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meghan_is_reading's review against another edition
4.0
Gah, so you're set up for the right frame of mind after the first book. Everything WILL fuck up is just the way Gretel plans and given there is another book in the series I'm hoping for plenty more awesome fucked-upness, in a whole new future-past. That is probably spoilery, wtv. Book win.
thiefofcamorr's review against another edition
5.0
‘The Coldest War’ by Ian Tregillis is the second in the Milkweed Triptych series, and is just as thrilling as the first. Set years after the first, we see where the characters (and Europe) are now, and overall feel very thankful we’re far, far away from both the characters and that time.
It has now been twenty-two years since the Second World War. The warlocks working for Britain have been in use since, and their powers and methods have been growing
Marsh has been trying to leave Milkweed in his past, but it’s not that easy. Everything else seems to be failing around him, no matter how hard he tries. Then the choice is taken away from him thanks to our favourite set of twins, and he finds himself in Milkweed’s clutches once again, where he discovers that Britain, though honourable, have been pushed past limits he thought they would never cross… and he’s not too sure what he thinks about that.
The characters within his book are even more vivid than in the first. We know them now, and so it skips the introductions to throw us headfirst into their trials and tribulations, and somehow makes us question what we thought of them in the first book. The character growth of the characters is astounding, somehow remaining believable thanks to the horrors they’ve all witnessed and experienced.
Tregillis’ writing is to be read to be believed. A mix of action, spy novel, character study, and a lot of what we see in dystopian novel today (though this book is so far in our past), it is a lot to take in, yet it happens seamlessly. This is one hard book to put down, and the wait for the third is incredibly hard. A lot of readers compare this to X-Men and Tinker, Tailer, Solider, Spy, yet it’s hard to confine it to something that already exists.
Though I received this book to review in 2013, I actually ordered an eCopy to tide myself over last year, and it was easily one of my favourite books of 2012. I have the third marked as an alert in my phone for when it comes out, and I can’t recommend this series enough. This may be a bleak series, but damn it gets you trapped in its claws and refuses to let you go. Highly, highly recommended.
Review written for Sentience originally: http://sentientonline.net/?p=3864
It has now been twenty-two years since the Second World War. The warlocks working for Britain have been in use since, and their powers and methods have been growing
Marsh has been trying to leave Milkweed in his past, but it’s not that easy. Everything else seems to be failing around him, no matter how hard he tries. Then the choice is taken away from him thanks to our favourite set of twins, and he finds himself in Milkweed’s clutches once again, where he discovers that Britain, though honourable, have been pushed past limits he thought they would never cross… and he’s not too sure what he thinks about that.
The characters within his book are even more vivid than in the first. We know them now, and so it skips the introductions to throw us headfirst into their trials and tribulations, and somehow makes us question what we thought of them in the first book. The character growth of the characters is astounding, somehow remaining believable thanks to the horrors they’ve all witnessed and experienced.
Tregillis’ writing is to be read to be believed. A mix of action, spy novel, character study, and a lot of what we see in dystopian novel today (though this book is so far in our past), it is a lot to take in, yet it happens seamlessly. This is one hard book to put down, and the wait for the third is incredibly hard. A lot of readers compare this to X-Men and Tinker, Tailer, Solider, Spy, yet it’s hard to confine it to something that already exists.
Though I received this book to review in 2013, I actually ordered an eCopy to tide myself over last year, and it was easily one of my favourite books of 2012. I have the third marked as an alert in my phone for when it comes out, and I can’t recommend this series enough. This may be a bleak series, but damn it gets you trapped in its claws and refuses to let you go. Highly, highly recommended.
Review written for Sentience originally: http://sentientonline.net/?p=3864
pelevolcana's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
loryndalar's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed it, though I kind of want more Edolions! Perhaps in the third book?
badmc's review against another edition
5.0
20 years have passed, for some in captivity of failed family life, for some in poverty, for some in getting sober, and for some in actual captivity. Superhumans are in Soviet's hands now, and the Britain has grown complacent. In the middle of it all, precog Gretel waits and plans. For what?
These books are quickly becoming one of my all-time favorites. Sound characterization, interesting ideas, plot that actually makes sense, and has a sense of urgency. It's not perfect, mind, the characters are very flawed and sometimes hard to root for (Marsh reminds me of Brad Pitt's character in Seven), the sense of inevitability is too much to take, and demonic possession makes a come-back as an autistic man, who ruined the marriage of his parents by simply existing (the trope that has some serious negative real-life implications to this day). Still, Gretel is one of the best antagonists I've been privileged to read about, so I'm willing to look past that.
These books are quickly becoming one of my all-time favorites. Sound characterization, interesting ideas, plot that actually makes sense, and has a sense of urgency. It's not perfect, mind, the characters are very flawed and sometimes hard to root for (Marsh reminds me of Brad Pitt's character in Seven), the sense of inevitability is too much to take, and demonic possession makes a come-back as an autistic man, who ruined the marriage of his parents by simply existing (the trope that has some serious negative real-life implications to this day). Still, Gretel is one of the best antagonists I've been privileged to read about, so I'm willing to look past that.
buildhergender's review against another edition
5.0
A great sequel to the first book.
The part that stayed with me most was how little Gretta regards human life.
She talked a girl in to suicide, so that the girl would be autopsied and then her brain preserved, so that Gretta could take the girls brain in a jar with her as she went into jail. 20 years later she is ready to leave and uses the jar, with the brain only important in that she knew it would not get thrown away, until she did it so she could use the jar to give a guard liquor.
The part that stayed with me most was how little Gretta regards human life.
She talked a girl in to suicide, so that the girl would be autopsied and then her brain preserved, so that Gretta could take the girls brain in a jar with her as she went into jail. 20 years later she is ready to leave and uses the jar, with the brain only important in that she knew it would not get thrown away, until she did it so she could use the jar to give a guard liquor.
macthekat's review against another edition
5.0
It's so good. I love the way Ian set up everything and tie it up in a bow. It's so well written. I started the next one right away
k0ks3nw4i's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My full review of the entire Milkweed Triptych can be found here.
bschlotz's review against another edition
4.0
I started this book as a bit of a guilty pleasure, since the preceding book in the trilogy was so over the top and dismal (in tone, not quality). It's basically sociopathic nazi x-men vs lovecraftian british blood warlocks - one of those "wouldn't it be awesome if" alternate history books. But instead of being all epic good vs evil, it unfolds as a very unpleasantly human exploration of ends and means. All the main characters came out of the first book morally shattered, and in this one it only gets worse (as wwII turns into the cold war, with all the existential crisis associated). It's a trainwreck of impossible choices and counterplots, set against crumbling marriages and families. But somehow it was really really good? I don't know if I'm doing this justice.