lvh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jefffrane's review against another edition
4.0
A gratifying resolution to the Milkweed Triptych, considerably less creepy and depressing than the first two volumes.
eishe's review against another edition
4.0
A solid conclusion to the trilogy, that managed to tie up most of the loose ends. Not the most exciting story, but it works.
csdaley's review
4.0
originally published at www.csdaley.com
Book three of the Milkweed Triptych (Bitter Seed and The Coldest War being book one and two) starts off with a bang. Takes a sharp left turn and then drives a spike right through your brain. This may be one of my favorite trilogies I have read in the last decade. If you haven't read the first two you are missing out on a treat. I like alternate history books and this series mixed horror, magic, and science like few I have ever seen.
I am going to have to do a clever dance around the plot to keep this spoiler free. At the end of The Coldest War the British Warlocks unleashed the Eidoloens (the best way I can describe them is a nasty Cthulhu like creature) on Nazi Germany and their battery powered super soldiers. The results were truly horrific and devastating. It leads Raybould Marsh, British super spy, to catapult himself back in time to hit the reset button.
What happens next is a thrilling roller coaster ride as Marsh tries to stay one step ahead of both the Germans and the British in a desperate attempt to rewrite history (including his own). Every time I thought I knew where this book was going it would swerve in a different direction. It was a completely satisfying ending to the story (although, I still think The Coldest War was the best book of the trio).
It is a testament to Tregillis' plotting that he was often able to weave the multiple timelines and stories into this final book. I don't think I have had more fun with a time travel story ever. I also loved seeing the older Marsh deal with his younger self and his wife. The older Marsh was a ruthless bastard who would do anything to save his family and country. The younger Marsh was a hero who had not quite become the jaded monster that his alternate timeline persona had become.
This series was a genre bending, alternate history, mash up. It was action packed, thrilling, often horrific and ultimately brilliant. A lot of times when authors throw in everything including the kitchen sink the story can often get bogged down. This one left me stuffed to the brim with goodness. I can't wait to see where Tregillis goes next with his career.
Book three of the Milkweed Triptych (Bitter Seed and The Coldest War being book one and two) starts off with a bang. Takes a sharp left turn and then drives a spike right through your brain. This may be one of my favorite trilogies I have read in the last decade. If you haven't read the first two you are missing out on a treat. I like alternate history books and this series mixed horror, magic, and science like few I have ever seen.
I am going to have to do a clever dance around the plot to keep this spoiler free. At the end of The Coldest War the British Warlocks unleashed the Eidoloens (the best way I can describe them is a nasty Cthulhu like creature) on Nazi Germany and their battery powered super soldiers. The results were truly horrific and devastating. It leads Raybould Marsh, British super spy, to catapult himself back in time to hit the reset button.
What happens next is a thrilling roller coaster ride as Marsh tries to stay one step ahead of both the Germans and the British in a desperate attempt to rewrite history (including his own). Every time I thought I knew where this book was going it would swerve in a different direction. It was a completely satisfying ending to the story (although, I still think The Coldest War was the best book of the trio).
It is a testament to Tregillis' plotting that he was often able to weave the multiple timelines and stories into this final book. I don't think I have had more fun with a time travel story ever. I also loved seeing the older Marsh deal with his younger self and his wife. The older Marsh was a ruthless bastard who would do anything to save his family and country. The younger Marsh was a hero who had not quite become the jaded monster that his alternate timeline persona had become.
This series was a genre bending, alternate history, mash up. It was action packed, thrilling, often horrific and ultimately brilliant. A lot of times when authors throw in everything including the kitchen sink the story can often get bogged down. This one left me stuffed to the brim with goodness. I can't wait to see where Tregillis goes next with his career.
darylnash's review
2.0
So much potential. But oh the problems. First, the structure: by necessity, there is some overlap with the first book in this one, but all three books suffered from a wandering focus. For instance, the time devoted to Klaus in the previous books comes to naught here. Which brings me to the characters: there's not a lot of depth to them, and yet there are flashes of good characterization that kept me invested enough. Liv is the girl that the protags can't help loving for no damn reason. And poor Gretel, a fascinating villain in the first two novels, she gets turned into a love sick puppy here with little more character than a hard-on for Marsh. I had hoped she would turn out to be perpetuating necessary evils in an attempt to save the world like the Western men of the series, but I would have settled for her being merely self-centered. So kudos for the series being just good enough to get me to finish it, but damn I wish it had been better.
Spoiler
So I hated the way she is made out to be irredeemable when Marsh and Stephenson and even Will get anointed as heroes by the narrative. And WTF was up with that last minute killing of Will? A ham-handed attempt to push my buttons?danieljohnparr's review
4.0
A satisfying capstone to an intriguing series. Necessary Evil will answer all your outstanding questions, and vindicates the existence of the entire Milkweed Triptych.
krakentamer's review
5.0
Absolutely outstanding finale to an absolutely outstanding trilogy. Definitely looking forward to more from Tregillis.
wildeaboutbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Confession time: I did not finish this book. Why? Because the cover is so incredibly terrible that I felt absurd every time I picked it up. Ok. That's not the whole reason- homework became a priority again and I just couldn't get engaged enough to forget about the papers to write and articles to read long enough to finish this novel.
But seriously- does Tregillis' publisher hate him?? This cover looks like something that Tom Clancy would give a hearty all-American thumbs up to. That's all well and good, but Tregillis is NOTHING like Tom Clancy. For a book brimming with tortured and deranged human mutants and an enormous and malevolent universal presence barely controlled by psychotic wanna-be wizards, I'd expect something pretty awesome in the cover department. And the first two books, while not graced with phenomenal covers, were still pretty true to form and had at least something to do with the plot. This one's a stretch.
I have the utmost respect for Tregillis' writing, even though he did incorporate time travel in this book (which generally makes me angry). Maybe I'll pick this one up again when it's reissued in paperback- with a different cover.
But seriously- does Tregillis' publisher hate him?? This cover looks like something that Tom Clancy would give a hearty all-American thumbs up to. That's all well and good, but Tregillis is NOTHING like Tom Clancy. For a book brimming with tortured and deranged human mutants and an enormous and malevolent universal presence barely controlled by psychotic wanna-be wizards, I'd expect something pretty awesome in the cover department. And the first two books, while not graced with phenomenal covers, were still pretty true to form and had at least something to do with the plot. This one's a stretch.
I have the utmost respect for Tregillis' writing, even though he did incorporate time travel in this book (which generally makes me angry). Maybe I'll pick this one up again when it's reissued in paperback- with a different cover.
kidcolorado's review against another edition
4.0
Not quite as good as Coldest War, which was Mieville-good, but still pretty damn great. whole series is tremendous.
amywriterrose's review against another edition
5.0
"I think what this book really did the best was the closing of character arcs. This was expertly done through exploring the themes of morality. No better way to end the series." You can read more of my thoughts on this book here: https://amy-rosenfeldt.com/necessary-evil/