mferrante83's review against another edition
4.0
Ian Tregillis’ Bitter Seeds was one of if not my absolute favorite debut of 2010. After several major missteps by the publisher (well documented on the author’s blog) the second novel of the Milkweed Triptych, The Coldest War, is set for release later this year. In a bizarre experiment the decision was made to release the audiobook first via the fine folks at Audible.com. For those needing a refresher Bitter Seeds was an alternate history novel that rewrites World War II pitting the products of a Nazi super-science program against warlocks of Great Britain. The warlocks don’t simply toss spells around though. They must negotiate with omnipresent and dangerous entities who grant power in exchange for blood sacrifice. As the title implies The Coldest Wartakes place during the Cold War in the sixties; twenty-two years after the end of World War II. The protagonists of the previous novel have since moved on, for better or for worse. Former spy Raybould Marsh’s marriage is crumbling, strained by his simpleton son. Whereas former-warlock Will has put asside trafficking with devils in order forward his older brother’s philanthropic ways. Unfortunately for both the precognitive Gretel is active and at large and she, along with her brother Klaus, will some draw both these men back into the cutthroat world of Milkweed.
I desperately want to say that I loved The Coldest War particularly given how eager I was to have it in my greedy little hands. While it by any means a bad novel it does have some problems; particularly with pacing. The first half of The Coldest War, as we are introduced to the mundane and somewhat sad worlds of both Will and Raybould, is where the novel is at its weakest. By my measure the novel suffers from this lack of the the strange and there is certain amount of frustration seeing a character like Raybould fallen so low. The Coldest War, at its outset, is definitely a slower burn than its predecessor and there is a significant amount of build up before things really get going. Getting to know Will, Raybould, Gretel, and Klaus again takes time, necessary time, but I would lying if there weren’t moments when I wished I could just skip ahead.
Of the familiar faces reintroduced in The Coldest War perhaps my favorite was Klaus. For some reason his character arc between these two novels really stood out for me. A puppet of his Nazi masters in the first novel and constantly manipulated by Gretel here Tregillis really conveys Klaus’ frustration with his situation. Klaus’ desire to have a “normal” life is touching particularly when you realize that even he doesn’t quite realize what “normal” means; or even how to be normal. Klaus’ desire to get out of the business of spycraft and weird science directly contrasts Raybould’s near desperation to get back into the Milkweed program. Raybould is really a pitiable, bordering on loathsome, character in those early chapters and he spends more time wallowing than improving his situation. Will is still the insufferable British aristocrat borderline contemptuous of his peers yet still somehow blind to his own sense of entitlement. While both Will and Raybould are the novel’s protagonists Tregillis does not paint them in a consistently heroic light. Given what we know of how the British achieved their victory in the war this should not come as a surprise but it is nice to note the Tregillis continues to paint these characters in varying shades of gray.
Despite the novel’s slow opening when things do pick up they really pick up. The Coldest War, despite taking place in a time of peace, features stakes that are arguably higher than in Bitter Seeds. Tregillis does an excellent job of capturing the paranoia of the Cold War era and paints the threat of Russian communism with a deft hand. More of the supernatural and weird elements are introduced in the novel as it progresses and once we are introduced to Britain’s new warlocks (glimpsed at the conclusion of Bitter Seeds) and witness some of the fallout from Raybould and Will’s past action things take on a delightfully creepy air. Gretel is as infuriatingly inscrutable as ever and the final revelation of her ultimate plan (or at least part of it) is pure genius. I have no idea how the next volume is going to play out.
The Coldest War is a thrilling and sometimes chilling tale of spycraft, sorcery, and weird science. Its rocky opening offers a bit of an adjustment given how far our heroes have fallen but the pay off is eventually worth it. Like Bitter Seeds, The Coldest War is a novel that stands apart blending two typically disparate genres into a smooth unified whole. The Coldest War elaborates on many of the elements from Bitter Seeds taking the most mysterious aspects, Gretel and Eidolons, and adding new layers without destroying the mystery; that feat alone is well worth the price of mystery. Be warned The Coldest War has a cliffhanger ending and you will finish the book with the rabid desire for more. The audiobook version of The Coldest War is available now via Audible.com while the print version will be available on July 17, 2012.
I desperately want to say that I loved The Coldest War particularly given how eager I was to have it in my greedy little hands. While it by any means a bad novel it does have some problems; particularly with pacing. The first half of The Coldest War, as we are introduced to the mundane and somewhat sad worlds of both Will and Raybould, is where the novel is at its weakest. By my measure the novel suffers from this lack of the the strange and there is certain amount of frustration seeing a character like Raybould fallen so low. The Coldest War, at its outset, is definitely a slower burn than its predecessor and there is a significant amount of build up before things really get going. Getting to know Will, Raybould, Gretel, and Klaus again takes time, necessary time, but I would lying if there weren’t moments when I wished I could just skip ahead.
Of the familiar faces reintroduced in The Coldest War perhaps my favorite was Klaus. For some reason his character arc between these two novels really stood out for me. A puppet of his Nazi masters in the first novel and constantly manipulated by Gretel here Tregillis really conveys Klaus’ frustration with his situation. Klaus’ desire to have a “normal” life is touching particularly when you realize that even he doesn’t quite realize what “normal” means; or even how to be normal. Klaus’ desire to get out of the business of spycraft and weird science directly contrasts Raybould’s near desperation to get back into the Milkweed program. Raybould is really a pitiable, bordering on loathsome, character in those early chapters and he spends more time wallowing than improving his situation. Will is still the insufferable British aristocrat borderline contemptuous of his peers yet still somehow blind to his own sense of entitlement. While both Will and Raybould are the novel’s protagonists Tregillis does not paint them in a consistently heroic light. Given what we know of how the British achieved their victory in the war this should not come as a surprise but it is nice to note the Tregillis continues to paint these characters in varying shades of gray.
Despite the novel’s slow opening when things do pick up they really pick up. The Coldest War, despite taking place in a time of peace, features stakes that are arguably higher than in Bitter Seeds. Tregillis does an excellent job of capturing the paranoia of the Cold War era and paints the threat of Russian communism with a deft hand. More of the supernatural and weird elements are introduced in the novel as it progresses and once we are introduced to Britain’s new warlocks (glimpsed at the conclusion of Bitter Seeds) and witness some of the fallout from Raybould and Will’s past action things take on a delightfully creepy air. Gretel is as infuriatingly inscrutable as ever and the final revelation of her ultimate plan (or at least part of it) is pure genius. I have no idea how the next volume is going to play out.
The Coldest War is a thrilling and sometimes chilling tale of spycraft, sorcery, and weird science. Its rocky opening offers a bit of an adjustment given how far our heroes have fallen but the pay off is eventually worth it. Like Bitter Seeds, The Coldest War is a novel that stands apart blending two typically disparate genres into a smooth unified whole. The Coldest War elaborates on many of the elements from Bitter Seeds taking the most mysterious aspects, Gretel and Eidolons, and adding new layers without destroying the mystery; that feat alone is well worth the price of mystery. Be warned The Coldest War has a cliffhanger ending and you will finish the book with the rabid desire for more. The audiobook version of The Coldest War is available now via Audible.com while the print version will be available on July 17, 2012.
jefffrane's review against another edition
5.0
It's difficult to believe, but The Coldest War is even more grim and despairing than the first book in the series. Like the first book, the writing is excellent, the characters compelling and the alternate universe, complete with Lovecraftian horrors, is brilliantly creative. Tregillis is one of the best sf writers I've encountered over 50+ years of reading speculative fiction.
eishe's review against another edition
5.0
When a colleague introduced me to the series, he said that the second book was what really sold it to him and he couldn't wait to read the third one. After reading the first book in the series, I was skeptical about that statement. Surely, Mr. Tregillis couldn't make the story more interesting. Alas, I was wrong. The character development, the plot twists, the everything. Just, wow. Certainly one of the best books I've read this year.
csdaley's review against another edition
5.0
I liked the 2nd book even more than the first. A merging of Lovecraft, espionage and science fiction. The book moves at a breakneck pace towards the ending and oh the ending. Talk about a cliff hanger. It was like setting off a bag of pop rocks in my head. I will force myself to wait a couple of books before I dive into the final book but I will be thinking about it until I do.
One of my new favorite series. Love that it is going to end with the next book. Plus, it's got a fantastic cover.
One of my new favorite series. Love that it is going to end with the next book. Plus, it's got a fantastic cover.
jonmhansen's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, holy cow did I enjoy this. Nazi superheroes vs. English warlocks are pretty much a safe bet with me. There should be more such books. Go on, I'll wait here with my money.
grandgranini's review against another edition
4.0
Bleak and brilliant sequel to "Bitter Seeds". Highly recommended.
fbone's review against another edition
4.0
Well, this was better than [I]Bitter Seeds[/I] the first in the Milkweed trilogy by Ian Tregillis. Several puzzles from the previous book fell into place and the final reveal was very creative. I also thought this one had more substance and development. To be honest, I wouldn't have continued after the first book but Kobo's 90% promo code brought the cost down to the "why not?" level. I'll read the final book in the series at a later date.
krakentamer's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, what an outstanding follow up to [b:Bitter Seeds|6881685|Bitter Seeds (Milkweed Triptych, #1)|Ian Tregillis|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316638191s/6881685.jpg|7099786]. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. Great character development and the plot and action was top-shelf. This was not a new book with a new story using the same characters and situation from the first book - it truly was a continuation of the first story, which proved that the first book was even deeper (plot-wise) than was originally evident. Tregillis planted many (NON-BITTER) seeds in the first book that bloomed in this book - and obviously many more in both the first and second book that will bear even more fruit in the third.
I'm so glad that I didn't have to endure any wait between these books and could immediately jump into the next one.
I'm so glad that I didn't have to endure any wait between these books and could immediately jump into the next one.
wildeaboutbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Just as enjoyable as Bitter Seeds, the first book in the series, The Coldest War was dark and brooding and wonderfully bleak. The characters are complex and it's a challenge to admit to either really liking or hating any of them because they're all so "muddy". Provided that there's enough depth in the story to back it up, this can be a really fun literary characteristic (as seen in George R. R. Martin's work).
Gretel, a particularly brilliant and screwed up survivor of the initial Nazi experiments who is able to see events in the future, is hands down the most manipulative character I've ever met in literature. To illustrate my point, she talks another gifted character into committing suicide just so that, twenty years later, the jar that had been storing the victim's preserved brain would be on hand to be emptied out and used by a facility guard to pour liquor from a fellow guard in, thus distracting him and allowing her escape. That's cold- and amazing and disturbing and a brilliant plot device for Tregillis to employ. I know, I know, you're thinking "if she's so great, why didn't she escape from captivity twenty years earlier?"- but you'll have to read the book to unravel that mind pretzel.
I waffled on giving this book four stars only because time travel is included in the later parts of the book and I LOATHE time travel. It rarely works itself out in a way that the reader is not left with some unanswered questions. And it's just so hokey.
But I have faith in Tregillis and I believe that the third and final book will be magnificent. His writing is fluid and visceral and just a joy to read- in a grim and cheerless kind of way.
Gretel, a particularly brilliant and screwed up survivor of the initial Nazi experiments who is able to see events in the future, is hands down the most manipulative character I've ever met in literature. To illustrate my point, she talks another gifted character into committing suicide just so that, twenty years later, the jar that had been storing the victim's preserved brain would be on hand to be emptied out and used by a facility guard to pour liquor from a fellow guard in, thus distracting him and allowing her escape. That's cold- and amazing and disturbing and a brilliant plot device for Tregillis to employ. I know, I know, you're thinking "if she's so great, why didn't she escape from captivity twenty years earlier?"- but you'll have to read the book to unravel that mind pretzel.
I waffled on giving this book four stars only because time travel is included in the later parts of the book and I LOATHE time travel. It rarely works itself out in a way that the reader is not left with some unanswered questions. And it's just so hokey.
But I have faith in Tregillis and I believe that the third and final book will be magnificent. His writing is fluid and visceral and just a joy to read- in a grim and cheerless kind of way.