Review of the Milkweed Triptych series by Ian Tregillis including Bitter Seeds, The Coldest War and Necessary Evil. “It’s 1939. The Nazis have supermen, the British have demons, and one perfectly normal man gets caught in between”
My review from 2014 of Milkweed Triptych by author
Title: Bitter Seeds, The Coldest War, Necessary Evil
Author: Ian Tregillis
Series: Milkweed Triptych
Genre: Alternate history, spy thriller, superhero
After reading the first book in this series, I went out and bought a second one to give to a friend for Christmas and I borrowed my copy to all my friends. It is such a unique story with such a different setting. After reading Necessary Evil I wanted to go right back and read the first one again.
The setting: Under World War II the Germans have superhumans powered by batteries and to counter them, the Brits dig up their warlocks and get pan-dimensional demons involved (think Lovecraftian Elder ones).
The book follows both sides of the conflict with point of view characters on both sides of the conflict. We follow the main protagonist alcoholic Raybould Marsh who is friends with the warlock William. On the german side Gretel who can see the possible futures, her brother who can walk through walls and the other superhumans are struggling under their crazy commander.
I strongly recommend not reading the blurb of the second and third books before you have read the book before – there are quite a few spoilers in there.
The books are so well written and so emotional packed. They are heart wrenching – my copies of the books are spotted with tear stains.
It has been too long and I have too few notes for me to write a more detailed review, but I hope you will take my whole-hearted recommendation and read the books.
The stats: Milkweed Triptych
Published: 2010 – 2013 by Tor Books
Read: 2010 – 2013
This review was originally posted: January 6, 2014. Updated and edited July 1, 2023
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