Kevin

Rating: 3.0 / 5

This Is How You Lose the Time War functions less like a traditional narrative and more like a collection of epistolary love poems. While a broader plot exists, it takes a back seat to the writing style; whether you love or hate this book will completely depend on your appreciation for highly stylized, flowery prose.

The premise follows a temporal war between two rival factions—one cybernetic and technological, the other organic and nature-based. Two elite female soldiers from opposing sides fall in love, exchanging secret, beautifully written messages across history using incredibly unique and creative mediums.

Unfortunately, the actual time-travel plot lacks depth and feels somewhat predictable. While the audiobook narration was excellent and the concept makes for a unique, standalone sci-fi novella, I ultimately found myself unable to truly connect with the characters or the world.

4.25/5

Dave brings laughter, tears, and inspiration... and in the expanded version a bit of self help homework.

Fantastic stories of an incredible journey you never feel he takes a moment of it for granted and is still in awe of where he is.

Score: 4.5/5

I cannot fathom how it has been 16 years since The Blade Itself was published, yet it hasn't been adapted into a major movie or TV series. Abercrombie assembles an incredible cast of characters in a gritty, sprawling city that feels completely alive. The book seamlessly balances sharp political intrigue, a subtle yet menacing magic system, blistering battle scenes, and visceral grimdark brutality against a backdrop of subtle but solid dark humour.

What really sets it apart is the character work; within a single book, you go from actively disliking these people to fiercely rooting for them. Plus, it features a romance that feels true to the world, not some filler sex scene but rather something that might be important later in the series. There are several massive, cinematic moments here that would have social media talking for weeks if this were on television. Finally, Steven Pacey’s audiobook narration is an absolute masterclass. I can’t wait to dive into the next installment.

4.5/5

I highly enjoyed this book, though "enjoyed" feels like a complicated word for such a heavy read. Kate Fagan does an incredible job of slowly bringing us into Maddy’s life, making you feel like you are truly getting to know her and understanding the deeply rooted dynamics within her family.

As I got closer to the end of the book, I found myself wanting to read less and less. It wasn't because the story was less enthralling; rather, I knew how the story was going to end and I simply wasn't ready to take on that emotional weight. Getting through those final chapters required me to carve out some time alone where I could just sit, read, and cry as the story wrapped up.

I highly recommend this to anyone with teenagers, or anyone wishing to gain a deeper understanding of the mental health struggles young adults face today. The book does a brilliant job highlighting the dangerous disconnect between a perfect social media presence and reality. It serves as a stark, necessary warning: much like a duck, everything can look perfectly calm above the water, but the legs are frantically kicking away just beneath the surface.

4/5

DCC returns to early series form in this one, recovering from what felt like a dip in the series over the last couple of books.

If you are looking at a review of book 8 of this series you know what its generally about.

Now to wait a yr or more for the next one...