Amal El-Mohtar Collection By Amal El-Mohtar 2 Books Collection Set - Fiction - Paperback

Titles in This Set:
This is How You Lose the Time War
The River Has Roots

Format: Paperback and Hardcover

Overview:
This two-book collection brings together Amal El-Mohtar’s celebrated collaborations and her standout solo debut, offering readers a rich entry into two distinct corners of literary fantasy and science fiction. This is How You Lose the Time War, a co-authored epistolary novella, unfolds as a delicate, high-stakes exchange between two secret agents across decades and dimensions. It is a romance written in subversive letters, where language itself becomes a weapon and mercy, a scarce currency in a perpetual war. The River Has Roots marks El-Mohtar’s solo debut in a lush, Faerie-infused world where sisters’ devotion, ancestral song, and the ancient willows shape fate. Together, the titles showcase El-Mohtar’s signature lyrical prose, keen sensitivity to voice, and a fearless blend of myth, memory, and emotional truth. The set is ideal for readers who crave intelligent, emotionally resonant storytelling that rewards careful rereading and invites interpretation long after the pages close.

What This Collection Covers:
Across these two books, language, time, and memory become independent actors guiding deeply human choices. This is How You Lose the Time War explores how trust and affection can bloom when eras collide, even as the cost of survival presses in from every direction. The River Has Roots invites readers into a world where Faerie and family lore cohere through song, ritual, and perilous love, underscoring how lineage and language can protect or endanger those you hold dear. The collection invites contemplation about how stories reshape reality—whether through intimate correspondence written in time’s margins or through songs that bind sisters together against looming danger. El-Mohtar’s expert handling of form—epistolary intimacy and prose-poetic narration—creates a seamless, immersive reading experience that feels both timeless and fiercely contemporary, making this an essential addition to any speculative fiction shelf.

This is How You Lose the Time War
Two secret agents, Red and Blue, operate on opposite sides of a sprawling time-impelled war, trading letters that begin as taunts and gradually expose a bond that defies allegiance. The novella, written with Max Gladstone, unfolds as a lyrical duel of wits where each note changes the shape of history and the edges of personal desire. As their relationship deepens, the protagonists confront the paradox of choosing love in a universe where every choice can erase one’s own identity. The book’s brisk, musical prose carries readers through a kaleidoscope of eras, places, and futures, delivering a compact powerhouse of romance, espionage, and existential longing. It’s a deft, beautifully crafted fusion of science fiction and fairy-tale romance that lingers in the mind and heart long after the final page.

The River Has Roots
Set beside a Faerie-bordered river, this standalone debut follows Esther and Ysabel Hawthorn as they tend magical willows and guard a family pact spoken in song. When Esther’s heart is drawn toward a fae beloved, the sisters’ bond is tested by forces old as folklore and new desires that threaten their world. El-Mohtar’s language hums with lyricism, weaving a haunting blend of myth, memory, and intimate emotion. The novel—presented in hardcover with evocative interior details—packs a complete, emotionally resonant arc into 144 pages, offering a rich, immersive experience for readers who savor fairy-tale energy, language-as-magic, and stories that feel both ancient and newly minted.

Who This Set Is Perfect For:
This two-book collection is designed for adult readers and mature young adults who relish literary fantasy and speculative fiction with emotional core. It’s an ideal gift for fans of lyrical prose, thoughtful character study, and beautifully crafted world-building. Readers who enjoyed intricate epistolary storytelling, fairy-tale retellings, or language-centered fantasies will find these titles especially rewarding. The set also works well for book clubs exploring themes of time, memory, and love, as well as classrooms or personal libraries seeking diverse voices and innovative narrative forms. If you treasure books that reward slow, attentive reading and invite multiple readings, this duo will become a treasured go-to in any collection.

Key Benefits:

• Two-author and solo debut showcase from a Hugo Award–winning writer
• Contrasting yet complementary tones: brisk, poetic time-travel romance and lush Faerie fantasy
• Delivers a broad spectrum of speculative fiction in one value-packed collection
• Perfect gift set for fans of literary SF, fantasy, and romantically framed narratives
• Paperback edition of the Time War title paired with a hardcover of The River Has Roots
• Great for rereading and discovering new layers of meaning on each visit

About the Author:
Amal El-Mohtar is a renowned Canadian author known for language-rich fantasy and science fiction. Best known for co-authoring This Is How You Lose the Time War (with Max Gladstone), she has earned widespread acclaim and multiple major awards for her fiction, poetry, and criticism. The River Has Roots marks her solo debut, a testament to her ability to build immersive worlds from myth and melody. Her work consistently blends lyrical prose with precise emotional insight, creating stories that feel both intimate and expansive. El-Mohtar’s acclaimed writing continues to influence the contemporary fantasy landscape, and her distinctive voice—poised between fairy tale cadence and modern speculative fiction—remains a touchstone for readers seeking beauty, risk, and resonance in fiction.

Why You’ll Love This Set:
This collection offers a rich, unified reading experience that highlights Amal El-Mohtar’s extraordinary versatility. You gain exposure to both a masterclass in epistolary SF romance and a deeply musical fairy-tale fantasy, each book standing strongly on its own while perfectly complementing the other. Owning the complete set means immediate access to two distinct moods, themes, and storytelling techniques from a single author—an ideal choice for long-term fans and newcomers alike who crave literary depth, emotional honesty, and beautifully crafted prose in one thoughtfully packaged collection.

Please Note: The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.