Release Date: 30/04/13
Publisher: Orbit
SYNOPSIS:
The history of the Twentieth Century has been shaped by a secret conflict between technology and magic. When a twisted Nazi scientist devised a way to imbue ordinary humans with supernatural abilities - to walk through walls, throw fire and see the future - his work became the prized possession of first the Third Reich, then the Soviet Army. Only Britain's warlocks, and the dark magics they yield, have successfully countered the threat posed by these superhuman armies. But for decades, this conflict has been manipulated by Gretel, the mad seer. And now her long plan has come to fruition. And with it, a danger vastly greater than anything the world has known. Now British Intelligence officer Raybould Marsh must make a last-ditch effort to change the course of history - if his nation, and those he loves, are to survive.
REVIEW:
To be honest this is a series that I’ve not been a huge fan of, not because I’ve disliked the concept but purely because I really can’t get on with the principle characters as I don’t feel that I have an emotional link to them to care about their fates. Its tricky to read a book when this happens and when it’s the same problem time and again throughout its something that really does leave you thinking that this author is not going to be for you.
That said, the story ideas are clever and the way that the author works on the pace does take it along at a reasonable rate so much so that there will be quite a few prepared to forgive the character defects to see what unfurls. Unfortunately I’m not one of them so whilst I will try the first book in a new series from this author it will be the last chance that Ian gets in my TBR pile.
Release Date: 07/02/13
Publisher: Orbit
SYNOPSIS:
For decades, Britain's warlocks have been all that stands between the British Empire and the Soviet Union - a vast domain stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the shores of the English Channel. Now each wizard's death is another blow to Britain's national security. Meanwhile, a brother and sister - the subjects of a twisted Nazi experiment to imbue ordinary people with superhuman abilities - escape from a top-secret facility deep behind the Iron Curtain. They head for England, because that's where former spy Raybould Marsh lives. And Gretel, the mad seer, has plans for him. As Marsh is once again drawn into the world of Milkweed, he discovers that Britain's darkest acts didn't end with the war. And while he strives to protect queen and country, he is forced to confront his own willingness to accept victory at any cost.
REVIEW:
Having not been enamoured of the first book in the series I was hoping for more from this book by author Ian Tregillis. Whilst events within Europe have changed dramatically from the setting of the original (this being 20 years later) for me I still found the bits that originally niggled me present, firstly the lack of pace within the text, secondly characters that felt quite flat that needed more fleshing out to allow me to gain not only an interest but to care as to their fates and finally that the story, whilst reasonably told, felt quite slow and more a filler than a full planned second book.
That said, what Ian does do well is utilise his world to the fullest taking each opportunity to allow the reader to see the time period through different eyes. All in, for me not a series I’ll be returning to any time soon and whilst for some it may entertain them quite a bit its more a middle of the road series rather than something that stands out on its own.
Release Date: 19/07/12
SYNOPSIS:
The year is 1939. Raybould Marsh and other members of British Intelligence have gathered to watch a damaged reel of film in a darkened room. It appears to show German troops walking through walls, bursting into flames and hurling tanks into the air from afar.
If the British are to believe their eyes, a twisted Nazi scientist has been endowing German troops with unnatural, unstoppable powers. And Raybould will be forced to resort to dark methods to hold the impending invasion at bay.
But dealing with the occult exacts a price. And that price must be paid in blood.
Ian Tregillis' Bitter Seeds is a chilling masterpiece - a tale of a twentieth century like our own and also profoundly different.
REVIEW:
If you’re after something where Cthulhu meets Science and heads for a battle to the finish then you really might want to try this title by Ian Tregillis where UK Sorcerer’s seek to defeat Nazi experimental super soldiers in a no holds barred battle to the finish novel. The blurb grabbed me straight away so I really couldn’t wait to start this debut so what did I get for my time.
What unfurls within was sadly a tale that really promised a lot and whilst it did deliver to a certain degree suffers sadly for a lack of pace. Trundling along at a sedate pace rather than the action packed title that I was expecting. Don’t get me wrong, when the action hits it is fast but the majority of the book feels more like a question of the morals behind what they’re doing rather than the nitty gritty of what I was expecting.
All in, for a debut it’s a solid enough title but without a change of pace, it’s a title that may fizzle in my opinion more than bang and for a debut author its something that will have to happen in the second book or else they may not have anywhere else to go.
