This Is How You Lose the Time War
by Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone
Narrated by Cynthia Farrell, Emily Woo Zeller
Why Listen to This Audiobook?
Two narrators, two enemies, one letter at a time — this is the audiobook format doing exactly what it was built for.
- Great if you want: literary sci-fi with slow-burn romance and lyrical prose
- Listening experience: intimate and dreamlike — feels more like poetry than plot
- Narration: Farrell and Zeller each own one character; the split feels essential, not gimmicky
- Skip if: abstract, ornate prose frustrates you — this is language-first storytelling
About This Audiobook
Two operatives from opposing factions wage battle across time itself, manipulating pivotal moments throughout history to ensure their respective futures come to pass. When Red, an agent of one timeline, discovers a cryptic message from Blue, her counterpart from the rival faction, an extraordinary correspondence begins. What starts as strategic taunting between enemies evolves into something far more dangerous: an intimate connection that transcends their allegiances and threatens the very war they fight.
Cynthia Farrell and Emily Woo Zeller deliver a masterful dual narration that captures the distinct voices and evolving relationship between the protagonists. Each narrator embodies her character's perspective with nuanced emotion, transforming the epistolary structure into an immersive dialogue that feels both intimate and epic. The lyrical, poetic prose comes alive through their performances, with each voice distinct yet harmonious. The audio format perfectly suits this story of letters and messages, allowing listeners to experience the growing tenderness and urgency in every exchange as two warriors discover love across impossible distances of time and space.