Time War is a book that stands alone on my bookshelf as something truly unique. It's unlikely any story (in any medium, let alone books (though it could probably only survive as prose. I see there are rumblings of a TV adaptation? I'm skeptical)) that I have ever experienced, and for that, I imagine as long as I read, I won't forget this book.

People underwhelmed or frustrated with the book cite a lack of clarity of the events of the story of the conflict between the factions, and how such a seemingly rich world gets only drive-by exposition snippets. I think this actually works quite well as a narrative element. Here we have two god-like agents at the top of their game, living centuries, nay--incalculable amounts of time past what a mortal should ever see. They've become bored with the war, with the constant fire-starting vs firefighting. Neither are particularly emboldened by their faction's values. It's probably why they seem so eager to jump into something meaningful, risky, and loving with one another: because the conflict is inconsequential to them at the point where we pick up their story.

Now, the (relatively) common criticism talked about above is rooted in the fact that some readers are left wanting much, much more. It's easy to see why. Some of the world building is so wonderfully deep even at a passing mention (Wait! You're really going to spend like, three sentences talking about how there are LITERAL Nazi Zombies in this thread!? Go back!) that the writing compels the reader to theorize what is a plant, and what is a throwaway line by two science fiction writers essentially showing off. And it's excellent from start to finish.

I've stated why I believe that the passing mentions of a larger, deeper conflict and world make sense to me as a thematic choice (as well as a product of the medium. The book is 200 pages. It's a novella. To be dense with lore is to lose the spirit of the thing, in this case imo), but I won't fight anybody who finds the conflict so interesting it's distracting. It simply must be said: I have great respect for anybody who attempts a Time Travel story because the number of holes you could poke goes on for infinity. It's a hire wire act, and I'm perfectly fine ignoring a reasonable amount of Time Travel loopholes (I mean, just kill Baby Thanos. Shit!), but in a book about the sabotage and undermining of two factions, to not go into why they simply don't destroy one another by going to the respective factions genesis (if they do talk about this, I think I missed it) and wipe them out, is a.... unsatisfying decision. But then, would any reason really hold up under scrutiny? Similarly, there's the question of what goes on in the "current" strand/braid/timeline. What's happening in the future, or the end of time? These are questions in a time travel story that, if left unaddressed, stick out. I trust the authors could have worked it out if they spent more time on that, and it wouldn't have bogged anything down. But they didn't, and it's an elephant in the room.

The prose is flowery and exceptionally written, and the world-building is awe-inspiring considering how little they actually hand the reader. You truly feel like this is the result of a special collaboration. Does the prose get a little too poetic at times? You bet. Does it strike me as odd that Red says she hates poets and yet talks and thinks like one at all times (There really is no war-of-ideas at all going on, which is slightly unsatisfying. Red and Blue really can't wait to jump into this pen pal relationship from the starting gun. Not even a conflict of dispositions, they both dive headfirst into the witty, wordy letters)? Yes, that too. I'm hesitant to even call this Enemies to Lovers (a trope I think people are tired of. I wouldn't really know because it's just not a staple of what I've been reading lately), because it's just all so easy.

I can't believe that my review is mostly focussing on the negatives. Guess I just have to justify why I think it's four stars instead of five, maybe. I can and will recommend this to all.