setting
A war fought across time and multiple realities.
Strengths
- Unique epistolary structure
- Highly atmospheric and lyrical writing
- Compelling high-stakes premise
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- High confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Amal El-Mohtar
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2019
- Length
- 208 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9781534431003
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This is my book — sign inReading Options
This Is How You Lose the Time War
As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
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