The Coldest War

The Coldest War is the second book in Ian Tregillis's Milkweed Triptych series, set in an alternate history Cold War where supernatural powers shape the conflict between nations. British warlocks face off against Nazi super-soldiers in a world where World War II's outcome hinged on paranormal warfare. The story takes place in 1963, where the Soviet Union has gained dominance over much of Europe through its own secret weapons program. British intelligence operative Raybould Marsh must confront both old enemies and former allies as he uncovers a devastating threat to humanity's existence. The novel continues the dark alternate history established in Bitter Seeds, expanding the consequences of weaponized supernatural abilities in a tense Cold War setting. Tregillis blends espionage, science fiction, and dark fantasy while exploring the human cost of power. At its core, the book examines how individuals and nations justify their actions in pursuit of victory, and questions whether the ends can ever truly justify the means. The narrative challenges assumptions about heroism and sacrifice in a world where the line between defender and destroyer grows increasingly thin.

Readers note this second book in the Milkweed trilogy builds momentum from the first installment with tighter pacing and higher stakes. Many highlight Tregillis's character development, particularly the British warlocks' psychological struggles and the evolution of Marsh and Agnes's relationship. Liked: - Complex alternate history blending Cold War espionage with supernatural elements - Dark, morally ambiguous tone - Strong character arcs and emotional depth - Scientific and historical accuracy in non-fantasy elements Disliked: - Some found the pacing slow in the first third - Several readers mention confusion about supernatural rules/systems - A few note it requires reading book 1 to fully understand Ratings: Goodreads: 4.13/5 (4,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (200+ ratings) "The characters feel more real and damaged than in most fantasy novels" - Goodreads reviewer "Takes everything great about Bitter Seeds and amplifies it" - Amazon review

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★ The Coldest War is part of the Milkweed Triptych series, which imagines an alternate history where Britain used warlocks to fight Nazi Germany's superhuman soldiers during WWII. ★ Author Ian Tregillis has a PhD in physics and works as a researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory, lending scientific authenticity to his science fiction writing. ★ The book explores a Cold War where psychic warfare and supernatural abilities replace nuclear weapons as the primary threat between superpowers. ★ The series was partly inspired by Tregillis's interest in Alan Turing and the British code-breaking efforts at Bletchley Park during WWII. ★ The novel combines elements of spy thrillers, supernatural horror, and alternate history, drawing comparisons to works by both John le Carré and H.P. Lovecraft.