Book Series Guide

Amal El-Mohtar

Author guide

Amal El-Mohtar Books in Order

Amal El-Mohtar writes fiction, poetry, and criticism. She won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards for her short story “Seasons of Glass and Iron” and again for her novella This Is How You Lose the Time War, written with Max Gladstone, which also won the BSFA and Aurora awards, became a New York Times bestseller, and has been translated into over ten languages. Her reviews and articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and NPR Books. The River Has Roots is her solo debut, and Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories is her debut collection. She lives in Ottawa, Canada.

science fictionfantasypoetrycriticism

Catalog record updated .

Amal El-Mohtar's Newest Book

Cover of Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories

Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories

short story collection · First published 2026

With confidence and style, El-Mohtar guides us through exquisitely told and sharply observed tales about life as it is, was, and could be. Like miscellany from other worlds, these stories are told in letters, diary entries, reference materials, folktales, and lyrical prose. Full of Nebula, Locus, World Fantasy, and Hugo Award-winning and nominated stories, Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories includes "Seasons of Glass and Iron," "The Green Book," "Madeleine," "The Lonely Sea in the Sky," "And Their Lips Rang with the Sun," "The Truth About Owls," "A Hollow Play," "Anabasis," "To Follow the Waves," "John Hollowback and the Witch," "Florilegia, or, Some Lies About Flowers," "Pockets," and more.

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

Cover of The River Has Roots

The River Has Roots

Her solo debut novel and a concise entry point to her fiction.

Cover of This Is How You Lose the Time War

This Is How You Lose the Time War

Her acclaimed co-authored novella and most widely known work.

Outside the series

Bibliography by category

Novels (2)
  1. This Is How You Lose the Time War

    novella · 2019

    Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, becomes something more. Something epic. Something…

  2. The River Has Roots

    novel · 2025

    In the small town of Thistleford, on the edge of Faerie, dwells the mysterious Hawthorn family. There, they tend and harvest the enchanted willows and honour an ancient compact to sing to them in thanks for their magic. None more…

Short fiction (1)
  1. Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories

    short story collection · 2026

    With confidence and style, El-Mohtar guides us through exquisitely told and sharply observed tales about life as it is, was, and could be. Like miscellany from other worlds, these stories are told in letters, diary entries, reference…

Poetry (1)
  1. The Honey Month

    poetry and prose collection · 2010

Frequently asked questions about Amal El-Mohtar

Who is Amal El-Mohtar?

Amal El-Mohtar is a Canadian writer of fiction, poetry, and criticism who lives in Ottawa. She is also known as the co-author of the award-winning novella This Is How You Lose the Time War.

Sources: amalelmohtar.com (opens in a new tab)academic.macmillan.com (opens in a new tab)

Is Amal El-Mohtar Canadian or Lebanese?

She is Canadian and has Lebanese ancestral roots. She has spoken about being raised with three languages and about the importance of both Canada and Lebanon to her identity.

Sources: library.torontomu.ca (opens in a new tab)pen.org (opens in a new tab)

What does Amal El-Mohtar do besides writing fiction?

She is a poet, editor, and literary critic who contributes reviews and essays to outlets including The New York Times and NPR Books. She has also taught creative writing at the University of Ottawa.

Sources: simonandschuster.com (opens in a new tab)amalelmohtar.com (opens in a new tab)

What influences Amal El-Mohtar’s writing?

She has identified J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit as an early, formative influence. She also says her multilingual upbringing and experiences with contested national identities influence her use of poetry, fragments, and questions about power.

Source: pen.org (opens in a new tab)

What awards has Amal El-Mohtar won?

Her honors include Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards for “Seasons of Glass and Iron” and for This Is How You Lose the Time War, co-written with Max Gladstone. She has also won the Nebula Award for Best Novella for The River Has Roots.

Sources: amalelmohtar.com (opens in a new tab)thehugoawards.org (opens in a new tab)nebulas.sfwa.org (opens in a new tab)