An extraordinary and audacious debut novel - and a chilling supernatural retelling of World War II
Their darkest powers are yet to be unleashed
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.
'Mad English warlocks battling twisted Nazi psychics? Yes please, thank you. Tregillis's debut has a white-knuckle plot, beautiful descriptions, and complex characters'
Cory Doctorow
'A striking first novel'
Locus
'I can't wait to see more'
George R. R. Martin
I found the tale both convincing and absorbing, and the strong story line had me galloping along towards the final page at a breakneck pace. The backdrops too are atmospheric, the plot lines strong and the characters full of life and interest. I found Bitter Seeds to be a real breath of fresh air, perhaps with subtle aromas of H.P. Lovecraft here and there. I certainly can't wait to read book two.